michigan golfer news, may 27, 2011

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Treetops Resort - Celebrating R.T. Jones Masterpiece 25th Anniversary• Website: http://treetops.com• Video: http://glsp.com/treetops/

Half Off Golf• Jeff Lesson’s Website: http://lessonongolf.com

Arthur Hills, Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, Class of 2011

In This Issue:

__/ Run for the Roses II: By Bill Shelton__/ Finding a Game for the Rest of Us__/ Michigan Golfer Television: Michigan Golf Hall of Fame__/ Alternative Ways to Play Golf: By Chris Miles of Miles of Golf__/ Play Golf America to be Held at Fox Hills__/ Michigan Golfer Magazine Online - Spring Issue__/ Tee It Forward: PGA and USGA Thoughts__/ Up North Resorts Upbeat on Michigan Economy:

By Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press__/ More Game Changing Ideas: By Scott Seifferlein__/ Michigan Has First Regional NCAA Title - Lion Kim Had a

Career Best Round__/ Minzey's Musings__/ Michigan Golfer Television Channel - 2011 Shows __/ Michigan Golf Calendar__/ Michigan Golfer Archives

http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/archives.html__/ Michigan Golf History http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/history.html__/ Michigan Golf Association Links

http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/associations.html__/ Michigan Golf Hall of Fame

http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/ghf/

May 27, 2011 Vol. 11, N o. 21

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Michigan Golfer Magazine2010 -11 Winter Issue http://michigangolfer.com/win10-11/Past Issues http://michigangolfer.com/#pastissues

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Editor: Art McCaffertyAssociate Editor - Jennie McCafferty

===================================RUN FOR THE ROSES II: By Bill Shelton===================================For the second time in May, Louisville Kentucky is in the national spotlight as professional golferscompete in the 72nd Senior PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club. Earlier this monthLouisville’s Churchill Downs was the site of the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby. Interestingly,there are numerous similarities between the two events in addition to sharing the same geographicallocation. Just as the Kentucky Derby is one of the oldest and clearly the most prestigious horse racingevent in America, the Senior PGA Championship is the most historic and prestigious senior golf event inthe nation.

Both events occur in the best of venues. The twin steeples of Churchill Downs towering over theemotional renditions of “My Old Kentucky Home” bring an aura unmatched in the world of racing.Annually the Senior PGA Championship selects nationally respected sites to host the tournament.Valhalla Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus and constructed in the early 1980’s, has hosted severalnational championships and the 2008 Ryder Cup. Louisville businessman, Dwight Gahm, in financingthe course had a single goal--”build a world class course capable of hosting national championships.”Clearly he has already attained that goal. Valhalla is rated as the #1 course in Kentucky and usuallyrated in the top 100 courses by national golf magazines.

A third similarity is that both events typically draw the top echelon of their sport. Capturing the prize,whether roses or a trophy, signifies the victor is the best of the best. The 19-horse field in the 2011 Runfor the Roses was considered by some racing pundits as a weak, somewhat non-distinguished, field.With the “fading” of Arnie, Jack, Tom, Hale and other elders, the 2011 Senior PGA will not have thepanache of the past. Tom Lehman will no doubt enter as the favorite based on his performance thisseason but Freddie Couples will probably be the major attraction to fans and the media. As in theDerby, there will be sentimental golf favorites including Kentucky native son, Kenny Perry, and thecourageous effort by Ken Green following his tragic accident. Just as Animal Kingdom finished in firstfrom the middle of the pack, so likely will the winner of the senior event with one caveat--if Valhalla isset up long and difficult, only a select few of the players will have a chance.

The Senior Championship can hope to be similar to the Derby in other ways also. This year’s Derby

P. 2 M I C H I G A N G O L F E R N E W S - M A Y 2 7, 2 0 1 1


drew a record crowd of almost 165,000 fans. Hopefully the golfing event will attract record crowds andtelevision audience. For the first time in several years the weather was excellent for the race and thetrack was fast. Golf is at its best when the weather is dry and the greens are fast. The Kentucky Derby isthe biggest social event in America of the prettiest people in their fanciest duds and wide brim hats. Therunning of the race is almost a second thought. Golf needs a reason to celebrate. There has not beenmuch reason to party. The goal of the 2011 Senior PGA Championship should simply be-- “and a goodtime was had by all.”

Louisville, can you do it again? If needed, feel free to utilize that third great Kentucky contribution toAmerica--bourbon--liberally to the equation!

http://algarvegolfllp.com/wp/2011/05/golfs-adapting-to-modern-times/

====================================FINDING A GAME FOR THE REST OF US====================================Art:There is a story in today's WSJ titled "Finding a Game for the Rest of Us" with a sub, "The Movementto Find Ways to Ease the Hardships of the Game - for Amateurs - Continues to Grow."

"Last fall, as an experiment, Barney Adams (the founder of clubmaker Adams Golf) invited a long-hitting Nationwide Tour pro of his acquaintance to play a super-long version of a course in theCalifornia desert. The tees Adams designated extended the course to 8,100 yards. In some cases theywere actually in the fairway of the previous hole. The idea was to see how the pro would fare hittingapproach shots into greens using the same clubs that average male amateurs often have to hit when theyplay 6,700-yard courses, as they frequently do. The pro, smashing 300-yard drives, typically leaveshimself seven- or eight-iron approaches on the long par-four holes he plays on Tour. But on Adams’scourse, he found himself hitting fairway woods and hybrids into the greens......

"A recently completed study commissioned by the PGA of America determined there are 90 millionformer golfers in the U.S. Of those, the study estimates, about 60 million have at least a moderateinterest in taking up the game again - if it can be made more palatable."

MORE: http://algarvegolfllp.com/wp/2011/05/golfs-adapting-to-modern-times/

Thanks and a Tip of the Tam to "Cyber Geezer" Thad Gutowskii for this nugget of information.

===============================================================MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION -- MICHIGAN GOLF HALL OF FAME===============================================================We are delighted to offer you the latest videos of our Michigan Golf Hall of Fame members. Frankly,we did one show outside with our previous MG editor, Terry Moore, and had not planned on morethan that. We did not feel the light or audio was conducive for video inside the banquet area ofIndianwood, but after shooting a couple of minutes of video on Jim Briegel, we thought it was ofsufficient quality to continue. While Briegel was short-changed in the process-- and our apologies-- wedid get most of what followed. Enjoy.Class of 2011Art HillsTerry Moore


Don Perne'Jim Briegelhttp://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/ghf/

==========================================================ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO PLAY GOLF: By Chris Miles of Miles of Golf==========================================================There is much being written these days about alternative ways to play golf or something akin to golf.These alternatives come up because of issues like the difficulty of the game, time constraints, and fussyrules. Some of the ideas that have come out of these issues are bigger 6" cups, 12 hole golf courses, golfballs that do not slice, and more forgiving rules like hit it once in the bunker and if it refuses to leave,throw it out.

Most of these things are just being discussed except for the Polara golf ball that does not slice. (We aretrying to get it in the golf shop.) For relaxed rules you can go to Flogton ("not golf" spelled backward)http://www.flogton.com/

My suggestion to enjoying the game more is to be sure to pick the right course length. The idea is that golf isthe most fun when you have the chance to hit on the greens of par 3s in one, par 4s in two, and par 5s inthree. If you may remember, our suggestion on this is to take the length of your average drive and multiplythis by 28. This will give you the yardage of an ideal course for you. For the logic behind this formula, go to:http://www.milesofgolf.com/blog/golf-randoms/how-long-a-course-should-you-play/

============================================PLAY GOLF AMERICA TO BE HELD AT FOX HILLS============================================Play Golf America Day is returning to Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center this year on Wednesday, June1st from 3:00pm – 8:00pm. Play Golf America Day, hosted by the Michigan PGA and Fox Hills Golfand Banquet Center, is a FREE day for all ages, skill levels and abilities. This marks the second year in arow that Fox Hills has hosted this event.

Michigan PGA Professionals will be on hand to provide FREE 10 Minute Lessons for those who areworking on their game or would like a few pointers. Top golf companies including Mizuno, PING,TaylorMade, Cobra, Adams, Nike, Callaway and Cleveland will be on hand with all of the latest 2011technology and demo’s for everyone to hit. Representatives from each participating manufacturer willalso be on hand to provide club fitting and product insight.

The Michigan PGA Professionals and the staff at Fox Hills will also be conducting golf clinics forWomen and Juniors. The hour long Women’s Clinic’s will run from 3:00pm – 4:00pm and from 5:00pm– 6:00pm. The Junior Golf Clinic will run from 4:00pm – 5:00pm. Following the clinics participantswill have the opportunity to play on the Strategic Fox Course and receive on course instruction. Youcan register for these clinics ahead of time by calling (734) 453-7272.

Master Golf Teaching Professional Kevin Compare will present a special one hour Golf Trick ShotExhibition as part of this "Play Golf America Day" from 7:00pm – 8:00pm on the range. His "In-Comparable" Trick Shot Exhibitions appeal to people of all ages while demonstrating the challengesand enjoyment the game of golf provides. At the same time, his demonstrations offer the fundamentalsof the golf swing while building in plenty of humor and jaw dropping 'how'd he do that' offerings fromthe crowd.

P. 9M A Y 2 7, 2 0 1 1 - M I C H I G A N G O L F E R N E W S


For further information please visit http://www.michigan.pga.com or http://www.foxhills.com orcontact Justin Phillips, Director of Tournament Operations at 517.641.7421 or by email [email protected] .

A Michigan PGA, Justin Phillips release.

===================================================MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE ONLINE - SPRING ISSUE

http://michigangolfer.com===================================================Table of ContentsTreetops & Shanty Creek Celebrates their 25th Anniversary - Jack BerryJack Berry, PGA Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award winner tells the tale of these two Michigangolf course icons

The New GM's in the Game - Norm SinclairSinclair, too long absent from our pages, returns with his thoughts on the ever evolving life of a golfcourse General Manager. In his article, he targets LochenHeath's Mike Husby and Treetops Resort'sBarry Owens.

Michigan Amateur Holds its 100th on Boyne Highlands' Heather GC - Jack BerryCertainly, an historical highlight of this year, will be the 100th Anniversary of the Michigan Amateur.The GAM conducts tens of tournaments in Michigan and the Michigan Amateur is their showcase. JackBerry has covered dozens of these tournaments over the years and he shares his thoughts here.

The 2011 Tour of the Year - LPGA - Bill SheltonOut of My Mind About Golf - Rob FordTop 10 Things Golf Does Not Need in 2011 - Brad Shelton

Collegiate Golf - Concordia College and Davenport University - Chris LewisChris Lewis continues his informative series on Michigan's collegiate golf.

Michigan Golf Hall of Fame - The Class of 2011This year's class includes Public links veteran Jim Briegel, golf course architect Arthur Hills, journalistTerry Moore and Don Perne, co-founder of the PGA of America’s Professional Golf Management atFerris State University.

Slice of Life - Terry Moore - "Loving the Masters: Let Me Count the Ways"A walk down memory and Magnolia lanes for Terry Moore, who is in the 2011 Class for the MichiganGolf Hall of Fame.

Your online golf magazine for the past 15 years.http://michigangolfer.com

===============================================================================MICHIGAN HAS FIRST REGIONAL NCAA TITLE - LION KIM HAD A CAREER BEST ROUND===============================================================================Lion Kim’s senior season at Michigan already included an appearance at The Masters.


On Saturday, he added another significant accomplishment. Kim’s career-best round of a 6-under-par 65at Wolf Run Golf Course in Zionville, Ind., helped the Wolverines win the program’s first NCAAregional title and made him co-medalist at the three-day event.

And he did it on a gimpy ankle.

"I almost had to pull out because it was hurting so bad," Kim told http://MGoBlue.com. "I just knew Ihad to fight it out. As the leader and captain of this team, I just did not want to let my team down. Iknew our team was a good team. We were just waiting for all five guys to really play well the sameweekend. I just had a feel this would be a special week."

More: http://tiny.cc/1ofo2

=================================================================================UP NORTH RESORTS UPBEAT ON MICHIGAN ECONOMY By Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press=================================================================================LEWISTON -- As the long-awaited blooms of spring give Michiganders the annual itch for Up North, amore upbeat and prosperous resort industry awaits.

Venerable Garland, with its big log lodge and four golf courses, exemplifies the changes.

Battered by the same economic storms that hit Detroit's auto industry in 2008-09, Garland changedhands two years ago. The new owner is breathing fresh life into the place, with $7 million in upgradesto preserve its rustic charm while adding new twists, from wine tastings to holiday light shows.

More: http://tiny.cc/5s8d7

============================================MORE GAME CHANGING IDEAS: By Scott Seifferlein============================================Hi Art, here is a copy of the Golf Journal Article followed by a copy of my version for new golfers.

"Last fall, as an experiment, Barney Adams (the founder of clubmaker Adams Golf) invited a long-hitting Nationwide Tour pro of his acquaintance to play a super-long version of a course in theCalifornia desert. The tees Adams designated extended the course to 8,100 yards. In some cases theywere actually in the fairway of the previous hole.

The idea was to see how the pro would fare hitting approach shots into greens using the same clubs thataverage male amateurs often have to hit when they play 6,700-yard courses, as they frequently do. Thepro, smashing 300-yard drives, typically leaves himself seven- or eight-iron approaches on the long par-four holes he plays on Tour. But on Adams's course, he found himself hitting fairway woods andhybrids into the greens.

After a half dozen holes, Adams said, the pro complained: "This is insane. These greens aren't designedto receive three-woods. If I had to play a course like this every week, I'd quit the game." To whichAdams replied, "Welcome to the world of amateur golf."

Quitting the game is, of course, something millions of amateurs do every year. Core golf participation in


the U.S. has been declining for a decade. The reasons are many, but topping the list in everycommissioned study are: the cost, the time it takes to play and the game's inherent difficulty.Newcomers, in particular, are put off by golf's intricate rules and stodgy image.

After years of hand-wringing about the problem and the launching of various high-concept initiativesthat barely moved the participation needle, the golf industry this year suddenly seems a lot more open toradical solutions.

On May 30, for example, Golf Channel will broadcast live a pro tournament using a new two-flags-per-green, nine-hole format called PowerPlay. Before you scoff, consider that the event will be held at thesite of last year's Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor in Wales, and that the competitors include the reigning U.S.Open and U.S. Women's Open champions, Graeme McDowell and Paula Creamer, as well as PaulCasey, Ian Poulter, Gary Player and Ian Woosnam.

In PowerPlay, scoring birdie or better to the harder of the two pin locations (intentions must be declaredon the tee before hitting) earns extra points. On the final hole, bogey or worse takes points away. Theformat is designed for quick play and, based on the experience at Scott Greens Golf Club in easternPennsylvania, one of the few U.S. courses already to sponsor PowerPlay events, it appeals mightily tokids and cigar-smoking men who like to gamble.

Back to Adams. He isn't the first to recognize how much more fun the game would be for everydaygolfers if they teed it up at distances more suited to their game. Most male amateurs, despite what theymay believe, seldom hit drives longer than 230 yards and are usually much shorter. For them, byAdams's reckoning, what he calls "Tour length" tees should be set at about 6,100 yards. At thatdistance, they would be hitting the same kind of approach shots that the pros do on courses set up at7,400 yards or so. (For typical female golfers, he calculates, a satisfying length would be 4,600 yards.)

Another study, which I wrote about three years ago, came to similar conclusions. But this time, in anunprecedented partnership, the PGA of America and the U.S. Golf Association are joining forces behindAdams's work. Next week they will kick off a television publicity campaign leading up to July 5, whenparticipating courses across the country will, for two weeks, strongly encourage, although not force,golfers to move up a set of tees or two.

Then there's Flogton, or "not golf" spelled backward, which I wrote about in February. This gamewould establish several sets of rules, still under development, for use by beginners and high-handicappers to make the game less frustrating.

The idea hasn't gotten much traction yet, but founder Scott McNealy, former CEO of SunMicrosystems, reports that he is meeting with television executives, golf-course operators andequipment makers to build "critical mass."

You might think that the USGA, as official keeper of the rules of golf, would be appalled at thesenewfangled notions. Not so. "Our job is to protect the traditional game as people know it," MikeDavis, the USGA's new executive director, told me. "But if people like Flogton come up with differentkinds of games that relate to golf, we are fine with that." The scramble format commonly used inoutings is not USGA-legal, he pointed out. Neither are gimmes or mulligans. But all are part of thefabric of golf as it is actually played.


The PGA of America is similarly OK with alternative visions. "I'm delighted with any effort to get morepeople and families out on our courses having fun with golf," said Joe Steranka, the PGA's chiefexecutive. Next week, in fact, a PGA-supported instructional program will be releasing a set of 18"guiltless ways to make golf more fun while learning," for teachers to share with their students. Theyinclude Flogton-like practices such as teeing up the ball in the fairway and tossing the ball out of thebunker after one failed shot.

And it wasn't hard this week to find individual golf courses doing untraditional things to help liven upthe game. A course in Rotonda, Fla., on the Gulf Coast, has been using extra-big 6-inch holes sinceFebruary (normal holes are 4¼ inches wide). Jack Nicklaus this week told a newspaper in Tennesseethat his Muirfield Village course in Ohio and Bear's Club course in Florida have recently printed up 12-hole scorecards to accommodate members who wish to play shorter rounds.

A recently completed study commissioned by the PGA of America determined there are 90 millionformer golfers in the U.S. Of those, the study estimates, about 60 million have at least moderate interestin taking up the game again—if it can be made more palatable. That, Steranka said, is an enormouslatent market."

*******Scott Seifferlein's New Golfer’s Guide To Matching Your Game To The Golf Course

Here is the bad news: The game of golf is designed for expert players only. I will say it again. ExpertPlayers Only. The courses are designed for expert players and the rules are designed for expert players.The tee boxes are placed at a distance from the green designed for expert players. Even the so-called“ladies” or “forward” tees are designed for very good golfers. No new or inexperienced golfers shouldbe playing from these tee boxes.This poor design job by the golf industry prevents the game from growing. Most new golfers quit thegame within 3 weeks of starting. They are exposed to expert rules, expert tee boxes, expert golf holedesigns. It takes them 7 swings to get to the green, and then they are told to pick up their ball beforethey even get to finish because they are “holding up play.”The Game of Golf should be played with a score of bogey or better on every hole. The best way to trainyour game is from the green backwards. This is opposite of how most new golfers are exposed to thegame.

Here is the Good News: By learning from the green backwards, you will be provided with some earlysuccess. Seeing the ball go in the hole is very important. You will become a great scoring golfer byfocusing on the part of the game that accounts for more than 60% of all swings.

If you cannot reach the green in two strokes or less, you are starting from a tee box that is too far away.Move your starting point closer to the hole by following this system.

Scott Seifferlein’s New Golfer Tee Box System:

When starting the game of golf, you should start at the 50-yard marker. The 50-yard marker on everyhole will represent the “tee box” until you are able to consistently get the ball onto the green in twoswings or less and score 5 or better. In my golf camps I require that new golfers accomplish this threetimes in a row before they can “graduate” to the 75-yard marker. I then repeat this process until theygraduate to the 100-yard marker. I continue this process with a 25-yard graduation each time they score5 or better three times in a row. This strategy of matching your game to the golf course will be less


intimidating and keep you excited to “earn” your way back to the expert tee boxes. You will besurprised at how quickly you graduate when this tee box system is put in place.

Scott Seifferlein’s RULES FOR NEW GOLFERS

1. You do not have to tee off from the designated tee-off area. Make it an option to tee off at the 50-yard marker and graduate 25 yards each time your game improves to a score of 5 or better.

2. You must hit all full shots off a tee. And, yes, that means from the fairway.

3. Clubs to use are 7-wood (or 9-wood once you have graduated beyond 100 yards), 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and putter. All other clubs are for decorative purposes only.

If you choose not to use the above three rules and choose to tee off from the “expert” tee boxes, applyrules 4, 5, and 6 as necessary.

4. You do not have to finish a hole. Yeah, that’s right!

5. If a hole looks too difficult, SKIP IT!

6. Your score is not in relation to par; your score is in relation to hitting good shots. For example, yourgoal on a specific hole may be to hit one good shot.

=====================MINZEY'S MUSINGS=====================More Laws Of GolfA two-foot putt counts the same as a two-foot drive.

Never wash your ball on the tee of a water hole.

There is no such thing as a friendly wager.

The only sure way to get a par is to leave a four-foot birdie putt two inches short of the hole.

It's as easy to lower your handicap as it is to reduce your hat size.

If your driver is hot, your putter will be ice cold; if you can hit your irons, you will top your woods; ifyou are keeping your right elbow tucked in, your head will come up.

It takes 17 holes to really get warmed up.

No golfer ever swung too slowly.

No golfer ever played too fast.

One birdie is a hot streak.


The statute of limitation on forgotten strokes is two holes.

Bets lengthen putts and shorten drives.

Confidence evaporates in the presence of fairway water.

It takes considerable pressure to make a penalty stroke adhere to a scorecard.

The rake is always in the other trap.

The wind is in your face on 16 of the 18 holes.

The ball always lands where the pin was yesterday.

It always takes at least five holes to notice that a club is missing.

The nearest sprinkler head will be blank.

Out of bounds is always on the right, for right-handed golfers.

=================================================================MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION CHANNEL -- 2011 SHOWS

http://michigangolfer.tv/archives.html=================================================================

**************************** NOW PLAYING ***************************Terry Moore Interview with Jennie McCaffertyTerry Moore - Michigan Golf Hall of Fame - Class of 2010Art Hills - Michigan Golf Hall of Fame - Class of 2010Don Perne' - Michigan Golf Hall of Fame - Class of 2010Jim Briegel - Michigan Golf Hall of Fame - Class of 2010Vartan Kupelian and his Golf Writer's Association of America PresidencyPractice Makes Perfect - Photography by Jennie McCaffertyThe Sundance Course at A-Ga-Ming: Narrated by Jerry MatthewsAntrim Dells Becomes an A-Ga-Ming Property: Mike Brown InterviewedIt Started with Chick Harbert: The Torch Course at A-Ga-MingAntrim Dells GC: Narrated by Jerry MatthewsBucks Run Golf Club with Jon ConklinArcadia Bluffs - A Top Stay and Play ExperienceJason Guss Golf AcademyBoyne Golf Schools and Boyne Golf Academy at King ParTullymore Has New Leadership with the Returning Terry SchieberThe Michigan Cup - Top Jr. Golfers Battle it out Ryder Cup StyleKevin O'Brien Joins True North Team25th Anniversary Preview of the Jones Masterpiece at Treetops with Kevin McKinley and Jack Berry25th Anniversary Preview of The Legend at Shanty Creek Resort with Brian Kautz and Jack Berry100th Anniversary Preview of the Michigan Amateur with David Graham and Jack BerryBoyne's Tournament Season and Golf Packages with Jeff Ecceleston and Jack Berry

Brian O'Neill's Quick Golf TipsLochenHeath is Back and Basking with Mike Husby and Jack BerryLPGA Futures Tour - Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass with Dave Douglas and Jack BerryRailside Golf Club @ Byron Center - Club Membership on the Rise with Jim Bultema and Jack BerryPGA Michigan and Patriot Day with Kevin McKinley and Jack BerryThe Treetops Cup: USA vs Canada - Ryder Cup Style with Kevin McKinley and Jack BerryThe Madness at Marsh Ridge Resort Larry Bowden and Jack BerryThe Cyber-Geezer a.k.a. Thad Gutowski with Peter Fitzsimons and Al Lynch

http://michigangolfer.tv/archives.html

*********************** COMING ATTRACTIONS ***********************100th Anniversary of Michigan AmateurFieldststone Golf Course: An Arthur Hills DesignThe Treetops Cup: USA vs CanadaMGCOA Legislative Golf Day

=========================================TEE IT FORWARD: PGA AND USGA THOUGHTS=========================================What is one of the biggest contributors to high scores, slow play, frustration for new golfers? Playingfrom the wrong set of tees.

That's the message from the PGA of America and the USGA, who have teamed up to support aninitiative called "Tee It Forward." The golf organizations want to convince recreational golfers thatthere's no shame in moving up to a more forward set of tees.

Making golf easier and faster for beginners and recreational golfers is getting a lot of ink lately. JackNicklaus has been pitching the 12-hole round of golf. You have new formats being tried such as the 9-hole PowerPlay Golf, which gets its televised coming out on May 30 at Celtic Manor in a "tournament"featuring major champions and top pros.

For most of us, the answers can be pretty simple, if we simply follow good golf etiquette and play froma set of tees that matches our abilities.

"We believe that by moving up to another set of tees, golfers will experience an exciting, new approachto the game that will produce more enjoyment and elevate their desire to come back and play even moregolf," said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski.

The "Tee It Forward" initiative involves publicizing recommendations from the PGA/USGA on whichset of tees to play. The recommendations are based on golfers' average driving distance. For mostamateurs, the two bodies say, playing from tees that measure 6,700 yards is like PGA Tour golfersplaying from 8,100 yards. The "Tee It Forward" recommendations aim to have amateurs hitting 6- and7-irons into the greens, rather than woods and hybrids.

Nicklaus consulted on the program, and he's quoted in the news release: "All of us deeply involved inthe game constantly encourage golfers of all skill levels to play the proper tees, but too often golferswant to bite off as much of the golf course as they can. What ends up suffering is their scorecard andtheir overall enjoyment."



Here are the "Tee It Forward" recommendations for which tees to use, based on average drivingdistance:

Avg. drive Recommended Tees300 yards 7,150-7,400 yards275 yards 6,700-6,900 yards250 yards 6,200-6,400 yards225 yards 5,800-6,000 yards200 yards 5,200-5,400 yards175 yards 4,400-4,600 yards150 yards 3,500-3,700 yards125 yards 2,800-3,000 yards100 yards 2,100-2,300 yards

This seems like a good way to judge which set of tees make the most sense for a golfer - assuming thatgolfer is honest about his or her driving distance.

One problem is obvious, though: Most regulation golf courses don't have tees marked below 4,000yards, maybe 3,500. So for golfers whose average drive is 150 yards or less, there aren't likely to be anytees marked a the recommended yardages on regulation courses. (But golfers can still guesstimate basedon fairway yardage markers.)

No question playing from appropriate tees is important - all golfers should strive to do just that. It helpskeep the pace going, which is good for everyone on the golf course. And we've all seen those golferswith the $1,000 bags and $10 games who insist on playing the championship tees despite not being ableto drive it past the forward tees.

While the "Tee It Forward" initiative offers good advice for us all, it's aimed at beginning golfers andintermittent golfers, those people who aren't quite sure yet whether they love the game or loathe it,whether they will keep playing golf or give it up because it's too difficult, too frustrating or too slow. If"Tee It Forward" can help those people get more enjoyment out of the game - can keep them in thegame - then its recommendations are ones well worth publicizing. The rest of us should pay attention,too. The specific method used to determine the right set of tees is less important than hammering homethe point that the multiple tee boxes are there so golfers can choose the one most appropriate to ourabilities.More: http://golf.about.com/b/2011/05/25/pga-usga-want-you-to-play-the-right-tees.htm?nl=1

========================================MICHIGAN GOLFER CALENDAR OF EVENTS========================================MAY27-29 Senior PGA Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, KY

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=1717986920128-29 MPGA Michigan Medal Play Championship - Fellows Creek Golf Course

http://www.mipublinx.com/JUNE2-5 The Memorial Tournament, Dublin, OH

6-7 Nike Golf State Pro Am, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs14-15 Club Car Michigan PGA Senior Open - Bedford Valley

http://www.mipublinx.com/16-19 U.S. Open / Congressional Country Club / Bethesda, Md.

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=1717986920120-26 LPGA Futures Tour - Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass

http://www.sweetgrassgolfclub.com20 Pro-Pro Championship, The Legend at Shanty Creek, Bellaire21-25 Michigan Amateur, Boyne Highlands, Boyne City

http://gam.org/22 MGCOA Legislative Day on the Capitol Lawn

http://mgcoa.com27-29 Women's Open, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville

http://michigan.pga.com27/7-2U.S. Amateur Public Links / Bandon Dunes Golf Resort / Bandon, Ore

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201JULY13 The Loon Cup, Loon Golf Course, Gaylord7-10 U.S. Women's Open / The Broadmoor (East Course) / Colorado Springs, Colo.

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=171798692018-10 Treetops Cup Matches, Gaylord, MI

http://treetops.com 11-14 Michigan Open, The Orchards, Washington

http://michigan.pga.com13-14 20th GAM Women's Championship, Gull Lake CC

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=1717986920114-1 British Open Royal St. George's Golf Club18-23 U.S. Girls' Junior / Olympia Fields Country Club (South Course) / Olympia Fields, Ill. /

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=1717986920125-26 Michigan Women's Amateur, Prestwick Village GC, Highland, MI

http://gam.org25-26 Senior PGA Championship, Charlevoix Golf & CC, Charlevoix

http://michigan.pga.com28-31 U.S. Senior Open / Inverness Club / Toledo, Ohio /

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=1717986920129-30 Tournament of Champions, Pro Am - Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls

http://michigan.pga.com29-31 Butch Harmon Showcase, The Loon Golf Course, Gaylord

http://www.loongolfresort.com/AUGUST1-3 Boyne Tournament of Champions, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs

http://michigan.pga.com2-5 Junior PGA Championship. Sycamore Hills Golf Club, Fort Wayne, INhttp://www.pga.com/pga-america/feature/sycamore-hills-gc-selected-host-2010-junior-pga-championship8 Pro Assistant Championship, Treetops, Gaylord11 MGCOA Summer Golf Outing

http://mgcoa.org11 Swinging for a Wish, Gaylord, MI


http://treetops.com8-14 U.S. Women's Amateur / Rhode Island Country Club / Barrington, R.I.

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=171798692018-14 PGA Championship, Atlanta Athletic Club, Atlanta, GA15-16 GAM Championship, Barton Hills CC, MI

http://gam.org17-18 13th GAM Women's Mid Am, Oak Pointe CC, Brighton, MI

http://gam.org22-2 U.S. Amateur / Erin Hills / Erin, Wis.

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=1717986920129-31 Michigan PGA Championship, Eagle Eye GC, Bath

http://michigan.pga.com29-30 15th Annual GAM Women's Senior Tournament, Belvedere GC, Charlevoix, MI

http://gam.orgSEPTEMBER1-2 GAM Mid-Amateur, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, MI

http://gam.org2-4 Patriot Golf Day Shootout, Gaylord, MI

http://treetops.com 10-11 Walker Cup / Royal Aberdeen Golf Club / Aberdeen, Scotland

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=1717986920110-15 USGA Senior Amateur / Kinloch Golf Club / Manakin-Sabot, Va

http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=1717986920112-14 Match Play Championship, Forest Akers, East Lansing

http://michigan.pga.com19-20 25th GAM Senior Championship, Spring Lake CC, Spring Lake, MI

http://gam.org22-25 The Tour Championship, East Lake CC, Atlanta, GA22-25 41st Golf Collectors Society Annual Meeting & Trade Show-Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at

Eagle Crest Resorthttp://www.golfcollectors.com/events.html

25-27 Pepsi Fall Charity Invitational, Gaylord, MIhttp://treetops.com

25 MGCOA Golf League Championship at Hawk Hollow Golf Course, Bathhttp://MGCOA.org

29/10/1 2nd annual Natalie Gulbis Showcase, The Loon GC, GaylordOCTOBER8-9 Toughman/Princess Scramble Gaylord, MI

http://treetops.com31 PGA Fall MeetingNOVEMBER17-20 President's Cup, Royal Melbourne, Victoria, AUS29/1 MGCOA Golf Business Conference and Vendor Show at the Somerset Inn in Troy

http://MGCOA.org

2012JANUARY13-15 Southwest Michigan Golf Show at the Kalamazoo Expo Center, Kalamazoo


MARCH2-4 Michigan Golf Show, Novi

SEPTEMBER25-30 Ryder Cup, Medinah CC, Chicago, ILJANUARY13-15 outhwest Michigan Golf Show at the Kalamazoo Expo Center, Kalamazoo

MARCH2-4 Michigan Golf Show, NoviSEPTEMBER25-30 Ryder Cup, Medinah CC, Chicago, IL


michigan golfer news, may 27, 2011

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