March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
FREE
UTAH TODAY March 2014
Volume 2 Issue 3
Schneiter’s Bluff Golf Course
INSIDE
Riverside Country Club Page 4
Disney Golf - Orlando Page 6
Schneiter’s Bluff Page 16
Conestoga Golf Club Page 22
Schneiter’s Bluff is one of the best conditioned in the state and offers everything you are looking for, no matter your ability.
1
2
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
Rules of Golf Quiz for March 2014
G
olf Utah’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 the United States Golf Association. After you check out these questions, go to our website at www.golfutah.net and check out the answers and while you are there, register for a chance to win some great merchandise or maybe even a round of golf at one of your favorite courses.
1. Which of the following results in the player incurring a penalty? A. Touching the inside of the hole when measuring with a string to determine which ball is further from the hole. B. Removing a small amount of dew from his line of putt. C. Touching the lip of the hole in repairing a ball mark on the rim of the hole. 2. A ball behaves erratically in flight after being struck from the tee. Before his next stroke, may a player declare it unfit and substitute another ball without penalty? A. Yes, but he may not use the ball at a subsequent hole. B. Yes, but only if his marker agrees that the ball is unfit for play. C. No, a ball is unfit only if it is visibly cut, cracked or out of shape. 3. In stroke play, practice putting and chipping on or near the first teeing ground before starting a round is permitted A. True B. False 4. In stroke play, a competitor suggests to a fellow-competitor, whose ball lies in a very difficult spot, that he deem his ball unplayable. What is the ruling? A. There is no penalty. B. There is no penalty, if the fellow-competitor plays his ball as it lies. C. The competitor incurs a two stroke penalty. 5. A player putted his ball from the fringe of the putting green and it struck the unattended flagstick in the hole; in stroke play, there is a two stroke penalty. A. True B. False
Go to
GolfUtah.net
To Check Your Answers
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
WHAT'S INSIDE
UTAH TODAY
PO Box 910038 St. George, UT 84791 (435) 865-1680
www.golfutah.net
Publisher Kent Danjanovich (801) 231-9838 kdanjanovich@golfutah.net Northern Utah Sales Director Greg Gust (801) 243-0937 ggust@golfutah.net
2 3 4 6 10 11 15 16 18 20 21 22
Rules of the Game Publisher’s Notes
Publisher’s Notes
Riverside Country Club Disney Golf - Orlando Hugo’s Hilltop Restaurant Utah Golf Course Directory Ping i25 Driver Schneiter’s Bluff Pro’s Tip: Prepare to Swing Tournament Schedule Hotel & Dining Guide Conestoga Golf Club
Managing Editor Dan Kidder (435) 868-8919 dkidder@golfutah.net Jim Rayburn Staff Writer (801) 372-7980 info@golfutah.net Editorial Assistant Lisa Deming (435) 865-1681 ldeming@golfutah.net Randy Danjanovich Golf Course Specialist Steve Latimer Golf Course Specialist
By Kent Danjanovich
W www.facebook.com/golfutah Become a Fan of Golf Utah for Fan Only contests and post comments about Golf Utah. Tell your friends.
UTAH TODAY
Golf Utah Today is published monthly. The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright 2014 © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the Managing Editor.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Rayburn Jean Luc Mirpoix Kirk Abegglen
ow, this winter has flown by. I know you guys up north have been getting hit here and there with storms, but southern Utah has been absolutely perfect, although we may be paying for it this summer in the water department. You will find three great golf courses featured in this issue, Riverside Country Club in Provo, Schneiter’s Bluff in West Point and Conestoga Golf Club in Mesquite. These courses are three of my favorites, each very different and I hope you enjoy the reviews as much as we enjoyed bringing them to you. As you will notice in the tournament schedule on page 20, there are plenty of things happening tournament wise in March and then April really starts to ramp up for another exciting year on the golf scene. And with all of the new products hitting the market this spring, keep an eye out in this issue as well as each month to follow for great insight on new technology from across the in-
3
dustry. Also, check out the Ping Demo Day schedule on page 15 and mark your calendar to join in the fun. As I mentioned in last months’ notes, we have some exciting news to tell you about. GOLF UTAH will be getting a little facelift as we expand our horizons a bit to include first Las Vegas and soon the Phoenix area. Next month, GOLF UTAH will become GOLF SOUTHWEST. We are very excited to be able to bring you even more great information on golf from our neighboring states and also help to spread the word on just how great the golfing opportunities are here in Utah. Also, we will be debuting an expanded Golf Destinations section in the April issue. Each month we will still be bringing you information on a great destination from around the country, but twice a year we will be doing a big spread on areas that have so much to offer, you just have to put them on your short list to visit as soon as possible. The Island of Kauai will be our first ‘Super Feature’ as this tropical wonderland offers not only plenty of beautiful sandy beaches, but also plenty of ‘sandy bunkers’ to quench your golfing needs as well. We will also be highlighting the first ‘Major ’ of the year, The Masters at storied Augusta National. We will be compiling a brief hole-by-hole explanation of the course that will help you to have a little bit more insight on what the players will face as they make their moves in hopes of donning the coveted Green Jacket. So, unbury your clubs from the closet or dust them off from the corner of the garage and get ready for spring to hit. Also, make sure you go to our website at www.golfutah.net and ‘Like” us on Facebook for a chance to win a Bushnell Neo X GPS Rangefinder Watch. And as always, I hope to see you on the putting green soon!
4
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
Riverside Country Club
By Jim Rayburn
F
rom the moment you drive into the parking lot, enter the clubhouse, pro shop or dinning room, to the time you tee up that first ball on the first tee, you feel Riverside Country Club in Provo’s constant push for excellence and improvement. It’s like the experience at Riverside, located adjacent to the Provo River on North University Avenue, gets better with every visit. Something always feels a little nicer and newer every time. “It’s important to always be providing the best facilities and services for our members and guests,” says head professional Robert McArthur. “We’re always striving to be better and do better every year. That’s our purpose.” Over the past few years the club has undergone a major renovation led by renowned golf course architect and BYU golf team graduate John Fought. A new 42,000-square-feet clubhouse has modern dining facilities, a reception center and private banquet and meeting rooms. The dining facilities at Riverside alone are reason enough to join the club. Whether it’s eating at Parley’s Bistro, enjoying patio dining or the elegant main dining room with stunning views of No. 18 green, the food is always impeccable.
There are new tennis courts, a fitness facility complete with a massage treatment room, movement studio for Pilates, Zumba and Yoga classes, cardio and weight training and modern locker rooms. The new swimming pool complex includes a 25-meter lap pool, 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards, kiddie pool and splash pad. Riverside’s new 12,000-square-feet golf shop, which is open to the public as well as members, has the amenities and space admired by golf merchandisers from around the country. It features every major brand of clubs, equipment, accessories, clothing and footwear. Those who golf Riverside don’t have any reason to go elsewhere for their golfing needs. “We feel that we are one of the finest golf and country club facilities around,” McArthur says. Riverside Country Club actually began in the 1940s as a social club in Springville called Club Radar. In 1955 charter members voted to explore expanding to a location where a golf course could be built. After lengthy research and study, the club acquired land adjacent to the Provo River for $900 an acre. The club hired William F. Bell, a prominent golf course architect from southern California, to design the golf course. At the annual meeting in 1959,
The Par 4 18th is a great finishing hole and the beautiful new clubhouse is a perfect backdrop.
the name Riverside Country Club was officially adopted. In 1960 Riverside Country Club had 34 equity members and 16 social members. The first clubhouse opened in May 1960 and the swimming pool opened later that summer. The golf course, a par 71 that plays at around 6,500 yards from the blue tees and about 7,100 yards from the championship tees, finally opened in June 1962 and a new chapter in Utah golf began. Over the past 52 years Riverside Country Club has played host to some of the biggest moments in Utah golf history. The club has been host to the Utah State Amateur several times and in the 1980 State Am, current Champions Tour player and St. George native Jay Don Blake, set the competitive course record by posting a 9-under 62. In 1989 the Pacific Coast Amateur came to town and Fred Couples, who later went on to become Masters champion, was the victor. Riverside was home to the first Hogan Tour (later the Nike Tour, Nationwide Tour and now Web.com Tour) event in Utah. John Daly, who later won a PGA Championship and British Open, won the inaugural event in 1990. Tour players like David Duval, Ernie Els, Tom Lehman and Stewart Cink visited Riverside during the junior tour ’s sevenyear stint in Provo. This summer and again in 2015 Riverside will once again host the Utah Open. “It’s important for us to give back to the game. And this will be an opportunity for us to showcase our improved golf course and facilities and it will enhance the value of our club as a whole and add a little prestige to it,” McArthur says. Riverside’s connection as home course for both the BYU men’s and women’s golf teams has also been a positive and productive relationship. The Cougars have sent many alumni, like Johnny Miller, Mike Weir, Bobby Clampett, Mike Reid, John Fought, Jim Blair, Pat McGowen, Rick Fehr, Keith Clearwater, Steve Schneiter and Bruce Brockbank on to bigger and better things after honing their game on Riverside’s fairways and greens. Champions Tour player Dan Forsman lives only a few blocks away and now calls Riverside home. Recent BYU grad Zac Blair owns the Utah amateur golf circuit. “Our junior players really benefit from having these kind of players around. They see how they practice, see how they play and see how they conduct themselves and it really benefits them in their development,” McArthur says. Fought’s contributions continue at Riverside. Now a nationally sought-after golf course architect, Fought returned to Provo in 2008 to renovate Bell’s design. Fought mainly extended a few holes, realigned tee boxes, added bunkers to shape some holes and removed more than 150 trees. Riverside has never been more playable or as healthy as it is now.
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
5
4
d 0 d . b s
r t e dThis summer and again in 2015, Riverside Country Club will once again host the Utah Open.
s “I think the golf course still has a William Bell look to it, I think Fought just updated it and rerfreshed it a little bit,” McArthur says. “And trees and turf don’t always go hand in hand. With some atrees gone our turf is healthier and our fairways are much better.” d Prior to the changes made by Fought, Riverside’s khole No. 7 had a facelift compliment of the Utah Department of Transportation. State road officials were looking for a pond for storm drainage off of lnorth University Avenue. So they offered to build one for the country club, which used the opportunity to reconstruct No. 7 green to the north of ethe pond. l “With a good drive there’s still a chance to go for dthe green in two, but it takes a pretty good second shot now and it’s a lot more demanding than it used to be,” McArthur says. o Riverside’s toughest holes, to no surprise, are its par threes. Holes nine and 11 can play more ythan 200 yards in length and both have undulated greens that are well protected by bunkers. The third and 17th holes are not as long, but both also have bunkers protecting the green and it’s a challenge to get up and down on either when you miss the green. “Our par threes are not really considered birdie holes. A par is a very good score on any of these rholes,” McArthur says. The Par 4 second hole is one with typical Riverside character. The 400-yard dogleg right now has a fairway bunker protecting the left side and -towering trees down the right side. Not much room for error on this hole. The dogleg left Par 4 fourth has traditionally been Riverside’s toughest hole, mainly because it requires a draw off the tee and the approach is usually a long-iron shot into .a green that is narrow. For longer hitters, all of four of Riverside’s par fives are reachable in two. But all four have no nroom for error. The fifth hole has a creek running across the fairway and down the left side and tall
pines down the right. If 30 years. He’s held various leadership positions you can sneak a drive in the Utah Section PGA and the PGA of America up near the creek, there’s still a deep bunker in — serving as an adjunct faculty member for the front of the sloping green to avoid. The layup is past 20 years. At his side are assistants Chris Moody and Matt even a challenge with a fairway bunker about 100 Baird. Baird is one of the state’s top teaching proyards from the hole. The second shot into No. 7 is now all carry over fessionals and Moody is always among the state’s water and the Par 5 15th now has fairway bunkers top playing professionals. “Besides being great players, these guys are on both the left and right sides. The 14th hole still is Riverside’s shortest par consummate professionals. Both are very hard four at 340 yards from the blue tees, but it’s now workers, both are very knowledgeable and both protected with several fairway bunkers down the are dedicated to making the game more enjoyable left side. Get greedy and a bogey or worse can for everyone,” McArthur says. After Steve Budge kept Riverside manicured for sneak up really quick. “No. 14 is basically a sucker hole. It lures you nearly three decades, Ryan Standifird is now the into trying to get too aggressive. It’s all about club’s greens superintendent. More information placement on this hole, not distance,” McArthur on Riverside Country Club is available online at www.riversidecountry.org says. The Par 4 18th is a great finishing hole. With three fairway bunkers, the tee shot requires accuracy. If you can find grass you won’t have more than a 7-iron into the green, but there are no gimme two putts on this sloping from back-to-front green. Many tournaments have been won and lost with the putter on this spectator friendly green. “David Duval lost a tournament here when he three-putted from about 12 feet on the 18th green,” McArthur says. McArthur has been “I think the golf course still has a William Bell look to it, I think Fought just Riverside’s head pro- updated it and refreshed it a little bit,” McArthur says. fessional for nearly
6
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
Walt Disney World – More Than Just Theme Parks
T
he story of Orlando, Florida’s transformation dates back to 1959 when Walt Disney Productions began looking for land for a second park to complement their Disneyland property in California. Market surveys revealed that only five percent of Disneyland’s visitors came from east of the Mississippi River, home to 75 percent of the U.S. population. The Tampa and Miami areas were ruled out because of their susceptibility to hurricanes. Late in 1963, Disney flew over the Orlando area, seeing the well-developed network of roads already in place, plus Interstate 4 and Florida’s Turnpike nearing completion and the convenient location of McCoy Air Force Base (which would become Orlando International Airport) and knew that he had found his place. Keeping things as quiet as possible, he proceeded to acquire more than 27,000 acres for his Florida dream. But in 1965, word started to leak out about who had really been acquiring the land and the plans that he had for it, which included Epcot, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow or in other words, a futuristic city. Walt died a year later and thereafter his vision of a community of tomorrow gradually evolved into a sort of world’s fair. His brother, Roy Disney took over and oversaw construction of the resort’s first phase. Drainage canals and roads were put in and by 1970, four major airlines were providing scheduled flights to Orlando. Walt Disney World Resort, with the Magic Kingdom as its first theme park and Mickey Mouse as emcee, eventually opened on October 1st, 1971. And for those that have visited
the area today, it is now much, much more and visions for the future are still making their way to the table today. Along with the opening of the park, two new golf courses also opened under the Disney umbrella, the Magnolia and Palm layouts, with the Lake Buena Vista course opening a year later a few miles away. As soon as it opened, the Magnolia course hosted the inaugural Walt Disney World Open Invitational, won by Jack Nicklaus. By the next year, both the Magnolia and Palm courses were used for the event. The tournament ran for 42 years, eventually using all three courses. But because of scheduling conflicts and economic reasons by the PGA Tour, the tournaments run came to an end with the 2012 event. But there were reasons why the tournament had such a long and successful run and much of those reasons were because of the outstanding golf courses
that hosted the event. Even though the Magnolia and Palm courses sit right next to each other and share the same clubhouse, they couldn’t be more different. Let’s delve into a little about each for a moment. Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course The Magnolia course is named for the abundance of more than 1,500 magnolia trees that can be seen in and around its 175 acres. Thick wetlands, of course, also surround you as you make your way along its fairways. Designed in classic Tour style, the Magnolia is the longest of the Walt Disney World Resort golf courses, measuring over 7,500 yards from the back tees. The course features elevated tees, large greens and plenty of hazards including 97 bunkers and water on 11 of its 18 holes, a classic Joe Lee design. The second hole is a doglegging right Par 4 measuring 417 yards from the back tees. The right side is tree lined with a bunker guarding the left about 300 yards from the tee. Five bunkers surround the green, which offers a slight false front. The fourth is the first of Magnolia’s four Par 5’s and also one of the shortest at 542 yards. Your tee shot is framed by bunkers both left and right, starting at about 240 yards from the tee. Large bunkers then again lie in wait about 100 yards from the green. Two bunkers guard the safer lay-up to the right and then seven more bunkers surround the
green. The putting surface is mounded in its center and slopes back to front. Number six is not only a long demanding Par 3 at 231 yards, but also features a very unique characteristic that definitely reminds you of where you are. A canal cuts across in front of the green and then bunkers have been placed both left and right, as well as dead center in front of the green. But the one in the center is shaped in one of the most recognizable forms in the world – and you might have guessed is aptly named “Mickey’s Bunker” or the “Mouse Trap”! Hole #8 is a definite monster Par 5 measuring 614 yards from the tips. The hole offers a slight dogleg left as trees line the right side all the way to the green. Two fairway bunkers await on the left about 100 yards from the green on the right. There are three more bunkers greenside, but the holes design allows an opening to run it up on the left side (one of the few on the course). Moving to the back nine, number 11 is a solid 399 yard Par 4. A canal cuts left to right in front of the tees and runs down the right side the full length of the hole. A pond starts on the left about 100 yards short of the green. This is one of the narrower fair-
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
ways on the course and it really slims up as you get closer to the green. Two deep bunkers lie on the left and three greenside to the right. I really liked this hole and its design. The fourteenth is a big, sweeping 592 yard Par 5 with trees lining the left and water on the right to the turn of the dogleg. A pond starts about 150 yards from the green on the left and curls in front of the green. The green is again well guarded with five bunkers. Again, a great design and I think the best Par 5 on the course. As you tee off on #16, Disney’s flagship resort hovers in the background, the Grand Floridian. Then it’s off to the seventeenth, another long and challenging Par 4 at 485 yards. There is water in front and to the left from the tee and requires a big carry from the tips. The fairway angles from right to left. A canal runs down the right side and also fairway bunkers are positioned at the slight dogleg at about 150 yards to the green. There are greenside bunkers left and
7
right with a run-up area. Again, because most of the greens are slightly elevated and well bunkered, this is one of only a couple on the course that allows you a small area to run the ball up and onto the green. But overall, Magnolia offers a great layout and it is easy to see why it was a favorite on the PGA Tour.
Disney’s Palm Golf Course Now let’s move over to the Palm course, another outstanding test amid the natural beauty of the Florida woodlands and actually very different from the Magnolia course. Again, the course was originally designed by Joe Lee, but underwent a facelift that was just completed in the fall of 2013. The Arnold Palmer Course Design Group (these Disney courses are now managed also by Arnold Palmer Golf Management) completely renovated the greens, tees and bunkers. The greens are again elevated in most cases and have been redesigned and shaved down so that shots trickling off of the edges have quite a bit of room to run. The bunkers have all been given more of a grown-in modern look, instead of the very evident edging of Magnolia’s bunkers. And the tee boxes have been squared off in their appearance as well (the Magnolia course is scheduled for subtle renovation in 2015). Of course, the Palm layout is highlight by not only ‘palm’ trees, but shimmering lakes, tropical sand and sloping greens. It also includes nine water hazards and 94 bunkers. Even though the length factor (7011 yards from the tips) doesn’t come into play quite as much as on the Magnolia course, it plays a little tighter through its woodlands surroundings and well placed obstacles throughout. One of three range facilities on the property is located adjacent to the first tee and during the continued renovation, the practice facilities will continue to be upgraded. The Par 4 second hole on the Palm course plays at 424 yards from the back tees. There is water down
continued on page 8
8
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
DISNEY RESORTS continued from page 7
the left from the tee and the hole doglegs left with bunkers at the turn on the right. The green is elevated with bunkers greenside on the left. One of the best holes on the course is the Par 4 sixth. It plays as the courses #1 handicap hole at 411 yards. Water is on the left from the tees, but it is very tempting to cut off a little bit too much distance by hugging the waters’ edge. The fairway of course cuts from right to left as a draw from the tee can put you in good position for your approach. A rock-lined pond guards one of the smallest greens on the course. All that is then needed is a small pot bunker on its right to give you plenty of trouble on this great Par 4. The eighth is another of the great Par 3’s on the course. It is framed by wild growth and palms throughout. There is a pot bunker in the front and another bunker left. The large, gently rolling green can test even the very best putters. Hole number 10 is another outstanding Par 4, lengthening out to 441 yards from the back tees. Water starts near the tee on the left and runs in front of the tee boxes at about the 200 yard mark. The hole is then tree lined both left and right. Fairway bunkers are placed on the right at the 200 yard mark to the green. The 10th green is raised and filters off from its center and you can easily find yourself struggling to find the bottom of the cup. The fourteenth is the featured hole on the back nine, a great Par 5 at 547 yards. Water is present both left and right from the tee and then cuts the fairway
off at about the 180 mark to the green. Trees line the right side to the green as the fairway picks back up angling from right to left to the green. There are bunkers greenside right front and back left.
The finishing hole on the Palm course is another of the great Par 4’s measuring 458 yards. In fact, it was for a time rated the fourth toughest hole on the PGA Tour. Trees line both sides of the fairway with bunkers also placed left and right in the landing area. A canal cuts off the fairway about 150 yards from the green. The fairway picks back up and runs up to the elevated green. The large putting surface is guarded by bunkers right front and back left.
Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course The Disney Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is a classic, country club style layout, winding through the Old Key West and Saratoga Springs resort villas’, pine forests, palmettos and beautiful water features. And it is no slouch itself, having hosted the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour and USGA events as well over the years. This Joe Lee design features elevated, well bunkered greens that put a premium on accurate approach shots. The course is quite different from its sister courses, as it is totally landlocked. The most outstanding holes on the front are numbers three and seven. The third is a 402 yard Par 4, with the tees slightly elevated. Your tee shot is over a canal straight ahead to a wide fairway with a bunker on the left 230 yards from the tee. Lateral water hazards line both the right and left sides of the fairway. Greenside bunkers await both right and left to this large, deep green. The seventh offers golfers plenty of challenge as the green is totally surrounded by water. The hole plays at only 156 yards from the back tees, but as you know, there is no shot in golf more intimidating,
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
pitting you, your golf swing and the elements. The putting surface offers a large target from the tee box, so pick the right club and make your best swing! Hole number 13 is another of the solid Par 4’s on the Lake Buena Vista layout. Not overly long at 395 yards, it is laid out pretty much in front of you. A canal cuts the fairway 100 yards from the tee, so keep your tee shot down the left side as bunkers also lie at about the 250 yard mark both left and right. Keep it out of the greenside bunkers both front right and left. Number 17 is a winding Par 5 doglegging from left to right. The second shot for the longer hitters offers a bail-out area left of the green. The green is well guarded with bunkers right front and back left and right. A very good Par 5 that can offer up its share of birdies if you stay out of trouble. The fourth course in the Disney family is Oak Trail, designed by Ron Garl. It is a family-friendly 9-hole, Par 36 walking course, located next to the Magnolia layout. It offers rolling greens and exciting challenges and is a favorite of seniors and junior golfers. Holes range from 132 to 517 yards. Holes 5, 6 and seven are routed around a deep canal and a picturesque pond. Its undulating target greens offer golfers of every level a good challenge. All of the courses are now run by Arnold Palmer Golf Management. APGM operated their courses in the true spirit of Mr. Palmer himself – with
pride, consideration and honor. Their team works diligently to create great golf experiences for all of their member, their guests and golfers of every walk of life at their 74 managed properties across the country. Each of the 18-hole courses experience about 40,000 rounds annually, with the Oak Trail nine about 30,000. The marriage of Disney and Arnold Palmer Golf Management has been a very good one, as golf has again moved to the forefront and new and exciting advancements will be seen for years to come. Well, as you can see, a little golf needs to definitely be on the schedule when planning a trip to the Orlando area, the most visited destination in the world. The Walt Disney World Resort offers 24 themed resorts, its four signature theme parks, two water parks, the Downtown Disney experience, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney’s BoardWalk. Dining opportunities are endless as well
and the biggest thing you have to worry about when making a visit is having enough time to take it all in. So why not start making your plans today for a trip with the fam or for you die-hard golfers, a trip with your buddies to one of the best golfing hot spots in the world – Orlando, Florida. For more information: 407-939-4653 www.golfwdw.com
r
Diamond Tree Experts
h
3645 S 500 W Salt Lake City, UT 84115 Phone: 801-262-1596 Toll Free : 1-877-863-1551
e
a h
. A
e m
r
l
s
,
• • • •
Tree Trimming and Pruning Tree Removals Stump Grinding Tree Maintenance Programs
9
• Natural and Colored Mulch • Demolition • Land Clearing ...and more
Contact us today to receive a free estimate. No job too big or small, Diamond Tree does it all.
Serving Utah Since 1968
DiamondTreeExperts.com
10
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
Hugo’s Hilltop Restaurant By Jean Luc Mirpoix
T
ucked away in a corner of Mesquite, Nevada, just off the interstate is the dainty Highland Estates Hotel & Resort. Nestled within is Hugo’s Hilltop Restaurant, where owner and head chef Hugo Cerff Rebatta, who operates Hugo’s with his wife Joni, prepares traditional Southern Italian cuisine with a flair and passion. Hugo began his culinary journey in his home of Palermo, Italy on the Island of Sicily. Those familiar with Italian cuisine know that when it comes to food and culture, Sicily is a country unto itself. Dishes from this region are more subtle and refined than typical Italian fare and Hugo’s is no different. For our visit, we sampled the Italian side of Hugo’s menu, but he also offers an array of traditional American fare, with hormone and preservative-free beef, chicken and veal, as well as an exceptional selection of fresh wild-caught seafood. His meats are free-range and free of chemicals. On the Italian side of the menu, freshly made pasta and sauces, with tender selections of beef, veal, chicken or seafood are abundant. Our meal started with a delightful tomato cream soup. Normally one does not write about the soups one receives at a restaurant, but this particular soup was quite notable, not only for the rich tomato and basil flavor, but for the creamy and smooth texture. It was thick, like a bisque, but not so thick as to be overbearing. The flavor was rich and creamy, but Rebatta assures us no cream is used. If you are a lover of finely crafted artisan soups, as I am, then the trip to Hugo’s is made worthwhile for this delicious appetizer alone. Coupled with warm fresh baked crusty and fluffy French bread and Hugo’s signature olive oil and balsamic vinegar garlic ricotta dipping sauce, this could be a light meal by itself. To begin, we started out with appetizers of oysters on the half shell and shrimp scampi. To say the oysters were fresh would be an understatement. Nothing tests
the veracity of claims of freshness in seafood like raw oysters. These oysters could only have been more fresh Chef Hugo Rebatta had they been dug out of the mud by my own hands minutes before. None of the rubbery or slimy texture one gets from oysters that have been sitting around were apparent in these fine specimens. These oysters were exceptional in their size, quality and how fresh they were and each slipped silently from its shell and down my throat. I might also add that the homemade cocktail sauce was abundant with rich flavor of fresh tomatoes and a bit of horseradish. Additional freshly grated horseradish was available on the plate for bolder palates.
“Fresh is our passion!” Chef Hugo Rebatta
The shrimp scampi was delectable and in true Sicilian form the garlic was present but not overbearing. The fresh cream butter took the stage as the fresh shrimp bathed in a gentle herb infused plate of yellow goodness. Each of the dozen or so 16/20 shrimp was cooked to perfection. These smaller shrimp are especially known for their sweetness and flavor over their larger brethren and the freshness of these shellfish provided even more flavor. For our entrées we opted to sample even more of this excellent seafood, so rare this far inland and a veal dish. The Seafood Pescatore is a traditional Sicilian dish with fresh mussels, clams, shrimp and scallops. Typical Americanized Italian offerings of this dish simply cover a plate of steamed seafood with a marinara sauce and lay it on a bed of pasta. Not so at Hugo’s. A delightful red tomato clam sauce, with bits of diced fresh clam, was used to carefully cook the seafood and then served over a bed of fresh pasta. Floral herbs were interspersed with the aromas of the sea and each morsel of shellfish carried the lingering memories of the ocean from which they emerged. This dish may be
consumed as is prepared or ordered fra Diavlo (of the Devil) with a bit more spice for those who prefer a bit of heat with their seafood, as I do. The veal dish was one of my favorites, veal Marsala. The veal was perfectly seared rather than breaded and then smothered in a delightful Marsala wine and Cremini mushroom sauce. The sweetness of the young cow, coupled with the exceptional caramelization of the Italian Marsala wine provided a delightful dance on the taste buds. “You have to use Italian Marsala,” said Rebatta. “If you use domestic, it will never taste as good.” Those who have tasted my own veal Marsala know it is a specialty of mine, but this was far superior to my
continued on page 20
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
11
61. Murray Parkway GC Murray Public 801-262-4653 62. Nibley Park GC Salt Lake City Public
801-483-5418
21. Crater Springs Midway Public 435-654-7220
41. Green River State Park Green River Public 435-564-8882
63. Oakridge CC Farmington Private 801-295-5531
22. Davis Park GC Fruit Heights Public
801-544-0401
42. Green Spring GC Washington Public 435-673-7888
64. Oasis GC Mesquite, NV Public
3. Ben Lomond GC Ogden Public 801-782-7754
23. Dinaland GC Vernal Public 435-781-1428
43. Hidden Valley CC Sandy Private 801-571-2951
65. Ogden Golf & CC Ogden Private 801-621-2063
4. Birch Creek GC Smithfield Public
435-563-6825
24. Dixie Red Hills GC St. George Public
44. Hubbard GC Hill AFB Military
66. Old Mill GC Salt Lake City Public
5. Bloomington CC St. George Private
435-673-2029
25. Dugway GC Dugway Military 435-831-2305
45. Hobble Creek GC Springville Public 801-489-6297
67. Oquirrh Hills GC Tooele Public 435-882-4220
6. Bonneville GC Salt Lake City Public
801-583-9513
26. Eagle Lake GC Roy Public 801-825-3467
46. Jeremy Golf & CC Park City Private
435-649-2700
68. Palisade State Park Sterling Public 435-835-4653
7. Bountiful Ridge GC Bountiful Public 801-298-6040
27. Eagle Mountain GC Brigham City Public 435-723-3212
47. Jordan River GC Salt Lake City Public
801-533-4527
69. Paradise GC Fillmore Public 435-743-4439
8. Canyon Breeze GC Beaver Public 435-438-2601
28. Eaglewood GC North Salt Lake Public 801-299-0088
48. Lake Powell National GC Page, AZ Public 928-645-2023
70. Park City GC Park City Public
435-615-5800
9. Canyon Hills Park GC Nephi Public 435-623-9930
29. East Bay at The Reserve Provo Public 801-852-7529
49. Lakeside GC West Bountiful Public
801-295-1019
71. Park Meadows CC Park City Private
435-649-2460
10. Carbon CC Helper Public 435-637-2388
30. El Monte GC Ogden Public 801-629-0694
50. Logan Golf & GC Logan Private 435-753-6050
72. Promontory Club Park City Private
435-333-4218
11. Casa Blanca GC Mesquite, NV Public
31. Entrada at Snow Canyon CC St. George Private 435-986-2207
51. Logan River GC Logan Public 435-750-0123
73. Purple Sage GC Evanston, WY Public
307-789-2383
32. Falcon Ridge GC Mesquite, NV Public
52. Meadow Brook GC Salt Lake City Public
385-468-1500
74. Red Ledges Heber City Private
435-657-4054 801-731-7200
1. Alpine CC Highland Private 801-322-3971 2. Bear Lake GC Garden City Public
435-946-8742
702-346-6764
12. Cedar Hills Golf Club Cedar Hills Public 801-796-1705
13. Cedar Ridge GC Cedar City Public 0 14. Central Valley GC Salt Lake City Public 15. Conestoga GC Mesquite, NV Public
435-627-4444
702-346-6363
801-777-3272
702-346-7820
385-468-1440
435-586-2970
33. Fore Lakes GC Taylorsville Public 801-266-8621
53. Mick Riley GC Murray Public 385-468-1400
75. Remuda GC Far West Public
801-973-6271
34. Forest Dale GC Salt Lake City Public
801-483-5420
54. Millsite GC Ferron Public 435-384-2887
76. River Oaks GC Sandy Public 801-568-4653
702-346-4292
35. Fox Hollow GC American Fork Public
801-756-3594
55. Moab GC Moab Public 435-259-6488
77. Riverbend GC Riverton Public 385-468-1460
16. Copper Club Magna Private 801-250-6396
36. Gladstan GC Payson Public 801-465-2549
56. Mountain Dell GC Salt Lake City Public
801-582-3812
78. Riverside CC Provo Private 801-373-8262
17. Coral Canyon GC Washington Public
37. Glen Eagle GC Syracuse Public 801-773-4653
57. Mountain View GC West Jordan Public
385-468-1414
79. Rolling Green GC Green River, WY Private 307-875-6200
18. Coral Cliffs Kanab Public 435-644-5005
38. Glendale GC Salt Lake City Public
801-974-2403
58. Mt. Ogden GC Ogden Public 801-629-0699
80. Roosevelt GC Roosevelt Public 435-722-9644
19. Cove View GC Richfield Public
39. Glenmoor GC South Jordan Public
801-280-1742
59. Mulligan’s North Ogden Public 801-392-4653
81. Rose Park GC Salt Lake City Public
40. Glenwild Golf Club & Spa Park City Private 435-615-9988
60. Mulligan’s South GC South Jordan Public 801-254-3377
82. Round Valley GC Morgan Public 801-829-3796
435-688-1700
435-896-9987
20. Crane Field GC Clinton Public 801-779-3800
801-596-5030
12
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
13
14
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
83. Sand Hollow Resort Hurricane Public 435-656-4653
94. Southgate GC St. George Public
435-627-4440
105. TalonsCove GC Saratoga Springs Public 801-407-3030
116. Thunderbird GC Mt. Carmel Junction Public 435-648-2218
84. Schneiter’s Bluff GC Westpoint Public 801-773-0731
95. Spanish Oaks GC Spanish Fork Public
801-798-9816
106. Thanksgiving Point GC Lehi Public 801-768-7401
117. Toana Vista GC West Wendover, NV Public 800-852-4330
85. Schneiter’s Pebblebrook GC Sandy Public 801-566-2181
96. St. George GC St. George Public
435-627-4404
107. The Barn GC Ogden Public 801-782-7320
118. Valderra GC St. George Public
86. Schneiter’s Riverside GC Riverdale Public 801-399-4636
97. Stansbury Park GC Stansbury Park Public 435-882-4162
108. The Club at Victory Ranch Kamas Private 435-785-5030
119. Valley View GC Layton Public 801-546-1630
87. Sherwood Hills GC Wellsville Public 435-245-6055
98. Stonebridge GC West Valley City Public 801-957-9000
109. The Country Club Salt Lake City Private 801-487-7569
120. Wasatch Mtn. State Park Midway Public 435-654-0532
88. Sky Mountain GC Hurricane Public 435-635-7888
99. Sun Hills GC Layton Public 801-771-4814
110. The Hideout GC Monticello Public 435-587-2200
121. White Mountain GC Rock Springs, WY Public 307-352-1415
89. Skyline Mountain Resort Fairview Public 435-427-9575
100. Sun River GC St. George Public
435-986-0001
111. The Links at Overlake Tooele Public 435-882-8802
122. White Pine GC Ely, NV Public
90. Skyway GC Tremonton Public 435-257-5706
101. Sunbrook GC St. George Public
435-627-4400
112. The Outlaw GC at Hideout Canyon Hideout Public 435-901-4227
123. Willow Creek CC Sandy Private 801-942-1621
91. Sleepy Ridge GC Orem Public 801-434-4653
102. Sunset View GC Delta Public
435-864-2508
113. The Palms GC Littlefield, AZ Public
702-346-4067
124. Wingpointe GC Salt Lake City Public
801-575-2345
92. Soldier Hollow GC Midway Public 435-654-7442
103. Swan Lakes GC Layton Public 801-546-1045
114. The Ranches GC Eagle Mountain Public 801-789-8100
125. Wolf Creek GC Eden Semi-Private
801-745-3365
93. South Mountain GC Draper Public 385-468-1480
104. Talisker Golf at Tuhaye Kamas Private 435-333-3636
115. The Ridge GC West Valley City Public 801-966-4653
126. Wolf Creek Golf Resort Mesquite, NV Public 702-346-1670
435-634-4640
775-289-4095
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
Ping i25 Driver
F
or years, Ping Golf’s thinking was players looking for a driver that would maximize distance went with their G-Series driver. Better players who liked to work the ball went with their i-Series driver. With the introduction of the i25 driver, Ping is continuing to change those ideas. The new Ping i25 Driver is focused on optimal spin, accurate alignment and effective shaft fitting for maximizing distance and accuracy. Tungstenweighted to raise the moment of inertia (MOI), the Ti 8-1-1 driver offers two industry-first design attributes: patented racing stripes on the crown and an innovative PWR shaft family that maintains a constant swing weight across every offering. High-density tungsten weights lower the center of gravity (CG) of the i25 clubhead, helping to generate the proper amount of spin and a ball flight that maximizes roll. The weights also
increase forgiveness. The curvature of the crown, toe and sole are engineered to reduce aerodynamic drag compared to other 460cc drivers. This means increased clubhead speed and more distance. The i25 is fitted with Ping’s proprietary shaft family called PWR (Performance, Weighting and Re-
sponsiveness). In the age of adjustable drivers, shafts very tremendously in terms of their weight and their balance points. The PWR 55-, 65- and 75-gram shafts, nine options in all, offer unique weights and stiffness profiles, but they do not alter the club’s swingweight. The lighter versions promote higher ball flight and can reduce fade-type misses; the heavier versions promote lower flight and can reduce draw-type misses. While other manufacturers offer greater adjustable loft ranges, Ping always has advocated players get custom fit for every club. They believe the amount of adjustability designed into the i25 is enough to make it an effective fitting tool. You can fine-tune your launch conditions by adding or subtracting halfdegree of loft on the uniquely optimized 8.5°, 9.5° and 10.5° heads. Ping’s Trajectory Tuning technology utilizes an adjustable hosel that is easy to use, lightweight and aerodynamically efficient.
Tungsten Weights High-density weights lower the CG, helping to reduce spin for an optimal ball flight and maximum rollout. The weights also increase forgiveness. Racing Stripes These subtle stripes can help you aim and deliver the face accurately,
15
guide you in taking the club back on the desired path or assist in aligning your feet and body. Variable-Thickness Face The Ti 6-4 face is engineered to deliver a powerful energy transfer for faster ball speeds and increased distance.
16
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
Schneiter’s Bluff Golf Course
I
n the late 1980’s, Schneiter’s Riverside Golf Professional and owner Ernie Schneiter realized the northern Davis County area was rapidly growing and would soon be in need of an 18-hole golf course west of I-15. At that time, Royal Greens in Roy (now known as Eagle Lake) was the only course west of I-15 between Layton and North Ogden. He started looking for suitable ground that would be adequate to build 18 holes and a driving range. After acquiring the services of local realtor Carl Bown, the wheels were set in motion and in July 1992, a parcel including 14 separate land owners was put together in West Point. The ground was situated on a small bluff that overlooked open fields of farmland and grassy area’s below with the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island in its background. Construction on the course began December 15, 1993 and continued into the summer of 1994. With only one small snow storm in the late winter and early spring of 1994 that delayed moving dirt for three days, the building of the course was expedited and planting started in the first part of June. By September of 1994, the course was grown in and was ready for it’s opening in the spring of 1995. Schneiter’s Bluff takes you back to the traditional days of golf; well-manicured throughout with wide, defined fairways, lush primary roughs and long, golden fescue grasses waving in the mild winds for wonderful contrasts. I wouldn’t have expected anything else, knowing that one of Utah’s true fathers of golf, Ernie Schneiter and his son’s Brett and Jon were behind the design work and much of the construction. The course continued to mature and over two thousand trees were planted to line and give definition to the fairways. Ernie, having fought the large cottonwood leaves at his Riverside course, opted to plant only small leafed trees at The Bluff. The trees would take much longer to mature, but he realized how much nicer play would be in the fall, not fighting the large
amount of leaves. Play was a little slow the first few years, but as more and more golfers played the course they soon became repeat customers. The Bluff’s mildly sloping terrain makes it enjoyable for the walker or the rider. It is a very player friendly course for those who are new to the game, but can be set-up to challenge the most advanced players at 6800 yards from the black tees. There are four sets of tees on every hole to accommodate each level of player. The red tee markers play 5600 yards for women and juniors. The gold tees for seniors play 5622 yards. The white tees for men play 6183 yards and as mentioned, the black or championship tees can be lengthened out to play the course at 6804 yards. There are 150 yard stakes in the middle of each fairway to give players the distances they need to the middle of the greens and also 250, 200 and 100 yard markers in the fairways. Schneiter’s Bluff golf course is a Par 72 layout with each side having two par 3’s, five par 4’s and two par 5’s. There are a total of 55 bunkers strategically placed to grab the errant shot and five lakes to catch the wayward ball. The course is always in great condition and head greens superintendent Sean Rivera and his maintenance crew do their best to keep it that way. For those golfers who can keep the ball in the fairway some great scores can be made, but stray off into the
rough and your troubles begin. The rough at The Bluff is notorious for being thick and difficult to hit out of. In addition to the rough, the trees are always there to block a shot that misses the fairway. The second hole is a good example of just what Schneiter’s Bluff has in store. The hole plays a short 310 yards from the back tees offering a reachable Par 4 early in your round for most big hitters. Bunkers lay short, both left and right with a pond on the right side approaching the green. The long, narrow green offers a tough target. The 6th is the longest Par 5 on the course at 558 yards. The hole lays out in front of you with plenty of room from the tee and on your second shot. Although reachable in two for some, the hole really is set-up to leave you with a short wedge to a slightly tiered green guarded on the left side by a greenside bunker. The 9th offers another good opportunity as you close out the front nine. The Par 5 plays 531 yards from the back tees, again offering a wide fairway, but guarded both left and right by bunkers in the landing area. The large green is tiered, making your approach to some pin placements needing to be quite precise. The last three holes at Schneiter’s Bluff are known as “Amen Corner” to many. There have been a number of good rounds over the years come to a screeching halt in this stretch. The 16th plays 208 yards from the back tees and requires a precise shot to reach the elevated green. A large upslope in front of the green catches many shots and then requires a good chip to get the ball up and down. A little too much club will more than likely put you in one of the two bunkers that lie in wait to grab the ball behind the green. If you hook your shot here you may end up out of bounds or in the trees and shrubs against the boundary fence. Number 17 is a 421 yard Par 4, dogleg left that requires one of your most precise tee shots of the day. Left off the tee will put you in the trees and right will send your ball flying towards two large bunkers. The
second shot is to a slightly elevated green with a bunker on the left and water on the right. To walk away with a par here is a welcomed relief. The finishing hole at Schneiter’s Bluff is a strait forward, 447 yard Par 4 that requires two great shots to get home. The tee shot has fairway bunkers on both sides in the landing area and it takes a pretty good poke to clear them. Any tee ball not in the fairway will have tree trouble for the second shot. Your second will require a long iron or fairway wood for most players, but for big hitters, they will have a short to mid iron in if they really tag their drive. Once on the large double green (holes #9 and #18 share a large Ushaped green), a downhill putt will generally roll past the cup a little farther than you had hoped, giving you a looker coming back at it. All in all, Schneiter’s Bluff is a fun, player friendly course that you can go away from having a great time. The average pace of play on weekends is around 4 hours and 20 minutes, a very welcomed pace indeed, making the round enjoyable for everyone. The serenity of the surroundings and the view of the Wasatch Front Mountains make for a breathtaking experience. During the winter months, Schneiter’s Bluff or comffmonly known as ‘The Bluff’ by its regulars, will be one of the first northern Utah courses to be open. With its lower elevation, the snow tends to melt off quicker than many of the other Davis and Weber County tcourses, providing many winter playing opportunities. t The driving range at The Bluff provides an all grass teeing area and is large enough to always have excelslent turf to hit off of. The range is over 375 yards in length and 130 yards wide and provides six target greens for a variety of different length shots. For those looking to practice their chipping and putting there 8are two large putting greens with a variety of slope fand undulation. h In the spring of 2013, ‘The Short Course at The Bluff’ oopened for those who are just learning the game or ndesire to improve their short game. It is a 5-hole Par 3 with holes ranging in length from 50 to 106 yards. Limited flight balls are used so players can take full swings without worrying about hitting it too far. The Short Course is the perfect venue to introduce new eplayers to the game in a non-intimidating way. There ethey can learn the basics of playing golf without the frustration of a regulation length course. It is also great for work and church groups who are looking for a fun ractivity that only takes about 45 minutes. g The cafe at The Bluff offers burgers, sandwiches mand beverages for the hungry golfer. There is also eprofessional instruction available for the golfer who nis looking to improve their game. Junior and adult clinics are taught on a regular basis and video instrucltion is also available. s The Bluff has an association for each and every golfer. The Senior Association is for men who are s50 & over and tournament play is every MondayWednesday. Men’s League plays Tuesday - Thursday each week. The Ladies Association has groups .that play each Thursday morning and evening. The Couples Association plays on Friday evenings and The Bluffs Junior association plays each Wednesday
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
morning during the summer months. A variety of different formats are played throughout the season and events run March through November for most leagues. The Schneiter Memorial Amateur is held at The Bluff the first week in March each year and is one of the first tournaments on the UGA schedule for northern Utah. For the 2014 season, the event has been scheduled for Friday, March 7th. The Ed Kenley Memorial Senior Amateur will be held on Friday, August 22nd. Later in the fall there is both a 2-Man Best Ball/Alternate/Scramble tournament for men and one for women. The men’s event is scheduled for Friday, October 3rd and the women’s event will be Wednesday, October 1st. Corporate outings are welcomed at The Bluff and with a large banquet room, it can accommodate groups of almost any size. Shotgun starts or tee times are available for private, church, civic or corporate outings. A full menu of prices and options can be found online at schneitersgolf.com. The Schneiter Family has formed a lasting legacy for the game of golf in Utah and Jon Schneiter carries on that great legacy today as the Head Golf Professional at Schneiter’s Bluff. The course is one of the best conditioned in the state and offers everything you are looking for, no matter your ability. In fact why not give them a call today and get your 2014 golf season underway! Schneiter ’s Bluff Golf Course Jon Schneiter – PGA Professional 300 N. 3500 W. West Point, UT 84015 801-773-0731
17
18
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
By Kirk Abegglen PGA Teaching Professional Schneiter’s Riverside GC
I
t’s that time of year again when we are all anxious to hit the course and hopefully lower those scores and our handicaps. One of the great things about spring golf is our minds are clear of those 100 plus swing thoughts and hopefully we have forgot about all of those errant golf shots last summer. We head out to that first tee with great optimism and the vision of the ball flying right down the middle of the fairway, then approaching the green with precision and finally seeing that birdie putt dropping right into the middle of the cup. To help you with that vision and experience it for real, there are a few tips I would like to share with you before you head out to that first tee this spring. Let’s keep it simple and then evaluate and consider your equipment, physical fitness, warm up routines, short game and the full-swing and don’t forget the golf lessons. Equipment: Before the season gets under way and we start pounding balls on the driving range, do an inventory of the equipment you are playing. It is true you cannot buy better scores, but it is to your advantage to be playing the proper equipment that is fitted to you. Your local PGA Professional can help you through this process of evaluating what type of clubs you should be playing in regards to shaft flexes, graphite or steel shafts, shaft lengths, grip size, club head design, lofts and also the set make- up. The set make-up is one of the key points I always emphasize to my students. Many times they are playing to strong of lofts for their abilities. For an example, I will have a 25 handicap player come to a lesson and tell me they are really struggling with their 3-wood off the fairway. A better club choice would be to carry and 4-wood or a 5-wood instead, which is much easier to hit off the deck. Also, too many players are still grinding over their long irons. We need to replace them with hybrids that are much easier to hit and they also hit the ball much higher and with the distance they need (Figure 1). If your set make-up is good, be sure to have your grips replaced regularly. Worn out grips will cause you to grip the club too tight and as a result kill your club head speed. With new grips we can grip the handle lightly and therefore square the clubface at impact, eliminating that dreaded slice.
Be Prepared To Swing This Spring
Figure 1
Physical Fitness: Staying active during the winter months can really help you with your golf game come spring. I personally like to ski, snowboard, play basketball and swim. I belong to a local gym and also hit the treadmills, exercise bikes, steppers, free weights and weight machines. There are four important areas to include in your fitness routines: Cardio work, resistance work, stretching and nutrition. Walking, jogging, running, riding a bike, stair steppers, etc, can simply do the cardio work. Resistance work can be done by lifting weights or simply by using your own body weight. One of my favorite exercises is to use rubber tubing (Figure 2-3). Stretching is the one thing that we all must do and if you choose to do only one thing fitness wise, it needs to be stretching. It would be to your advantage to do all of the fitness activities, but stretching will give you the mobility and range of motion to perform the golf swing in an effective manner. Stretching will also help to reduce the chance of injuries. And finally, we all know how important a balanced diet is and we all need to hydrate better by drinking more water. When playing a round of golf that may last anywhere from 2 to 5 hours, proper snacking and hydrating is important. I personally like to snack on bananas, apples, protein bars, turkey jerky and nuts. Hydrate on every hole if possible. It is important to note that before you start any fitness program, it is best to see a professional fitness trainer or a physical therapist. They can give you golf specific exercises that will give you better results and insure that your technique is solid, reducing the chance of injuries during fitness sessions.
Warm-Up Drills: You should start any practice session or a round of golf by warming up the hands, wrists, forearms, shoulders, back and legs. Hands, wrists and forearms: Two simple drills are to place a club in each hand with your arms hanging straight down by your side. Slowly lift the club head up and then back down keeping your arms straight, doing 10 to 15 repetitions. This is the hinging and unhinging of the wrists that you perform in a proper golf swing. Next, extend your arms out in front of you with the club shafts pointing straight up and rotate the forearms until the club shafts are parallel to the ground in both directions. This exercise will give you the warm up and feeling of proper forearm rotation that aids in squaring the clubface at impact. Shoulder warm up: Extend your arms out to your side and perform small circle rotations with the arms in both directions with palms facing down and also palms facing up. You will feel the heat in the shoulder joint and the rotator cuff muscles. Again do 10 to 15 repetitions in both directions. Trunk rotation and shoulder turn: Place a club shaft over your head and rest it on your back, not your neck. Get into a golf posture and rotate the shoulders and trunk until the club shaft is at 90 degrees to your target line. Do this in both directions. Full body stretch (Figure 4): Use two clubs out in front of you and place the feet approximately two feet apart keeping both legs straight. Extend the arms by pushing the club shafts out, bend at the waist until the back is parallel with the ground and feel a stretch all the way from the hamstrings through the back, shoulders and arms. This is my favorite stretch and I will hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds. Swing with two clubs (Figure 5): One of the fastest ways to warm up is to swing two clubs at the same time. I will always do this warm up drill, as it is golf swing specific
Figure 5
Figure 4
Figure 2
Figure 3
and the extra weight gives me a quick and effective warm up. If I only have a few minutes to warm up before practice or play, this is the drill I use.
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
Short game: At the beginning of every season you should focus on speed and feel with putting, chipping and pitching. Do distance control drills by placing coins, tees or buckets at various distances and work on the tempo and length of swing to get the ball next to each target (Figure 6). We have a tendency to lose feel for distances during a layoff and this is a great way to get that feel back. When working on these distance control drills do it with light grip pressure and imagine rolling or tossing the ball to the target. This will give you the rhythm, tempo and feel for what the golf swing and motion should feel like. As a teaching professional, I can only teach the mechanics and fundamentals of a putting stroke, chip shot and a pitch shot. My students have to learn the feel for distances. All it takes is practice! Full Swing: Take advantage of a clear head in the spring and while working on your full swing simply take the club all the way back and through focusing on your balance, footwork
Figure 6
19
and tempo. Learn to feel the club head and the swing, instead of think it. Swing the club through the ball instead of at it. Keep it simple and hold the finish at the end of the swing, finishing on the toe like a pro, weight completely transferred to the target foot and the belly facing the target (Figure 7). I personally work on only three key components of my golf swing early in the season and they are: 1) Head steady, maintaining good posture and spine angle throughout the golf swing; 2) A full shoulder turn on the backswing; 3) A balanced finish at the end of the swing. From there I will work on the positions and technical stuff as needed based upon ball flight trajectories and directional issues. Keep it as simple as possible. Golf Lessons: If you want to improve your game it would be to your advantage to take golf lessons from a qualified PGA Professional at the beginning of every season. It is by no coincidence that your best players in the world have coaches. It is essential to make sure that you are fundamentally sound and you have the proper swing thoughts going on in your head. Too many players are trying to get better by implementing too many technical swing thoughts and positions. When working with students, I will give them the fundamentals of a p ro p e r g r i p , p o s t u re , alignment and ball poFigure 7 sition. From there, we focus on simple swing thoughts and positions. The scores and handicaps while doing these types golf swing cannot be fluid of lessons. So this spring let’s bring on that great golf with too much junk going on swing with a clear head, simple swing thoughts in the brain. You probably and shoot lower scores! This season, let’s keep it have heard the term, “paralysimple and be well prepared. Golf is a lot more sis by over analysis!” Lastly, fun when we play better and playing better when it comes to taking lestakes a little attention to detail and of course sons, be sure to work on all putting in some practice time. Give yourself a the skills and not just the full check-up or make over if you will. Make sure swing. I will take my students you have the right equipment for your skill to the golf course on a regular level. Get physically fit and be active. Warm basis to see how they play the up properly before play and focus on feeling game. In many cases, it is not the club head and swing, instead of thinking it! the ball striking or full swing Create healthy diet choices and make nutrition that is hurting their scores, but the scoring shots from and hydration a part of your daily routine. You 100 yards and in and also the will play better, feel better and have a better strategies and club selections chance of lowering that handicap. I guarantee they are making. On-course you will have more fun and experience the golf playing lessons are great for shots and golf scores desired. If you need some learning and I have helped help or guidance, be sure to see your local PGA many of my students improve Professional.
20
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
HUGO’S
continued from page 10 own or any other I have ever tasted. This offering was exceptionally fork-tender and the paper-thin Cremini mushrooms were abundant. The Marsala wine sauce was rich and creamy and aroused the eye, the nose and the mouth simultaneously. Paired with my meal was the house Chianti, a Bellagio. Chianti by the glass can be a very risky proposition, but in this case the wine was floral, with light
top notes and a crisp smoky finish. It was a perfect compliment to the tender veal. For deserts, a tray of delights was presented to our table and we opted for the Tiramisu and the cheesecake. Though Hugo does not make his own deserts, they are from one of the finer craft bakeries in Las Vegas and brought in fresh twice a week. I would be remiss to not mention the exceptional service we received on our visit. The wait staff was very attentive without being overbearing. Each need was anticipated and swiftly addressed without interruption of our conversation. Our orders were taken with alacrity, but not in a hurried or rushed fashion and ample time for making a selection was allowed. The wait staff treated us informally as if we were family visiting for a nice dinner and made us feel
welcomed and as if we were the only table they had to wait, which was not the case. Chef Hugo Rebatta brings more than 50 years of experience in high-end restaurants to his Mesquite location. Having worked as an executive chef in some of the most prestigious restaurants in hotels in Las Vegas, including the Stardust in its heyday, he has served the likes of Frank Sinatra and the other Rat Pack members. He also brings a resume that includes swank locales in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, such as the famed Brown Derby on Rodeo Drive. But in this latest venture, Rebatta truly displays his passion for the home style Sicilian food of his home in Palermo. The use of fresh ingredients of the highest quality, the immaculately appointed décor, the gentle traditional music and the attention to detail, all display his love for his craft.
UGA/PGA Tournament Schedule March and April, 2014 APRIL, 2014
Stansbury 2-Man Best Ball, Stansbury Park GC
South Utah Open & Pro-Am, SunRiver GC
March 7
Schneiter’s Memorial Amateur, Schneiter’s Bluff GC
March 14
3-Man Scramble, Glen Eagle GC
March 15
Delta IFA 2-Man Scramble, Sunset View GC Ice Breaker 2-Man Scramble, Cove View GC Spring 2-Man Scramble, Green River State Park GC
March 15-16
UGA Winterchamps, Sunbrook, Coral Canyon, SunRiver
March 22
3-Man Scramble, Palisade State Park GC
March 28-29
Red Hills Amateur, Dixie Red Hills GC
March 29
Carbon Icebreaker 3-Person Scramble, Carbon CC Nibley 2-Man Scramble/4-Ball, Nibley Park GC
March 30
Dixie 2-Man Scramble, Dixie Red Hills GC
Hugo’s Hilltop Restaurant 555 Highland Dr., Mesquite, NV (702) 346-2855 Monday - Saturday: Lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Dinner 4:30-8:30 p.m. - Closed Sunday. Reservations suggested.
Tournaments
MARCH, 2014 March 1
Located at 555 Highland Dr. just off of Pioneer Blvd, behind the Virgin River Casino, Hugo’s Hilltop Restaurant is not to be missed if you enjoy classic Southern Italian cuisine or an excellent steak. Prices are slightly higher than you would pay at Olive Garden, but the food is far superior. Bring your appetite for adventure and try some of the many excellent dishes Chef Hugo Rebatta has to offer. You will not be disappointed.
April 4-6 April 5
Carbon 2-Man Best Ball, Carbon CC 2-Man Best Ball, Palisade State Park GC Icebreaker 1-Person Scramble, Canyon Breeze GC
April 11
April 19-20
Uintah Basin Amateur, Roosevelt City GC, Dinaland GC
April 21
Utah Section PGA Spring Meeting & Pro-Pro, Hidden Valley CC
April 21-22
April 12
Rainbow/Peppermill/Montego Bay 1-Man Scramble, Toana Vista GC
April 12-13
Gladstan Senior Classic, Gladstan GC
2-Man Scamble, Glen Eagle GC Paradise 2-Man Scramble, Paradise Golf Resort Fox Hollow Amateur, Fox Hollow Resort GC
April 13
Sand Hollow 2-Women Best Ball, Sand Hollow Resort GC
April 14-15
April 23 April 25
St. George 2-Man Chicago, St. George GC
April 26
Check City 2-Man Scramble, East Bay GC UGA Women’s Spring Open, Sunbrook GC, Sky Mountain Stonebridge Amateur, Stonebridge GC 1-Man Scramble, Green River State Park GC GC
April 18
April 27
April 18-19
April 28
River Oaks 2-Man Scramble, River Oaks GC Glenmore Open & Pro-Am, Glenmore GC
April 19
Fore Lakes Ice Breaker Amateur, Fore Lakes GC Ed Kenley Memorial Pro-Am, Oakridge CC
April 28-29
Rainbow/Peppermill/Montego Bay Senior 1-Man Scramble, Millsite GC Canyon Hills Ice Breaker 2-Man Scramble, Canyon Hills GC 2-Person Scramble, Toana Vista GC Golden Spike Amateur, Eagle Mountain GC
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
1221 S. Main St. St. George, Utah
435-673-6661 St. George Inn and Suites where affordable and luxury meet. It’s the perfect location for Golf and Relaxation.
stgeorgeinnhotel.com The Finest in Lodging and Golf Packages in Southern Utah
185 South 1470 East St. George, Utah 84790
435-986-0555
21
22
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
Conestoga Golf Club
C
onestoga Golf Club, the newest golf course in Mesquite, Nevada, features a spectacular layout meandering through natural arroyos and dramatic elevation changes. The design of the golf course utilizes native desert and natural washes creating a challenging layout with breathtaking canyon vistas. With more than 50 strategically placed bunkers, Conestoga is sure to test the ability of even the most proven player. This 18-hole scenic masterpiece is artfully interwoven with the character and contours of the areas spectacular landforms. Undulating through canyons with gently ascending and descending elevations, rugged desert outcroppings and tranquil water elements, the integrity of the land is preserved at every opportunity. The masterful design and creativity of renowned golf course architect Gary Panks, provides a true championship course with the appearance of being crafted by nature forged over time. While the golf course looks intimidating on many holes, Mr. Panks was able to create the illusion of a tough hole, but gives players ample room off the tee to get the ball in play. At Conestoga, Panks has designed a course that will test golfers’ courage as well as their swings. The “art” of designing a golf course is to make it playable for a diverse set of golfers. The course needs to be enjoyable by high caliber players, members, higher handicappers, shorter hitters, men and women. The objective really is to design four or five courses in one. The course must be flexible in terms of setup. Multiple tees (four or five sets per hole) are the first step toward this flexibility. The speed of the greens and the pin positions should also be variable to allow easier
and tougher setups. Finally, the rough should be adaptable to a variety of course setups. Conestoga Golf Club has ‘signature hole’ written all over it. This effect is created by taking advantage of site opportunities and adding dramatic design ideas. Panks goal was to create 18 unique and excellent golf holes. A signature hole simply happens when certain dramatic elements combine with an excellent hole design to produce something much more memorable and this was certainly the case at Conestoga. On the course, many holes stand out as the layout rolls up, down and around mountainsides. Take the Par 3 second hole, for example. It plays 188 yards from the tips, but that’s misleading as the green is perched some 80 feet below the tee boxes. Picking the proper club here can be tough. The elevation change and factoring in the wind can produce more than a few anxious moments. Adding to the test is the fact the green is an island on three sides, perched above
the desert outcroppings. The good news is there is a bailout area short-right. The third hole is considered by many to be the toughest on the course. Although not overly long at 419 yards from the tips, club selection and then execution are key. The tees are isolated and there is a forced carry required from almost every tee box. Your target line is basically the last of the grass you can see straight away on the left and this line will accommodate a tee shot anywhere from 175 to 330 yards. The desert outcroppings jet in and out through the landing area and you may want to cross your fingers for a favorable bounce. The hole then doglegs right and your second shot is to a kidney-shaped green, strategically located behind a bunker that guards its front with desert hillsides surrounding behind. The green runs left to right and is very shallow. Your best target is front left and this is also the most receptive part of the green. If the pin is back right – watch out! The rest of Conestoga Golf Club’s front nine also requires golfers to think their way around. With fairways running out and forced carries as at the third, you need to be precise with shots off the tee and over ravines. It’s a shot-makers dream design that can be intimidating, but also rewarding. The sixth is another hole that can give up its share of birdies or have you shaking your head walking to the next tee. At only 536 yards from the back tees, this tricky Par 5 is really broken up into three sections. Again there is a forced carry from the isolated tees and the first section of fairway is surrounded by desert. The end of the fairway straight ahead is at the 315 yard mark. Now you have to make a decision – do you want to lay-up to the next short landing area that is only about 50 yards long by 40 yards wide or do you have enough to carry the ball at least 200 yards in the air to reach the third section on the approach to the green.
Once you make it to the final approach area short of the green, a large bunker guards the front of the green and wraps around to the left. Another lies on the right entrance to the green that is 37 paces deep. Adding to the drama is a large ridge in the center of the green, basically dividing it in half. Make sure you aget the ball on the right section for the pin placement or you will be in for a roller coaster ride. Now we come to the ninth, a sweeping Par 5 that stretches to a jaw-dropping 595 yards. Bunkers must nbe avoided off the tee to set up a lay-up shot (only if you’re a really, really big hitter can you think of getting home in two). But the hole does play downhill doglegging right, so it really doesn’t play as long as it -appears. The biggest thing you have to watch out for .on your second shot is the large pond on the left that separates the ninth and tenth holes. I found the play was to lay-up to about 100 yards to the green near the tfairway bunker on the right, leaving you with a good ,visual of the green. Another bunker lies short of the green on the left next to the pond and then greenside eon the left and front right. The green runs right to left tand is again quite deep with a tier at its deepest point. eA very good finishing hole on this outward nine. ! You don’t really realize it when you are playing the ocourse, but both nines actually make big circles that -start out near the clubhouse and go in opposite direc,tions. The front experiences more severe elevation changes than the back nine and probably plays a little ebit tougher for most. But the back nine still has some impressive elevation changes, much wider fairways eand challenging green configurations. The back opens with a Par 3 that’s as beautiful as it is tough. A deep-blue pond, one of only two water .features on the course, guards the left on this 198 yard masterpiece. Depending on the tees you are .playing, the more the pond comes into play. Add in a 5scenic waterfall on the left, greenside and you’ve got oa picture-perfect postcard hole. Bunkers guard the tright front and back center of the green. o I hate to keep using the same phrase, but many of the teeing areas on the course are completely isolated. hI am a big fan of this look, but I know from being in the business that they can be a maintenance nightmare as
March 2014 2013 | GOLF UTAH
well. This is the case on the twelfth, another longish Par 5 at 578 yards from the tips. The hole plays slightly uphill from the tees to the large fairway bunker on the left at the 260 yard mark. Keep it out of this bunker if you want to have a chance of getting home in two. There is actually plenty of room right, even though I managed to hit it in the bunker. Your second shot is framed by a large bunker on the right about 100 yards from the green and two more bunkers appear to be placed on the left across from them, but it is a little bit of an allusion as they are really greenside. The deep green has a slight tier at its rear and undulation throughout. Still a good birdie opportunity. Holes 14 - a tricky little downhill Par 3, 15- a solid Par 4 and 16 – a three shot Par 5 for most, play under the Flat Top Mesa on the western border of the development. In fact, the 14th tee is the highest point on the course. The 17th is another of the outstanding holes on the back nine. At 423 yards, this Par 4 isn’t overly long, but the fairway runs out at about 280 yards as a rock-filled wash cuts across the fairway and must be avoided at all costs. A 3-wood from the tee helped me to avoid the bunker on the right side of the fairway and my 6-iron found the green, actually settling only about three feet from the hole. There is a greenside bunker front left and back right. The green slopes back to front and left to right. A good golf hole that will reward two good shots. Conestoga Golf Club’s finishing hole is one of those that looks easy, but definitely is a challenge. This great Par 4 stretching out to 472 yards. A pair of bunkers, one left and one right, cut into the fairway, making a perfect tee shot a must. Your second shot will be in the 200-yard range with a big bunker waiting menacingly in front of the green and desert outcroppings left and right. There is a lone bunker dead-center front, perfectly placed to hinder your approach no matter the pin placement as the clubhouse hovers to the left. Rolling fairways, towering rock for-
23
mations, white-sand bunkers and undulating greens all add up to an impressive back nine that compliments the front nine wonderfully. Troon Golf manages the facility as part of their family of courses in 23 countries and 31 American states, with Conestoga being one of over 100 worldwide. The Conestoga Golf Club is located within the Del Webb community of Sun City Mesquite. A grand entry of cascading waters and native stonework welcomes you, creating the feeling of leaving the world of the ordinary far behind. When complete, the development will include 5,000 residences and an abundance of recreational activities where miles of hiking trails are easily accessible and an amazingly well-equipped recreation center provides fitness instruction, tennis courts, a swimming pool and much more. If you haven’t visited this beautiful development and golf facility, you need to give them a call and see what all of the talk is about. Conestoga Golf Club Travis McDowell – General Manager Scott Ballif – Head Golf Professional 1499 Falcon Ridge Parkway Mesquite, NV 89034 877-489-0777 ww.conestogagolf.com
24
GOLF UTAH | March 2014
stgeorgelincoln.com Ken Garff St George Ford Lincoln
Ken Garff St George Ford Lincoln 145 West Hilton Drive St George, UT 84770 (435) 674-3200