2017 COURIER
GOLF GUIDE
wcfcourier.com April 30, 2017 METRO COURSE PROFILES NO PLACE LIKE HOME
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HAVE IT YOUR WAY PLAYING IN THE SAND
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SHORT AND SWEET PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
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THE NUMBERS GAME BUSINESS AND PLEASURE
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REMEMBER THE DAY? GOING STRONG AT 83
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GOLF GUIDE
GOLF 2017: METRO COURSE PROFILES Beaver Hills Country Club
South Hills
Par: 72 Length: 6,950 yards Pro: Monte Meyer Assistant pro: Zach Ward Location: 1830 E. Shaulis Rd., Waterloo Phone: (319) 291-4268 Website: www.golfsouthhills.com Rates: 18-hole—$23 adults, $22 seniors (62-older), $20 young adults (25-under), $10 juniors. 9-hole—$16. Notes: A hilly course with numerous trees that can alter shots, plus a handful of water hazards. The greens are undulating and fast, while the bluegrass fairways range from tight layouts to wide-open.
Par: 72 Length: 6,848 yards Pro: Brad Clark. Assistant pro: Austin Buhrow Location: 8230 Beaver Hills Dr., Cedar Falls Phone: (319) 266-1975 Website: www.beaverhills. com Rates: Members and guests only Notes: A private, parkland-style course built on rolling terrain that features uneven lies, tree-lined fairways, dozens of sand bunkers, and water that comes into play on the first five holes. Players will find new fairway grass, remodeled greens and pricing specials this season.
Sunnyside Country Club
Par: 72 Length: 6,736 yards Pro: Nathan Leary Assistant pros: Adam Squires, Katie Schachterle Location: 1600 Olympic Dr., Waterloo Phone: (319) 234-1125 Website: www.sunnysidecountryclub.com Rates: Members and guests only Notes: A private, 18-hole championship layout that is well-bunkered with more than 30 sand traps and features water that comes into play on at least 11 holes.
Gates Park
Par: 72 Length: 6,839 yards Pro: Nate Lubs Location: 820 E. Donald St., Waterloo Phone: (319) 291-4485 Website: www.golfgatespark.com Rates: 18-hole—$23 adults, $22 seniors (62-older), $20 young adults (25-under), $10 juniors. 9-hole—$16. Notes: This majestic, mature, 18-hole course has many tree-lined, bluegrass fairways and water hazards that come into play on several holes. Sand or grass bunkers guard every bent grass green.
Irv Warren Memorial
Par: 72 Length: 6,194 yards Pro: Andy Devine Location: 1000 Fletcher Ave., Waterloo Phone: (319) 234-9271 Website: www.golfirvwarren.com Rates: 18-hole—$23 adults, $22 seniors (62-older), $20 young adults (25-under), $10 juniors. 9-hole—$16. Notes: Built in 1908, this public, 18-hole course has its share of mature trees, bunkers and water hazards that come
COURIER FILE PHOTOS
Above: Jared Rowe tees off on the 16th hole at majestic Gates Park Golf Course during the 2015 Waterloo Open. Right: Josh Black hits a ball from just under a tree to the 15th green during the 2015 Waterloo Open Amateur Division at South Hills Golf Course, one of six public courses in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area. into play on a couple of holes, but it’s great for beginners. Irv Warren hosts the Professional Division of the annual Waterloo Open each July.
and under), $17 seniors (65 and over). 9-hole—$15 for adults, $13 for young adults, $9 for juniors, $13 for seniors. Discounts offered before noon on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Notes: A demanding pubPheasant Ridge Par: 72 lic course featuring tree-lined Length: 6,730 yards fairways and fast greens with Pro: John Bermel numerous sand bunkers and Assistant pro: Jacob Ber- water hazards. Complex also mel includes Walters Ridge 9-hole Location: 3205 W. 12th course. St., Cedar Falls Phone: (319) 266-8266 Red Carpet Golf Website: www.pheasant Par: 72 ridgegolfcourse.com Length: 6,557 yards Rates: Pro: Ed Dolan 18-hole—$20 Assistant pro: Todd Eastadults (25-64), $17 for young adults (18-24), $13 juniors (17 man
Location: 1409 Newell St., Waterloo Phone: (319) 235-1242 Website: www.redcarpetgolf.com Rates: 18-hole—$20 adults, $15 students, $19 seniors, $7 juniors. 9-hole—$15. Check with pro shop for morning discount offers Monday through Thursday. Notes: A semi-private course, Red Carpet features a variety of hazards that come into play on many holes. The greens are undulating and challenging, as are several of the bluegrass fairways. Built in 1920, Red Carpet features more than 30 sand bunkers.
Walters Ridge
Par: 27 Length: 765 to 1,305 yards Pro: John Bermel Assistant pro: Jacob Bermel Location: 3205 W. 12th St., Cedar Falls Phone: (319) 266-8266 Website: www.pheasantridgegolfcourse.com Rates: 9-hole—$7 adults (25-64), $6 seniors (65-over), $6 young adults (18-24), $5 per player for senior golf teams. Notes: Walter’s Ridge is a 9-hole, par-3 course adjacent to Pheasant Ridge’s 18-hole layout. It features eight sand bunkers, three ponds and large greens.
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GOLF GUIDE
No place like home for golf value Cedar Valley offers number of affordable golf options NICK PETAROS
nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com
Cart, walk, 18 holes or a quick nine, there are plenty of ways to price a round of golf. J.B. Bolger, director of golf for Waterloo Leisure Services, feels his city’s three courses offer a price point and standard of quality that’s difficult to beat. Cities throughout Eastern Iowa have invested in maintaining affordable public golf courses as a draw MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR for recreation and quality of life. “I think we’re sort of a value A crowd is gathered around the 18th green as pro golfer Alex Kim of Fullerton, Calif., sets up a putt during leader, at least that’s how we try the final round of the 2015 Waterloo Open at Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course. This annual tournament and position ourselves,” Bolger showcases Waterloo’s strong city courses that provide affordable rates throughout the golf season.
said. “Waterloo has the luxury of having three really nice courses and the city council has always been good enough to fund us appropriately where we can have top-quality courses and still keep the value affordable for the citizens.” Waterloo’s golf pricing is lower than most cities its size with rates consistent on weekdays and weekends. Walking 18 holes on Irv Warren, Gates Park or South Hills costs $23 for adults, with discounted rates of $22 for seniors, $20 for young adults and $10 for juniors. One rate that stands in a league of its own is the $10 summer pass, allowing juniors through the summer after their senior Please see VALUE, Page 5
Northeast Iowa’s Premiere Golf and Country Club
8230 Beaver Hills Drive, Cedar Falls | www.beaverhills.com Main: 319.266.1975 | Pro Shop: 319.266.9172
4 | Sunday, April 30, 2017
GOLF GUIDE
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?
Golf equipment continuing to evolve New season brings more new technology to game CLAY CUNNINGHAM
clay.cunningham@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Golfers hoping to see significant improvements to their games generally can’t afford to be frugal. With companies constantly making major advances with their equipment, those in the industry say a failure to make regular upgrades to worn out and antiquated materials can greatly hinder a player’s development. “If you’re going to let somebody’s who’s supposedly better than you have better equipment too, now you’re really in trouble,” said John Bermel, the head professional at the Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls who also serves as the men’s and women’s golf coach at Northern Iowa. And with a new season upon us, local golfers will have no shortage of options when they return to the links in 2017. One of the most popular new items in Cedar Valley stores has been the Callaway Epic Driver, which comes with two different, adjustable head models. Also making waves in the driver world is the M2 by TaylorMade. The club utilizes Geocoustic technology, which creates more distance and forgiveness without raising a golfer’s center of gravity. In the world of Irons, Mizuno has released the new model of the JPX 900, a club with an ultra-thin face and a reinforced POWERFRAME that yields a 98 percent ball speed retention. And though the sheer volume of new products hitting the shelves could potentially be overwhelming for some, another major technological growth has
helped make the upgrading process much easier. Waterloo Golf Headquarters owner Mike Schuchmann says the biggest change he’s seen in the industry in recent years has been the rise of custom fitting, which has given players an assortment of customizable options for their clubs they wouldn’t have had in the past. “Ten years ago, you’d come in and get a set of irons and we could maybe order them plusone inch, he said. “Now, it’s plus a half-inch, plus an inch, two degrees upright. You can get a weaker shaft or stronger shaft. That’s been the biggest change in our industry.” The options are so vast that when Waterloo Golf Headquarters held a fitting for Mizuno products last month, Schuchmann said 16 customers walked out with new irons and “there wasn’t one set that was exactly the same.” Pheasant Ridge has also made a point to emphasize custom fitting, which Bermel says has produced many positive results. “It’s been really helpful,” he said. “I think they see, with the right equipment, they don’t have anybody to blame but themselves (if things don’t go well).” Though keeping up with the trends tends to be costly, it can also be a necessity for players looking to take their games to the next level. And as the sport continues to evolve, Schuchmann expects the market for the newest equipment will remain strong. “This game we play, it’s difficult and it’s fickle and if there’s something out there that can get us five more yards, or a little straighter or puts more spin on the ball or whatever it is, it will help,” Schuchmann said. “It’s the game that’s always evolving and you’re always trying to find something that’s better than what you have.”
MATTHEW PUTNEY PHOTOS, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Above: Salesman Matt Swinton bends golf clubs for a custom fit for a customer at Waterloo Golf Headquarters in Waterloo March 29. Top: Mizuno has a new lineup of high-end irons available for the 2017 golf season. Left: The Callaway GBB Epic customizable driver, shown here at Waterloo Golf Headquarters in Waterloo, is one of the new clubs on the market this season.
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GOLF GUIDE
Value From 3
year of high school to play any of the city courses — as long as they tee off by noon on weekdays. It’s a deal that has been in place since the late 1980s. “I think it’s critical to have incentive packages, especially for young golfers,” Bolger said. “Golf in general has seen a demographic where it’s aging and we’re really trying to focus on backfilling with new, young golfers and hopefully they become lifelong golfers. If we can make it very, very affordable, hopefully they’ll stick with it.” A trip down I-380 to Cedar Rapids provides the most direct comparison to Waterloo’s public courses. Cedar Rapids also has three city-run courses in Ellis, Gardner and Twin Pines. An all-inclusive season pass with access to every course in Cedar Rapids runs $1,620 for a family or $999 for one adult, while Waterloo’s family rate for
access to any of the three courses is $1,200 or $800 per adult. Cedar Rapids has structured its single-round pricing with higher rates during popular times, including weekends. The weekday 18-hole walking rate at Ellis and Gardner is $23.50 for adults, $20.50 for seniors, and either $16 or $15 for juniors depending on the course. That rate jumps to $30 for adults and seniors on weekends and $18 for juniors. Twin Pines draws more seniors, beginners and juniors and has a lower price on weekends and weekdays. Another discount in Cedar Rapids’ pricing can be found during weekday afternoons where players can golf 18 holes with a cart for $30 as part of a twilight rate that kicks in at 2 p.m. “Our twilight rates have changed over the years,” said Lisa Miller, golf operations manager for Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation. “If you went back 10 years ago, that would have started at 6 o’clock. Then it was adjusted to 3, and this year we moved it to 2
COURIER FILE PHOTO
A pair of golfers head down the fairway at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course. to try and help people get 18 holes in before leagues.” Waterloo has also added a twilight rate of $25 with a cart that starts at 6 p.m., while golfers can play with a cart for $23 when teeing off by 1 p.m. during
the low-traffic days of Monday through Wednesday. Pheasant Ridge in Cedar Falls is also priced at a competitive rate with family memberships running $1,000 and adults $760. The course has a junior summer
special of $40. The 18-hole walking rates at Pheasant Ridge are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and young adults, and $13 for juniors. It’s comparable to the rates of Bunker Hill in Dubuque that charges $22 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for juniors. Miller and Bolger each feel the value of golf in their Eastern Iowa cities holds up regionally and nationally. “We have Rockwell Collins here in Cedar Rapids and they have a lot of people who come in for internships or business meetings and they’re the ones saying that our rates are hard to beat across other parts of the country for the type of golf courses they’re playing,” Miller said. Added Bolger, “Some of our golfers that winter elsewhere in the country come back here and they consistently tell us that we’ve got one of the best values around. The quality of the course is really important to us, but keeping the game affordable is also of paramount importance.”
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GOLF GUIDE
GOLF 2017: SAND BLASTING
Sand shots always a challenge in golf Special approach is required from those green-side bunkers JIM NELSON
jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com
The beach is a destination for sunbathers. It’s not such a desirable location for golfers. While metro courses aren’t riddled with sand traps, there are plenty at Irv Warren, Gates Park, Red Carpet, Pheasant Ridge and South Hills where golfers can find trouble on the beach. More than 90 percent of the bunkers in the metro area are those of the green-side variety. “The only shot in golf you don’t hit the ball,” Irv Warren pro Andy Devine says. Common tips for playing out of the sand have the golfer place the ball forward in their stance and favor the front foot, while hovering the club about three inches behind the ball. Then, tilt
COURIER FILE PHOTOS
Above: Former Nashua-Plainfield High School standout Sarah McMichael hits out of a bunker during the 2015 girls’ state tournament at Ames Golf and Country Club. Right: Nic Rizer gets his ball out of a sand trap at Gates Park during the 2013 the shaft of the club away from Waterloo Open Amateur Division. the target to open the face of the club and have a shorter follow-through while maintaining the same speed of the swing. By opening the club face, a golfer takes advantage of the bounce feature on the bottom of his or her sand wedge. “You hit the sand, the sand displaces the ball and throws it out,” Devine continued. “Some people try to lift it out of the bunker, drop down and hit either way behind it or in the middle of the ball. The idea is to have a very steep swing into the sand and then follow through.” Devine says the reason for placing the ball forward in your stance allows for a steeper swing. The farther back a golfer places the ball in his stance makes for a shallower swing and it catches the ball on the swing. “That is not what you are looking for,” Devine explains. Let the sand do the work and Please see SAND, Page 8
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GOLF GUIDE
GOLF 2017: THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
Short game is key to improving scores Most important shots are usually from 100 yards in JIM NELSON
jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com
The golf saying goes, “you drive for show, and putt for dough.” However, before a golfer can ever “putt for dough,” he or she must be able to get to the green in regulation. That means having a solid short game. Working on short game skills is the last thing golfers want to hear when taking lessons,
says South Hills golf pro Monte Meyer. “I encourage practicing the short game and it is typically not what they want to hear,” Meyer said. “But a lot of people who take lessons with me sign up for unlimited lessons which allows them to work with me whenever they want and that allows me to force practicing the short game on them more,” added Meyer with a laugh. Many area pros say if a golfer who wants to improve his or her game, especially the short game, go watch the pros — and not on the weekend. Area pros will tell
you to go on Monday and Tuesday when the PGA’s best are really at work. According to a Golf Digest article, tour pros spend about four hours a day concentrating on their full swing and an equal amount of time working on their short game. During those times, the tour pros use devices to check their alignment, ball positioning and putting path. Another part of that story is about Nick Faldo, who replicated entire rounds on the practice tee never hitting the same club twice in succession as he mentally and Please see SHORT GAME, Page 8
3205 W 12th St. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 (319) 266-8266
Plan your 2017 Golf Outings__Take time NOW to schedule your corporate or group golf outings for the 2017 golf season. The Pheasant Ridge Golf staff will be happy to assist you in setting up a full-service outing at either of the two Cedar Falls municipal courses. The pro shop staff can provide assistance with scheduling your event and other tournament services such as meals, prizes, package deals, and other specials. Golf outings are an excellent social gathering for your organization, group or business. If your are interested in setting up a golf outing or tournament this season. Call the Pheasant Ridge Pro Shop at 266-8266 and Golf Professional John Bermel or a member of his staff can assist you.
COURIER FILE PHOTO
Brad Marek hits onto the third green during the 2015 Waterloo Open.
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GOLF GUIDE
Short game From 7
physically prepared for every shot he’d potentially face on the course. Northern Iowa men’s and women’s coach and Pheasant Ridge pro John Bermel says that is how a typical UNI practice unfolds. Bermel typically puts his golfers through a long workout
Sand From 6
don’t try to pick the ball out of the sand from those green-side bunkers, adds Gates Park pro Nate Lubs. “If a golfer tries to pick it out the sand ... that usually doesn’t work,” Lubs said. “You have to convince yourself it is okay to hit behind the ball, probably three
on the range during practice time and drivers are forbidden during practice. “We have two- and threehour practices and we practice what is most important, the short game,” Bermel said. “All we work on during practice is our short game. I tell them if they want to hit driver or long irons they can do that after practice.” A lot of golfers struggle with shots from 100-125 yards from
the green. From the website Golf State of Mind, a simple drill at the driving range to work on becoming more consistent from this distance involves using all of your wedges twice from two different distances. For instance, start at 125 yards and hit one ball to a target and then move forward 10 yards and hit the same club to the same target. Then move 10 yards closer
and change to whatever club you hit from that distance, hit it once and then move 10 yards forward and hit the same club the same distance. By the time a golfer finishes the drill, he or she will using their third different club and hitting from 75 yards to the same target. Another drill from Golf State of Mind has a golfer dropping 20 balls around a practice green at different locations and different
lies. For each shot, the golfer must go through their normal routine and imagine they are playing a round of golf. Chip, and if the ball is outside gimme range of two feet, putt the ball to finish your up and down. Then repeat the process 20 times. “Short game is a lot of work and it is not as fun as practicing hitting your driver,” Meyer adds. “But it is such a huge part of the game.”
inches behind the ball, and let the sand take the ball out of the bunker. “So we tell our golfers to put the ball forward in their stance, open the face of the club to get loft and thirdly, let the club swing outside-in.” As far as fairway bunkers, which number fewer in the metro, Lubs says a golfer needs to have a much better base so he or she is not sliding around.
“I’m trying to pick it out of the fairway bunker,” says Lubs. “I concentrate on having a strong base, which keeps my lower body from being too active.” Swinging in a fairway bunker compared to swinging out of the fairway are two different swings. Legendary golf swing coach Butch Harmon wrote in Golf Digest that if a golfer drives down on his or her downswing, like regular shots from grass, that
individual will sink in the sand and hit behind the ball. What Harmon advises is standing tall in the fairway bunker and swinging easier with less leg action, like Lubs also describes. That allows golfers to pick the ball off the top of the sand instead of driving down into it. Lubs adds there are all kinds of new types of sand wedges with different grinds put into the face of the club that create less
or more bounce. “That is what all those new wedges are about ... they are about the bounce,” Lubs said. The common advice on what type of bounce a golfer needs depends on the type of course he or she is playing. For tight lies, hard turf and firm bunkers most say use a wedge with a low bounce, like 8 degrees, while soft turf, fluffly lies and soft sand call for more bounce, like 12 degrees.
La Porte City GoLf CLub 2017 Tournament Schedule Saturday, May 13 Friday, June 2 Saturday, June 3 Saturday, June 10 Saturday, June 17 Saturday, June 24 Saturday July 8 Friday July 14 Saturday July 22 Saturday, July 29 Friday, August 4 Wednesday August 9 Saturday, August 12 Saturday, August 19 Saturday, August 26 Saturday, September 9 Saturday, October 14
2-Person Best Shot, $25 per person 40+ 2-Person Best Shot, $25 per person Moose Lodge 4-Person Best Shot Tournament, $30 per person Buck and Haley Memorial 4-Person Best Shot, $30 per person Festival of Trails Tournament, advance sign-up $30 per person, $35 day of 3 Couple Best Shot, $40 per couple Davis and Bearbower Memorial 4-Person Best Shot, $30 per person 2-Person Best Shot, $25 per person 3-Man Best Shot, $30 per man Bader Memorial Tournament 4-Person Best Shot, $30 per person 40+ 2-Person Best Shot, $25 per person 3-Lady Best Shot, $30 per lady (includes meal) Mens Club Championship 2-Couple Best Shot, $40 per couple 4-Person Best Shot, $25 per person Dew Drop Bar Tournament Chili Scramble 4-Person Best Shot (8” Cup), $25 per person
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Each holiday (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day) there is a throw together best shot tournament. 9AM Men’s, 1PM Couples. All are shotgun format. Call ahead for cart rental. No trail fees. Club sponsored tournaments pay back 70% of entry fee. Outside event payouts are determined by the tournament sponsors.
9699 Bishop Rd. La Porte City, IA 319.342.2249 Email lpcgc@gmail.com to reserve the Ball Room for weddings or parties!
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GOLF GUIDE
GOLF 2017: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Structure a key to productive practice Pros say goals important, but so is making it fun DOUG NEWHOFF
doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Local golf pros have some simple advice for players who want to lower their scores. Plan your practice and practice your plan. There’s more to improving your swing or making the tough shots than grabbing a bucket of balls and whacking them around the driving range. “Playing golf is a fun sport, but everybody wants to improve,” says Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course professional Andy
Devine. “It’s very tough to try to improve out on the golf course. “That’s what the practice range and the practice green are for. That’s what instructors are for to try to help your game so when you do practice, you practice correctly.” Former Iowa State standout and current Sunnyside Country Club pro Nathan Leary of Waterloo suggests giving practice time some structure. “The biggest thing is just having a set plan for what you’re trying to accomplish that day,” Leary explains. “If you’re trying to work on distance control or trying to work on ball striking, have an actual plan instead of just going out there and rapid firing golf balls on the practice range.” Even basic fundamentals of
the game, such as ball striking, can be better achieved with a specific goal in mind. “It’s like when a little kid learns how to crawl and then they learn to walk and they they learn to run,” says Leary. “It’s the same thing with golf. Learn to hit a quarter-shot solid and straight. Then work until you can hit a half-shot solid and straight and then move on to hitting a whole shot solid and straight.” Of course, no two golfers are the same. What works for one golfer may not work for another. Practice can also be a reflection of that fact. “There is no perfect shot,” says Devine. “There are a lot of ways to do the same thing. Some
COURIER FILE PHOTO
Chuck Carda putts on a practice green at Pleasant Ridge Golf Course Please see PRACTICE, Page 10 last summer.
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10 | Sunday, April 30, 2017
Practice From 9
people are very comfortable using wedges to throw the ball onto the green and get it close to the hole. Some are comfortable hitting a longer iron and running it up onto the green to get it close. “I think it’s important to find what’s comfortable and focus on that. A lot of people take drivers out on the first tee. Then they top it or slice it. Then they take a 5-wood out and just smash it. Why didn’t they do that on the tee? They’ll say, ‘Well, you’re not supposed to.” “The object is to hit what works for you.” Both Leary and Devine point out that working on the short game will pay the greatest dividends on the scorecard. “The really good players have practiced a lot somewhere in life,” notes Devine. “They’ve practiced their short game and 100 yards
GOLF GUIDE
in a lot. the game is 100 yards in, and that’s where the better players spend a lot of their time.” “That’s where a lot of our golfers tend to miss out on some shots — once they get inside that 100-yard area,” adds Leary. “When it comes to practice habits, 80 percent of practice should be on and around the putting green. That’s where you stand to gain the most shots. “Ask any tour player or high professional, and they’ll tell you they spend the majority of their practice on the putting green. The range is just a place to warm up.” Of course, most amateur golfers are still going to grab that occasional bucket of balls and head to the practice range with nothing more than a driver and maybe a couple of fairway woods. Even on those days, there are ways to break down the practice to make it more productive. “It’s not just about hitting it long and dead straight,” says
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Leary. “That’s a shot you’re only going to see a couple of times a round. It’s also about visualizing other shots you know you’re going to see on a golf course so when you tee it up you’ve already played it out in your head.” Leary has one other suggestion for practice time — make it fun or even make it competitive. “There are a lot of different kinds of competitions or games where you can put something on the line,” he explains. “At least in college, it was more or less who was buying dinner that night. “You can play an elimination putting game or closest to the pin. We even had practice where if you missed the fairway, you had to run out and get your ball and run back and hit it again. You could be out there forever. You can play a game where you COURIER FILE PHOTO make one side of the course out One way golfers can work on their games year-round is by using a of bounds for the day. simulator like the one being tested here by South Hills professional “There are a lot of ways to Monte Meyer. make practice fun.”
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GOLF GUIDE
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12 | Sunday, April 30, 2017
GOLF GUIDE
GOLF 2017: THE NUMBERS GAME
Decline of youth numbers a concern High school girls’ golf numbers are down nearly 20 percent NICK PETAROS
nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Kelly Nelson followed a typical path to the golf course. The Waterloo West girls’ golf coach tagged along with her parents when they played a round in her hometown of Jewell. She picked up the game by age eight, and the local course quickly became a familiar summer destination. “Throughout my childhood during the summers, my parents would drop me off at the course and pick me up later whenever I was done,” Nelson recalls. “I
played as many holes as I could in a day.” Golf has remained a passion for Nelson, who became a walk-on member of the UNI women’s team. She still competes in a local league and travels to state amateur tournaments during the summer. In recent years, however, Nelson has noticed fewer girls gravitating toward the sport. While Waterloo West ranks 12th among all schools in the state’s BEDS enrollment used for classification, the girls’ golf team has seen numbers decline by approximately three on an annual basis with participation from 24 a handful of years ago to six for this upcoming season. Half of that group consists of seniors. West isn’t alone. According to data supplied to
the National Federation of High Schools, participation among Iowa high school girls has declined by 19.7 percent (3,742 to 3,003) from 2006 to 2016. The number of Iowa boys out for high school golf has dropped by 20.5 percent (6,543 to 5,203) over that same time period. Just 36.6 percent of all Iowa high school golf participants are female, a ratio that is lower than spring sports such as soccer, track and tennis. Lisa Brinkmeyer, golf administrator for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, points to increased options for girls during the spring and summer months as a factor that has contributed JIM NELSON, COURIER SPORTS WRITER to the decline in participation. “It used to be in the towns Cedar Falls High’s Hannah Bermel chips onto the green during the where there’s a golf course that 2015 state golf tournament in Marshalltown. While Bermel is part of a strong program at Cedar Falls, overall participation on a statewide and Please see YOUTH, Page 13 local level has declined dramatically.
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Two PerSon BeST ShoT – 50 and over 8:00 AM Shotgun; Cost is $25.00 per person Includes green fee, cart, lunch and drink Every Tuesday of the month To register call the golf shop 319-989-2213
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Come and enjoy some craft beer from Broad Street Brewing Co. from Reinbeck, IA! IN THE GREENS BEST
Y! CEDAR VALLE
Sunday, April 30, 2017 | 13
GOLF GUIDE
GOLF 2017: BUSINESS AND PLEASURE
Golf mixes business with pleasure From corporate to fund-raisers, links a valuable medium NICK PETAROS
nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com
While many golfers dedicate hours in isolation on a driving range or practice green working to perfect their craft, there’s also a social side of the sport that can serve as a business tool or reliable fund-raising option. When Waterloo Golf Headquarters owner Mike Schuchmann was looking to branch into the real-estate business, he found the golf course served as a good location to foster relationships. BCS Properties LLC is a successful partnership of Schuchmann, Brent Dahlstrom and George Cooley that began on Sunnyside’s golf course. “When you’re golfing, I think your true emotions come out,” Schuchmann said. “It’s a great tool to be your true self and not behind a closed door where it’s all business.
Youth From 12
was one of the primary things kids did,” Brinkmeyer said. “They played softball or golf during the summer. Maybe they had a pool, as well, but the golf course was an integral part of a lot of these kids’ lives. “Now that there’s a lot of options for the kids, we feel that has pulled some of them away from the golf course and spending time out there in the summer.” Expense of equipment and access to a course are other hurdles that must be overcome. The Cedar Valley, however, has a long-standing tradition of embracing junior golf. A
“When you’re with someone in a golf cart for five hours you’re seeing all the characteristics of that person, their emotions, what’s going on. You can really read a person and tell a lot about their character in 18 holes.” Schuchmann isn’t the only member of his family who has combined golf and business networking. His sister works for KONE Elevators and Escalators in Kansas City and often finds herself attending golf outings. “She mentioned that she was so glad she played in high school because it’s opened so many doors of business,” Schuchmann said. While Beaver Hills golf professional Brad Clark says business meetings aren’t as prevalent as they used to be, it’s not uncommon to see business professionals together on the course. “I think it’s just the nature of it,” Clark said, addressing golf as a potential business tool. “You’re typically riding in a cart and can have beverages. It’s more of a social atmosphere. “You’re out in the outdoors,
but you’re not running or doing something that’s exerting too much energy. I think it’s laid back and it’s just the nature of the game itself.” That relaxed environment is part of the draw for various charitable individuals and organizations that use golf as a popular way to raise funds. Irv Warren
golf pro Andy Devine frequently hosts various fund-raisers on his course. The most popular fund-raising format is a four-person best shot with participants hopping into golf carts and utilizing a shotgun start where they begin play at the same time on different holes.
“They can get 144 people together all doing the same thing,” Devine said, addressing what makes golf such an effective fund-raising tool. “Once they get on the golf course, they’re with each other for hours. The camaraderie, it gives them a chance to get to know other people and explain where the money is going and why.” Best-shots tend to be a way for casual and experienced golfers to each find enjoyment. “You certainly don’t want to embarrass anybody by getting them out there and having them shoot each shot,” Devine said. “You want everybody to be comfortable because you’re entertaining.” The Irv Warren pro feels golfers in general tend to be charitable individuals. “They want to be active in their communities,” Devine said. “We have a lot of different events and I see a lot of the same people playing those events. You have a company or person that’s very benevolent and very generous.”
one-time payment of $10 gives youth access to any of the city courses in Waterloo on weekday mornings throughout the summer. Organizations such as the Waterloo Junior Golf Association and Swingers Golf Club junior program provide quality instruction from a young age. Cedar Falls has also developed a strong youth program with Pheasant Ridge golf pro John Bermel among the individuals taking time to invest in the future. “John Bermel has created an incredible junior golf program,” Cedar Falls girls’ golf coach Megan Youngkent said. “If there’s a junior that wants to learn how to golf, he takes so much pride in teaching them. ... It’s got to be one of his favorite things to do.
I’ve never seen him without a smile on his face when working with young kids.” Youngkent’s Tigers won Class 5A’s state championship last spring and her numbers have remained stable, if not increased in recent years, breaking the statewide trend. “I really credit it to the girls,” Youngkent said. “They set a precedent to work hard and be successful, but they’ve had a lot of fun while they’re doing that.” While some variables leading to lower participation can’t be controlled, leaders in the golf community continue to search for ways to grow the game both statewide and locally. Last year, the boys’ association and girls’ union allowed seventh- and eighth-graders
to practice with high school golf teams. “Golf is one of those sports that we thought would be greatly impacted by this because there’s lots of schools that don’t have junior high programs,” Brinkmeyer said. “I know the girls that I have on my team are very open to that because they don’t want to see the sport die,” Nelson added. “They realize we’ve got to get some of those seventh- and eighth-graders to be a part of it, too.” Brinkmeyer said a study is underway looking at the entire calendar to determine if a change in the length or time of the season could improve numbers. Boys in Iowa’s largest class golf during the fall, while
the three smallest classes play in the spring. The girls’ golf advisory committee has steered away from fall in the past, fearing numbers would suffer if the sport ran the same season as volleyball — the state’s most popular girls’ sport. While golf can test a kid’s patience, the individual challenge and bonds created through learning a lifelong sport can be carried into the business world and provide lasting friendships. “I’m still very good friends with many of the girls that I played with and some of the opponents that I played against,” Nelson said. “I just think that opportunity to meet different people from different high school backgrounds and cities is really awesome.”
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Wanda Green tees off during the American Cancer Society Pink Ribbon Golf Classic at Sunnyside Country Club. The event is one of many that uses a best-shot format.
14 | Sunday, April 30, 2017
GOLF GUIDE
GOLF 2017: MEMORY CORNER
Local pros share favorite golf memories John Bermel once played a round with Arnold Palmer JIM NELSON
jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — There isn’t a golfer out there who doesn’t have a great story to tell about the greatest round they’ve ever played or witnessed. Those who were there no doubt remember the 2011 Iowa Women’s State Amateur July 26-27 at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo. On the 26th, Iowa State golfer Kristin Paulson closed with six consecutive birdies to shoot a state amateur record 63. The next morning Paulson,
now the assistant women’s golf coach at North Carolina State, opened her final round birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, meaning she had played 10 consecutive holes at 11-under. “I talked to my coach last night and said I was a little nervous, and she told me, ‘You have a birdie streak going, so just keep it going,’” Paulson said with a laugh after she wrapped up a 10-stroke victory. Paulson finished with a 2-under 70 in the final round, but her 54-hole tournament score of 14-under 202 remains a state record. Here are some other favorite shots, rounds and tournaments from the golf pros around the metro area:
MONTE MEYER (SOUTH HILLS) 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach where Tiger Woods won by 15 strokes — “Just the way he dominated. It was windy and nobody could keep the ball on the course and he just kept on making birdies. Not that he needed it, but it solidified he was the best player at that time in the game.” 1988 Waterloo Open, Skip Holton win’s first Waterloo Open title — “He topped his drive on 17 (hole 8 for normal rounds, but during the Waterloo Open the front and back nines are switched), barely got it into the air and it rolled up onto the green and he went on to win. That was memorable.” ANDY DEVINE (IRV WARREN): 1968 Western Open at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago where Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer were dueling for the championship — “One of the greatest shots I’ve ever seen was at Olympia Fields and they had a kidney-shaped green,” Devine recalled. “The
pin was back right and Arnold Palmer was short right so he had to kind of go over a bunker to get to the hole. He was on the green, took out a sand wedge, hit it over the bunker about a foot from the hole. Nicklaus just stood there and shook his head and smiled. One of the greatest shots I’ve ever seen.” JOHN BERMEL (PHEASANT RIDGE) 1994, when Bermel’s brother, Jamie, then the Drake golf coach, found John a partner for a practice round at the very first PGA Championship Bermel played in at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla. — “I was on the range hitting balls and Jamie, who was caddying for me, goes to find us somebody to play a practice round. He runs into another club pro who is introducing himself to Arnold Palmer,” Bermel said. “The story turns to Palmer looking for a partner, and he says, ‘Go find two more’ and Jamie stepped up and said, ‘We will play.’ “He comes back, and I ask who we are playing with and he says, ‘Arnold Palmer,’
and I’m like, ‘Yeah, right.” So we go up to the first tee and I’m introducing myself to the other club pro, and he says, ‘Isn’t this going to be great.’ Then there is a big commotion and here comes a big gallery with Arnold Palmer. “The most unbelievable experience I’ve had.” 1996, Bermel was playing in the Club-Pro Championship at the PGA West Course in Palm Springs, when he needed to come up big to make the cut — “It was a four-round tournament and they made a cut each day. It was 1-under after the first round, 2-under after the second and 3-under after round 3,” Bermel said. “So I’m sitting at 6-under on day three at the turn and before you know it I’m even headed to the par 3 17th. So I’m thinking I need birdie, eagle, 18 was a par 5, to make the cut. I’m last to hit and the first two guys land near the pin and spin off the green. So I figure I need more club, and I proceed to one-hop it in for a hole-in-one and birdie 18 to finish 3-under and I make the cut.”
New for 2017: Forward Tee Box for amateurs competing in the Senior (50+) only division. Space will be limited. Sign up early!
Jaycees’ Waterloo Open Join us for the 84th Annual CedarthValley rd July 20 -23
The Pro/Sponsor event will be held on Thursday at Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course at Byrnes Park. This event consists of approximately 60 teams. Each team includes one professional and four sponsor players. Winning teams in each flight will be awarded with gift certificates to the Irv Warren Memorial Pro Shop, professionals are awarded cash prizes. The amateur tournament, which begins Friday, July 21st, showcases all three of Waterloo’s public courses. All participants play a qualifying round at Gates Park Golf Course and South Hills Golf Course on Friday and Saturday. Those that make the cut will play on Sunday with their professional counterparts at Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course; amateurs
are awarded gift certificates to one of the three local pro shops. This year’s tournament will also feature a forward tee box for those competing in the Senior only division of the amateur tournament. The professional tournament will be a three day event starting on Friday, July 21st. 180 professional golfers from around the world will tee it up with their sights set on the first place prize. Competitors will either play Friday morning/Saturday afternoon or Friday afternoon/Saturday morning. For more information or to register please visit www.WaterlooOpen.com or contact the Cedar Valley Jaycees at info@waterloojaycees.org
The Jaycees wish to thank the Molinaro Family for their generous financial support of the Waterloo Open.
Sunday, April 30, 2017 | 15
GOLF GUIDE
GOLF 2017: WATERLOO OPEN
Waterloo Open stands test of time Local golf tournament still growing after 83 years CLAY CUNNINGHAM
Clay.Cunningham@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — With all the meticulous planning that goes into the annual Waterloo Open Golf Classic, it seems reasonable to think those handling the preparations would want to put the tournament out of their minds for awhile once the year’s festivities end. Generally though, organizers of the event say this is not a luxury they are afforded. “As soon as the tournament ended last year, we already had inquiries about when it was going to be the following year,” Open co-chair Jordan Alborn said. “Whether it’s a pro or a sponsor, they’re thinking about next year’s tournament almost instantly ... sometimes before the current one’s even over.” And while planning such a tournament does cut into their down time, the Waterloo Jaycees, the group tasked with organizing it, say it’s exciting to work on an event that draws such passionate interest from the local community. And as time has passed, the popularity of the Open, now well into its eighth decade of existence, has shown no signs of dwindling. The scope of today’s Open, the biggest and longest-running event of its kind in the state, would likely be a shock to anyone who played the inaugural tournament back in 1934. Originally known as the Northeastern Iowa Open (it was renamed the Waterloo Open the following year), the first tournament featured 71 golfers, with just six playing from the professional ranks. For their efforts, co-champion profes-
sionals Vic Bass and Howard Martin received $50 while Dick Graham, the top finishing amateur, was awarded a trophy and merchandise. While rules prohibit amateurs from earning a big payday, the level of compensation for professionals has increased astronomically. In 2016, Jaycee officials say they paid out roughly $192,000 in total winnings, and this year’s sum is expected to be in the same range. Based on early projections, roughly 180 professionals will compete for the top prize of $50,000, while a player who makes the cut and finishes last will walk away with “anywhere from $1,100 to $1,400,” according to tournament co-chair Jim Miller. “For the size of the tournament, for the entry fee ($1,000), there’s nowhere else that we know of where you can go and make $50,000 in a three-day span,” Alborn said. While the big payday certainly helps, the tournament’s prestige has also been boosted by an impressive list of former competitors who played the Open either before or following impressive professional careers. Jerry Barber, the 1961 PGA Player of the Year, won Waterloo Open professional titles in 1951 and ‘52, while the 1977 tournament featured Tommy Aaron, who came to Waterloo four years after winning the Masters. Past fields have also included the likes of Jack Fleck, the 1953 Open runner-up who won the U.S. Open in 1955, and Tom Lehman, who won the 1996 Open Championship 10 years after placing first in Waterloo. And though their compensation is far lower (Miller says they’ll receive gift certificates ranging from $250 to $600 in value), the Open can provide a great opportunity for amateur players to increase their profile.
COURIER FILE PHOTO
Alex Higgs watches his putt during the final round of the Waterloo Open Amateur Division last summer at Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course. For years, the Waterloo Open has proven to be a good stepping stone for players who went on to have lengthy professional careers, such as Jack Rule Jr., the 1958 and ‘59 amateur champ who eventually earned two wins on the PGA Tour. Rule, Jr., a 1963 Iowa Golf Hall of Fame inductee, is the only player to win the Waterloo Open amateur, professional (1969 and 74) and senior (1990 and 96) titles.
Doug Dunakey, who at just 13 earned a top-25 finish in the 1977 amateur field, won the 1981 amateur championship, then went on to play professionally for 17 years, including an extended stint on the PGA Tour. For amateurs hoping to take the next step in their development, Alborn says there’s no better way to do so than competing with players who’ve reached heights they’re hoping to reach.
“It’s a great chance to put your skills out there and see how they stack up,” he said. “It’s unlike any other best-shot tournament they can play because you get to play with and get tips from actual professional golfers.” This year’s amateur field will also include a senior division, which Miller hopes will attract up to 40 players. The senior professional tournament was cancelled after 2014 when Miller says just three players signed up, forcing officials to pull money from other areas to meet all payouts. The tournament, which is officially known as The Greater Cedar Valley Jaycees’ Waterloo Open, is a flagship event for the Jaycees, who took it over in 1937 and quickly turned a fledgling tournament into a community staple. Miller, who played in the amateur field in 2004, has seen the tournament from all angles and knows just how seriously it’s taken by players, organizers and fans. And seeing how important it is to so many people, he and fellow organizers have no plans to take their foot off the throttle. “There’s been a lot of Jaycees well before us that have a lot of pride in this tournament,” said Miller, who joined the Jaycees with Alborn in 2008. “It’s going to be important for us to keep it going and continue to help the community by making it a success.” Registration for the 2017 tourney is open until July 1. Tee times for the first two days will be posted July 5. Festivities kick off July 20 with a Pro/Sponsor Tournament at 7 a.m., a long drive contest at 7 p.m. and an honoree ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tournament play runs from July 21-23. Pros will tee off at Irv Warren Golf Course, while amateur play will split between Gates Park and South Hills.
16 | Sunday, April 30, 2017
GOLF GUIDE
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