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Volume 2 Issue 8 | August 2014
Promontory Golf Club Dye Canyon Course
Siena Golf Club
Natural Beauty - Unprecedented Serenity
Sunset View Golf Course Rural Golf At Its Best
Canyon Gate Country Club
Old Vegas Feel with New Vegas Style
Mike Malaska:
Promontory - The Ranch Club, an expansive, second-home golf/real estate development that engages multigenerational, all-inclusive amenities and recreation for homeowners and their families. Photo by Allen Kennedy
Learning To Love Practice pg. 18
2 G O L F
Rules of Golf
Rules of Golf Quiz for August 2014 G
S O U T OLF SOUTHWEST’s Rules of Golf Quiz is designed to bring to light rules questions that may just come up during your next round of golf, courtesy of H the United States Golf Association. After you check out these questions, go to our website at www.golf-southwest.com and check out the answers and W while you are there, register for our digital copy of GOLF SOUTHWEST and a chance to win some great merchandise or maybe even a round of golf at E one of your favorite courses. S T
1. Which is correct regarding a club that a player may
— use for measuring? A u g u s t
A. He may use a spectator’s club of any length to establish the area in which the ball is to be dropped. B. He may only use his own or his partner’s club of any length to establish the area in which the ball is to be dropped. C. He may use any club, provided the ball is dropped and played from a spot that could have been reached with one of the player’s own clubs selected for the round.
2 0 1 4 2. A worm, which is half on top of the surface of the
ground and half below, is considered solidly embedded and is not a loose impediment. A. True B. False 3. A player’s tee shot is in a difficult lie through the green. He deems the ball unplayable and drops it within two club-lengths of where it lay but it comes to rest in the same position from which he took relief. Which one of the following is correct? A. He must lift the ball and re-drop it correctly without penalty. B. He may again deem the ball unplayable in the same position, return to the teeing ground and play his fourth stroke. C. He may again deem the ball unplayable in the same position, but he must drop within two club-lengths of that spot, he may not return to the teeing ground. 4. A boundary fence gate, when closed, is part of the boundary fence and may not be opened to play a stroke. A. True B. False 5. A player was unable to find his ball because another player played it; even if his search had lasted more than five minutes, he does not have a lost ball. A. True B. False
Go to
Golf-Southwest.com To Check Your Answers
3
INSIDE
2 3 Publisher’s Notes 4 Promontory Golf Club 8 Ping G30 9 Tournament Schedule 10 Golf Tips: How To Hit A True Draw 12 Dining: Forte European Tapas 14 Siena Golf Club 18 Mike Malaska: Learning To Love Practice 20 Sunset View Golf Course 23 Titleist AP1 and AP2 Irons 24 2014 PGA Championship 28 Canyon Gate Country Club Rules of the Game
PO Box 910038 St. George, UT 84791 (435) 865-1680
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Publisher Kent Danjanovich (801) 231-9838 kdanjanovich@golf-Southwest.com Associate Publisher James Olsen (702) 994-0879 jolsen@golf-southwest.com Nevada Sales John Wooge (702) 373-7437 jwooge@golf-Southwest.com Utah Sales Manager Collin Dalley (435) 862-7441 cdalley@golf-southwest.com Nevada Sales Steve Mayer (702) 596-3926 smayer@golf-southwest.com Managing Editor Dan Kidder (435) 868-8919 dkidder@golf-Southwest.com Jim Rayburn Staff Writer (801) 372-7980 info@golf-Southwest.com Art Director/Distribution Lisa Deming (435) 865-1681 ldeming@golf-Southwest.com Randy Danjanovich Golf Course Specialist Steve Latimer Golf Course Specialist
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Rayburn Steve Mayer Tom Stickney Mike Malaska
Publisher’s Notes W
hether you are a player or just an interested spectator, there is sure a lot going on in the golf world this summer. As for Utah golf, the 116th Annual Utah State Amateur Championship ended a couple of weeks ago with Jon Wright hoisting the trophy for the second time in three years at Ogden Golf & Country Club. Wright only had to play the 18th hole once during his six matches on the way to the championship and that was only because the final match spanned 36-holes. Wright was able to close out UVU golfer, Preston Richards, 3 & 2 to secure the coveted and long running Championship. Another big time event took place at Willow Creek CC as some of the best up-and-coming players in the world converged in the quest of reigning supreme at the Web.com Utah Championship. Andres Gonzales coasted to a four stroke win, courtesy of an opening round ‘62’ paving the way to his four round total of 264, just one stroke shy of the tournament record. Locals Tony Finau and Zac Blair carried the banner high for the state of Utah. Also, on an even bigger scale, The Open Championship contested at Royal Liverpool found Irishman, Rory McIlroy, writing his name into the record books with a two stroke victory over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. At 25 years and 77 days, he became the third youngest golfer to achieve the third leg of the modern Grand Slam and now has his eye on next year’s Masters in his quest of becoming only the sixth golfer to win all four of golf’s majors during their career. That list now only bears the names of Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. And with the talent that McIlroy has been blessed with, don’t be surprised to see his name added to the list very soon. Now, back to this issue of GOLF SOUTHWEST. Along with great instructional tips from a couple of the country’s best teaching pros, Mike Malaska and Tom Stickney, you will find reviews on Promontory Golf Club’s Dye Course and Sunset View GC in Utah and the Siena Golf Club and Canyon Gate Country Club in southern Nevada. And finally, the last of the PGA Tours majors for 2014 will take place August 7th-10th at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. Two of the best Club Professionals from the west will be taking part in this year’s event, with Dustin Volk and Steve Schneiter qualifying by virtue of their strong finishes at the 47th PGA Professional National Championship as they will be representing the Utah Section PGA. Good luck to both and again, congratulation to all golfers throughout the area, not only to the winners, but also to all of you that participated in events right on down to your local courses men’s and ladies day’s and junior events. You are each important to the game of golf, even more so than those we watch on television every week. I hope to see you on the putting green soon. Kent Danjanovich
G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
4 G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
Promontory Golf Club – Dye Course
P
ete Dye, one of the most influential and creative golf course designers in the history of the sport, has masterminded the Pete Dye Canyon Golf Course at Promontory – The Ranch Club in Park City, Utah. The Pete Dye Canyon Golf Course, which opened in 2002, is the first of a possible five planned 18-hole championship courses at Promontory, an expansive, secondhome golf/real estate development that engages multigenerational, all-inclusive amenities and recreation for homeowners and their families. The Dye Course plays to a Par-72 and stretches to 7,690 yards from the tips. Anyone who has played Brickyard Crossing, Crooked Stick, PGA West or any of the dozens of courses that bear the Dye mark appreciates the special challenges he presents to the golfer. A Dye Course demands not only skilled shot making, but an intellectual approach to the game. Dye has perfected the art of multiple tee placements that make each hole he designs a challenge
for the finest players in the world and yet thoroughly playable and enjoyable for the average golfer. Dye first walked the land back in 1999 in boots and a snowmobile suit, visualizing the dynamics this high elevation location offered. Soon, dramatic earth moving was taking place that would not only help to mold his Dye Course, but also the next project, the Nicklaus Painted Valley Course as well. “The project became a Dye Family affair, as almost every Dye family member took part in the creation and completion of the facility”, recounts Rich Sonntag, Managing Director of Promontory Development L.L.C. who first walked the land with Mr. Dye. Since this was my first time on the course, Steve Latimer, one of our course specialists who joined me for the round, recommended that we move up to the black tees, which would shed almost six hundred yards off of the formidable length of the Dye Course, which would still have us playing the course at 7,113 yards. A blue-bird day, with little wind greeted us as we arrived at the clubhouse and after a quick warm-
up session on the range, it was off to our first nine. The second at Promontory’s Dye Course is a beautiful, 440 yard Par 4. The hole is actually pretty much straight in layout, but because of a pond that runs down the right side from the tees and a bunker down the left side at about the 330 mark, the hole plays visually as a slight double-dogleg, first right and then left. The end of the pond requires about a 260 yard carry from the black tees and the more you cut it close to the water, the better angle you will have into the green. As you approach the green, three bunkers line up on the right and another pot bunker is positioned back left. A good drive left me with 165 yards to the green, which plays slightly elevated. The green is deep and somewhat narrow with subtle undulation with the front sloping to the center and the back of the green also sloping to the center as well. Now I am sure that you have heard talk about the Par 5 third, measuring a staggering 720 yards from the tips. Even from the black tees, you are faced with 645 yards from tee to green. But as on many holes on the
5 Dye Course, the hole plays downhill and of course at the elevation of the Park City area, a little relief in the form of added distance is a big help as well. The hole lays out as a double-dogleg and somewhat blind from the tee, but a bunker down the left side at the 330 yard mark in visible. Another bunker also pops up on the left at 375. There is really plenty of room in the landing area, but narrows the farther off of the tee that you reach out to. With a 300 yard drive, I then had 235 yards to the next bunker on the left at the corner of the second dogleg. My #4 hybrid put me in position for a 145 yard third. Bunkers guard the right front and also back right. There is a knob just over that front bunker that presents a possible problem as it can kick you forward, left or right, making for a tough two putt at times. The green slopes back to front with plenty of movement throughout. No. 4 is a very good Par 3, but with the 299 yard eighth hole on the horizon, we will reserve some space for it in just a minute. Hole #5 is another of the great Par 4’s and the first to play back up the hill toward the clubhouse. Your tee shot is to a fairway that fans out in front of you, giving the appearance that you have plenty of landing area. It is best to keep it right of center though if possible, setting up your approach. Your second shot is to a green that continues to slope up from the fairway. The green then slopes up to its center, then slightly down to a back pin placement. The green is deep and can play almost three club lengths longer to a back pin location. I was impressed with the overall conditioning of the course, knowing what the clubs and their superintendents have to deal with in the upper elevation
Beautiful surroundings abound as you make your way through the Dye Course at Promontory Golf Club in Park City, Utah as seen here at the picturesque, 239 yard Par 3 fourth. areas of Utah, year in and year out. The fairways are from around the world. well designed and the bunkers were manicured as As mentioned earlier, the eighth at Dye’s Canwell as any I have played in the west. With six sets of yon Course is another monster, playing 299 yards tee boxes on each hole, the Promontory Dye Course from the back tees. Even though we were playing is really playable for all types of players, making it the course from the black’s, we just had to tee up a very good venue for its members and their guests a ball from the gold’s to see if we could cover the distance to the green, which requires a carry of about 270 yards to make it to at least the greenside bunkers on the left. Fortunately the elevated tees aid in this quest and I was able to do just that. We then pulled up to the black tees and gave a big sigh of relief when we were only faced with a 197 yard downhill tee shot! Once there, the putting surface is deep, sloping up to its center, then forming a tier at its rear. Three bunkers line up as you approach the green on the left and another is placed back right. The tenth is another of the great Par 5’s at Promontory. The tees are isolated as you drive down the cart path from the clubhouse and the hole slowly swings right to left. There is a bunker on the right side about 265 yards from the tee and is a good reference point. The fairway starts to slope up, so the distance from the tee you are used to on many of the holes on the front is not quite as evident here. Your second shot is somewhat blind, but a quick drive up the hill gives you a good look at what you are facing. At only 541 yards from the black tees, this hole is definitely reachable for many and the sloped roughs on both sides of the fairway help to funnel you ball to the center. I hit The second at Promontory’s Dye Course is a beautiful, 440 yard Par 4. The hole is actually pretty driver, three wood and had about 30 yards left to much straight in layout, but because of a pond that runs down the right side from the tees and a the green. Bunkers are present left and right at bunker down the left side at about the 330 mark, the hole plays visually as a slight double-dogleg, continued on page 6 first right and then left.
G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
6 PROMONTORY
G O continued from page 5 L F the entrance to the green with the putting surface S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
initially appearing to be one of the flattest on the course. In reality, the left side runs off the green to small catch areas, but still leaves you with workable choices. No. 12 is another of the Par 4’s that will reward two well hit shots, but can punish others. The tees are again somewhat isolated and elevated. You are faced with a little bit different look from this tee, as the fairway angles hard left to right. Bunkers on the right side start at the 275 yard mark from the tee with another one on the left at just over 300, making the tee shot one that requires accuracy for sure. Your second shot plays slightly uphill. Greenside bunkers are found left front and back. The green is pretty level back to front, but leans left to right. The green runs off to collection areas around much of the surface, again making accuracy on your second shot paramount. Although the fifteenth again plays from elevated tees, especially the gold and black’s, the length of carry is not really an issue, but sand definitely is the theme of both the fourteenth and the fifteenth with nine and eleven bunkers awaiting, respectively. Three of those eleven are placed as the hole slowly starts to dogleg left at about the 250 yard mark. If you can really air it out from the elevated tees, you can fly it past this first set of obstacles, leaving yourself with a short iron to the green. A good drive had me in great position, with only 118 yards for my approach. The green flares somewhat and offers a subtle backstop
The Hearth Grille, located at The Dye Clubhouse is a great place to relax after a great day of golf or for that perfect evening meal. for incoming shots. The green is wide in front and into play is the gold’s and then only requiring about a narrows at the back and if you can avoid those four 210 yard carry. At 540 yards from the black tees, even greenside bunkers, birdie is definitely in play. though the hole plays uphill, it is definitely reachable Now we arrive at the Par 5 eighteenth, one of only for many. There is a long bunker on the right that starts three holes on the course that has water as part of its just over the pond and continues to about the 260 mark layout. In this case, the only tee that really brings it from the tees. Another small bunker is then also on the right at about the 280 mark, but really there is plenty of room in the fairway so these are not a big issue. If you can muster a little extra on your last tee shot of the day, you can put yourself in position for a go at the elevated green in two. Otherwise, it isn’t a bad play to lay back and leave yourself with about a 100 yard third. The hole plays uphill, but it is one of those holes where if you get plenty of airtime, the slope doesn’t seem to come into play quite so much. There are then three greenside bunkers, one left and two right. Make sure you know where the pin placement is before you hit your approach because it will have a big say in how you score on this finishing hole. Speaking of the green, it is deep with a big slope in its center, forming a large tier in the back section. If the greens are playing fast and the pin placement is up front, many a player has found themselves putting it off the front of the green and leaving themselves a chip back up the hill, then faced with the same putt all over again! Although the Promontory Ranch Club is a private facility for members that also own property in the project, eight tee times a day are reserved for outside play on the Dye Course, so why not give them a call today to find out how you can get a first-hand look at Although the Promontory Ranch Club is a private facility for members that also own property in the course for yourself. the project, eight tee times a day are reserved for outside play on the Dye Course, so why not If you are looking for a little help with your game, give them a call today to find out how you can get a first-hand look at the course for yourself. The Golf House is located overlooking the driving
7 range of the Dye Canyon Course and is home to the Promontory Golf Academy, headed up by one of the country’s best golf instructors, Tom Stickney. Tom uses his expertise and the revolutionary Trackman technology to elevate each of his student’s games. One theme that truly is apparent throughout is that The Promontory Ranch Club is all about spending time with friends and family and a big part of that celebration includes food and everything that goes with it. Foodies and wine enthusiasts alike enjoy both worlds with Promontory’s Executive Chef, Kevin Donovan, who brings his culinary expertise and fine wine selections to Promontory. With seasonal menu changes and special wine pairing events, Members can enjoy the delicious concoctions and artistic creations that the Chef creates throughout the year. These include the freshest ingredients, such as local seasonal fresh vegetables along with imported delicacies that will tempt any palette. Promontory has an extensive wine list and their staff can help you choose the right wine for any meal or occasion. Both The Hearth Grille, located at The Dye Clubhouse and The Shed, which is part of the Activities Clubhouse offer great dining options. The Outfitter’s Cabin is located high atop Promontory overlooking Rockport Reservoir. The 2,500 square foot facility opened in 2002 and is the hub for activities such as hiking, camping, mountain biking, fishing and then Nordic skiing and snowshoeing during the winter months. In the winter, the Promontory Club Outfitter organizes alpine ski adventures and sledding for members both on and off-property, while in the summer, the Outfitter provides and instructs members in the use of outdoor sporting equipment while exploring all the Promontory trails and best fishing spots in Promontory’s stocked ponds. In addition, Promontory’s Outfitter will organize off-property expeditions for members to sail and wakeboard on the nearby Jordanelle and Rockport Reservoirs and enjoy blue-ribbon fly fishing in Utah’s wild rivers and explore local national forests.
The Ranch Clubhouse is the athletic clubhouse within Promontory’s Ranch Club Compound and offers members the finest amenities for swimming, tennis, fitness and aerobic/cardiovascular and spa service. The Ranch Clubhouse has a poolside café restaurant for members. In addition, a soccer field and sand volleyball courts are within walking distance. The stadium tennis court even converts into an ice rink in the wintertime to provide Promontory families with a one-of-a-kind holiday experience. The Ranch Club Pro Staff offers instruction in tennis, fitness and swimming. Even the little ones have a place to call their own, the Kinnikinnick Cabin located an easy walking distance from the Ranch Clubhouse. The Kid’s Kinnikinnick Cabin offers organized activities, games and crafts for its young campers and it also serves as the jumpingoff point for the Promontory Adventure Trail – a Tom Sawyer fantasy path through trees and across a stream, complete with a water-slide, a log cabin, a fort, a tree house and a cave. Other amenities at Promontory include The Alpine Lodge at Deer Valley and The Wrangler’s Corral and Equestrian Center where members can explore over 7,000 acres by horseback. As mentioned, both the Dye Canyon Course and the Jack Nicklaus Painted Valley Course are part of the membership package at Promontory and the next project in the planning, the Tom Weiskopf Signature Course, is sure to add to the great world-class golf already available to its members. Promontory Ranch Club offers three levels of memberships: Social Memberships, Full Memberships and Equestrian Memberships. Social Memberships entitle their owners to utilize all Club facilities other than the golf courses, golf clubhouses and Equestrian Center. Full Memberships entitle their owners to utilize Promontory golf Photo by Allen Kennedy courses with no greens fees and to utilize the One theme that truly is apparent throughout is that The Promontory Ranch Dye Canyon Golf Club is all about spending time with friends and family. Clubhouse and soon
G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u the newly constructed Nicklaus Golf Clubhouse. s t
The Equestrian Membership is an additive layer of membership available to either Social or Full Members and includes access to boarding and training facilities and services in Promontory’s Equestrian Center. Throughout American history, the name ‘Promontory’ has signified the achievement of visionary ideas and the goal of bringing people closer together. It was at Promontory Point, Utah, in 1869 that one of the greatest engineering feats of all time was accomplished: the Transcontinental Railroad joined its tracks for the first time, connecting the eastern and western United States. In this spirit that is present at Promontory, which is to represent both a unique place and a timeless promise. Promontory is the place where families come together, from around the country and around the world, in a legacy that continues from one generation to the next. It promises a lifestyle grounded in exciting outdoor recreation, a true respect for nature and a genuine stewardship of the land. Francis Najafi chose Utah for its spectacular scenery, weather and accessibility. He chose Park City for its one-of-a-kind skiing, cultural attractions and small-town living. And he chose the wide-ranging, eleven-square-mile parcel of land for its vistas, its topography, its wildlife and its ability to bring its members closer to the earth while keeping the rest of the planet at a convenient distance. This is the promise of Promontory. A promise you’ll see reflected in every corner of the Promontory Conservancy and in every detail of the Promontory Master Plan. Give them a call today to see for yourself everything that they have to offer. Promontory Dye Course Tom Rogers – Director of Golf 8758 N. Promontory Ranch Road Park City, Utah 84098 888-458-6600
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8 G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
PING G30 W
ith an emphasis on significantly increasing ball velocity and accuracy through a combination of advanced aerodynamics, plus new face designs and materials, PING introduces the G30 series - the company’s latest innovations that provide golfers measurable distance gains without sacrificing key performance attributes such as control and forgiveness. The G30 series includes two driver options — standard and SF Tec (Straight Flight Technology) - along with fairway woods, hybrids and irons. “With the G30 series, our engineers once again accomplished something that is unique to PING products — they elevated performance significantly in key areas without sacrificing other important attributes,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “Across the product line, we’ve proved you can hit the ball higher and farther while increasing forgiveness and control. We’ve also continued our focus on advancing custom fitting in the driver and fairway woods by offering five loft positions. All of this promotes the consistent, reliable results that will help golfers of any skill level shoot lower scores and enjoy the game more.” An emphasis on speed with no sacrifice in performance sets the new G30 drivers apart. To generate faster clubhead speed and ball velocity for longer drives, turbulators were engineered onto the crown of the 460cc head. Proven in wind-tunnel testing to reduce aerodynamic drag and create efficient airflow, the added speed from the turbulators provides measurable distance gains for all skill levels. At address, they create a captured appearance with the ball and assist with alignment and inspiration. The G30 driver’s CG position is the lowest and
farthest back of any PING model, ensuring optimal launch conditions and an even higher MOI in both axes for extreme forgiveness and maximum energy transfer. A new high-strength, lightweight T9S titanium face is thinner and hotter to optimize face deflection for faster ball speeds and longer drives. Another source of power is the TFC 419D highbalance-point shaft. The CG is closer to the grip end, allowing for a heavier head, which increases the MOI and contributes to the extremely low CG. The result is more energy, momentum and inertia for greater distance with accuracy. The adjustable hosel has the same mass and outer diameter as PING’s fixed hosels, providing the benefits of adjustability with no sacrifice in performance. Their Trajectory Tuning+ Technology allows you to optimize your ball flight by increasing or reducing loft in intervals of 6/10ths of a degree and one full degree, to maximize distance and control. The entire G30 series benefits from new face technologies and materials, including the introduction of T9S titanium in the drivers, which results in thinner faces and weight savings that help position the CG low and back. The fairway woods utilize a high-strength Carpenter 475 steel in the face and the hybrids are heat treated with an H900 process. Both result in hotter, more forgiving faces. The G30 iron face is thinner for higher ball speeds while being stabilized by a new custom tuning port design for predictable distance control. The G30 SF Tec driver option is engineered for players whose shots typically end up right of the intended target. In player testing, the G30 SF Tec driver, which features weight closer to the heel and lighter swing weights, improved shot bend by 12 yards when compared to the G30 standard driver. When PING launched its G30 series at The Greenbrier Classic, the driver and metal woods received a majority of the buzz — and rightfully so. Eight players in the field used the company’s G30 driver in its first week out on TOUR, including winner Angel Cabrera, Bubba Watson and Charles Howell III. Along with the introduction of a new driver, fairway wood and hybrid, PING also unveiled its new G30 iron. Since it was introduced in 2003, the G-Series
has been one of PING’s most popular iron models, combining game-improvement features with an iron chassis that’s playable for a wide range of skill levels. Cast from 17-4 stainless steel, the perimeterweighted G30 features slightly longer blade lengths in the 4- through 7-iron and progressive lofts that produce a higher launch angle in the long irons and a penetrating, controlled trajectory in the short irons. The lofts were made stronger in five of the G30 irons. The 4-, 5- and 6-irons are 2 degrees stronger than the G25; the 7-iron is 1.5 degrees stronger; and the 8-iron is a degree strong. The lofts in the 9-iron and pitching wedge are the same as G25. To increase ball speeds, the 17-4 stainless steel face was made thinner than its predecessor in the 4through 7-irons, allowing for increased balls speed. The company’s patented Custom Tuning Port (CTP) was also positioned lower in the sole of the undercut cavity design to help increase launch angle. In addition to the launch angle, the new CTP position allowed engineers to move the center of gravity
(CG) lower in the h e a d for additional forgiveness and improved feel. Other features include a soft elastomer badge in the back cavity that enhances sound and feel and a softer leading edge radius that’s playable with any angle of attack. While G30 has a number of new additions, the sole contours and bounce profiles are very similar to G25. The G30 is available in 4-iron through pitching wedge — a utility wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge are also offered.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE UGA/PGA Tournament Schedule August 2014
August 8-9
August 1
• Hobble Creek Four-Ball Invitational, Hobble Creek GC • Burton Lumber Salt Lake City Open, Wingpointe GC • Sunset View Delta Couples, Sunset View GC
• Hideout Shootout 2-Man Best Ball, The Hideout GC • Bonneville Ladies Two-Women Challenge, Bonneville GC
August 1-2
• Cache Valley Amateur, Logan River GC and Birch Creek GC
August 2
• Oquirrh Hills 2-Man Best Ball, Oquirrh Hills GC
August 2-3
• Moab 3-n-1 Mixed Best Ball, Moab GC
August 3
• Coral Cliffs Summer Sizzler, Coral Cliffs GC
August 9
August 9-10
• Carbon Coke-Cola Eastern Utah Amateur, Carbon CC
August 10
• Burton Lumber Salt Lake City Open, Bonneville GC
August 11
• The TalonsCove (Women’s Modified Scramble), TalonsCove GC
August 11-12
• The Hideout Amateur, The Hideout GC
• Toana Vista Rainbow/Peppermill/Montego Bay 1-Man Scramble, Toana Vista GC
• Palisade Pro-Am, Palisade State Park
• Glen Eagle 2-Man Best Ball, Glen Eagle GC
August 4 August 5
• Stansbury Senior Amateur, Stansbury Park GC
August 6
• Carbon Tram Electric Two-Women Four-Ball, Carbon CC
August 6-8
• Playing for Life 8th Annual Cancer Fundraiser, Park City GC
August 6-9
• 108th Utah Women’s State Amateur Championship, Ogden G & CC
August 8
• Mt. Ogden 2-Man Scramble, Mt. Ogden GC
• Paradise 2-Man Senior Scramble, Paradise GC G O • Sandy City Amateur, River Oaks GC
August 23-24
• Hideout Senior Amateur, The Hideout GC
S O • Cache Valley Get-Away, Logan River GC and U Logan CC T August 26 H • River Bend Rally for the Cure, Riverbend GC W E August 28 • Glen Eagle Two-Women Best Ball, Glen Eagle GC S T
August 29
• Swiss Days Best Ball, Crater Springs
August 29-30
• TalonsCove Amateur, TalonsCove GC
Southern Nevada Schedule (SNGA)
August 15-16
• Cascata Amateur, Cascata GC
August 16
• Gladstan Onion Days 4-Ball, Gladstan GC • Canyon Breeze Ladies Invitational, Canyon Breeze GC
August 16-17
• Green River Two-Day Scramble/Best Ball, Green River State Park
August 18
• Siegfried & Jensen Utah Open Qualifier, Soldier Hollow (Gold) GC
August 18-19
• UGA Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, Crater Springs GC
August 20
• Wasatch Ladies, Wasatch Mountain (Lake Course) GC • River Oaks Curtis Cup, River Oaks GC
August 22
• Millsite Couples Tournament, Millsite GC • Mick Riley 2-Person Scramble, Mick Riley GC • Schneiter’s Bluff Senior Amateur, Schneiter’s Bluff GC • Remuda Amateur, Remunda GC • U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifier, The Country Club
August 22-24
• Siegfried & Jensen Utah Open, Riverside CC
August 23
• Carbon Couples 3-n-1 (27-Holes), Carbon CC
L F
August 25-26
August 15
• Cedar Ridge Park Firm 2-Man Best Ball, Cedar Ridge GC • Salt Lake Senior Championship, Glendale GC and Rose Park GC
9
August 2-3
— A u g u s t
2 0 • Nevada State Match Play Championship, 1 4
August 3-5
Dayton Valley GC
August 11-12
• Southwest Section-Southern Nevada Chapter Championship, Boulder Creek GC
August 13-15
• Nevada State Senior Amateur, Hidden Valley CC
August 16-17
• Southern Nevada Stableford Championship, Arroyo GC
August 18
• Southwest Section- Southern Nevada Chapter Shriner’s Qualifier, Boulder • U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier, TPC Summerlin
August 25-26
• Nevada State Cobb – Whelan Cup, Canyon Gate CC
August 27-29
• Nevada State Net Amateur, Spanish Trail CC For Full Schedule See
www.Golf-Southwest.com
10 G O L F
GOLF TIPS
How to Hit a True Draw
S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
By Tom F. Stickney II
I
t seems that most everyone wants to move the ball right to left as a right handed player - hence the draw. For most players, it seems like this shot pattern tends to be the most elusive to master and the one that is the envy of your playing partners. In this article, I want to show you a few simple photos and some Trackman data that will help you to understand how this right to left pattern is created through the positions of the face relative to the path during impact. (Note: We’ll assume for the sake of this article that the in to out path of the club in each
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 4
example is the same.) Not too long ago we believed that the path controlled the ball’s starting direction and the face controlled the curvature. We now know that this is 100% incorrect! Trackman has shown us that the FACE controls the ball’s starting direction and the PATH influences the ball’s curvature; thus, the ball begins in the direction of the face and curves away from the path with centered impact - the D-Plane as it’s called. In Figure 1 you can see that the path is from in to out and the face is closed to the path, BUT open to the target during impact. During this interval the face MUST be pointing right of the target so you have the correct starting direction and you will not miss your target to the left. Now that you have started the ball on the correct line, if path is more right than the face as shown above, you will see the ball will curve back towards the target creating the draw we all want to have. If the face is in other conditions, as we’ll see below, you will have anything but the draw you want! So let’s examine that on Trackman so we can see the numbers proving what we see visually above. As you can see from the sample Trackman data in Figure 2, the path is 4.5 degrees from inside and the face angle at impact is 1.2 degrees open to the target. So the face is 3.3 degrees LEFT of the path, but 1.2 degrees RIGHT of the target. This places
the face between the target and the path as shown in the first picture and this is how pros hit a pushdraw - the shot that starts right of the target and falls back towards the pin, but does not miss left of the target. One common mistake I see in amateurs trying to hit draws is the over-closing of the face at impact which increases the difference between the face and the path causing the ball to start targetward and curve too much left of the target. In Figure 3 you will see that the in-to-out path has not changed, but the clubface at impact is pointing directly at the target and this will cause a shot that starts in line with the target, when the ball curves, to finish left of the flag. Let’s look at the Trackman data for this type of shot (Figure 4). The path is 1.9 degrees from in-to-out, while the face is basically 0, which is pointing directly at the flag during impact. So as you look at the bottom right screen on the Trackman you will see that when the face is not open enough at impact, the ball will begin at the target and when it curves away from the path, it will finish left of the pin! Now here is the key - it’s this type of shot pattern that most players mistake for not swinging from in-to-out enough. If they swung more rightward with the same clubface alignment at impact then they would hit the ball even further left due to the increased face-to-path relationship! The bigger the difference between where the path is going and where the face is pointing, the easier it is to curve the ball. The final swing pattern I see with students trying to hit a draw is having the clubface left of the TA R G E T a t i m p a c t causing the dreaded p u l l - d r a w. T h i s i s usually caused from trying to “release” the
Figure 3
11
Figure 5 face through impact. As shown in Figure 5, the ball would start in the direction of the red arrow - the face - and curve away from the blue arrow the path. This is a FACE issue NOT A PATH ISSUE! The path is 1.8 degrees from the inside, but the face is 1.2 degrees LEFT of the target at impact so the face is 3 degrees left of the path. With the face left of the target, look at the starting direction of the ball in the bottom right screen of Figure 6, you can see that it is started left of the flag and curved away from it, missing the target by a mile. This is what happens to players trying to
release the club through impact too much - a big pull-draw or having “happy hands” as we call it on the lesson tee! FINAL ANALYSIS: So remember, in order to hit a push-draw you need an in-to-out path and a face angle at impact that is pointing left of the path at impact, yet is STILL right of the target so the ball will begin correctly before curving towards the flag. The best drill to work on your ball’s curvature is to put an alignment stick into the ground inline with your target and hit balls that curve around i t f ro m r i g h t to left. This will help you to move your path to the right with a face that is closed to the path, yet open to the target. Experiment with this little drill and you’ll see what I Figure 6 mean!
Bio Tom Stickney is the Director of Golf Instruction at The Promontory Club in Park City, Utah and Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, California. He is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and is one of 16 Trackman Master’s in the US. Tom has been featured on the covers of Golf Magazine, Golf Tips, Golf Illustrated and Senior Golfer Magazine and has over 150 National Instructional Articles to his credit. Currently he has a monthly series running in Golf Digest - The Driver Guy. He can be reached at www.tomstickneygolf. com. Guest Students Always Welcome!
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G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
12
DINING
G O L F
Forte European Tapas Bar & Bistro
S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
Story and photos by Steve Mayer
T
he flavors are unique, the food incredible - the place is Forte European Tapas Bar & Bistro. The word Forte means strength, which this restaurant has in excess. They are far more than an average Tapas Bar, in that they offer a cultural kaleidoscope of Slavic dishes from a variety of Balkan Countries. The menu features European comfort food at its best. This is not your run of the mill dining experience. If trying new, flavor-full and adventuresome food is your Forte, then this is the place for you. I am telling you, RUN, don’t walk to this special place.
Nina Manchev is the owner/chef/inspiration that makes Forte so special. The passion in the restaurant and the quality of the food is evident as soon as your order arrives. When you take the first bite, in your mind you’re saying, “I must come back to try more of these items”. A Bulgarian by birth, Nina brings the foods of Eastern Europe to a hungry Las Vegas market looking for food of this genre. Many of the ingredients are imported directly from Europe and everything is made using the freshest ingredients. That “home cooked comfort food” feel is felt in everything here. The restaurant may be in a strip Mall, but once you come through the doors you enter another world. The walls are artfully festooned with clippings from European magazines and photos. From the polished concrete floor to the ceiling, there are splashes of color everywhere. There is a bar area loaded with bottles, jars of infused Vodkas and specialty drinks such as “Gypsy Juice”. The outdoor patio is an added bonus for pleasant days and evenings. There is live music on Friday and Saturday nights when the place really gets jumping. Nina’s home touches are everywhere from
the fresh cut flowers at the tables, the wonder-full house baked bread, to the homemade sausages. There is something for everyone and from many places on the varied menu. Vegetarian and seafood dishes and a wide variety of her homemade sausages and imported charcuterie items. Homemade chicken soup and vegan lentil soup, hearty Solyanka and Borsht soup from Russia, and Hungarian Goulash. Stuffed sweet peppers and stuffed grape leaves as well as several salads including the Forte Fetamelon Salad. This salad of watermelon, mint, red onion, Bulgarian Feta cheese and toasted sesame seeds is great for a hot day. The specialty flatbreads really caught my eye, especially the truffle caviar with truffle salami and the Torchon de Foie Gras. We started with the Andjarski Khachapurri. This is a traditional boat shaped bread filled with two types of Georgian style pickled cheeses that is baked and then an egg is cracked over the cheese. It finishes cooking the egg at the table. The saltiness of the cheese with the richness coming from the egg yolk is incredible with the fresh bread. Wow, right then I knew we were in for a treat.
13 Nina was featured in Guy Fieri’s hit television show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. On the show, Guy sampled two of her most popular dishes, so we did too, the first being the Bulgarian Mixed Grill. Three different types of her homemade Bulgarian sausages are featured along with a tasty Bulgarian bean relish, European slaw and Liuteniza (a blend of tomato and roasted peppers). The sausages were excellent and the slaw, bean relish and Liuteniza really went well together. The Thracian Clay Pot was the next item up. This traditional Bulgarian specialty is a blend of sausage, tomatoes, peppers, onion and Feta cheese, topped with an egg, then baked in a Bulgarian Clay Pot. The juices formed from the intricate blend of flavors is divine sopped up with that wonder-full Bulgarian bread. The menu also features a variety of other grilled sausage dishes and a chicken shish kabob. There are several types of Russian dumplings available and the Beef Stroganoff Ragu was the next taste treat we sampled. The Wild Mushroom Pelmeni (dumplings) were smothered in a rich creamy Stroganoff. The mushrooms had an incredibly rich, woodsy flavor and the sauce - do you have your running shoes on yet? The menu also has a “Silence of the Lambs” (cute Nina) section for three separate lamb dishes. The Bulgarian Easter Lamb we tried was not so silent. It spoke loudly of hearty flavors. This slow roasted portion of fork-tender lamb with Arugula mashed potatoes
Bulgarian Easter Lamb
The Darkside Cocktail
Bulgarian Mixed
and spring salad was another home run. The lamb was perfect and the sauce reduced to intensify the rich country flavors and with the buttery potatoes, sublime. Just like mom should make. At this point we were pleasantly satiated and inquired about the Neft Russian Vodka they advertise. This really smooth Vodka was served with an ice ball filled with granulated charcoal giving the drink a distinct black look (Neft is oil in Russian). Nina then brewed up a cocktail she calls “The Dark Side”. This drink featured a cup made out of a half of a passion fruit, filled with coconut sake, which she floated in the Neft Vodka and charcoal infused simple syrup. This exotic concoction was really good and made me look twice at her menu of exotic cocktails. Forte does feature Happy Hour drink specials Tuesday thru Saturday 4-7pm and Sunday and Monday from 5-7pm. In addition to all this, they have three types of seafood including shrimp, squid, octopus and oh yeah, Tapas. We haven’t even mention their small plate specialties! Nina makes over 80 types of homemade sausages. There are also imported charcuterie and cheeses. The Tapas selections include a cheese plate with seasonal nuts and preserves or you can choose individual select cheeses. The Artisan charcuterie plate can be ordered to try a variety meats or again, individual choices can be made. Of note also is the Chorizo con Vino - A Spanish chorizo simmered in Spanish red wine. Mm mm! There are just too many items to go through them all in this article, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the desserts. Homemade Apple Strudel, Baklava, three types of crepes and a “Biscuit Cake” - honey biscuits dipped in espresso & cognac layered with chocolate and mascarpone. Oh man. Nina has created quite a place in Forte and with the quality of the food and unique European ambiance, I will be going back often to try more of the menu and crafty bar concoctions. Come in and try the food, revel in the cultural diversity that is Forte, visit Eastern Europe for a few hours and of course, tell them Golf Southwest sent you. Forte European Tapas Bar & Bistro is located at 4180 South Rainbow in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hours are Tuesday – Saturday 12:00 – 10:00 and Sunday & Monday 5:00 – 10:00. Phone 702220-3876, E-mail info@barforte.com, Grill website www.barforte.com.
G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
14 G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
Siena Golf Club A
t Siena Golf Club, golf course architects Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley took a flat piece of land and created an interesting and intricate design that has both locals and vacationers running to its Summerlin location. This upscale, daily-fee course opened in 2000 and is located just 20 minutes from the famed Las Vegas Strip. Siena Golf Club gives players a unique golfing opportunity in Las Vegas, as it shies away from the typical desert golf layout to create a run that has a personality all its own. Shot making is key at Siena, where the bunkers eagerly swallow errant shots at this course which is often described as fair, but challenging. Let’s start our highlights at the 393 yard second, the shortest Par 4 on the front nine. Isolated tees provide a forced carry over the arroyo that starts at the tees and then again starts 280 yards from the tee. Desert lines both sides of the hole and also swings around the back of the green as you approach. Your second shot is then over the arroyo, as the fairway picks back up and slopes up to the putting surface. Make sure you keep it out of the greenside bunker on the left as the green is wide and angles left to right with lots of undulation, making an up and down a tough chore. The third stays true to the desert, target golf theme at Siena as again the tees are isolated, but you are not faced with much of a forced carry here. The hole is basically a straightway Par 5 measuring 562 yards from the back tees. Fairway bunkers are placed both left and right, 240 and 260 yards respectively. Your second then again has sand that comes
into play, with two more bunkers on the right about 120 yards short of the green. Your approach is to a large, deep green that falls off left center and back left with two bunkers guarding the entrance to the green. Three putts are pretty common, believe me! Now many courses in the desert have started to use more of a target design in order to help cut down on turf maintenance and water usage. Siena is kind of a ‘tweener ’ in this case, as although desert scape comes into play on almost every hole, there is still plenty of space in the fairways to accommodate players’ shots of all skill levels and its spacious greens have a lot of undulation and can be a little on the quick side. Hole No. 5 is a shortish Par 3, by today’s standards, at only 159 yards, but don’t let the lack of length get you too relaxed. Your tee shot requires a total carry over water as the pond also wraps around the left side as well. Bunkers also guard the front of the green, both left and right. The green is large with a hard slope coming down from the left bunker. Even if you do struggle at the fifth, you can’t help but be mesmerized by the gorgeous water features and palms that form an oasis in the desert at this gorgeous Par 3. The eighth hole turns back toward Red Rock Canyon and very often plays into a crossing wind. Bunkers are visible from the tee both left and right at about the 230 mark. You are then faced with a cluster of bunkers on the left as you try and find a good lie for your short approach. Driver, hybrid and 100 yard wedge I found was a pretty good play here. The hole really narrows up about 80 yards short of the green as more bunkers are found both left and
The Tuscany-themed, 14,000-square clubhouse and Italian restaurant and bar with views of the 18th hole and Lake Siena really give you that ‘Resort Feel’.
15 If you thought the front nine had a few bunkers, wait until you see the back nine. Many are in the form of fairway bunkers, so at times they actually act as buffers in keeping you out of the desert surroundings. The 425 yard tenth is another of the great Par 4’s at Siena. Fairway bunkers, left and right in the landing, area frame your tee shot. Your second then requires a carry over the arroyo that cuts a c ro s s a t a b o u t t h e 105 yard mark to the green, making it tough Siena features 97 white sand bunkers, most of which are deep, whether to judge the distance. they’re around the greens or in the fairways. Hit an errant shot and you are There is a bail-out area to likely to find them and combined with challenging greens, it makes all play- the right of the elevated ers earn their scores. green. A large bunker right. The green comes to a ridge in the middle, front left partially wraps around the left side, with another bunker back left. The green is large and sloping to the back and the front from its center. Siena Golf Club’s front nine finishes with a will definitely test your skills. Number 12 and 13 solid, 420 yard Par 4. Water lines the left side the full length of the hole, influencing you to keep it offer good birdie opdown the right side off of the tee. But, beware of portunities while playthe bunkers on the right as they really narrow up ing as a 506 yard, very the landing area, making accuracy paramount! reachable Par 5 and a Your second shot leaves you no room for error 402 yard Par 4, respecon the left, as the long, narrow green slopes left tively. Yo u t h e n c o m e t o to right and back to front. A hidden bunker back left, although offering a tough up and down, is a the fourteenth, a long, uphill Par 3. A small better result than finding the water.
cluster of bunkers are found on the right short of the green and another tough one greenside right. Swirling winds can make club selection tough at times, so I would recommend using at least one extra in most cases. The deep green slopes left to right and back to front. If you can hit a little fade at the left side of the green, the natural contour will filter your shot to most pin placements. Another good scoring opportunity is found at the 514 yard, Par 5 fifteenth. Water forces a carry from the tee as crosswinds can be a problem at times. The best position from the tee is left of the middle fairway bunker and a drive in the 260+ yard range will put you in great position for a go at the green in two. The fairway sweeps right at this point and fairway sand and grass bunkers seem to appear everywhere starting 100 yards from the green. There is then a large greenside bunker on the left and the putting surface slopes hard back left. Siena Golf Club’s eighteenth is a great finish to a wonderful round of golf. This challenging 400 yard Par 4 lays out in front of you as a hard angling dogleg right. Tail /crosswinds add to the challenge at times as you try and maneuver your tee shot down the left side of continued on page 16
For Tee Times Call 888-823-5523 or 702-341-9200
Siena Golf Club, where players experience a layout that has more of a resort feel than a master-planned golf community. This is done with strong design of individual holes and great vistas throughout.
G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
16 SIENA
the locals mean the strip or away from the Spring Mountains. Many of Siena’s bentgrass greens also feature plenty of undulation. Get some Sunday pin placegreen. The right side of the hole is heavily ments, like back-left on the long Par 4 fourth and bunkered and water on the right also narrows you could be attempting the same putt twice if you up the entrance to the green. The long green don’t hit the first one hard enough. angles left to right as the clubhouse offers a The course also underwent some improvements perfect background as you tap your last putt in the last few years. Siena was the first club in of the day into the cup. the area to participate in the Southern They say the devil’s greatest trick Nevada Water Authority’s turf reducwas convincing the world he didn’t Siena’s Community Center, with 38,000 square feet of tion plan. With the area mired in a exist. In golf, the equivalent might prolonged drought, the SNWA has functional space and the Grand Ballroom, serves as provided financial incentives to golf be a golf course community where visiting golfers don’t recall there were the heart and soul of the facility. With approximately courses to strip away out-of-play turf homes all around the course. and replace them with desert 17,600 square feet, the Grand Ballroom accommodates areas Such is the case at the Summerlin landscapes. In the case of Siena, this 500 guests with theatre seating or 300 guests for special move has reduced the amount of irarea’s Siena Golf Club, where players experience a layout that has more of events and weddings. Also featured in the Community rigated turf from just over 140 acres to a resort feel than a master-planned around 90 with no sacrifice in quality Center is a dramatic dome-shaped lobby and lounge of play. If anything, the addition of golf community. This is done with strong design of individual holes and that serves as the focal point of this magnificent facility. crushed rock, which better players great vistas of the valley and the Las don’t mind hitting from and native Vegas Strip below. A Tuscany-themed, desert plants have served to add defini14,000-square clubhouse and Italian restaurant One of the reasons the greens can be a little tion and contrast to the course. and bar with views of the 18th hole and Lake tricky is the 10-percent grade the course was built And golf isn’t all that Siena Golf Club has to Siena don’t hurt the resort feel either. on. What may appear to be a slightly downhill offer. The Siena Bistro offers a wonderful setting “Playability” is a term that’s often thrown or uphill putt, may, in fact, be just the opposite. and the allure of classic French and Italian inspired about loosely, but Siena’s layout really fits The rule of thumb here is to remember that putts tastes. There selections suit a wide variety of the bill. Opened in 2000, Siena offers five sets always break toward the money. And by “money,” tastes, dietary needs and are always available at a
G O continued from page 15 L F the fairway, giving you the best angle into the S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
of tees playing from a little under 5,000 yards to 6,843. There are no real difficult forced carries, the greens are plenty large and water only comes into play occasionally. Siena also features 97 white sand bunkers, most of which are deep, whether they’re around the greens or in the fairways. Hit an errant shot and you are likely to find them and combined with challenging greens, it makes all players earn their scores.
Number 12 and 13 offer good birdie opportunities while playing as a 506 yard, very reachable Par 5 and a 402 yard Par 4, respectively. An “Oasis in the Desert”.
17 G O L F S O U T H W E S T —
One of the reasons the greens can be a little tricky at Siena is the 10-percent grade the course was built on. What may appear to be a slightly downhill or uphill putt, may, in fact, be just the opposite. reasonable price. The Bistro serves as a fantastic venue for holiday parties, seminars, small and large golf tournaments, banquets, weddings and features a variety of specialty themed nights. Live action pasta buffets, prime rib nights, barbeques, Latin nights and fish fries are just the beginning. They proudly host beautiful Mother ’s Day, Easter and Thanksgiving Day brunches for the entire family. Whatever the occasion, you will enjoy the breathtaking views of lush green landscaping and gorgeous golf course views, the Spring Mountains to the west, the south Las Vegas Strip to the east and of course beautiful Lake Siena right outside the back door. They also offer seasonal patio dining with an ambient fireplace and lakeside dining as well. Relax and enjoy outstanding French inspired Italian and Continental creations with warm, friendly,
professional service and watch the sunset over the mountains while the Strip comes alive with light! The Siena Clubhouse is the ideal place for weddings, receptions and large group parties. The Tuscan-style clubhouse includes the festive Siena Bistro, meeting space that overlooks Lake Siena; men’s and women’s locker rooms and a beautifully appointed and fully-stocked golf shop. Siena’s Community Center, with 38,000 square feet of functional space and the Grand Ballroom, serves as the heart and soul of the facility. With approximately 17,600 square feet, the Grand Ballroom accommodates 500 guests with theatre seating or 300 guests for special events and weddings. Also featured in the Community Center is a dramatic dome-shaped lobby and lounge that serves as the focal point of this magnificent facility. Siena and their sister course, Arroyo Golf C l u b a re h a p p y t o offer Clark County Residents their Player C a rd M e m b e r s h i p . The Player Card offers guests many benefits such as, reduced green
Siena may be considered a desert layout, but beautiful water features and eco-sensitive plants greatly enhance its surroundings.
A u g u fees, reduced guest fees, discounts in the golf s t shop and much, much more.
Gone is the day of having to pay a large sum of money up front in order to belong to a golf club. Siena Golf Club also offers an annual membership to golfers who want to pay a one-time annual fee for unlimited golf, unlimited use of practice facilities and many more benefits. And, if you are the person who works all day and never has time to get to the course for a full 18 holes during the week, then the Player Improvement Program is just the thing for you. For a small monthly fee, PIP members get unlimited access to Siena’s full practice facilities and reduced twilight green fees. Whether you require a distinctive setting for your special event or are looking for one of the best golf venues in southern Nevada, make sure you check out everything that the Siena Golf Club has to offer – where you will find the tradition of excellence is not only a trademark, but a guarantee. Siena Golf Club 10575 Siena Monte Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89135 702-341-9200 www.sienagolfclub.com
2 0 1 4
18 G O L F
Learning to Love Practice
By Mike Malaska – Nicklaus Academies’ The Importance of World-Wide Director of Instruction Footwork in the Golf Swing
S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
By Mike Malaska
As part of a warm-up routine, remember to warm up your body first. Stretch and loosen up before you hit a shot.
P
Step 2 – Feel the Clubface and Grip • Put a clubface in your hand (literally). Feel the different shots. • Feeling draws, fades, high and low shots is a daily reminder.
Warming Up Consistently Is the Key to rogress is motivating. And if you are motivated, Progress Step 3 – Establish Posture you’ll enjoy your practice. But if you only Motivation comes easiest when you sense • Establish your posture, relative to a practice recognize progress as an improvement in your progress. Acknowledging these signs of progstation. score, then you might as well quit. In this section, ress is critical to stay inspired. If you only see • Confirm fundamentals such as posture every of the Nicklaus Academy at DragonRidge www.nicklausacademylasvegas.com you’ll learn that identifying progress is something of improvement Images when courtesy your score drops, you’ll day. a game in itself. become so frustrated you’ll probably quit – or players do–not realize theto improve student how their weight should I worked with Jim Flickany at Nicklaus Academies you’ll quit trying on a dailycan basis.feel Step 4 – Swing the Club Handle and I had to teach people how to practice. Whenthat I first their move golf swing. importance play Howfeet can we create this feeling of during progress? the • Turn the club around and swing the handle. started, I would ask people, “Do you like practicing”? The answer starts by learning to warm-up in the golf swing. Your feet are Take your • regular stance. Asswings. you When you Make several practice Ninety-five percent of them said they did not. The properly each time you practice. You’ll need a turn the club around, you’ll left feel the weight thedidn’t only contact the ground begin your back swing, bring your reason they likepoint practicingof is they felt like with checklist. You need to start where you started of the clubhead. and provide the platform from which foot back so it is next to the right. Just practice made them worse. They felt more confused. yesterday. To skip a step or all of the steps, And even they found something that worked on a iffundamentally sound swing built as you reach is tois invite frustration. Get back to where the top of your backswing, Step 5 – Pitching the range, it would leave them on the course, so why you were yesterday, then add a little more to begin the downswing. step forward from. Golf is one of only a few ‘ball and • Hit a few shots to ensure a good sense of bother? today. This is true progress and the keyyour to Complete swing stick sports’ (baseball, softball & tennis contact.with your normal Obviously, there is a problem here. Practicing plays motivation. • Focus on feeling the clubhead. the athlete does not stance. Notice how diffi cult the it weight is to of‘spintricks onfor you. Itexample) can make you feelwhere like you have somestep into their other out of the shot’ with a proper weight thing, but you just can’t apply it toswing. the course. IfAs youwith Stepthese 1 – Putting and Chipping Step 6 – Feel Draw, Straight and Fade don’t learn how to adapt and adjust, you may give up • Start with your putter, which requires the Step Into It Drill during sports, it is critical that your feet are in shift. Use the • Feel the club with a shut face, relative to path. just before you achieve something great in your game. shortestthe stroke. Makeyour the ball roll end- sessions, and in time, a practice synch with your body throughout • Feel the club with an open face, again relaLet me share a few ways that can help you see over end. proper weight shift entire swing for a proper weight shift. tive that to path.is in synch will through the illusion that practice creates confusion • Next, chipping. Work on catching the ball • Finally, feel the clubhead square to the path. I use the Step Into It Drillonso become second nature. more than progress. thethat face. the
M
About the author: PGA Professional Mike Malaska is #24 on Golf Digest’s ranking of instructors and is one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100. To arrange a personal session with Mike, call 602.799.7099 or visit www.nicklausacademies.com
19 Step 8 – Height Control • Hit shots controlling the height. Hands slightly behind influences a higher shot. • Slightly forward of the ball creates a standard shot flight. • Creating impact with your hands well ahead produces a low shot. Step 9 – L to L Swings to Full Swing • Use the L to L as a warm-up for the full swing. • M a k e a re l a x e d s w i n g through impact. • Finish with the classic “I” shape.
Step 7 – Path Control • Now hit some shorter shots where you focus on path. • In-to-out path makes the ball start right. • Out-to-in path makes the ball start left.
Progress Leads to Motivation While you’re warming up, you can also help yourself mentally. Practicing gives the golfer some valuable time to think. Rather than feeling frustrated, try to be relaxed and focused. Don’t practice making it ‘hard’. Once good golf is a habit, it will become far easier. But practice ‘good golf’ mentally along the way. Don’t grind. Don’t allow yourself the luxury of hating every minute of it. This makes it far more likely for you to dread the next day. Enjoying small accomplishments and loving the moment will keep you coming back. When you start warming up, don’t be afraid to use a tee instead of hitting off the ground. When you use a tee, you still have to control path and face. The only part that is made easier is angle of approach – allowing you to think the ball is easier to hit.
We’ve all heard that golf isn’t just score and distance. Progress can be measured in your approach to the game or your ability to control certain situations. Strive to feel this in every shot. You can find success in feeling less tension in your body. If you start to feel lost, don’t just keep hitting away. Step back, retrace the steps then start moving forward again. Back and forth creates true progress. In this way, finding progress becomes something of a game inside the game. When you talk to great players, they’re always working on something. They are trying to think or act a certain way all day long. And if it holds up, they say, “That was a great day”.
G O L F S O U T H W E S T —
A u Great Players are Always Improving g When the best players are out there practic- u ing, are they loving every minute of it? No, s t
they’re not. In fact, it’s like working out. There is a pain these players go through – a mental or a physical pain – and they go through it because they know if they toughen up, they’ll play better. To them, motivation is just another part of the game they need to succeed. Listen to a typical Tour player in an interview. “I’m figuring things out. I’m getting better”, is commonly their response. They pump themselves up. They are anticipating good, but they’re not devastated by bad. They know that great is just one step away. You can learn from their experiences. After you’re warmed up, what are you working on? Can you find what the great players are striving for? Can you take your progress one step further? Golf is a journey. The key is to be so motivated by successes and failures that you’ll try again tomorrow. Ask yourself what went right today and where can you improve. Remember, progress has two sides.
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20 G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
Sunset View Golf Course — Rural Golf at Its Best T By Jim Rayburn he greatest aspect of Utah’s state of golf is the game’s affordability and accessibility to all Utahans, regardless of where they live within the state. Fortunately for golfers, government leaders at one time recognized the need to provide the recreational opportunity to their golfing constituents and financed and constructed dozens of publicly owned courses across Utah. Those days are likely behind us, where cities build golf courses, that is, but Utah residents being owners of the majority of the state’s golf courses likely won’t change and will forever have its benefits. Utah’s golf climate will always be dominated by public golf. It’s abundant. Most of Utah’s public golf courses are almost like personal playgrounds for the local golfers. And when you consider the reason most of Utah’s municipal-owned golf courses were built, it’s hard to argue that it should be any other way. These courses were built specifically so each city’s residents will have a lifetime of accessible and affordable golf. Perhaps no Utah golf course fills this need any better than Sunset View Golf Course north of Delta. Cut through a vast spread of sagebrush more than 50
miles from the state’s main interstate, Sunset View’s main clientele is obviously going to be the residents of Delta and Millard County. It’s their playground. The Christensen family, with Millard County funding construction and managing operations, donated the property for the golf course. Rural golf is as good as it gets. It brings a community together. Rural golf provides that much needed break from a day of hard work on the farm, ranch or factory. It’s where friendships are made, strengthened and personal character is developed. “This is a place where the people of Millard County can gather, enjoy and have fun playing golf with the people they mingle in the community with every day. It’s that simple,” says Todd Mullen, Sunset View head golf professional for the past nine years. Mullen does an excellent job of enhancing Sunset View by promoting the men’s league, women’s league, couples events and a strong junior golf program. The golf course is a community hangout, a place where residents want to spend their mornings, afternoons and evenings. Both Delta High’s boy’s and girl’s golf teams have been state champions. Several Utah professionals, Jordan and Casey Fowles to name a few, developed their game as young course rats hanging out each
summer as teens on Sunset’s fairways. Sunset View is also popular with organizations and business in Millard County, hosting multiple corporate events throughout the summer. “The county commissioners have always felt that having a good golf course is essential to attracting new industry and business,” Mullen says. Mullen has been outstanding as well at introducing Sunset View to golfers outside Millard County by hosting several tournaments each year. Sunset View is home to individual championships, couples tournaments, senior tournaments, best-ball tournaments and junior championship. All attract full fields and the state’s top players. Sunset View isn’t just Millard County’s best-kept secret. As golfers travel throughout the state they quickly learn that the pace of golf at Sunset View is more relaxing and pleasant than golf at most other courses. Once down the first fairway you’ll realize it’s just you, your friends or family and the serenity provided by the miles-long cushion of sagebrush and the occasional visit from Peter Cottontail. Well, actually, mostly it’s Peter Jackrabbit. “We are trying to reach out to people to get them to come play our golf course, but our biggest struggle is we’re off the beaten path. But when people do
“This is a place where the people of Millard County can gather, enjoy and have fun playing golf with the people they mingle in the community with every day. It’s that simple,” says Todd Mullen, Sunset View head golf professional for the past nine years.
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Sunset View is home to individual championships, couples tournaments, senior tournaments, best-ball tournaments and junior championship. And of course, a great place for kids to get introduced to the game. come our way they are always pleasantly surprised. People just don’t expect a golf course this fun and in this good of condition in a small town like Delta,” Mullen says. It’s golf in the true nature. You’ll feel like you’re miles from civilization. At Sunset View, golf is fun, peaceful, relaxing and therapeutic. The course provides views of the Fish Lake mountain range to the east and the Drum mountain range to the west. The course’s web site proclaims, “Golf is the ideal way to enjoy the outdoors and the company of others.” That pretty much sums up what Sunset View is all about. That doesn’t mean that Sunset View isn’t a challenging layout. Though the course lacks tree-lined fairways, tall pines, raging streams and a lot of other hazards to avoid, it provides just enough variety and a slight mix of obstacles to require good shots to post good scores. The two nines differ greatly. The front, opened in 1987 and designed by a group of local golfers, is fairly wide and open while being mostly flat with raised greens that are difficult to chip to with a slope that mostly tilts from back to front. The back nine, designed by Kris and Kent Abegglen and opened in 2002, has narrower fairways and smaller greens that have a touch more undulation than the front nine greens. The sagebrush seems to grab a few more errant shots on the back nine. Heading south from the clubhouse, the 400-yard Par 4 first hole looks fairly simple from the tee. A few trees, that are rapidly maturing, line both sides of the fairway and the rough is often deep. During the spring months water fills a pond on the right side. This opening straightaway hole introduces many golfers to Sunset View’s version of desert golf. Shots that stray beyond the rough will find patches of
desert grass and clay. The clay presents different challenges depending on whether conditions are wet or dry. Hole No. 2 is one of Sunset View’s more enjoyable holes. A 400-yard slight dogleg right Par 4 over a pond and around desert and sagebrush, the hole can be a driver and a wedge. But, cut the corner too much and you’ll be pulling your ball out of a bush. Play too safe and out of bounds stretches down the left side. A small bunker guards the green on the left. It’s always better to putt uphill and behind the green leaves a very difficult up and down. The 199-yard Par 3 third is one of Sunset View’s toughest. The hole is straightway with a large green that slopes back to front. Long is trouble, but a bunker left and a bunker right protect the front of the green. The 535-yard Par 5 fourth is all about angles. The hole bends left around desert, with out of bounds left, but hugging the left side leaves the best approach. The
second shot on this hole is perhaps the toughest on the golf course. Thick bushes sit left of the fairway and green, while a pond hugs the right side of the fairway. With a good drive the green is reachable in two, but more trouble seems to come into play on the layup shots. The 380-yard fifth hole, a dogleg left Par 4, plays short for those who can cut the corner. But, a mishit off the tee and you’ll definitely find the sagebrush. Longer hitters can also hit it through the fairway and into trouble. Safest play is fairway wood or iron off the tee, forget cutting the corner and setting for a short iron second shot. But the risk-reward is there for those who want it. The sixth hole, a 390-yard Par 4, bends the other direction. Cut off as much as you want right, but you’ll likely be hitting off of clay if you get too bold. A handful of trees also protect the right side. Hole No. 7, a 490-yard Par 5, is the front nine’s narrowest hole. Thick grease wood lines both the right and left sides of the fairway. A tall tree comes into play on the second shot for any drive not on the fairway. The hole is very reachable in two, but thick rough and sagebrush catch shots that are short or right, with two bunkers in front guarding the large green. The eighth is a 168-yard Par 3 over a pond. Miss continued on page 22
G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
22 G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t
Once down the first fairway you’ll realize it’s just you, your friends or family and the serenity provided by the miles-long cushion of sagebrush and the occasional visit from Peter Cottontail. Well, actually, mostly it’s Peter Jackrabbit.
SUNSET VIEW
continued from page 21
2 0 the green long or left and a tough downhill chip is 1 next. The pond tends to catch balls that are mishit 4
a little to the right as well. The ninth is a straightaway, 430 yard Par 4 that often plays down wind. If you hit a straight drive, you’ll have a long iron second shot. But shots that are hooked or pulled could go out of bounds and anything right will find thick rough. The back nine starts with a slightly downhill and slightly doglegging left, 432-yard Par 4. A greenside bunker protects most of the right side on approach shots. Hole 11, a tight 390-yard Par 4, has a fairway that is slightly wider in the landing area, but other than that there’s no room for error. Thick sagebrush lines
the right side. The narrow and undulated green has a slight valley in front, which makes high second shots essential. No running up an approach on this one. The Par 3 12th, at 140 yards, looks simple, but hitting this elevated, narrow and undulating green is a must. A deep bunker protects the green front and left. The tendency on the 372-yard Par 4 13th is to hug the left side off the tee. But there’s plenty of room to the right. Thick greasewood lurks on both sides. The elevated and shallow green requires a high and soft approach shot for a good chance at birdie. “With the tier in the middle of the green it’s really tough to get it close on this hole, but it’s really our signature hole,” Mullen says. Hole 14 is a 547-yard Par 5, which turns slightly right. To get home in two requires a bomb down
The tendency on the 372-yard Par 4 13th is to hug the left side off the tee. But there’s plenty of room to the right. Thick greasewood lurks on both sides. The elevated and shallow green requires a high and soft approach shot for a good chance at birdie.
the right, but that’s also the side with most of the trouble. The fairway also tightens up because of a bunker at the turn and the green is then elevated to add a little more scoring protection. Most golfers tend to hit their second shot to the left, which gives them a better look to a green that runs that direction. Again, chipping from off this elevated green is treacherous. The 160-yard Par 3 15th plays difficult because the narrow and undulating green is tough and challenges both putting and chipping. Holes 16 and 17 are Par 4s, with their main defense being the desert and sagebrush that lines both sides. Hugging the right side off the tee can shorten No. 17, a slight dogleg right at 465 yards. The finishing hole has a lot of character. The 577yard Par 5 doglegs right to left. Two fairway bunkers sit right in the middle of the fairway about 250 yards off the tee. So you can either lie up short of the bunkers, bomb it over them or try to sneak in between them. Another fairway bunker on the right comes into play on layup second shots. Those attempting to get home in two must cut the corner over the desert and out of bounds, but a large bunker in front guards the green, making it pretty tough to accomplish. “Most people stay short of the bunkers off the tee, hit a 200-yard second shot and then a wedge, hoping they can get one close enough to finish off with a birdie,” Mullen said. Sunset View has a driving range, a small snack shack, carts and a practice putting green. Brent Spencer is the superintendent and keeps Sunset View in excellent conditions, especially considering his skeleton staff and limited budget. Greens fees are $30 for 18 holes with a cart and $20 to walk. Season passes are $800 for families, $600 for couples and $400 for individuals. Senior passes are $300 and junior passes are $100. More information is available online at www.sunsetviewgc.com or by calling 435864-2508.
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Titleist AP1 and AP2 Irons
G O L F
P
S O U T H W E S T
New 714 Series Models Feature Higher Launching Long Irons and Lower Launching Short Irons for Longer Carry Distance with Outstanding Forgiveness
recision engineered for advanced performance, the new Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons deliver longer flight with increased forgiveness and more solid feel. Precise iron play requires both distance and control, hitting shots that fly the desired distance with the proper trajectory to softly land the ball near the pin. The new AP1 and AP2 (714 Series) irons, now available in golf shops worldwide, feature progressive designs developed by the Titleist Golf Club R&D team to produce optimum launch, trajectory and distance for each loft. Advanced CG height progression, precisely designed into both models, creates higher launching long irons and flatter launching short irons for more carry distance with outstanding control to help players stop the ball on the green, closer to the hole. Titleist R&D also utilized innovative tungsten weighting and manufacturing technologies to make AP1 and AP2 the most forgiving irons in the game at the head sizes and blade lengths preferred by serious golfers. Performance-engineered profiles with precisely placed high density tungsten weighting in the long and mid irons help produce higher MOI, increasing the speed on mishits to provide consistent distance without sacrificing workability or shot control. The new AP1 irons are the longest, most forgiving irons Titleist has ever made, with a multi-material, dual cavity design for players that want maximum distance, forgiveness and solid feel in a great looking progressive game improvement chassis. The new AP2 models are multi-material forged irons that offer distance with trajectory control and forgiveness with workability in a solid feeling, great looking tourproven chassis. “When it comes to iron play, distance without the ability to stop your shot is meaningless. You have to hit the ball far enough to reach the green, but also have the proper ball flight to stop it near the hole,” said Steve Pelisek, General Manager, Titleist Golf Clubs. “What our R&D team has accomplished with the new AP1 and AP2 models is impressive, effectively taking each individual iron as its own design and optimizing its performance to provide longer distance, more consistent distance and stopping control, even when you don’t hit a shot perfectly.” The new irons debuted on the PGA Tour last summer to immediate validation and success, with two instant converters to the new AP2 models quickly earning breakthrough victories. Jordan Spieth won his first-career PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic with new AP2 irons in the bag, just two weeks after the clubs were made available on tour. Soon after, Jason Dufner played new AP2’s in winning the PGA
— A u g u s t
Championship for his first major title. More recently, Zach Johnson put new AP2 irons in the bag and won his first two starts (2013 Northwestern Mutual World Challenge, 2014 Hyundai Tournament of Champions). LONGER, PRECISE FLIGHT Titleist Golf Club R&D designed the new AP1 and AP2 irons to provide the best combination of trajectory and distance control. The long and mid irons feature improved dual-cavity constructions (AP1 has a new, deep undercut; AP2 has a 25-percent thinner upper cavity face) with high density tungsten efficiently placed low in the head for lower CG, making it easier for players to launch the ball higher for more carry distance. The short irons have a thicker upper face and narrower sole that help raise the CG for a lower, flatter trajectory with outstanding control into the green. The short iron lofts in both AP1 (#7-W) and AP2 (#6W) have been strengthened 1 degree to help lower launch and increase ball speed for more distance. A second AP1 gap wedge (52º) has also been added to help with set gapping. “We’ve really taken progressive design to another level to get that flight and forgiveness where we want it,” Pelisek said. “There isn’t a more progressive set of irons in the industry.” To ensure proper CG height throughout the set, high density tungsten is placed low in the bottom of the hosel of the AP2 P and W irons. This also helps make for a better transition to utility wedges, which typically have the CG slightly closer to the heel. MAXIMUM FORGIVENESS AP1 and AP2 irons provide the most forgiveness in the game at their tour-proven blade sizes. High density tungsten is precisely placed low in the toe (and co-forged into the heel of AP2) of the long and mid irons to create high MOI that drives higher ball speeds across the face for more consistent distance on off-center hits. “Every player can benefit from added forgiveness. You always want to maintain distance so that you carry that bunker, or water hazard, even if you don’t catch it on the center of the face,” said Dan Stone, Vice
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President of Titleist Golf Club R&D. “There’s a progression in how we design irons. Since long irons require more speed and are more difficult to hit for most players, we try to maximize the forgiveness. You can design more forgiveness into an iron by simply making the head bigger, but in doing so, we would give up control. And Titleist wants to use a profile and shape that players prefer. So we push the envelope with high density tungsten in order to maximize forgiveness while retaining the look that serious golfers want to play.” CO-FORGING PROCESS Pioneered by Titleist R&D, the co-forging procontinued on page 27
24 G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
2014 PGA Championship W hen the best golfers in the world head to Louisville for the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, they’ll be greeted to a far different course than the one some of them remember from the 2000 PGA Championship, or even the more recent 2008 Ryder Cup. After a year-long, multi-million-dollar renovation, which 18-time major champion and course designer Jack Nicklaus told reporters beforehand was because “golf equipment has changed dramatically and players have changed how they play the game dramatically,” a lot has changed at Valhalla. In early September 2012, the new and improved Valhalla was reopened to members. It features 18 newly built greens -- rebuilt to USGA specifications -- with a new, state-of-theart irrigation system to replace the 25-year-old infrastructure that was in place. To modernize course maintenance practices and tolerate weather conditions, a more heattolerant bent grass was installed. Of particular note, the alterations to holes 2, 3, 7, 9, 14 and 15 will stand out to spectators as significantly different from what they saw at either the 2011 Senior PGA Championship or the 2008 Ryder Cup. On No. 2, the entire green was shifted slightly left and the right greenside bunker was moved from right-middle to right-back to create a friendlier bail-out area. The mounding around the second green was also softened to allow players easier entry and exit of the green. At the third hole, the left greenside bunker was reduced in size to more of a back-left bunker and a bentgrass collection area was added to allow players a friendlier bail-out. The right greenside bunker was enlarged and brought around the front-right section of the green. The green was re-contoured, creating a very difficult pin location back-left. The seventh hole now features two fairway bunkers that were added on the left side of the right-hand fairway to challenge players from the Championship tee. The left, island fairway was shifted slightly to the right, bringing the water into play. The mounding right of the green was softened and a bentgrass collection area added skirting to the right and back of the green. Extensive changes were made to fairway bunkers on the right and left sides of the ninth hole. The left bunkers were shifted further up the fairway, as were the right-hand bunkers pinching the fairway for the longer hitters. The bunker alterations have given the hole a truly spectacular view from the tee. The front greenside bunker on No. 14 was reduced in size from the right-hand side and a bunker was added at
25 No. 3 - “Floyd’s Fork” 205 yards, Par 3 No. 3 is a challenging Par 3 with Floyd’s Fork winding between the tee and the green, then sweeping around to the right of the green. The green is guarded by a large bunker to the left and a smaller bunker to the right. The real danger on hole No. 3 is misreading the wind and having your shot pushed to the right and The 495 yard, Par 4 sixth is titled “The Bear” for good reason. careening off the slope challenging holes on the golf course. It demands a No. 1 - “Cut the Corner” right of the green into Floyd’s Fork. straight and accurate tee shot that must be on the 446 yards, Par 4 fairway. For some players, this may require less Hole No. 1 is a deceptive Par 4 with a slight No. 4 - “Short ‘n Sweet” than a driver from the tee as the aim is to get as dogleg to the left. From the tee, the hole appears 372 yards, Par 4 mostly tame, however the approach to the green The tee shot at No 4 is very awkward and some close to Floyd’s Fork as the player dares. From here, will be dramatically different with the addition of players have a hard time picking out the correct it still requires a 200-yard-plus shot to a challengtwo greenside bunkers, one front right and one line to take. There is a deep bunker protecting the ing green complex with plenty of trouble around back left. The new front-right bunker has filled entire left side of the fairway with another smaller it. A deep bunker guards the left side of the green the area that was once the low portion of green in fairway bunker lying in wait on the right. The ag- and a closely mown collection area will grab shots the front right and the bluegrass low to the right gressive play is to take the tee shot over the left to the right. This will be a difficult par for players of the green. This bunker is a visually intimidating bunker, however, the carry yardage over the left during the Championship. sight for approach shots to the front-left and back- bunker is between 240 yards to 260 yards and proright hole locations. The left bunker is positioned vides quite a challenge. Although a relatively short No. 7 - “Players Pick” 597 yards, Par 5 to gobble up errant shots to the back portion of Par 4 by today’s standards, as its name implies, Hole No. 7 offers a definite risk/reward apthe green. this hole will still be a test for all players and the green has a lot of movement and contours. Distance proach. The seventh features a split fairway. The No. 2 - “The Ridge” control is the key for approaches to this green, as shorter route to the left shortens the hole by more 500 yards, Par 4 shots going long will surely reach a watery grave than 50 yards, however the landing area is only 26 yards wide and the entire left fairway is surThe second is a slight dogleg to the left. This hole in Floyd’s Fork. rounded by bluegrass rough and a water hazard. challenges the players from the tee with a finger of The approach from this island fairway will be a Floyd’s Fork, a waterway which meanders through carry of 210 to 230 yards all over water. The fairway the front nine, bordering the left side of the fairway No. 5 - “Fade Away” to the right is the longer, but safer route. With the and a bunker squeezing the fairway to the right. 463 yards, Par 4 Once in position, players will need to hit one of The fifth is a challenging Par 4 with a large fair- water hazard skirting the front and entire left edge their best shots of the day to reach the putting sur- way bunker on the player’s right hand side that of the green. It is a brave player who attacks this face. However, the green is well protected by three compliments the three bunkers that line the left of green from any angle. bunkers as well as Floyd’s Fork that can attract any the tee shot landing area. This dogleg right hole, as ball that is heading to the left of the green. its name implies, requires a fade from the tee or a No. 8 - “Thor’s Hammer” 174 yards, Par 3 290-yard carry will be needed to fly the right-hand A great short Par 3. The eighth will only be a bunker. The green has a bunker positioned short-to-mid iron for these players, but the green to grab errant shots to complex is extremely challenging with the front the right or short and protected by a deep bunker and a severe closely a closely mown col- mown collection area while there is also a bunker lection area left of the to the left and another closely mown collection area green. This green al- to the rear of the green. The putting green itself lows for a back-right features multiple shelves to allow for the most hole location, which challenging of pin placements that definitely test is one of the most dif- these great players. ficult hole locations No. 9 - “The Rise” on the entire course. 415 yards, Par 4 Hole No. 9 is an uphill Par 4. The tee shot is No. 6 - “The Bear” challenged by three fairway bunkers bordering the 495 yards, Par 4 The sixth is one of “The Ridge” will be playing as a 500 yard Par 4 during the tournament. continued on page 26 the more difficult and the front-right to create a more inviting entry point to the green between the two bunkers. Finally, on No. 15, the left fairway bunker was removed. The green was reduced in size and the basic contours of the green were changed to deliver many more pin locations. The left greenside bunker was reduced in size, allowing players a bit of room to miss on the left. One layer of rocks was removed from the rock wall at the front-right of the green and a small bunker was added. All of the renovations were the first major infrastructure updates to the course since it opened in 1986. Now let’s delve a little more into the hole-byhole accounts at Valhalla Golf Club, to be held August 7-10, 2014:
G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
26 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
G O continued from page 25 L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t
right side of the fairway and two more to the left. The uphill approach to this green makes judging the yardage very difficult and the presence of one of the largest and deepest bunkers looming just right of the green does not ease the pain of missed shots. No. 10 - “Turns” 590 yards, Par 5 The 10th is a double-dogleg Par 5 with a fairway bunker on the right side of the driving zone and deep rough and trees to the left. The undulating, two-tiered green is protected by a large, deep bunker guarding the front. Distance control on the approach is a must as shots missing long will make par extremely difficult and shots coming up short will find the front bunker.
2 No. 11 - “On the Edge” 0 210 yards, Par 3 1 A very attractive Par 3 that will require a mid-to4
long iron shot. The green is positioned diagonally to the player’s approach and features a slight false front with one bunker bordering the front of the green and two bunkers on the right and rear. Accuracy will be a must, as shots carrying too far to the left will bound down the hillside, making par a very difficult task. No. 12 - “Odin’s Revenge” 467 yards, Par 4 Hole 12 has proven to play extremely difficult in each and every major event. This Par 4 has a difficult driving area that leaves player with a 180- to 200-yard approach to an elevated green. The green is punishing to errant shots, with one of the deepest bunkers on the course to the right and gnarly blue grass rough to the left. No. 13 - “The Island” 350 yards, Par 4 The 13th is the shortest of the Par 4s, measuring 342 yards from the Championship tee. This hole has seen
its fair share of excitement in each of the majors at Valhalla. The driving zone of the hole is surrounded with five small bunkers to the left and one large bunker to the right. The “Island” green is one the most spectacular on the course. The 13th green, Hole No. 14 is the longest of the Par 3’s at 212 yards and features a twobuilt up nearly tiered green with a large bunker guarding the front and right side. 20 feet on large boulders, is nearly completely surrounded by water. bunker. The green itself is very deep and offers some Accuracy with controlled spin is a must for this hole. challenging pin locations against the water’s edge. No. 14 - “Two Tears” No. 16 - “Down the Stretch” 217 yards, Par 3 508 yards, Par 4 Hole 14 is the longest of the Par 3s at 212 yards Turning back toward the clubhouse, hole 16 is a and features a two-tiered green with a large bunker difficult Par 4. It has a slight dogleg to the right with guarding the front and right side. In addition, any ball Brush Run Creek guarding the right side and a treegoing left into either of the greenside bunkers, one just covered slope. Any ball missing left will have either a behind the lower tier and one just behind the upper blocked shot to the green or will have to deal with the tier of the green, will be left with a very difficult and creek. The sixteenth has proven to be one of the most challenging bunker shot as the green runs away from difficult holes on the golf course due in a big way to the both of these bunkers. This Par 3 demands proper club very difficult and challenging green complex, which selection, as shots missing long will face the toughest features a deep bunker in front and a severe drop off of shots. to a closely mown chipping area to the right. There is a wonderful natural amphitheater for unbelievable No. 15 - “On the Rocks” spectator viewing to the left of this green. 435 yards, Par 4 The 15th is one of the most scenic holes at Valhalla No. 17 - “No Mercy” with Brush Run Creek skirting the entire right side of 472 yards, Par 4 the hole. The landing area from the tee is framed by a Seventeen is an uphill Par 4 that saw some great small bunker to the left and a larger bunker to the right; excitement during the 2008 Ryder Cup. The tee shot however, the challenge of this hole is the approach. must find the fairway and avoid the deep bunker and The green, just like the fairway, is skirted by Brush lone large tree to the left side. The green is well proRun Creek, leaving very little room for error to the tected by two bunkers to the left and a closely mown right. Any player hitting safely to the left side of the chipping area to the right and rear. This is a wonderful green will also have to avoid a deep and challenging hole to view the action.
The 13th green, built up nearly 20 feet on large boulders, is nearly completely surrounded by water. Accuracy with controlled spin is a must for this hole.
No. 18 - “Gahm Over” 542 yards, Par 5 The 18th has proven to be a great finishing hole time and time again with playoff finishes in the 78th & 82nd PGA Championships as well as the down-tothe-wire finish in the 65th Senior PGA Championship. This great Par 5 has a large fairway bunker to the left of the landing zone and a spectacular water feature on the right. Most players can reach this hole in two shots, but must avoid the large bunker guarding the entire front portion of the green as well as the smaller pot bunker to the left of the green. The green complex itself is very unique and provides three distinct putting areas shaped like a horseshoe, which provides a wonderful reminder of the equine heritage found in Kentucky.
27 TITELIST IRONS continued from page 23
cess allows for the extreme placement of high density tungsten low and out on the heel of the AP2 long irons. The result is higher launch with maximum forgiveness, without the loss of workability or shot control, at the AP2’s constant, tour-preferred blade length. The tungsten co-forging process takes place in the middle of the AP2’s standard forging process. The partially forged head is removed from the forging die, after which a pilot hole is drilled into the heel. The hole is seeded with the tungsten weight and a steel cap. The head is then returned to the forging die where the tungsten is precisely hammered into place. “The co-forging process really illustrates the critical thinking and the tremendous design and engineering expertise we have in Titleist R&D to keep finding way to improve our irons,” said Marni Ines, Director of Titleist Irons Development. “We have more discretionary weight to play with on the AP2 because of its smaller chassis, which provided us the opportunity to place tungsten in the extreme perimeters of the club head. On average there are over 40 grams of tungsten in the long and mid irons (#3-7), which is around 20 percent of the total head weight. This efficient weighting produces high MOI in a tourproven profile.” MORE SOLID FEEL Progressive CG not only helps flight the AP1 and AP2 irons properly, it also improves feel. The optimized CG heights are positioned closer to the point of impact, resulting in a larger sweet spot for a more solid feel on every shot. A new face support bar in the AP1 long irons further tunes face vibrations for improved feel at impact. With both models, increased face thickness in the short irons adds mass behind the ball for a more blade-like short iron feel. IMPROVED SOLE PROFILE AP1 and AP2 irons feature a new pre-worn leading edge that reduces digging at the point of turf entry, and increased camber (more in the short irons) that helps control divot depth to allow a smooth entry and release
from the turf for a more playable sole. An improved hosel-to-leading edge blend reduces the appearance of offset through both sets, while the AP2 8, 9 and P irons feature a reduced heel height for a more proportioned, compact profile. AP1 long irons feature a wider topline that adds confidence, while AP1 short irons have a slightly thinner topline and sole for a more playable, solid visual. Both AP1 and AP2 feature a satin polish playing position with bright polish cavity highlights for superior appearance at address.
AP1 (714 SERIES) IRONS: FEATURES AND G BENEFITS O • LONGER FLIGHT with optimum launch, trajectory and distance. More carry distance from higher launching, low CG long irons. More control from compact, flatter launching short irons. • INCREASED FORGIVENESS from the deep, undercut, dual cavity design with high density tungsten weighting. More distance on mishits with maximum ball speeds across the face from the high MOI design. • MORE SOLID FEEL through the set from the progressive CG (lower in the long irons). Smooth turf release from the camber sole with pre-worn leading edge also enhances feel. • IMPROVED PROFILE with progressive blade length, topline, and sole widths. Superior appearance with a satin polish playing position with bright polish cavity highlights. • STOCK SHAFTS: AP1 stock shafts feature two high performance, flighted designs to match the flight goals of the new irons. The True Temper XP 95 features a flighted launch with great feel and is 15g lighter than the stock steel shaft in the 712 Series. The Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 65 is a lightweight graphite shaft with higher, flighted launch and great feel. AP2 (714 SERIES) IRONS: FEATURES AND BENEFITS • LONGER FLIGHT with optimum launch, trajectory and distance by loft. More carry distance from the higher launching, low CG long irons. More control from the thicker face, flatter launching short irons. • INCREASED PLAYABILITY from the dual cavity design with high density tungsten weighting. Consistent speed on miss-hits from the high MOI design for better distance control. • MORE SOLID FEEL through the set from the progressive CG (lower in the long irons). Crisp turf release from the camber sole with pre-worn leading edge and beveled trailing edge also enhances feel. • TOUR PROVEN PROFILE with progressive weighting, face thickness and sole widths. Superior appearance with a satin polish playing position with bright polish cavity highlights. • STOCK SHAFT: High performance, tourproven Dynamic Gold steel shaft provides tour-preferred flight, feel, feedback and performance.
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28 G O L F S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
Canyon Gate Country Club
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elcome to Canyon Gate Country Club, a private facility with a Ted Robinson design, crafted within a beautiful guard gated community. The member atmosphere is taken to a whole new level at Canyon Gate Country Club. The facility offers a private, championship-caliber 18-hole course that plays to a length of 6,769 yards. Situated in a prestigious gated golf community on the west side of the Vegas valley, both the course and clubhouse amenities are as refined as one would expect. It is a truly unique experience. The Par 72 course incorporates water hazards on no less than 13 occasions, rewarding accuracy in many cases more than length. Tranquil lagoons, beautiful waterfalls, strategic sand b u n k e r s a n d m a t u re l a n d s c a p i n g b re a k u p the 160 acres of lush fairways and gorgeous surroundings. Ted Robinson Sr., who passed away in 2008 at the age of 84, was a land planner who realized in the late ’50s that golf helped sell real estate. He then embarked on a design career that included more than 170 courses around the world. Robinson’s ability to craft courses on nearly every kind of terrain made him the go-to architect on a vast variety of pieces of land, especially in the desert. His extensive use of water features as hazards and scenic accoutrements helped transform three such developments in the Las Vegas area. Dubbed the “King of Waterscapes,” Robinson endorsed the use of water as a defining hazard for course designs. He believed waterscapes gave putting greens maximum character and provided players with an appealing challenge as seen with his wonderful creation at Canyon Gate Country Club. Canyon Gate has taken the old Vegas feel and upgraded it to the new Vegas style of high-class without taking away from what the original feel the club is all about. You will find many of the well-known influential people that represent and reside in Las Vegas that play golf, as members at Canyon Gate. It has the prestige and notoriety of being one of the best private country clubs in Las Vegas. The first at Canyon Gate is a 545 yard, slightly elevated from the tees Par 5 that slowly doglegs to the right around two small ponds beginning at about the 240 yard mark. The left side is guarded by a bunker at this point as well. There is then a pot bunker 50 yards short of the green on the right as the fairway gently slopes down to the green. Greenside bunkers are then present both left and right guarding the somewhat narrow green that slopes back to front and left to right. A good starting hole, with birdie definitely on your mind.
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Hole No.6 is a beautiful Par 3, measuring 196 yards from the Gold tees. A large, lined pod starts just in front and to the left of the tees and continues all the way to greenside, making for a full carry for all players.
Length is not at the forefront at Canyon Gate, which is a nice change from many modern-day courses that we visit. The fifth is a good example of a good, short golf hole that can still offer plenty of choices and pitfalls. As this 344 yard, doglegging left Par 4 makes its way past two small ponds on the
right from the tee, you will have about 250 yards to the end of the cut fairway and at this point, the cart path cuts across to the left. The fairway picks back up on the other side of the path and for the long hitters, this just might be your landing area if you choose. The contour of the fairway slopes slightly
Canyon Gate Country Club’s second hole plays as a 372 yard straightaway Par 4, with beautiful homes lining the right side, accented by lush its fairway and tall palms surrounding the green.
up to the putting surface with bunkers front right and back left. A small tier forms on the back, right portion of the green. Hole No. 6 is a beautiful and solid Par 3, measuring 196 yards from the Gold tees. A large, lined pond starts just in front and to the left of the tees and continues all the way to greenside, making for a full carry for all players. There are then three greenside bunkers, two left and one to the right. The green is quite large and offers somewhat of a backstop target from the tee as it receives incoming shots very well. But be careful of the false front pulling shots down the slope and the tier that forms to the back of the green. Again, a great Par 3 and very eye catching. One of the things that really stands out during your round at Canyon Gate Country Club is the bunker placements, especially greenside. With the greens not to overly large, but with a lot of testing, subtle slopes, you may have a long day if you find yourself trying to get up and down on a regular basis. Even short putts can be testy! The ninth is one of my favorite holes on the course as it sweeps its way left to right and eventually finishes with the beautiful clubcontinued on page 30
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30 CANYON GATE
G O continued from page 29 L F house as its backdrop. With only having to S O U T H W E S T — A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
cover 399 yards from tee to green, length again is not as important as accuracy. A series of ponds line the right side of the hole that form a separation between the ninth and eighteenth holes. A 250 yard shot from the tee will put you in perfect position for your approach, over water to the slightly elevated green. A bunker front right will help to keep your approach dry if you are a little short as the green angles left to right and slopes gently back to front. All of the Par 5’s at Canyon Gate are between 484 and 545 yards in length, but each offer obstacles, making them sometimes a little stingy with birdies. The 10th is another good example as it plays at only 525 yards, but ponds guard the right side in the landing area from the tee and again as you approach the green. The twelfth is another great Par 3. Although you have to carry 243 yards from the back tees, the slightly elevated tees ease that burden a little. The hole then swoops down and then gently back up to the green. As the green angles left to right,
a greenside bunker on the right protects a potentially tough pin placement on that portion of the green. As you make your way through the course layout at Canyon Gate, beautiful homes pretty much totally surround you as Mediterranean, Contemporary and Spanish style creations are present throughout. But in the case at Canyon Gate, I didn’t feel that they were in danger as much as at many courses that I visit and the design of the housing and of the golf course mesh very well, adding to the charm and allure. The 405 yard fifteenth can be a little challenging from the tee as the fairway slims down in the landing area with bunkers bordering left and right bringing the fairway to a pinnacle at about the 270 yard mark. The hole then slopes down and then back up slightly at the green. The deep green then offers a false front with bunkers left and back right. Make sure you give your approach a little extra or you will be finding yourself scrambling for par on this very solid Par 4. No. 16 is the last of the Par 5’s and the shortest at 484 yards at Canyon Gate. But the hole turns back to the southwest and into the prevailing wind. Fairway bunkers are placed both left and right about 250 yards from the tee
and a third is placed right in the center of the fairway – definitely a bunker that you want to stay out of if you want to get it on in two. The hole then opens back up to the left and angles back to the right towards the green. Another bunker guards the right side about 100 yards from the green as two more protect the putting surface left and right in front. The green is deep with a ridge in the middle, forming a back right tier. Birdies can be had here, but by no means is it a given. Alas, now we come to the finishing hole at Canyon Gate, another beautiful Par 4 that runs parallel to No. 9 and back to the perfect finish beneath the clubhouse. The eighteenth is basically a 415 yard, straightaway Par 4 l i n e d o n b o t h t h e l e f t a n d r i g h t b y w a t e r. There is also a long bunker on the right lining the pond that can help to keep tee shots to the right dry. Your second shot it then to an elevated green, over water, with a greenside bunker back right as the green slopes back to front. You will be hard pressed to find two, side-by-side finishing holes that offer a better conclusion to a round or a more beautiful setting anywhere. A s y o u h a v e h e a rd “ M e m b e r s h i p h a s i t s privileges” and as a member of Canyon Gate, you’ll have access to a network of more than
As you make your way through the course layout at Canyon Gate, beautiful homes pretty much totally surround you as Mediterranean, Contemporary and Spanish style creations are present throughout. The design of the housing and of the golf course mesh very well, adding to the charm and allure.
31 200 private golf and country clubs, business clubs and resorts. You can also participate in national events and tournaments and enjoy discounts and benefits with renowned hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and more. O t h e r C l u b C o r p c o u r s e s i n c l u d e : M i ssion Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California (home of the PGA’s Nabisco Dinah Shore Classic), Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio (home of the PGA’s NEC Invitational) and the prestigious Metropolitan Club by the Sears Tower in Chicago. Play an invigorating game of tennis on one of the five individually lit tennis courts or exercise in the state-of-the-art fitness center. Cool off in the large outdoor Vegas swimming pool, which offers lap swimming as well as leisurely swimming for the entire family. Relax in the outdoor Jacuzzi or indoor wet steam rooms. Enjoy phenomenal Las Vegas dining in both formal and casual settings for breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner service, as well as a variety of special member events and activities planned each month. Plan a meeting, birthday or anniversary party, wedding or private function. Their fully-equipped Las Vegas wedding venue and private event rooms can accommodate functions of virtually any size! As a member,
all room charges will be waived. Design your own event with the assistance of their experienced Catering Director and renowned Executive Chef. You can always expect superior service and personalized attention from the professional staff, which is dedicated to serving your every need! Whether you’re part of an active family or a busy professional with a passion for sports, business and social activities, at Canyon Gate Country Club they provide all the world-class facilities, features and amenities to meet all your needs. With exceptional Member programming, including a vast range of Las Vegas Networking and social events held on a weekly and monthly basis, Canyon Gate members build valuable lifelong relationships and develop an
Gorgeous water features combined with perfect playing conditions will have you looking into becoming a member at this wonderful southern Nevada gem.
G O L F S O U T H W E S T —
incredible network of connections that lead to personal fulfillment and invaluable family memories. Canyon Gate Country Club 2001 Canyon Gate Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89117 702-363-0481 w w w. c l u b c o r p . c o m / C l u b s / C a n y o n - G a t e Country-Club
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Look a little closer and it’s surprising what you discover. That’s Luxury Uncovered. Discover more at STGEORGELINCOLN.COM 145 W. Hilton Drive St. George, UT 84770 844-356-5100 Optional features not shown in lease. Not all buyers will qualify for Lincoln AFS financing. 0% APR financing for 60 months at $16.67 per month per $1,000 financed, regardless of down payment. Take new retail delivery from dealer stock by 3/31/14. See dealer for qualifications and complete details.