South texas golf march 2015 by South Texas Golf

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WINNER OF THE TEXAS PGA “2014 BEST MEDIA COVERAGE” AWARD

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19th Annual Golf CUP TOURNAMENT Presented by :

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March 7 at Palm view golf course

2015 3RD Annual RGV Golf Course Guide [Southtexas Golf #1] 1

The Texas Sportsman & South Texas Golf

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present the first

South Texas Fish & Chip Classic FISHING SATURDAY, MAY 30 WHITE SANDS MARINA PORT ISABEL GOLF SUNDAY, MAY 31 TIERRA DEL SOL PHARR

Follow Texas Sportsman Magazine & South Texas Golf on Facebook for more information. 2 [Southtexas Golf #1]

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PHARR

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FEATURE NAME

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TRUST MATTERS. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S YOUR MONEY. Have you ever wondered who your financial advisor really works for? I work strictly for you. I work hard to build a relationship of trust by providing thoughtful, unbiased guidance and placing your interests first. Invest with a knowledgeable financial advisor who’s on your side; someone who truly cares whether your investments are right for you. Call today for more information or to schedule a consultation.

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[Southtexas Golf #1] 5 MKT-06061-0410 Tracking #641747

Feature name TABLE OF CONTENTS

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WINNER OF THE TEXAS PGA “2014 BEST MEDIA COVERAGE” AWARD

MORE THAN GOLF

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There are plenty of golf tournaments supporting great causes. Leading the way is VAMOS, which continues to give full scholarships - and mentor students - for a brighter tomorrow.

19th ANNUAL GOLF CUP TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY :

DOCTORS HOSPITAL AT RENAISSANCE MARCH 7 AT PALM VIEW GOLF COURSE

2015 3RD ANNUAL RGV GOLF COURSE GUIDE [Southtexas Golf #1] 1

FEATURE NAME FROM THE PUBLISHER FEATURE NAME SHORT SHOTS

The Valley steps up

››

PLENTY OF CHOICES FOR TOURNAMENTS

WINNER OF THE TEXAS PGA “2014 BEST MEDIA COVERAGE” AWARD

FREE! TAKE ONE

19th ANNUAL GOLF CUP TOURNAMENT

SHORT SHOTS A collection of tidbits brought to you by...

PRESENTED BY :

DOCTORS HOSPITAL AT RENAISSANCE MARCH 7 AT PALM VIEW GOLF COURSE

2015 3RD ANNUAL RGV GOLF COURSE GUIDE [Southtexas Golf #1] 1

One of the many great things about living in South Texas - specifically the Henry Miller is Publisher of South Rio Grande Valley - is the weather (well, Texas Golf. He has more than 25 years except for the Seattle-like treatment of publishing experience, has written we’ve been given recently). sports for more than 150 newspapers, And with good weather comes more covered the Olympics, NASCAR, Major golf - and golf tournaments. League Baseball and other sports. He One thing I have noticed in the Valley has been syndicated on radio in more than 70 markets and loves to golf.His is that organizations love to run a golf 10-year-old daughter Camilla has a tournament to rainse money for a cause. wicked left-handed swing and also Another great thing about the RGV enjoys track, volleyball and fashion. is the willingness of the people to help They live in McAllen, Texas. others. Whether it be a clothing drive, feeding the hungry or supporting a golf tournament for a special cause - Valley People come to the table prepared. In the past year we have covered so many great causes for golf tournaments from VAMOS to Driving for Wishes for Make-A-Wish to the Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention golf classic. Each one sold out, each one raising valuable funds for out children. We at South Texas Golf have been fortunate to take part in so many tournaments like that. We’ve photographed plenty, we’ve written stories about many and we’ve even run some with our South Texas Golf Tournament Planning Service. Our next event comes April 24 at Harlingen Country Club for the second annual Blue Sunday Golf Scramble. Check out www.bluesundaygolf.com for more information, to register, to sponsor or even to donate. We at South Texas Golf Tournament Planning Service also want you to know that we can coordinate a tournament for you or your organization as well. We are happy to say that we’ve sold out every golf tournament we’ve run to date. We want our golfers to walk away four our tournaments and say “hey, that was a fun tournament - lets make sure we do it again next year.” So, if what’s holding you up is “not enough time” or “we don’t know how” check with us. Email southtexasgolf@gmail.com for more information. I’m sure we have a format and package that will fit your needs. To those of you who run tournaments for such wonderful organizations - with or without us - thank you for your time and your contributions. You don’t know how many lives you have affected in a positive way but I guarantee you one thing - it’s more than you can imagine. .

Henry Miller

Publisher/Executive Editor South Texas Golf & Texas Sportsman Magazines Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, - Colossians 3:23

South Texas Golf - winner of the Texas PGA Section Award for Media Coverage in 2014

On the cover: VAMOS continues to build young men and women into top scholars = from UTPA to Havard. Photo by: Tiki Tillman (tikitillmanphotos.com)

Staff Henry Miller - Publisher henry@stexasgolf.com (956) 607-9210

Tiki Tillman Photography Photographer

STEPPING UP Valley golfers know how to help those in need.

FEATURE NAME UTPA WOMEN’S GOLF

Story by Joseph L. Lucio Photos by Henry Miller I have seen other courses come up with innovative ways to bring in extra revenue like Frisbee golf and foot golf. Those ideas have been popular and successful. However, with the golf industry down I had been searching for another way to promote the game of golf without losing the sport’s integrity. As I was sitting in my office on a beautiful day I was captivated buy the idea of Glow Golf. Fulllength par 5s, 4s and 3s played at night with a bright LED golf ball. The ball hits extremely close to a normal golf ball with a true ball flight and can be hit a good distance of 270 yards. It is official size and official weight. The ball stays lit for eight minutes, thanks to a timer inside. Every time upon contact the timer restarts. Glow Balls have 40 hours of battery life. Each hole is lined with LED stakes that are color coded for the area it represents. The fairways are lined on both sides with green LED stakes. The stakes are placed every 25 yards. The greens are encompassed by blue LED stakes. The putting surface is dark so you cannot see which way it breaks. This makes it challenging and exciting. The Pin itself is one large lighted pole, which is extremely bright and visible from the tee box even on the longest par 5s.

What’s Inside

2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

FEATURE NAME

FEATURE NAME CUSTOM CARTS AT RGV CARTS

Alamo

Country Club COURSE NAME Alamo Country Club ADDRESS 920 North Tower Rd. Alamo, TX 78516 PHONE (956) 787-0907

Bill Hayter - Golf Headquarters owner, has been helping RGV Golfers improve their game and their equipment for more than 37 years.

EMAIL accfd@sbcglobal.net

WEBSITE myalamocountryclub.com

The Brownsville Rotary Club Charitable Foundation donated an eight-seater zebra-designed golf cart to the Gladys Porter Zoo to be used to shuttle guests and for VIP Tours. The cart came from RGV Carts in Harlingen. Left photo, from left to right, are Ivan Welker (Rotary), Dr. Patrick M. Burchfield (Gladys Porter Zoo) and Marshall Ray (Rotary). Below, left to right are Dr. Patrick M. Burchfield, John Bradley (RGV Carts), Cynthia A. Garza Galvan (Gladys Porter Zoo), Arely Jimenez (Gladys Porter Zoo) and Arianna Barrera (Gladys Porter Zoo). Check out another Custom made RGV cart on Page 14.

David DeLeon Henry Miller Designers

Volume 3, Isssue 1. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of South Texas Golf or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine. South Texas Golf reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. South Texas Golf shall be held harmless and indemnified against any third-party claims. Advertisements appearing in South Texas Golf present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. South Texas Golf is printed in the U.S.A. All correspondence to the publication become the property of South Texas Golf Magazine. South Texas Golf Magazine is published by H&J Publications. Copyright 2015. To advertise in South Texas Golf call (956) 607-0853 or email southtexasgolf@gmail.com

lowering the loft on their irons in order to say their products “hit it farther.” As a result, the 3- and 4-irons have so little loft that they are virtually unhittable for the average golfer. The solution? Hybrids. Which leads us to... Custom fit Whether you are a beginner golfer or a higher handicap golfer the last thing you want is a set of

clubs a pro would use! Worse yet, don’t go to a sporting goods store or online and buy something “off the shelf” without some professional guidance in getting the best club fit for you. A professional golf shop will get you hooked up with clubs with the right shaft length and a forgiving club-head with the proper lie angle. Online shoppers will save that trip back to the busy post office to return the ill performing/fitting merchandise too. The game has enough impediments, you don’t need another with ill-fitting clubs!

ZOO ZEBRA ZOOMING

Joey Dowden - Advertising Director joey@stexasgolf.com (956) 607-0853

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GLOW

facebook.com/southtexasgolf

WIZARD’S WORD In this edition we continue to look at tips to consider when buying golf clubs Combos For Seniors and Higher Handicaps: For most senior and higher handicap golfers 11 degrees of loft is the least amount of loft needed. So why not buy a driver and 5-7 wood combination instead of the traditional 3-5 wood configuration and put three clubs in the bag that will actually help you? Most senior and higher handicap golfers will see improvement in their game with these three clubs. No more 3 or 4 In the past 25 years, manufacturers have been gradually and silently

COURSE SUPERINTENDENT Pete Ledezma PRO SHOP MANAGER Lindsey Moravitz Pictured Above, RGV Carts owner John Bradley, Katie Weiskircher, Gary Weiskircher and artist Bib Beale.

hen Gary and Katie Weiskircher walked into RGV Carts in Harlingen they were looking for new tires for their golf cart. They got that - and a whole lot more. “One thing led to another,” Gary said. Next thing they knew, RGV Carts owner John Bradley was calling his friend Bibb Beale. What they ended up with was a green and yellow John Deere golf cart with a beautiful painting of their farm back home, airbrushed on the sides of the cart. The Weiskirchers have farmed in Nowthwest Iowa (in Melford, actually, near Lake Okoboji) for 40-plus years. “That’s our farming operation,” Gary said. “We have windmills and a tractor like that and I’ve always used John Deere, so we put one and one together.” Bibb Beale, owner of HCD Auto Body in Harlingen, said the Weiskirchers started off with a fairly simple idea. He and his artist worked with them, came up with a sketch and started working on the project.

LIGHTING THE WAY

Los Lagos now proudly has a lighted golf range. While based on weather the range is open until between 8 and 9 p.m. Call (956) 316-0444 for more info.

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“We’ve done others before but this one was the most in-depth, “Bibb said. “Just the airbrush was between 160200 hours of work.” But the details are phenomenal right down to the satellite on top of the tractor cab. “We’ve driven it around our (Tropic Winds) park,” Katie said. “We’ve had several people tell us how impressed they are and want to take pictures to send back to family.” The cart certainly shines with its John Deere colors. “We wanted to make it lifelike for them,” Bibb said. “We even got the model of the tractor. We wanted to make it a realistic vision of home.” Want to customize your cart? For information visit RGV Carts at 1119 West Harrison Ave. in Harlingen, call them at (956) 365-4122 or visit rgvcarts.com. For more information on Bibb Beale and his artwork, visit him at HCD Auto Body, 1122 West Harrison Ave. in Harlingen.

COURSE INFO For residents only PAR 35 (9-hole course) YARDAGE Blue – 2,332 (4,664 to play 18) White – 2,216 (4,432 to play 18) FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda

About Alamo Country Club ACC’s 200-acre property consists of 526 member-owned lots, most located on either the golf course or the nature park. ACC is exceptionally proud of its nine-hole golf course, which includes practice areas for pitching/chipping and putting. The large clubhouse houses a golf pro shop, administrative offices, billiard room and meeting rooms, library, workout room, fully equipped kitchen, card room, and a great hall. Other amenities include a large heated swimming pool, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, and horseshoe pits. A full-service pavilion is also available. Additionally, ACC features an RV storage area. ACC's nature park is a fine new addition to the community and attracts a great variety of birds and butterflies

passing through on their annual migration. The Rio Grande Valley is in a main corridor of the North American Migration Flyway. Several rare birds and butterflies have been sited at Alamo Country Club.

ROUGHS Bermuda GREENS Mini Verde Grass

Aerial View of No. 4 at Alamo Country Club

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NOT DONE YET A little bit of this and that about golf in South Texas.

CUSTOM MADE A new series begins on custom carts - check this one out!

WHERE TO PLAY 3rd annual golf guide gives you information on Valley courses.

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ABOUT GLOW GOLF Glow Fee: $20 17 & Under: $10 Glow Ball: $7 Glow Cart: $7 Glow fee includes meal Extra Meal: $5 (Joseph L. Lucio is the Golf Professional at Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course). Call (956) 541-0394 for more information. Parties and groups welcomed.

There’s a golf resurgance in Brownsville. That’s just fine with Bob Prepejchal. Just reading that will make golf courses around South Texas smile, especially after all the talk of the sport being in decline. Prepejchal, president of the Brownsville PAGA organization, said he has seen growth both in the organization and in the annual Charro Days Tournament, which just completed its 58th annual tournament and sold out with 108 golfers. The National PAGA - Pan American PREPEJCHAL Golf Association - organization has been in existence for more than 50 years, promoting golf for men, women and juniors, through community involvement and fund raising activities. The National PAGA is established in nine states with 44 Chapters and a membership of more than 2,600, according to its website nationalpaga.org. “The National PAGA was created to instill fair play, the desire to spend time enjoyably and to encourage and promote amateur golf among the member chapters of the Organization, and to promote Jr. Golf. We also strive to cooperate with and solicit good friendly relations with civic and athletic Organizations, and to particularly cooperate with member chapters,” the website states. There are four Valley chapters Brownsville, Mercedes, Harlingen and Edinburg. Prepejchal estimates there are probably about 300 members throughtout the Rio Grande Valley.

Joe Cavzos watches his shot during the 58th annual Charro Days Tournament at Valley International Country Club. Cavazos, Rick Rios and Ben Sandoval won the event. He remembers when the Brownsville Chapter alone carried 208 members. “PAGA has gotten old,” Prepejchal said. “But we are seeing younger golfers step up and are grasping what we are all about. There are some new guys and it’s like a fungus - it’s growing on them.” Prepejchal said that the story behind PAGA was in the 50s when Hispanic golfers weren’t allowed to play on country club courses. “There’s strength in numbers and they got together and built something strong,” he said. “They started playing on some courses - thouse were usually courses they were caddying on.” Prepejchal said that PAGA is more

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NIGHT FLIGHT

GOLF GROWTH

Glow Golf at Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course is catching steam and lighting up the sky in Brownsville!

The Pan American Golf Association Brownsville Chapter is back on the upswing.

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SCHEDULES AND STATS Pro golf schedules and stats, along with the RGV High School Golf Schedule.

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than just about a group of golfers playing together on a somewhat regular basis - it’s about getting involved in the community and giving back. “With the Charro Days tournament we try to give a scholarship to all eight Brownsville schools each year,” he said. This year Charro Days stepped it up another notch by teaming with the Tip Of Texas Family Outreach Program, which helps abused and neglected children. “We’re not really changing any of the old things the chapter has done but we are expanding into new areas,” Prepejchal said. “The new young golfers we are seeing come up are critical to growing the organiation to play a bigger and better part of our community.” PAGA was first established in 1953 - less than five years later there were chapters in San Antonio, Corpus, Harlingen and Brownsville. “Programs get stagnant,” Prepejchal said. “So you have to count on bringing in new members. This year we had 108 golfers in the Charro Days tournament and we could’ve had 130. It really grew so fast again because of new members joining and recruiting. “We used to have two tee times for the event with 144 or more players - it seems like it’s picking its momentum back up and that’s a wonderful thing.” Valley International Country Club played a big part in this year’s tournament success, promoting the tournament heavily through social media. “We couldn’t have been this successful without their cooperation, their quality of service, the quality of the golf course and just how they treat us. They certainly made a difference,” Prepejchal said. This year’s winners of the Charro Days Tournament were: Rick Rios, Ben Sandoval and Joe Cavazos. Anyone interested in more information, or how to join, PAGA can visit nationalpaga.org or find them on Facebook - Brownsville Pan American Golf Association.

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GROWING AGAIN

Brownsville Pan American Golf Association attracting new, young golfers

at Fort at Fort Brown Brown Memorial Golf Course Golf Course Friday Nights @ Dusk All You Can Play until Midnight Finally, the hazards are all lined with red LED stakes. Watching the golf ball launch through the night sky is incredible! Glow Golf can be a gateway for creating new daytime golfers and help the golf industry get back into shape. Besides the Glow Golfing experience your Glow Fee comes with homemade BBQ and other homemade meals made fresh every time. So bring the family and come enjoy an alternative night on the golf course!

58TH ANNUAL CHARRO DAYS TOURNAMENT AT VALLEY INTERNATIONAL COUNTR Y CLUB

PAGA BROWNSVILLE FEATURE NAME

GOLF GOLF

AROUND THE CORNER The annual HubPhest in Pharr is just around the corner - see what it has to offer.

PLENTY OF CHOICES Don’t know where to play this weekend? Check out our directory.

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56, 59 EXPERT ADVICE Mark Southwell and Harvey Lopez have some valuable advice for you.

58 BIG CARD Looking for something to do? How about a night at the fights?

Standing Strong for the Valley Standing Strong for the Valley ››

There is a strong, independent spirit in the Valley. There is aBank, strong, spiritAnd in the Valley. At PlainsCapital weindependent share that spirit. we’re Athelp PlainsCapital Bank, we share that spirit. And we’re proud to this region grow. proud to help this region grow. We’re a Texas-born bank with Texas-born values and a Texas-born with a deep We’re commitment to thebank places weTexas-born call home. values and a deep commitment to thefor places call home. That’s why we’re standing strong local we families That’s why we’re strong local families and businesses. Give us astanding call. We’re herefor to help. and businesses. Give us a call. We’re here to help.

956.664.4740 956.664.4740 PlainsCapital.com PlainsCapital.com

[Southtexas Golf #1] 7

Feature name FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Valley steps up

PLENTY OF CHOICES FOR TOURNAMENTS

››

WINNER OF THE TEXAS PGA “2014 BEST MEDIA COVERAGE” AWARD

FREE! TAKE ONE

19th ANNUAL GOLF CUP TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY :

DOCTORS HOSPITAL AT RENAISSANCE

MARCH 7 AT PALM VIEW GOLF COURSE

2015 3RD ANNUAL RGV GOLF COURSE GUIDE [Southtexas Golf #1] 1

Henry Miller

Publisher/Executive Editor South Texas Golf & Texas Sportsman Magazines Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, - Colossians 3:23

South Texas Golf - winner of the Texas PGA Section Award for Media Coverage in 2014 8 [Southtexas Golf #1]

On the cover: VAMOS continues to build young men and women into top scholars = from UTPA to Havard. Photo by: Tiki Tillman (tikitillmanphotos.com)

Staff Henry Miller - Publisher henry@stexasgolf.com (956) 607-9210 Joey Dowden - Advertising Director joey@stexasgolf.com (956) 607-0853 David DeLeon Henry Miller Designers Tiki Tillman Photography Photographer

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[Southtexas Golf #1] 9

Feature name SHORT SHOTS

SHORT SHOTS A collection of tidbits brought to you by...

facebook.com/southtexasgolf

Bill Hayter - Golf Headquarters owner, has been helping RGV Golfers improve their game and their equipment for more than 37 years.

ZOO ZEBRA ZOOMING The Brownsville Rotary Club Charitable Foundation donated an eight-seater zebra-designed golf cart to the Gladys Porter Zoo to be used to shuttle guests and for VIP Tours. The cart came from RGV Carts in Harlingen. Left photo, from left to right, are Ivan Welker (Rotary), Dr. Patrick M. Burchfield (Gladys Porter Zoo) and Marshall Ray (Rotary). Below, left to right are Dr. Patrick M. Burchfield, John Bradley (RGV Carts), Cynthia A. Garza Galvan (Gladys Porter Zoo), Arely Jimenez (Gladys Porter Zoo) and Arianna Barrera (Gladys Porter Zoo). Check out another Custom made RGV cart on Page 14.

LIGHTING THE WAY

Los Lagos now proudly has a lighted golf range. While based on weather the range is open until between 8 and 9 p.m. Call (956) 316-0444 for more info.

10 [Southtexas Golf #1]

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FED-EX CUP STANDINGS Schedules/stats SCHEDULES Feature brought to youname by:

PGA SCHEDULE Mar 12-15 Mar 19-22 Mar 26-29 April 2-5

Valspar Championship, Palm Harobor, FL Arnold Palmer Invitational, Orlando, FL Valero Texas Open, San Antonio, TX Shell Houston Open, Humble, TX

LPGA SCHEDULE Mar 19-22 Founders Cup, Phoenix, AZ Mar 26-29 Kia Classic, Carlsbad, CA Apr. 2-5 ANA Inspiration, Ranco Mirage, CA CHAMPIONS SCHEDULE Mar 20-22 Tucson Conquistadores Classic, Tucson, AZ Mar 27-29 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, Biloxi, MS Apr. 17-19 Greater Gwinett Championship, Duluth, GA LEGENDS SCHEDULE Apr 13-19 Chico’s Parry Berg Memorial, Fort Myers, FL HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULES Mar 2 Border Olympics, Laredo Mar 3 Rudy Kazudy, Shary GC Mar 6-7 Mercedes Invitational, Llano Grande GC Mar 6-7 RGVCA Pre-Regionals, Cedar Creek and Brackendridge Pre-Districts begain March 20 and run through March 30 check out our South Texas Golf Facebook Page for complete schedules.

Jimmy Walker 1,113 points 1 win 4 top 10s

Charlie Hoffman 794 points 1 wins 2 top 10s

Bubba Watson

888 points 1 win 3 top 10s

Brandt Snedeker 767 points 1 wins 4 top 10s

Robert Streb 879 points 1 win 5 top 10s

James Hahn 736 points 1 win 1 top 10

Sang-Moon Bae 810 points 1 win 4 top 10s

Hideki Matsuyama 728 points 0 wins 5 top 10s

JasonDay 810 points 1 win 3 top 10s

Brooks Koepka 721 1 win 3 top 10s

1119 WEST HARRISON , HARLINGEN, TX 78550 PHONE: (956) 365-4122 FAX (956) 365-4120 WWW.RGVCARTS.COM

12 [Southtexas Golf #1] AND ONLY AUTHORIZED CLUB CAR GOLF AND XRT DEALER FOR THE OFFICIAL

CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS (SERVING HARLINGEN, SOUTH PADRE ISLAND AND BROWNSVILLE)

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Feature name CUSTOM CARTS AT RGV CARTS

Pictured Above, RGV Carts owner John Bradley, Katie Weiskircher, Gary Weiskircher and artist Bib Beale.

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GLOW Feature name UTPA WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GOLF

Story by Joseph L. Lucio Photos by Henry Miller I have seen other courses come up with innovative ways to bring in extra revenue like Frisbee golf and foot golf. Those ideas have been popular and successful. However, with the golf industry down I had been searching for another way to promote the game of golf without losing the sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s integrity. As I was sitting in my office on a beautiful day I was captivated buy the idea of Glow Golf. Fulllength par 5s, 4s and 3s played at night with a bright LED golf ball. The ball hits extremely close to a normal golf ball with a true ball flight and can be hit a good distance of 270 yards. It is official size and official weight. The ball stays lit for eight minutes, thanks to a timer inside. Every time upon contact the timer restarts. Glow Balls have 40 hours of battery life. Each hole is lined with LED stakes that are color coded for the area it represents. The fairways are lined on both sides with green LED stakes. The stakes are placed every 25 yards. The greens are encompassed by blue LED stakes. The putting surface is dark so you cannot see which way it breaks. This makes it challenging and exciting. The Pin itself is one large lighted pole, which is extremely bright and visible from the tee box even on the longest par 5s. 16 [Southtexas Golf #1]

GOLF GOLF

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[Southtexas Golf #1] 17

Feature name

GIVING THE GIFT OF EDUCATION (and playing a little golf along the way)

Story and Photos by Henry Miller

esenia Delgado (photo on the right) hadn't given up on her dream. She just put it on pause for a little bit. That's what she thought at least. Delgado's first two choices for college – UCLA and UT – were a little too pricey for her so she was making alternative plans. Then VAMOS Executive Director Maritza Rodriguez called Delgado and suddenly her dreams were running full speed ahead once again. “A week or two into the summer Maritza called to tell me I was a recipient for the VAMOS Scholarship,” Delgado said. “It was just an incredible thing. All I could think about was how I go out and see things, things different from the Valley. “I told my dad and at first he didn't want to let me go. I told him 'dad, I'm not asking for money, they're paying for everything.' Then he told me I couldn't throw that money away and go ahead 'invest in your dreams.'” Delgado is a human biology major and seeking her teaching certificate. She plans to go to medical school after she graduates. Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS) is holding its 19th Annual Golf Cup Tournament, on March 7, 2015 at the Palm View Golf

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Read about how VAMOS has affected Reynaldo Garcia, above right in the next edition of South Texas Golf Course. In the previous eight weeks, the organization held press conferences with two major announcements and partnerships. First, The San Juan Luxury Auto Group committed to a three-year endorsement as the tournament’s Title Auto Sponsor and contributed $90,000 for the scholarship program. Tournament players will have an opportunity to win a Hole in One vehicle at each of the par 3s from one of the four San Juan Luxury Group dealerships: Mercedes of San Juan, Audi San Juan, Jaguar San Juan, and Land Rover San Juan. “We care deeply for our community and only want the best for our young people. They are the key to the future,” said Janet Cavazos, Public Relations Manager San Juan Auto Luxury Group. Next it was Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR) committing to being this year’s Presenting Sponsor with a generous contribution of $50,000. Their financial support will help VAMOS toward their goal of raising $1 million in scholarships. Funds raised are applied to four-year renewable scholarships designated for graduating high school seniors of the Starr, Cameron and Hidalgo County areas. VAMOS’ goal is to raise $1,000,000 for its scholarship program. Last year, with the help of community support and its sponsors, the organization was able to award 70 students with four-year scholarships to the university of their choice. Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR) is leading the way for advanced healthcare in South Texas and VAMOS wants to ensure Rio Grande Valley students have the opportunity to be at the forefront of all future medical innovations and advancements. The partnership between VAMOS and DHR allows for the continuous support of Valley students through their post-secondary education and onwards with employment and internship opportunities for these students. This tournament is the organization’s largest fundraiser and one of the most anticipated tournaments in the Valley. Funds raised are applied to four year renewable scholarships designated to graduating high school seniors of the Starr, Cameron, and Hidalgo County areas. The goal of VAMOS is to raise $1,000,000 for its scholarship program. Last year, with the help of community support and its sponsors, the organization was able to award 70 students with four year scholarships to the university of their choice. “Doctors Hospital at Renaissance is dedicated to the advancement and development of our community,” said Marissa Castañeda, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for DHR. “Through our commitment, DHR’s Board of Managers and Partners supports programs that enrich and foster health, education, and civic service. DHR is proud to support VAMOS as it gives back directly to our community, supporting the future of our students

through scholarships and educational opportunities. What makes VAMOS different than many scholarship programs is that it's much more than that. Each scholarship recipient has a mentor to stay in touch with them and help guide them along the way. “My mentor actually happens to be the mom of one of the girls I went to school with at PSJA North,” said Delgado, who ran the 4x300, and the 100- and 300-meter hurdles for the Raiders. “I ran track with her and we're in the same group of friends. She'll send me motivational quotes and encourages me. “Sometimes you need someone to remind you that you are blessed and everything is going to be OK – that's what my mentor does. The fact I'm here at UT is fantastic- because of VAMOS I've been exposed to so many different things and cultures and people. What VAMOS does motivates me. I'm blessed and want to give back to my community.”

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PAGA BROWNSVILLE Feature name

GROWING AGAIN

Brownsville Pan American Golf Association attracting new, young golfers There’s a golf resurgance in Brownsville. That’s just fine with Bob Prepejchal. Just reading that will make golf courses around South Texas smile, especially after all the talk of the sport being in decline. Prepejchal, president of the Brownsville PAGA organization, said he has seen growth both in the organization and in the annual Charro Days Tournament, which just completed its 58th annual tournament and sold out with 108 golfers. The National PAGA - Pan American Prepejchal Golf Association - organization has been in existence for more than 50 years, promoting golf for men, women and juniors, through community involvement and fund raising activities. The National PAGA is established in nine states with 44 Chapters and a membership of more than 2,600, according to its website nationalpaga.org. “The National PAGA was created to instill fair play, the desire to spend time enjoyably and to encourage and promote amateur golf among the member chapters of the Organization, and to promote Jr. Golf. We also strive to cooperate with and solicit good friendly relations with civic and athletic Organizations, and to particularly cooperate with member chapters,” the website states. There are four Valley chapters Brownsville, Mercedes, Harlingen and Edinburg. Prepejchal estimates there are probably about 300 members throughtout the Rio Grande Valley. 20 [Southtexas Golf #1]

58TH ANNUAL CHARRO DAYS TOURNAMENT AT VALLEY INTERNATIONAL COUNTR Y CLUB

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Feature name

2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

Alamo

Country Club COURSE NAME Alamo Country Club ADDRESS 920 North Tower Rd. Alamo, TX 78516 PHONE (956) 787-0907 EMAIL accfd@sbcglobal.net WEBSITE myalamocountryclub.com COURSE SUPERINTENDENT Pete Ledezma PRO SHOP MANAGER Lindsey Moravitz COURSE INFO For residents only PAR 35 (9-hole course) YARDAGE Blue – 2,332 (4,664 to play 18) White – 2,216 (4,432 to play 18) FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda

ROUGHS Bermuda GREENS Mini Verde Grass 22 [Southtexas Golf #1]

Aerial View of No. 4 at Alamo Country Club

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Brownsville Golf Center ADDRESS 1800 San Marcelo, Brownsville, Texas PHONE (956) 541-2582

COURSE COORDINATOR Jaime Rivera GOLF COURSE SUPERVISOR Neale House PAR 70 YARDAGE Blue – 6,144 White – 5,652 Red – 5,091 FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda ROUGHS Bermuda

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About Brownsville Golf Center Open 362 days per year, the public 18-hole course opened in 1971 and was renovated in 1999, making it one of the finest municipal golf courses in South Texas. The wel -maintained course boasts a beautiful tropical landscape with challenging holes that features Bermuda grass, wide open fairways, Dwarf tift greens, and water coming into play on almost every hole. A putting and chipping practice facility is also on site, as well as beverages and fully stocked snack bar. The BGC Pro Shop featuring NIKE and Callaway golf products. In 2009, the course continued with the 3-year renovation plan and received drainage improvements and landscaping upgrades.

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course

DIRECTOR OF GOLF Robert Lucio

ADDRESS 300 River Levee Rd Brownsville TX, 78523

ARCHITECT City of Brownsville

PHONE (956) 541-0394 WEBSITE www.FortBrownGolf.com FACEBOOK/TWITTER Fort Brown Golf Course

COURSE INFO Municipal, open to the public PAR 72 YARDAGE Championship Tees: 6,150 Mens Tees: 6,020 Ladies Tees: 5,550 GREENS Champion Bermuda FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda

GOLF PRO Joseph Lucio

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ROUGHS Bermuda

GLOW GOLF Make sure to check out the photos and story on Page 16 on Glow Golf - happening every Friday night at Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course.

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COURSE NAME Harlingen Country Club ADDRESS 5500 El Camino Real Harlingen, Texas TYPE OF COURSE Private PHONE (956) 412-4100 (ext. 2) FAX (956) 412-4123 WEBSITE www.harlingencc.com FACEBOOK/TWITTER Harlingen Country Club

2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

PAR 72

Harlingen Country Club is home of the Life Begins at 40 Golf Tournament. Above 6-time, and defending champion, Ron Kilby lines up his tee shot.

YARDAGE Black - 6,541 Blue - 6,261 White - 5,625 Red - 5,035 FAIRWAYS Bermuda ROUGHS Bermuda GREENS Champion

GENERAL MANAGER Jeff Murray, FMP

GOLF PRO Michael Fernuik, PGA ARCHITECT Leon Howard

28 [Southtexas Golf #1]

Harlingen Country Club provided the South Texas Golf Golf Grubbers with an amazing array of perfectly cooked food from steak to fish to nachos and more.

HCC is also host to the South Texas Junior Golf Classic. The first STJGC was organized by Harlingen attorney and resident Lee Wiley in 1982. The purpose of the tournament is to promote the sport of golf within our young people and to provide them with a local venue to test their competitive skills. The South Texas Junior Golf Classic is proud to be associated with the Southern Texas Section of the PGA of America. The event is open to the public.

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Save The Date Friday, April 24, 2015 Harlingen Country Club 2ND ANNUAL

BLUE SUNDAY GOLF SCRAMBLE www.bluesundaygolf.com Blue Sunday is a Child Abuse Prevention Initiative founded in Harlingen. Go to www.bluesunday.org for more information on this ever-important cause [Southtexas Golf #1] 29

Feature name

COURSE NAME Howling Trails Golf Course Municipal Course (formerly known as Martin Valley Ranch) ADDRESS 1910 Hole In One Dr. Mission TX 78572

2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

FAIRWAY GRASS Common Bermuda ROUGHS Common Bermuda GREENS Bermuda 328 and 419

TYPE OF COURSE Public/Municipal

ABOUT HOWLING TRAILS

PHONE (956) 585-6330 EMAIL Howlingtrails@ lajoyaisd.net

WATER RESOURCE CENTER

DIRECTOR OF GOLF Raul Gutierrez La Joya ISD Sports & Learning Complex

COURSE INFO 27 holes PAR 71 YARDAGE FROM TEES Blue Tees - 6,175 Red Tees - 5,597 Yellow Tees - 4,881

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The La Joya Independent School Disrtrict purchased Martin Valley Ranchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 27-hole golf course last year. Some of its future plans can be seen in the schematic to the left provided by the school district. Those plans include a nanatorium, a planetariam, a resource center, tennis courts and more.

WELCOME BACK WINTER TEXANS!!

PANTONE SOLID UNCOATED #334

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WINTER TEXAN PARK GOLF COURSE GOLF TOURNAMENT SPECIAL EVENT

CALL JOEY AT (956) 607-0853 OR HENRY AT (956) 607-9210 OR EMAIL SOUTHTEXASGOLF@GMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION

WE HAVE THE BEST FLEET IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY!! [Southtexas Golf #1] 31

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Los Lagos Golf Club (Municipal Course) ADDRESS 1720 South Raul Longoria Edinburg, Texas, 78540 PHONE (956) 316-0444 FAX (956) 289-8275

PAR 72 YARDAGE Black - 7,188 Blue – 6,789 White – 6,211 Red – 5,561

WEBSITE Edinburggolf.com

FAIRWAY GRASS TifDwarf 419

DIRECTOR OF GOLF Tony Garcia (interim)

ROUGHS Bermuda GREENS TifEagle OTHER FACILITIES Lighted Night Range, Lighted Open-Air Pavilion

ASSISTANT GOLF PRO Sixto Torres ARCHITECT Von Hagge

Los Lagos is home to the Edinburg City Amateur. It also has a burger that golfers and non-golfers love alike - the Los Lagos Burger (on a grilled jalapeno cheddar bun) 32 [Southtexas Golf #1]

About Los Lagos Golf Club Rated by The Monitor’s Readers’ Choice Awards as the No. 1 Course to Play 7 times in the past 9 years. The beautiful 7,188-yard, par-72 track unfolds onto gently rolling hills, challenging players to make a safe shot. In addition to the 18-hole championship course, the facility features a wellstocked pro shop, lighted driving range, putting green and a snack bar. Los Lagos is enjoyable for average golfers, yet challenging to low-handicap players.

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Feature name

2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY About McAllen Country Club

COURSE NAME: McAllen Country Club Private Course ADDRESS: 615 Wichita Ave., McAllen, TX 78503 PHONE: (956) 686-0923 WEBSITE: mcallencountryclub.com

FAIRWAY GRASS Tifsport ROUGHS: Common Bermuda GREENS Mini Verde

GENERAL MANAGER: Joe Lasiter GOLF PRO Mike Perez ARCHITECT Jay Riviere PAR: 71 / 72 YARDAGE: Gold 6,454 Blue 5,946 White 5,628 Red 5,164

34 [Southtexas Golf #1]

Above, Make sure you hit the ball straight at MCC - it has some of the tightest fairway in the Valley. Right, MCC plays host to the annual Rally for the Cure breast cancer invitational.

The McAllen Country Club, which today serves as an integral part of our area’s culture and society, was originally organized in 1946. Its evolution, however, begins many years earlier, when a nine hole private golf course was constructed on the present site of the club. That club was not financially successful, and sold to a local farmer; who in turn sold it to the founding fathers of our incorporation. On February 21, 1946, The McAllen Country Club was incorporated. Sixty one (61) McAllen businessmen purchased stock and formed what is now the Premier Country Club in the Rio Grande Valley. The original simple wooden clubhouse fell victim to a fire in 1954. The second clubhouse was built in 1955. As the membership grew, so did the need for a larger facility which was constructed in 1996. More land was purchased in 1968, some of which was re-sold as residential lots, which allowed the club to complete its current 18 hole golf course. Today our club’s membership includes the original stockholders, their heirs or transfers and preferred stockholders. Our facilities now include an Olympic sized swimming pool, a baby pool, snack bar/grill, teen facility, seven lighted tennis courts built to USTA specifications, a Jay Rivera designed (front nine) golf course, a plush clubhouse with 5 dining rooms, men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, a fully stocked Golf Pro Shop, a fully stocked Tennis Pro Shop, a grand ballroom and a state of the art sports/fitness center.

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In Search of A

BETTER DRIVE? Let Super Bien Help! 114 N. 10th McALLEN (956) 668-PIPE

731 W. Dove McALLEN (956) 668-1299

2030 N. Cage PHARR (956) 702-7003

727 W. Palma Vista PALMVIEW (956) 580-2335

735 W. DOVE McALLEN (956) 668-9686 casapetrides@yahoo.com

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Feature name

2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME: Meado Creek Golf Club ADDRESS: 1300 Circle Drive Mission, Texas 78592 PHONE: (956) 581-6267 WEBSITE: meadowcreekinthevalley.net EMAIL: Meadowcreekinthevalley@yahoo.com

About Meadow Creek Golf Club

GOLF DIRECTOR Otis Hesteness

Meadow Creekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength lies in its three finishing holes, giving golfers a shot at using several of their clubs. No. 16 The first of the three great finishing holes is a reachable par-5 but the water hazard, trees and out of bounds mean you must hit the ball well - especially going for the green in two. If you prefer, a second shot to the middle of the fairway sets up a short shot into the green.

PAR: 70 YARDAGE: Blue 6,059 White 5,488 Red 4,747 FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda GREENS Bermuda

36 [Southtexas Golf #1]

No. 17 A beautiful short par-3. The green sits on a peninsula that juts out into a water hazard. Controlling your distance is a must. No. 18 A fabulous finishing hole. A water hazard on the right and out of bounds on the left make an accurate tee shot a must. A water hazard running across the fairway 30 yards from the green means you must hit the approach shot to the putting surface on the fly. A severely sloping green awaits you, so keep the ball below the hole. A par here is always a good score.

2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

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COURSE NAME Monte Cristo Golf & Country Club ADDRESS 2919 N. Kenyon Rd, Edinburg TX 78542 PHONE (956) 381-0965 FAX (956) 318-0201 WEBSITE www.montecristogcc.com/ DIRECTOR OF GOLF Harvey Lopez

GOLF PRO Harvey Lopez PAR 71 YARDAGE Gold 6,392 Blue 6,014 White 5,373 Red 4,521 FAIRWAY GRASS 419 Bermuda GREENS Tiff Dwarf

About Monte Cristo Golf & Country Club The Rio Grande Valley golfing community, located on the Southeast tip of Texas just minutes from Mexico, has a hidden gem – “Monte Cristo Golf and Country Club”. The Valley’s tropical climate has helped create a picturesque setting for this active 55+ adult community. When you live at Monte Cristo you experience Country Club living without Country Club prices. Monte Cristo is a beautiful community with a 18 Hole Championship Golf Course, 2 swimming pools, tennis courts, a driving range, a putting practice green and a clubhouse with a fine restaurant and our 19th Hole bar. Check out www.montecristogcc.com for more information.

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Palm View Golf Course (public/Municipal Course) ADDRESS 2701 S. Ware Road Edinburg, Texas, 78540 PHONEPMS (956) 618-3444 FAX (956) 681-3447 WEBSITE palmviewgolf.com DIRECTOR OF GOLF Carlos Espinosa

286 blue and

YARDAGE 347 Blue –green. 6,771 White – 5,779 Red – 4,816

FAIRWAY GRASS 419 Bermuda ROUGHS Common Bermuda GREENS Tiff Dwarf OTHER FACILITIES Lighted Night Range, Lighted Open-Air Pavilion

GOLF PRO Rex Flores

ARCHITECT Charles Howard PAR 72

38 [Southtexas Golf #1]

About Palm View Golf Course This beautiful par-72 championship layout boasts a length of 5,779 yards from the middle tees but can quickly turn into a challenging 6,771 yards if played from the back. It’s wide, generous and its rolling fairways are flanked by rough and mounds that create a unique links style atmosphere. Fourteen man-made lakes that provide the

Palm View Golf Course is home to the McAllen Amateur Championship, won last year by San Antonio’s Genaro Davila.

golfer with pleasant thrills and some of the most panoramic views in the area further enchance their beauty. The facility offers a practice area that is second to none. The driving range covers 350 yards in length, offers 11 target greens, a short game practice area and a 10,000-square-foot practice putting green. Depending on personal preferences and changing wind conditions, golfers can choose from teeing grounds available at both ends of the practice fairway.

You’ll have a hard time finding a better burger or tastier fajitas than what they make in the kitchen at Palm View.

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club / El Diablo ADDRESS 1 Rancho Viejo Drive Rancho Viejo, Texas 78575 PHONE (956) 350-4000 FAX (956) 350-5696

FAIRWAY GRASS Common Bermuda ROUGHS Common Bermuda

WEBSITE WWW.RVRCC.COM FACEBOOK/TWITTER Follow us on Facebook “Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club” Follow us on Twitter @RVRCC DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION Wendy Werley Bullock, Class A LPGA Professional DIRECTOR OF GOLF Joe Powell

From its instructors (Above, Wendy Werley Bullock; Joe Powell, left) to its restaraurant to everything golf, Rancho Viejo is nothing but a class establishment.

ARCHITECT Don Arpp PAR 70 YARDAGE Gold – 6821 Blue -6315 White – 5979 Red - 5556 40 [Southtexas Golf #1]

ABOUT EL DIABLO El Diablo golf course was selected as the host of the PGA Tour Qualifying School in the Fall of 1976, and the 2009 & 2010 host of the Duramed Futures Tour which is the LPGA’s developmental tour. Our members and resort guests enjoy competitive and social play on our manicured fairways suitable for all skill levels. RVRCC’s PGA Family Course Program makes golf more enjoyable for new golfers and children. Our very own Wendy Werley, LPGA Class A Golf Professional, has been awarded the US Kids Golf Top 50 teachers award for three years running for her contribution to golf by creating a standout year round junior golf program at the resort.

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Shary Municipal Golf Course Public/Municipal ADDRESS 2201 Mayberry, Mission, Texas PHONE (956) 580-8770 Snack Bar - (956) 580-8774 EMAIL sharygc@yahoo.com DIRECTOR OF GOLF Mario Flores

Yellow – 5,350 Red – 4,700

ARCHITECT George Williams COURSE INFO 27-hole facility PAR 71 on holes 1-18, 36 on holes 19-27 YARDAGE Blue - 5,950 While – 5,575 42 [Southtexas Golf #1]

FAIRWAY GRASS Common Bermuda ROUGHS Common Bermuda GREENS Tif Dwarf

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME South Padre Island Golf Club ADDRESS 1 Golf House Rd. Laguna Vista, Texas 78578 PHONE (956) 943-GOLF FAX (956) 943-2070 WEBSITE www.spigolf.com FACEBOOK/TWITTER www.facebook.com/spigc GENERAL MANAGER Chris Meade GOLF PRO Chris Meade ARCHITECT Chris Cole and Stephen Caplinger PAR 72 YARDAGE FROM TEES Red – 5,406 White – 5,542 Blue – 6,291 Black – 6,420 Gold – 6,931 FAIRWAY GRASS 328 Bermuda GREENS Champions Dwarf Bermuda ROUGHS 328 Bermuda

44 [Southtexas Golf #1]

About South Padre Island Golf Club Where sunsets have to be seen rather than described, where the third green looking east over The Laguna Madre Bay must be felt, not featured. South Padre Island Golf Club can only be celebrated first hand, through sight and sound and smell. Around every bend, after every hole at South Padre Island Golf Club, you will find reasons our golf course is one of the finest in the Rio Grande Valley. Enveloped by nature, the course at South Padre Island Golf Club is truly an oasis. Contact us today for information about our golf vacation packages or to reserve your tee time at The Valley's premiere golf club. We feature several membership and

golf lesson packages to best suit your needs and budget. So what are you waiting for? To get more information on our golf course, our lesson packages, our memberships and more, simply call our Pro Shop to speak with one of our golf professionals.

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1119 WEST HARRISON , HARLINGEN, TX 78550 PHONE: (956) 365-4122 FAX (956) 365-4120 WWW.RGVCARTS.COM

THE OFFICIAL AND ONLY AUTHORIZED CLUB CAR DEALER FOR CLUB CAR CARRYALLTM PRODUCTS IN THE RIO GRAND VALLEY!

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY About Tierra Del Sol Golf Club

COURSE NAME Tierra Del Sol Golf Club Public/Municipal ADDRESS 700 E Hall Acres Rd, Pharr, TX / 78577 PHONE (956) 402-4545 FAX (956) 702.2536 WEBSITE www.PharrGolf.com DIRECTOR OF GOLF Raul Garza ARCHITECT Dave Bennet PAR 72 YARDAGE FROM TEES Blue - 6,827 White - 6,266

Gold - 5,820 Red - 5,252 FAIRWAY GRASS 419 Bermuda ROUGHS 419 Bermuda

Welcome to the new Tierra del Sol, with a new look following a milliondollar renovation. The warm sub-tropical climate of the Rio Grande Valley welcomes golfers from all around the globe to one of the few regions around the country where golf is played 365 days a year. A challenging 18-hole championship layout, the greenest of fairways, redesigned tee boxes, newly renovated greens, and affordable rates for visitors and permanent residents alike, have placed Tierra Del Sol Golf Club among the top 5 courses in the region.

GREENS Tift Dwarf OTHER FACILITIES Pro Shop, Lighted Driving Range, Putting Green, Chipping Green; Full Kitchen and Dining Area, Banquet Reception Hall

The “Tasty Burger” is appropriately named. The sauteed onions take this burger to another level.

A glance at beautiful hole No. 6 above. At right, greens at Tierra Del Sol were completely redone. They hold batter and are greener and smoother than ever before.

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Tierra Santa Golf Club ADDRESS 1901 Club de Amistad Weslaco Texas 78596 PHONE (956) 973-1811 FAX (956) 973-2565 WEBSITE tierrasantaweslaco.com DIRECTOR OF GOLF Joey Rios ARCHITECT Jeff Brauer, Steve Elkington PAR 72 YARDAGE FROM TEES Black - 7,139 Blue - 6,601 White - 6,045 Red - 5,283 FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda 419 ROUGHS Bermuda 419 Greens: Champion

48 [Southtexas Golf #1]

ABOUT TIERRA SANTA Down in the beautiful, tropical portion of South Texas known as the Rio Grande Valley is a hidden gem of a golf course -- Tierra Santa Golf Club. This course is the premiere destination in the region for golfers looking for a relaxing round of 18. In addition to being an excellent locale for golf, the course facility is also the perfect place for a fairy tale wedding or important corporate meeting. We have it all here at Tierra Santa Golf Club. Our course is among the most beau-

tiful in the country, thanks to the unique tropical setting. We have wide spaces, natural growth and a layout that is sure to test even the most skilled player. At Tierra Santa we feature multiple sets of tees so that every player -- from the champion on down to the rookie -- will feel both challenged and competitive. You will love playing Tierra Santa again and again. Finally, make sure to browse our web site www.tierrasantaweslaco and learn more about our fantastic membership opportunities, and when you stop in, please take time to say hello!

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Feature name COURSE NAME Tony Butler Municipal Golf Course ADDRESS 2640 South “M” Street Harlingen, Texas PHONE (956) 216-5970 WEBSITE http://myharlingen.us/default. aspx?name=golf.home DIRECTOR OF GOLF Eddie Medlin GOLF PRO Eddie Medlin

2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda ROUGHS Bermuda GREENS 1-18/Champions Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda 19-27/Emerald Zoysia ABOUT TONY BUTLER GOLF COURSE Tony Butler Golf Course offers a complete facility with driving range, putting & chipping greens, and short order kitchen. • 27-hole facility through natural South Texas terrain • 6,400 yard 18-hole, par 71 championship layout course with Champions greens • 2,600 yard 9-hole, par 35 course with newly renovated Zoysia greens • Extremely easy to walk if desired • Voted “Best of the Best” 3 yrs in a row (Valley Morning Star’s Reader’s Choice Awards) • Fully stocked ProShop featuring merchandise from: Titleist®, FootJoy®, Nike®, Adidas®, and TaylorMade®

ARCHITECT John Bredemus COURSE INFO 27 Hole Facility PAR 1-18/71 19-27/35 YARDAGE 1-18 Red/5113 White/5837 Blue/6320 19-27 Red/2467 White/2881 50 [Southtexas Golf #1]

Among other events, Tony Butler is host to the annual Harlingen Sunburst Rotary Tournament.

0210041154 205, ,2, 2 Nuaognv. .. 120 eessAJ ir ir p p x E

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We’re BACK!! Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday 10 a.m. -10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to Midnight

1100 W. Nolana Loop Pharr, Tx 78577 956-702-9600

Winter Texan/ Senior Special Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Any size bucket for $5

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Treasure Hills Golf Club

DID YOU KNOW? The Adams Tight Lie Tour was held at Treasure Hills Golf Club in 2002, 2003, 2004, Players like Bubba Watson, Ryan Palmer and others who are now successful players on the PGA Tour started here.

ADDRESS 3009 N. Augusta Natâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Drive Harlingen, Texas 78550 TYPE OF COURSE Semi-Private

FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda 419

PHONE (956) 365-3100

ROUGHS Bermuda 419

FAX (956) 365-3101

GREENS Bermuda 328

WEBSITE treasurehillsgc@aol.com DIRECTOR OF GOLF Joe Cardenas

GOLF PRO Skip Cisneros ARCHITECT Robert Trent Jones Senior PAR 72 YARDAGE FROM TEES Blue - 6,960 White - 6,424 Yellow - 5,422 Red - 5,230

52 [Southtexas Golf #1]

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2015 RGV GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COURSE NAME Valley International Country Club ADDRESS 95 Country Club Brownsville, Texas 78520 PHONE (956) 546-5331 Office (956) 548-9199 WEBSITE www.Viccgolf.com GENERAL MANAGER Kevin Sargent SUPERINTENDENT Eddie Serrano

ABOUT VICC

ARCHITECT Opened in 1910 PAR 70 YARDAGE White - 4,924 Black - 5,517 Blue - 6,130 Orange - 6,538 FAIRWAY GRASS Bermuda Grass OTHER 47 sand bunkers around the greens

54 [Southtexas Golf #1]

Valley International's Championship Course is an 18-hole course that spans more than 1,000 acres. The course layout really makes the most out of the natural water hazards. Thirteen of the eighteen fairways are either bordered or dissected by a resaca, creating a unique challenge that few, if any, courses can duplicate. This semi-private course features four sets of tees, so experienced players can enjoy the challenge, while rookies relax amid the tropical scenery and learn the classic game of golf. Imagine teeing off amid swaying palms and the chirping of scores of rare birds - this is what you will find at Valley International. The Championship Course has been named the Reader's Choice for Best Golf Course many times, and has won the award as recently as 2013. Golfers can also play at our executive nine hole, par 3 course. It has everything you like about the 18 Hole Championship Course, but compacted. The

Executive Course features the same challenge, beauty, water ways and trees as the rest of Valley International.

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Feature FROM TEEname TO GREEN

Active vs. Passive funds: More than fees Since the first index fund was invented in 1975, the debate has raged between active and passive investing styles. Passive investors adhere to the principal of market efficiency, which holds that all information available about a company is reflected in its current stock price. Rather than trying to second-guess the market, passive investors buy the entire market, or a specific segment of it, via index funds. Active investors counter that the market is not always efficient and that through research, active fund managers may be able to uncover information not already reflected in a security’s price and potentially profit by it. A less-than-efficient market, they reason, favors active stock selection. Which is betMark Southwell ter? That deMogan Stanley Financial Advisor pends on what you look at. PERFORMANCE Over the years, numerous performance comparisons have been made between the two styles. Most have found that in the aggregate, passive outperforms active, especially after fees are taken into consideration. One of these, Standard & Poor’s SPIVA® (S&P Indices Versus Active Funds) U.S. Scorecard, found that 57% of all actively-managed domestic equity funds underperformed their benchmarks after expenses during the 10 years ended Dec. 31, 2013.1 But the results are more mixed during shorter time periods or when different segments or investing styles are examined. For instance, although actively managed large- and small-cap funds underperformed their benchmarks in 2013, actively managed midcap funds outperformed, as did actively managed growth funds in the large-cap, midcap, and multi-cap categories.1 FEES Actively managed funds generally charge higher annual expenses than 56 [Southtexas Golf #1]

their index-based cousins. As of December 31, 2013, the average dollar-weighted expense ratios of actively managed domestic large-cap, midcap, and small-cap funds was 0.80%, 0.97%, and 1.03% respectively. By comparison, the index versions of these fund categories charged 0.13%, 0.23%, and 0.23% respectively.2 Although fee ratios for actively-managed funds have been trending down in recent years, they are still well above those of passive funds and are likely to remain so given that they require higher research and management costs and are consequently more expensive to run.

If you have questions or would like to learn more, contact Mark Southwell at the 1845 Group, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, 7000 N. 10th St, C-2 | McAllen, TX 78504 Phone: 956 683-1700 Website: morganstanleyfa.com/1845group/

TAKEAWAYS FOR INVESTORS Although aggregate, long-term performance and fees both favor passive over active, there are some important points to be made in favor of active management. In certain segments, such as growth and international small-cap equity, active managers have tended to outperform the benchmarks more frequently, often when the economy and financial markets are in a state of flux.1 While active management cannot guarantee market-beating returns, it does offer the potential to capitalize on market shifts and the flexibility to take advantage of different investing strategies. Active managers also appear to have the edge in markets that are not efficient and when implementing investment strategies that are complex and fast moving. Such circumstances can pose issues for index funds, which typically must adhere to a predetermined set of rules and may not be able to respond as nimbly as active managers.3 In practice, a blended approach may be the best answer. Consider index funds for efficient markets and active management for less efficient areas. When the broad market turns volatile, adding a defensive, actively traded fund to a portfolio of index holdings may help to smooth out bumps and moderate overall portfolio risk. Alternatively, passive investors can potentially build risk management into their portfolios by diversifying among a range of index funds covering a wide, varied swath of the market. Keep in mind that how you construct your portfolio should consider much more than performance and fees. Let me work with you to find the mix that best suits your situation.

Index Funds are offered by prospectus. It is not possible to directly invest in an index.

Sources: 1S&P Dow Jones Indices, “S&P Indices Versus Active Funds (SPIVA®) U.S. Scorecard,” March 20, 2014. 2Morningstar. Based on the dollar-weighted average expense ratios for all funds tracked by Morningstar within each category. 3The Wall Street Journal, The Experts: When Does Active Management Make Sense? April 21, 2013.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives and risks as well as charges and expenses of a mutual fund before investing. To obtain a prospectus, contact your Financial Advisor or visit the fund company’s website. The prospectus contains this and other information about the mutual fund. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. The investor should note that funds that invest exclusively in one sector or industry involve additional risks. The lack of industry diversification subjects the investor to increased industry-specific risks. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets. Equity Securities’ prices may fluctuate in response to specific situations for each company, industry, market conditions, and general economic environment. Growth investing does not guarantee a profit or eliminate risk. The stocks of these companies can have relatively high valuations. Because of these high valuations, an investment in a growth stock can be more risky than an investment in a company with more modest growth expectations. Small Capitalization Funds are managed aggressively and typically carry more risk than stock funds investing in well-established companies. International investing involves certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. The securities discussed in this material may not be suitable for all investors. Morgan Stanley recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a financial adviser. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. If you’d like to learn more, please contact Mark Southwell, CFP®.

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LIFESTYLE - FINANCE

Plan for effective wealth transfer

Have you implemented estate planning strategies to help pass along more of your wealth to your heirs? If not, this article will motivate you to do so.

Investors often concentrate on accumulating assets, but how much time and energy is spent on preserving those hard-earned assets for future generations? Not nearly enough. Have you considered any of the following strategies to help pass along more of your estate to your heirs? Nuts and Bolts of Estate Planning Many people don’t begin thinking about transferring their assets until retirement. In reality, effective estate planning is an ongoing process -- often best begun at a much younger age. At the very least, you should have a will to ensure that your final wishes are known. If you have dependent children, also consider naming a suitable guardian for them. After determining the value of real estate, cash-value life insurance policies, and assets held in retirement and investment accounts, a more encompassing plan may also be necessary. Giving Less to the Tax Man What can you do to avoid drastically reducing your estate to meet tax obligations? Life insurance may be a tax-efficient way of transferring accumulated wealth. Some types of policies offer current tax benefits and also reduce or eliminate taxes for beneficiaries. And life insurance may also increase the amount passed on to your heirs. Plus, it may also help owners of highly appreciated property or small businesses retain their assets, rather

Harvey Lopez brings more than 15 years experience of Wealth Management, business solutions and Insurance experience serving the entire Rio Grande Valley. If you have questions, you can call Harvey at (956) 874-8750 than be forced to sell those assets to pay Uncle Sam. Trusts may also be appropriate, and there are many types from which to choose. A grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT), for example, allows you to transfer assets to an irrevocable trust and then receive a yearly annuity for

a specific number of years. Once the GRAT is dissolved, the remaining assets pass to the beneficiaries, usually free of estate and gift taxes. Charitable remainder trusts are also popular. They can be arranged so that you -- and, if you desire, a named beneficiary -- receive tax benefits and, in some cases, income during life. What’s more, the trust also benefits a charity of your choice. If appropriate, trusts are a key part of the estate planning process. This article just scratches the surface of effective wealth transfer. Contact your financial advisor or lawyer about these and other suggestions to make the most of your assets -- for both you and your heirs. LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications or its sources, neither S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber’s or others’ use of the content. © 2013 S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications. All rights reserved.

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