southern golf central magazine - vol 15 issue 8 • interactive

W W W . S O U T H E R N G O L F C E N T R A L . C O M

www.floridagolfcentral.com

Get to know Maggie - Between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains is a little slice of paradise known as Maggie Valley. People have gathered here for generations to enjoy the natural splendor of the surrounding countryside. And today that tradition is stronger than ever at the Maggie Valley Club & Resort. Golf, hike, bike, swim, fish, dine or just simply relax in the newly remodeled clubhouse and luxurious onsite accommodations.

Stay for a day, a weekend or a lifetime. There’s always something amazing to do in Maggie Valley, North Carolina - including nothing at all.

(800) 438-3861

maggievalleyclub.com

golf || fish || hike || raft || dine || play || stay

© 2014 Maggie Valley Club & Resort. All rights reserved.

www.maggievalleyclub.com

Get to know Maggie - Between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains is a little slice of paradise known as Maggie Valley. People have gathered here for generations to enjoy the natural splendor of the surrounding countryside. And today that tradition is stronger than ever at the Maggie Valley Club & Resort. Golf, hike, bike, swim, fish, dine or just simply relax in the newly remodeled clubhouse and luxurious onsite accommodations.

Stay for a day, a weekend or a lifetime. There’s always something amazing to do in Maggie Valley, North Carolina - including nothing at all.

(800) 438-3861

maggievalleyclub.com

golf || fish || hike || raft || dine || play || stay

© 2014 Maggie Valley Club & Resort. All rights reserved.

www.skechersperformance.com/gogolf

4

head

er ReachFunny how things happen, or maybe it’s all just happen-ing the way it’s meant to be? When we get a decal order on TURFLIFE.ORG, I can’t stand not knowing who the person is and why they are proud to be a golfer, so I reach out. I’m thinking maybe a good feature story… right? Well as fate has dealt it this is true most of the time. So I sent a “friend request” on FB to an order from South Florida, and what a story. JL has a regular (or irregular depend-ing on your preference) group of players that play all over Florida (story on pg16). The funny thing is he drove 3 ½ hours to check out

the LoudMouth Grill, themed after his favorite golf line apparel. When he arrived they had closed the doors, BUT… still on the window was the Turf Life 19th Hole decal, so he went in search of the very cool decals online and that’s how we met. JL is already

a friend of the mag and who knows; we could be besties someday. The diversity and rebranding of Golf Central to Southern Golf Central is an effort to reach the entire Southeast. Golf and par-ticularly golfers come from a wide variety of cultures, careers, and purpose of playing golf. We are serious with regards to hon-esty, integrity, and growing the game. We also have been known for our rebel attitude and fun side and love to share golf stories from all lovers of the game. We will always have our “Boys round here, drinkin’ ice cold beer. Chew tobacco, chew, tobacco spit.” When the mag is published we would love that you pick up a copy and share your golf stories with us. Thank you for reading and thank you for your love of golf. So, hoping to be recognized as champions of diver-sity and inclusion, sharing the PGA reach program info:

Golf is a game for all. Diversity and inclusion are core values and a focus of PGA REACH, and we embrace the spirit of dif-ferences. We work each and every day with the PGA of America to have our commitment to diver-

sity and inclusion resonate throughout the organization, the activities, programs and business we conduct, and any practice we implement. We strive to look through a lens of diversity and inclusion at all times. On our quest toward creating a culture of inclusion within the golf industry, we actively seek collaboration with those who champion diver-sity and inclusion – organizations and golf facilities that have success-fully demonstrated growth with diverse groups. It is vital that the game of golf is truly welcoming to all and perceived barriers are eliminated. www.pgareach.com

Southern Golf Central • Volume 15, Issue 8

Publisher: Terrie L. Purdum

Editor in Chief: Shannon Coates

Tennessee Golf Central Publisher: Glenn Makin,

golfnews4friends.net

Regional Partner: Doug Hollandsworth,

Founder-Georgia Golf Trail

Executive Editor: Joel Jackson–Director of Communications

for the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association

Executive Administration: Angi Perretti

Golf Media Girl: Janel Losada

Photographers: Lynn Pelham, Brion Price, Peter Hakansson

Tres Fenton, Mike Coonan, Jess Regan

Public Relations & Social Media Director: Green Gazelle Marketing

Senior Correspondent: Rick Harris, Sr.

Contributing Writers: Jay Golden, PGA; Greg Wise, Bob Bolton,

Elisa Gaudet, Mike Jamison, Mike May, Chris Thompson,

Katie Hatfield, Ron Heller, Chuck Cavalaris,

Mitch Sadowsky, Lisa "Mickie" Clark

Graphic Design: Melahn Cable, [email protected]

Website Design/Network Support: ryjo.com

Southern Golf Central Magazine is published monthly by:Sand Hill Publishing & Public Relations

1549 Warrington Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708

NEW PHONE: 321.765.4215E-mail: [email protected]

©2015 Southern Golf Central Magazine. No portion of this publica-tion may be reprinted without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Editorial contributions are welcome, but Florida Golf Cen-tral Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited proposals, manuscripts and photographs. All materials submitted not accom-panied by a self-addressed stamped envelope will not be returned. Mailing, electronic mailing or faxing of contributions constitutes an expressed warrant on the part of the contributor that all mate-rial is original and does not infringe on the rights of others. Florida Golf Central Maga-zine retains all reprint rights and reserves the right to edit any submitted material to meet our specifications for publishing and

or use in advertising or promotion. The Publisher and staff are not responsible for any loss or grievance by any person or per-sons whatsoever, due in any way or in part to the content of this publication. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse to accept any material deemed inappropriate or in bad taste.

from

the pu

blish

ers

2009 North Florida PGA Amateur of the Year

Volume 15, Issue 8

http://www.pgareach.com

mailto:[email protected]


Introducing Tranquilo Golf Club. Experience the newly enhanced Tom Fazio course at Four Seasons Orlando, now open to the public. Tee times, lessons and membership options available. Featuring a full service clubhouse, with Plancha restaurant, and Golf Shop.

www.fourseasons.com/orlando407.313.6880

Departments

8 Golf Central Station 10 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association 22 Executive Women's Golf Association 24 Back9Network 28 Young Guns

34 Golf Fitness 40 Liive Golf 42 Grip It & Sip It 44 Competitive Spirits 46 Product Showcase 48 Central Florida 50 Duffer Dan 52 Tournament News 54 Tennessee PGA

Volume 15, Issue 8FLORIDAAlabama Golf Central 52 Magnificent 7

Carolinas Golf Central 54 The Reserve at Lake Keowee 56 Carolinas Golf Association

Cart Girl 14 Alexandra Pearson

Course of Dreams 58 IGTA

FEATURE 38 Cure Putter

Golf Bachelor 12 Mason Slaughter

Golf Fore Charity 32 Fairways for Warriors

Growing the Game 16 The Goffers

In Memory Of 30 Ron Balicki

Leader on the Links 60 Bill Shiles

Player Development 26 Junior Orange Bowl Invitational

Special Events 18 Brian Gay Invitational

What's New 20 GruV Tool

TENNESSEEMakin' The Rounds with No Fakin' 66 Glenn Makin, Publisher

The Golf Central Winter Tour 68 Bundle Up and Play The Tour

Golf Channel 70 Golf Channel Academy

Golfstayandplaytennessee.com 74 Golf packages in Golf Mecca of the Smokies

southerngolfcentral.com golfnews4friends.net

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www.floridagolfcentral.com

www.golfnews4friends.net

#GRABSOMESUNSHINEWINTER HOT DATES FOR BUDDY GOLF OUTINGS

NO NEED FOR COLD FEETExperience the best time of the year to play golf in Florida and make the Villas of Grand Cypress Orlando your “home away from home”. With 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed golf, it’s no wonder we are considered one of GOLFWEEK Magazine’s “Best Resort Courses” and “Best Courses You Can Play”. Our luxury accommodations are rated #1 in Orlando by TripAdvisor Readers and our award winning dining, and amenities galore mean all you have to do once you arrive is park your car, hop in your golf cart and get out on the green.

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8 Southern Golf Central • Volume 15, Issue 8

Florida chapter earns Excellence in Government Relations Award

from Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

LAWRENCE, KAN. - The Florida Golf Course Su-

perintendents Association (FGCSA) has earned

the 2015 Excellence in Government Relations

Award from the national association for its state-

wide collaboration with the Florida Department

of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish

best management practices for golf courses.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of

America (GCSAA) annually recognizes a chapter

or superintendent for outstanding advocacy or

compliance efforts in government relations.

This award lauded the completion and

long-term use of the publication titled Best

Management Practices for Enhancement of Envi-

ronmental Quality on Florida Golf Courses, which

was first published in 2007 and has been adopted

by nearly 300 of the state’s more than 1,000 golf

courses.

“This is a nice recognition for all the advocacy

efforts on behalf of Florida golf course super-

intendents. What we have done can be a good

foundation for a lot of other associations,” said

Bill Davidson, CGCS, president of the FGCSA.

The chapter will be formally recognized Feb.

25 at the Opening Session of the Golf Indust-

ry Show in San Antonio. The Florida chapter

will also be featured in an upcoming issue of

GCSAA’s official monthly publication, Golf Course

Management magazine.

BOSTON, MA– Magellan Jets, an innovator in private aviation, today announced it will reduce fuel prices for new member contracts starting Jan 15th by 16% across the board to reflect the lower price of oil. The price drop comes as part of Magellan Jets’ ongoing commitment to bring the best value to its members. The Company’s stability enables it to pass savings directly on to its customers, which stands in contrast to much of the rest of the aviation industry. “Magellan Jets is here to make travel easier for our Members, and this is one more way we can show them how much we value our relati-onship,” said Joshua Hebert, CEO of Magellan Jets. “While we cannot adjust prices with every fluctuation in the market, we could not watch

such a significant swing in oil prices without taking action on behalf of our customers.”Research provided by Kevin O’Leary, CEO at Jet Advisors®, shows that the cost of Jet A has dropped between 7% and 9.5% over the last 12 months, and Magellan Jets projects this trend to continue as the retail market catches up with wholesale. The price decrease follows Magellan Jets’ Build-A-Card technology launch last year. The Build-A-Card platform allows members to custo-mize their own membership program online. Both the Build-A-Card and the Company’s decision to turn reduced oil prices into client savings underscore Magellan Jets’ mission: to provide consistent, reliable and safe travel with comfort and ease.

Tiger Woods Cuts the Ribbon on El Cardonal at Diamonte

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico - Diamante, a pre-mier residential community situated at the tip of Baja California Sur, formally unveiled El Cardonal on Dec. 16 during a gala opening ceremony attended by several dignitaries, including the celebrated course designer himself. A superb layout with an “Old California” design motif, El Cardonal marks the architectural debut of superstar Tiger Woods, who maintains a residence at Diamante and who was on hand to play the course and describe its features.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the golf design business,” Woods told a small gathering of elec-ted officials, resort executives and international media. “This is an incredible site, and working with (Diamante developer) Ken Jowdy and his team has been absolutely phenomenal.” Set back from the sea on higher ground than the Dunes Course, the 1,500-acre community’s original venue, El Cardonal is a 7,363-yard, par-72 layout that features an ocean view from every hole. The front nine meanders through rolling sand dunes near the sea. The back nine, framed by thick desert vegetation, ascends to higher ground and crisscrosses a series of arroyos. Bold, flashed-face bunkers have been placed by Woods to create strategic options throughout the course. With its broad fairway corridors and accent on playability from the forward tees, El Cardonal was designed to accommodate a wide range of golfers. According to Jowdy, “He (Woods) focused more on the people he plays with on Wednes-days (the amateurs in the pro-ams) than on the weekend (the pros).” “I expect that everyone—moms, dads and kids—will all play basically the same ‘lines’ on each hole,” Tiger stated. “We’ve given them different tee boxes, but the strategy is the same for everyone. The idea was to make it fun for all types of players. “With all the amenities here at the resort, I plan on spending more time here at Diamante,” Woods said, adding that “Cabo delivers what everyone is looking for. It’s the best of all worlds. You’ve got great golf, plus all the activities available offshore, including incredible fishing and diving. You don’t find too many places like this in the world—ever.”

Magellan Jets Lowers Member Rates Due to Savings From Low Oil Prices

9Southern Golf Central • Volume 15, Issue 8

Leave the Hustle and Bustle for Old Florida Charm

Highlands CountyBoasts

17 Scenic Courses

1-800-545-6021 www.VisitHighlandsCounty.com

http://www.VisitHighlandsCounty.com

www.turflife.org


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estau

rant &

Lodg

ing A

ssoc

. By Michelle Pollina

Hidden Hills Country Club Membership/Marketing Director

Standing on the first tee, you could be just about anywhere except Florida. Carved into a hilly area that is one of the highest points on the map in Duval County, Hidden Hills Country Club has elevation and rolling fairways that are rarely seen in the Sunshine State. Origi-nally built in 1966, the club was host to the Greater Jacksonville Open (precursor to The Players Championship) in 1970, 1971 and 1972. A redesign by Arnold Palmer in 1986 made excellent use of the rolling hills and knolls, strategically placed ponds and elevated greens to make it a favorite course for players of all abilities. The golf course continues to be improved every year, with a major upgrade to the driving range, irrigation system and several greens completed in 2014 under the leadership of new greens superintendent Andrew Vanler-berghe. The private club is one of the few in the city independently owned and as such has a deep sense of warmth and caring that embody a real family feeling. Russ and Tracy Libby purchased Hidden Hills in 2003 and are proud that so many members now have second

and even third generations continu-ing to make the club a family tradition. With four children of their own, rang-ing in age from 6 to 16, Russ & Tracy promote family activities and events to make the club a “home away from home” for everyone, not just the golfers. Events like the Easter Egg Hunt on the back lawn, Dive-In Theatre at the pool, Halloween Spooktacular, Thanksgiv-ing Brunch, Santa Brunch, Gingerbread Workshop and numerous pool parties are just some of the traditions trea-sured by families every year. Executive Chef Jerry Snider is continually evolving

the creative menu selections that cater to all tastes, from comfort food to gourmet, so that lunch and dinner at the club are always a special treat. Because dining is an important part of the club’s culture, they are proud to be members of the Florida Res-taurant & Lodging Associa-tion so that they can keep up with food trends and the latest culinary equipment. Eight Har-Tru courts lighted for night play and an active league and tourna-ment schedule keep Director of Tennis Jennifer Morrison and Head Tennis Profession-al Max Akhundjanov busy!

The close-knit group of tennis members can often be found on the spacious covered patio area that overlooks the tennis courts, enjoying a post-match drink and laughs. Russ, a PGA professional since 1992, is general manager and director of golf. As an active leader within the PGA he has held every officer position on the chapter and Section level, served on the National Board of Control and currently is active on several national committees as well as a Board Member for The First Tee of North Florida. He is a multiple recipient of the PGA Professional of the Year, Bill Strausbaugh Award and Horton Smith Award on the chapter and Section level, and was admitted to the North Florida PGA Hall of Fame in 2010. With Wayne Ulmer, head golf profes-

sional, and PGA Appren-tices Jody Clark and John Handley, they promote player development through PGA programs such as Get Golf Ready, Tee It Forward, and Patriot Golf Day. Club programs such as Six at 6, Mulligans League, Big Cup Weekend and Fam-ily Tees help make golf accessible and inviting to new players as well. Juniors are a special focus at Hidden Hills, with golf clinics every

Friday and Saturday, PGA Junior League teams in spring and fall, and in-depth summer camps. The course annually hosts several U.S. Kids Golf events as well as North Florida Junior Tour com-petitions, and is the home practice site for Jacksonville University’s men’s and women’s golf teams as well as Sandal-wood High School’s golf teams. Hidden Hills is active in the commu-nity, both as members of the Jackson-ville Chamber of Commerce and Arling-ton Rotary Club and host site for the groups’ meetings. Many local charities call the course home to their annual fundraiser golf tournaments, including Meals on Wheels, Warrior City, United Way, Community Rehabilitation Center, Northwest Behavioral Mental Health Center and the Red Cross, with more than $300,000 raised in 2014 alone!

Not So Hidden

Easter Winners

Tennis Ladies

Hidden Hills Hole #11

www.integritygolfco.com

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golf

bach

elor Where were you born? Did you grow up there?

Richmond, VA, and Yes.

High school group you hung out with the most; nerds, jocks, stoners, preppies? I considered myself a floater, but if I had to pick one I’d say jocks because I played sports.

What do you do for a living? Senior Account Executive, Golf Tournament Operations, Octagon

Aside from golf; what do you prefer for fun and relaxation?Fly Fishing, Hunting, and Hiking.

Whom do you most admire for their inner and outer beauty?Margot Robbie Tell us about your first kiss? It was at a 5th grade dance, with a girl who I had a crush on for a really long time.

Steak, chicken, or seafood? Steak with Samson’s Sauce

Tell us something about yourself that only your closest friends know. I am an avid Survivor fan. I’ve never missed an episode.

What three things would you need to survive on a deserted island? Machete, Fresh Water, and a volleyball named Wilson……

Who would you like to have with you on the same deserted island; and why? Margot Robbie because I hope she sees this.

What do you find to be the most annoying habit people demonstrate on the golf course? It bothers me when non-professionals take a round to seriously. For me it’s all about having fun!

Name the three most important things to you in this world.Family, Friends, Career

What do you fear the most? Losing my loved ones.

What three people would you most like to play with in your fantasy golf foursome? Dad, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods

What are some of your great accomplishments? Graduating college, earning my black belt Jiu-Jitsu, and getting a job in my field of study

Relaxed evening at home, or nightclub and cocktails? My scene is more casual bar with friends

Last time you spewed something through your nose from laughing so hard? The ACE Group Classic last year when a coworker was dancing to music. Favorite comedian? Dave Chappelle Last book you read? The Wolf of Wall Street

Mason Slaughter

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Foursquare Delicious Digg Stumbleupon Reddit Technorati Slashdot Share this

You Tube Flikr Instagram Pinterest Deviant Art Soundcloud Vimeo Twylah

RSS Skype

Facebook Twitter Twitter LinkedIn Google + My Space Tumblr Bebo

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You Tube Flikr Instagram Pinterest Deviant Art Soundcloud Vimeo Twylah

RSS Skype

val_30659_01_FL_Golf_Ctrl_mag_8.375x10.875_M.indd 1 1/9/15 3:07 PM

www.valsparchampionship.com

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cart

girl

Where did you grow up? Winter Springs, FL

Which group of people did you associate most with in high school? I took all gifted and AP classes and was involved with theatre so I guess one would say the smart kids and theatre nerds.

What is your favorite sport to play? Favorite to watch? Favorite sport to play would have to be swimming. I do not really enjoy watching sports but the Olympics is pretty exciting.

Do you enjoy playing golf? Are they’re any golfers in your family? I am absolutely terrible at golf though I am much better at mini-golf. My dad loves to golf but I didn’t get the gene.

What do you feel makes this club special? I really love all of our members. It is so wonderful to see the same people every time I come to work and build relationships with them.

If you weren’t a cart girl, what would you be doing? Traveling the world on my own traveling TV show!

What is your memorable moment working as a cart girl? When a golf ball came straight at me but thankfully hit the glass and not my face.

What type of music do you prefer? Country

What hobbies do you enjoy? Traveling, antiquing, brunch, and the beach!

Relaxed evening at home, or nightclub and cocktails? Cocktails while relaxing at home!

Favorite comedian? Dane Cook

Favorite type of movie? Romantic comedy

Favorite charity to support? Anything relating to alleviating hunger and homelessness. Second Harvest Food Bank in Orlando is a favorite of mine.

What else would you like for us to know about you? I love to travel and learn about different cultures. I have been to 24 countries and speak two languages fluently with partial knowledge of a third. I love good food and intelligent conversation. I never shy down from a debate and am always looking for a new brunch spot!

www.scan4beer.com

www.scan4beer.com


growi

ng th

e gam

eBy J.L. Quebbeman

The Greater the Diversity, The Sweeter the GameA local LGBT golf group exists in Broward County informally known as THE GOFFERS (named after their founder, attorney Chad Goff). THE GOFFERS are a group of South Florida gay and lesbian golfers of varying skill levels. They consist of very good, average and beginner players and all levels of play are welcome to join them. THE GOFFERS play regular golf rounds on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays twelve months a year on championship regulation courses. Typically, they put out six to eight foursomes in the winter season from November to April, and two to four foursomes during the slower summer season. All rounds are paid individually by each golfer. Each person is assigned a handicap unless you have an official handicap. After playing 5 rounds with them, a computerized handicap is generated and maintained for each member. At the completion of the golf round, they meet in the course lounge to tally scores, have drinks or lunch, and socialize. Information on upcoming golf rounds are posted in the calendar section of their website www.thegoffers.com. Regular announcements are also issued by email message to the general membership. There are no fees

related to membership in the group. In addition to the regular local outings THE GOFFERS participate in a number of regional, national and international golf events. A number of THE GOFFERS recently participated in the International Gay Games held in Cleveland, Ohio, and one member participated in the 10th Annual German Rainbow Open in October 2014 in Schwerin, Germany, one of the largest gay golf tournaments in the world. THE GOFFERS also have occasional local scramble tournaments as well and information on all of

these events and organizations are available on their website. While golf is an incredibly enjoyable sport in its own right THE GOFFERS make the experience tantamount to a country club experience by booking your tee times, handling your handicap and pairing you with other golfers. If you want more information about THE GOFFERS please email J.L. Quebbeman at [email protected]. You can also follow him on Twitter under the profile jquebby and LIKE them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thegoffers.

http://www.thegoffers.com

http://www.thegoffers.com



www.golfimacuan.com


Don’t forget to add the flag at the end of the article!!!

spec

ial ev

ents


With the support of more than 40 pro-fessional athletes and celebrities and DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL®, a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, $805,000 in net proceeds were suc-cessfully raised to benefit the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children (FHFC) at the second annual Brian Gay Invitational at Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club in Celebration, Florida on December 12-14, 2014. With more than 400 attendees, golfers and celebrities participating in the event, the weekend included a celebrity/amateur golf tournament on Saturday, December 13 in which four-somes were paired with a celebrity ath-lete. The 2014 celebrity field included hall of fame athletes Reggie Jackson, Gaylord Perry, Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, and Richard Dent and other accomplished stars from the world of both sports and popular music. During the Friday night welcome reception, and with the first pick in the celebrity draft, the foursome from Dick’s Sporting Goods selected Ryan Longwell, a retired placekicker, 15-year NFL veteran and the all-time leading scorer in Green Bay Packers history. His golfing abilities paid off as their group came away with the first place trophy in the celebrity-amateur event. The culmination of the weekend’s events was the Diamond Resorts Celebrity Invitational, a celebrity-only

golf tournament on Sunday, December 14. The winner of the PGA Tour Division with a 9-under 63 was JB Holmes, the winner of the 2014 Wells Fargo Championship. The Celebrity Division featured an entertain-ing playoff between Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations John Hart and John Smoltz, a Cy Young winner and longtime star for the Braves. Smoltz, making his debut on the ballot to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year,

defeated Hart on the first playoff hole. The world-class event began on Thursday, December 11 at Isleworth Country Club, where after a day of golf, guests were entertained by Country Music’s Colt Ford. In the 1990s, Colt played on the PGA’s Nationwide Tour with the tournament host, Brian Gay. Saturday evening’s gala dinner was prepared by celebrity chef and hu-manitarian Art Smith, followed by an awards ceremony and live auction. Participants were then treated to an exclusive concert on the Mystic Dunes driving range by one of Country Music’s hottest performers, Chris Young. “This was an incredible opportu-nity to give back and get involved in the great work that Diamond Resorts is doing for the community. Not only was every detail executed seamlessly, but the Mystic Dunes Golf Course was impeccable and the competi-tion was keen. Diamond Resorts delivered a world-class weekend and I am honored to have been a part of it,” said JB Holmes, PGA Tour Player and winner of the Diamond Resorts Celebrity Invitational. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my weekend than by con-tributing to a worthy cause while enjoying a beautiful day out on the golf course with some great competi-tion,” said John Smoltz, retired Major League Baseball player and sports-caster for MLB Network and TBS. According to Michael Flaskey, Executive Vice President, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Diamond Resorts International®, “At Diamond Resorts, social responsibility is a pillar of our company’s core beliefs and it is our privilege to be able to give back to the local communities in which we work and live. The Brian Gay Invitational gives us an amazing opportunity to engage in our chari-table efforts while also doing what we do best: helping our guests Stay Vacationed™ while creating lifelong memories. We appreciate everyone who took time out of their busy holiday season to be a part of this event. With the tremendous generosity of our ce-lebrities, golfers and sponsors we were able to not only achieve our goal, but go well beyond our expectations.”

Celebrity Guests at Diamond Resorts International’s Brian Gay Invitational Help Raise $805,000

Brian Gay helps auction off a rare set of Masters pin flags signed by Phil Mickelson for a good cause during the live auction on Saturday night at the Brian Gay Invitational.

Gaylord Perry enjoys an elegant, welcome reception dinner with Tournament Director and Executive Vice President, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Diamond Resorts International®, Michael Flaskey.

(239) 593-3900 | ACEGroupClassic.comTICKETS ON SALE NOW!

FEBRUARY 9-15, 2015THE TWINEAGLES CLUB

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what'

s new


Erik Swanson, a career firefighter, has a new dream. He is now about to find out whether he can take the heat of the golf business. Last year, he filed a patent for an alignment tool that is as simple as it is brilliantly inventive. It is the GruV Tool, and is a combina-tion alignment tool, divot tool and groove brush. What makes it special is that it is a divot tool with the ability to transform into an alignment aid with a retractable Orange String that can be put into the ground in front of you substituting for an alignment stick. And with the help of a tee for an anchor point, it can also be made to show swing paths as well. But what makes this tool very special is the addition of a detachable groove brush. It is divot tool size and fits easily in your pocket giving it great utility for any golfer. Erik Swanson is now presi-dent of GruV-Golf, LLC. and is looking forward to his new adventure. He comments, “I will be eligible for full retirement from the fire department in 2018, at which time I hope to begin a new chapter in my life with a career that somehow involves my number one passion… golf. I love working as a fire fighter, and have enjoyed working in a career where I feel as if I am making a positive contribution to society, but firefighting is a young man’s game. I’ve had a few close calls in my career and I don’t want to tempt fate any longer than I have to, so I am trying to set myself up to be able to leave on my own terms and follow my passion.“

“In the summer of 2012 I had gone to the driving range one day after work to hit balls. A few swings in, for some un-known reason, my mind flashed to the image of the retractable microphone that pulls away from my firefighting radio. I thought maybe there is a way to have a retractable line on a device that I could keep in my pocket rather than finding room in my cluttered bag. What did I already have in my pocket? The same thing every golfer

has in his/her pocket: A divot tool. A retractable Alignment stick seemed like a great solution. The best feature of all was the fact that when I wasn’t using it for drills, it was in my pocket. It was simple, small and functional. The only thing I needed to make it work was a tee, and that too was in my pocket. This exciting adventure began soon after,” Erik remarked. He quickly created a prototype from a badge reel and a divot tool, went to the range, put a tee in the ground 3 feet away and made a straight line to the target. It was perfect, and gave an in-stant alignment aid. It also didn’t take

long until he discovered that it was much more than just a straight line. He could angle the string by placing anoth-er tee into the ground to practice fade and draw swings. He could also make stance boxes and short lines, as well as medium and long lines for use on the range and for putting. It was at this point he got a serious inspiration that drove him to get into the golf business. The next logical step for Erik was to get help. After talking with a friend in the business, he sought the help of Michael Wargo and Southeast Media Group. Erik states, “Michael just had all the answers to every situation. He is a golf marketing Guru, and convinced me I should focus my efforts on developing a line of training aids and equally use-ful products. We coined the GruV –Golf brand and turned my simple tool into a 5-in-1 tool that has so much more util-ity and value to golfers. Mr. Wargo is also president of SMG Global (A manu-facturing company), they helped me develop my prototype and get the pro-duction models manufactured. I am so excited about what my company and my tool has grown into, I simply cannot wait to share it with the golf world.” Michael Wargo, President of Southeast Media Group, comments, “I have seen a lot of useful and clever

products over the years along with inventors that are impressively charismatic and enthu-siastic. Sadly, most will never really succeed. But once in a while, a product comes along that I feel golfers will really embrace and actually find a need to own. I practice a lot and have always used alignment sticks. I use a divot tool as we all do, and I use a groove brush. This is just

a better idea. I am very confident other golfers will feel the same.” As for Erik’s dream of success in golf… The golf business is a tough one. There is really nothing to prepare him for what he is about to face in the world of golf retail. From manu-facture and financing to marketing and distribution, this business is less forgiving than a four-alarm fire with no room for error. Ironically, he will probably get burned a few times along the way. My guess is that his fearless approach to his role as a fire fighter will help him face down the obstacles ahead. A great product sure helps.

What does a fireman want to be when he grows up?

www.durangolf.com



EWGA


On December 7th and 8th, Troon North Golf Club hosted the Annual EWGA Cup Finals, one of the largest women’s amateur golf competitions to take place in the state of Arizona. Hailing from the Midwest, Par Tee Down Dayton from Dayton, OH defeat-ed a field of 33 teams to capture their first victory as the overall champions of the 2014 EWGA Cup Finals. On the final day of competition, it

was a white-knuckle finish with three teams in a sudden death final playoff. Par Tee Down Dayton claimed 1st place, followed by Tampa Bay on Par and OK Thunderstix. The 36-hole EWGA Cup Finals con-sisted of 264 women amateur golfers who advanced beyond local chapter qualifiers to the Finals. The final field represented 33 EWGA chapters across the U.S and Canada.

Competitors played in Four Ball and Singles Match Play. The cup’s format encourages women of all skill levels to compete, underscoring the EWGA’s mantra to enhance the careers and lives of working women through golf. More than 700 participants nationwide entered the Cup Finals qualifiers this year, which began in September.

EWGA Cup Finals winners are:1. Par Tee Down Dayton

(Dayton, OH Chapter)2. Tampa Bay On Par

(Tampa, FL Chapter)3. OK Thunder Stix

(Metro Oklahoma City, OK Chapter)4. Rochachas

(Rochester Region, NY Chapter)5. Chicago Match-Stix

(Chicago Metro, IL Chapter)6. No Pueblemos

(Tucson/Old Pueblo, AZ Chapter)7. Yinz Gals

(Pittsburgh, PA Chapter)8. River City Positrons

(Boston, MA)9. 1-Up

(Chicago Metro, IL Chapter)10. Magic City Swingers

(Birmingham, AL Chapter)

Scorecard playoffs were used to settle ties for second and third place. Complete results can be found on the

EWGA website www.EWGA.com.

Par Tee Down Dayton Captures EWGA Cup at Troon North Golf Club

http://www.EWGA.com

CoatesGolfChampionship.com

THE LPGA SEA SONSTARTS HERE

January 26-31, 2015Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, Ocala, Florida

www.coatesgolfchampionship.com



By Cameron DaSilvaBa

ck9N

etwo

rk


We all have our own habits or super-

stitions, especially when it comes to

sports. Golfers are no different. From

Tiger Woods wearing red on Sundays

to Ernie Els using one golf ball per

birdie, the list goes on. But players

also have their superstitions when

it comes to signing memorabilia.

One of the most notable comes

from Rory McIlroy. According to

Ryan Carey of Green Jacket Auctions

and star of Back9Network’s “Golf

Treasures“, McIlroy refuses to sign

a Masters flag in the center until

he wins his own green jacket.

This may have come on the

hands of his collapse at Augusta

in 2011, where he blew a four-

stroke lead on Sunday.

In 2015, however, he’ll be playing

for more than just a green jacket.

Coming off of a year in which he won

two major championships, McIlroy

will look to complete the career

grand slam at Augusta — a feat only

five other players have accomplished.

McIlroy’s not the only one with a

story like this, though. Phil Mickelson

has a superstition that may come as

a surprise for some: He doesn’t sign

golf balls. However, there’s a catch.

When he does sign them, they’re

worth substantially more than other

autographed items. For example, a

signed golf ball could be worth $2,000

while other items “aren’t worth more

than $100,” according to Carey.

Some other signing tendencies

include Fuzzy Zoeller only signing

in red ink (shown in picture be-

low), while Larry Mize usually adds

a biblical quote to his signature.

For more incredible stories about

rare golf memorabilia, be sure

to tune in to “Golf Treasures” on

Back9Network, Mondays 9 p.m.

EST — DIRECTV channel 262.

Rory McIlroy Won't Sign Center Of Masters Flag ...Until He Wins

Rory McIlroy signing autographs

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playe

r dev

elopm

ent

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and South

Korea’s Juwon Jeong secured their

place in history as champions

of the 51st edition of the Junior

Orange Bowl International.

Jeong took the title in a three-hole

playoff with Sweden’s Linnea Strom.

Both players birdied the 18th on the

first two playoff holes but Jeong’s third

consecutive birdie proved decisive.

Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela pow-

ered into third place with a closing 70,

tied with overnight leader, Colombia’s

Maria Hoyos, who carded 77.

Niemann’s final round of 67 out-

lasted overnight leader, Argentina’s

Alejandro Tosti, and the U.S.’s Carl

Yuan. Yuan carded 68 for outright

second place at 279, 5-under par, Tosti

solo third with a closing 70 for 280.

Highest credit to Niemann, (67,

71, 72, 67: 277) who withstood the

back-nine pressure of charges by

both Tosti and Yuan, birdies at the

16th and 18th completely clos-

ing all opportunity windows.

“I played very solidly all day, only

one bogey, five birdies, and was very

pleased with my back nine because I

made the shots I needed to make when

I had to,” the 16-year old from Santiago

said, with a wide smile of contentment.

Yuan began his round with a superb

eagle-3 and although he caught, he

could never pass Niemann. An op-

portunity to advance his cause

came with birdie two at the 12th

but Niemann responded in kind and

when Yuan power lipped a short

birdie opportunity at the next hole,

the momentum moment was gone.

“After I made that birdie on 12 I

thought I might be able to push,” Yuan

said, “but my putter didn’t really co-

operate on the closing holes. I played

well but not well enough, I guess. I tried

very hard to make my eagle chip at

the 18th, hoping that I could squeeze

into a playoff, but the ball rimmed

out and in the end, as Joaquin made

a birdie, it wasn’t that important.”

“To come third in such a

strong field is a great feat and

I played well,” said Tosti.

Final round highlight scoring featured

66s by South Africa’s Tristen Strydom

and Germany’s Maximiliam Bodel.

51st Junior Orange Bowl International Golf

JOBI 2014 winnersJuwon Jeong and Joaquin Niemann

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youn

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I spent today at Epcot with a friend. There is nothing unusual in that except that I live in Florida and she and her family live in Austria. There is nothing terribly unusual in that either, except that I met this friend, Florentina, four years ago, when we were 12, while playing in the USKids World Championships at Pinehurst and here were are at 16 and 17, still friends, still staying in touch and still going out of our way to see each other whenever we can. We actu-ally text almost every day. In fact, our parents have become good friends and I have also become friends with her sister. And here’s some weird-ness: while at Epcot I got a text from another friend with whom I played high school golf (she since graduated and now plays for William & Mary), and she was at Epcot. So after Flo and her parents left, I met up with Mia, and we had dinner together in “Japan.” While golf is certainly about the game itself, and junior golf is certainly as competitive as any level, I think the thing I have enjoyed the most about having played junior golf is the friendships I have made.

Whether they are my high school teammates (of which there are many, as I have played high school golf since 6th grade) or players I have met at my Academy or those I have met on the FJT, AJGA or NFJG tours, I am proud to say that I think the number of friends I have made through golf is a big-ger number than my scoring average (and may it always be that way for all of us…that could be a good toast). Last month I was invited to a

friend’s Sweet 16 Party. We met playing together on the Florida Junior Tour and have traveled together to Pennsylvania, Georgia and all over Florida (today, in fact, we played a practice round to-gether). At Morgan’s party were eight other girls, all of whom we “collected” as friends while playing golf, and probably wouldn’t know each other if it weren’t for golf. It is safe to say that many of my closest friends come because of golf. I even claim a “big sister” whom I met through golf. Four years ago we were asked by my then-coach if we could house a Hungarian player

for him for a weekend. She has since stayed with us many times, sometimes for as long as four months while train-ing. She first came when she was 13 and will turn 18 in January. I honestly think of her as a sister and my parents think of her almost as one of their own; she even calls my father Daddy. I am proud to say that she just got her full LET card – she has been an inspiration and role model for me from day one. So as I get ready to attend my first PGA Merchandise show, a place where not only does a lot of business get done, but life-long friends meet, I am reminded that no matter how great the competition – whether inside the ropes or on the show floor –one of the most important things I have gained from golf is a lifetime of lifelong friend-ships. I hope I always keep that in perspective, because they matter to me way more than scores ever could.

By Hannah Berman

Worldwide Friendships

My Big Sister, Csilla and me

My friend Emily and I at an FJT event in Pensacola. We have been friends since we were 5 years old. Started out as ballerinas and we are now both deciding where to play college golf.

Florentina and Valerie Hager and me at Epcot


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in me

mory

of

Golf, and college golf in particular, lost a great friend in April with the passing of former Golfweek writer Ron Balicki. Balicki, who was days shy of his 66th birthday when he lost his eight-month bout with cancer, wrote about the college and ama-teur game for more than 30 years, delivering stories not only about the players who would become the PGA Tour’s stars of tomorrow, but stories about amateurs of all talent levels who simply loved to compete. In hopes of expanding upon Ron’s three decades of journalism excellence, a Ron Balicki Scholarship has been created in his memory. The purpose of this award, to be given annually at the NCAA Championship, is to honor and encourage a student who, in pursuing his or her interest in journalism and writing, exemplifies dedication by writ-ing about college and/or amateur golf. “To me, Ron Balicki was the ul-timate college and amateur golf writer,” said Denny Glass, former

tournament director of the Northeast Amateur and chairman of the steer-ing committee for the Ron Balicki Scholarship Fund. “It was always so inspiring to be around Ron while he was working and witness his enthu-siasm and dedication to his craft.” Ron Balicki did not spend his life jumping on airplanes wishing to write about golf tournaments. Instead, he lived to write about the people who played in them. And he told those stories very well, winning several state and national awards, including the Golf

Writers Association of America’s Best Column in 1998 for a piece he wrote on Scottish amateur Barclay Howard. “His best stories,” Debbie Balicki said of her husband, “were always people stories.” Balicki wrote about college coaches and gave readers an inside view into their programs. A fixture at college and amateur events throughout the country, he touched many lives. The coaches thought so much of him that in 2010, Balicki became the first non-coach inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Hall of Fame. Phil Mickelson called Balicki when Balicki was hospitalized in March and left him a voicemail to thank Ron for his integrity. When Rickie Fowler decided that he was leaving college early to turn pro in 2009, he stopped in the middle of a practice round and made the one call he knew he needed to make: He phoned Balicki.

“He had writ-ten so much about me, about Oklahoma State, and I didn’t hesi-tate,” Fowler said. “So I called him that day, right in the middle of my practice round.” Said former Georgia Tech standout Matt Kuchar, “For Ron Balicki to come

out and do a proper story on your col-lege tournament, it was a big deal.” A website for the Ron Balicki Scholarship Fund is under develop-ment (RonBalickiScholarship.com). Tax deductible contributions for the Ron Balicki Scholarship Fund can be made payable to “Ron Balicki Scholarship Fund” and mailed to: Ron Balicki Scholarship Fund, c/o GCAA, 1225 West Main, Suite 110, Norman OK, 73069. For further information, please contact the GCAA at (866) 422-2669.

Ron Balicki Scholarship Created for Aspiring College Golf Writers

Ron Balicki and Ricky Fowler


www.tourmarkgrips.com




Fairways for Warriors is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit. Our mission is to help combat wounded warriors with their mental and physical rehabilitation. We provide golf equipment, instruc-tion, outings and other activities to wounded warriors and their family members. We have golf clinics and outings every week for the warriors and their families in Orlando. We are also have chapters in San Antonio, TX, Newport RI, and Jacksonville, FL. When we started 4 years ago, we had no idea what a significant the impact that such an organization would have for warriors and their families. What we’ve learned is that Fairways for Warriors has given these brave men

and women the opportunity to heal from their most significant injuries – the injuries that we can’t see such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, etc. Fairways for Warriors provides hope and is changing lives. When an injured warrior returns from the front lines their personal battle is just begin-ning, and we have testimonies from several of our program that we are saving lives. The sad truth is that 22 veterans commit suicide every day in the U.S. – that is one every 65 minutes! Several of our wounded warriors have told us that if Fairways for Warriors hadn’t provided them with hope, they too may have committed suicide.

Our next project is to buy a golf course in Orlando that will be a place to provide jobs for combat wounded warriors and much more. The club house will be the most important part of the Warrior Golf Club (WGC). The clubhouse will be a place where combat warriors can go and be their place . The clubhouse will be big enough to hold around 80 people for seminars on PTSD, anger management, job fairs, peer to peer counseling, and also to have all types of other events. The Warrior Golf Club will be run 100% by wounded war-riors and will provide approximately 20 full and part time jobs. We will also provide internships and training for warriors who want to have a job in the

By Thomas UnderdownPresident, Fairways for Warriors

The Warrior Golf Club

Fairways for Warriors Golf Clinic


golf industry. There are many combat warriors in Orlando who are sitting home isolated thinking and drinking too much. The WGC will be a place that they can go several times a week (everyday if they want) and volunteer, play golf, work out and then hang out with other warriors. Having the WGC will decrease the number of suicides by wounded war-riors in Central Florida. We have had 4 in the past 5 weeks. The WGC will be their place where they can heal. We also have specialized golf carts so that paralyzed, double and triple amputees can play golf. We also have two blind golfers in our program. The golf course we want use is near the new VA Medical Center. We will have inpatients come to the WGC to use golf as physically and mental rehabilita-tion. Hilton Grand Vacations has com-mitted to be a sponsor for the Warrior Golf Club. We need more sponsors and supporters to make this a reality. Please go to www.fairwaysforwarriorrs.org to make a donation. No donation is too small. You can call Tom Underdown at 407 399-0977 to get more information. And please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fairways-for-Warriors/132150533522827.

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If there’s a common theme I hear A LOT, it’s this: “I have tight hamstrings.” And usually that follows up with this: “I know, I need to stretch more.” Well, that is about half correct. There can be MANY causes such as sitting for long portions of the day, for females- wear-ing high heels, having tight calves (yes, this can cause range of motion issue issues for the hamstrings as well) are all amongst a few. So, what to do now? Stretch? Well, sort of. What I look for is “can you develop range of motion and regain plastic-ity and overall muscle fiber length?” Yeah, I know, big words and fancy trainer talk. But in simple terms, it means this: drink more water (1/2 oz. of water per 1 pound of body weight if you look back at my earlier articles) to hydrate the muscles better; use a foam roller on your calves and three areas of the hamstring (inner, outer and middle sections); work some core stability exercises in to your workouts (planks and farmer carries work GREAT!) as tight hamstrings could be a part of poor stability; and lastly, let’s get some movement involved to increase range of motion. I am going to focus on the last fix in this month’s article and com-bine that with some core control. Using a kettlebell or dumbbell, lie on the floor on your back and pick the weight pressing it to the ceiling. Pressing the weight to the ceiling will force your core muscles to help sup-port the weight and fire. If the weight is in your right hand, bend your right knee to 90° keeping your foot flat on the floor. Keeping your leg as straight as possible (squeeze your quadriceps muscles to fully extend the knee and keep your toes pointed to the ceiling) raise your leg in to the air, keeping it as straight as possible. If you feel your knee start to bend or the opposite hip pull up, you know you’ve reached your limit and stop there. Lower your leg in a controlled motion to the floor and repeat. Do this 2-3 sets of 10-12 repetitions. This is also a great warm up exercise before hitting the range or the course. Lastly, I really to end

each of my client work-outs with 3-5 minutes of moderate to heavy farmer carries. These are simple, pick up a couple heavy dumbbells, and walk around the gym a few times. Sure, it sounds silly, you might even feel a bit out of place, but when everyone else’s golf swing broke down around the 14th hole, you’re feel-ing GREAT after 18 ready to loop around again! I look forward to see-ing everyone in the gym. And, as always, move well and move often!

golf

fitne

ss


By Mitch SadowskyMS SPSc TP11 USAW AIS FMS

Director of Golf FitnessLake Nona Country ClubFixing the Fixes

Leg Raise with Core activation - Point 1

Leg Raise with Core activation - Point 2

www.volvik.com


golf

busin

ess

36

When I asked Brad Spofford, Director

of Operations for the new Top Golf in

Tampa whether they consider them-

selves, “A bar and restaurant that

happens to have a driving range, or a

driving range that happens

to have a bar and a restau-

rant”, he replied, “Both”, with

a grin on his face. After my

visit I have to agree – both!

If we have ever gone to

a driving range that isn’t

affiliated with a golf course,

we normally find ourselves

dragging our clubs out

of the trunk, putting our

shoes and golf glove on and

deciding how much do we

want to spend on a variety

of “bucket sizes”. Top Golf

is not your standard driving range.

Top Golf is an experience unique in

many ways. The size of the building

(3 stories tall), the “disco like” logo,

the music you can hear from the

parking lot and of course the people

you will see lined up to

get in. My visits were

fairly unique, Media &

VIP events, but it was

easy to understand that

you will see everything

from serious golfers

determined to improve

their game, to people of

all ages and interests

there to have a good

time eating, drinking

and playing games.

Imagine chilling out

in upscale, comfort-

able, outdoor furniture

awaiting your turn to

hit at one of the various

targets in front of you, each

worth points based upon

distance and accuracy. You

have attractive wait-staff

bringing you food and

beverage, while enjoying

piped in music, or if you

are there on the week-

ends, a live band or DJ.

There are nearly

250,000 golf balls on site

and you don’t have to

bring your clubs with

you. Top Golf provides

clubs at each bay, men

and women sets. You can literally

get out of your car, walk in, grab a

club, wave it over the sensor (which

releases a ball onto the mat for you),

complete your own waggle and hit it.

My words and the pictures as-

sociated with this article don’t do it

justice. You have to experience it for

yourself. Take a group of buddies or

take a date, there’s fun for everyone.

This is the first of a handful slated

for the State of Florida. They ex-

pect to be in Orlando, Jacksonville

and Miami soon. For more infor-

mation about the Tampa location,

call (813) 298-1811, or visit topgolf.

com/us/tampa. The Tampa loca-

tion is at 10690 Palm River Road.

By Bob Bolton

Sports Bar? Driving Range? Both? Yes!

www.integritygolfco.com


featur

e



live g

olfBy Joel Jackson, Editor, GCSA

Photos by Joel Jackson

I don’t want to start an argument about Darwin’s Theory of Evolution but he did formulate a universal truth: adapting and changing are es-sential for the survival of a species. That is also true for businesses and golf is very definitely a business, just like most sports. The economic meltdown has raised the heat on golf course own-ers to make a profit. That struggle is affecting golfers and golf course owners and employees. Call it the “global warming” of golf if you want, but at the 2014 Golfdom Summit in Orlando last month Jim Rattigan, general manager and super-intendent of the Schuylkill Country Club in Orwigsburg, PA was one of the speakers on the final day of the 2014 Golfdom Magazine Summit held at the Reunion Resort last December. He challenged all of us with his presen-tation on growing the game of golf. Rattigan compared the golf indus-try as a melting iceberg referring to the book: “Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding under Any Conditions, written by John Kotter and Holger Ratheber in 2006. Rather than issue platitudes about “Growing the Game” Rattigan is actually trying to do some meaningful to bring out new golfers and families to his course. He has invented a game called Chesterfield Golf, which involves in-stalling a regulation sized putting cup and an 8” inch on every green. This is an attempt to serve serious and begin-ning golfers and family fun golf out-ings. Does it take liberties with tradi-tional golf? Of course it does, but golf is full of changes over the years including club specifications, golf ball dimple pat-terns, putting styles and stances, etc. Using a larger putting cup size is revolutionary, but it addresses two of the biggest complaints about golf in the Millennial Generation, namely difficulty of the game and the time

it takes to play a round of golf. Addressing the putting cup size argu-ments by golf purists, Rattigan did a little research about the beginnings and traditions of the game and found out the size of officially accepted

putting cup was determined by our golf ancestors by us-ing sections of pipe used for downspouts on the R&A build-ing – very scientific. I have no fear

that the wonderful historic tradi-tions of the game of golf will endure those idyllic bastions of golf history, which are on display during major golf championships. Rather, it behooves the rest of the golf world to encour-age more participation by daring to offer alternatives to the old ways! The world is “heating” up and if the people on the “golf ice-berg” don’t want to become ex-tinct, they had better get seri-ous about finding a new place in the business world to live.

The Evolution of Golf

8 inches of fun!

Dick Yuengling holding the flag for Gabe Nasser


Central Florida legend and longtime FGCSA Golf Chairman, Joe Ondo, CGCS (left) won the 2014 Crash Hall Champion’s Cup. Presenting the cup was Jack Harrell III, golf chairman at the NFGCSA Fall Classic. Photo by Joel Jackson.

The South Florida GCSA celebrated the 30th anniversary of the annual Missing and Exploited Children Fundraiser Tournament at the Fort Lauder-dale Country Club in September. The chapter has raised around $500,000 for the charity. Pictured are: Roly Molina President of the SFGCSA, Bryan Singleton M&E Committee, Nancy McBride, Director of the M&E Foundation and Joe Pantaleo, M&E Event Chairman. Photo by Joel Jackson.

Jack Harrell III (right) presented Gary Morgan, with Direct Solutions, the 2014 Butch Singo Award, for outstanding professionalism and character in the industry. The award was given at the NFGCSA Fall Classic this past October at the Omni Hotel on Amelia Island. Photo by Joel Jackson.

USA_FLORIDAGC_3.5"x9.875".indd 1 12/01/2015 2:49 pm

www.pnpgolf.com


grip i

t & si

p it

Grip it and Sip it.

By Chris Thompson

Tuscany is a magical place where old world rustic elegance permeates rolling hills and gentle valleys. I have been there many times and enjoy the peace that comes over you while staring off into sunset lit vineyards and fields of sunflowers with a glass of wine as a backdrop to lively conversation. It is no wonder so many fall in love with the place; making it one of the premier destinations in Italy for tourists and expat transplants alike. I recently vis-ited the estate of Fernando Cattani, known as Capanne Vecchie, just outside of the medieval city of Cortona. Fernando, a transplant from Rome himself back in the 70’s, told me of how this land captured his soul as a boy, leading him to move there to his family estate and make some of the most glorious wines of the region. Capanne Vecchie gets its name, translated as ancient estate or farm, for the old farmhouse which breaks up the endless rows of grapevines covering the property. Here Fernando with Brad Lewis of ABC Fine Wines and Spirits craft three wines from this single vineyard estate that express the best of this area of Tuscany from both native grapes with a smattering

of International varieties. What makes these wines special, besides the excel-lent terroir, are the very low yields of the harvest; at 2 tons per acre for the white and 2.8 tons per acre for the reds. The two Reds are made in the very same way, differing only in the usage of 20% Merlot or 20% Cabernet Sauvi-gnon in the blend with local Sangiovese grapes. Grapes are harvested the first two weeks of October, soft pressed and left 15 days on the lees in stainless steel at 78 F after fermentation. The

wine is then aged for 1 year in large Slavonian Oak barrels and then left to age in the bottle for at least 6 months. The Merlot blend gives an intense ruby red color with elegant and fruity notes with a hint of plum. The Cabernet Sauvignon blend shows a very deep red with a

pleasant nose of blackberry and cherry with hints of vanilla and cocoa. Both show a long finish with soft tannins. The white Capanne Vecchie Bianco is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Treb-biano (which is a famous component of the Tuscan Vin Santo where it is raisined before pressing). This wines coloration is a stunning soft white straw; it flaunts a heady nose of white peach and crisp floral notes.

Capanne VecchieTHE

TOURNAMENTOF DREAMS

FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 1, 2015PGA National Resort & Spa - Champion Course

Palm Beach Gardens

For tickets and group packages, visit thehondaclassic.com or call 844-8honda8.

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OF DREAMS

FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 1, 2015PGA National Resort & Spa - Champion Course

Palm Beach Gardens

For tickets and group packages, visit thehondaclassic.com or call 844-8honda8.

FOUNDERS CLUB PARTNERS

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Nominate your favorite bartender to showcase his/her signature drink with a recipe and photos. Readers will also find a discounted price for that drink so they can visit the bartender to sample the true taste of the libation.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry1.0 oz 360 Double Chocolate 1.0 oz Tequila Rose

Shake with ice and Serve

Double Chocolate CoffeeDouble Chocolate Coffee2.0 oz 360 Double Chocolate Hot Coffee

Fill coffee cup with 360 Double Chocolate and top with Whipped Cream.

360 Double Chocolate Vodka

Intense, smooth double chocolate fla-vor. Think of everything you love about chocolate, then double it. Rich. Smooth. Silky. The flavor of temptation from 360 Vodka – the world’s first eco-friendly vodka. Made from quadruple-distilled, five-times filtered vodka for the freshest flavor. This is chocolate to the intense degree.

Think vodka can be too chocolately? You’re kidding, right?

The Cork TreeThere’s a brand-new golf grip material quickly gaining popularity. The Cork Tree has debuted four new putter grips made of cork leather. Why cork? It’s proven to be the perfect complement to leather in a grip. Cork leather putter grips provide an overall user experience that cannot be achieved with any other putter grip material known to man. Cork is 100% natural, feels soft in the hands, and improves its playability well beyond other materials when a golfer’s hands are hot or sweaty -- as well as in humid playing conditions. Cork Tree putter grips are designed and used by Championship winning Tour professionals who make their living from playing golf. There are currently more than twenty PGA Tour players using Cork Treecork leather putter grips includ-ing the winner of the recent Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. A multiple major winner on the PGA Tour is also using the Cork Tree putter grip. Cork’s honeycomb cell structure is key. Each cell is a 14-sided polyhedron filled with air, making it an extremely strong and flexible membrane that’s waterproof and airtight. Cork bark is about 89% air, giving it a low density. But when it’s com-pressed, air isn’t squeezed out, because the cell membranes won’t release it. So it returns to its original shape when the compression is removed. The four initial putter grips include the Midsize ($39.95), Feather Light ($39.95), Parallel ($39.95) and Tour ($39.95) models. They’re all extremely durable, absorb any impact vibration and are impermeable to water. See all products from The Cork Tree at www.corkputtergrips.com.

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Duo Cart EVOLUTION The revolutionary Duo Cart EVO is an all-in-one push-cart and golf bag combination that is extremely compact, so it fits easily in the trunk of your car, and takes just seconds to set up. The Duo Cart features 4 large wheels that provide a low center of gravity and outstanding stability on even the toughest terrain. The Bag has a plethora of storage pockets for balls, tees, raingear, and other necessities you’ll need on the course as well as an external putter well that accommodates larger grips. It comes standard with attachable accessories like an umbrella holder and adjustable drink holder. Best of all the Duo Cart is “Riding Cart Friendly”, which means its wheels can be removed from the anodized aluminum frame in just seconds and converted into a Cart Bag, which fits on all standard electric or gas carts, should you decide to Ride instead of Walk! Available in Black/Bright White, Black/Grabber Yellow and Black/Neon Green at www.AlphardGolf.com.

Cobra Golf - FLY-Z+ Driver COBRA Golf, a leader in golf club innovation and performance, will showcase the latest in adjustable weight technology with the FLY-Z+ Driver featuring the all-new FlipZone weight technology – a revolutionary, moveable weight system engineered to provide two different flight paths in one club that enables maximum distance for any swing and any golfer. “I’m really excited about the new Fly-Z+ driver. In our early prototype test-ing I saw the positive effects the two settings could have on ball flight. For me, the front CG setting yielded the ball flight I want to see on the course,” said Rickie Fowler, COBRA Golf athlete and PGA Tour Pro. “The adjustable loft setting COBRA introduced last year was a huge advantage to my game, but now adding this new Zone Weighting to fine tune ball flight is really game-changing.” The key to increased distance is the ultra-low center of gravity (CG) embodied in COBRA’s new FlipZone weight technology that gives golfers the ability to move the low CG to the front or back position depending on their swing, to promote faster ball speeds, lower spin and optimal launch angles.


http://www.corkputtergrips.com

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Nexbelt Ladies Sleek Crystal Onyx Belt Add some BLING to your golf outfit with Nexbelt’s new Sleek Crystal Onyx belt. Fea-tures a lightly textured black leather strap and a beautifully crafted chrome buckle encrusted with rhinestone crystals. The belt is cut to fit (up to 40” waist) and has a hidden ratcheting system called PreciseFit that allows you to adjust the belt in ¼” increments. The buckle also flips down to reveal a hidden petite rhinestone ball marker. Available at www.Nexbelt.com

Stabel 26 - Performance Sock Technology Performance Sock Technology company Stable 26 is changing the landscape of golf performance – one foot at a time! Innovative Stable 26 footgear technology was developed by a chiro-practic doctor who has extensive experience treating athletes and a long history of proper fitting for shoes, ski boots, skates, and orthotics along with an interdisciplinary team of experts. The name – and founding philosophy – of Stable 26 has its roots in the anatomy of the human foot. Housing 26 structural support bones, the foot is subject to countless injuries – especially for professional athletes. Stable 26 understands how injuries come about, and the importance of wearing quality footgear to reduce foot trauma. Having worked with countless professional athletes since its inception, Stable 26 technology bridges the gap between athletes and their equipment, allowing them to always put their best foot forward.

TomTom GolferThe TomTom Golfer helps golfers know every inch of the course. Pre-loaded with 34,000 courses, giving golfers instant access to courses around the globe and as an added convenience, it instinctively recognizes nearby courses and will find the next hole. The Golfer has unique and easy-to-read graphics that clearly show accurate distances to hazards and layups, in addition to the best approach to the green. If you’re playing an unfamiliar course the watch’s precise and graphic measurements of yardage pays great dividends. Keeping track of score, distance and time for your round has never been easier than with TomTom’s latest innovation. The Golfer is not only stylishly slim and lightweight, but it offers outstanding features including 10 hours of battery life, waterproof-ing up to 50 meters, durable casing and a large face.


http://www.Nexbelt.com

http://www.Nexbelt.com



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Course architect Mark Mahannah de-signed 18 holes that take advantage of the natural wetlands, canals and pine trees that were once a part of the Raper Dairy Farm, who supplied TG Lee Dairy with milk for many years. Ventura Golf

& Country Club has been a hidden gem in Orlando. Known for many years as “Orlando’s best kept golf secret”, our visit to the club and this article is intended to – let the secret out. Many people are confused by the se-curity gates, thinking that the course is private, but it is public. The community is private, but all you need for entry is a tee time. Our tee time was on a blus-tery weekend, with winter tempera-tures that started in the upper 50’s and warmed to the upper 60’s. Much better conditions than the majority of the country north of us was experiencing. Everyone from the attendees at the bag drop to the pro shop staff were friendly and helpful, providing us with tips on the course, the do’s and don’ts and wishing us a fun round. The course only measures 5659 yards from the “tips” (4510 yards for women), but don’t let than fool you. Distance is not the badge of honor here, ac-curacy is. I was fortunate to be the only male component of the four-some. I was accompanied by 3 fun and attractive women. Yeah, I know, “It’s tough, but someone has to do it!” The first hole, a 517 yard par 5 is a straight-away golf hole, which may lull you into a sense of false security. The front nine doesn’t really present the need for accuracy and shot-making skills until later in the round. Hole’s #6 and #7, a 507 yard par 5 and 216 yard par 3 respectively, provide a chal-lenge for anyone of any skill level. On the back nine #10 is a very at-tractive par 5, with a sand trap at the corner of the slight dogleg left. I

successfully flew the trap, but was informed that you can’t go for it in two (without being a gorilla), since there is a small creek that runs in front of the green. So I laid up ef-fectively and proceeded to hit my 3rd shot into the face of the front bucker protecting the green, which plugged so deep into the face I needed a John Deere tractor to dig it out. The par 3 11th hole is ranked as the 12th hardest hole on the course, but at 212 yards and in the wind, it was a bit more difficult than that. The entertainment portion of the day occurred on the 12th hole. A simple 276 yard par 4, which I nearly drove from the tee box, allowed me a simple par. But that wasn’t the entertaining part. We parked our golf cart on the left side of the green, on what we thought was the cart path and started to drive away. Only to find that we were “out of bounds” with the cart and it automatically shut down. I’m sure I became the laugh-ing stock of those I was playing with, and the group behind us, as they watched me physically push and pull the cart back into range. We ended up driving backwards to get to terra firma and continue with our round. After a few more good laughs, some great shots and some we would rather forget, we finished the day appreciat-ing our hosts and enjoying the round. For more information about Ventura Golf & Country Club call 407-277-2640, or visit www.venturaccorlando.com. Josh Bennett, Director of Golf

By Bob Bolton

Ventura Golf & Country Club

http://www.venturaccorlando.com

Happy New Year

2015 Public Golf Memberships starting at $1275.00

www.venturaccorlando.com

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Believe or not, there is a championship golf course in Florida that doesn’t have any alligators living on its premises! Really? It’s because there are no water hazards located on the course – no lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, creeks, canals, or a lagoons. It’s been that way since it opened in 1947. It is the West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course (formerly the West Palm Beach Country Club) in West Palm Beach. But, this course -- designed by golf course archi-tect Dick Wilson -- features plenty of sand and a steady breeze! If you keep your ball ‘off the beach’ and below the wind, you will excel here, the site of the old West Palm Beach Open Invitational, a former PGA Tour stop in the 1950s. The West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course, ranked as one of the ‘Top Ten’ public golf courses in the U.S. in the 1980s, was reconfigured over the years into a course that left golfers yearn-ing for yesteryear. Solution: 10-time PGA Tour winner/golf course architect Mark McCumber was hired to return this course to its original design. In early 2009, the renovations began. Seven months later, the West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course (www.wpalmbeachgc.com) was re-opened. To add prestige to the moment, Arnold Palmer, the winner of the 1959 West Palm Beach Open Invitational, was invited to hit the ceremonial first tee shot. He accepted the invitation. And, Arnie’s Army came, too. Since then, many golfers have played this course and many more should include this layout on their list of ‘must play’ courses. While courses such as Doral, PGA National, and Bay Hill may be some of the most well-known golf-ing venues in Florida, the West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course – where the public is always welcome! -- will challenge any golfer who feels he or

she ‘has game.’ When you set foot on the West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course, be prepared to hit every club in your bag. If you are consistent off the tee, you will take the waste bunkers out of play. Once you negotiate the tee shots, finding the greens in regula-tion is no easy chore since bunkers surround every putting surface and the wind influences club selection. This venue is easy to walk, since the distances from the greens to the tees are minimal. There are five different tees, ranging from the silver tees (5,023 yards) to the black tees (7,002 yards). When going from the 9th green to the 10th tee, there is one ‘obstacle:’ the Snack Shack. It has a covered patio where you can eat a hot dog or enjoy a

beverage before tackling the back nine. This practice area includes an all-grass driving range, an 8,000 square-foot putting green and a second green to practice chip shots. One weekly event which puts this course in a special category is the Friday Pro Am, the "Oldest Game in Town.” Every week, for more than 50 years, it has attracted profession-als and amateurs who want to com-pete in this popular points game. To play the historic West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course, call the pro shop: 561-822-1591. If it was once good enough for the PGA Tour, then it remains good enough for you – January through December. Remember,

the public is always welcome!

By Mike May

http://www.wpalmbeachgc.com

http://www.wpalmbeachgc.com

www.plantationoncrystalriver.com


By Mike Mayala

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When you visit central Alabama to

play golf, you will be spoiled for choice

when it comes to places to play. The

focal point will be the Robert Trent

Jones (RTJ) Golf Trail, specifically these

layouts: Birmingham (Oxmoor Valley),

Hoover (Ross Bridge), Montgomery

(Capitol Hill), and Opelika (Grand

National). Three other non-RTJ courses,

which deserve to be placed in the

‘must play’ category, include FarmLinks

near Sylacauga and two layouts in

Tuscaloosa, Northriver and Ol’ Colony.

The Ridge course at Oxmoor Valley

has a number of elevation changes

and is filled with many photo opps!

The par 5 third, the ‘Signature Hole,’

is cleverly designed as your tee shot

is hit to a peninsula-like fairway. The

green is raised from the fairway and is

supported by a shelf of exposed shale

rock and railroad ties. This is a one-

of-a-kind hole, never to be forgotten.

When you stand on the first tee of

the Judge, located at Capitol Hill, it is

stunning! From the back tees, it’s a 200-

foot drop from the tee to the fairway,

which is flanked by the backwaters of

the Alabama River. Ideally, hit your

tee shot long and straight, preferably

straight! Water flanks the right and rear

of the Judge’s first green. Well struck

drives here are remembered forever!

When you visit Grand National

to play the Lake and Links courses,

many of the holes will border Lake

Saugahatchee. At the Lake course,

use your camera on the par 3 15th

hole. From the tee, it’s 100 percent

carry over water. This hole is very,

of Alabama GolfThe

FarmLinksRoss Bridge

Oxmoor Valley

very scenic. On the Links course, the

18th green is a difficult finishing hole.

Your tee shot must be struck over the

corner of the lake. Then, the approach

shot is hit to a shallow, raised green

-- supported by massive rocks. Pars are

both holes are worthy of celebration!

The ‘Signature Hole’ at FarmLinks

is the par 3 fifth, where the tee shot

is jaw-dropping! Once you reach

your teebox, you’ll be faced with a

downhill shot to the green. From the

back tees, there’s a 170-foot verti-

cal drop from tee to green. Sulphur

Mountain sits perched in the distance.

At Northriver, the finest par 4 is the

16th hole. From any tee marker, you

must hit your tee shot over water. Then,

on your approach, if your shot drifts

right or short, it will get ‘wet’ or ‘sandy.’

If the wind is in your face, it’s one of the

finest holes in the state. Birdies here

deserve a ‘fistpump’ and a ‘high five.’

The 9th hole at Ross Bridge is a right-

to-left dogleg par four where water

hugs the left side of the fairway from

tee to green. Water also borders the

front of the green. To complicate mat-

ters, the 9th fairway is split by a sand

bunker which appears in the middle

of the fairway. From the fairway, it’s

a short iron to a quasi-island green.

What makes these golf courses so

special? They are accessible and afford-

able. Finally, when you visit Ol’ Colony,

consider wearing cream and crimson

since it’s the home of the University of

Alabama golf program. Roll Tide!


Grand National

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Golf is often a game of fantas-

tic finishes, but there is another

stirring finale on the horizon at

The Reserve at Lake Keowee.

And this one, too, involves a

grand prize: lakefront property

with gorgeous mountain views.

The 14-year-old community, located

in the foothills of South Carolina’s Blue

Ridge Mountains, has just released its

final lakefront property , a move poised

to set up drama down the stretch as

more and more parcels are claimed.

“We’ve saved the best for last,”

said Rutledge Livingston, the

Reserve’s director of sales.

The Reserve, which sits on 3,900

acres and 30 miles of Keowee shoreline,

is home to a Jack Nicklaus Signature

Golf Course (there are home sites

available there, as well), a 200-slip

marina and $100 million in completed

family amenities, including 1,400

acres of parks, preserves and trails.

The course, one that Nicklaus carved

out between the mountains and

the lake, is a host site of the annual

BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by

Synnex, which attracts a host of big

names and is aired on Golf Channel.

That kind of exposure can’t hurt

and it might explain, in part, the

Reserve’s current ascension: More

than 60 homes are under construc-

tion, which represents the most at

any given time in the community’s

history, according to Livingston.

Not only that, but Reserve mem-

bers – now numbering about 700

from 30 states – are spending more

time there. For the first time ever,

full-time resident home construction

outnumbers seasonal new builds.

A concierge marina service,

top-20 South Carolina golf course

and robust fitness and cultural op-

tions – the Reserve has an artist

in residence program, for instance

– combine for a powerful pull.

But involvement at the Reserve goes

beyond concerts in The Village or

raucous Wiffle ball games on the Great

l lawn. The Reserve’s charitable arm

has raised nearly $300,000 for local

organizations since 2006 and members

volunteer hundreds of hours annually.

“It’s the water, it’s the mountain

air, it’s the amenities,” Livingston

said. “But I think, most of all, it’s

the sense of community. This place

is about moments and sharing

them with your friends and fam-

ily, no matter what you’re doing.”

To learn more about The Reserve,

call 877‐922‐LAKE (5253), visit

www.ReserveAtLakeKeowee.com, or

read the community’s official blog

at www.LifeOnKeowee.com.

Reserved: Lakefront Property in Hot Demand at Upscale Lake Keowee Community

The Reserve at Lake Keowee Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Hole 15

The Reserve at Lake Keowee Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Holes 17 and 18.

http://www.ReserveAtLakeKeowee.com

http://www.LifeOnKeowee.com

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Four previous winners and two first-timers have been named 2014 Richard S. Tufts Players of the Year by the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA). The six win-ners are: Scott Harvey of Greensboro, NC (Men), Dawn Woodard of Greer, SC (Women), Rick Cloninger of Fort Mill, SC (Senior Men), Jessica Spicer of Bahama, NC (Junior Girls), Pat Brogden of Garner, NC (Senior Women), and Eric Bae of Pinehurst, NC (Junior Boys). Scott Harvey of Greensboro, NC claimed his fourth consecutive Carolinas Men’s Player of the Year award. He is the first men’s category four-time winner. The 36-year-old property manager had a 2014 golf season to remember. In July he won the Cardinal Amateur. At the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in September, he was stroke-play medalist and went on to win the championship. For that victory, he received an invitation to play in the 2015 Masters Tournament. Harvey was one of 16 players invited to attend a practice ses-sion for the 2015 Walker Cup. Harvey cur-rently is the number 75th ranked men’s amateur player in the world according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Dawn Woodard, of Greer, SC won the Carolinas Women’s Player of the Year honor for the third consecutive year. Woodard’s successful 2014 campaign included winning the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association (WSCGA) Match Play Championship for the fifth time in a row followed by a victory at the WSCGA Stroke Play Championship. Woodard led after the first round of stroke-play quali-

fying at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur championships and qualified as the sec-ond-seed before losing in the Round of 64. Rick Cloninger of Fort Mill, SC wins his second consecutive Carolinas Senior Men’s Player of the Year award. Cloninger, a three-time CGA champion, won the 2014 South Carolina Golf Association Senior Championship and placed second in the Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship. In the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, he advanced to the semifinals, losing to eventual champion Pat Tallent. Pat Brogden of Garner, NC takes home her third Carolinas Senior Women’s Player of the Year honor. Her 2014

season included two victories, two other top-three finishes and participation in a USGA national championship. The 60-year-old won her fourth Carolinas Women’s Senior title, giving her nine all-time CGA victories. Of the six Carolinas women who qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, Brogden advanced the furthest, to the Round of 16. Eric Bae, a 16-year-old high school junior from Pinehurst, NC, earned his first Carolinas Junior Boys Player of the Year honor with a season that included three victories. During the second-round at the U.S. Junior Amateur, Bae shot a cham-pionship-record 29 on his inward nine holes to help him qualify for match play. Jessica Spicer, a 17-year-old high school junior from Bahama, NC earned the 2014 Carolinas Junior Girls Player of the Year award. Spicer earned her first CGA title with an eight shot victory at the Carolinas Junior Girls’ Championship. Award winners will be honored dur-ing Carolinas Golf Night and the CGA Annual Meeting at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, NC on Saturday, January 31, 2015. Rick Cloninger

Pat Brogden

Dawn Woodard

Gina Kim

JessicaSpicer

Scott HarveyMartin

Eric Bae

**Price for single or double occupancy, plus tax. A tour with our sales team is required. © 2015 On Top of the World Communities Inc, Ocala, Florida, a 55+ community. Prices, features and specifications are subject to change without notice. Certain conditions may apply. Void where prohibited by law

On Top of the World offers amazing amenities, including 3 golf courses, 2 fitness centers, 8 tennis courts, 6 pools, 6 pickleball courts, 2 restaurants, a pub, hobby building, spa, salon, lifelong learning and so much more.

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The IGTA Tour was founded in 2000 with our first tournament in 2001. We are now beginning our fifteenth year. The Tour has paid out over $3,800,000 to its members and now provides 25 events per year. The original concept was to create a tour for the former scratch golfer who had to give up or postpone his dream of the PGA Tour. With a full time job his game suffered and suddenly he plays to a 1,2, 3, etc. handicap. The tour became popular and many mini-tour players started coming out and ultimately top play-ers from all the tours including Web.com and Champions Tour participate.

Why Tour Pros & Scratch Players Participate with the IGTA

First Prize $4,000 to $10,000 with 33% of field paid. Now over 235 consecutive tournaments paying at least $4,000.00 for First Place. Some players rarely cash a check or even make the Cut on other Tours. Continue with your Tour, but play IGTA on week-ends and play on a net basis with consideration given to recent scoring. Shooting Even Par (Net) will earn the player at least $1,000.00 in almost every tourna-ment. Averaging over $60,000.00 per year for the past twelve years. All players will agree they will im-prove their game playing with the IGTA. In the past twelve years a score of Net even Par would have paid over $60,000.00 per year. First place is $4,000 to $10,000 and a leading money winner took home over $33,000.00. Most players

on the tour are single digit handicaps (USGA handicap software is used). The IGTA Tour is also an excellent developmental golf tour and many of the IGTA golf members have gone on to play on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, and Champions Tour. Others play on the Egolf tour, Gateway Tour, Hopkins Pro Golf Tour, Sunbelt Senior Tour, Minor League Golf Tour, West Florida Golf Tour, Florida Professional Golf Tour and the Moonlight Tour.

Players such as D.A. Points, Jerod Turner and Andrew Svoboda moved on to the PGA Tour. Veteran professional, Marco Dawson has been a tremendous first year player on the Champions Tour in 2014, winning over $950,000.00 in about six months, making every cut. Don Gadberry, became a full-time 2010 PGA Tour caddie for Martin Flores. Tony Smith and A. J. Montecino caddied for Brad Bryant and Y. E. Yang among others. www.igtatourllc.com.

More Than $3,800,000 Paid to Players

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Training, meals and accommodations

Personal drills and development plan

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On course and on range training

call 866-639-9099 or email [email protected] Inn Resort & Club, Howey-in-the-Hills, FloridaTo organize your visit,Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy is located at

Reach your goals in golf this Fall and Spring! The key to development and the difference is a holistic program. All GGGA Camps include technical, mental, fitness and on-course training to help juniors meet their goals in golf. Mission Inn Resort & Club, home of GGGA, also features two championship courses, El Campeon and Las Colinas are ranked among the best in the state while the GGGA training program is overseen and directed by Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher and Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Gary Gilchrist and his team of coaches.

FALL & SPRINGCAMPS

All camps include:

Upcoming camps:

Nov. 23-26, 2014 - Holiday camp*Dec. 14-20, 2014 - Doral tournament prepJan. 4-10, 2015 - Winter CampJan. 16-19, 2015 - Holiday Camp*Feb. 13-16, 2015 - Holiday Camp*March 29-April 4, 2015 - Spring Break CampMay 22-25, 2015 - Holiday Camp*


www.ggga.com


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For those who have met and/or played

at a facility managed by Bill Shiles,

you know that you were treated like

a ‘guest’. As former G.M. of Eastwood,

Stoneybrook GC, Tuscawilla CC, Red

Tail, Sea Trail Golf Resort or as the

Executive Director of the “Junior

Golf Association of Central Florida

(J.G.A.),” a Bill Shiles managed facil-

ity is a pleasurable experience.

Having grown up in New Smyrna

Beach and as a 3-sport high school ath-

lete (baseball, basketball and football),

it was the football coach, Bill Moreman,

who taught him life/management

skills. “You may not realize it now,” said

Coach Moreman, “but you are going

to learn things on this team that are

going to be useful your entire life.”

Bill says, “Forming a team that

will work together for a common

goal, leading by example and the

importance of communication

is what he learned from Coach

Moreman and what he tries to put

into practice every day.” Whether it

is empowering each member of his

staff/team to let them do their job,

building a bond by visiting every

department every day and/or having

weekly meetings communicating with

department heads, Coach Moreman

was his inspiration as were the many

team members and mentors he has

worked with in the golf industry.

Bill has a unique way to envision

and treat ‘customers’. “I look at those

who come to play as guests,” says

Bill. “It’s the attitude that our entire

staff employs. We are happy that they

have chosen our course and we let

them know that we appreciate them.

Whether it’s the pro shop staff, cart at-

tendants, starters, rangers, restaurant

staff, etc., we are happy to be there

and we are happy that

they have visited us.”

Selling ‘fun’ is also

part of the equation. As

Executive Director of

the J.G.A., Bill learned

that the number one

goal of golf is to have

fun. “Fun playing golf

can come in many

forms. For example,

I found that younger

juniors had more fun

when they didn’t keep

score and just en-

joyed the experience

as well as those they

were playing with without feeling the

pressure of winning. But fun is also

related to the golf course conditions,

the design of the holes and the beauty

of the surroundings. Superintendent

Buddy Tate has the course in excel-

lent condition with lush fairways

and excellent greens.” Additionally,

the owners, GEOSAM Capital, bought

a new fleet of 80 carts which adds

to the on-course experience.

As Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”

says, “There’s no place like home.” Bill

Shiles is back home in New Smyrna

Beach at Venetian Bay Golf Club. It’s a

course with five sets of tees, beautiful

lakes, competitive prices and where

you’ll ALWAYS be treated as a ‘GUEST!”

If you’d like to be ‘back home’ with

Bill, visit him at one of Central Florida’s

premiere golf courses, Venetian Bay Golf

Club, managed by Billy Casper Golf.

Bill Is BackCan You Say “Venetian Bay”?

By Jay Golden, PGA

Bill Shiles

Sunset Beach Redfish

New Carts

Venetian Bay Bay Golf Hole #2

Play a round of golf on our 18-hole championship golf course, spend a day with your family and enjoy a first-class dining experience in the clubhouse restaurant. Enjoy all that Venetian Bay has to offer whether you are a Member or a visiting guest. Any and all are welcome!

About Venetian Bay

386.424.5775 | venetianbaygolf.com63 North Airport Road | New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168

New Smyrna Beach is a great place to be from, and is a great place to come back to — truly it is “Home Sweet Home.” As a native of New Smyrna Beach, Bill Shiles has honed his skills as a golf course, country club and resort manager in Central Florida and North Carolina over the past 23 years, and he is now leading the charge at Venetian Bay Golf Club as the new General Manager. Along with his wife of 30 years, Pam, Bill is excited to be home and is very proud to be a part of a team that envisions Venetian Bay becoming the place in Volusia County to play golf, to host your wedding, business lunches or just an afternoon of watching football with friends.

New Manager

Over the years, we’ve come to intimately understand the challenges in flawlessly executing an event. Venetian Bay’s continued success simply comes down to an incredibly personalized level of service that we deliver time and time again.

Your special day will take place against a picture perfect backdrop while our team works in the background to ensure every detail is immaculate and nothing overlooked. We realize our amenities are nothing without your friends and family, your personal touch and our staff to bring Venetian Bay alive to create memories that will last a lifetime.

From formal to relaxed or intimate to grand—if you can dream it, we’ve done it.

BanquetsVenetian Bay Golf Club is the perfect place to host a golf outing. Whether you are planning an event for some pre-wedding groomsmen, or your Non-Profit's Major Annual Fundraiser, Venetian Bay has the solutions you're looking for. Our professional staff will assist you in making your outing the must-attend golf event of the year!

Outings

Venetian Bay Golf Club offers a variety of amenities for you to enjoy including Golf, Dining and a Swim Club. Members at Venetian Bay enjoy unlimited, year-round access to our championship course with shimmering lakes, strategic bunkers, rolling fairways, and well-bunkered greens. The clubhouse provides Members with the perfect setting for lunch or a relaxing drink at the bar with family and friends.

Membership

Play a round of golf on our 18-hole championship golf course, spend a day with your family and enjoy a first-class dining experience in the clubhouse restaurant. Enjoy all that Venetian Bay has to offer whether you are a Member or a visiting guest. Any and all are welcome!

About Venetian Bay

386.424.5775 | venetianbaygolf.com63 North Airport Road | New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168

New Smyrna Beach is a great place to be from, and is a great place to come back to — truly it is “Home Sweet Home.” As a native of New Smyrna Beach, Bill Shiles has honed his skills as a golf course, country club and resort manager in Central Florida and North Carolina over the past 23 years, and he is now leading the charge at Venetian Bay Golf Club as the new General Manager. Along with his wife of 30 years, Pam, Bill is excited to be home and is very proud to be a part of a team that envisions Venetian Bay becoming the place in Volusia County to play golf, to host your wedding, business lunches or just an afternoon of watching football with friends.

New Manager

Over the years, we’ve come to intimately understand the challenges in flawlessly executing an event. Venetian Bay’s continued success simply comes down to an incredibly personalized level of service that we deliver time and time again.

Your special day will take place against a picture perfect backdrop while our team works in the background to ensure every detail is immaculate and nothing overlooked. We realize our amenities are nothing without your friends and family, your personal touch and our staff to bring Venetian Bay alive to create memories that will last a lifetime.

From formal to relaxed or intimate to grand—if you can dream it, we’ve done it.

BanquetsVenetian Bay Golf Club is the perfect place to host a golf outing. Whether you are planning an event for some pre-wedding groomsmen, or your Non-Profit's Major Annual Fundraiser, Venetian Bay has the solutions you're looking for. Our professional staff will assist you in making your outing the must-attend golf event of the year!

Outings

Venetian Bay Golf Club offers a variety of amenities for you to enjoy including Golf, Dining and a Swim Club. Members at Venetian Bay enjoy unlimited, year-round access to our championship course with shimmering lakes, strategic bunkers, rolling fairways, and well-bunkered greens. The clubhouse provides Members with the perfect setting for lunch or a relaxing drink at the bar with family and friends.

Membership

www.venetianbaygolf.com

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Twenty-five professional golfers paired with Naples’ most philanthropic play-ers and four Immokalee students to participate in The Immokalee Foundation’s record-setting Charity Classic Pro-Am, hosted by The Old Collier Golf Club in Naples on Nov. 17. The tournament raised more than $425,000 – the most in tournament his-tory – to benefit the youth of Immokalee through The Immokalee Foundation’s educational programs. Coupled with the Charity Classic Celebration fund-raising dinner and auction on Nov. 14, the 2014 Charity Classic events raised a record-breaking total of more than $2 million for the nonprofit organization. “This community continues to dem-onstrate its generosity and commitment to caring for the children of Immokalee in a meaningful, significant way,” said

Pro-Am event chair Kevin Johnson, private wealth advisor with Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. “Thanks to our professional golfers and the generous donors who participated, we were able to raise a record amount of funding for The Immokalee Foundation while enjoying a terrific day of golf.” The tournament included break-fast on the lawn and a golf clinic by several of the visiting pros. The scramble format paired players with a different pro for each of the nine holes. An awards luncheon imme-diately followed the tournament. The team of Monte Ahuja, Kevin Johnson, Don Fites and Jay Smith

– playing the front nine holes with George McNeill and the back nine holes with Dudley Hart – took first place at the golf tournament and were awarded handcrafted copper beech bowls. The foursome wasn’t the only group that walked away victorious. In second place overall was Joyce Hagen Fites, Natalie McNicholas, Keely Lockhart and Sunny Sapiente, playing with pros Joe Ogilve and Michelle McGann. The third place overall winners were the Arthrex team of Michael Boose, Tejash Naik, Tim Thompson and Mike Morris, playing with pros Ken Duke and Laura Diaz. The biggest winners of the day were the members of the TIF student team – Alejandro Galvan, Charity Gonzales, Heather Martinez and Christopher Ortiz – who had the opportunity to play 18 holes with former PGA touring


Charity Classic Pro-Am celebrates record year

TIF 2014 Charity Classic Pro-Am first place team


professional and current FGCU men’s golf coach Eric Booker. Johnson offered appreciation to Mark Lye, a PGA Tour pro-fessional and former Golf Channel analyst who actively supports the Charity Classic Pro-Am. “Mark is such a great friend to The Immokalee Foundation,” Johnson said. “He tirelessly works to recruit an incredible group of profes-sionals from the LPGA, PGA, Champions and Nationwide tours to participate in the tournament. We simply wouldn’t experience such a successful event without his efforts and the generosity of the golfers who participate. “It’s amazing how The Immokalee Foundation changes the lives of students,” said Johnson, who has hosted the event four years. “Those of us who get involved have the privilege to witness their successes and learn what they’ve achieved thanks to the organization. I’m honored to have a role in raising more money to help more students.” Sponsors of the 2014 Charity Classic Celebration and Pro-Am are Arthrex Inc., hope society; Fifth Third Bank, founding sponsor; Jaguar Naples, Porsche of Naples and Kelly Tractor, education circle sponsors; Naples Illustrated, media sponsor; GE Foundation, corporate matching spon-sor; Central Bank, pathways circle sponsor; and Kevin Johnson, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. The Immokalee Foundation has a range of programs that focus on building pathways to success through col-lege and post-secondary training, mentoring and tutor-ing, and opportunities for broadening experiences, life skills development and economic independence. To learn more about TIF, the Charity Classic Celebration, volunteer-ing as a mentor or for additional information, call 239-430-9122 or visit www.immokaleefoundation.org.

www.hersandbaggers.com 1-800-659-9607

Styles that fit your personality....

TIF 2014 Charity Classic Pro-Am second place team

TIF 2014 Charity Classic Pro-Am third place team

http://www.immokaleefoundation.org.www.hersandbaggers.com

http://www.immokaleefoundation.org.www.hersandbaggers.com



golfstayandplaytennessee.com64 Southern Golf Central • Volume 15, Issue 8

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As we put 2014 behind, some deserving PGA Professionals from the Tennessee Section are reaping the rewards for great play among their peers. Their awards will be pre-sented at the PGA Tennessee Section annual meeting and awards luncheon in the spring. For these PGA professionals, com-petition is secondary to their daily club pro duties. Their logo cites these men and women as “The Experts in the Game and Business of Golf. This year’s winners are: Bushnell Player of the Year, Loren R. Personett of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Loren’s club is McCabe Golf Course, a Metro Parks golf course located in Nashville. Bolle Senior Player of the Year, Audie S. Johnson of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Audie’s club is the 27-hole facility, McCabe Field Golf Course, located in west Nashville. Ogio Assistant Player of the Year, Kevin D. Snell, resides in Eagleville. His club is Henry Horton Golf Course, a Tennessee state parks facility located in Chapel Hill. “First, I would like to congratulate all three recipients of the Tennessee PGA Player of the Year Awards,” Tennessee PGA Executive Director Jeff Abbot said. “Loren, Audie and Kevin

are no strangers to these awards, which show their commitment to the Tennessee PGA and their outstand-ing level of play. We are proud to have these first class PGA professionals as the faces of our tournament program, and hope they continue to inspire others to play this great game of golf.” Personett is the Player of the Year for the ninth time. He also won the Assistant Player of the Year award five (5) times, for a total of 14 assistant and regular player of the year awards. Personett’s season was highlighted with first-place finishes at the Middle Tennessee Chapter Championship, City of Crossville Team Championship, Lincoln’s Classic, and Pro-Super. He also finished runner-up at the 46th Tennessee Professional Championship. Johnson is the Senior Player of the Year for the first time to go along with three regular Player of the Year awards and one Assistant Player of the Year award. Audie’s 2014 season was highlighted with a first-place finishes at the Capital City Golf Association Open, City of Crossville Team Championship, Assistant Championship and Players Championship. He also made the cut in the 75th Senior PGA Championship, 26th Senior PGA Professional National Championship and the Assistants National. Snell is the Assistant Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Snell’s season was highlighted with a first-place finish at the Harold Eller Pro-Am. He had second-place fin-ishes at The Classic, City of Crossville Team Championship, Assistant Championship, Lincoln’s Classic, Players Championship, Pro-Pro Championship and a third-place finish at the Pro-Pro-Pro Scramble. He had a scoring average of 69.8

on the year and made the cut at the Assistant National Championship. Tennessee Section PGA tourna-ments are held all over the state and without the support and finan-cial commitment of Rob Spenser of Bushnell, Bolle and Ogio there would not be the great tournaments that our PGA Professionals have come to enjoy.Their help and continued assistance to our Section is the reason our PGA Professionals can complete in these venues that we, The Tennessee PGA staff feel they deserve.

Honoring Tennessee Section’s Best

Audie Johnson and Loren Personett

Jeff AbbotKevin Snell

Courtesy of Tennessee Tee Times News

www.golfstayandplaytennessee.com

When The Sun Rises in Tennessee,We Play Golf

golfstayandplaytennessee.com65Southern Golf Central • Volume 15, Issue 8



No-Fakin' says: I'm no fan of winter and refuse

to let winter keep me from playing

the game I love. Apparently I'm in a

minority of about 20% of golfers who

refuse to stop playing when either

football season starts or the temp's

drop below 60 degrees. It's what we

do, we put on outer wear and insulated

leggin's and sweatshirts put the cover

on the cart, fire up the cart heater and

head for the first tee. Is it comfort-

able? No, not always but its golf.

Are there advantages? Yes, it's an

opportunity to play winter rules, mov-

ing the ball to a position where it sits

up on the dormant brown grass, its

raking and placing in bunkers that are

not maintained in the winter, etc. Slow

play doesn't exist because our minor-

ity of 20% golfers do not waste time

thinking about the next shot, pacing off

the distance to the pin, reading putts

from every angle, we just golf and get

it done. Did I mention its cold and we

don't have time for such important

details that make the round move

slow. One thing winter does allow is

the higher scores without concern and

no need to record scores for handi-

capping as the system is not in use

during the winter. There is no need

to swat flies, bugs and bees, they are

smarter than humans with a built-in

instinct to hibernate in the winter.

A couple of negatives would be a

bundled swing with less rotation and

freedom to explode on the ball. The ball

compression is non-existent and travels

10%-15% less distance. There are no

pretty cart girls to break-up the focus.

Well heck if there were they would be in

full snow gear with only a cute nose and

eyes showing. And I guess the main

negative is... its cold and no amount of

cover-up will protect a golfer com-

pletely. I'll take the positive over the

negative all day until its warm again.

I may not be makin' the rounds

for more golf but I'm out there

with my winter golf buddies.

Makin says: There is no question No-Fakin

is a winter golfer, it is what we do

as winter golfers, we dress for the

cold build a comfortable space in

the cart to keep warm and go after

the ball. In addition to playing golf

as No-Fakin speaks of, there is so

much more to the golf business.

As a golf industry publisher and

promoter of the game my real concerns

are for the golf course owners, manag-

ers, the PGA club professionals, the

Superintendent and the maintenance

crew. The golf businesses north of

Florida have to take in to effect the lack

of play in the winter. Winter causes

many changes in course personnel

as hours are cut to save cost of the

operation. Owners are counting dol-

lars they have saved during the other

season to make sure the cost of doing

business does not exceed the money

held to pay for upkeep in the winter.

With the economy taking a huge dip

in 2007 the golf business along with

many leisure activity industries have

lost play to the spendable income.

Always the first thing to go when

the economy dives, is the spendable

income for leisure sports. With the

economy still struggling along, golf-

ers have found ways to remain “in the

game” by playing less golf but at least

are playing. The golf business is in a

recovery mode but have more recovery

before its even close to the 2007 level.

There is a false narrative being

spread by media that the golf indus-

try is in decline due to lack of inter-

est in the game. A totally ridiculous

claim as we still have 25-million

plus consumers who claim to play

golf. Junior golf grows every year

with interest booming. Women have

taken up the game in large numbers

and the senior age group of baby-

boomers is growing exponentially.

Therefore, its not numbers of golf-

ers, its spendable income directly

related to the economy. I'm really not

offering new information for those

who love golf and will not be leav-

ing the game. But, reinforcing their

love for the game. If I can relate this

to golf course owners so they know

there is light at the end of the tunnel

and please hold on if possible while

We The People continue to right-the-

ship and grow the economy again.

Thanks to all the owners, managers

and PGA club professionals who sup-

port this publication. Thanks to all the

readers/golfers who make all this worth

it. My motto for 2015 is “Gratitude with

an Attitude.” Carry on, lets play golf.

no fa

kin'

golfnews4friends.net 66 Southern Golf Central • Volume 15, Issue 8


By Glenn MakinPublisher

Makin’ The Rounds with No-Fakin’



Quarter Mile StringsMaking your Wedding, Reception

Luncheon or Party Memorable

865.556.4653 For [email protected] • ww.quartermilestrings.com

Hannah IrwinViolin Karley Makin

Cello

Taylor FordViolin

18 hole championship golf coursefull service restaurant & loungejunior olympic size swimming pool6 lighted tennis courtsbanquet facilities

More than 85 Years of Tradition


www.tnriverboat.com

www.greenmeadowcc.com



golfnews4friends.net 68 Southern Golf Central • Volume 15, Issue 8


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Golf Central Winter Tour ScheduleDates Course Location Tour Name

Oct 18 Royal Oaks GC Maryville Winter Tour 2-Man Scottish Lowball

Oct 25 Sevierville GC Sevierville Speical Event* with 2-Man Scramble

Nov 1-2 The Country Club Morristown Special Event* with 2-Man Scramble

Nov 8 Dandridge GC Dandridge Winter Tour 2-Man

Nov 15 Three Ridges Knoxville Winter Tour 2-Man

Nov 22 Oscar's Morristown Winter Tour 2-Man

Nov 29 Nolichucky View Greeneville Winter Tour 2-Man

Dec 6 Sevierville GC Sevierville Winter Tour 2-Man Highlands Course

Dec 13-14 Crossville Road Trip Crossville 13th- Dorchester GC 14th- Bear Trace GC

Dec 20 Patriot Hills GC Jefferson City Winter Tour 2-Man

Dec 27 Three Ridges GC Knoxville Winter Tour 2-Man

Jan 3 Royal Oaks GC Maryville Winter Tour 2-Man

Jan 10 Dandridge GC Dandridge Winter Tour 2-Man

Jan 17 River Islands GC Kodak Winter Tour 2-Man

Jan 24 Willow Creek GC Knoxville Winter Tour 2-Man

Jan 31 Nolichucky View Greeneville Special Event* Snowball 2-Man Scramble

Feb 7 River Islands GC Kodak Winter Tour 2-Man

Feb 14 Oscars Morristown Winter Tour 2-Man

Feb 21 Sevierville GC Sevierville Winter Tour 2-Man River Course

Feb 28 Patriot Hills GC Jefferson City Winter Tour 2-Man

Mar 7 Nolichucky View Greeneville Winter Tour 2-Man

Mar 14 Millstone GC Morristown Winter Tour 2-Man

Mar 21 Dandridge GC Dandridge Winter Tour Championship

Special Events are a separate side-pot from the host tournament. Paid separatelyRooms & Times for Crossville Road are TBA, watch for announcement.Membership fee is $10 for the seasonAll members receive a goody bag with Golf Central Cover-up and accessories. Contact Glenn Makin, Tour Coordinator, 865-556-4653 for details

Morristown Golf

And Country Club1180 Valley Home Rd

Morristown, TN 37813423.586.9953

Well maintained “Best 9-Hole Course”

Come join us for the

Oscar’s 2-Man ScrambleAugust 16-17

Home of the 1:00pm Daily Game

Call to reserve the course for your next

fundraising event

Host course for 3 events on the Tennessee Golf Centralgolfnews4friends.net

Winter Tour

Some winners of past tournaments

Michael Holt



Your Knoxville and Farragut Chiropractor

Discover what thousands of patients already have: Jacobs Chiropractic has the expertise to help you attain – and maintain – your optimum health and wellness. Whether you have neck or back pain or suffer from chronic or acute health conditions, Knoxville Chiropractor, Dr. Chad Jacobs of Jacobs Chiropractic would like to help!

A Different Approach for Knoxville & Farragut

Chiropractor in Knoxville, Dr. Chad Jacobs explains, “We are one of very few Tennessee chiropractors to offer the Clinical Biomechanics of Posture® (CBP) technique, which improves spinal alignment and posture to alleviate painful conditions and provide a route to lasting health and wellness.” For a more detailed understanding of biophysics please visit idealspine.com.

Structural Rehab

This structural rehab returns your spine to its normal alignment, creating permanent solutions to postural issues that contribute to many health related conditions.

If you’ve been to see other Knoxville chiropractors or tried other forms of treatment without success, give us a call to schedule your first appointment and see how Jacobs Chiropractic may be able to help you!

Dr. Chad C. Jacobs | Knoxville Chiropractor | 130 Mabry Hood Rd, Suite 106, Knoxville TN 37922 Phone: (865) 566-0325

Jacobs Chiropractic Helps Patients Optimize Their Health

www.idealspine.com

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Twenty-five of golf’s most distin-guished PGA of America and LPGA teaching professionals are among the inaugural coaches in the newly formed Golf Channel Academy, a dedicated network of facilities com-mitted to growing the opportunities for golf instruction. Backed by Golf Channel, the game’s leading global multimedia and entertainment source, Golf Channel Academy will open its charter locations in Spring 2015. Golf Channel Academy is the first net-work devoted to efficiently expanding the business of golf instruction through a unique marketing partnership with selected coaches and their facilities, and availing itself of a variety of Golf Channel promotional and customized

marketing tools. Golf Channel’s support represents a notable shift in how teach-ing, coaching, and player development are presented, promoted, and delivered. Golf Channel Academy’s current team of 25 lead coaches features some of the best and brightest teachers in the game today. And that’s not by accident, as years of research by Golf Channel Academy’s executive team have gone into identifying the inaugural group. The first 25 Golf Channel Acad-emy coaches represent 16 states and one province, 12 Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers, 7 book authors, 15 coaches on Golf Digest’s list of “Best Teachers in State” for 2013-14, and the current LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals National president.

Golf Channel Academy coaches will benefit from a wide-spectrum of busi-ness consulting services and products addressing marketing, sales, technol-ogy, and back-office solutions needs, as well as shared best practices across the network. Coaches also will have the opportunity to appear on instruc-tional programming across Golf Chan-nel’s television and digital platforms. These initial academies include over 75 associate coaches, who side-by-side with these instructors, will also be available to work with students. The idea for Golf Channel Academy began from a collaborative idea between Todd Wilson, chief executive officer of Golf Channel Academy, and Scott Novell, president of Golf Channel Acad-

Golf Channel Academy Brings Together Golf's Elite Coaches in Strategic Alliance

Henry BruntonHenry Brunton Golf, Maple, Ontario, Canada

Dom DiJuliaDiJulia Golf, New Hope, PA

Chuck EvansTiffany Greens Golf Club, Kansas City, MO

Jeff FisherFisher Bryan Golf Academy, Mesa, AZ

Fred GriffinGrand Cypress Academy of Golf, Orlando, FL

Martin HallIbis Golf & CC, West Palm Beach, FL

Rick KrebsWaverly Woods GC, Marriottsville, MD

Rod LidenbergHalla Greens GC and Training Center, Chanhassen, MN

Dave KendallKendall Academy of Golf, Ypsilanti, MI

Anders MattsonSaratoga National GC, Saratoga Springs, NY

Charlie KingReynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA

Kenny NairnCelebration GC, Celebration, FL

71Southern Golf Central • Volume 15, Issue 8 71

emy. Wilson based this golf instruction concept on the “brand-within-a-brand” strategy employed by NASCAR, where he was the long-tenured senior vice president and chief financial officer. Golf Channel Academy also will draw on the network and experience of its executive vice president Lorin Anderson, founder and president of Proponent Group, a golf instruc-tor membership-based organiza-tion that is now part of the founda-tion of Golf Channel Academy. “Our business model is based on acquiring the top teaching talent in

the industry and building a marketing and business services infrastructure to support it, thus achieving a scale and synergy not previously seen in this part of the industry,” said Anderson. Proponent Group, golf’s premier membership-based service com-pany for top-echelon instructors and coaches—launched in 2007 to offer dedicated golf instructors a unique set of business-oriented benefits to help enhance their teaching skills and their businesses—has merged with the newly formed Golf Channel Academy. Ander-son believes this merger will make the

organization an even more important resource to its 450 instructor members. “It was time for an infusion of talent and energy that could take Proponent Group to the next level, and this is it,” says Anderson. “We are already start-ing to tap into the unmatched array of marketing, business, and social-media resources Golf Channel has to offer and are pushing them out to our members.” Golf Channel Academy plans to open more than 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada within five years and will lean on Proponent Group’s highly qualified

membership to fuel that growth.

Chris O’ConnellThe Plane Truth, The Courses at Watters Creek, Plano, TX

Don ParsonsTwin Lakes Golf Course, Goleta, CA

Chad PhillipsBlue Giraffe Golf Institute, Tucker, GA

Kip PuterbaughAviara Golf Academy, Carlsbad, CA

Dana RaderDana Rader Golf School, Charlotte, NC

Craig RenshawLegacy Golf Performance Center, Phoenix, AZ

Jeff RitterPoppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach, CA

Jon SinclairSinclair’s Golf Training Center, Euless, TX

Kellie StenzelPalm Beach Par 3, Palm Beach, FL

Larry WardHigh Performance Golf, Lexington, KY

Trent WearnerTrent Wearner Golf Academy, Englewood, CO

Rob NoelRob Noel Golf Academy, Abita Springs, LA

Royal Oaks in Maryville, Tennessee is thriving golf community nestled in the

foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The community offers majestic views

of the Mountains to the east and the Cumberland Plateau Mountains to the west.

An easy five miles from McGee-Tyson Airport serving the Greater Knoxville Area.

Located just minutes from shopping, top rated schools and colleges.

A quiet community of beautiful homes that surround the highly rated lush

Royal Oaks Golf Club. There are lots available on two of the holes with

excellent views and ready for your custom home.

Contact Tinker Richmond at 865.256.1386 to discuss your perfect home.


Is a Log Cabin or ChaletNear The Great Smoky Mountains Calling Your Name?

Call Chuck Cavalaris at [email protected] of Real Estate LLC 865-365-1670202 Locha Poka DriveMaryville, TN 37803

Willow Creek Golf Club“Come play the finest

Champion Bermuda greens in East Tennessee”

• Golf Digest 4-star facility

• Full driving range and practice facility

• Senior and Twilight rates available

Call the pro-shop @ (865) 675-010012003 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37934


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Dye’s Valley Annual Pass - $3,500 Join now and receive a $250 TPC Sawgrass gift card!

Limited time offer expires 02/28/15.

Become a Passholder today and enjoy:

• Cart fee-only access to Dye’s Valley Course

• Preferred rates on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course

• Exclusive access to Members-only dining and events

• And much more

MS3262_TPC_Sawgrass_FloridaGolfCentral_DecPrint.indd 1 11/11/14 4:31 PM

http://www.fairfieldglade.cc

www.golfcapitaltenn.com

www.tpc.com/valleypass2014-FGC

southern golf central magazine - vol 15 issue 8 • interactive

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