South texas golf summer 14 by South Texas Golf

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DR. RAUL PENA’S

EYE

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LONG ISLAND VILLAGE * SAN ANTONIO’S LA[Southtexas CANTERA Golf #1] 1 GOLF GRUB: SIMPLE CAN BE BETTER

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Your Next Vacation is in South Texas! Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club is the ideal destination for your next vacation! With 50 luxurious hotel rooms and suites, impeccable onsite dining, an expansive pool complete with swim up bar, and an 18 hole championship golf course, Rancho Viejo has something for every member of your family to enjoy. Book your stay today with this great special!

Receive 15% off your room *15% discount only applies to reservations for three (3) or more nights. Discount only applies to current rate of room. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 6/30/14.

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956-350-4000

1 Rancho Viejo Dr. Rancho Viejo, TX 78575

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Independence Powered By LPL Financial.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC

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COVER STORY

FEATURE NAME LORENA OCHOA

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THE EYES

SEEING & BELIEVING

HAVE IT

Dr. Raul Peña on how crucial vision is to your golf game and, most importantly, to your quality of life By Henry Miller henry@stexasgolf.com Raul Peña can see it clearly. His swing is picture perfect – the best he’s ever done. A Perfect stroke. He feels the impact of the club on the ball. The trajectory is perfect just right and the ball is headed right at the pin, playing on the back right side this time. The ball hits the green, bounces a couple of times and trickles toward the pin. The ball disappears into the cup – it’s a hole-in-one. “That’s when I woke up,” joked Peña, President of Peña Eye Institute in McAllen and Harlingen. “That would be my best shot – I just haven’t hit it…yet.” Peña, a McAllen native, started golf “as an adolescent” and loves the sport. Like so many others, however, he doesn’t have enough hours in the day to get out on the course. “I love being outdoors and in golf it’s just you against the course,” Peña said. “You’re not relying on anyone and you’re competing against yourself, trying to get better.” “I play golf as much as I can, just not as often as I would like.” However, he’s spent countless hours helping others prolong their golf careers and, in many cases, improve their performances with either Lasik or cataract surgery. Peña performed his first Lasik surgery as Chief Resident at the University of Cincinnati and has continued doing so for over 15 ½ years. Recently, a patient told him how much better his game was since surgery. “With IntraLasik you can see better. You see sharper images, and it’s highdefinition vision,” he said. “You can

enjoy golf without having to worry about how you’re going to see. Get on the course and play care free.” Peña is the Valley’s official IntraLasik surgeon for the Dallas Cowboys and has performed the procedure overall on 13 NFL players – along with 20 of their family members. He’s done IntraLasik on his children, surgery on his dad and thousands and thousands of the sevenminute procedure that literally makes life clearer, and more enjoyable, for his patients. When someone’s vision goes bad, they face all sorts of problems on a golf course including not being able to gauge distances, inability to truly read the slope of a green and even having a problem being able to accurately strike the ball off the tee or the ground. Not being able to catch the flight of the ball or where it lands is usually the most difficult problem, and it’s usually made worse by the golfer lifting his head quicker to keep up with the ball.

Lifting the head too early leads to hitting the ball not as cleanly, thus making the problem worse. “What happens is that glasses are actually away from the eye and the reflection of the light has to go through the lens first. So, while you are seeing better with glasses, than without, they are still away from your eye,” Peña said. “Contacts essentially do the same thing, except with a foreign object on your eye, you are not going to see the best you can.” Allergies, common in South Texas, will have a bigger impact as contact wearers’ eyes will become itchy and dry. “When you suddenly start realizing that you’re asking your friends ‘where did the ball go?’ it’s probably time – or past time – for an eye checkup,” Peña said. “And in all honesty, you should have your eyes checked at least once a year so your vision doesn’t get to the point where you can’t see.”

[Southtexas Golf #1] FEATURE NAME FROM THE16 PUBLISHER

CAMILLA,

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What’s Inside

SOUTH TEXAS GOLF

CART RENTALS FEATURE NAME

GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

COVER STORY - RAUL GARZA, TIERRA DEL SOL FEATURE NAME WEBSITE: montecristogcc.com

DR. RAUL PENA’S

We celebrated Father’s Day recently. While my dad has passed on, I’ve been blessed to be a dad for the past 9 years to my precious daughter Camilla. (She Henry Miller is Publisher of South turns 10 on Aug. 13 - and it wil have Texas Golf. He has more than 25 years been the greatest decade of my life.) of publishing experience, has written sports for more than 150 newspapers, I remember her first time on the covered the Olympics, NASCAR, Major course with me. It was at Palm View League Baseball and other sports. He during Futures Tour week. She had her has been syndicated on radio in more plastic multi-colored (and left-handed) than 70 markets and loves to golf. clubs, ready to tear up the world. His 9-year-old daughter Camilla has Yeah, the past nine Father’s Day have a wicked left-handed swing and also all been special but I wanted to take the enjoys track, volleyball, karate, singtime to give my daughter what I believe ing and fashion. They live in McAllen, Texas. are life lessons on the golf course. DON’T EVER QUIT: You can be out there on the golf course - just like in life - and nothing is going right. Keep fighting through it - you’re gonna hit that one great shot and everything will be right again. All because you didn’t give up. AVOID TRAPS: Some of them you’ll see, others you won’t. But they’re all out there. You’re probably gonna fall in some during a round, as in life, but march forward with strength, get out of is as quickly as possible - and don’t ever look back. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS: This is true whether you are playing well or playing poorly. You can’t lose focus. If you’re playing well and you focus, say goodbye to that round. If you’re not playing well and you lose focus, it’s going to get worse. HIT IT AGAIN: Hey, you’re gonna have a bad day, a bad test score or make a bad decision, just like you’re gonna have a bad tee shot, a ball in the water or in the sand. Just hit it again. Always advance the ball - always move forward in life. It really is that simple. TAKE/LEARN LESSONS: Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers of all time, said “don’t be too proud to take a lesson. I’m not.” Mi hija, take and learn lessons everywhere you can. You’ll be better for it. BE THE BEST: Bobby Jones once said: You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots - but you have to play the ball where it lies. My daughter, make every shot, make every decisions, as best you can. ALWAYS BE THANKFUL: Being able to play golf is a blessing, whether you’re good or not. You can make friends, have fun and see the splendor God has created around all of us. Even when things are going bad, be thankful, It’s when things are going bad or when we don’t win that we learn our greatest lessons. EVERYHING COUNTS: That 300-yard drive and that amazing promotion are awesome. How you finish, with that 6-foot putt or that presentation to the board, are just as important. Fishish strong. I love you Camilla. You are my life and my heart is wrapped around your growing fingers. I will always be here for you and I will love you more and more every day. Thanks for a wonderful soon-to-be decade.

“As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round”. - Ben Hogan

EYE

IS ON THE

BALL

GOLF PRO: Adolfo Cubriel

LONG ISLAND VILLAGE * SAN ANTONIO’S LA[Southtexas CANTERA Golf #1] 1 GOLF GRUB: SIMPLE CAN BE BETTER

PAR: 71

On the cover: Raul Garza couldn’t be any happier than he is now, working with the City of Pharr to improve Tierra del Sol by leaps and bounds.

COURSE NAME: Monte Cristo Golf Club ADDRESS: 2919 N. Kenyon Road Edinburg, Texas, 78542

Photo by: Henry Miller Cover Design: David DeLwon

Are you tred of rentng golf carts for your tournament or event that

Staff

SIMPLY DELICIOUS

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

Whether before or after golf, or just for lunch, you will be satisfied at Palm View

Joey Dowden - Advertising Director joey@stexasgolf.com (956) 607-0853 David DeLeon Henry Miller Designers

PMS 286 blue2791 and 347 green.Road S. Ware McAllen, Texas 78503

PHONE (956) 681-3444 FAX (956) 681-3447

Volume 2, Isssue 3. June 2014. 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 2013. To advertise in South Texas Golf call (956) 607-0853 or email southtexasgolf@gmail.com

DIRECTOR OF GOLF Carlos Espinosa cespinosa@mcallen.net WEBSITE palmviewgolf.com

I've spent a lot of time inside the clubhouse at Palm View Golf Course. Many of these times were while eating lunch with co-workers. That's right, just to eat lunch. We weren't playing golf, we weren't taking photos or knocking back a few cold ones. We just went there to eat lunch. Steve Fagan, former editor at The Monitor in McAllen, swore by their burgers. He'd rather have one there than anywhere – unless he was making some at home I would guess. He was, for the longest time, their best promotional work. But I can't say he was wrong – especially after South Texas Golf's most recent Golf Grub visit there. Anybody who considers a simple lunch just all right hasn't really savored the fresh deliciousness of a Palm View burger with fries or their fajita plate, served with rice, beans, tortillas – and don't forget the salsa! It's true - the burger, with just a slice of American cheese along with some tomato, onion, pickle and lettuce on the side, isn't anything fancy to look at or difficult to make. The way is made is perfect. A perfectly cooked burger with fresh veggies, a fresh bun off the grill and ta-da! There it is. With the crinkly cut fries (which are also scrumptiousthey're big, crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside). And after all these years of enjoying that big ole burger, Golf Director Carlos Espinosa (who we at

PHONE: (956) 381-0964

We deliver quality carts on tme. Our feet is all Club Car Precedents, that will represent your course or event in style.

YARDAGE: Gold - 6,392; Blue - 6,014; White 5,373; Red - 4,531 GRASS: 419 Bermuda GREENS: Tiff Dwarf WEBSITE: palmviewgolf.com

look BAD?

South Texas Golf respect to the highest degree) finally gave us the secret – and even that secret was simple. “We buy the best meat there is,” Carlos said. “A lot of places will take the second best choice. Not us. Not here. We buy the best. I don't want to hear any complaints.” Joey Dowden, South Texas Golf 's Advertising Director and fellow Golf Grubber, is NOT a red-meat eater. In fact, he claims at times he's altogether done with any type of meat. If that happens, red meat will be the first off his list. Knowing that, imagine my surprise when before I can finish my first bite of fajita I hear him say “wow, this is really good.” I look up and there he was, showing me how easily the juicy strips of fajita broke apart. “It just breaks apart in your mouth,” he said. After the shock wore off, I found myself in complete agreement with his assessment. It was moist, thick and flavorful. Grilled together with some nice chunks of tomato and onion, toped with a mildly-hot bug tasty salsa and wrapped up in hot tortillas and this simple meal was a major pleasure to the palette – and the stomach. Palm View cook ___________ visited with us a few times to make sure we didn't need anything and that everything was all right. I'm sure the sparkling clean plates and the sleepy look over our faces was more than enough evidence to answer those questions. Carlos tells us that the breakfast tacos are just as good. I'll find that out in the next week. So if you're hitting the golf course, add a little time for a quick and fulfilling meal. If you're not going to the golf course, Palm View is still a terrific choice for a simply wonderful lunch.

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Carlos Espinosa, cespinosa@mcallen.net

McAllen, Texas 78503

FAX: (956) 681-3447

PAR: 72 YARDAGE: Middle - 5,779; Back - 6,771 FAIRWAYS: 419 Bermuda

Website: LaCanteraResort.com Reservations: 1-855-499-2960

ROUGHS: Common Bermuda

DIRECTIONS

DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION: Wendy Werley Bullock, Class A LPGA Professional

Forget the hassle of dealing with people who just don’t understand that the customers experience at your course or event is what brings them back! A GOOD ride may make that difference!

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Joe Powell ADDRESS: 1 Rancho Viejo Dr. Rancho Viejo, Texas 78575

PAR: 70

PHONE: (956) 350-4000

YARDAGE: Gold - 6,821; Blue - 6,315; White 5,979; Red - 5,556

WEBSITE: rvrcc.com FACEBOOK: Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club

WE HAVE THE BEST FLEET IN THE VALLEY GUARANTEED!

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LESSONS Plenty of life learning happens on the course.

GOLF GRUB Simple and delicious at Palm View Golf Course

Quality Service Great Vehicles Compettve Prices

CALL JOEY DOWDEN (956) 607-0853 38 [Southtexas Golf #1] OR HENRY MILLER (956) 607-9210

GRASS: Common Bermuda ROUGHS: Common Bermuda

PAR: 70 (holes 1-18); 36 on 19-27 ADDRESS: 2201 Mayberry, Mission, Texas

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ARCHITECT: Charles Howard

PMSADDRESS: 286 blue and 347S.green. 2701 Ware Road PHONE: (956) 681-3444

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YARDAGE: Blue - 5,950; White - 5,575; Yellow - 5,350; Red - 4,700

PHONE: (956) 580-8770

GRASS: Common Bermuda

EMAIL: sharygc@yahoo.com

ROUGHS: Common Bermuda

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Mario Flores

WHERE TO GO Check out our golf directory

1. Go north on US-281 N. 2. Merge onto I-37 N. 3. Merge onto I-10 W/US-90 W/US-87 N via EXIT 139 toward El Paso/Del Rio. 4. Merge onto I-10 W/I-35 N/US-87 N via EXIT 572 toward El Paso/Austin. 5. Keep left to take I-35 N toward Lower Level/Austin. 6. Keep right to take I-10 W/US-87 N viaEXIT 156 toward El Paso. 7. Keep left to take I-10 W/US-87 N towardEl Paso. 8. Take EXIT 555 toward La Cantera Pkwy/ Fiesta Texas. 9. Merge onto W Interstate 10. 10. Turn left onto La Cantera Pkwy. 11. La Cantera Pkwy is 0.1 miles past Rim Pass 16641 LA CANTERA PKWY. · Your destination is 0.7 miles past Fiesta Texas Dr · If you reach Cantera Vis you've gone about 0.4 miles too far

iving up to its world-renowned reputation as the premier golf destination in Texas, La Cantera Hill Country Resort offers golfers two 18-hole championship courses. With its breathtaking natural beauty of magnificent oak trees and swiftly running streams, it’s little wonder The Resort Course at La Cantera is ranked one of the country’s top courses by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. THE RESORT COURSE Designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf and host to the PGA’s Valero Texas Open at La Cantera (1994-2009), The Resort Course is a par-72 course carved from an old limestone quarry at the base of the Texas Hill Country. The Resort Course is known for its breathtaking views, the most famous being the sheer 80-foot drop from the 7th tee to the fairway, overlooking the Six Flags Fiesta Texas roller-coaster. The course also offers a spectacular view of downtown San Antonio.

rock outcroppings, rolling hills, majestic views and native vegetation and wildlife. The course’s No. 4 signature hole requires a long carry over a lake with dramatic waterfalls. The course is golf legend Arnold Palmer’s first in South Texas and his fifth course in the state. THE AREA Located a quick 20 minutes from the resort you’ll find Downtown San Antonio featuring the famed Riverwalk; the San Antonio International Airport, antiquing in the hill Country; and Sea World San Antonio. If you prefer to stay closer, The Shops at La Cantera and Six Flags Fiesta Texas are less than a mile from the resort and complimentary shuttle service is available to all resort guests.

THE PALMER COURSE The resort gained 18 additional holes of golf with the opening of The Palmer Course at La Canter in 2001. This par-71, 6,998-yard course is dramatically situated over 250 acres. Carefully crafted into the natural landscape, The Palmer Course at La Cantera features

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50 TRAVEL La Cantera has two gorgeous options to play.

FEATURE- FOOD NAME LEISURE & DRINK

10 A SPECIAL SPORT Fatter grips are making a huge difference for golfers when it comes to putting.

22 PHOTO PAGES Audi Quattro Classic, Dentists Who Care, Blue Sunday and more photos

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COURSE COMMENTARY FEATURE NAME

The Toughest Course You Will Ever Play By W.D. “Doc” Gagan For SouthTexas Golf

f the pros are correct, whacking a drive 300 yards is not what makes you a good golfer. Your short game, from 150 yards in, and putting is what really counts. And, while most would agree that courses like TPC Sawgrass is one of the toughest courses to be found anywhere, they’ve never played the toughest course I’ve ever seen where if your short game isn’t finely tuned, you’ll probably crawl away on your hands and knees crying like a baby without a ball left in your bag. I was brought up on a North Dallas, Texas golf course and at 14 was basically a scratch golfer. Heck, I could easily drive 300 yards and my short game, while not perfect, was pretty darn good. My father, who was President of the club at that time was a better than average golfer, but it was my mother who had only taken up golf about the same time as I did who could have gone pro. Sadly, there was no money in women’s golf back then that encouraged her to continue. As for myself, school, after school and weekend jobs, cars and of course girls took up much of my free time and I drifted away from the game, only playing a few times over the next four decades. About 12 years ago, a customer asked me to check out his offshore boat in hopes that I’d be able to help him sell it. The boat was docked at his home in Long Island Village, a private gated resort/retirement community located on a small island in the Lower Laguna Madre just south of Port Isabel, Texas. As my wife and I entered LIV and headed toward his home we passed a cute little 18-hole, par-3 golf course. Recalling how good I used to be at golf, I kind of just laughed under my breath and kept on driving.

Dr. Raul Pena has a plan - that one day everybody will have their eyes checked before it’s too late. Then they’ll be able to enjoy golf - and life - so much more. He’s definitely doing his part - and playing some golf on the side when he’s not working or enjoying time with his family.

TRAVEL - LA CANTERA HILL COUNTRY RESORT FEATURE NAME

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Well, we became so interested in this waterfront community that we ended up purchasing a home there. After all, I’m a boat builder and have always loved the water. Several months later we decided to give this itty bitty course a try at one of their weekend scrambles. The LIV golf course was designed by a guy named Jim Paul. I haven’t a clue who he is, but he had to be somehow related to or the #1 fan of Steven King, the author and writer of many scary novels and movies. The course was absolutely sadistic how it was laid out, and after that round there was only one word that described how I played, “embarrassing”. You see, your typical golf course is a par 72 and this little one is 54. I did manage to shoot par…54 on the front nine! To give you a little insight into what’s in store for you should you feel brave enough to tackle this course, first, it’s an 18-hole course with 16 holes that have water in front of you; on one side or another, or somewhere around the

greens. The only good news - there are no sand traps. The shortest holes are Nos. 4 and 12, 48 and 47 yards long respectively. Just because they are short doesn’t make them any easier. The 4th hole doesn’t have any water, but it does have overhanging trees protecting the small green. I’ve often thought it would be easier just to throw the golf ball than trying to hit it on the green. The same thought has occurred to me regarding the 12th hole that has water in front of it and on one side. Just hitting these greens is tough, but getting the ball to stay on the green is nearly impossible. The two longest holes are Nos. 3 and 11, 109 and 140 yards long respectively. Oddly enough, Jim Paul aimed these two holes directly into the prevailing southeast winds, which are typically 20-plus miles per hour. I’ve seen guys and gals pull out some big hardware, 3 and 5 woods and after what looks like a surface to air missile taking off, their ball falls 30 to 50 yards short of the green.

The greens are small to say the least, many only 10 to 15 paces across, so they present a very small target in which to land your drive, second, third or fourth shot. Missing or rolling off these uniquely sloped and mildly contoured greens is normal, and trying to get the ball back on the green is another challenge. One of my most feared greens is the 6th which is 70 percent surrounded by water with dramatically sloped sides and it makes the 17th hole island green at TPC Sawgrass look easy. The sloped approaches next to the frog hair most often will stop your ball dead or bounce it back at you making a chip and run not always a good choice. Once you’re on a green, what looks like a straight-in putt will suddenly turn and break like a Pennsylvania turnpike. You’ll look at your ball and say, “Where did that come from?” I guess I have two favorite holes at LIV, the first is the 9th hole that ends right next to the Pro shop where

I can get a cool beverage, wine or brewskies and then buy some more golf balls. Sometimes it’s nice to stop there and grab a bite of lunch at the LIV Village Grill when it’s open. But without a doubt my most favorite hole is the 19th hole, and I’m sure that after you play a round or two it’ll be your favorite too. Seriously, this little par 3 is a lot of fun, it’s just very difficult. The LIV Golf Course is open 365 days a year to the public and not just LIV owners or guests. The greens fee is $14 per person and it is an all-day pass, so you can play as many rounds as you can stand. While it’s only a total of 1,449 yards long and many folks elect to walk it for the exercise, if you own your own golf cart you can bring it along and drive on their really nice concrete paths that run throughout the course. Good luck, and don’t say that I didn’t warn you about this tough little golf course.

HOW TO GET TO LONG ISLAND VILLAGE Take Highway 100 into Port Isabel and turn right on Garcia Street, the last street before going over the Queen Isabella Causeway. Then, just drive straight until you cross the old Swing Bridge and you’re there.

MAGAZINE PLUS There’s so much more to South Texas Golf than the magazine

Golf passes can be purchased at the Welcome Center or the Security Guard shack at the entrance.

If your short game isn’t finely tuned, you’ll probably crawl away on your hands and knees crying like a baby without a ball left in your bag. 14 [Southtexas Golf #1] MILLER STORY BY HENRY PHOTOS BY JOEY DOWDEN

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RETIRING? Harvery Lopez helps you calculate if you’re ready for that next step in life

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TOUGHEST COURSE?

COOL DRINK

Here’s why one writer says Long Island Village is the hardest place to play in the RGV

If you don’t know what a summer shandy is, you don’t know what you’re missing!

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Feature name FROM THE PUBLISHER

CAMILLA, This is for you I love you!

We celebrated Father’s Day recently. While my dad has passed on, I’ve been blessed to be a dad for the past 9 years to my precious daughter Camilla. (She turns 10 on Aug. 13 - and it will have Henry Miller is Publisher of South been the greatest decade of my life.) Texas Golf. He has more than 25 I remember her first time on the course years of publishing experience, with me. It was at Palm View during has written sports for more than 150 newspapers, covered the Futures Tour week. She had her plastic, Olympics, NASCAR, Major League multi-colored (and left-handed) clubs, Baseball and other sports. He has ready to tear up the world. been syndicated on radio in more Yeah, the past nine Father’s Days have than 70 markets and loves to golf. all been special but I wanted to take the His 9-year-old daughter Camilla time to give my daughter what I believe are has a wicked left-handed swing life lessons on the golf course. and also enjoys track, volleyball, DON’T EVER QUIT: You can be out karate, singing and fashion. They live in McAllen, Texas. there on the golf course - just like in life - and nothing is going right. Keep fighting through it - you’re going to hit that one great shot and everything will be right again. All because you didn’t give up. AVOID TRAPS: Some of them you’ll see, others you won’t. But they’re all out there. You’ll probably fall in some during a round, as in life, but march forward with strength, get out of it as quickly as possible - and don’t ever look back. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS: This is true whether you are playing well or playing poorly. You can’t lose focus. If you’re playing well and lose focus, say goodbye to that round. If you’re not playing (or living) well and lose focus, it’s going to get worse. HIT IT AGAIN: Hey, you’re gonna have a bad day, a bad test score or make a bad decision, just like you’re gonna have a bad tee shot, a ball in the water or in the sand. Just hit it again. Always advance the ball - always move forward in life. It really is that simple. TAKE/LEARN LESSONS: Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers of all time, said “don’t be too proud to take a lesson. I’m not.” Mi hija, take and learn lessons everywhere you can. You’ll be better for it. Enjoy your great rounds in life. BE THE BEST: Bobby Jones once said: You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots - but you have to play the ball where it lies. My daughter, make every shot, make every decision, as best you can. ALWAYS BE THANKFUL: Playing golf is a blessing, if you’re good or not. You can make friends, have fun and see the splendor God has created around us. Even when things are going bad, be thankful, It’s when things are going bad or when we don’t win that we learn our greatest lessons. When things are going great, be humble. EVERYTHING COUNTS: That 300-yard drive and that amazing promotion are awesome. How you finish, with that 6-foot putt or that presentation to the board, are just as important. Start strong, stay strong, finish strong. I love you Camilla. You are my life and my heart belongs to you. I will always be here for you and I will love you more and more every day. Thanks for a wonderful soon-to-be decade.

“As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round”. - Ben Hogan 8 [Southtexas Golf #1]

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DR. RAUL PENA’S

EYE

IS ON THE

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LONG ISLAND VILLAGE * SAN ANTONIO’S LA[Southtexas CANTERA Golf #1] 1 GOLF GRUB: SIMPLE CAN BE BETTER

On the cover: Dr. Raul Pena knows the importance of having great vision - both on the golf course and for the best quality of life. Photo by: Henry Miller Cover Design: David DeLeon

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

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For more than 25 years, PlainsCapital Bank has set the standard for relationship banking in Texas. What makes us different? Our enduring commitment to our customers and our communities. We bring strength, stability and momentum to every relationship. PlainsCapital Bank is proud to put down roots in the Rio Grande Valley. Together, we can make the most of every opportunity that comes our way.

956.283.2247 PlainsCapital.com

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

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WIZARD’S WORD

There is a new trend toward large putter grips being adopted by touring pros including Jordan Spieth. The theory is that the larger putter grip relieves tension in your arms and hands, and requires the golfer to use the shoulders more in the putting stroke. There are four different sizes to enable golfers to find the perfect individual fit. A major change like this requires practice and patience to achieve better performance. We have had a few golfers want to switch back within a day or two using this new design. I am certain they would have found the larger putter grip to have been a game improver if they would have given themselves more time

COLLEGE BOUND Harlingen High School’s Morgan McLaugherty has given a verbal committment to play golf at Winthrop Univsity in Rock Hill, S.C.

MCLAUGHERTY

SOUTH TEXAS GEMS Rick Wright hit a hole-in-one on hole No. 8 at The Club at Cimarron on April 2 this year. The pin was 155 yardsyards away and Writght used an Adams Pro Series 4 Hybrid and Titleist Pro V1x golf ball. He scored his only other hole-inone in April 1964, 50 years to the month before this one. Alamo Country Club’s Jim Thompson, left, and Stan Vee, right, each registered hole-in-one on the 130-yard No. 5 at ACC.

WRIGHT

THOMPSON & VEE

LIT UP Los Lagos Golf Course’s lighted range is now open from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with large buckets for $6 and small buckets for $4. GRILLING The grill at Howling Trails is open now year round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. serving breakfast and lunch.

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to adjust and a bit of practice. Personally I went to the Super Stroke 2.0 and experienced an initial drop in performance. I knew that was to be expected and after about ten 20-minute practice sessions I began to experience the improvement I was hoping to achieve. I am keeping the large grip on my putter as my

performance continues to improve the more I use it. Stop by your favorite golf shop and try them out...and give yourself time to adjust, you will be glad you did!

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

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Moncada

Plastic Surgery MONCADAPLASTICSURGERY . COM

Little black dress

approved. [Southtexas Golf #1] 11

SCHEDULES/STANDINGS Feature name PGA SCHEDULE July10-13 July 17-20 July 24-27 July 31-Aug. 3 July 31-Aug. 3 Aug. 7-10 Aug. 14-17

John Deere Classic The Open Championship RVc Canadian Open Reno-Tahoe Open Bridgestone Invitational PGA Championship Wyndham Championship

CBS ESPN GOLF/CBS GOLF CBS/GOLF CBS/TNT CBS/GOLF

LPGA SCHEDULE July 10-13 Women’s British Open, Southport England July 17-20 Marathon Classic, Sylvania, Ohio Aug. 7-10 Meijer Classic, Belmont, Michigan Aug. 14-17 Wegman’s Championship, Pittsford, NY Aug. 21-24 Canadian Pacific Open, London, Ont. CHAMPIONS SCHEDULE July 10-13 U.S. Senior Open Champ.,Edmond, Okla. July 24-27 Senior Open Champ., Porthcawl, Wales Aug. 1-3 3M Championship, Blaine, MN Aug. 15-17 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, Edicott, NY LEGENDS SCHEDULE Aug. 10-11 Wendy’s Charity Challenge Aug. 13-17 The Legends Championship

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FED-EX CUP STANDINGS Jimmy Walker 2,322 points 3 wins 8 top 10s

Jordan Spieth 1,495 points 0 wins 6 top 10s

Bubba Watson 2,083 points 2 wins 7 top 10s

Chris Kirk 1,469 points 1 wins 3 top 10s

Matt Kuchar 1,725 points 1 wins 9 top 10s

Harris English 1,431 points 1 wins 7 top 10s

Dustin Johnson 1,701 points 1 wins 7 top 10s

Patrick Reed 1,398 points 2 wins 2 top 10s

Martin Kaymer 1,509 points 2 wins 3 top 10s

Brendon Todd 1,291 points 1 wins 5 top 10s

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COURSE COMMENTARY Feature name

The Toughest Course You Will Ever Play By W.D. “Doc” Gagan For SouthTexas Golf

If your short game isn’t finely tuned, you’ll probably crawl away on your hands and knees crying like a baby without a ball left in your bag. 14 [Southtexas Golf #1]

›› The greens are small to say the least, many only 10 to 15 paces across, so they present a very small target in which to land your drive, second, third or fourth shot. Missing or rolling off these uniquely sloped and mildly contoured greens is normal, and trying to get the ball back on the green is another challenge. One of my most feared greens is the 6th which is 70 percent surrounded by water with dramatically sloped sides and it makes the 17th hole island green at TPC Sawgrass look easy. The sloped approaches next to the frog hair most often will stop your ball dead or bounce it back at you making a chip and run not always a good choice. Once you’re on a green, what looks like a straight-in putt will suddenly turn and break like a Pennsylvania turnpike. You’ll look at your ball and say, “Where did that come from?” I guess I have two favorite holes at LIV, the first is the 9th hole that ends right next to the Pro shop where

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Feature name LORENA OCHOA

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COVER STORY

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THE EYES HAVE IT

Dr. Raul Peña on how crucial vision is to your golf game and, most importantly, to your quality of life By Henry Miller henry@stexasgolf.com Raul Peña can see it clearly. His swing is picture perfect – the best he’s ever done. A Perfect stroke. He feels the impact of the club on the ball. The trajectory is just right and the ball is headed right at the pin, playing on the back right side this time. The ball hits the green, bounces a couple of times and trickles toward the pin. The ball disappears into the cup – it’s a hole-in-one. “That’s when I woke up,” joked Peña, President of Peña Eye Institute in McAllen and Harlingen. “That would be my best shot – I just haven’t hit it…yet.” Peña, a McAllen native, started golf “as an adolescent” and loves the sport. Like so many others, however, he doesn’t have enough hours in the day to get out on the course. “I love being outdoors and golf is just you against the course,” Peña said. “You’re not relying on anyone, you’re competing against yourself, trying to get better.” “I play golf as much as I can, just not as often as I would like.” However, he’s spent countless hours helping others prolong their golf careers and, in many cases, improve their performances with either Lasik or cataract surgery. Peña performed his first Lasik surgery as Chief Resident at the University of Cincinnati and has continued doing so for over 15 years. Recently, a patient told him how much better his game was since surgery. “With IntraLasik you can see better. You see sharper images, it’s high-definition vision,” he said. “You can enjoy

golf without having to worry about how you’re going to see. Get on the course and play care free.” Peña is the Valley’s official IntraLasik surgeon for the Dallas Cowboys and has performed the procedure overall on 13 NFL players – along with 20 of their family members. He’s done IntraLasik on his children, surgery on his dad and thousands and thousands of the sevenminute procedure that literally makes life clearer, and more enjoyable, for his patients. When someone’s vision goes bad, they face all sorts of problems on a golf course including not being able to gauge distances, inability to truly read the slope of a green and even having a problem being able to accurately strike the ball off the tee or the ground. Not being able to catch the flight of the ball or where it lands is usually the most difficult problem, and it’s usually made worse by the golfer lifting his head quicker to keep up with the ball.

Feature name COVER STORY The same goes for cataracts. South Texas is a hotbed for Winter Texans. During the six months that the northern visitors are here living in their second homes, many of them make the golf course their third homes. In fact, several golf courses are in the middle of Winter Texan Parks like Howling Trails (formerly Martin Valley Ranch), Tierra del Sol, Monte Cristo and Stuart Place. Some Winter Texan parks/subdivisions even have their own members only golf course like Alamo Country Club and Adobe Wells. “One thing is certain – everybody gets cataracts if we live long enough,” Peña said. “The lens we are born with will start to diminish over the years and more and more it will affect their vision.” More than 40 years ago cataract surgeries ended with the cataract being removed and patients relying solely on thick, heavy glasses in order to see because there were no intraocular lenses. Today, that surgery is completely different. Peña replaces the natural lens of the eye, clouded by a cataract, with an intraocular implant. “I go in and take out the cataract and replace the lens with a premium lens, like Crystalens or TECNIS Multifocal, that mimic your natural lens. It allows you to see up close, intermediate, and distance.” “Cataracts are slow-developing and it’s hard for a person to tell there’s a

difference in their vision. But then they start noticing more glare when they are driving or they have to get closer to be able to read something – they start to have problems. As soon as that happens, get your eyes checked.” Peña remembers a patient coming in telling he needed to get his right eye checked because he could only use his left, the “good eye.” After an exam, Peña found cataracts in both eyes. He performed surgery on the eye the patient came in to have checked and it didn’t take long for the patient to return and tell him he was having problems with the other eye – the one that was

supposed to be good. Those cataract surgeries have undoubtedly allowed many golfers to take a few strokes back from their scorecard, essentially turning back the clock and making the sport what it’s meant to be, enjoyable. “Suddenly you can read the greens better, see once again which way the grass is cut and see all those little nuances that you stopped being able to see as the cataracts grew,” Peña said. “Theirs short games may become better and overall it’s a huge difference.” Peña said it’s even more crucial in South Texas, where diabetes is prevalent, for everyone to have their eyes checked regularly and to be proactive if they notice the slightest problem or difference in their vision. “You don’t need a vision plan to have regular testing (on your eyes) you just need medical insurance. So don’t procrastinate.” Peña and his wife Suzanne have been married for 29 years and have four children – Suzie, 28; Stephen, 25; Alexandra, 21 and Samantha, 17. Peña said Stephen is a golfer – and has his dad’s swing. “I love my family and I love what I do,” Peña said. “God has blessed me with the ability to help people see the best they possibly can. That is something I am grateful for every day and I am passionate about educating the Valley on the importance of eye health.”

WHAT ARE IOLs Intraocular lens implants (IOLs) such as Crystalens and TECNIS Multifocal provide patients with a treatment for cataracts while also improving their focusing ability, many times to a level not experienced even before the development of the cataract. With intraocular lens implants, patients are given the opportunity to restore clarity to vision impaired by cataracts, regain the ability to see at both near and far distances, and truly improve their overall quality of life. Intraocular lens implants are used to replace the natural lens of the eye when it is clouded by a cataract or has lost its focusing ability due to presbyopia (age-related farsightedness). Traditional monofocal IOLs may be used to replace the lens, but they do not restore the ability to see at all distances, which means that patients must continue to wear glasses or contact lenses. However, multifocal and accommodating lens implants such as Crystalens and

18 [Southtexas Golf #1]

TECNIS Multifocal provide patients with improved vision at a range of distances. Read about Cataracts, IOLs, IntraLasik and more at penaeye.com

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STGA The Do-It-All Tournament Planners

The summer season at Alamo Country Club started with the annual Memorial Day Golf Tournament. 73 players participated in the eclectic scoring event. Winners of first place were Randy Rawlings, C.J. Compton, Jo Whitaker and Linda Duvall. In April, the Men’s Golf League awarded two holes-inone trophies to Jim Thompson and Stan Vee. Congratulations!! With the summer season come many projects at ACC. New furniture arrived for the patio, new flooring has been installed in the business offices, Pro-Shop, card room, library and the entrance hall. The ACC pool will get a facelift and the cart paths will be refurbished. Yes, summer is always busy!! All golf activities continue throughout the summer months- ladies and men’s golf leagues, couples golf and the Saturday morning mixed scramble. Open play is always FREE at Alamo Country Club on our beautiful 9-hole par-35 course. YOU are always invited to visit our community. Check-\ out our pool, tennis/sports court, and shuffleboard courts. The driving range, along with our chipping and putting greens, are three more of our wonderful amenities. Life is GOOD at Alamo Country Club, “ The Best Kept Secret in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas” ! You, too, can call Alamo Country Club “HOME”! [Southtexas Golf #1] 19

COVER STORY - RAUL GARZA, TIERRA DEL SOL Feature name

SIMPLY DELICIOUS Whether before or after golf, or just for lunch, you will be satisfied at Palm View

286 blue2791 and 347 green.Road S. Ware McAllen, Texas 78503

PHONE (956) 681-3444 FAX (956) 681-3447 DIRECTOR OF GOLF Carlos Espinosa cespinosa@mcallen.net WEBSITE palmviewgolf.com

I've spent a lot of time inside the clubhouse at Palm View Golf Course in McAllen. Many of these times were during lunch with coworkers. That's right, just to eat lunch. We weren't playing golf, we weren't taking photos or knocking back a few cold ones. We just went there to eat lunch. Steve Fagan, former editor at The Monitor in McAllen, swore by their burgers. He'd rather have one there than anywhere – unless he was making some at home I would guess. He was, for the longest time, their best promotional work. But I can't say he was wrong – especially after South Texas Golf's most recent Golf Grub visit there. Anybody who considers a simple lunch just all right hasn't really savored the fresh deliciousness of a Palm View burger with fries or their fajita plate, served with rice, beans, tortillas – and don't forget the salsa! It's true - the burger, with just a slice of American cheese along with some tomato, onion, pickle and lettuce on the side, isn't anything fancy to look at or difficult to make. The way it’s made is perfect. A perfectly cooked burger with fresh veggies, a fresh bun off the grill and ta-da! There it is. With the crinkly cut fries (which are also scrumptiousthey're big, crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside). After all these years of enjoying that big ole burger, Golf Director Carlos Espinosa (who we at

20 [Southtexas Golf #1]

South Texas Golf respect to the highest degree) finally gave us the secret – and even that secret was simple. “We buy the best meat there is,” Carlos said. “A lot of places will take the second-best choice. Not us. Not here. We buy the best. I don't want to hear any complaints.” Joey Dowden, South Texas Golf 's Advertising Director and fellow Golf Grubber, is NOT a red-meat eater. In fact, he claims at times he's altogether done with any type of meat. If that happens, red meat will be the first off his list. Knowing that, imagine my surprise when before I can finish my first bite of fajita I hear him say “wow, this is really good.” I look up and there he was, showing me how easily the juicy strips of fajita broke apart. “It just breaks apart in your mouth,” he said. After the shock wore off, I found myself in complete agreement with his assessment. It was moist, thick and flavorful. Grilled together with some nice chunks of tomato and onion, topped with a mildly-spicy but tasty salsa and wrapped up in hot tortillas and this simple meal was a major pleasure to the palette – and the stomach. Palm View cook Suyin Tapia visited us a few times to make sure we didn't need anything and that everything was all right. I'm sure the sparkling clean plates and the sleepy look over our faces was more than enough evidence to answer those questions. Carlos tells us that the breakfast tacos are just as good. I'll find that out in the next week. So if you're hitting the golf course, add a little time for a quick and fulfilling meal. If you're not going to the golf course, Palm View is still a terrific choice for a simply wonderful lunch.

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2014 AUDI name QUATTRO CLASSIC AT CIMARRON Feature

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Feature name 32ND ANNUAL SOUTH TEXAS JUNIOR GOLF CLASSIC AT HARLINGEN CC

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es Expir

Aug.

20, 20

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ON THE LINKS

HOME & COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT Customer Satisfaction Is Our #1 Goal! “Always The Best Price And Service” Custom Room Design Service

LARGEST SELECTION OF:

Treadmills

Home Gyms

Ellipticals

Free Weights

Rowers

Accessories

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AMERICA’S TOP BRANDS

FINANCING & LEASING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT

In McAllen 3501 N. 10th St. (956) 682-1858 Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visit Our Large Showrooms In: n San Antonio McAllen n Corpus Christi [Southtexas Golf #1] 25

hestfitness.com

13TH ANNUAL RGV APARTMENT ASSOCIATION SCRAMBLE AT TIERRA SANTA Feature name

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Don’t have time? Don’t know how? DON’T WORRY! ››

SOUTH TEXAS GOLF TOURNAMENT PLANNERS We plan and organize your event so you can focus on two things: 1) Raising money 2) Having great results SERVICES INCLUDE: c Media Kit/

c Free Advertising in South

c Custom built website

c Sponsor letters

c Social Media pages (Face

c Money-raising contests

Registration Forms

book, Twitter, Pinterest....)

c Prizes (based on package) c Press/Media releases c Golf Course relations

Texas Golf Magazine

c Free Post Tournament

E-magazine (with ads from your sponsors at no cost to them!)

CALL US: (956) 607-0853 RAISE THE MONEY YOU WANT FOR THAT SPECIAL CAUSE. [Southtexas Golf #1] 27 WE ARE STGA TOURNAMENT PLANNERS

Feature FIRST BLUEname SUNDAY GOLF SCRAMBLE AT HARLINGEN COUNTRY CLUB

Presented By:

28 [Southtexas Golf #1]

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

Come See the ALL NEW and REDESIGNED 2014 CARRYALL Product Line!

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

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Feature name 14TH ANNUAL DENTISTS WHO CARE CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT AT CIMARRON

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MISSION FeatureJUNIOR nameGOLF FUNDRAISER

The RGV Jr. Golf Association 2014 Tournament Schedule (www.rgvjga.org) Tuesday, July 1 - Ebony GC, Edinburg Tuesday, July 8 - Shary GC, Mission Friday, July 11 - Howling Trails GC, La Joya Tuesday, July 15 - Fort Brown GC, Brownsville Friday, July 18 - Shary GC, Mission Tuesday, July 22 - Meadow Creek GC, Mission Friday, July 25 - Tierra Del Sol GC, Pharr Monday, July 28, Shary GC, Mission

32 [Southtexas Golf #1]

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SOUTH TEXAS GOLF Feature name CART RENTALS

GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

Alamo

Country Club

WEBSITE: myalamocountryclub.com PRO SHOP MANAGER: Lindsey Moravitz PAR: 35 (9-hole course)

ADDRESS: 920 North Tower Road, Alamo Texas, 78516 PHONE: (956) 787-0907

Are you tred of rentng golf carts for your tournament or event that

EMAIL: accfd@sbcglobal.net

YARDAGE: Blue - 2,332 (4,664 to play 18) White - 2,216 (4,432 to play 18) GRASS: Bermuda ROUGHS: Bermuda

look BAD?

COURSE SUPERVISOR: Hector Brunias

We deliver quality carts on tme. Our feet is all Club Car Precedents, that will represent your course or event in style.

PAR: 70 ADDRESS: 1800 San Marcello Brownsville, Texas

YARDAGE: Blue - 6,144; White - 5,562; Red 5,091

PHONE: (956) 541-2582

GRASS: Bermuda

COURSE COORDINATOR: Jaime Rivera

ROUGHS: Bermuda

WEBSITE: fortbrowngolf.com DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Robert Lucio

Forget the hassle of dealing with people who just don’t understand that the customers experience at your course or event is what brings them back! A GOOD ride may make that difference!

GOLF PRO: Joseph Lucio

ADDRESS: 300 River Levee Road Brownsville, Texas 78523 PHONE: (956) 542-9861

YARDAGE: Championship tees - 6,150; Men’s tees - 6,020; Ladies Tees: 5,550 GREENS: Champion Bermuda GRASS: Bermuda

WEBSITE: harlingencc.com

WE HAVE THE BEST FLEET IN THE VALLEY GUARANTEED! • • •

Quality Service Great Vehicles The Best Prices

CALL JOEY DOWDEN (956) 607-0853 34 [Southtexas Golf #1] OR HENRY MILLER (956) 607-9210

GOLF PRO: Michael Fernuik PAR: 72 COURSE NAME: Harlingen Country Club ADDRESS: 5500 El Camino Real Harlingen, Texas 78552 PHONE: (956) 412-4100

YARDAGE: Black - 6,541; Blue - 6,261; White 5,625; Red - 5,035 GRASS: Bermuda GREENS: Champion

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[Southtexas Golf #1] 35

SOUTH TEXAS GOLF Feature name CART RENTALS

GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY PHONE: (956) 585-6330 FACEBOOK: Search for Howling Trails COURSE MANAGER: Raul Gutierrez COURSE NAME: Howling Trails (Previously Martin Valley Ranch

Are you tred of rentng golf carts for your tournament or event that

ADDRESS: 1910 Hole In One Dr. Mission, Texas, 78572

look BAD? We deliver quality carts on tme. Our feet is all Club Car Precedents, that will represent your course or event in style.

PAR: 1-18 is par-72; 19-27 is par 36 GRASS: Common Bermuda ROUGHS: Common Bermuda

WEBSITE: edinburggolf.com GOLF SHOP MANAGER: Joe Romero GOLF PRO: TBD

ADDRESS: 1720 S. Raul Longoria Edinburg, Texas 7854

YARDAGE: Black - 7,188; Blue - 6,789; White 6,211; Red - 5,561; GREENS: TifEagle

PHONE: (956) 316-0444

GRASS: TifDwarf 419

FAX: (956) 289-8275

ROUGHS: Bermuda

GENERAL MANAGER: Jeff Lowder

Forget the hassle of dealing with people who just don’t understand that the customers experience at your course or event is what brings them back! A GOOD ride may make that difference! WE HAVE THE BEST FLEET IN THE VALLEY GUARANTEED!

GOLF PRO: Mike Perez ARCHITECT: Jay Riviere COURSE NAME: McAllen Country Club

PAR: 71/72

ADDRESS: 615 Wichita Ave. McAllen, Texas 78503

YARDAGE: Gold- 6,454; Blue - 5,946; White 5.628; Red - 5,164

PHONE: (956) 686-0923

GRASS: Tifsport

WEBSITE: mcallencountryclub.com

ROUGHS: Mini Verde

Meadow Creek in the Valley

GOLF DIRECTOR: Otis Hesteness ANNUAL TOURNAMENTS: 22 PAR: 70

• • •

Quality Service Great Vehicles The Best Prices

CALL JOEY DOWDEN (956) 607-0853 36 [Southtexas Golf #1] OR HENRY MILLER (956) 607-9210

ADDRESS: 1300 Circle Drive Mission, Texas 78592

YARDAGE: Blue - 6,059; White - 5,488; Red 4,747

PHONE: Pro Shop (956) 350-4000; Office (956) 581-6262

GRASS: Bermuda

EMAIL: meadowcreekinthevalley@yahoo.com

GREENS: Bermuda

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[Southtexas Golf #1] 37

SOUTH TEXAS GOLF

CART RENTALS Feature name

GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY WEBSITE: montecristogcc.com GOLF PRO: Adolfo Cubriel PAR: 71 COURSE NAME: Monte Cristo Golf Club ADDRESS: 2919 N. Kenyon Road Edinburg, Texas, 78542

Are you tred of rentng golf carts for your tournament or event that

PHONE: (956) 381-0964

GRASS: 419 Bermuda GREENS: Tiff Dwarf WEBSITE: palmviewgolf.com

look BAD? We deliver quality carts on tme. Our feet is all Club Car Precedents, that will represent your course or event in style.

YARDAGE: Gold - 6,392; Blue - 6,014; White 5,373; Red - 4,531

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Carlos Espinosa, cespinosa@mcallen.net ARCHITECT: Charles Howard

PMSADDRESS: 286 blue and 347S.green. 2701 Ware Road McAllen, Texas 78503

PHONE: (956) 681-3444 FAX: (956) 681-3447

PAR: 72 YARDAGE: Middle - 5,779; Back - 6,771 FAIRWAYS: 419 Bermuda ROUGHS: Common Bermuda DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION: Wendy Werley Bullock, Class A LPGA Professional

Forget the hassle of dealing with people who just don’t understand that the customers experience at your course or event is what brings them back! A GOOD ride may make that difference!

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Joe Powell ADDRESS: 1 Rancho Viejo Dr. Rancho Viejo, Texas 78575

PAR: 70

PHONE: (956) 350-4000

YARDAGE: Gold - 6,821; Blue - 6,315; White 5,979; Red - 5,556

WEBSITE: rvrcc.com FACEBOOK: Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club

WE HAVE THE BEST FLEET IN THE VALLEY GUARANTEED! • • •

Quality Service Great Vehicles The Best Prices

CALL JOEY DOWDEN (956) 607-0853 38 [Southtexas Golf #1] OR HENRY MILLER (956) 607-9210

GRASS: Common Bermuda ROUGHS: Common Bermuda

PAR: 70 (holes 1-18); 36 on 19-27 ADDRESS: 2201 Mayberry, Mission, Texas

YARDAGE: Blue - 5,950; White - 5,575; Yellow - 5,350; Red - 4,700

PHONE: (956) 580-8770

GRASS: Common Bermuda

EMAIL: sharygc@yahoo.com

ROUGHS: Common Bermuda

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Mario Flores

Driving for Wishes

Texas National Bank, Espinosa have big goals for first Golf Classic at Palm View

Karla Espinosa has been around golf all her life. The rising senior at Sharyland High School also has a passion to volunteer, helping those in need and trying to make a difference. Likewise Texas National Bank and Arturo Ortega want to be known for more than just the brick and mortar building. The bank strives for community involvement – and making a difference. Call it what you will – divine intervention or destiny, or just a one-in-a-million coincidence – but Karla and Arturo's paths landed them with the same desire – to organize a golf tournament for the Make-A-Wish Rio Grande Valley Foundation. “A few months ago I came across the Make-A-Wish Facebook page and decided I wanted to do something for them,” Karla said. “I decided I wanted to do something to help Miss Ava (Sandlin, MakeA-Wish Executive Director).” She approached her dad to see if he thought she could manage organizing a golf tournament with proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish. Her dad, who happens to be Palm View Golf Course Director of Golf Carlos Espinosa, had nothing but encouragement for his daughter. A few weeks later Arturo approached Carlos with the idea of Texas National Bank sponsoring a major fundraising golf tournament – also for Make-A-Wish. “That's exactly how it happened,” Carlos said. “If there's such a thing as destiny, it happened right there.” Now the two are preparing for the first Texas National Bank Driving for Wishes Golf Classic. The goal is to make a minimum of eight “wishes” come true for children within the community. The tournament will be held with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start Friday, Sept. 12 at Palm View Golf Course in McAllen. “I admire Texas National Bank, Mr. Ortega and Karla for being a part of this,” Carlos said. “You hear that phrase a

›› Tournament director Karla Espinosa with Palm View Golf Course Director of Golf (and her dad) Carlos Espinosa. lot, people or businesses want to make a difference. Texas National Bank – they are doing it. Karla is doing it. Not a lot of people want to get involved in our community in that way.” Ava Sandlin, executive director for the Make-AWish Rio Grande Valley Foundation, is ecstatic about the upcoming event. Not only for what it means and what it will do for children, but also what it could do beyond those wishes. “I'm so excited to work with Karla, Carlos and Texas National Bank and Palm View – they are all top-class people and organizations,” Ava said. “To be able to grant eight wishes is a tremendous gift and whenever you get the community involved, good things happen.” This by far isn't the first stint of volunteering Karla has been involved in, being involved in school and church activities. This, however, is probably the largest event she's been a part of – and she's in charge. “This is what I like to do – to volunteer and benefit others,” she said. “I talked with Miss Ava last year and asked how I could help. I have always found Make-A-Wish to be amazing. “I've been around golf forever. I asked for this and it was granted to me, God gave me this blessing. I'm not going to ignore it. I like to challenge myself a lot. This tournament will allow me to do that.” 1st TEXAS NATIONAL BANK DRIVING FOR WISHES GOLF CLASSIC OBJECTIVE: Gather 120 golf enthusiasts to help Texas National Bank and Make-A-Wish Rio Grande Valley make a minimum of 8 “wishes” come true for children in our community. WHERE: Palm View Golf Course, 2701 South Ware Road, McAllen, Texas 78503; Tel (956) 681-3444; Fax (956) 681-3447 TOURNAMENT CONTACT: Karla M. Espinosa, Tournament Director EMAIL: karlaespinosa01@gmail.com PHONE: (956) 827-0212 TOURNAMENT CHAIRMAN: Arturo Ortega DATE: Shotgun Start at 12:30 pm on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 Entry forms available at www.palmviewgolf.com and selected Valley courses. FORMAT: Three (3) Player Team Florida Scramble using 50% of the team average handicap; maximum handicap per player is 24.

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SOUTH TEXAS GOLF Feature name CART RENTALS

GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY WEBSITE: spigolf.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/spigc GENERAL MANAGER: Chris Meade ADDRESS: 1 Golf House Road Laguna Vista, Texas 78578

Are you tred of rentng golf carts for your tournament or event that

PHONE: (956) 943-GOLF FAX: (956) 943-2361

GOLF PRO: Chris Meade ARCHITECT: Stephen Caplinger YARDAGE: Red - 5,406; White - 5,542; Blue 6,291; Black - 6,420; Gold - 6,931

look BAD? WEBSITE: stuartplacegolf.com

We deliver quality carts on tme. Our feet is all Club Car Precedents, that will represent your course or event in style.

Forget the hassle of dealing with people who just don’t understand that the customers experience at your course or event is what brings them back! A GOOD ride may make that difference!

TWITTER: @stuartplacegolf PAR: 36 (9 holes) YARDAGE: Blue - 6,827; White - 6,266; Gold 5,820; Red - 5,252 ADDRESS: 158 Highland Drive Harlingen, Texas 78522

GRASS: Mixed

PHONE: (956) 428-2000

ROUGHS: Mixed

FAX: (956) 428-1000

GREENS: Champion

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Raul Garza ARCHITECT: Dave Bennett ADDRESS: 700 E. Hall Acres Pharr, Texas PHONE: (956) 702-2320 FAX: (956) 702-2536 WEBSITE: pharrgolf.com

WE HAVE THE BEST FLEET IN THE VALLEY GUARANTEED! • • •

Quality Service Great Vehicles The Best Prices

CALL JOEY DOWDEN (956) 607-0853 40 [Southtexas Golf #1] OR HENRY MILLER (956) 607-9210

PAR: 72 YARDAGE: Blue - 6,827; White - 6,266; Gold 5,820; Red - 5,252 GRASS: Tifdwarf Bermuda ROUGHS: Bermuda 419

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Joey Rios ARCHITECT: Jeff Brauer, Steve Elkington ADDRESS: 1901 Club de Amistad Weslaco, Texas 78596

PAR: 72

PHONE: (956) 973-1811

YARDAGE: Black - 7,139; Blue - 6,601; White - 6,045; Red - 5,283

FAX: (956) 973-2565

GRASS: Bermuda 419

WEBSITE: tierrasantaweslaco.com

GREENS: Champion

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SOUTH TEXAS GOLF

CART RENTALS

Feature name Forget the hassle of dealing with people who just don’t understand that the customers experience at your course or event is what brings them back! A GOOD ride may make that Are you tred of rentng difference! golf carts for your tournament orBEST eventFLEET that WE HAVE THE

GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY WEBSITE: myharlingen.us/default. aspx?name=parks.golf.course DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Eddie Medlin PAR: 71 (Holes 1-18); 35 (Holes 19-27)

ADDRESS: 2640 S. “M” Street Harlingen, Texas PHONE: (956) 216-5970

YARDAGE: (1-18) - Blue - 6,320; White 5,837; Red - 5,113; (19-27) - White 2,881; Red - 2,467 GRASS: Common Bermuda ROUGHS: Common Bermuda

look BAD? IN THE VALLEY

GUARANTEED!

WEBSITE: viccgolf.com

We deliver quality carts • on tme. Our feet is all Quality Service • Club Car Precedents, that Great Vehicles will represent your course • Compettve Prices or event in style.

CALL JOEY DOWDEN (956) 607-0853 OR HENRY MILLER (956) 607-9210

Quality Service Great Vehicles Compettve Prices

CALL JOEY DOWDEN (956) 607-0853 OR HENRY MILLER (956) 607-9210 42 [Southtexas Golf #1]

GOLF PRO: Eric Rivera GENERAL MANAGER: Kevin Sargent ADDRESS: 95 Country Club Brownsville, Texas 78520 PHONE: (956) 546-5331 (office); (956) 5489199 (pro shop)

PAR: 70 YARDAGE: White - 4,924; Black - 5,517; Blue 6,130; Orange - 6,538 GRASS: Bermuda

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JOEY’S CORNER Feature name

SOUTH TEXAS GOLF - AND SO MUCH MORE

ere at South Texas Golf Magazine we strive to do all we can for golf in the RGV. What more can we do for the golfing enthusiasts located here? Just to name some… Exclusive Partners, South Texas Golf Tournament Planners, Golf Apps and South Texas Golf Cart Rentals. Exclusive Partners is catching on. We would like to thank Glazer’s and RGV Carts to name a couple for becoming exclusive partners with us. This means no other beer company or golf cart company will advertise in South Texas Golf Magazine except for them. It’s a way for you to corner the market and showcase your company as the best there is. If you would like to become an exclusive partner then call us and let us show you the true value of what EXCLUSIVE really means. South Texas Golf Tournament Planners is a tournamentplanning service that will construct your tournament from the ground up. It’s a do-it-all mentality service that will generate a website, construct a media kit, advertise your event and help generate revenue that will give you the results you’re looking for. Golf Apps will begin to trickle in and innovate the new golfer as well as the old. Doing things the old way is a thing of the past. With the touch of your smart phone you will have your refreshments brought to you on any course hole, at the turn if you wish or waiting at concessions after your round. Apps that will help you navigate the course easier; both cart and stroke wise. South Texas Golf Cart Rentals is our newest venture. We are turning the golf cart lease and rental business upside down.

“Hi I’m Madison and I’m from Pensacola, Florida. Just to let you know…That’s my dad in the other picture. I love to shop, sing and, well… shop. I hope you enjoy South Texas Golf Magazine as much as I do. Be seeing you…..Madison.” -- Joey Dowden is COO and Advertising Director of South Texas Golf.

Your course or tournament will benefit with our low prices, well-maintained Club Cars and classy service. Don’t worry about the other rental companies. We deliver not only your carts but worry free hassle. We do it the right way. South Texas Golf Magazine… WE AIN’T THE OTHER GUYS… WE’RE MUCH MORE!

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

44 [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- FOOD name LEISURE & DRINK

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LEISURE Feature- FINANCE name

Calculating your retirement needs

hen retirement was years away, calculating how much income you may need may have involved a lot of estimates. Now you can be more accurate. Consider the following factors: The length of your retirement. The average 65-year-old man can expect to live about 17 more years; the average 65-year-old woman, 20 more years, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Have you accounted for a retirement of 20 years or more? Earned income. Working during retirement, even on a part-time basis, can reduce your need to tap retirement assets for ongoing living expenses. 1. Your retirement lifestyle. Your lifestyle will help determine how much income you’ll need to support yourself. A typical guideline is 60% to 80% of your final working year’s salary, but if you want to take luxury cruises or start a business, you may need 100% or more. 2. Health care costs and insurance. Most Americans are not eligible for Medicare until age 65, and even then, Medicare doesn’t cover everything. You can purchase Medigap supplemental insurance to cover some of the extras, but even Medigap does not pay for long-term custodial care, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other ongoing essentials. For more on Medicare and health insurance, visit www.medicare.gov. 3. Inflation. Because the rate of inflation can vary over time, it’s a good idea to tack on an additional 4% each year to help compensate for increases in the cost of living. RUNNING THE NUMBERS The next step is to identify potential income sources, including Social Security, pensions, and personal investments. Also review your asset al-

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Harvey Lopez brings more than 15 years experience of Wealth Management, business solutions and Insurance experience serving the entire Rio Grande Valley. His office is located at 801 E. Fern, McAllen, Texas, 78501. If you have questions, you can call Harvey at (956) 874-8750 location -- namely, how you divide your portfolio among stocks, bonds, and cash. Are you tempted to convert all of your assets to low-risk securities? Such a move may place your assets at risk of losing purchasing power due to inflation. You may live in retirement for a long time, so try to keep your portfolio working for you both now and in the future. A NEW PHASE OF PLANNING Once you’ve assessed your needs

and income sources, it’s time to look at tapping your nest egg. First, determine a prudent withdrawal rate. A common approach is to liquidate a maximum of 5% of your principal each year in retirement; however, your income needs may differ. Next, you’ll need to decide when and how much to withdraw from your tax-deferred and taxable investments. Investors are required to take annual withdrawals from employer-sponsored retirement plans and traditional IRAs after age 70 1/2. Be aware that these withdrawals are subject to federal income tax. The advantage of maintaining taxdeferred investments for as long as possible is their ability to compound on a pre-tax basis and thus offer greater earning potential than their taxable counterparts. In contrast, long-term capital gains from the sale of taxable investments are currently taxed at a maximum of 15%. Asset allocation does not assure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. Withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts made prior to age 59 1/2 may be subject to an additional 10% penalty. In the case of employer-sponsored plans, there are special rules that apply to plan participants aged 55 and older who separate from service.

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TRAVEL - LA CANTERA HILL COUNTRY RESORT Feature name

Website: LaCanteraResort.com Reservations: 1-855-499-2960 DIRECTIONS 1. Go north on US-281 N. 2. Merge onto I-37 N. 3. Merge onto I-10 W/US-90 W/US-87 N via EXIT 139 toward El Paso/Del Rio. 4. Merge onto I-10 W/I-35 N/US-87 N via EXIT 572 toward El Paso/Austin. 5. Keep left to take I-35 N toward Lower Level/Austin. 6. Keep right to take I-10 W/US-87 N viaEXIT 156 toward El Paso. 7. Keep left to take I-10 W/US-87 N towardEl Paso. 8. Take EXIT 555 toward La Cantera Pkwy/ Fiesta Texas. 9. Merge onto W Interstate 10. 10. Turn left onto La Cantera Pkwy. 11. La Cantera Pkwy is 0.1 miles past Rim Pass 16641 LA CANTERA PKWY. · Your destination is 0.7 miles past Fiesta Texas Dr · If you reach Cantera Vis you've gone about 0.4 miles too far

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›› Pawleys Plantation

TPC of Myrtle Beach

Heritage Club

Litchfield Country Club

True Blue Plantation

Blackmoor

Willbrook Plantation

Tradition Club

Caledonia

AMERICA’S MOST AWARDED

Located along Georgetown County’s “Hammock Coast” is a collection of award-winning courses, restaurants and accommodations that rival any in America. For a great golf vacation experience that is sure to bring you back again and again, hit the Trail – The Waccamaw Golf Trail. Visit online for preferred rates and tee times, along with recommendations on lodging, dining and more. Request a FREE QUICK QUOTE for the best package rates and receive a complimentary greens fee.

www.MyGolfTrail.com or call toll free 1-800-661-2928

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River Club at Litchfield

Wachesaw Plantation East

Wedgefield Plantation

SALES Feature name & REPAIR

SERVICE & RENTAL

THE OFFICIAL AND ONLY AUTHORIZED CLUB CAR DEALER FOR CAMERON COUNTY, TX (SERVING SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, HARLINGEN & BROWNSVILLE)

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 1119 WEST HARRISON , HARLINGEN, TX 78550 52 [Southtexas Golf #1] PHONE: (956) 365-4122 FAX (956) 365-4120