chicago district golfer - nov. 2010

NOVEMBER 2010 | $2.95 WWW.CDGA.ORG LIVING LEGENDErrie Ball, a noteworthy fi gurein Chicago golf, turns 100

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECTChad Johansen has a creation aimed to help your putting

WINTER TRAVELOur list of fi ve great destinations to consider

when planning your next golf getaway

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4 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER WWW.CDGA.ORG

GUEST ESSAY By Cindy Cooper

Comments are solely the opinion of the author and not necessarily those of the CDGA. Letters and opinions are welcome at [email protected].

The USGA Handicap System is constantly evolving to ensure that each golf club member has a Handicap Index

that is accurate and up to date.One recent change to the 2008-

2011 USGA Handicap System enables a golf association to provide a handicap revision during an inactive season. The revision of Nov. 15, 2010, will mark the fi rst offseason revision by the Chicago District Golf Association, and is the precursor to the adoption of a National Revision Schedule, which becomes a mandatory part of the 2012-2015 USGA Handicap System.

Effective Jan. 1, 2012, each Handicap Index for all golf clubs nationwide will be revised with an effective date of the fi rst and 15th day of each month. This requirement will apply regardless of whether an authorized golf association observes an inactive season for score posting purposes.

What does this mean? Perhaps you would be interested in the background and progression of the upcoming change.

Prior to 2006, a Handicap Index would not change during the inactive season. In 2006 and 2007, a few golf associations tested a procedure for having revisions scheduled during the inactive season. The test program went very well and enabled the USGA to incorporate a new clause into the 2008-2011 USGA Handicap System. This allowed golf associations that observe an inactive season to set revision dates during that inactive season; the update noted that revisions cannot be more frequent than once every two weeks.

For example, on an inactive season

that extends from Nov. 1 until April 1, the CDGA has set its revision schedule to include Nov. 15, Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 as revision dates for the remainder of 2010. This may not be a matter of concern if players hang up their clubs after Labor Day and don’t play again until Memorial Day. It also would not make a difference if one plays in the Chicago area on a frosty November day. Section 5-1f of the USGA Handicap System states such scores are not acceptable for posting when made in an area operating in an inactive season.

However, this will be a major improvement for those who are able to play in an area operating in an active season during this time. According to Section 6-2 of the USGA Handicap System manual, “Scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes, even if the golf club from which the player receives a Handicap Index is observing an inactive season.” So while a Chicago-area golfer would not previously have posted scores from a December vacation in Florida, that now changes and those scores would be posted and the player’s Handicap Index updated.

An extreme example might be someone who ventures to Arizona for the winter. They may post more than 20 scores during the winter, yet in the past their Handicap Index would still not change until April 1.

This major change for the USGA Handicap System is a result of more and more players from northern states operating in an inactive season visiting states operating in an active season. Some of these players were playing a lot of golf, but had no desire to join a new club while in

the southern states. Although they were using the Internet to turn in their scores, their Handicap Index was not current with the most recent scores posted. If these players were playing in a tournament, they would be playing with an inaccurate Handicap Index and may have had an unfair advantage. The addition of the offseason revision eliminates this concern and ensures the Handicap Index properly refl ects the player’s potential based on the most recent 20 scores.

There are many reasons for this change in the revision schedule. However, the primary objective is to create a standard schedule with revisions effective on the same dates every month for everyone everywhere. This will enable clubs and players, especially those who are members of more than one association, to know when there is a potential change in a Handicap Index to be used for a competition. Many golf associations, like the CDGA, have already embraced the new revision schedule prior to its introduction in 2012.

A current listing of state-by-state revision schedules and inactive seasons can be viewed on the USGA website.

Cindy Cooper is Assistant Manager, Handicapping and Club Licensing, for the United States Golf Association.

Staying active

Cindy Cooper

A recent change in the system allows a player to keep a handicap up to date on a year-round basis

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Customized Knee Replacement, now available at Ingalls Advanced Orthopedic Institute, takes advantage of high-level computer imaging and guidance technologies to provide incredibly precise knee joint alignment. You’ll spend less time in the hospital, have far less post-operative pain, a smaller scar and greatly reduced chances of infection. The fact is, you’ll be back with a driver in hand in about half the time of traditional methods.

Dr. Nikkel has monthly FREE seminars scheduled in convenient community locations. Call 800.221.2199 for the complete schedule.

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Dr. Mark Nikkel was the first specialist in the Southland area to perform this amazing procedure, and he’s done it more times than any surgeon in Illinois.

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Features16 A WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCEBy Greg StewartDuring the week of the BMW Championship, a small group of tour players took time out to make it a special day for a group of Sunshine Through Golf Foundation participants.

28 MERIT BADGESBy Tim CroninThe races for Players of the Year were close except where Dave Ryan ran away with the senior honor.

44 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDEThe holiday season is just around the corner. Here are a few suggestions to add to your shopping list.

46 LIVING LEGENDBy Ed ShermanThe writer recalls the life and times of Errie Ball, a longtime fixture as a head professional in the Chicago area who also played in the first Masters.

48 FIRST AIDBy Jim OwczarskiHaving created what he believes is a valuable teaching aid, Chad Johansen’s next goal is a widespread awareness of the device.

44

46

16

COVER: Pelican Hill (courtesy Pelican Hill) CONTENTS (clockwise, from top): Cleatskins golf shoe covers (courtesy Cleatskins Golf); a letter from Bob Jones (courtesy Errie Ball); Play With A Pro Day (Frank Polich/CDGA).

DepartmentsGUEST ESSAYCindy Cooper, USGA Handicapping Dept. . . . . . . . 4

AROUND THE CDGAFit for Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Club Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Aces in the Crowd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

DESTINATIONFive top choices for a golf getaway: Southern California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Austin, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22South Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

CLUB CHAMPIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

NOVEMBER 2010 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER | 7

The listing of the CDGA professional staff is available at www.cdga.org.

CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATIONFOR EVERYONE WHO PLAYS THE GAME

Midwest Golf House | 11855 Archer Ave. | Lemont, IL 60439 | 630-257-2005 | Fax 630-257-2088 | www.cdga.org

PRESIDENTMatthew L. Pekarek, Village Links of Glen Ellyn

FIRST VICE PRESIDENTKeith Frankland, Village Greens of Woodridge

SECOND VICE PRESIDENTDavid Haverick, Glen Flora CC

VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGEJames B. Madison, M.D.,Illini CC

VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGEChristine L. Stevens, Cress Creek CC

SECRETARYAlan J. Hunken, Bob O’Link GC

TREASURERMichael J. Grandinetti, Calumet CC

GENERAL COUNSELSheldon Solow, Briarwood CC

EX-OFFICIOJerry Williams, Olympia Fields CC

Thomas Allison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beverly CC

Steven S. Birky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danville CC

William R. Buecking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Large

C. Daniel Cochran. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Biltmore CC

Frank D’Ambra, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Biltmore CC

David A. Esler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Black Sheep GC

Charles E. Hodgson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arrowhead CC

Gerald R. Hodgson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pekin CC

Nick Mokelke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cog Hill G & CC

Mike Nass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cantigny Golf

Dennis A. Reed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pekin CC

Thomas H. Roth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inverness GC

Don Schwarz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prestwick CC

Lawrence W. Schweik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bartlett Hills GC

Lorraine Scodro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Midlothian CC

Philip Shannabarger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Den at Fox Creek

Gerald Skoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cog Hill G & CC

Rebecca A. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet Hills GC

A. Glenn Stith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arrowhead GC

Robert J. Stracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Northmoor CC

Marianne Zito. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stonebridge CC

OFFICERS

GOVERNORS

DIRECTORS

Robert E. Allgyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shoreacres

Richard Andre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ridge CC

Thomas R. Artz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sportsman’s CC

Guy Arvia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exmoor CC

Randy Becker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Winnetka CC

Daniel M. Blouin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Greens of Woodridge

Andrew Boling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chicago GC

Mary Burgland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soangetaha CC

Michael Camino. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conway Farms GC

Gordon L. Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruth Lake CC

Frank Charhut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wilmette GC

Steven L. Cherveny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Foxford Hills GC

John A. Childers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elgin CC

Michael J. Choate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Shore CC

Michael E. Clark, D.P.M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CC of Decatur

Edward Clissold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westmoreland CC

Henry Close . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aldeen GC

David Crockett. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Large

Guy Crucil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Medinah CC

Robert J. Cunningham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indian Hill Club

Ronald Davidson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Makray Memorial GC

Anthony DeMarco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olympia Fields CC

Michael J. Dickman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calumet CC

Robert Dutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timber Creek CC

Jeffrey D. Echt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lake Shore CC

Richard Estlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terrace Hill GC

William Finn, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riverside GC

Michael Forde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Butler National GC

Larry Fulgenzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Old Wayne GC

Mary Garrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Winnetka GC

Thomas A. Gilley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flossmoor CC

Kevin Gratkowski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lost Dunes

Roger D. Greer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Skokie CC

Michael Griem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exmoor CC

Howard Haberkorn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boulder Ridge CC

James J. Hager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lake Barrington Shores GC

Thomas J. Haggerty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Butterfi eld CC

J. Loren Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Blackstone GC

Eugene N. Halladay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hinsdale GC

John L. Hammond, II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evanston GC

John Henderson, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CC of Peoria

Robert Hinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Panther Creek CC

Edward J. Hockfi eld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hillcrest CC

John C. Hoelscher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WeaverRidge GC

Betty Kaufmann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Knollwood Club

Peter Keffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aldeen GC

Karl Keller, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kankakee Elks GC

Jack Kieckhefer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mauh-Nah-Tee-See CC

William Kingore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beverly CC

Gary B. Koch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Large

Bill Koeneman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Large

Daniel R. Krpan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boulder Ridge CC

Laurence J. LaBoda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kemper Lakes CC

Josh Lesnik. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Glen Club

Gregory Liebovich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Foot CC

R. Scott Malmgren. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Oak CC

Christopher R. McClear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Large

Richard McCombs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oak Park CC

Elston Mitchell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pontiac Elks CC

David Mortell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Balmoral Woods CC

Thomas E. Mott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rockford CC

Edward Mulcahy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Midlothian CC

Rudolph E. Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Schaumburg GC

H. Steven Nichols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Champaign CC

Clay Nicolsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mistwood GC

Lawrence Oakford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodstock CC

James J. O’Hagan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Park Ridge CC

John Ozag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rolling Green CC

John Paladino. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forest Hills CC

Arthur W. Peters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruth Lake CC

Roger L. Peterson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lincolnshire Fields CC

Ronald Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .White Eagle GC

D. William Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PrairieView GC

John Rolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Northmoor CC

Michael Rooney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Butler National GC

James F. Rudwall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ivanhoe Club

Samuel M.Sallerson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bryn Mawr CC

Michael J. Scheer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LaGrange CC

Richard J. Skrodzki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LaGrange CC

Laura Spring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Charles CC

Darryl Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Tail Run GC

C. Nelson Strom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stonewall Orchard GC

Mike Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bloomington CC

Nancy L. Sullivan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westmoreland CC

James Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crystal Tree G & CC

Kenneth Urbaszewski. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deerfi eld GC

David A. Usiak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crestwicke CC

Anthony M. Viola. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Park Ridge CC

Timothy Vola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harborside International

Ben Waldie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Charles CC

David A. Walters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crystal Lake CC

Joe Williamson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Briar Ridge CC

James E. Winslow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inverness GC

J.C. Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plum Tree National GC

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Matt Baylor

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

Andrew Louthain

MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS

Alli Ferguson

EDITOR

Rich Skyzinski

To contact Chicago District Golfer630-257-2005 • [email protected]

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CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER (ISSN: #1087-6502) is published six times annually by the Chicago District Golf Association, Midwest Golf House, 11855 Archer Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439. Periodical postage paid at Lemont, IL 60439 and additional mailing offi ces. Editorial offi ces are located at Midwest Golf House, 11855 Archer Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chicago District Golfer, Midwest Golf House, 11855 Archer Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439. One-year subscription is $15. Copyright by Chicago District Golf Association. All rights reserved. The advertising space provided in Chicago District Golfer is purchased and paid for by the advertiser. None of the products or services are necessarily endorsed by Turnstile Publishing, the CDGA or its affi liates.

VOLUME 21, NUMBER 6


Around the CDGAFIT FOR GOLF | CDGA UPDATE | NEWS AND NOTES | CLUB CORNER | TOURNEY TICKER | FOUNDATION FOCUS | ASK THE DOCS

IT’S HOT. IT’S COLD. IT’S HOT. IT’S COLD. Whether this is a familiar description of your driver the last few golf seasons or simply an accurate report of the weather this winter, one thing is for certain: Having an indoor facility to work on your swing can pay huge dividends when the 2011 season arrives.

No matter what the weather outside may be, the grass is always green and the fl agsticks are always in at the AthletiCo Golf Performance Center in Oak Brook. The state-of-the-art golf fi tness facility features fi ve hitting bays, chipping and putting greens, a private lesson area and all the latest technology to help analyze each aspect of your game. In addition, the experienced, professional staff is able to help golfers of all ages and ability levels get prepared for the 2011 golf season.

According to Golf Fitness Magazine, the offseason is the perfect time to work on strengthening and improving fl exibility as they relate to the golf swing. Proper fl exibility and adequate strength are two essential components of an effective golf swing. Furthermore, they directly affect the

distance and accuracy of your shot.Flexibility and strength are important for several reasons.

In addition to facilitating an effective golf swing that helps to produce long and accurate drives, these two elements of a good golf swing also help to prevent many common golf injuries that result from overuse.

These essential fi tness components enable the golfer to maintain proper posture throughout each swing during the entire round. Ultimately, proper fl exibility and adequate functional strength will improve the overall health and well-being of the avid golfer.

The technicians at AthletiCo can help devise a fi tness program to help get players through winter. And when the weather improves in the spring, you’ll be one step ahead of the game.

For information on AthletiCo’s Golf Performance Center, visit athleticogolfcenter.com or call 630-572-9700. Remember to consult your physician before starting an exercise program.

—Tom Asuma

» FIT FOR GOLF

Off-season training is crucial to improve in 2011

» CLUB CORNER » TOURNEY TICKER

HAVING WEDGES GROUND is not for the faint of heart, but for those who desire perfection, it’s mandatory. It takes a unique individual to watch a shower of sparks fly from his coveted wedges. However, for those willing to take part in perhaps the most mysterious ritual of golf’s inner world, the experience and the resulting improvement in performance is beyond compare.

Few amateurs understand they can have the sole of their wedges contoured and shaped to their liking, which can have a substantial impact on their wedge game performance. If a 56-degree sand wedge has 14 degrees of bounce but still digs into the ground, have the leading edge ground away or blunted. If that same sand wedge hits the ball thin when laid open, have the heel ground away until the leading edge sits low. Or a player may decide to grind the 56-degree wedge to perform like a 60-degree.

The process is simple. However, it requires the proper grinding equipment, a willing and trusting customer and the

steady hand of a certified club builder. Every player is either a digger or a

sweeper or somewhere in between as it relates to the angle of attack. Someone who plays in the hard-pan of the desert certainly will require a different setup than someone who plays in soft and soggy conditions. Each player requires sole and leading edge configurations specific to them and the conditions under which they regularly play.

Many seasoned golfers have multiple wedges individually and end up with wedges that work poorly together. Others have the bounces staggered correctly, but the sole shape is not conducive to the conditions in which they regularly play. The question then becomes, why should you live with the manufacturers’ standard models instead of molding them to fit your swing and course conditions?

For more information, call Club Champion at 630-654-8887 or visit online at clubchampiongolf.com.

OLYMPIA FIELDS Country Club plans to celebrate its centennial in grand fashion, as the USGA announced the club as the site of the 115th U.S. Amateur Championship. The event will be conducted on both the North and South Courses Aug. 24-30, 2015.

“I feel strongly about the challenges these two courses represent for the nation’s best amateurs,” Tom O’Toole, USGA Championship Chair said.

This will be the USGA’s fifth visit to the south side club, following the 2003 U.S. Open Championship and next year’s U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. The club also was host to five Western Opens and a pair of PGA Championships.

“Everyone at Olympia Fields is thrilled by the club’s selection as the host site of the 2015 U.S. Amateur,” club president Jeff Goldman said. “It is a true honor to welcome the country’s oldest and most prestigious amateur championship.” The U.S. Amateur will visit the Midwest once prior to 2015, with the 2011 event conducted at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

U.S. Amateur to OFCC Work your wedges


Reid Hanley, 1945-2010

COLLEGE WRAP-UP | NAMES IN THE NEWS | TOURNAMENT UPDATE | PEOPLE AND PLACES | MADE IN CHICAGO | ACES IN THE CROWD

» ACES IN THE CROWD

Chris Frame

Woodstock

Frame, a senior at Rutgers University, set a course record of 64 at the Rutgers University Golf Course in Piscataway, N.J. The record occurred during a team qualifying round on the par 71, 6,337-yard course. Frame is the only senior on the roster and is the team captain. He also is a two-time member of the Big East Conference All-Academic Team.

Tanya Olson

Naperville

Olson qualified for match play at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Wichita (Kan.) Country Club in September. After shooting 81-78—159 to tie for 46th in the stroke play portion of the championship, she defeated Leigh Klasse of St. Anthony, Minn., at the 20th hole in the first round of match play. Olson was eliminated in the second round, falling to Kerry Postillion, an Illinois native who now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., 6 and 5.

Brian Atkinson

Chicago

Todd Mitchell

Bloomington

Atkinson and Mitchell had similar results at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in Bridgehampton, N.Y., in late September. In the stroke play portion of the event to determine the 64-player match play field, both tied for 11th place after shooting 4-over-par 148; Atkinson went 77-71 and Mitchell 71-77. In the opening round of match play at Atlantic Golf Club, Mitchell beat Richie Taylor of Snellville, Ga., 5 and 4, pulling away from a 2-up lead at the turn by taking three of the first four holes on the incoming nine; Atkinson never trailed in his 1-up victory over Brian Harris of Kokomo, Ind. Both Illinois players then were eliminated in the second round. Mitchell, a two-time winner of the Illinois State Amateur Championship who also was the runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Mid-Amateur, made a bogey 6 at the first extra hole against Kevin Pomarleau of East Wenatchee, Wash. Atkinson fell to Rick Cloninger of Fort Mill, S.C., 1 down. Atkinson took a 1-up lead on four different occasions, but Cloninger squared the match at the very next hole three times, then went ahead for good with a birdie at the par-4 14th.

Brian Atkinson

Tanya Olson

Chris Frame

Todd Mitchell

THE ILLINOIS PGA Championship has been played for 88 years, and it’s been won by such historic notables as Jock Hutchison, Al and Abe Espinosa, Harry Cooper, Johnny Revolta, Jack Grout, Errie Ball and Bill Ogden.

The records from their wins are sketchy, but the IPGA was still comfortable in declaring Mike Small’s win on the South Course at Olympia Fields Country Club one for the record books.

In capturing the tournament for the eighth straight time and ninth time in 10 years, the head coach of the University of Illinois men’s golf team had an 11-stroke victory margin, thanks to a score of 13-under-par 200 for 54 holes.

Those were both declared to be tournament records and Small’s second-

round 63 was a best-ever on Olympia’s recently renovated South layout. It also matched the 63 Small posted in his IPGA win at Stonewall Orchard in 2007.

“My play in the Tour events (this summer) was frustrating,” said Small, “but I decompressed for a couple of weeks at home and on Sunday (before the IPGA Championship) I figured something out (with my swing). I’d won this tournament a few times in a row, and I didn’t want it to end here. That wouldn’t have been very good.”

» NAMES IN THE NEWS

Small makes it eight in a row at Illinois PGA

CHICAGO GOLF LOST A passionate, loyal and devoted chronicler of the game. His colleagues and friends lost a terrific playing partner when Reid Hanley died on Oct. 14 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 64.

For more than 30 years, Hanley wrote about golf for the Chicago Tribune. He also was a contributor to Chicago District Golfer since 2001. Hanley covered everything from high school tournaments to countless Masters and U.S. Opens. What made him unique is that he tackled each golf assignment with the same zeal. It didn’t matter if he was covering a local club pro tournament or the final round at Augusta National. He wasn’t going to short-change anyone. He knew winning that local tournament meant the world to that club pro.

Illinois PGA Executive Director Mike Miller said: “Reid was a tremendous journalist and true gentlemen who loved the game of golf. He would cover the local golf scene, including many of our Section events, with the same passion and dedication he would give to national golf coverage.”

Hanley was passionate about golf in Chicago. He felt a great sense of pride when a local player made it big. He also took it personally if somebody knocked anything related to Chicago-area golf. Even as he lay critically ill, when he could hardly talk with a breathing mask over his mouth, he ripped the players who criticized Cog Hill during the recent BMW Championship. “A bunch of idiots,” he said. It was heartening to see he was feisty until the end.

Hanley was a superb player himself, carrying a low single-digit handicap. He was a big guy with some of the softest hands you’ve ever seen.

While Hanley was a fierce competitor, he would beat you with kindness. Said Tim Cronin of the Daily Southtown: “He’d beat you like a piñata on the course or on a story, and it was impossible to get mad at him.”

Hanley just loved being out on the course with his friends. It didn’t matter to him if your handicap was 1 or 30. If you had a good time playing golf, that was good enough for him.

Hanley was a true friend to golf in the Chicago area. —Ed Sherman

Reid Hanley

DOMINANT IN ILLINOISHere’s a rundown of Mike Small’s victories in the Illinois PGA and Illinois Open:

Aces In The Crowd recognizes noteworthy accomplishments by people in the CDGA coverage area. Prospective candidates for Aces In The Crowd may be submitted via e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected].

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WWGA award to Whitworth


Around the CDGAFIT FOR GOLF | CDGA UPDATE | NEWS AND NOTES | CLUB CORNER | TOURNAMENT UPDATE | FOUNDATION FOCUS | ASK THE DOCS

» NEWS AND NOTES

Johnsen honored by PGA of AmericaONE NORTHERN ILLINOIS golf profes-sional was among the PGA of America’s list of 2010 national award recipients.

Dennis Johnsen, the club manager at Pine Meadow Golf Club in Mundelein, was named PGA merchandiser of the year in the public facilities category.

Johnsen, 57, who has been at Pine Meadow since 2004, and the other recipients will be presented with their awards in January at the 58th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

Johnsen attended Illinois State University and graduated in 1974. He began his career at Pottawatomie Golf Course one year later as head professional. In 1980, Johnsen was named head professional at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, where he stayed 25 years, until he joined Pine Meadow.

During that period, Johnsen was a four-time recipient of the Illinois PGA merchandiser of the year award in the resort category. Also, he served from 2003-04 as Section president; was Section PGA golf professional of the year in 1999 and 2001; was the 2007 and 2009 recipient of the President’s Plaque and earned the Section 2008 PGA merchandiser of the year award for public facilities.

Johnsen becomes the sixth Illinois PGA member to be named a national PGA merchandiser of the year; the most recent was Brian Morrison of Olympia Field Country Club, honored in 2009.

The PGA of America annually presents merchandiser of the year awards in three categories: private, public and resort facilities. The awards have been given since 1978.

Kathy Whitworth

THREE DAYS after turning 71, World Golf Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth was honored by the Women’s Western Golf Association as its 2010 Woman of Distinction at Lake

Shore Country Club in Glencoe. “I was tickled they had me come in and be a part of this,” Whitworth said. “It’s hard to put one (honor) above the other, and a lot of times it depends on the time of your life. I’ve been on the receiving end of some very nice recognitions and they’re all wonderful in their own way.” Whitworth won the Women’s Western Open in 1967, then considered an LPGA major. It was one of six majors she captured during a career in which she won 88 times. —Jim Owczarski

LegendarLegendary Genery Generosity osity Every Tuesday, April through September,the senior men in the Legends Leaguemeet at Village Greens of Woodridge.Popular in the Chicago area for its commitment to mixing golfers of allabilities and promoting the social aspect ofthe game, the league has an average of120 players each season.

League members pay a fee to fund theleague’s prize purse and weekly earningsare deposited into the winners’ pro shopaccounts. At the end of each season,remaining prize money is dispersed in theform of a Village Greens gift card. Leaguetreasurer, Neil O’Sullivan, suggesteddonating members’ residual funds to theFoundation after watching the course’s golfprofessionals working with the South EastAssociation for Special Parks andRecreation (SEASPAR) athletes at the club’sSunshine Through Golf Foundation camp.

In cooperation with Carl Hopphan,Foundation operations advisor, O’Sullivan

presented the idea at the league’s annualbanquet, where members signed a letterof intent to release their funds. Now, oversixty percent of the league donates leftover prize money to the Foundation ormakes a personal contribution at the endof the season.

An integral part of the league’s ability togive is their relationship with VillageGreens and the Woodridge Park District.O’Sullivan says it is the Park District thatenables the league to donate, “They writethe check at the end of the season. We

appreciate their cooperation and supportin making it a seamless process.”Hopphan agrees, noting the program hasthe backing of everyone at Village Greens.

O’Sullivan is thrilled with the league’s generous giving, as the group’s contributionstotal more than $4,000, and the number ofindividuals donating their prize moneygrows each year. The league’s manyveterans are especially grateful of theopportunity to provide fellow vets with achance to learn the game. “People comeup to me and say, ‘Let’s do this every year!’They are proud and happy to donate,”says O’Sullivan.

The program at Village Greens is atestament to the league’s generosity andability to come together to support the lessfortunate. Hopphan says, “This programdoesn’t have to stop here. Other leaguescan look to the Legends and followtheir example.” To find out how yourleague can get involved with theFoundation, contact Carl Hopphan at630-685-2301 or [email protected].

TENDING THE FLAGSTICK

A Prince Among PrA Prince Among Pros os By Jim Owczarski

Prince Winbush keeps his eyesmoving and head on a swivel,and just as he was about tocount to three and have thegolfers at the last SunshineThrough Golf Foundationcamp tee off in unison onSept. 16 at the VillageGreens of Woodridge, hesaw camper Greg Wilsontrying to hurriedly put hisball on the tee.

“Hold on!” Winbush yelled.

Winbush, the club’s assistant professional,scooted down the range and quickly bentdown to tee the ball up. As he did, Wilson

leaned over and gave Winbush’scleanly shaved head a shine with

his hand.

Wilson laughed andWinbush chuckled througha 1-2-3 count as the eightSunshine athletes teedoff with their drivers.

Watching from the backof the range was Carl

Hopphan, Foundationoperations advisor and

Illinois PGA Hall of Famer.

Continued on page 13

A Prince Among Pros . . . . . . P. 11

Tending the Flagstick . . . . . . P. 11

Friends of The Foundation . . P. 12

Sunshine Club . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 12

News & Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 13

A Great Big Thank You . . . . . P. 14

Contents

Vol. 7, No. 2, November 2010

Sunshine Through Golf Foundation – 11855 Archer Ave. Lemont, IL 60439 – 630-257-2005 – www.sunshinethroughgolf.org 11

Members of the Legends League at Village Greensof Woodridge have donated prize money to theFoundation.

Prince Winbush assists Greg Wilsonwith a chipping exercise.

Aurora Country Club

Beverly Country Club

Bryn Mawr Country Club

Butler National Golf Club

Butterfield Country Club

Calumet Country Club

Conway Farms

Cress Creek Country Club

Crystal Lake Country Club

Crystal Tree Golf & Country Club

Evanston Golf Club

Forest Hills Country Club

Geneva Golf Club

Glen Flora Country Club

Glen Oak Country Club

Glen View Club

Hillcrest Country Club

Hinsdale Golf Club

Inverness Golf Club

Kankakee Country Club

Knollwood Club

LaGrange Country Club

Lake Shore Country Club

Medinah Country Club

Midlothian Country Club

Naperville Country Club

North Shore Country Club

Old Elm Club

Olympia Fields Country Club

Ouilmette Golf Club

Park Ridge Country Club

Ridge Country Club

Ridgemoor Country Club

Rockford Country Club

Rolling Green Country Club

Ruth Lake Country Club

Skokie Country Club

St. Charles Country Club

Stonebridge Country Club

White Eagle Golf Club

Woodstock Country Club

SUNSHINE CLUB

Special recognition to the followingclubs for their support of the SunshineThrough Golf Foundation. Thesemember clubs are creating opportunitiesto bring joy to people with specialneeds through golf.

For more information about becoming aSunshine Club, contact Brittany Ottoliniat 630-685-2313 or [email protected].

12

Inspirational GrInspirational GroundoundMidwest Golf House visitors are findingwords of inspiration and support undertheir feet as part of the Foundation’sCommemorative Brick Program. Small4x8 bricks, as well as larger 8x8 pavershave been put into the walkway in frontof the facility in support of the SunshineThrough Golf Foundation.

Space is limited, so don’t miss out on youropportunity to show your support for theless fortunate. Pavers carry up to six linesof 13 character text (a space is considereda character), while the smaller bricks holdthree lines of text.

For more information on getting involved, including brick pricing, contact Alex Nollyat 630-685-2351 or [email protected].

A ForA Fortunate Partunate PartnertnerThe Sunshine Through Golf Foundationwas fortunate to once again partner withDeerfield-based Fortune Brands in 2010.Fortune Brands, whose product linesinclude Titleist and FootJoy golf brands,provided golf balls for all SunshineThrough Golf athletes, as well asequipment for use on the Three-Hole Sunshine Course at Midwest Golf House.

In addition to the equipment donations, Fortune Brands generously made amonetary contribution to the Foundation, which assisted in funding Veterans’ GolfDay and other events on the Sunshine Course.

Without the continued support of partners like Fortune Brands and donors throughout the Chicago District, the Foundation would not be able to continue to provide the programs it does to more than 1,200 participants each season.

For more information on Fortune Brands, please visit www.fortunebrands.com.

Helping HerHelping HeroesoesForty-four veterans of the U.S. Armed Forcesvisited the Three-Hole Sunshine Course atMidwest Golf House in September forVeterans’ Golf Day. The program—in itssecond year—had seven golf professionalsworking with the veterans to provide assistance.

“This year we were able to do more with the support of Fortune Brands and theSunshine Through Golf Foundation,” said RevelationGolf Executive DirectorDonna Strum. RevelationGolf, which conducts the veterans’ golf program inconjunction with local VA hospitals and the Illinois veterans’ homes, was able toaccommodate nearly double the number of participants from the inauguralVeterans’ Golf Day and also hosted eight active duty military personnel. “We evenhad one gentleman who just returned from Iraq one week ago,” Strum added.

This years’ program included a rules and etiquette seminar; a chip, pitch and putt skillschallenge; as well as course-time for those with the ability to play.

For more information on RevelationGolf and their veterans program, visitwww.revelationgolf.org or call Donna Strum at 630-253-7703.

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION

Bricks and pavers share words of inspirationfor Sunshine Through Golf athletes and thegame of golf.

13

“They’re the whole backbone,” he said ofthe many golf courses and professionalsthat assist the Foundation. “We cancreate the program. We can get thespecial recreation groups together. Wecan arrange the events. But somebody’s gotto run them.” And there aren’t many thatoffer an experience like Winbush andVillage Greens.

Despite a chilled wind and an overcastsky, the campers from South EastAssociation for Special Parks andRecreation (SEASPAR) spent nearly anhour with Winbush working on wedges,5-irons, driving and putting beforefinishing the day with cake and a gift of awater bottle, tees and a sleeve of ballsfrom the Foundation. But it wasn’t thegolf that made the day special.

As Winbush stood on the putting greenand laughed and joked with the campers,Hopphan pointed to him and said, “Just aperfect example of what we need to makeour program successful. He’s so nice tothem. It’s the personality, the atmospherethat he creates.”

Village Greens general manager andhead PGA professional Brandon Evansagreed. Even though he has participatedin Sunshine Through Golf Foundationcamps since the Foundation’s inception –and has been working with golfers ofdiffering abilities for about 13 years –Evans preferred to heap praise elsewherewhen it comes to the current camps.

“Prince and the rest of the staff deservemost of the credit,” Evans said. “It’s onehour of the week where we look forwardto getting out there and spending timewith absolutely terrific people. And theygive us a fresh perspective and a boostmore than we’re providing them a servicesometimes. Prince is the guy out theredoing the bulk of the teaching anddeserves most of the credit.”

When asked about what it is like learningthe game with Winbush, camper andrecent Special Olympics state medalistJoAnn Adamski’s eyes lit up.

“Oh! Tons of fun!” she said with a smile.

And the best part about Winbush?

“Just him being himself and his greatpersonality,” she said.

Winbush has been working with theSunshine Through Golf Foundation sincejoining Evans seven years ago at VillageGreens.

While the two professionals, along with theWoodridge Park District which operatesthe course, support the Foundation andits athletes like many of the other 81camp locations across the state, a specialbond has developed between VillageGreens, Winbush and the Foundation.

“They give me great ideas – how to hitthe ball, how to hold the club andeverything,” Adamski added. “I love it.It’s a very great place to golf.”

And now, no one involved can foreseecontinuing on in the game without the other.

“I really couldn’t,” Winbush said. “Any waythat you can grow the game and helppeople to have fun–that’s what it’s allabout. I enjoy it. They always want to trynew things and it’s exciting to see them dowell.”

Added Evans: “Wherever I go, whatever Ido, if the facility I’m at offers me theopportunity to take something like thisand grow and develop a program like thiscamp with the assistance of people likethe Sunshine Through Golf Foundation,absolutely we would continue on with theambition we’ve had here with theWoodridge Park District.”

Hopphan said the way Winbush, Evansand other professionals like them interactwith and teach the campers is one to beemulated by those interested in doing thesame.

“They think it’s much more technical (thanit is),” Hopphan said. “You see what Princeis doing. That’s got nothing to do with training or schooling. You don’t learn thatout of a book. That comes from the heartbecause he loves to do that. And he’ssuccessful because these people feel it.”

“A Prince Among Pros” continued from page 11

Winbush answers the questions of campers during aSEASPAR camp at Village Greens of Woodridge.

News & Notes

2011 CDGA MEMBER DAYS

In 2010, more than 550 members

played in one of 10 Member Days at

public and private CDGA courses. The

successful program, open exclusively to

CDGA members and their guests, will

continue in 2011.

Each Member Day consists of a round

of golf, cart, tee prize and lunch, but

remains stress-free with no formal

tournament aspect. With no-pressure

to compete and a low price, a Member

Day becomes the perfect outing for all.

The 2011 schedule will be released

in April. For more information on

Member Days contact John Petrarca at

630-685-2306 or [email protected].

SUNSHINE THROUGH GOLFFOUNDATION OUTING

Play with a foursome or meet other

golfers dedicated to supporting the

Sunshine Through Golf Foundation at

the 11th annual Foundation outing

on Monday, June 13 at Beverly Country

Club in Chicago. For more information,

contact Brittany Ottolini at 630-685-2313

or [email protected].

GOLF MARATHON

Pledge to play for the Sunshine

Through Golf Foundation in the 3rd

annual 100 Hole Golf Marathon.

Details for the 2011 event will be

available before the golf season

begins; contact Denny Davenport in

the interim at 630-685-2353 or

[email protected] with questions.

Cleaning out yourgarage this winter?

Donate your used clubs tothe Sunshine Through

Golf Foundation’sprogram participants.To schedule a drop off,contact Alex Nolly at

630-685-2351 [email protected].

News & Notes

2010 SUNSHINE THROUGH GOLF CAMPS

14

AspireOak Brook Golf ClubTrey Van Dyke

Champaign-Urbana SRAStone Creek Golf ClubMickey Finn

Chicago Special OlympicsMarquette Park Golf CourseJuan Espejo

Chicago Special OlympicsDiversey Driving RangeThe First Tee of Chicago Staff

Chicago Special OlympicsRobert A. Black Golf CourseThe First Tee of Chicago Staff

Chicago Special OlympicsSouth Shore Golf CourseThe First Tee of Chicago Staff

ClearbrookMt. Prospect Golf ClubJeff Langguth & Staff

Dolton New Hope CenterLincoln Oaks Golf CourseLindsey Haines & Staff

Fon du Lac Special Recreation Program

Oak Meadows Golf ClubGlenn Mason

Fox Valley SRAPhillips Park Golf CourseJeff Schmidt & Staff

Fox Valley SRASt. Charles Country ClubJim Sutherland & Staff

Fox Valley SRAFox Bend Golf CourseKyle Rich & Staff

Fox Valley SRAEagle Brook Country ClubEric Pratali & Staff

Gateway SRAFlagg Creek Golf CourseFlagg Creek Staff

Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association

Foss Park Golf CoursePatrick Byrne

Heart of Illinois SRAKellogg Golf CourseKellogg Golf Course Staff

Hope D. Wall SchoolTFT of Aurora-Phillips Park

Golf CourseDan Abella & Staff

Illinois Valley IndustriesNettle Creek Country ClubKurt Nolan & Staff

Indiana Special Olympics-Valparaiso Park District

Creekside Golf & Training CenterNancy Bender

Joliet-Bolingbrook SRAMistwood Golf ClubVisanu Tongwarin & Staff

Kishwaukee SRABuena Vista Golf CourseTom Zeeh

Lincoln-Way SRASanctuary Golf CourseBob Schulz & Staff

Lincoln-Way SRAPrestwick Country ClubBrandon Adair & Staff

Little City FoundationInverness Golf ClubScottie Nield & Staff

Maine-Niles Association ofSpecial Recreation

Golf Center of Des Plaines (GolfTec)Justin Bentley & Staff

Misericordia Bryn Mawr Country ClubTerry Russell & Staff

MisericordiaNorth Shore Country ClubTim O’Neal & Staff

North East DuPage SRAMedinah Country ClubMike Scully & Staff

North Suburban SRAWinnetka Golf ClubCortney Miller & Staff

North Suburban SRALake Shore Country ClubBob Koschmann & Staff

North Suburban SRAWilmette Golf ClubDennis Callaghan & Staff

North West Suburban SRATwin Lakes Golf CourseTravis Johns & Eric Pick

North West Suburban SRAPalatine Hills Golf CourseDan Hotchkin

Northern Illinois SRA Bowes Creek Country ClubMike Lehman & Staff

Northern Illinois SRA Randall Oaks Golf ClubSteve Gillie & Staff

Northern Illinois SRAMakray Memorial Golf ClubDon Habjan & Staff

Oak Lawn SRAStony Creek Golf CourseCarol Rhoades & George Benak

River Valley SRAAlpine Hills Golf ClubDieter Jaehn, Jr.

Rockford Park DistrictIngersoll Golf ClubLloyd McWilliams

School District 54-Special OlympicsFox Run Golf LinksJohn O’Brien

Special Opportunities Available in Recreation

The Links at Ireland GroveJeff Hunt & Staff

South East Association forSpecial Parks & Recreation

Village Greens of WoodridgeBrandon Evans & Prince Winbush

South Suburban SRACoyote Run Golf CourseBrian Smith and Staff

South West SRAMidlothian Country ClubMichael Knights & Staff

SRA of Central Lake CountyLibertyville Golf ComplexJeff Mory, Conway Farms

Tri-County SRA Cog Hill Golf & Country ClubJeff Rimsnider

Warren SRALibertyville Golf ComplexRon Klein

West Suburban SRAWhite Pines Golf ClubChuck Lynch & Staff

West Suburban SRAOak Park Country ClubFrank Bruno & Staff

Western DuPage SRAWhite Eagle Golf ClubBrian Soczka & Staff

Western DuPage SRAGlen Oak Country ClubDanny Mulhearn & Staff

Western DuPage SRACantigny GolfEmily Barkoozis

A G R E A T B I G T H A N K Y O UThank you to the 2010 Sunshine Through Golf camp hosts. The following organizations, golfclubs and golf professionals administered camps for Sunshine Through Golf athletes. Over 1,200participants benefitted from the 82 camps conducted by the Sunshine Through Golf Foundation.

JoAnn Admaski

Chad Applen

David Baker

Ben Brizzolara

Riecee Brock

Leslie Bubek

Sarah Carlson

Donald Christenson

Kayla Craig

Troy DeBoer

David DeGuilio

Edgar Duran

Michael Fioravanti

Michael Forzley

Sheri Fritsche

Sam Fritz

Max Geilim

Danny Gillespie

Jimmy Gottlick

Barb Gregomik

Nathaniel Gunnels

Laurie Heinz

James Hill

Tom Hollman

Chris Jansen

Ryan Kite

Kyle Krizizke

Cavan LaRue

Kenny Lindsey

Carol Ann Lynch

Aaron Marks

Jack Meyers

John Meyers

Kevin Mikan

Randy Naberhaus

Lisa Nowack

Danny Orlando

Eric Pieper

Kelly Pwers

Karen Quandt

Christopher Renaldi

Edith Reynolds

Jessica Rosenbohm

John Seele

Michael Senesac

Christopher Smolik

Colin Staffeldt

Jimmy Stelmach

Sean Thompson

Jim York

Zach Zwirowski

2010 SPECIAL OLYMPICSSTATE QUALIFIERS

Congratulations to the Sunshine

Through Golf athletes who qualified for

the 2010 Special Olympics of Illinois

State Games Golf Competitions at

Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur, Ill.


By Greg Stewart

As the world’s top play-ers assembled at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club prior to the start of the BMW

Championship, another group of special athletes gathered nearby for a big event of their own.

On a picture-perfect day for golf, 10 Chicago-area athletes with special needs assembled Sept. 8 at the Midwest Golf House in Lemont for the seventh annual Play With A Pro Day. The event was coordinated by the Sunshine Through Golf Foundation, recognized by the USGA as the largest grassroots golf program in the country for players with special needs.

Affected by a wide range of physi-cal and cognitive disabilities–Gerry Meyer, Michelle Thompson, Dan James, Paul Bures, Gary Anderson, Kelly Fitzgerald, Kenneth Lind-sey, Paul Kozora, JoAnn Adamski and Randy Naderhaus–represented seven different special recreation associations from the Chicagoland area.

They came to play the Three-Hole Sun-shine Course at Midwest Golf House and for a chance to meet the PGA Tour pro-fessionals who took time out of their pre-tournament preparation to cross Archer Avenue and play a round with them.

Six of the 70 players competing in the PGA Tour Playoffs’ BMW Champion-

ship made the trek across the street. Tim Clark, Luke Donald, Adam Scott, Kevin Streelman, Jason Dufner and Brendon de Jonge each played the three-hole course with one or two special-needs golfers.

It was hard to tell to whom the

experience meant more.“Most of these people either live with

their parents or in a group home,” said Meyer, a 49-year-old with more indepen-dence than his peers. “Participating in things like this gives them motivation, lifts them up some.”

The visit appeared to lift the spirits of the professionals as well.

“This is a blast,” said Streelman, who was making his fi rst visit to the event. “They (the Foundation) do such a nice job with this.”

A Winfi eld native who was essentially playing a home game at Cog Hill,

Streelman said he had many requests for his time during the BMW Championship week. Some of those requests, he said, had to be turned down.

“But not this one,” said Streelman, who was accompanied by his parents and his caddie for the three-hole round. “I’ve had to say ‘no’ to some other things this week because you get pulled in so many directions.

“This is a half-hour when you take more out of it than you give. It’s spectacular. You see the excitement of them making a putt versus the frustration of missing and it shows you what’s really important in life.”

Donald, a Northwestern Universi-ty product who still lives in Chicago, said the day helped him relieve the pressure of playing in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. At least in terms of managing his expectations.

“When they tell me this is their favorite game, it’s very heartwarming,” Donald said. “Because the game is very frustrating. It gives me some perspective to see these people with diffi culties in their lives, but they still come out here to enjoy playing the game.”

The event also allowed a glimpse into the mentality of a Tour player outside

Caption

EXPERIENCEA worthwhile

PGA Tour players Kevin Streelman (above) and Luke

Donald (opposite page) were both inspired by playing

in the event.

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During the week of the BMW Championship, a small group of tour players took time out to make it a special day for a group of Sunshine Through Golf Foundation participants


the ropes, where they can enjoy themselves on the golf course, away from the spotlight.

Like when Adam Scott picked up playing partner Fitzgerald’s bag and shouldered it around the Sunshine Course. Or Streelman’s reaction when Lindsey drained a long par putt as pure as any Tour pro would make, then celebrated on the green with a funky strut to the hole and high-fi ves for everyone.

“They’re having a ball and it’s nice they can do that through golf,” Scott said.

But the day’s most poignant moments came from two golfers, who in their own way, have both overcome long odds to play the game in a fulfi lling manner.

Clark, a diminutive South Afri-can who got his fi rst PGA Tour win in May at The Players Championship, was making his third appearance at the Play With A Pro Day. He considers it a privilege and has become an ambassa-dor of sorts, exposing other profession-als to the program.

“I’ve done this quite a few years now and it’s really a great experience play-ing with these guys,” Clark said. “I did it the fi rst year and saw the amount of joy it brings to these guys. That’s really the whole reason to come back.

“That’s the whole reason I do this. I’ve talked a few of the other guys into coming over today.”

Perhaps nobody looked forward to Clark’s appearance more than Bures. A 27-year-old from LaGrange Park, Paul has cerebral palsy. He is confi ned to a wheelchair, has very limited use of his upper body and is mostly non-verbal.

Still, with the help of his parents, Bures plays golf and likes to visit with Tour pros. He fi rst met Clark three years ago when paired with him at this

event. He was partnered with Clark last year and made a request to play with him again.

“Paul really likes to be involved in activities and this is another way for him,” said Liz Bures, Paul’s mother. “But it’s something all three of us can enjoy together. As a family.

“Not only does he benefi t, but just as important are the people that see us out here. It opens their eyes to what’s possible. There are a lot of people who don’t believe he can be a golfer, but he is.

“It’s nice to see their perceptions change.”

Greg Stewart is a sports writer for the Peoria Journal Star.

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18 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER WWW.CDGA.ORG18 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER WWW.CDGA.ORG

When the fi rst golf course at Pelican Hill opened in 1991,

architect Tom Fazio stood looking at his latest creation, with the sun setting on the water just beyond the fairways, and exuded an enormous sense of pride.

“When you have something as dramatic as the Pacifi c Ocean for your backdrop,” Fazio said, “you have to take advantage of it.”

A decade later, Rees Jones would utter a similar sentiment as he put the fi nishing touches on a redesign of the South Course at Torrey Pines in suburban San Diego that sparked a successful bid to attract the 2008 U.S. Open.

“I won’t get another opportunity like this in my career,” Jones said.

Fazio and Jones are two of the most renowned course designers in America, and both knew how rare the chance is to sculpt a layout on the coastal property of Southern California. Here, the sunsets on the water are worth their

beauty in gold.There are 80 miles of coastline

between Newport Beach in southern Orange County and downtown San Diego, and because land on the ocean’s edge is so precious and expensive, only a handful of developers have found it feasible to use that space for golf courses.

Torrey Pines, for instance, was constructed in 1957 by the city on the site of a former Army camp before the city of La Jolla became one of the wealthiest ZIP codes in America. When Pelican Hill opened, housewives in Orange County were still moms doing carpools, not reality television stars.

The coastal courses are spectacular in their own way, of course, so for those planning a visit to Southern California who never want to stray far from sandy beaches and salty air, there is no problem creating an itinerary for some luxurious golf experiences, along with one

tantalizing bargain. Clubs required; red convertible and surfboard are optional.

PELICAN HILL It can be said that Fazio got double the slices from a sweet and juicy orange. He designed grasses, more bunkers, a new irrigation system, driving range and a new clubhouse. The renovation was orchestrated to go hand in hand with the construction and 2008 opening of the Mediterranean-inspired Resort at Pelican Hill.

The resulting work makes Pelican Hill (pelicanhill.com) likely the plushest public golf experience in all of Southern California, with green fees in line with that.

While both courses have stunning views of the blue Pacifi c, it is the

From the golf courses that dot the itinerary, a trip along the coast of Southern California presents one highlight after another

DESTINATION

Golf Getaways | Southern California

By Tod Leonard

TOP TRAVEL TIPThe San Diego Zoo long has been

recognized as one of the best in the

world. But this is more than simply

looking at the animals; the list of

specialized tours, educational programs

and interactive experiences has

something for everyone.

AT THE


South Course that delivers the most jaw-dropping experience on holes 11 through 13. The par-4 11th points straight to the ocean, and the land for another par-3 was so enticing at the 13th that Fazio produced two separate greens (one that plays about 125 yards and the other about 105) that are virtual islands amid enormous dunes.

The North is slightly longer (6,553 from the blues), but the South (6,323) is considered tougher because it is tighter, with more trees on its inland holes.

AVIARA GOLF CLUB Less than an hour’s drive south of Newport is Carlsbad’s Aviara Golf Club, which is part of the Park Hyatt Resort (parkhyattaviara.com). As the seagull fl ies, it is a couple of miles from the beach and sits alongside Batiquitos Lagoon, which teems with birds and wildlife.

The only Arnold Palmer design in San Diego, Aviara is most often lauded for its incredible array of fl owers on nearly every hole, wonderful and natural use of water features, and impeccable maintenance.

No two holes at Aviara look remotely similar, with some fairways carved through groves of eucalyptus trees and others open and inviting, rolling up and down with big elevation changes. The experience can be anything a golfer

wants it to be: fun from 6,054-yard white tees to extremely demanding from the 6,591-yard blues.

TORREY PINES Torrey Pines, on the cliffs in La Jolla, is synonymous with San Diego golf for good reason. It has been exposed to PGA Tour fans since 1968, and its stature was immeasurably raised when the South Course was the scene of a dramatic playoff win by Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open.

Naturally, the South is more highly prized by out-of-towners, and though it doesn’t have a warning sign about its diffi culty like Bethpage Black, it should. At 7,000 yards from the blues, it is a brute, to be survived more than conquered.

The North Course should strongly be considered on any trip to Torrey (sandiego.gov/golf/torreypines).

The North also hosts PGA Tour rounds, and its vistas of the ocean below and frequent hang gliders above are every bit as spectacular. Shorter and with less penal bunkering, it’s also more playable for the double-digit handicapper.

CORONADO The perfect ending to a SoCal trip can be had in Coronado, the pen-insula attached to downtown San Diego by bridge. The Coronado Golf Course (golfcoronado.com) experience is a step back in time, in both ambiance and price

The flat and friendly layout, peppered with palm and pine trees, is one of the best bargains in America if you walk the course. It is surrounded by water on three sides and at various turns there are views of the San Diego skyline, San Diego Bay, the majestic spires of the Hotel del Coronado, and the bobbing boats at the Coronado Yacht Club.

The weather approaches perfection on many days, and don’t let the price fool you. The conditions are nearly perfect all year around.

Tod Leonard covers golf for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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Water views are plentiful at Pelican Hill; above: the

13th hole at Ocean South.


DESTINATION

Golf Getaways | Austin

Austin

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The Texas state capital has stepped to the forefront as the focal point of the state’s fi rst golf trail

By Art Stricklin

The Texas state capital of Austin is often referred to as the Heart of

Texas. It mainly refers to its geographic location, near the center of the Lone Star State.

But a closer inspection by traveling golfers reveals that Austin’s heart is full in many other ways: full of great public-access golf, great Southwestern cuisine and a lively, acclaimed nightlife scene.

In fact, throw in some warm winter-time weather and the state’s fi rst fully functioning golf trail and Austin more than holds its own as a top-fl ight desti-nation.

The home of golf legends Ben Cren-shaw, Tom Kite and Harvey Penick, of “Little Red Book” fame, never had it so good or inviting.

“People always knew Austin was a fun place and we are defi nitely piggy-backing off of Austin’s vibe as a place for good times, but what people didn’t real-ize is our potential as a golf destination,” said longtime local golf professional Chip Gist, who fi rst came up with the idea of the Austin golf trail almost fi ve years ago.

Gist and the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau partnered earlier this year to produce a true one-stop shop via a website and toll-free number for Austin-area golf vacations.

So far, 12 premium Austin-area golf


courses have signed on as part of the package, four from the highly rated Barton Creek Resort and Spa—the Tom Fazio-designed Canyons and Foothills courses; Cliffside, designed by Cren-shaw; and Lakeside, created by Arnold Palmer—along with three from Horse-shoe Bay—Ram Rock, Apple Rock and Slick Rock. There also are Star Ranch and Grey Rock in Austin, Round Rock’s Teravista, Avery Ranch in Hutto and Wolfdancer, outside of Bastrop, at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort.

All are open to the public and can be booked individually or through a central website, which is austingolftrail.com.

Those courses are partnered with a variety of local accommodations and price points including the Barton Creek, Horseshoe Bay and Lost Pines resorts, along with two in-town Embassy Suites, an Austin Intercontinental, Wyndham, DoubleTree and Hampton Inn.

While it’s impossible to play them all in one stay, the fi rst-time Austin visitor will certainly want to visit the twin Austin golfi ng landmarks, the Barton Creek foursome of top-rated courses and the historic Horseshoe Bay threesome.

The two Fazio courses at Barton Creek are annually ranked as the Nos. 1 and 2 in the state for public resort courses.

Any golfer looking over the Fazio landscape of dramatic elevation changes, canyons, large drops from tee boxes and natural waterfalls, will soon forget the faded Texas stereotype of dry, dusty, tumbleweed-covered fl atness.

A very playable course by local golf hero Crenshaw completes the on-site threesome, and the Lakeside Course is just 15 miles to the west.

Another unique feature at Barton Creek is the state’s fi rst Callaway Golf fi tting center, where players can go through a 60- to 90-minute, high-tech fi tting session with the same technology (if not the same results) used at the Callaway headquarters in California for its group of tour players.

“This is really an exciting opportunity for golfers,” said Barton Creek director of golf Michael Rushing. “This will tell you everything about your swing and ball fl ight and be able to get you the

latest and best golf gear.”Horseshoe Bay, 45 minutes west of

Barton Creek, was the fi rst golf resort to mine this fertile area in the mid-1970s and now has three courses, all created by legendary golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and a fourth that is underway by Jack Nicklaus.

Slick Rock, with a million-dollar waterfall at the 14th hole, was the fi rst course opened, but Ram Rock became the most famous or infamous. Legend has it that when Slick opened, visitors were impressed by the beauty but considered it a bit of a pushover. Jones vowed to fi x that with Ram and it long has been considered the toughest in Texas and one of his most punishing creations. Apple Rock is set on the highest piece of land in the area and is the most scenic of the three.

The Austin Golf Trail has been open less than a year and Gist said it’s fast approaching its opening-year target of 10,000 golfers, but there is still plenty of golf trail learning to do.

“The number one question we get from visitors is, ‘Where do the locals eat?’ There are a lot of things to do here, but they don’t want any chain restaurants.”

For the record, Matt’s El Rancho, where legendary University of Texas coach Darrell Royal used to hold court, and Guero’s, where former President Bill Clinton once sampled the shrimp fajitas, rule the Tex-Mex scene.

Saltlick, which doesn’t take credit cards or reservations, and the cozy Stubbs, a central-city hangout, are the top barbecue destinations.

For post-golf nightlife, Austin is loaded with possibilities. Famed Sixth Street in downtown rightly proclaims itself as the live music capital of Texas. The long-running “Austin City Limits” TV show has showcased the local talents of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, along with hundreds of other stars.

Plus, the generally mild winters in Austin will rarely be bad enough to keep players off the course. Austin merits its place as a Lone Star of Texas golf.

Art Stricklin is a freelance writer based in the Dallas suburb of Plano, Texas.

Opposite page: No. 16 on the Fazio Foothills course at Barton Creek; Above: Barton Creek

Resort is listed as one of Golfweek’s Best Resort Courses.

TOP TRAVEL TIPAustin’s natural beauty is on display

at The Lady Bird Johnson Wildfl ower

Center, an endless panorama of

colorful landscaping, and the 10.1-mile

Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail.

Auuststinin’ss n natatururalal b beaeaututy


DESTINATION

Golf Getaways | Mexico

By Bill Huffman

W hen the leaves start to fall and daylight savings time has set

in, consider planning a golf getaway to Mexico and leave the winter coats behind.

If warm weather and ocean views don’t lure visitors past the border, the great golf will. With designs by architects such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Robert von Hagge, Mexico offers top-notch courses with dramatic views.

An endless array of options are available, especially when one considers

golfing ports of call such as Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. Acapulco was the forerunner to “Jet Set” golf in the 1950s and ’60s, while Puerto Vallarta’s vast array of links popped up in the ’70s and ’80s, shortly after the Oscar-winning flick, “Night of the Iguana,” starring Richard Burton, was filmed there.

ACAPULCO One option is Acapulco, a classy city of 250,000 located high on the cliffs above a big bay of the same name. This is where Burton and Liz Taylor

once hung out and the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and The Beatles followed. Even today Acapulco offers trendy attractions like Alebrije (the largest night club in Latin America) and Baby’O, a world famous disco.

Acapulco’s course of choice is von Hagge’s Tres Vidas, where the par-3 12th hole plays directly toward the ocean. Five holes are actually on the water in what von Hagge refers to as his “Mexican string of pearls,” which comes with a reasonable green fee. Even though Tres Vidas is somewhat off the

Mexico offers great golf options showcasing some of the top resorts in the world

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beaten path, about 20 miles south of the city, this unique “almost island-like” layout is well worth the drive.

Otherwise there’s no need for a rental car as the rest of Acapulco’s fab four of courses—the Acapulco Princess, Mayan Palace and Pierre Marques—all are near enough the Fairmont Princess Hotel to jump in a cab. Of the three, the Princess layout is visually alluring. All are a great value.

Another five-star resort that’s a little out of the way but deserves consideration is Las Brisas-Acapulco, where the pale pink-colored bungalows are stacked like a pyramid on the cliffs overlooking Acapulco Bay. Legendary Las Brisas remains one of the most romantic retreats in the world, as every room comes with a picture-window view of the nearby Pacific.

PUERTO VALLARTA Most Americans had never heard of Puerto Vallarta until Burton starred in “Night of the Iguana,” which was filmed just south of the city in the mid-1960s. Iguanas actually are the least of your worries, considering there’s a downtown course called The Marina that is loaded with alligators, as well as a von Hagge-designed championship course called El Tigre that also packs some teeth.

The course on everyone’s must-play list is Nicklaus’s Punta Mita-Four Seasons, where one hole, 3b, features one of the world’s true island greens. Hole 3b, which the Bear dubbed “Tale of the Whale” because it actually looks like a whale’s tale from the tee, is accessed by an amphibious golf cart. When the tide is high or choppy, however, land-locked 3a comes into play.

Two other superb offerings in the Puerta Vallarta area include Nicklaus’s Vista Vallarta, the site of the 2002 World Cup, and Weiskopf’s sister course on the same property. Of these two jungle-like experiences, stick with Jack’s version, as his course is higher in elevation and boasts views of the Sierra Madre Mountains and surrounding water.

There are two distinct options when it comes to where to stay in Puerto

Vallarta. The Four Seasons Punta Mita is more than likely out of reach for most visitors, while the Marriott is in the heart of the city, near the marina, and about one-third the price. Nightlife has a feel of yesteryear along a strip of old restaurants and shops that front the city’s flat-as-a-pancake beach. It’s why the Four Seasons remains popular despite its jaw-dropping price.

Bill Huffman covered golf for The Arizona Republic and East Valley Tribune for 20 years.

Punta Mita Golf Club in Puerto Vallarta features numerous holes along the ocean and Banderas Bay.

Left: Vista Vallarta was

home to the 2002 World Golf

Championship.

TOP TRAVEL TIPThere are multiple viewing locations

at La Quebrada, home to the daredevil

cliff divers made famous through Elvis

Presley’s “Fun In Acapulco” and ABC’s

“Wide World of Sports.”

T he problem with most golf trips is that, when they’re over, the players

aren’t much better than they were when they left.

One popular winter destination with great opportunities to play and work on your game is southeast Florida, where the PGA of America, the national associa-tion of club and teaching professionals, offers two top-shelf facilities about 45 miles apart, one near its headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens and a secondary facility in Port St. Lucie.

PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPAA mecca for players and fans alike since 1981, PGA National has a distinguished history of tournament play. It was the site of the 1983 Ryder Cup, which makes it one of just four U.S. venues, along with Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort, The Greenbriar in West Virginia and Kiawah Island in South Carolina, that is open for play by the general public. In addition, PGA National has been the venue for the PGA Championship (1987) and 27 Senior

PGA Championships between 1964 and 2000, and currently it is home to the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic.

There are no fewer than fi ve courses to choose from, including The Champion. This Jack Nicklaus design is the jewel of the group and it is no place for the faint of heart.

Water comes into play on seven of the fi rst nine holes; three of the four par 3s are over water and a lake comes into play on every shot between tee and green at the par-5 18th.

While none of the other four courses is as challenging as The Champion, each offers its own unique setting: a touch of Scottish links at The Palmer, a pleas-ant mix of hazard-framed fairways and open meadows at The Estates, and a very challenging 6,475 yards from the tips at The Squire.

For players who also want to work on their game, there are few places any-where in the country with a program as comprehensive as PGA National. Two of the game’s most well-known instruc-tors are located here with the David Leadbetter Golf Academy and the Dave Pelz Scoring Game School. In addition, the Titleist Performance Institute will examine a player’s swing in great detail and design a workout program tailored specifi cally around an individual’s needs and physical abilities.

But that’s not all. The resort boasts a nationally acclaimed, 40,000-square-foot European spa that offers more than 100 different treatments.

If it seems as though PGA National hasn’t overlooked anything, others concur. Among those including honors

DESTINATION

Golf Getaways | South Florida

By Mike Dudurich

There are plenty of places to play in South Florida, but two spots also offer golfers the chance forexpert instruction

TOP TRAVEL TIPCheck out the live music at B.B. King’s,

located in the heart of West Palm

Beach’s new, vibrant City Center. Then

make the 10-minute walk to Rocco’s

Tacos, where the menu is highlighted

by guacamole created tableside,

and margaritas made with any of 230

tequilas kept in stock.

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for PGA National are Golfweek, Golf and Links magazines as well the respected AAA, Mobil and Zagat ratings.

PGA GOLF CLUBDesigned by acclaimed golf course architects Tom Fazio and Pete Dye, there are three 18-hole courses at PGA Village with each of them having earned Audubon International Signature status for their effots in environmental preservation.

While the Wanamaker Course is set against a back-drop of native Florida wet-lands, palm trees and pal-mettos, the Ryder Course has more of a Carolina feel. The Dye Course is com-pletely different, featuring wide expanses of pine-straw roughs and coquina waste bunkers.

PGA Golf Club, owned and operated by the PGA of Amer-ica, has been included on the list of the best 75 golf resorts in North America by Golf Digest. One of the corner-

stones of the facility is the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance, a 35-acre golf instruction, practice, tech-nology and fi tness facility that is home to the PGA of America golf schools.

WEST PALM BEACHLocated nine miles north of West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach Country Club is owned and operated by the Village of North Palm Beach. The 18-hole, Nicklaus-designed golf course is

the second municipal course designed by Nicklaus and also is the only year-round municipal “Signature” course in the United States. Renovations were completed in 2006 and improvements included a new irrigation system, new greens construction and improved fairway surface draining.

Players won’t have more fun on a golf course than they will at Palm Beach Par 3, set on a windswept strip of land with the Intercoastal Waterway on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Golf Digest has called this the best par 3 course in the country, a lofty reputation that most likely is deserved considering its heritage of having been created by the famed golf course architect tandem of Dick Wilson and Joe Lee.

THE FLORIDA CLUBThe public-access facility, located just west of Stuart, is set in “old” Florida with long, wide fairways surrounded by stately ancient oaks, pines and palmettos.

“The philosophy here is that you can come here to play golf, be treated by a friendly, helpful staff and play a golf

course with a lot of character,” said Tom Welz, the club’s gen-eral manager. Welz has been operating the course since a new owner bought The Florida Club late in 2009, and since then, conditions have been upgraded.

The course is reminiscent of Old Florida, with abundant wildlife and wetlands and a pic-turesque, tranquil layout not typically associated with real estate golf course developments in Florida.

“There is a lot of nature out here, but it’s not a golf course where there is no room left to hit a golf ball,” Welz said. “It’s chal-lenging, but not unfair to the average golfer.”

Now a freelance writer, Mike Dudurich was a longtime golf writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

PGA Golf Club features a top-notch learning facility.

Perhaps it only seems water

hazards are everywhere at The

Champion at PGA National.

NOVEMBER 2010 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER | 25 NOVEMBER 2010 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER | 25


Mitch Landrieu, the mayor of New Orleans, had a message to deliver

to the world as the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent levee failures that flooded 80 percent of the Crescent City for almost a month in September 2005 drew near.

“We’re here. We’re unbowed. We’re unbroken,’’ Landrieu said with the force of a Category 5 storm.

Is the work fi nished? Hardly.Does the city still have its share of

fl ood-related problems and lingering effects of the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill that came as a result of the deadly explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig in May? Absolutely.

But make no mistake. Despite the damage from oil and water, New Orleans, like its freshly minted mayor, is showing its tireless spirit and displaying its uncommon resiliency while singing its resurrection song.

It remains one of the world’s favorite destinations, what with its sumptuous food, amazingly diverse music, Old World architecture and abundant hunting and fi shing nearby. While that alluring foursome always is in play for visitors, let’s not forget golf deserves its place in the tourism equation.

The Crescent City has the distinction of featuring three courses—Lakewood Golf Club, English Turn Golf and Country Club and the TPC of Louisiana—that have played host to the PGA Tour, plus several others—Oak Harbor Golf Club, Audubon Golf Club and the new kid on the golf block, LaTour Golf Club—that provide intense challenges despite the too-near-sea-level landscape.

Lakewood Golf Club, the original home of the New Orleans Open, has been reborn as a lasting tribute to the city’s determination after Katrina and

to fi remen everywhere. It is open to the public and is a must-play for golfers in the Big Easy.

The club was saved from bankruptcy by the New Orleans Firefi ghters Pension Fund in 2003, which began a $9 million renovation in July 2005, just about a month before the hurricane struck, causing the levee breaches. The golf course reopened in 2009 with several new holes and some spitting images of the old ones.

The 18th hole is particularly unique. Architect Ron Garl designed fl ame-shaped bunkers that make for a dramatic mid-iron approach shot into the green. There also is an image of a New Orleans fi reman carved out of one of the many cypress trees that once lined the fairways but were lost in the storm.

English Turn, designed by Jack Nicklaus, opened in 1988. The Golden Bear added gallery berms and spectator

mounds all along the course. Although designed specifi cally for the PGA Tour’s USF&G Classic, the par-72 course is 7,078 yards long, but has four sets of tees for players of all ability levels.

Nicklaus did not employ the architectural cookie cutter here. Each hole challenges the player with its own personality. The greens are notoriously undulating and challenging, yet fair for the club member and pros alike. The famed 18th was consistently rated one of the most diffi cult on the PGA Tour.

TPC Louisiana followed the PGA Tour progression when the Pete Dye design opened in 2005. Working in conjunction with PGA Tour players Steve Elkington and New Orleans native Kelly Gibson, Dye created a monster of a 7,600-yard, par-72 layout that sits on low property and utilizes natural vegetation, including towering cypress trees.

DESTINATION

Golf Getaways | New Orleans

New Orleans has overcome the aftermath of Katrina and wants the rest of the world to know that it’s back in business

OPEN

Lakewood Golf Club was formerly the site of the area’s PGA Tour event.

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Players will fi nd the track perfectly conditioned and should choose their set of tees (there are four) with caution as the sheer length can be overwhelming. That said, there is a collection of short but challenging par-4 holes that complement the mammoth ones.

Oak Harbor Golf Club is located in Slidell, a 30-minute jaunt from downtown. The course is rated 4.5 stars by Golf Digest.

Its main features are the punishing water hazards that come into play on 14 holes, making accuracy off the tee vital. The course becomes a real bear when the winds kick up off nearby Lake Pontchartrain.

Aubudon is an executive course that

provides a lovely change of pace. But don’t be fooled by its par (62) or its length (4,220 yards) from the tips. It isn’t your grandfather’s idea of a pitch and putt.

Located just minutes from downtown, the Denis Griffi ths design combines more than 100 years of history with the latest in golf course architecture as it meanders among four lagoons, exquisite landscaping and magnifi cent oak trees that are more than 100 years old. And it is more than up to any challenge as four of the course’s 12 par 3s check in right at 200 yards.

The course, redesigned in 2001 and reopened in October 2002, is built on the site of the 1884 World’s Fair. It continues to draw high praise from writers and course raters alike as Golf Digest assigned it 4.5 stars while calling it “the most scenic and interesting spot’’ to play golf in New Orleans.

LaTour, co-designed by Louisiana native David Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship winner, and Ken Morgan of Morgan Golf Design, opened late in 2009 in Mathews, approximately

35 miles from downtown New Orleans. Again, the ride is worth it.

The golf course, precisely carved out of sugarcane fi elds, boasts a 7,232-yard, par-72 layout that features expertly conditioned “Mini-Verde” ultra-dwarf greens with abundant water, pure white sand bunkers and 75 acres of native grass areas.

It provides enough of a stern test to challenge the old-standbys for a place among Louisiana’s best courses. Again, selecting the proper tees among LaTour’s four sets allows the player to match the course to his or her skill level.

As most are aware, New Orleans’ action doesn’t stop once the last putt is holed. The city features approximately 900 restaurants that serve up some of the world’s best food, clubs that provide intriguing music and watering holes that can quench any thirst. Among the most famous avenues in the world, Bourbon Street is a must for every visitor.

Dave Lagarde is a freelance journalist who was a longtime golf writer for TheTimes-Picayune in New Orleans.

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LaTour is one of the newest courses in the New Orleans area.

TOP TRAVEL TIPThe Acme Oyster House is located in

the heart of the famed French Quarter.

It’s a legendary establishment that

celebrated its 100th anniversary this

year, and the awards it has secured

from food and travel writers are far

too numerous to list.


PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

T here are certain traits common to all champions. Talent is one; desire

is another. Those two, combined with the ability to focus in stressful moments, are foremost in the attributes of the Chicago District Golf Association’s three players of the year for 2010, as earned through the CDGA’s point system.

Bennett Blakeman captured the CDGA Player of the Year title. Todd Mitchell, Mr. Reliable from Bloomington, earned Central Illinois honors for the sixth time. And Dave Ryan took the senior player title for the second year running.

There were close races for the CDGA players of the year, but Dave Ryan ensured that wasn’t the case in the senior ranksBy Tim Cronin

Merit BADGES

As magic carpet rides go, the one taken by Bennett Blakeman in 2010 wasn’t bad.

The 23-year-old played in the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur, having his brother Brenten, a fi ne player himself, on his bag at the Open. He made it to the semifi nals of the CDGA Amateur. He tied for second at the Illinois State Amateur. Blakeman managed all that while interning and working toward his MBA at Loyola University.

“Experience-wise, I could not have asked for anything more,” Blakeman said. “Qualifying for the Open opened a lot of doors. I would have liked to

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Bennett BLAKEMAN

Bennett Blakeman

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CDGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1. Bennett Blakeman (Burr Ridge) 750

2. Todd Mitchell (Bloomington) 635

3. Vince India (Deerfi eld) 625

4. Tim Sheppard (East Peoria) 500

5. Dave Ryan (Taylorville) 385


have played better in the Open and the Amateur, but between school and work, golf was left to weekends or evening practice. It was hard to stay super sharp.

“When I get it going, I can throw darts at the greens with the best of ’em. I think the only thing that held me back this year was my touch around the greens.”

Blakeman is being tough on himself. The fi nal 200 points of the 750 he earned came through his fi nish at the State Amateur. That gave him the cushion he needed to hold off Todd Mitchell of Bloomington after Mitchell’s U.S. Mid-Amateur run.

So what will the recent graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University do for an encore?

“I’m going to take a run at professional golf,” Blakeman said. “I’ve sent my money in to play the Gateway Tour in Arizona, and at the end of next year, I’d like to try Q-School. With the economy the way it is, jobs aren’t easy to come by. For golf, it’s pretty much now or never. I would hate to look back someday and say I didn’t give it a shot.”

Three in a row, fi ve of the last six and six of the last eight. That’s Todd Mitchell’s Central Illinois Player of the Year run.

That makes him the Yankees of mid-state golf—fi tting for the former shortstop on Illinois State’s baseball team, who also played in the Yankee farm system. While Mitchell, who came back to golf after college because, he said, “I wanted to be competitive in something,” has found that little carries over from the diamond to the fi rst tee, he feels one thing does.

“Golf is such a mental grind,” Mitchell said. “In baseball, there’s a lot of standing around. In golf, you have to be very patient. But while in baseball,

you’re reacting to what others do, in golf, the ball’s just sitting there. There’s no one else to blame.”

Mitchell, a 31-year-old businessman, started his year by winning the Illinois State Mid-Amateur for the second time in the last three years, and in dramatic fashion. Forced into a three-hole playoff with Tim Sheppard, Mitchell birdied the fi rst hole at White Eagle and eagled the second before settling for par on the third.

“That’s a pretty good three-hole stretch,” Mitchell said.

It kickstarted a season that included a tie for fourth in the State Am. He capped his season by advancing to the second round of the U.S. Mid-Amateur, but stopping that early was not on his agenda. “It kind of left a sour taste in my mouth,” Mitchell said. “But, you try to learn from your mistakes.”

Consider that result pinned to Mitchell’s mental bulletin board for the winter, and expect that next year, when he sets his goals for the year, they will be high.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Todd MITCHELL

CD

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Todd Mitchell

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1. Todd Mitchell (Bloomington) 635

2. Tim Sheppard (East Peoria) 500


4. John Ehrgott (Peoria) 300

4. Tommy Bliefnick (Decatur) 300


PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Dave Ryan was having a very good year. He’d already placed second in the Illinois State Public Links, was a semifi nalist in the CDGA Senior Amateur and was the low qualifi er in the CDGA Amateur.

Then the year got better. He tied for third in both the Illinois State Senior Amateur and Illinois Senior Open.

Then the year got better still. He qualifi ed for and made it to the Sweet 16 round of the U.S. Senior Amateur.

“Any time you qualify for a USGA event, that tops off your year,” said Ryan, a 56-year-old retired businessman. “And to make it to the Sweet 16, that was a neat experience.”

Ryan’s big year earned him Senior Player of the Year honors for the second straight year in as many times as he’s been eligible. It also included tying for 10th at the State Mid-Am, which contributed points toward the whopping total of 710 he accumulated to beat runner-up Tom Miler by 420.

“I just played consistently all year long,” Ryan said.

Next year could be better still.“Since I made match play in the

U.S. Senior Amateur, I’m exempt for the British Senior Amateur,” Ryan said. “It’s at Royal Portrush next year. After I was knocked out of the Sweet 16, Joel Hirsch called me and gave me a pep talk, and strongly suggested that I play there. I think I will.”

Tim Cronin covers golf for the Southtown Star.

CDGA SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dave RYAN

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CDGA SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR


2. Tom Miler (Kewanee) 290

3. Greg Wohlford (Bloomington) 250

4. Rick TenBroeck (Evergreen Park) 245

5. Tommy Robinson (Riverwoods) 235

When the weather outside is frightful and the oppressive

grip of winter becomes too much to bear, golfers give

Jack Frost the cold shoulder by indulging in the country’s

hottest winter golf getaways! Those formerly doomed to

the bleak, golfless days of winter are now ditching their

parkas in favor of putters and enjoying the sweet escape

of warmer climes. From Southern hospitality to amazing

desert localities, golf’s greatest warm-weather destinations

are guaranteed to turn every player’s winter drear into

sunny golf cheer.

When

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S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E CT I O N

Desert Mountain


set within a collection of secluded villages. Rich in high Sonoran

splendor and style, the community also features six award-winning

clubhouses, a first-class spa, fitness and tennis facilities, two

swimming pools, nine miles of hiking trails and endless recreational

options, activities and events – thus making Desert Mountain the

perfect haven for the private member purist.

For more information about Desert Mountain’s four-season

community, call 800.255.5519 or visit www.DesertMountain.com.

� ince its celebrated opening in 1987, no other club has come

to define upscale desert living and superior championship

golf more than Desert Mountain. Widely acknowledged

as one of the finest private residential golf communities

in the world, this master-planned development has taken full

advantage of its idyllic location and extraordinary weather, creating

an exceptional enclave where residents can enjoy incredible golf

even as the cold grip of winter sets in across the rest of the country.

Brilliantly painted across the Northern Arizona desertscape, Desert

Mountain rests within one of the planet’s most awe-inspiring

settings and is the only completely exclusive luxury residential

community with six internationally renowned Jack Nicklaus

Signature Golf Courses – the most in any one location on Earth.

Whether it’s Renegade, Cochise, Geronimo, Apache, Chiricahua

or Outlaw, each spectacular course boasts its own unique personality,

character, features and feel.

From dramatic elevation changes and fascinating strategic

challenges to rolling fairways and a more traditional style of play,

each course is decidedly different from the next; however, one

aspect remains constant: pervasive scenic beauty. With their

breathtaking desert views and sweeping mountain vistas, these

courses are considered by many to be the designer’s most

picturesque creations. Desert Mountain also lays claim to one of

the most extensive golf practice facilities in Arizona, complete with

multiple pitching, chipping, putting and bunker areas, as well as

four separate practice ranges with target greens.

More than just unparalleled golf, Desert Mountain’s unsurpassed

lifestyle experience affords the ultimate in private club living. The

outstanding 8,000-acre community offers a stunning array of

custom homesites, elegant estates and tasteful courtyard homes, all

Cochise course at Desert Mountain

Outlaw Clubhouse at Desert Mountain

��

Obtain the Property Report or its equivalent required by Federal and State law and read it before signing anything. No Federal or State agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. The Desert MountainClub is a private facility. All golf courses and amenities, other than community trails, are part of The Desert Mountain Club. See governing documents of the Club for terms, conditions and costs. Prices are subject to changewithout notice. Properties were available at time of publication. © 2010 Desert Mountain Associates, Inc.

37700 N. Desert Mountain Pkwy.Scottsdale, Arizona 85262

DesertMountain.com800.941.3874

Since it’s inception in 1986, The Desert Mountain Club, renowned for its collectionof six championship Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, recreational amenities andarchitecturally acclaimed homes, has attracted an incredibly diverse membershipfrom around the globe.

Desert Mountain has remained committed to providing the world’s finest private clubexperience. With unparalleled service in a casual Southwestern setting, our members,their friends and family enjoy a lifestyle that is truly without equal.

A Deferred Equity Golf Membership gives full access to all Desert Mountain amenities.

To learn more about membership opportunities at Desert Mountain please call800.941.3874 or www.DesertMountain.com

Chiricahua Clubhouse, one of six award-winning clubhouses at Desert Mountain.Chiricahua Clubhouse, one of six award-winning clubhouses at Desert Mountain.


enhanced by the 12,000-square-foot Gallery Sports Club that

boasts a full-service fitness and training facility, complete with a

lap pool, recreational pool and lighted tennis, basketball and

volleyball courts.

For more information about The Gallery’s exclusive golf lifestyle,

call 520.744.4700 or visit www.GalleryGolf.com.

� et in the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains, The Gallery

at Dove Mountain inspires a true sense of belonging by

offering all the hallmarks of upscale desert living

surrounded by the striking beauty of Southern Arizona.

Among The Gallery’s most appealing qualities are its low

population density, variety of lifestyle opportunities and near-

perfect weather year round. So when the snow starts to fall across

the country, residents of this exceptional community can enjoy

their own winter golf getaway in The Gallery’s natural high Sonoran

Desert setting.

In addition to the temperate climate, The Gallery also presents

members with the finest in desert golf. Stretching over 7,410

picturesque yards of lush greenery, the par-72 Gallery North Course features sweeping high Sonoran views in every direction.

Golf course architect John Fought and British Open Champion

Tom Lehman have created a course reminiscent of more traditional

designs, resulting in 18 irresistible holes that are enjoyable for

golfers of all levels.

Embracing the natural beauty of the land by incorporating countless

native trees into its design, the 7,468-yard, par-72 Gallery South Course – host of the 2007 and 2008 World Golf Championships-

Accenture Match Play Championship – features subtle elevation

changes, 360-degree views from every hole and thousands of giant

Saguaros that rise majestically above the natural desert vegetation

and wash areas. The South’s construction and design pay homage

to the great Donald Ross’ Pinehurst No. 2, offering golfers a truly

spectacular glimpse of golf heaven.

Adding to the overall experience, the 30,000-square-foot Gallery Clubhouse features award-winning cuisine, attentive service and

more than 100 gallery-quality works of art. The Gallery is further

The Gallery

Gallery South Course at The Gallery

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Life Everything you need to make the most of yours is at The Gallery.Immaculate playing surfaces over 36 holes of acclaimed high desert golf. A Sports Club that fulfi lls your every fi tness and recreational interest. A memorable dining experience awaits you; pairing warm friendly service with exceptional menu selections in our award-winning restaurant. A limited number of Introductory Memberships with full privileges are available. The Overlook is The Gallery’s newest residential offering with 14 custom homes accessed by private gate overlooking The Gallery North course. Start living your dream.

Life Is What You Make Of It. ffe diningnu

ctory s

For Introductory Membership and golf information, contact Jennifer Price at (520) 744-4700.

gallerygolf.com


For more information on enjoying an exclusive winter getaway at

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, call 480.293.5000 or visit

www.JWDesertRidgeResort.com.� he radiant bronze sands of the Sonoran Desert and

the majestic McDowell Mountains create a perfect

backdrop for the ultimate Southwestern escape at the

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Featuring

unrivaled golf, unsurpassed amenities and an extraordinary year-

round climate, this newly refurbished resort paradise has truly

solidified its place as one of the premier destinations for winter golf

getaways in the Grand Canyon State and beyond.

The resort’s Wildfire Golf Club is a desert gem with two world-

class, 18-hole golf courses that embody the true spirit of Arizona.

Crafted by master golf course architect Arnold Palmer, the

7,145-yard Palmer Signature Course incorporates elements of

traditional desert courses by allowing its fairways to fade into the

rugged terrain. The Faldo Championship Course, named for its

legendary architect, sits on 174 spectacular acres of Arizona scenery

lined with Saguaro cacti and desert fauna. Reminiscent of the

Australian sandbelt courses, the 6,846-yard track features generous

fairways, MiniVerde Bermuda greens and 106 sand bunkers.

After a round on either of these award-winning courses, guests

can take a dip in one of the resort’s five sparkling pools or float

down the famous Lazy River. When it’s time to dine, guests

can experience tantalizing cuisine in the exceptional Meritage Steakhouse adjacent to the golf club or at numerous casual dining

options at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa – including

Blue Sage, Just a Splash and Spa Bistro – along with other

gourmet restaurants like Ristorante Tuscany and Roy’s.

With its unique architectural design and distinctive surroundings

that encourage life balance and afford the freedom to unwind and

explore, the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is a welcome

retreat in the Arizona landscape.

Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

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Spa treatment at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

Unlimited golf.Unlimited luxury.At JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, golf and luxuryhave no limits. Start the day with unlimited golf on the Palmer Signature Course or Faldo Championship Course, then unwindin sparkling pools and waterways, enjoy mouth-wateringcuisine and relax with libation’s under the desert sky.

Unlimited Golf Experience For Two

from $189/night�� all golf, spa and tennis retail merchandise, and more.

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��!�"#%��& �� !'��(�� &��)�� *�� +�and tennis retail merchandise, and much more.

0��(� ��2��)2"')3��3��(�� marriott.com/PHXDR and request promo code H47.

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bunkers that simulate play worldwide, short-game areas, practice

greens and the renowned PGA of America Golf Schools.

Home to golf’s four major championship trophies, PGA Village’s

complimentary PGA Historical Center completes the unrivaled

experience by showcasing such rare golf artifacts as Donald Ross’

workbench and the oldest known written mention of golf. The

museum often highlights special exhibits, such as tributes to the

PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.

For more information on enjoying an unforgettable winter

golf getaway to PGA Village, please call 800.800.GOLF or visit

www.PGAVillage.com.

� egendary for its heritage, spectacular setting and truly

immaculate amenities, PGA Village is presently the only

public-access resort in the world owned and operated by

The PGA of America. Providing the perfect winter golf

escape as the temperatures begin to drop, PGA Village – which

offers a unique private deposit membership program – is also

one of Florida’s finest gems and continuously ranks among the

country’s best golf destinations.

Featuring 54 holes of championship golf crafted by famed architects

Tom Fazio and Pete Dye, PGA Golf Club presents a trio of golf

treasures whose environmental protection and conservation

efforts have earned Audubon International Signature status and

recognition as a pilot member of the Audubon Lifestyles Sustainable

Golf Facility Program for green energy practices.

Set against a backdrop of marshlands, palm trees and palmettos,

the Fazio-designed Wanamaker Course – named in honor of

Rodman Wanamaker, the department store magnate who inspired

the birth of The PGA – boasts a classic Florida layout that is among

the state’s most picturesque. Meanwhile, the rolling hills, majestic

pine trees and challenging water hazards of Fazio’s Ryder Course

offer a distinct Carolina feel. And, blending its awe-inspiring

surroundings with design elements from traditional British Isles

courses, the celebrated Dye Course highlights both its native

environment and its designer’s penchant for innovative and

creative course architecture.

The PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance is a must-

visit instruction and practice haven that enables golfers to focus on

each aspect of their game via expert PGA Professional instruction,

cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art golf fitness programs.

The 35-acre golf park features 100 hitting stations, numerous

Ryder Course at PGA Golf Club

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Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club

GREAT GOLF. GREAT RESORT.

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members the opportunity to reach elite status levels and earn

complimentary rounds of golf, discounts on golf merchandise,

special offers and invitations to exclusive golf events.

Enjoy unsurpassed guest service with excellent amenities,

exquisite dining and sensational courses. Experience the luxury of

Troon Golf at Arizona’s best golf properties. For reservations or

information, call 888.TROON.US or visit www.TroonGolf.com.

� oaring red mesas, a near-perfect climate and unbelievable

golf epitomize life in the Southwest, and there is no

better way to enjoy the hallmarks of this region than with

Troon Golf. A leader in golf course management, Troon

Golf grants players access to the best of Arizona’s premier golf

destinations year round, allowing them to let the worries of the

world slip away as they tee it up alongside blazing bronze canyons

and perfectly poised cacti.

Founded in 1990, Troon Golf creates unforgettable experiences at

the world’s greatest private, daily-fee and resort golf properties by

providing superior service, outstanding amenities and unparalleled

playing opportunities. For more than two decades, millions of

golfers have chosen Troon Golf-managed courses to enjoy the

finest in agronomic conditioning and top-quality golf. As a result,

Troon Golf has become recognized as the first luxury brand in the

golf industry and the world’s leading developer and manager of

high-end golf.

Further enhancing the exceptional services offered by Troon is the

Troon Golf Card, which allows each cardholder and a guest to

receive up to 50 percent off green fees at Troon Golf’s incredible

family of Arizona facilities – an astounding collection of golf that

includes such prestigious courses as Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, Copper Canyon Golf Club, Golf Club of Estrella, Moon Valley Country Club, Sanctuary Golf Course,

StoneRidge Golf Course, SunRidge Canyon Golf Club,

Ocotillo Golf Resort, The Phoenician, Poston Butte Golf Club, Talking Stick Golf Club, Troon North Golf Club, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass.

As an added benefit, cardholders are automatically registered

for Troon Rewards, golf’s premier loyalty program, granting

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The highly acclaimed We-Ko-Pa Golf Club boasts its own pair

of celebrated courses nestled in the Valley of the Sun, including

Saguaro, a walkable masterpiece that ranks No. 1 in Arizona on

Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list, and Cholla, which

presents golfers with raw natural beauty and unprecedented serenity.

For more information on any of these exceptional courses, call

480.816.1234 (Eagle Mountain), 480.807.5400 (Longbow),

623.935.2500 (Palm Valley), 480.836.9000 (We-Ko-Pa) or

visit www.OBSports.com/Arizona.

� elcome to Arizona – a place so captivating, you

may never want to leave. Soaring Saguaros,

fiery red rock formations and dramatic

golden canyons characterize the beauty of the

Grand Canyon State, and for golfers looking to escape winter’s

icy chill, OB Sports Golf Management presents golfers with an

extraordinary array of courses that offer the perfect way to

experience the area’s splendor.

Taking full advantage of the untouched desert landscape, Eagle Mountain Golf Club snakes its way through shaded box canyons

and majestic mountain peaks to deliver an exhilarating round of

Southwestern golf.

Meanwhile, Longbow Golf Club – which ranks among the top 20

layouts in Arizona on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list –

follows a strategic routing that remains free of both homes and

roads to create an invigorating round that speaks to the essence of

Arizona golf.

Boasting striking diversity, Palm Valley Golf Club features two

fun-filled layouts located just minutes from West Valley’s popular

sporting facilities. The Palms Course serves up a creative blend of

resort and desert-style golf, while the mid-length Lakes Course provides incredible value as well as the perfect spot for a quick round.

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Eagle Mountain Golf Club

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ARIZONAGolfSpectacular

eaglemtn.com480.816.1234

longbowgolf.com480.807.5400

wekopa.com480.836.9000

palmvalleygolf.com623.935.2500

��S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E CT I O N

classic Scottish ambiance with natural desert terrain for a

memorable layout from start to finish.

For more information on the Vegas winter golf getaway of a

lifetime, call 888.851.4114 or visit www.OBSports.com/Vegas. �

� o place does thrilling, one-of-a-kind golf better than

Las Vegas – The City of Entertainment. Where

action and excitement are inescapable, this

electrifying town in the heart of the Nevada desert is

known as one of the game’s most extraordinary destinations. And

with so many incredible options, golfers look to OB Sports Golf Management to find the area’s best courses for the perfect winter

golf escape.

Gleaming against the stunning desert background, OB Sports’

Angel Park Golf Club and The Legacy Golf Club outshine even

the brightest of lights on the Vegas Strip. In a city of extravagance,

this duo boasts courses that are so good, they’re practically sinful.

Overlooking Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Valley, Angel

Park Golf Club features four unique courses atop an elevation of

nearly 3,000 feet. Creative design elements and intriguing hazards

test both skill and strategy on the Palm and Mountain Courses,

while the lighted Cloud Nine Short Course and the nine-hole,

natural grass World’s Original Putting Course offer fun and

enjoyment for all.

Every bit the premier Vegas course, The Legacy Golf Club – home

to the notorious “Devil’s Triangle” and “The Suits” (featuring tee

boxes carved into the shape of playing card suits) – combines Angel Park Golf Club

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angelpark.com/chicago

702-254-4653

thelegacygc.com/chicago

702-897-2187

Call 888-851-4114 or visit www.angelpark.com/chicago

starting at

STAY & PLAYLas Vegas

$132room, rental car and golf


T H E L AT E S T G E A R F O R T H E G A M EH E L AT E S T G E A R F O R T H E G A M E

UNDER ARMOURIt’s a must to stay warm on the course when the weather turns cold, but often a jacket will limit mobility. With Under Armour’s Women’s Prime 1/4 Zip Fleece, you can stay warm and still play your best without being weighed down. The wind-resistant materials block out the wind without restricting mobility with a fabric that won’t get in the way of a swing. The sleeve construction allows for a full range of motion. It is water-resistant and the style features a thermal microfl eece inner layer that keeps a player warm, dry and comfortable. (Not available online; can be purchased only at on-course golf shops.)MSRP: $70

CLEATSKINS GOLFCleatskins Golf is a new footwear accessory for players who are often on the go. It’s a rubber shell that fi ts over golf shoes so a golfer can enter the clubhouse, head home or on to your next activity without having to change out of your golf shoes. Cleatskins also keeps grass, dirt and mud from leaving a trail and protects rubber cleats from wearing out too quickly. Easy to clean, Cleatskins can be hosed off or thrown in the washing machine and are available in several different colors. MSRP: $25 cleatskinsgolf.com

JACKSON MARKINGLooking for a unique, personalized gift? Jackson Marking has introduced a golf ball stamp that allows players to customize their golf balls. The stamp is small enough to keep in a golf bag and the permanent ink dries within seconds. The golf ball stamp can be customized with initials, a name, logo or message that will fi t within 14 letters. Ink choices are black, blue or red. MSRP: $28 rubber-stamp.com

With the bustling holiday shopping period just a few weeks away, it’s that

time of year to stock up for the next golf season. If there’s a golfer on your

holiday shopping list, there are countless products to choose from. At the most

recent PGA Merchandise Show, where golf manufacturers unveil the latest

lines, products and models, these items were among those that caught the

attention of Chicago District Golfer.


CMC GOLFNo matter where your allegiances lie, CMC Golf (partnered with McArthur Golf) brings team spirit to a new level out on the course. The line includes all sorts of golf items such as removable ball markers, balls, divot tools and more, all with your choice of sports logo. Choose from NCAA, MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL teams. MSRP: $13 (Cool Tool pictured) mcarthurgolfl ine.com

JAN CRAIGFor the traditional player, there’s nothing more classic than a hand-knit, wool headcover. Jan Craig headcovers are 100 percent wool and offered in a variety of color, size and style options to suit any player. There are more than 25 colors to choose from and yarn samples are available in the colors of your choice. The headcovers are knitted upon order and are custom made, which makes a great gift for the college golfer who wants to show school spirit with team colors.MSRP: $27- $42 jancraigheadcovers.com

HJ GLOVEWhen the weather gets chilly, HJ Glove has an answer for how to keep your hands warm when playing a round in the cold. The Winter Performance gloves still provide a good grip, but also incorporate thermal fl eece to keep the chill at bay. The glove comes in black for men, and black, mocha, red, orange, and gray for women. MSRP: $19 buyhjglove.com


By Ed Sherman

Golf will celebrate a special birthday this month. Errie Ball turns 100 on Nov. 14.

A party is on tap at Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart, Fla., where Ball lives, plays and teaches the game. He also will fi eld greetings from

all over the golf world. He will receive a salute from Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club, where Ball is the last surviving player from the fi rst Masters in 1934. They will drink a toast to him in his native Wales in honor of the player who competed in the 1926 British Open at the age of 15.

The connection runs deep in Chicago as well. He was an accomplished teaching professional for 30 years at Oak Park Country Club before moving on to a 27-year stint at Butler National Golf Club, serving as the host of several Western Opens at the club.

Anyone who sits around the grill room at Butler and mentions Ball’s name is likely to be there for a while because it seems as though every member has a favorite story about Ball.

“He’s really one of a kind,” said Butler head professional Bruce Patterson, who was hired by Ball. “I remember once he had an interview when he was 85. A reporter asked, ‘Can you still shoot your age?’ Errie replied, ‘Only when I shoot really bad.’ ”

For years, Patterson constantly told me, “You’ve got to go down to Willoughby to see Errie.” Finally I made the trip in March 2008.

I remember walking into the pro shop and seeing a man with a full head of silver hair, sitting in the corner, watching TV. Initially, I didn’t think it was Ball since he looked much younger than the frail 97-year-old man I expected to meet. But sure enough, it was him.

Ball greeted me with a fi rm hand shake. We chatted for a few minutes and then we were off to the range to watch Ball take a few swings.

“This you have to see,” said Gerry Knebels, the head professional at Willoughby.

Ball wrapped his hands around the driver with the same classic grip he had used for more than 90 years. His backswing was short and compact, defi nitely not as fl owing as it would have been in his younger years.

But when his club met the ball, the sound was unmistakable. There was the distinctive pop of center-cut contact.

Ed Sherman recalls the life and times of Errie Ball, a longtime fi xture as a head professional in the Chicago area who also played in the fi rst MastersBy Ed Sherman

Ed Sherman recalls the life and times of Errie Ball, a longtime fi xture as a head professional in the Chicago area who also played in the fi rst Masters

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Ball’s drive fl ew straight through the wind, landing nearly 200 yards out. Then the 97-year-old man did it again, and again and again.

Admiring the robotic consistency of Ball’s shots, Knebels said, “That’s like breathing for you and me.”

Indeed, Ball is living, breathing golf history. Soon we were off to lunch, and the stories began.

He competed in nearly 50 majors. He played rounds with Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, you name it.

It is the Masters that marks Ball’s most signifi cant moment in the game. He was in the fi eld for the fi rst tournament at Augusta National in 1934. (It was then known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament.)

“Good Lord, I’ve outlived all of them,” Ball said. “Whew.”

As a result, he is the only living witness who could recall what it was like to walk the fairways for that fi rst gathering. Ball never gets tired of telling the story.

The son of a golf professional, Ball says it was Jones who convinced him to come to the United States and work at East Lake Club in Atlanta. Ball’s uncle, Frank, was the head professional of the club (East Lake) that Jones called home.

By the way, don’t refer to Jones as “Bobby” around Ball.

“He never liked to be called ‘Bobby,’” Ball said. “He got that from the Scots. He always wanted to be called Bob.”

Ball spoke with utmost reverence about Jones, and with good reason. Jones changed his life.

“He was smart, brilliant,” Ball said. “He got his law degree in nothing fl at. To me, he was one of the nicest people I ever met. He said, ‘Errie, I think you can do well over here.’ He was right.”

Early on, Ball established his golf credentials with Jones by winning a local event. Jones even asked Ball to play some exhibition matches with him.

Nelson used to call the 5-foot-6-inch Ball, “The little man with the big stick.”

“Sam Snead and Gary Player said Errie had the best swing they ever

saw,” said Patterson. “He copied Bobby Jones’. Errie just had trouble with the putter.”

Ball eventually left Atlanta to go to Mobile, but in 1934, he received a letter from Jones, inviting him to play in a new tournament at a new course called Augusta National.

Ball didn’t think much of the event until he got the invitation.

“I was thrilled to death,” Ball said. “We all were. We knew if Bob put his name on it, it would be top notch.”

Ball, then 23, recalled thinking the course was beautiful. The atmosphere also was festive with on-course kegs and corn whiskey.

Ball had a great time until the fi nal round. He putted a ball off the green on what now is the 12th hole and wound up with an 86 to fi nish in a tie for 38th.

“I couldn’t get out of there fast enough,” Ball said.

Ball would return, earning a spot in the 1957 Masters. The 23 years between appearances still is a tournament record.

“You could see how the tournament had grown,” Ball said. “The galleries were large, almost like it is today. You could see then and there it had become one of the majors.”

The years have passed, but golf and Maxie, his wife of 75 years, still are at the center of his life.

Patterson says of Ball, “Nobody has hit more balls or shot his age more in the history of golf than Errie.”

As he approached 100, Ball had been a regular at the range, hitting balls and even giving an occasional lesson. However, he had a fall during the summer, which put him on the sidelines for a while.

Ball, though, remained as upbeat as ever. Soon he was back at the club and looking forward to his big birthday.

However, there’s a big downside from a golf perspective to turning 100. Now he’s really not pleased if he shoots his age.

Ed Sherman is a retired golf writer for the Chicago Tribune.

FEW PLAYERS, IF ANY, saw more golf history than Errie Ball. He played in the 1926 British Open at the age of 15. More than 80 years later, he still was active, hitting balls and giving lessons. Here is Ball’s breakdown of the best he’s seen in golf.Best driver: Sam Snead. “Long and straight. He had one of the best swings.”Best iron player: Tommy Armour. “Solid. He just hit everything so pure. He could put the ball wherever he wanted.” Best putter: Bobby Locke. “He could putt the eyes out. . . . Once he took a long time over a short putt. When he walked off the green (after making the putt), a man said to him, ‘Mr. Locke, you took a long time over that putt.’ Locke said, ‘Yeah, you know, I missed one once.’ ”Best showman: Walter Hagen. “I played behind him once at Pinehurst. On one hole, he missed a green to the right. He had some trees blocking him. He starts walking around forever, studying the shot. Meanwhile, I’m standing in the middle of the fairway. I thought he’d never get through. Finally, he hits his shot, and gets up and down for 4.

Damned if I didn’t put my shot in the same spot. But when I walked up, I saw the opening was as big as a house. He was just showing off for the crowd . . . but I didn’t get my par.”Best competitor: Ben Hogan. “Nobody knew more about the game. He had it down to a science. When he went out on the golf course, he was determined to win. He wasn’t going to lose.”Best player: Tiger Woods. “He is the best I’ve ever seen. He has everything. If Bob Jones had the same equipment, I don’t know who would win. They would have a real go at it.”

BALL’S BEST


Walking around the prac-tice greens at Blackberry Oaks Golf Course in Bris-tol, Ill., Chad Johansen

noticed something that disturbed him.Superintendent Steve Holich had

them running as smoothly as the greens on the club’s 18 holes, but that wasn’t Johansen’s issue. What Johansen noticed was that they were too green.

Johansen, the club’s head professional, had been prescribing his students a put-ting drill that included the use of a chalk line, yet he never saw the white powder on his practice greens. Not once.

Outside of his lessons, it appeared as though none of his players were doing the drills, especially with a chalk line. He wondered why.

Then a light bulb went on.He went to work, designing a putting

aid that made the chalk line unnecessary,

yet would let golfers practice putting in the best way possible. The result was The Perfect Putting Aid, a portable device that has already made its way to players on the PGA, Champions and Futures tours and has been used by some of the coun-try’s top amateurs.

“I defi nitely like the concept behind it,” said Rockford’s Brad Benjamin, who won the 2009 U.S. Public Links and played in the 2010 Masters and U.S. Amateur. “I haven’t used it enough to have a drastic, or even important, opinion about it, but it’s just nice that someone would take into consideration something like that and put the time and effort into it.”

The aid, which sells for $170, features a white putting line (similar to the chalk line), a mirror to check head and shoul-der position, three different distances to practice from and holes of two different widths to roll the ball through.

The tower helps to groove a putting stroke, providing a visual aid to check if a player’s stroke is on line.

“It’s a really good training aid to help you work on the fundamentals of put-ting,” said John Wright. “I work with it a minimum of three times a week, sometimes four. I’ve noticed a defi nite improvement. I feel like from 13 (feet) out it’s kind of a crapshoot because there are so many different variables, like ball marks, but I like to think inside 12 feet, I’m an extremely good putter and inside 5 feet I don’t miss too often.”

From idea to creation, the process included four revisions of the original prototype and took about seven months to get a fi nished product. But Johansen believes in the creation, which was completed in April, and his infectious personality and teaching style secured the endorsement of V1 Pro software company in late August.

It’s an important connection for Johansen, as V1 is one of the most widely used video analysis companies for PGA teaching professionals.

Of course, Johansen would like to see it as a regularly used practice tool by tour players. Until then, he’s work-ing on the grassroots level with his golf academy at Blackberry Oaks.

Club owner Gary Blocker has allowed

Caption

Having created what he believes is a valuable teaching aid, Chad Johansen’s next goal is a widespread awareness of the device

FIRST AIDBy Jim Owczarski

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Johansen to market himself and his academy, as well as build a state-of-the-art putting studio in the club’s pro shop.

“He’s on the cutting edge with this stuff,” Blocker said. “As you know, the golf business right now is kind of in a strain because of the economy, so Chad is just looking for any way he can to get us more business out there and he’s come up with a lot of things.

“We’re very happy, we’re very fortunate, to have him.”

Johansen says he’s just as fortunate to have Blocker, who has let him run his academies, create The Perfect Putting Aid and experiment with new teaching methods, such as text-messaged and e-mailed video lessons.

That freedom has also allowed him to speak to fellow Illinois PGA professionals about The Perfect Putting Aid.

“If you want to grow your lesson book, you’ve got to lower people’s scores,” Johansen said. “How do you lower people’s scores? You have to get

them putting better; you putt on every hole.”

Johansen is slowly getting the aid to his fellow pros, as well as high school and college coaches. There has been a soft launch of a website (theperfectputtingaid.com), but Johansen and some of the aid’s early users surmise there are bigger things on

the horizon.“He’s got to get it out to the masses,”

Wright said. “He’s got a really good thing. It’s a good training aid that moves around easily. I look forward to watching it take off because he’s got a good thing.”

Jim Owczarski is a sports writer for the Beacon News in Aurora.

Theoretically, by practicing with a much smaller target (above, left), the player will feel

more comfortable when faced with a customary hole width (above, right).

NIQUE.


Aldeen Golf Club Chris Beto (Men’s)

Arrowhead Country Club Troy Hoeffl in (Men’s)Gina Riley (Women’s)

Arrowhead Golf ClubDan Dempsey (Men’s)Steve Brown (Men’s Senior)

Barrington Hills Country Club Sally Douglas (Women’s)

Bartlett Hills Golf ClubRick Dern (Men’s)Kathy Braun (Women’s)Rein Rager (Men’s Senior)

Beverly Country Club Craig McDonnell (Men’s)Erin Kielty (Women’s)

Big Foot Country Club Richard Pfeil (Men’s)Patti Petersen (Women’s)Richard Pfeil (Men’s Senior)Kevin Ryan (Boys’ Junior)Maggie Jacobson (Girls’ Junior)

Biltmore Country Club Rick Herdrich (Men’s)Katie Lopez (Women’s)Skip Tonigan (Men’s Senior)Sue Swail (Women’s Senior)Mike Stathakis (Boys’ Junior)

Black Sheep Golf Club Brian Baker (Men’s)

Blackberry Oaks Golf Course John Wright (Men’s)

Blackstone Golf Club Steven Cunningham (Men’s)

Bolingbrook Golf Club John Walsh (Men’s)Kathy Kazmar (Women’s)

Bonnie Brook Golf Course Billy White (Men’s)Laura Miller (Women’s)

Boulder Ridge Country Club Mike Dryden (Men’s)Pat McGough (Women’s)Mike Dryden (Men’s Senior)Alex Arakawa (Boys’ Junior)Kaelee Martin (Girls’ Junior)

Bowes Creek Country Club Greg Malak (Men’s)

Briar Ridge Country Club Terry Werner (Men’s)Corinne Beavers (Women’s)Jim Kasprzyk (Men’s Senior)

Broken Arrow Golf Club Ryan Michals (Men’s)Kelly Sterling (Women’s)

Brookhill Golf Course Josh Borchardt (Men’s)

Bryn Mawr Country ClubScott Kaplan (Men’s)Angela Berman (Women’s)Robert Glick (Men’s Senior)

Bull Valley Golf Club Patrick Becker (Men’s)Janyce Dorr (Women’s)

Butler National Golf ClubDavid Lind (Men’s)Michael Sullivan (Men’s Senior)

Butterfi eld Country Club Paul Moreschi (Men’s)Nancy Sullivan (Women’s)Chas Bellock (Men’s Senior)

Calumet Country Club Ken Larney (Men’s)

Cantigny Golf Glenn Przybylski (Men’s)Carol Cook (Women’s)Don Hall (Men’s Senior)

Cardinal Golf Club David Griffi n (Men’s)

Charleston Country ClubJerry Myerscough (Men’s)Deb Landsaw (Women’s)

Chicago Highlands Jason Havens (Men’s)Danielle McDonald (Women’s)

Clinton Country Club Jeff Wisher (Men’s)Vickie Harbach (Women’s)

Cog Hill Golf & Country Club Christopher Beyer (Men’s)Gayle Green (Women’s)Steve Cass (Men’s Senior)

Conway Farms Golf ClubScott Rowe (Men’s)Reggie Timson (Women’s)Ron Porte (Men’s Senior)Matt Garrity (Boys’ Junior)

Country Club Of Peoria Scot Frankenreider (Men’s)Lou Tenarvitz (Women’s)Dave Krick (Men’s Senior)

Coyote Creek Golf Club Mel Emberton (Men’s)

Crane Creek Golf Course Lynn McKibben (Men’s)Paul Dorethy (Men’s Senior)

Cress Creek Country Club Paul Krentz (Men’s)Kathy Stoterau (Women’s)Dave Mead (Men’s Senior)

Crystal Lake Country ClubMargaret Newsom (Women’s) Terrie Doherty (Women’s Senior)Luke Waggoner (Boys’ Junior)

Crystal Tree Golf and Country ClubSteve Thompson (Men’s)Terri Kies (Women’s)Bob Wolski (Men’s Senior)

Crystal Woods Golf Club Richard Bender (Men’s)Therese Youel (Women’s)

Deerpath Golf Course Allen Davidson (Men’s)Ann Lerner (Women’s)Luke Massar (Boys’ Junior)

Dunes ClubLarry Kolinski (Men’s)Jane Thompson (Women’s)

Eagle Brook Country Club Doug McCoy (Men’s)Sue Erwin (Women’s)John Carroll (Men’s Senior)Janet Kolbe (Women’s Senior)

Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa Brian Botterweck (Men’s)Stephanie Easterling (Women’s)

East Bank Club Ben Neeley (Men’s)Mary Prescott (Women’s)

Edgewood Valley Country ClubJim Lynch (Men’s)Val Metcalf (Women’s)

Effi ngham Country Club Scott Kabbes (Men’s)Emily Calhoon (Women’s)Robert Nelson (Men’s Senior)Brandon Glotfelty (Boys’ Junior)Miranda Rolhfi ng (Girls’ Junior)

El Paso Golf Club Andy Mickelson (Men’s)Roxane Schulkins (Women’s)

Elgin Country Club Scott Mattas (Men’s)Kate Johnson (Women’s)

Forest Hills Country ClubJeff Holmgaard (Men’s)Marissa Milos (Women’s)Doug Smith (Men’s Senior)

Fox Bend Golf Course Sumeet Arora (Men’s)Nancy Hatten (Women’s)Ernie Ellis (Men’s Senior)Nick Pavlik (Boys’ Junior)Courtney Williams (Girls’ Junior)

Fox Run Golf Links Brian Frank (Men’s)Nancy Laser (Women’s)

Foxford Hills Golf Club Bob Kerbyson (Men’s)

The Glen ClubMatthew Horwitch (Men’s)Nancy Ross (Women’s)

Glen View Club Jason Baine (Men’s)Bridget Schroeder (Women’s)Ben Perks (Men’s Senior)

Glencoe Golf Club Arnold Levy (Men’s)Sandra Honaker (Women’s)Vince Militante (Men’s Senior)

Glenview Park Golf Club Michael Sabo (Men’s)Mary Kay Prchal (Women’s)David Lee (Men’s Senior)David Atas (Boys’ Junior)Arina Kim (Girls’ Junior)

Golf Club Of IllinoisGary Hanson (Men’s)

Green Acres Country Club Michael Slaven (Men’s)Celeste Center (Women’s)Keith Morton (Men’s Senior)Ben Udell (Boys’ Junior)

Harrison Park Golf Course Gary Hansgen (Men’s)Marsha Gritton (Women’s)

Hawthorn Woods Country ClubKevin Rafferty (Men’s)Sharon Trevino (Women’s)Dan Jones (Men’s Senior)Max Kozak (Boys’ Junior)

Hickory Point Golf CourseKraig Rogers (Men’s)

The Highlands of Elgin Golf ClubScott Cahill (Men’s)Jeff Lange (Men’s Senior)

Hillcrest Country Club Jason Price (Men’s)Lori Israel (Women’s)Les Block (Men’s Senior)

Hinsdale Golf Club Steve Swanson (Men’s)Linda Moran (Women’s)Jack Cooper (Men’s Senior)Curtiss House (Boys’ Junior)

2 0 1 0 C L U B C H A M P I O N S


Hubbard Trail Country Club Michael Davan (Men’s)Denise Bray (Women’s)

Hughes Creek Golf Club Scott Boan (Men’s)

Idlewild Country Club Joseph Wolski (Men’s)Lynn Gaby (Women’s)

Illini Country Club Nichole Inkel-Pongracz (Women’s)

Indian Hill Club Alex Moore (Men’s)Jan Douaire (Women’s)Lloyd Ferguson (Men’s Senior)Anne Murphy (Women’s Senior)Jack Lindblad (Boys’ Junior)Rebecca Lindblad (Girls’ Junior)

Indian Oaks Country Club Kyle Davis (Men’s)Kristen Richardson (Women’s)

Inverness Golf Club William Fitton (Men’s)Liz Rodney (Women’s)

Jacksonville Country Club Jim Costello (Men’s)Karen Benton (Women’s)

Kankakee Elks Country Club Damon Jensen (Men’s)Liz Gore (Women’s)

Kemper Lakes Golf Club Scott Rech (Men’s)Diane Ferron (Women’s)Hudson Luthringshausen (Boys’ Junior)

Kishwaukee Country Club Nick Schiavi (Men’s)Deb Norman (Women’s)Lou Cesarek (Men’s Senior)Jimmy Russell (Boys’ Junior)Maggie Russell (Girls’ Junior)

Knollwood Club Alisun Blanda (Women’s)Peter Marshall (Boys’ Junior)

LaGrange Country ClubRobert Powers (Men’s)Jill Christiansen (Women’s)Michael Harms (Men’s Senior)Peter Swanson (Boys’ Junior)

Lake Barrington Shores GC Ron Spears (Men’s)Dolores Rood (Women’s)Howard Knickels (Men’s Senior)

Lake Geneva Country Club Dick Pfeil (Men’s)Linda Ellis (Women’s)Bart Love (Men’s Senior)

Lake of the Woods Golf CourseKyle Hoch (Men’s)Kathryn Spitz (Women’s)Roger Odle (Men’s Senior)

Lake Shore Country ClubSteve Putzel (Men’s)Terri D’Ancona (Women’s)

Lakeview Country Club Doug McCoy (Men’s)Jeanna Short (Women’s)

Lansing Country Club Chuck Starcevich III (Men’s)Melissa Kerr (Women’s)

Lick Creek Golf Course Ed Whitaker (Men’s)Terry Schoedel (Men’s Senior)

Lincoln Oaks Golf Course Mark Haines (Men’s)Lindsey Haines (Women’s)

Lincolnshire Fields Country ClubTom Sternburg (Men’s)Barbara Harrington (Women’s)Dave Keeling (Men’s Senior)

Lockport Golf and Recreation ClubDrew Anderson (Men’s)Libby Hollatz (Women’s)

Lost Dunes Kevin Gratkowski (Men’s)Debbie Rugg (Women’s)

Makray Memorial Golf Club Larry Brady (Men’s)Colleen McArthur (Women’s)

Manteno GC and Learning CenterFrank Marassa (Men’s)Sharon Dionne (Women’s)

Marengo Ridge Golf and CCTerry McKenna Sr. (Men’s)Clara Hellmann (Women’s)Lenny Haines (Men’s Senior)

Mattoon Golf & Country Club Derek Meinhart (Men’s)Barbara Haberer (Women’s)

The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See ClubJohnny Canova (Men’s)Cindy Jacobson (Women’s)Al Bjork (Men’s Senior)Pat Rosonke (Women’s Senior)

McHenry Country Club Jim Kinney (Men’s)Char McLear (Women’s)Paul Wray (Men’s Senior)Alek Byers (Boys’ Junior)

Meadows Golf Club of Blue IslandTim Granville (Men’s)Corey Bailey (Women’s)Tony Grucel (Men’s Senior)Lauren Catinella (Women’s Senior)Luke Vidovic (Boys’ Junior)Maggie Casey (Girls’ Junior)

Medinah Country Club Douglas Auw (Men’s)Keiko Kushida (Women’s)Robert Fates (Men’s Senior)Ricky Gattone (Boys’ Junior)Dana Gattone (Girls’ Junior)

Merit Club April Freiburger (Women’s)

Minne Monesse Golf Course Bobby Shane (Men’s)John Brindley (Men’s Senior)

Mission Hills Country Club Tony Broomhead (Men’s)Mary Pendergast (Women’s)

Morris Country ClubGrant Whybark (Men’s)Cheri Russell (Women’s)

Mt. Hawley Country Club Brooks Biggs (Men’s)Jeanne Parkhurst (Women’s)

North Shore Country Club Phil Kenny (Men’s)Julie McCarron (Women’s)Bob Lorenz (Men’s Senior)Matt Murphy (Boys’ Junior)Caroline Newell (Girls’ Junior)

Northmoor Country Club Noah Kraff (Men’s)Susie Greenberg (Women’s)Vic Proeh (Men’s Senior)Chase Nathan (Boys’ Junior)Liza Kraff (Girls’ Junior)

Old Wayne Golf Club John Kumor (Men’s)

Olympia Fields Country Club Michael Haberkorn (Men’s)Kathy Mehl (Women’s)Robert Topel (Men’s Senior)Mickey Brick (Boys’ Junior)

Onwentsia Club James Altounian II (Men’s)Linda Steers (Women’s)Sam Lytle (Boys’ Junior)

Palatine Hills Golf Course Jared Steger (Men’s)Kim Dickerson (Women’s)Gibsyn Martin (Boys’ Junior)Alexis Bauer (Girls’ Junior)

Panther Creek Country Club Dale Blankenship (Men’s)Amy Erickson (Women’s)Dale Blankenship (Men’s Senior)Pam Sherry (Women’s Senior)Jake Marriott (Boys’ Junior)Maggie Ambrose (Girls’ Junior)

Park Ridge Country Club Craig Petersen (Men’s)Lisa Simpson (Women’s)Luke Wlodarski (Boys’ Junior)Katie Krall (Girls’ Junior)

Pekin Country Club Ed Ghelardini (Men’s)Kelly Aussieker (Women’s)Ron Juricic (Men’s Senior)Connor Cordts (Boys’ Junior)Brittney Hill (Girls’ Junior)

Pheasant Valley Men’s Club Pete Weiand (Men’s)Bill Weiand (Men’s Senior)

Pine Meadow Golf Club Steven Jacobs (Men’s)Jane Nam (Women’s)Kerry Dean (Men’s Senior)Doug Ghim (Boys’ Junior)Rachel Lawless (Girls’ Junior)

Plum Tree National Golf ClubBrent Filetti (Men’s)Ruthie Coffey (Women’s)Dave Harris (Men’s Senior)

Pontiac Elks Country ClubMike Cushing (Men’s)Nicki Rosenbaum (Women’s)

Pottawatomie Golf Club Gary Knight (Men’s)Kathy Braun (Women’s)Ken Harris (Men’s Senior)Taylor Kanute (Boys’ Junior)Ariana Furrie (Girls’ Junior)

Prairie Landing Golf Club Curt Frank (Men’s)

PrairieView Golf Club Brian Silvers (Men’s)Carla Leddy (Women’s)Bill Stevenson (Men’s Senior)Brady Szuminski (Boys’ Junior)Elizabeth Curtiss (Girls’ Junior)

Ravinia Green Country Club Richard Fahn (Men’s)Karan Schneider (Women’s)

Red Tail Run GC Dave White (Men’s)

Redtail Golf Club Neal Golyshko (Men’s)

Renwood Golf Course Andrew Wilson (Men’s)Betty Spanley (Women’s)

Ridge Country Club Marty Hynes (Men’s)Belinda Lusk (Women’s)

Ridgemoor Country Club Kevin Luttrell (Men’s)Dawn Puch (Women’s)Jack Burns (Boys’ Junior)

River Forest Country Club Bill Haggerty (Men’s)Karen Cushing (Women’s)Ho Yeal Yu (Men’s Senior)


Riverside Golf Club John Maentanis (Men’s)Geri McLauchlan (Women’s)David Alderman (Men’s Senior)Dan Hubert (Boys’ Junior)

Rochelle Country Club Josh Johnson (Men’s)Phyllis Roe (Women’s)

Rock River Golf and Pool Preston Boyd (Men’s)Deena Thatcher (Women’s)

Rockford Country ClubDana Kiley (Men’s) Pam Keeling (Women’s)

Royal Fox Country Club Eric Heil (Men’s)Pat Laverty (Women’s)

Royal Melbourne Steve Feldman (Men’s)Mary McCarthy (Women’s)Steve Feldman (Men’s Senior)Mary McCarthy (Women’s Senior)Ian Kelsey (Boys’ Junior)Nicole Crosby (Girls’ Junior)

Ruffl ed Feathers Golf Club Jim Keefe (Men’s)Janet Klas (Women’s)

Sanctuary Golf Course Glenn Przybylski (Men’s)Kathy Kazmar (Women’s)Herbert Charles Dollarhide (Men’s Senior)Marcia Englert (Women’s Senior)Will Knights (Boys’ Junior)Janet Robinson (Girls’ Junior)

Scovill Golf Club John Cremer (Men’s)

Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course Todd Linna (Men’s)

Shoreacres Christopher Burke (Men’s)Weezie Kramer (Women’s)Christopher Burke (Men’s Senior)Fitz Bowen (Boys’ Junior)

Soangetaha Country Club Coby Thompson (Men’s)Mary Robson (Women’s)Joe Deets (Men’s Senior)Joey Juergens (Boys’ Junior)Katarina Mangieri (Girls’ Junior)

South Side Country Club Arthur Binder (Men’s)Jody Bickes (Women’s)Jack Rebert (Men’s Senior)Shane Hawkins (Boys’ Junior)

Sportsman’s Country ClubBret Carroll (Men’s)Amy Binstein (Women’s)John Brandell (Men’s Senior)Brian Ohr (Boys’ Junior)

Spring Creek Golf Course Nicholas Potthoff (Men’s)Kathy Potthoff (Women’s)Philip Nanni (Boys’ Junior)Bekki Prokup (Girls’ Junior)

St. Andrews Golf and Country ClubMark Prysmiki (Men’s)Merritt Cook (Senior Men’s)

St. Charles Country Club Randy Spring (Men’s)Christine Kluck (Women’s)Matthew Vale (Boys’ Junior)

Stonebridge Country Club Bob Carlson (Men’s)Emily Miller (Women’s)Curt Stoelting (Men’s Senior)Joyce Duncan (Women’s Senior)Brian Salerno (Boys’ Junior)Kelly Anderson (Girls’ Junior)

Stonewall Orchard Golf Club Scott Dessing (Men’s)

Sunset Ridge Country Club Phil Callahan (Men’s)Dianne Weller (Women’s)Craig Clough (Men’s Senior)Brendan Gallagher (Boys’ Junior)

Sycamore Hills Golf Club Chad Gann (Men’s)

Tamarack Golf Club Matt Ingemi (Men’s)Bernadette Sims (Women’s)Carl Keller (Men’s Senior)

Timber Creek Golf Club Matt Hageman (Men’s)Mimi Boysen (Women’s)

Urbana Country Club Tom Brown (Men’s)Laura Schmitt (Women’s)C. G. Facer (Boys’ Junior)

Village Links Of Glen Ellyn Steve Kois (Men’s)Alison Bassetto (Women’s)Danny Schlesser (Boys’ Junior)

Westmoreland Country ClubTom Wiscomb (Men’s)Holly Mayfi eld (Women’s)

White Deer RunScott Wessel (Men’s)R.G. Francis (Men’s Senior)

White Eagle Golf Club Ron Potter (Men’s)Marilyn Pauls (Women’s)Ron Potter (Men’s Senior)Steven Powers (Boys’ Junior)Mallika Bhandari (Girls’ Junior)

White Hawk Country ClubSteve Kwasigroch (Men’s)Jennifer Vinovich (Women’s)

White Pines Golf ClubTed Zurkowski (Men’s)Bob Balnis (Men’s Senior)

Whitetail Ridge Golf Club Sumeet Arora (Men’s)Nancey Porro (Women’s)Greg Haldeman (Men’s Senior)

Winnetka Golf Club Brent Brouse (Men’s)Jeanne Scherer (Women’s)Patrick Dowdle (Men’s Senior)Marie Yellen (Women’s Senior)Michael Phillips (Boys’ Junior)Dana Gullen (Girls’ Junior)

Wolf Creek Golf Club Norm Burton (Men’s)Joan Varner (Women’s)Joe Elliott (Men’s Senior)

Woodbine Golf Course Matt Moss (Men’s)

Woodstock Country Club Patrick Kulisek (Men’s)Ellen Hamilton (Women’s)Walter Leucht (Men’s Senior)Michael Hartlieb (Boys’ Junior)Lok-Yan Fick (Girls’ Junior)

Youche Country ClubGeorge Kostoff (Men’s)Nancy Forsythe (Women’s)Bryan Boettger (Men’s Senior)

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At Cantigny Golf Academy, Our Season is just getting started.

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Whether you are anticipating playing the most exciting closing hole in golf or simply relishing walking in the footsteps

of golf’s greatest names, we invite you to become part of the legend on the courses of Pebble Beach Resorts. This winter, you have the unique opportunity to play Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course — the Champions Tour courses of the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

YOUR STAY & PLAY PACKAGE INCLUDES:• Two Nights at The Lodge at Pebble Beach or The Inn at Spanish Bay

• One Round of golf on Pebble Beach Golf Links • One Round of golf on Del Monte Golf Course • $100 Gift Card for 2010 U.S. Open commemorative merchandise

Package price starts at $1,495. Offer valid November 21, 2010 through March 31, 2011.*

(Please inquire about playing our other courses including Spyglass Hill Golf Course and The Links at Spanish Bay.)

CALL RESORT RESERVATIONS TODAY AT (866) 993-6949 FOR PACKAGE DETAILSPlease mention promo code CDGA2

*Offer is valid November 21, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Subject to availability. Some restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other packages or promotions. $100 gift card is valid for 2010 U.S. Open merchandise at The Shops of Pebble Beach Resorts only and must be redeemed during your package stay. Valid for new bookings only and parties of 8 or fewer rooms. Pebble Beach Company reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time.

© 2010 Pebble Beach Company. All Rights Reserved. Photos by © Joann Dost.

www.PebbleBeach.com

A SPECIAL INVITATIONPlay the two most s tor ied go l f courses on the West Coast

Teeing up at Pebb le Beach p laces you among the l egends o f go l f .

Visit us online at www.golfgalaxy.com

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chicago district golfer - nov. 2010

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