SNE Golfer August-September 2011

VOL. 1 NO. 4 AUG/SEPT 2011

BEST COVERAGE OF GOLF IN RI, MASS & CONN

TEE TO GREEN

3 Cover Story 4 Editorial 6 Golf Instruction 9 Deutsche Bank Preview10 Crenshaw Interview12 Junior Golf14 RI Notebook17 CT Notebook27 Central MA Notebook28 Product Review29 Course Review34 Golf Travel 37 RI Golf Locator Map And much more!

COMPETITION ISSUECVS

PICTORIAL

INSIDE

HOORAY for FORTYSOMETHINGS!Jeff Heddon Wins N.E. Amateur

Juliet Vongphoumy

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Aug-Sept 2011 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com 2

3SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Aug-Sept 2011 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

COVER STORY By BOB DICK

Connecticut’s Jeff Hedden loves to beat up on the so-called young guns of the New England amateur

circuit. And did he ever as he cruised to the 82nd New England Amateur Championship at Metacomet C.C. last month. “That’s what drives me,” he said.

Ready to turn 48 later this month Hedden considers age to be no problem when he tees it up against the younger, longer-hitting shotmakers. And that was ever so evident as the so-called kids watched Hedden blitz the Metacomet layout with rounds of 66, 67 and then 64 and 70 in final one-day 36 holes of play.

Hedden’s masterpiece put him at 13 under par 267, good for a 6 stroke win over second place finisher Richy Werenski of South Hadley, Mass. The Georgia Tech standout stayed close for awhile but ran out of gas at the end and bogeyed his final five holes and dropped to seven under 273.

2011 Rhode Island amateur champ Brad Valois of Metacomet and the 2006 New England champ took third at 4 under 276. Valois actually posted the lowest scores of the 36 hole-final day with a 67 and 66. But he was too far behind to

make any dent in Hedden’s lead.Scott Congdon of Foxborough C.C. and

Peter Williamson, a senior at Dartmouth and two-time Ivy League champ tied for fourth at one under 279.

So you can see that this year’s tournament was pretty much one-sided once Hedden got rolling in the third round. But it was no coincidence that a little extra help from his caddie paid handome dividends.

An old-school guy, Hedden usually takes a pull-cart around the course that he’s playing on. However, no pull-carts were allowed at Metacomet so Hedden lugged his bag for the first two days. But with the heat building up each day Hedden knew he wouldn’t be able to carry his bags for 36 holes on one day. So, he asked for a caddie.

A phone call went out the night before the final rounds and a young fellow by the name of C.J. Grasso was given the job of being Hedden’s caddie. Grasso, a recent graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School and a member of the Hawks golf team may just have been the difference for Hedden, especially on the greens.

“Oh, he was wonderful. C.J. helped me read the greens all day. No question he

made me a better player,” Hedden said.“I’ve been a member here with my family

for awhile,” said Grasso, “and I’ve seen just about every lie you can have on the greens. They called me the night before and I was glad I could help out.”

Hedden entered the final day trailing Williamson by two. However, that deficit was soon rubbed out with his hot putter and Grasso helping him read the greens perfectly. Starting on the 10th hole in the morning round, Hedden carded a 33 on his first nine but when he reached the turn at hole number one Hedden’s white hot putter took over as he birdied, eagled and birdied the first three holes on his way to a stunning 31 and a 6 under 64.

Meanwhile, Williamson faltered and fell out of contention with a 72 and then a 76. Werenski stayed close with a 68 on his morning round but then tired and ended his day with a 72.

So how did Hedden feel about his chances of winning when he started play? “Well, to be honest, I felt confident with my game and I felt I could compete if I putted well,” he said. “And I started off putting well right off the bat. I made some nice putts and that was the key for me the

entire tournament. I just putted lights out.”

In truth Hedden was steady from the opening hole. He finished the 72-hole event with 19 birdies, 45 pars and only six bogeys and one double. And the double came on the 71st hole (the 17th) when he admitted he got tired. He also bogeyed the last hole, but by that time it didn’t matter.

Valois, who played with Hedden the final day, said it was a treat to watch him. “He picked apart the course. He hit irons off the tee, woods off the tee. The easy holes he birdied and the hard ones he parred and he made some great putts. Jeff deserved to win,” said Valois.

That he did. And that accomplishment from someone who just over 11 years ago was driving stock cars and racing in Warterford, Conn. after having given up golf for a few years because of family reasons. But that’s a whole other story for another day.

In the meantime know this about Jeff Hedden — He’s the oldest player to win the New England Amateur since one-time Boston Bruins defenseman Ed Barry won it back in 1947. And, that, folks, pleases Hedden to no end.

Hedden Shoots 13-Under to Win New England Amateur


From the EditorEditor/Publisher

BRUCE VITTNER

Associate EditorJAY NOMAKEO

Design/ProductionDEB BASILE

Contributing WritersDAVE ADAMONIS JR.

BRUCE BERLETGEOFF CONVERSESCOTT CORDISCHI

BOB DICKBILL DOYLE

KATHARINE DYSONT.F. GEARY

TIM GERRISHJOE GORDON

TOM GORMANRUSS HELD

BRUCE HUTCHINSONDEREK HOOPERKEN JEREMIAH

JOHN TORSIELLOCAROLYN VITTNER

Staff PhotographersJIM CALORIO

BOB LAVALLEE

Sales DirectorMARK O’CONNOR

Account ExecutivesJIM GRAY

ROY WAGNER

Web DesignSUSAN [email protected]

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“Hooray for Fortysomethings”We’ve never had a title like that on

our cover. Jeff Hedden’s impressive victory at the New England Amateur at Metacomet C.C. in East Providence, R.I. was surprising in that he will be 48 years old this month. As you peruse the pages of this issue, notice the pictures and ages of the winners. Most are in their early twenties.

Golf seems to be a young man’s sport. I guess that is not really a bad thing. As I read Dave Adamonis, Jr.’s column on pages 12 and 13, I’m amazed at the accomplishments of so many so young. Is it the fine teaching? Is it the competition opportunities that these youngsters have? I ask this question of Dave and he just shakes his head and says, “They are so good.”

Youth will be served. We’ve used that title before on our cover, and I’m quite sure it will be used again. No one traveled all over the country (and even the world like they do now) when this ancient reporter was young. The opportunities that these great young players have are just making

them better and better.You are even seeing this success of

young players on the professional tours. We had Lexi Thompson on our radio show when she was still 16 and competing and succeeding on the LPGA Tour events. More and more of the rising stars on the PGA Tour that we list in each issue are in their 20’s.

It was great to see Darren Clarke win at The Open Championship. When he played in the Ryder Cup matches at Brookline in 1999, he hit a tee ball into the bark and straw on the 15th hole during the final round. The ball landed at my wife’s feet. There were crowds about 10 deep lining each fairway and we had a difficult time pushing back as Clarke approached. He looked down at his ball, then looked up at my wife and asked in his Irish brogue with a big smile, “Ma’am, would you hit this for me, please?” The crowd roared with laughter and he had friends for life. Imagine that reaction in such a pressure-packed situation. Hooray for fortysomethings. Actually, 12 years ago Clarke was only 30.

Enjoy the publication. We call this issue the “Competition Issue” with just cause. It seems like we have writers covering events almost every day in June and July. We have three travel stories for you. Brunswick Island is just north of Myrtle Beach and a great place for golf. The Great Northern Catskills trip was so much fun and a visit to Samoset Resort in Maine topped off the travels. Too bad we have to work once in awhile.

We are gearing up for the World Amateur in Myrtle Beach and can’t wait for the Deutsche Bank Championship to get here on Labor Day weekend. The radio show continues to shine with great guests and interesting information that finds its way into this publication in every issue.

See you on September 15 when the last issue of 2011 hits the streets. We will have a great spread about the DBC similar to what you see on the CVS/Caremark Charity Classic on pages 20 and 21.

Keep your head down and swing easy.Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at [email protected].

Trivia about PGA Tour1. What is the Fed Ex Cup?2. What is the Byron Nelson Award?3. What is the Arnold Palmer Award?4. Who gets the Jack Nicklaus Trophy?5. Who was the 2007 PGA Rookie of the Year?6. 2006 Rookie?7. 2005 Rookie?8. 2004 Rookie?9. 2007 Comeback Player of the Year?

1. Season champion based on points2. Lowest adjusted scoring average3. Leading money winner4. Player of the Year5. Brandt Snedeker6. Trevor Immelman7. Sean O’Hair8. Todd Hamilton9. Steve Stricker


AMATEUR GOLF By T.F. GEARY

Once upon a time, not all that long go, Brad Valois was Rhode Island’s crown prince of golf.

After becoming only the third person to win three consecutive state junior championships (the others being Tom Cunningham and Brad Faxon), Valois was annointed as the next great player, the one who would take the baton and sustain the flow of Ocean Staters to the PGA Tour.

He was stuck with the label of “can’t miss,” a player with the power off the tee, combined with pin point iron shots and a velvet putting stroke.

As to seemingly reinforce the inevitability of his future greatness Valois won back-to-back state amateur championships in 2006 and ’07 before he was defeated in the finals in ’08 by David McAndrew.

Merely a speed bump. The next stop—Q-school, the Tour and the riches that go with the talent. But what nobody ever considered and no one, except perhaps Valois, recognized was one very important

missing ingredient – joy in playing the game. Golf was not fun anymore.

He put it on the shelf, walked into real life, got a job as a financial consultant and pretty much forgot about rolling a little round ball into a four-and-a-quarter inch wide hole in the ground.

So it was actually amazing to see him back, in mid July, hoisting his third RIGA state amateur trophy after steamrolling fellow Metacomet Country Club buddy, Steve Merluzzo, 10 & 8 at Potowomut Country Club, the same patch of ground where Potowomut PGA pro Shawn Campbell first gave Valois lessons nine years ago.

Back then the most difficult question was “which side of the ball he was going to hit from?” laughed Campbell, because Valois, former all state hockey goaltender at Toll Gate, is truly ambidextrous.

He chose to play golf left-handed but there was a time, according to his father Mike, when he used to win money by

betting some of his junior competitors, that he could hit better shots then them using their right-handed clubs.

Approximately four months ago, after taking a year off, Valois grabbed his clubs again, to do business with clients and potential clients on the golf course. The talent was still there but the attitude was different. He found pleasure, not pressure, in hitting the ball again. He knew he was no longer the next Faxon, Billy Andrade or Brett Quigley. Golf was a game again.

He joined Metacomet, where he met a young scientist named Merluzzo. They played a couple of rounds together and then they met in the finals of the 106th amateur. Merluzzo enjoyed a fabulous week, but he admitted that the nerves got him during the morning’s 18 holes and he didn’t execute shots the way he had all week. That proved to contribute to a perfect storm because Valois started by playing the first five holes in 3-under par, winning all five. He never looked back.

Valois shot a legit 65 in the morning with six birdies and an eagle. He was 10-up going into lunch (or in this case brunch). “Brad played very well and I didn’t in the morning, but I was very proud of what I did this week,” said Merluzzo, who is the two-time defending club champion at Metacomet. “It was a different feeling today.

Renewed Valois Rolls to Third State Amateur Crown

Continued on page 7


GOLF INSTRUCTIONBy DEREK HOOPER

A good chip shot can quickly turn a possible disaster into a reasonable hole. Chipping close to the hole

and tapping in a putt can also maintain a positive attitude towards your round and keep you in a good frame of mind for the next hole. Chipping may not be the most glamorous part of the game but is a key

Rising Star

Gary Woodland place in this year’s CVS/Caremark Charity Classic and was a big hit with his long drives. He is currently 5th in driving distance on Tour with and average of 308 yards. This has been Woodland’s best year by far. He turned professional after graduating from the University of Kansas. He began his career at Washburn University where he was on the basketball team after earning all-state in basketball his last two years of high school.

Gary made it through all three stages of Q School to earn his PGA Tour card in 2009, but his year was cut short by a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He was on a medical exemption and he won this year’s Transitions Tournament in Innisbrook, Fla. He also has a second this year at the Bob Hope and has five top 10’s for the year. He currently has earnings of $2,428,363 that places him 13th on the money list and 11th in FedEx standings. As we went to press he was near the lead in the Greenbrier Classic, so he might have jumped higher in the standings.

Gary WoodlandAge: 27Birthplace: Topeka, KansasFamily: SingleCollege: Univ. of Kansas 2007Turned Pro: 2007

component to shooting lower scores.Chipping covers the shots you will play where the ball carries no more than about 10 yards. It is a shot that has a short amount of air time and spends most of the time on the ground. So how do you effectively practice your chipping? Your practice should be broken into two equal parts:

Technique PracticeDuring technique practice you will be

hitting balls to no set target. Rather the focus is solely on reproducing a sound chipping action that consistently produces a ball first contact. The feet should be set close together with 60% of the weight on the lead foot and the ball positioned in the middle of the stance. Take your normal full swing grip but at the bottom of the grip and the club shaft leaning slightly towards target.

Once in this set up position, make a putting stroke with the club brushing the

ground where the ball is sitting, and allow the body to rotate open into the follow through. The weight must stay on the lead foot, and the hands stay in front of the club head. This ensures a ball first contact that will result in better distance, flight and spin control. Altering the club and the length of the swing controls changes in distance and flight.

Target PracticeOnce you can make consistent contact

with your chip shots it is time to work on your flight and spin control. The best way to do this is to take 10 balls and your 4 most lofted clubs, and head to your club’s short game area. Your goal is to treat every shot like you would a shot on the course by going through your full pre-shot routine, i.e. read the green, visualize the shot, take practice swings, hold the finish to get feedback about the shot.

Now play each ball to a different hole location and also using a different club each time. Your goal is to get 6 balls within a grip length of the hole, but you can not repeat a club and hole from the same starting location. If inside a grip length is too easy, the stay until you get 6 balls in the hole using different clubs from different locations.

This is not an easy drill and requires a lot of concentration, but it reflects exactly the situations you will face on the course. If you want to play better, then you must practice like you play and this is the best drill to achieve this for chipping.

Chip it Close Every Time

Derek Hooper is the Director of Instruction at the Hank Haney Golf Academy at Lake of Isles. Derek has a college degree in teaching and over 15 years experience conducting lesson programs in Australia, Japan and Taiwan. He specializes in personalized, improvement programs that cover the technical and physical components required to play your best golf. Derek can be contacted at 1.888.475.3746 or [email protected].


CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF By BOB DICK

No one is going to forget the 50th Northeast Amateur Golf Tournament at Rumford’s

Wannamoisett C.C. anytime soon. It seemed like each day of the 72-hole event some kind of record setting performance was being played.

From the very first day when Luke Guthrie of the University of Illinois recorded a stunning, single round tourney record 61 to the final day when 21-year-old Peter Uihlein walked off the course in triumph after putting up a record shattering tournament score of 261 after rounds of 66,68,62 and 65, it was a case of the crowds oohing and aahing at the marvelous shots they were treated to.

Get this — of the 54 players who made the cut for the final day, a total of 125 rounds in the 60s were recorded. Wannamoisett had never taken a beating like that before. Admittedly, the course and greens were softened somewhat by a couple of days of heavy showers but still, the young guns brought out their weapons of course destruction and wowed the folks watching.

So amazed was former RIGA executive director Joe Sprague, now executive director of the Massachusetts Golf Association and a Wannamoisett member, that he told the Providence Journal’s Jim Donaldson, “I admit it’s practically sacrilege, but it’s only a matter of time before someone shoots 59 out here.”

Sprague should know all about the Northeast and Wannamoisett because he’s been setting up the course for the Northeast for some 30 years.

Sure, it was a strong field, but these hot young amateurs still had to make the shots and they did. Boy oh boy, did they ever.

And the best was the kid who grew up in Mattapoisett, Mass., was a member at Wannamoisett with his family and, at one time, attended Providence Country Day School in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades and played his home golf matches at Wannamoisett.

It has been quite a run for young Uihlein recently. He came into the Northeast ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 amateur in the world depending on which formula is used, was the defending U.S. Amateur champion and has enjoyed great success at Oklahoma State University where he will be a senior this year.

Trouble was heading into the Northeast, Uihlein, who will be a member of the U.S. Walker Cup team later this summer, had never enjoyed great success on his so-called home course. That all ended in smashing fashion.

Uihlein’s closing 4-under 65 gave him a 72 hole total of 261, four strokes better than the previous record of 265 set two years ago by Dan Woltman.

He entered the final round with a three-stroke lead and never gave it up as he recorded 6 birdies. “It is a tournament

I’ve always wanted to win, so this is good,” he told reporters in a matter of fact tone afterward. “I have to thank the weather as the rain softened the course. There have been a lot of great winners here and its nice to join that list.” (Ben Crenshaw, Hal Sutton, Brett Quigley, David Duval, Luke Donald, Dustin Johnson, Anthony Kim and others).

Actually, two tourney records were set this year. But the one set by Georgia Tech’s James White lasted only 11 minutes before Uihlein rubbed it out.

White put together terrific rounds of 70, 67,63 and 64 for a 264 total that earned him second place, three behind Uihlein.

“Look, I’ll take it,” said White of his brief record. “I didn’t catch fire with my putter the first few days but got it going the last two rounds.”

Recent Indiana high school grad Patrtick Rodgers, who is headed to Stanford this fall, battled Uihlein the final day and got to within one after seven before Uihlein rallied with birdies on 8, 9 and 11 to up

his lead to 4 to essentially ice his victory.“I can take away a lot of positives from

here,” Rodgers said. “Peter did a good job of scrambling. It really showed me how important the short game is. He really out short-gamed me here.”

Rhode Island’s top finisher was Bobby Leopold of Potowomut who ended up with 276 after rounds of 68, 69, 71 and 68. “I just have to be better with my wedge play,” declared Leopold.

Oh, and what happened to Guthrie after his opening 61? He ended up at 274 with rounds of 71, 72 and 70 following his monstrous 61.

Uihlein Wins Northeast Amateur at Former Home Course

I hit shots that I don’t normally hit.”Merluzzo had a 76 in the morning

but showed his strength of character by playing superbly in the afternoon. He was five under (including three winning birdies in a row) in the 10 holes contested in the afternoon.

“I knew that I was probably going to win going into the afternoon, but if Steve had played in the morning the way he did in the afternoon this would have been a tough match,” said Valois. “He really hung in there and showed what kind of player he is.” Merluzzo said his goal going into the afternoon was to at least extend the match to the back nine, which he did.

As for Valois, now all of 24, he proclaimed this victory as his most satisfying, for a number of reasons. “This one was the best,” he said moments after it was over. “From where I was nine months ago, I didn’t expect to be playing like this

again. I never imagined this. This is a big win for me, personally.”

He spoke of his lifestyle changes and how golf is no longer center state in his life. “I just play to play now. I don’t want to do this for a living. It’s not overly stressful. It’s like being at Metacomet. It’s fun now.”Amateur Notes:

While it’s not as prestigious as winning the state amateur title, taking the medal in qualifying still ranks as a major accomplishment. This year two players tied at 6-under par — two-time SNEM Player of the Year Bobby Leopold of Potowomut and Carnegie Abbey’s Jonathan Bartlett.

One of the highlights of this year’s event occured when Leopold played and defeated his brother-in-law, Tyler Cooke, in the round of 16. It was a particularly stressful day for Leopold’s caddy, Scott Cooke, who is Tyler’s father.

Continued from page 5


RI WOMEN’S GOLFBy BOB DICK

North Kingstown’s Samantha Morrell has joined the very short list of women golfers in Rhode

Island who have won both the Rhode Island Women’s Golf Association State Amateur championship and the Ocean State Women’s Golf Association state amateur title in the same year.

Katherine Murphy (who did it twice, 2006 and 2009) and Becky Mailloux (in the late 1990s) are the only other golfers who have accomplished that feat

Morrell, an Old Dominion University junior, completed her two-tournament sweep when she won the RIWGA title by beating Kirkbrae’s Jenna Masnyk 3 and 2 at the Pawtucket C.C. late last month. Two weeks earlier Morrell defeated Ali Prazak, 3 and 2, for the OSWGA crown at Laurel Lane. It was her second straight OSWGA state amateur win and her first with the RIWGA.

“I wasn’t thinking of any records,” said Morrell after her win at Pawtucket.” I was just out there trying to win a tournament, just like I always do. This was actually my first time in this tournament so I guess I’m one for one.”

It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride this summer for the second-team Colonial Conference player. Morrell’s highs, of course, include her wins at Pawtucket and Laurel Lane and qualifying for the U.S Public Links Championship in Oregon (she didn’t go because of the high cost getting to the Oregon site).

Coming into this summer’s action Morrell was the defending New England Women’s amateur champion but this year she didn’t play well and finished a good distance off the pace. But, her biggest disappointment came when she failed to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, which will be played at the Rhode Island Country Club starting Aug. 8th.

“That was real heart breaking,” Morrell said of her disappointment at the qualifying round at Echo Lake in Westfield, New Jersey. “I missed by three shots after taking doubles on the eighth and 18th. I wanted so bad to represent Rhode Island at the women’s amateur,” Morrell said.

But now her summer is closing with some solid play. “I think I have improved a lot, being able to do stuff under pressure and making those three to five-foot putts. I think I’m more comfortable on the

greens,” Morrell noted. “I’m in a good place now.”

The difference between Morrell and Masnyk, who were meeting for the first time in match play, was Morrell’s putting and one dynamic Morrell tee shot on the par three, 130-yard 15th hole.

On the first nine, the two went back and forth with the lead. Masnyk won the first hole of the match when Morrell three-putted. But Morrell, the tourney medallist in the qualifying round with a 67, got even with a par on the third hole and then took a one-up lead on the par-three fifth when Masnyk three-putted.

Masnyk, however, rolled in the first birdie putt of the match on the eighth before Morrell retook the lead by one with a birdie of her own on the ninth.

Morrell then began to take control of the match with wins on 10 and 11 to go three-up. Morrell’s win on the 280-yard, par 4, 11th came about after her approach shot landed three feet from the pin. From there it was an easy tap-in for a birdie.

Masnyk, who won the RIWGA Stroke play title earlier this summer momentarily halted Morell’s surge when she birdied the 12th to cut her deficit to two. But then came the defining moment of their match.

Masnyk thought she had taken the momentum away from Morrell when her tee-shot on 15 landed about 11 feet in front of the pin.

“I stuck it real close. I thought I had it after I hit that shot,” said Masnyk.

Instead, Masnyk watched her friend drill a seven iron tee shot to within two-feet of the pin. Masnyk conceded the birdie and the match ended on the 16th.

“I played that tee shot like it was 140. That was the turning point in the match. I knew I had it after that shot,” said Morrell, who clinched her victory with a five-foot birdie putt on 16.

“My putting is what messed me up. I hit my irons well. I was consistent off the tee but there were four or five putts that I should have made that would have kept things tighter. I really wanted the match to come down to the eighteenth,” Masnyk said.

Morrell had other ideas.In other division play, Chris Zanoli of

Warwick C.C. defeated Nancy O’Neill, 3 and 2, to with the President’s Cup and Judy Horton of Potowomut won the past President’s Cup with a 4 and 2 win over Michelle Scoggins.

Samantha Morrellwith her

winning Cup

Morrell Clinches First Win with RIWGA

Defending champion, Danielle Kang from Thousand Oaks, Cal., will be

trying to defend her 2010 championship when the 111th U.S Women’s Amateur Championship tees it up at the par 71 Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, R.I. Aug. 8-14th.

A total of 156 women will begin play with two 18-hole rounds of stroke play on Monday and Tuesday of championship week. The low 64 players will then advance to the match play portion of the tournament. A 36-hole final match will be played on Sunday Aug. 14th.

A year ago Kang, at age 17, defeated Jessica Korda 2 and 1 in the final at the Charlotte (North Carolina) C.C. This year Kang, a student at Pepperdine University, will have her work cut out for her if she is to repeat.

Among those entered is 14-year-old Lydia Ko, the top ranked female amateur in the world. Earlier this year Ko became the first female to hold both the New Zealand and Australian amateur titles.

The Korean born Ko, who now resides in New Zealand, is considered the next young female phenom headed to the LPGA circuit in the years to come. Her coach, Guy Wilson, wants Ko to remain an amateur until 2014 or 2015. When she does decide to turn pro, the ING Sports Agency says it will be ready to handle all her business interests.

Ko qualified for the women’s U.S. Am with a 71 at Brae Burn C.C. in West Newton, Massachusetts. In fact, she was in the same qualifying group as Rhode Island’s Juliet Vongphoumy, who earned the fourth and final berth at Brae Burn for the national championship with a 76.

Also competing in the tournament will be the 2011 U.S. Girls Junior champ, Ariya Jutanugarn, 15, of Thailand. She defeated 17-year old Dottie Hrdina 2 and 1 in the finals at the South Course at Olympia Fields, C.C.

Not all the contestants, however, are teenagers. The 2009 and 2010 U.S.G.A. Senior Women’s champions will be at RICC. They are 2009 champ Sherry Herman, age 52, and 2010 champion Mina Hardin, age 51.

The problem the older players will have with their younger counterparts, says Rhode Island Hall of Famer Nancy Chafee, is that “The young ones hit the ball so far.” Chaffee adds that, “Alot of them will eventually turn pro so they spend all their time on just this sport.”

Practice rounds will be held on the weekend before the tourney begins and will be open to the public. The regular competition is open to the public free of charge and the spectators will be able to walk right along with the players within reason.

U.S. Women’s Amateur to be held at RICC Aug 8-14


DEUTSCHE BANK PREVIEW By TOM GORMAN

How sweet it is when all the pieces that make up New England’s premier PGA Tour event fall

into place: an exclusive setting, a dramatic confrontation, a fight to the finish waged by 100 of the best players in the world and many local charities benefiting.

This, and much more is assured, when the ninth edition of the Deutsche Bank Championship tees off over Labor Day weekend at the Tournament Players Club in Norton. Over its eight-year history, the tournament has produced wild finishes, record-breaking scores and exciting wins by an impressive list of champions.

Last year, a blond bombshell from southern California, Charlie Hoffman, noted for his long blond hair sprouting out from his flat-billed cap, entered Labor Day four shots back of leader Jason Day, and blistered the TPC course with nines of 33-29. Enroute to victory over Geoff Ogilvy, Luke Donald and Day, Hoffman tied a course record for the back nine by shooting a 6-under 29; which also helped him set the record for lowest final round score (62) and tie the record for lowest final score (22-under, 262) and largest margin of victory (five strokes). Hoffman is the tournament’s seventh different champion, adding his name to the list of accomplished and colorful winners including Tiger Woods (‘06), Vijay Singh (’04 & ’08), Phil Mickelson (’07), Steve Stricker (’09), Adam Scott (’03).

“This year we are thrilled to have EMC aboard, and they have been a terrific partner to both Deutsche Bank and the Championship,” tournament director Eric Baldwin said in an interview with Southern New England Golfer. “It has always been our goal to provide a world class experience for our fans and this year should be no different. We are excited to offer this opportunity to golf fans to come out and enjoy the Championship.”

Dream FieldIt’s a tournament directors dream

to have the best players in the world participate, and Eric Baldwin will host to the top-100 players in the FedEx Cup points system, because the Deutsche Bank Championship is the second event on the PGA Tour’s playoff schedule. Last October, Jim Furyk pocketed $10 million by advancing through the playoffs and winning the Tour Championship, from among 30 finalists.

Through August 1, Nick Watney leads the FedEx Cup points system, over Steve Stricker, K.J. Choi, Phil Mickelson and Luke Donald. For most of the spring, Bubba Watson was leading and jokingly said in an interview in June at the Travelers Championship, “I dream of winning that $10 million first prize. I might quit golf if I win $10 mil.”

With four qualifying tournaments remaining in August, there’s lots of moving and shaking going on from player’s ranked No. 80 or higher. New England golf fans can expect to see 24-year-old rookie sensation Keegan Bradley. The Hopkington, Mass. product, and nephew of LPGA legend Pat Bradley, is ranked No. 25 and claimed his first victory in the HP Byron Nelson Championship on May 29. Brookline-native James Driscoll, playing in his fourth year on Tour, is doing very well earning over $597,935 is on the bubble. He ranks No. 122 and needs one decent finish to push him into the top-100. After finishing fifth at The Travelers, Driscoll said his next goal is to qualify for the exclusive field playing at TPC over Labor Day weekend before an “enthusiastic home crowd.” The only other New England player likely to qualify is J.J. Henry, ranked No. 57, with Tim Petrovic (#137) and Jim Renner (#198) long shots.

Will Tiger Woods make an appearance?“It’s hard to say right now, but I

wouldn’t count him out,” explained Baldwin, not ruling out a personal or non-playing appearance since the Tiger Woods Foundation is the primary charity. “Tiger will have to first prove he’s healthy and then move up a few spots in the FedEx Cup standings to make the Playoffs. We’d love to have him, but whether or not he’s here, we know we’ll have a terrific field with the top-100 players on the PGA Tour.”

Fan’s Guide to a Good TimeTournament week is filled with multiple

opportunities to engage casual fans, families or anyone in between. Golf Town, which opened five retail stores earlier this year, is now a Founders Club partner. The stores are offering discounted tickets and parking with information online at www.golftown.com. Throughout tournament week, all active, reserve and retired military service members and their dependents will receive complimentary admission each day with access to the Military Patriot Outpost tent, located on the 17th fairway.

Much of the week will be similar to years past with Red Sox Legends and Friends Pro-Am on Tuesday August 30 and the official Championship Pro-Am on Thursday September 1. One significant new event is scheduled Wednesday August 31, billed as Community Wellness Day, where spectators get in free, and the occasion is billed as a celebration of charity, community and volunteerism.

Thanks to a recent merger of NBC and Comcast (which owns the Golf Channel) there will be extended TV coverage. Live action will be carried on the Golf Channel from 3 – 6 p.m. for rounds one and two. NBC will take over live broadcast on Sunday, September 4 from 3 – 6 p.m. and on Labor Day from 2 – 6 p.m.

“One of our goals in sponsoring the Deutsche Bank Championship was to raise our brand awareness as we continue to build our presence in the Americas,” said Seth Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, and the man who presents the trophy to the winner. “The Championship has been a critical feature of that overall

effort. We have been successful in achieving our other goals, such as supporting the local community, including a robust and effective charitable element to the Championship – raising more than $19.5 million in charitable contributions since our inception just nine years ago, which we’re all very proud of.”

The Deutsche Bank Championship website: www.dbchampionship.com.

Labor Day Tradition Features World’s Top-100 Players

Steve Stricker will be one of the favorites at this year’s DBC.


PEOPLE IN GOLFBy SCOTT CORDISCHI

Darren and Rory were playing a match. Rory’s ball was in the line of Darren’s putt on the green and Darren asked him to mark his ball and move it one clubhead to the left. After Darren’s putt was attempted, Rory replaced his ball on the marker and then moved it one clubhead to the left again and then putted. Is this a penalty?

Ruling: Yes, an improperly replaced ball incurs a loss of hole in match play and a two-stroke penalty in stroke play (Rule 20-6). Another common fault seen often is that a player does not put a mark where his ball currently is located and then moves the mark a clubhead. The ball must be marked where it lies first.

While it might seem strange that a native Texan would love New England, Ben Crenshaw

has good reason to.The two-time Masters champion

(1984 & 1995) returned to this part of the country in June for the 2011 CVS Caremark Charity Classic. It was his first-ever appearance in the event and he really enjoyed the whole experience.

“Brad and Billy have been so nice,” he said. “This is such a fun tournament with a nice mix of guys from the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour and the ladies from the LPGA Tour. This is awesome!”

But Crenshaw’s experience at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic is just one of the many reasons he loves New England. “I’m a big fan of golf course architecture and of the old courses like this Donald Ross gem,” he said of Barrington’s Rhode Island Country Club. A golf course designer himself, Crenshaw is currently

putting the finishing touches on a course in central Florida where he designed 18 of the 36-hole layout at The Streamsong Resort in Polk County between Orlando and Tampa. It is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2013.

Some Rhode Islanders may also remember the name Ben Crenshaw from the prestigious Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford. He won that event in 1973 at the age of 21.

But the one thing a lot of people may not know about Crenshaw is that he is an avid golf historian. He traces the roots of that passion for the history of golf back to when he was 16 years old when he played in the U.S. Junior Amateur at the oldest country club in the United States - The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1968.

“When you play a course like that, you really appreciate what this sport is

all about,” said Crenshaw. “That beautiful old course has so much history. I was just in awe of it all.”

Ironically, Crenshaw played a huge role in making history at The Country Club when it hosted the Ryder Cup in 1999. He captained the American team against the Europeans in the most dramatic Ryder Cup competition of all-time. In case you forgot, the United States trailed Europe 10-6 heading into Sunday’s singles matches in Brookline where history didn’t appear to be on their side. No Ryder Cup team on either side had ever rallied from two points down, much less 4-down, on the final day to win the Cup.

On the eve of what looked like a hopeless march to defeat for the U.S., Crenshaw uttered these now famous words, “I’m a big believer in fate. I’ve got a good feeling about tomorrow. That’s all I’m gonna say.” He then stood up and exited the press conference without saying another word.

I asked Crenshaw if he actually believed in what he was saying back in 1999 or if he was simply playing the role of a coach trying to keep the spirits of his team up heading into the final day of competition. “I literally meant what I said for two reasons,” he said. “First, our guys had been playing a lot better than the results had indicated to that point so I kind of felt that the wins would come if we kept

playing the way that we had. But even more importantly, I knew that this place (The Country Club) was going to take care of us because the track record in just about every contest here favored the Americans over the Europeans.” He was right. At the 1913 U.S. Open, unknown American amateur Francis Ouimet stunned English legends Harry Vardon and Ted Ray by winning in a playoff.

In 1988, American Curtis Strange defeated England’s Nick Faldo in an 18-hole playoff at The Country Club to capture the U.S. Open as well. And so it was in 1999. Led by captain Ben Crenshaw, the United States rallied from a 10-6 deficit by going 8-3-1 in the singles matches to capture the Cup 14 1⁄2 - 13 1⁄2 over the Europeans.

New England Like Second Home for Crenshaw

For breaking local golf stories visitwww.snegolfer.com

and click “Breaking Stories.” There is also a scroll on the home

page of current golf news.

Photo credit: Kevin Burns/Front Row Shots


PEOPLE IN GOLF By BOB DICK

At age 41 and with the way he has struggled the past couple of years on the Nationwide Tour otherwise

known as the minor leagues of professional golf, some might wonder whether Patrick Sheehan is thinking of something else to do with his life.

Those who think that way, obviously, don’t know this hard-nosed, and at times stubborn former hockey player.

Sheehan, who grew up in Warwick, R.I., graduated from Pilgrim High School and the University of Hartford, where he starred on Hartford’s golf team with another former hockey player and current PGA Tour member, Jerry Kelly, has no plans to give up his golf sticks any time soon.

“I honestly believe I haven’t played my best golf yet,” insists Sheehan, who has been doing this for 19 years.

Some might say he’s in denial. Nope, that’s not Patrick Sheehan. He’s a realist. He understands what’s going on and is

working his butt off to correct his golf game.

His goal of course is to return to the PGA Tour where he enjoyed great success and money earnings in 2008. That year he appeared in 35 events, made 27 cuts, had two top-10 finishes and was a top 25 finisher 5 times and earned $805,897, ending up 120th on the money list.

Since then, though, his golf game has been frustrating for him. He’s played some good rounds, some bad rounds. He has shown little consistency and hasn’t been able to put a string of solid golf together.

In 2009 he bounced between the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour. On the PGA Tour he appeared in 15 tournaments and made 10 cuts but finished 165th on the money list, which cost him his PGA Tour card. On the Nationwide Tour that year he did win one event and earned $158,984.

Last year it was all Nationwide Tour for Sheehan where he finished 61st on the

Sheehan Working Hard to Get Back to PGA Tourmoney list. Last fall his bid to re-obtain his PGA Tour card at Q-School failed. He did make the final stage of Q-School but did not finish among the top 25 to get a PGA Tour card.

So this year it’s back to the Nationwide. In 11 events, Sheehan has made just four cuts and earned $12,394.

“I’ve played well but not well enough. And the schedule has been tough. In the first few months we had a lot of time off. Things have picked up since,” he said.

Because of the unevenness of the early Nationwide schedule, Sheehan found himself competing in Florida mini tour events, some of which last one or two days. “That at least kept me playing competitive golf. I worked on some things and I won my share,” he says.

Through it all, Sheehan says he can’t let himself think he’s done. “No, I can’t think that way. Because I have made enough money, at least I don’t have to worry about entry fees and hotels. I’ve stayed healthy

so I’m able to work hard at getting better. I put in the time. I’ve seen guys my age break down physically and can’t continue or I’ve seen guys who simply don’t want to work at it anymore. That’s not me.”

There have been flashes of brilliance this year, like the 65 he shot in round one of the Fresh Express in Hayward, California or the 65 he recorded in round two of the Station Classic at the University of Georgia G.C.

“But then there have been the mediocre rounds. It’s just a question of four good rounds together. I’m not letting it get to me. I’ve been doing it a long time, that’s just the way it is,” Sheehan said.


JUNIOR GOLFBy DAVE ADAMONIS, JR

Nation Domination in JulyIt has been become an annual July tradition that Challenge Cup Nation (past and present) raises quite a bit of hardware. Each year the Nation’s presence becomes more prevalent, as evidenced at the New England Amateur. 97 players in the 156-player field were from the Nation. Here are the Top 9 moments in July or the “Fine Nine” in no particular order (I honestly could have posted 18).

1. Keene, New Hampshire’s Chelso Barrett captivated the New England golf community with an amazing run to the finals at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in Bremerton, Washington. Barrett, who finished seventh in the medal play portion of the tournament, lost in the finals to Jordan Speith 6 & 5.

Barrett’s run to the finals included kicking defending champion Jim Liu to the curb 2-up. In the semi-finals Barrett and Columbia’s Nicolas Echavarria staged the most brilliant battle of the tournament. Despite carding two eagles on the front nine, Barrett needed a birdie, birdie finish to force sudden death. On the first extra hole Barrett carded a par to advance to the finals. When the dust cleared the duo had posted 11 birdies and two eagles in the seesaw extravaganza. Barrett fired a 5-under par 67, while Echavarria posted a 3-under par 69.

Another Challenge Cup star joined Barrett in qualifying for match play. University of Hartford bound Anthony Vecchiarelli fired rounds of 72-76 to earn the 24th seed. In the opening round of match play Vecchiarelli nearly rallied from a 5-down deficit before falling to New Hartford, NY’s Derek Bard 2 & 1.

The U.S. Junior title was the second for Speith in his storied junior career. Speith joined Tiger Woods as the only golfer to win multiple junior titles. Woods won three consecutive championships in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

By virtue of Barrett’s performance, he will be exempt into this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship at Erin Hills C.C., in Erin Hills, Wisconsin, next year’s U.S. Amateur Public Links at Soldier Hollow G.C. in Midway, Utah, and next year’s U.S. Junior at the Golf Club of New England in Stratham, New Hampshire. Both Utah and New Hampshire will be hosting their first USGA championships.

Meanwhile, in the Girls Championship at Olympia Fields C.C. (just outside of Chicago), reigning Challenge Cup Girls Player of the Year Megan Khang qualified for match play for the second consecutive year earning the seven seed. After winning her opening round match the Rockland, Mass. resident was eliminated in a thrilling 21 encounter with Anne Cheng of Torrance, California. Much like her Round of 32 matches last year, Khang dug herself an early hole and played sensational golf to square the match. Trailing by two holes, Khang birdied the 17th and 18th holes to force overtime. After trading pars at the 19th and 20th holes Khang bogeyed the 21st to fall in extra holes for the second consecutive year.

Not to be outdone, Sharon, Mass.’s Isabel Southard qualified for match play by posting rounds of 77-76 to earn the 52 seed. In the opening round Southard edged the 13-seed Lydia Choi of Beverly Hills, California 2 & 1. In the Round of 32 Southard was ousted by Amy Lee of Brea, California 4 & 3.

2. Atkinson, N.H.’s Nicholas Pandelena fired a record-breaking 8-under par 64 to win the weather-shortened World Series of Junior Golf at Triggs Memorial G.C. The 64, which included nine birdies, eight pars and a bogey bettered Evan Harmeling’s record of 65 (also at Triggs) and is the lowest single round recorded in relation to par in the Challenge Cup’s 29-year history. In the Boys 14-15 Division, Windham, N.H.’s Connor Greenleaf took top honors carding a 2-under par 70. Not to be outdone Steven Dilisio posted a 1-stroke victory over a triumvirate of players to win the Boys 13 & Under Division, while Juliet Vongphoumy and Vinh-Hop Ngo were declared co-champions after posting solid 1-over par 73’s. The World Series, which is the most prestigious competition on the calendar, produced a field of 188 players from nine states.

The following week Pandelena fired the low final two round 36-hole total (69-69) over the demanding Torrey Pines South Course (home to the 2009 U.S. Open) to finish tied for 10th at the highly acclaimed Callaway Junior World Golf Championship. For the tournament Pandelena posted rounds of 79-75-69-69 to post a 4-over par total finishing 7-strokes behind California’s Beau Hossler.

3. Good friends Isabel Southard and Jake Shuman notched their first AJGA wins at the Killington (Vt.) Junior Golf Championship. Southard fired rounds of 73-72-73 to post 5-over par 218 total and a 3-stroke victory. Shuman, who credited Southard with helping him deal with his final round nerves, carded rounds of 70-69-71 for a 3-under par 210 total and a dominating 5-stroke margin of victory.

4. The Connecticut Amateur Championship final match was a battle of two former Challenge Cup greats. Penn State senior, Tommy McDonagh edged University of Hartford senior Matt Smith 3 & 2 for his second Connecticut Amateur title. McDonagh also won the event as a 16-year-old in 2006. It could be argued McDonagh is New England’s hottest amateur golfer this season, as last month he topped a talented field at the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Ike Championship.

5. No, this is not a recording, the Connecticut Junior Amateur Championship final match pitted two of the Challenge Cup’s top players, and it may go down as the most exciting state amateur championship match in New England in 2011. John Flaherty outlasted Brian Butler in a 21-hole thriller to earn his first CSGA crown. Trailing 1-down playing the 18th hole, Flaherty chipped in for birdie to force overtime. At the 19th hole Flaherty drained a 50-foot bomb to halve the hole with birdies. After trading pars at the 20th hole, Flaherty completed his miraculous finish by chipping in from a Larry Mize like position to beat a stunned Butler.

6. Former Challenge Cup great and University of New Mexico junior Ryan Gay captured the Maine Amateur Championship for the third time in four years. Gay carded rounds of 69-69-71 to post a 1-under par 209 total and a 1-stroke margin of victory over good friend and Johnson & Wales (Fla.) star J.J. Harris. Despite his amazing run, Gay is 10 State Amateur Championships shy of legend Mark Plummer, who owns 13 titles.

7. Nick McLaughlin of New Castle, N.H., shot 70-72-76-70 to finish third (out of 156 players) at the Western Junior

Championship in Chicago, three shots behind winner Connor Black of Katy, Texas. The finish by McLaughlin — a senior-to-be at St. John’s Prep, earns him an exemption into the Western Amateur next year.

8. Three other former Challenge Cup stars captured their State Amatuer Championships, while yet another was a beaten finalist.

Devin Komline barely broke a sweat in defending his 2010 Vermont Amateur crown. Komline posted rounds of 71-68-69-68 for an impressive 12-under par 276 finish that put him eight strokes in front of his closest challengers.

Ryan Riley bested Massachusetts’s legend Frank Vana Jr. in the final match to earn his first MGA Amatuer Championship at Wyantenuck C.C. (a more detailed story can be found in the paper).

Brad Valois captured his third RIGA State Amateur Championship by trouncing club mate Steve Merluzzo 10 & 8 for his sixth RIGA crown (three juniors and three amateurs). (a more detailed story can be found in the paper).

2010 New Hampshire Amateur champion Nick MacDonald fell just short of defending his title at Nashua C.C. MacDonald lost a nail biter in the final match to Jim Cilley 1-up. The following week MacDonald was nipped for top honors at the New Hampshire Open by (shock) another former Challenge Cupper George Zolotas. Zolotas finished the 54-hole event with a 7-under par total, 1-stroke better than MacDonald.

9. Isabel Southard completed the most dominating month by a junior golfer (to date) earning her third title of the month in the Computer Merchant Cup at Wintonbury Hills G.C. Despite bogeying the final two holes, Southard fired a final round of 2-under par 70 to finish with a 2-over par 142 total. Southard’s effort was 10-strokes ahead of her nearest competitor.

Not to be outdone John Jackopsic (Boys 15-18 Division) and Bobby Diforio (Boys 14 & Under Division) won their respective divisions in sudden-death play-offs. Jackopsic, who finished regulation deadlocked with Nicky Buenaventura at 5-under par (66-69), made a routine par at the first hole to win his second consecutive


JUNIOR GOLFComputer Merchant crown.

Diforio needed two extra holes to overcome Evan Grenus. The duo finished regulation with 3-over par 143 totals and parred the first hole of sudden death. On the second play-off hole Diforio nearly holed his second shot at the 384-yard par 4 18th. After Grenus missed a 15-footer Diforio tapped in for a birdie and the title.

Gately Cup Headlines Schedules Foon’s Battle of the Classes and the Gately Cup, two tournaments created to honor the tireless contributions of Challenge Cup president Steve Feinstein and the late Barry Gately, headline the junior golf docket in the month of August. Date / Tournament / Site8/2 – 8/4 RIGA Junior Championship, Ledgemont C.C.8/2 – 8/4 MESGA Junior Championship, Val Halla C.C. 8/8 – 8/10 MGA Junior Championship, Renaissance G.C.

8/11 Blissful Meadows Junior OpenBlissful Meadows G.C.8/12 Foon’s Battle of the Classes, Crystal Lake G.C.8/15 Marlbrough Junior Open, Marlborough C.C. 8/15 – 8/17 New England Junior Championship Brattleboro C.C. 8/16 – 8/17 Providence Open (pro event), Triggs G.C.8/18 – 8/19 The Qualifier (pro event), Crestwood C.C.

Chelso Barrett

Megan Khang, Juliet Vongphoumy and Vinh-Hop Ngo

Vongphoumy will be playing inU.S. Amateur

2011 Computer

Merchant Cup winners

John Jackopsic,

Isabel Southard and

Bobby Diforio


RI NOTEBOOKBy BOB DICK

Turning 50 is no big deal. It just means you’ve become a senior. But in golf terminology, turning

50 means you can now play and compete with the older guys on the Champions Tour. Can be a bit unsettling for someone not ready for that kind of play after years of high-level golf on the PGA Tour.

And though it is hard to believe, that’s the situation Barrington’s Brad Faxon finds himself in. He’s been on the PGA Tour for 28 years, enjoyed solid success (8 times a winner) and, at one time, was known as one of the best putters on the tour.

But things have changed dramatically for him since 2005, which, incidentally was the last year he posted a PGA Tour win when he was victorious in Hartford. Health has been the key issue. Surgeries on his foot and knee slowed him considerably.

Coupled with going up against the younger and stronger players, Faxon sees the handwriting on the wall.

And he has no problem with what lies ahead for him. Faxon turned 50 Aug. 1, played his final PGA Tour event (the Greenbrier) the last weekend in July and then headed to his first Champions Tour event – the 3M Championship at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn.

“I’m psyched for this, I really am,” Faxon told Southern New England Golfer just before he headed to the Greenbrier. “I’m looking forward to it. The competition is still very good. I just have to remain in good physical and mental shape and I think I am. I just need to play better golf and I need to have more fun playing. And everyone has told me that I will have more fun on the Champions Tour.”

And, no longer will he be out driven by 70 yards by those young guns. “It’s all in the evolution of the game,” Faxon said. “When I first started on the Tour, I was out driven by maybe 15 or 20 yards. Now it was by 70. That’s like wow!”

Faxon said he’s taking Bernhard Langer’s approach when he started on the seniors’ tour and dive right in. “I think that’s the strategy and mindset you have to have. I haven’t played terrible but I can’t pinpoint one thing that’s blatantly wrong with my game. I just haven’t been able to put everything together. That’s what I have been working on.”

Faxon realizes that it’s not going to be easier to win on the Champions Tour. “I see a lot of good golfers and if you don’t play well, you’ll end up 40th or 50th. You have to play good golf on the seniors’ tour in order to win. I just need to play better golf,” he said.

Faxon also takes comfort in the fact that, “There’s no cut and there are only 78 guys in the field and all of them are older than me.”

Blanchard Wins 4th RIGAStroke Play Championship

He’s like old man river, he just keeps rollin’ along. Wannamoisett’s Charlie Blanchard keeps grinding out the victories as he notched his fourth RIGA Stroke Play championship with a one stroke win at the pretty Warwick Country Club. RIGA executive director Bob Ward considers the stroke play event to be the second toughest tournament to win on the Rhode Island amateur circuit, mainly because players have to qualify for the final two rounds of the 54-hole event and then play the 36-hole, one-day final.

This time Blanchard survived a push from veteran George Pirie and this year’s state amateur champ Brad Valois to finish on top at even 207. Johnathon Pannone, who started the final round with a one stroke lead, began his final 18 with a double and four straight bogies and eventually finished two strokes off the pace at 209.

Blanchard stumbled a little over his final 11 holes with doubles at 9 and 11 before chipping in for a clutch birdie on 16 and then parring the final two holes for the victory.

“The fourth win, huh,” he said. It feels pretty good, I don’t mind it.”

Pirie could only lament a lost ball on the 15th hole during his first round. It cost him two strokes. He lost by one

Sometimes you never know who you will see competing in an RIGA championship event. For sure, you certainly don’t expect to see a baseball Hall of Famer swinging the sticks. But there was arguably the

greatest third baseman in baseball history Mike Schmidt, at age 61, competing in the Stroke Play event and finishing tied for 24th with a 12 over total of 219.

Schmidt, you see, has belonged to Carnegie Abbey for the past five years. On July 17th, Schmidt regained his amateur status and wanted to compete in some local tournaments. He plans to play in the R.I. Open this month and the Mid Amateur at Abbey next month.

Schmidt has always played a lot of golf. “From the early 90s to around 2004, I had a pretty good run. I lost my amateur status because I was making money in many celebrity events but I never won a tournament. I’m self-taught and I struggle with the mental part of the game. I have a lack of confidence, lack of patience, insecurity, all those kinds of things,” Schmidt said. “I strike the ball pretty well but I’m not a confident putter. I press too hard when I get on the green.”

Imagine this, Schmidt says he gets nervous while playing. “I’ve never felt comfortable playing the game. I’m hoping with these amateur events that will happen. I hope to be able to compete with these guys and get comfortable. We’re not playing for money, just trophies,”

Jones Wins RI Public Links Championship

The 2011 R.I. Public Links Championship was won by Dave Jones of Triggs with a two-round total of two under 141. Jones put together rounds of 69 and 72. Jamie Lukowicz and Rob Grossguth tied for second at even par 143.Tiverton’s Ali Prazak won the women’s division with a score of 154 (76 and 78). Prazak finished nine shots ahead of Nancy Mendelson.

Faxon Heads for Champions Tour

Brad Faxon


GOLF BUSINESS By BRUCE VITTNER

Seaview Golf Club in Warwick is no more. In its place is rising the Harbor Light Marina

and Country Club after the recent purchase of the nine-hole club by former governor Phil Noel, his son Joe, Leo Martin and Ted Wheeler.

“We’ve owned the marina right below the course in Warwick Neck for over thirty years, and when the property was being sold recently, we decided to purchase the course and connect our marina to the course,” said Phil Noel who served as governor of Rhode Island from 1973-77 and was a former mayor of Warwick before that.

“The golf course property has changed hands a few times recently, and we’ve thought about purchasing it before, but we finally decided that it was time,” added Phil.

The foursome has big plans for the property. “We want this to be a destination,” said Joe, who talked about their plans to create an outstanding golf/pool/wedding party venue that is accessible by land or by sea. “We will link the club and marina via a beautifully landscaped, scenic, cart and walking path skirting a new pool that overlooks Narrangansett Bay,” he added. Pool construction will begin in September and be ready for next summer.

The golf course property has always been a great location with about 60 feet of elevation change and views of the Bay from the course and clubhouse. “Seaview used to be a first class golf course with great greens, and our goal is to restore it to one of the finest hole layouts in New England,” said Phil, who has been a member of Warwick Country Club for over 30 years and thought that the greens at Seaview were as good if not better than Warwick in days gone by.

“We have hired an arborist to remove dead trees and limbs and to improve and maintain the overall health of the trees and to plant flowering trees,” said Joe. They have also initiated a deep tine aeration and top dress program for the greens and tee boxes.

Another change will be the clubhouse. We will have function capabilities for up to 340 guests for weddings and other functions,” said Joe. He and his dad agree that youngsters are the key to growing the game of golf and plan to run a huge junior golf program. “Our course is relatively short and it is great for young people to learn the game and also for women and seniors who want to play golf at a picturesque venue with fair pricing,” said Phil on our radio show last week.

The pool is a major part of the construction work that will take place.

“We want to have a first class pool club that will be a destination in itself. The views looking down Narragansett Bay from the pool will be magnificent and the sun will set right over the water,” added Phil.

We are looking forward to the new golf course in town. “There will be memberships available for the golf course, but it will remain public. We also will be selling memberships to the pool club and the marina and there will

Harbor Light Marina & Country Club Opens

View of Narragansett Bay from 9th fairway

be some who will want memberships in all three venues,” added Joe on the radio show.

You can get more information about Harbor Light Marina and Country Club at www.hlmcc.com or by calling 401-737-6353.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at [email protected].


CT WOMEN’S GOLFBy BRUCE BERLET

Elizabeth Caron, a.k.a. Liz Janangelo, has been a phenom on the golf course almost since she began

banging balls at two, and then playing while riding in a cart with her father and older brother a year later.

At four, Caron was lofting Whiffle balls over the roof of the Renbrook School in West Hartford, Conn., with her nursery school teacher. At five, she was on the practice range at Rockledge Country Club amazing pro Rich Crowe with an unorthodox modified baseball grip.

“I knew from the beginning she was going to be good because of her natural ability and natural motion,” Crowe recalled. “She always absolutely killed the ball, which is a big advantage. And she had a pretty good short game, a tremendous feel, to back it up.”

Caron also excelled at baseball, basketball, bowling and skiing, but golf is where she earned the most headlines and eventually a livelihood.

Starting at 13 in 1997, Caron won a record five consecutive Connecticut State Women’s Amateur Golf Championships and tacked on the 1999 Connecticut Women’s Golf Association Championships before making a splash on the national scene with eight American Junior Golf Association titles, including two majors.

In 2002, Caron took her considerable talents to Duke, where she was a four-time All-American, Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, national player of the year as a sophomore, breaking the school scoring record and being named ACC Player of the Year, and helped the Blue Devils win two national championships while capturing seven career victories, second on Duke’s all-time wins list.

During that stretch, Caron qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open four times, starting as a 16-year-old in 2000, and won three of a record four straight Connecticut Women’s Open titles as an amateur before earning immediate pro status on the Futures Tour based on her high ranking in the 2006 GolfWeek collegiate rankings.

But Caron’s pro career has been checkered at best, leading to a decision to lean more toward a teaching career that began last fall at the Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, Fla., and reached fulltime status on April 1 when she started at Rockrimmon Country Club in Stamford, Conn.

Bruce Berlet is the retired golf writer for the Hartford Courant and a long-time member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America. He can be reached at [email protected].

After failing to qualify for the LPGA Tour on her first try in 2006, Caron won twice on the Futures Tour in 2007 and earned $45,084, which was sixth on the money list but one spot out of automatically qualifying for full LPGA exempt status. She birdied the final hole of the qualifying finals that year but to regain her LPGA card but finished 147th on the 2008 money list, forcing her to return to the qualifying tournament in order to retain her Tour card for 2009. But she tied for 60th place, so it was back to the Futures Tour.

In 2009, Caron finished 18th on the Futures Tour, giving her a spot in the LPGA qualifying finals, where she regained her card for 2010. But persistent hip and shoulder problems led to her missing 14 of 15 cuts and leaving the tour in July on a medical exemption after receiving an exemption into the 2011 LPGA qualifying finals.

“It would have been nice to win (the Connecticut Women’s Open), but I’m happy with the way I played,” Caron said after shooting 2-over-par 146 for 36 holes at the Golf Club at Oxford Greens and then losing on the second playoff hole after missing a 4-footer to win on the last hole of regulation. “My golf game will always be about the same; it’s not going to get much better or much worse. But I’m happy with the state of mind that I’m in with my game. Before I would just quit and feel sorry for myself mentally, but now I’m happy that just a little bit of fire to want to win and do well is back again.”

But don’t look for Caron in the LPGA qualifying finals in November. The teaching gig has turned out to be as enjoyable as back-to-back holes-in-one. And it’s more enjoyable, rewarding and profitable than trying to grind over 4-footers for par for a living.

Caron’s shoulder still bothers her if she hits too many balls, but she and Jordon Lintz said they are apt to remain in the teaching ranks because of a steady income and the LPGA Tour’s reduced number of events, especially for non-marquee players. “I was joking with Jordan that we’re ahead of the curve,” Caron said. “There are so few tournaments on the LPGA Tour so I think eventually you’ll see a common trend of younger girls coming up and looking for teaching jobs. I think we just kind of beat the curve, we’re trendsetters, but it’s unfortunate because the LPGA Tour is a good product.”

Caron and Lintz—Life after the LPGA TourLintz said she had got “burned out” by

the grind of playing the Futures Tour in 2001-04, the LPGA Tour in 2005 and the developmental tour again in 2006-07. She played golf, basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball growing up in Rapid City, S.D., then after her second Futures Tour stint, she taught at the Stratton Golf School in Stratton Mountain, Vt., for three months a year and gave private lessons around the country for National Golf School in Tampa, Fla., her home base for her first eight years out of college.

“I love to compete, and that’s what I had lost in golf for awhile,” said Lintz, whose best finish on tour as Jordan Cherebetiu was a tie for fourth in a Futures event in 2007. “I got a little frustrated and called it quits. Playing on the tour was a great experience, but I don’t know if I was completely mentally ready when I qualified. I really struggled having confidence and never really seemed to be able to get it going when I was out there.

“Stratton is where I really started to learn how to teach, then in 2009, I started looking for solid assistant pro job, which usually aren’t the most beautiful jobs. I was happy where I was, but the job at Great River came up (in April 2009). I wasn’t real sure about living in the Northeast – I’m the only person in the world who goes from Florida to Connecticut – but I just made the jump because it was a great opportunity, and it has been worth it. And I felt good in the Connecticut Women’s Open. I talked with Liz about how we both have good, solid teaching jobs, and the LPGA is struggling with tournaments right now, so I think we’re in a good place.”

Caron married former Nationwide Tour player Jason Caron of South Yarmouth, Mass., on Jan. 8 and started at Rockrimmon three months later. She finished second to John Bushka by a shot in her first Metropolitan (N.Y.) Section PGA assistants tournament, lost a playoff to former LPGA and Futures Tour player Jordan Anne Lintz in the Connecticut Women’s Open, was third to Frank Bensel by three in her second assistants start and likely will play in the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Championship Aug. 20-24 at The Golf Club at Ballantyne in Charlotte, N.C., where a victory earns a spot in the 2012 LPGA Championship.

Caron, who won the Connecticut Women’s Open in 2003-06 and finished second by a shot to former LPGA and

Futures Tour player C.J. Reeves in 2009, said the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Championship and a few Met Section events are about all she might play before she and her husband move to Jupiter, Fla., in mid-October, where he’ll play mini-tours and she might search for a teaching job.

“I might play, but I also might re-evaluate,” Liz said. “I’m not sure if I want to play in too many tournaments. I’m glad that three-putting on the last hole (of the Connecticut Women’s Open) didn’t really matter, whereas before it would have been like life or death. I’m just taking it day-by-day on whether I want to go play or not. I really like my days off and don’t really touch clubs unless it’s to demonstrate during a lesson.

“Shots go straighter than ever,” she added with a chuckle, “so it’s like when I was a kid and never practiced. Now I just hit balls, and it’s amazing. I tried not to play in the winter, maybe here and there once every other week, and now I’m just trying to grow the junior and ladies program at the club. It’s really great because it’s really growing and improving. It’s really fun to see and makes you want to wake up and go to work every day.”

Caron has several after-school activities to promote the game and tries to make it fun. She has conducted clinics and camps that have attracted juniors to a program that has grown to 50 members.

“I try to incorporate all sorts of sports,” Caron said. “And I want people to have good memories coming to the golf course because that’s what’s most important when you’re young. Competitive golf is on my back burner. My heart is not in that right now. I never want to say never, but (the LPGA Tour) is not where I plan to make a living.”

Liz Caron


CT NOTEBOOK By BRUCE BERLET

McDonagh Wins Second State Amateur

Tommy McDonagh won five of the last six holes to rally from a 3-down deficit with 11 holes left for a 3-and-2 victory over Matt Smith in the scheduled 36-hole Connecticut State Golf Association Amateur Championship at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton.

After getting all square with a birdie at the 21st hole, Smith won three of the next four holes with a birdie, par and bogey. But McDonagh, of Shorehaven Golf Club in East Norwalk, won four consecutive holes with a birdie and three pars. He birdied the 31st hole to go 2 up and clinched it with a winning par on the 34th.

McDonagh won his first title in 2006 at Torrington C.C. at age 16 but was eliminated quickly as defending champion. “After I won, I came back to defense the title thinking, ‘This is easy,’ ” said McDonagh, 22, who will be a senior on the Penn State golf team. “I got to the first round of match play and lost 5 and 4. I got my clock cleaned, but I learned how hard winning this tournament is. Right now my golf swing is the best it’s even been. I was mad being three holes down, but my experience told me, ‘Just stay within striking distance because there were still plenty of holes to play.’

“I’ve been in enough match-play situations to know it all comes down to the last nine holes,” said McDonagh, whose father, Tucker, caddying for him. “After playing so many holes all week, it comes down to the last 10 percent you have in your tank.”

Smith, who plays out of Quinnatisset G.C. in Thompson, is entering his senior year with the University of Hartford golf team. “It hurts right now to know I blew a 3-up lead,” Smith said. “But I will be proud later of everything I accomplished all week.”

McDonagh is the first two-time Amateur champion since PGA Tour player J.J. Henry in 1994-95. He won the Metropolitan (N.Y.) Amateur Championship in 2006 and 2008 and captured the Ike Stroke Play Championship three days after his second CSGA Amateur when he parred the second sudden-death hole after a tied three-hole aggregate playoff to outlast Joe Saladino on the 41st hole of the day. The two had tied at 1-over 211 after 54 holes of regulation at Somerset Hills C.C. in Bernardsville, N.J.

The other highlight of State Amateur week was Darien’s Devon O’Rourke, seeded 31st, making a hole-in-one on the third extra hole to oust Branden Chicorka 3 and 2 in the second round.

Chicorka Captures First CSGA Major Title

Branden Chicorka built a seven-stroke lead with nine holes left and then survived four bogeys in the next seven holes before closing with a birdie and par to win his first Connecticut State Golf Association major title in the Russell C. Palmer Cup at Hop Meadow C.C. in Simsbury.

Chicorka, a member of the Club of River Valley, one of the five regional Type 3 clubs established through the CSGA Clubs for Schools Program, shot 2-under 142 in the 36-hole windup for a three-round total of 213 and three-stroke victory over 2010 CSGA Senior Player of the Year Dave Szewczul and Matt Dziubina, a senior at the University of Connecticut. Chicorka is a graduate of Fermi High in Enfield who just completed his sophomore year at the University of Rhode Island.

Defending champion Evan Beirne couldn’t compete in the CSGA’s stroke play championship because he had turned pro to play in the Massachusetts Open. That event isn’t until June 27-29, but the entry deadline was April 21.

In 2012, the championship will move to its permanent home at the Country Club of Waterbury, site of the event in 2006-08. It is named for the former CSGA executive director and Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame member whose many accomplishments before he died in 2007 included establishing the use of GHIN throughout CSGA member clubs and initiating the construction of Connecticut Golf House, which houses the CSGA and Connecticut Section PGA.

The CSGA beat the Section PGA 341/2-281/2 in the Julius Boros Challenge Cup Matches at New Haven C.C. for their third consecutive victory, something the amateurs had achieved only once previously in 1981-83. New Haven C.C. club champion Aaron Gross and Rudy Hermstadt led the way with 81/2 of a possible nine points in the Nassau-style competition as the CSGA improved to 29-11 in the series. Beirne, who shot a record 13-under 58 on his home course last year, was supposed to play in this event. His replacement, Tom Scarrozzo, teamed with

Tom McCarthy to split their matches with Tom Gleeton and Ed Slattery. New Haven pro Bill Wallis and assistant Bill Street led the PGA with eight points, two more than Greg Farley and Fran Marrello, who worked for the Hall of Famer Boros at Turnberry Isle in North Miami Beach, Fla., in 1984-86.

Jeff Hedden and Jim Gentile combined for a 36-hole total to 3-under 139 and a one-stroke victory in the Connecticut State Golf Association Two-Man Championship at the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme. It was the fourth consecutive title for Hedden, the CSGA Player of the Year the last three years, and Gentile, who finished one ahead of Dave Jones and Brian Bardier. The event is played in honor of Bill Hermanson, a 23-time club champion at Black Hall and winner of eight CSGA titles, including the Mid-Amateur a record five times. Hermanson and longtime partner Dave Szewczul, CSGA Senior Player of the Year in 2009-10, tied for sixth at 146.

CSGA executive director Ron Drapeau will retire at the end of the year after holding the position since 2006. The CSGA is taking applications for the job.

Alling Memorial G.C. in New Haven received the section’s Walter Lowell Public Course Distinguished Service Award at a tournament named in honor of the retired pro at the former Canton Golf Course who is a former section president and the 1978 PGA of America Professional of the Year. The award was inaugurated in 2001 in honor of Canton G.C. for the standards it set towards a public course’s responsibility to its community and upon the founding principles to provide playing opportunities for all who want to play and learn. All public courses in the section are nominated for the award.

Yatsenick, Lyons Win Leading Women’s Titles

Nicole Yatsenick and Linda Lyons won two of Connecticut’s major golf championships. The 17-year-old Yatsenick rallied from 5 down to beat Myra Macmillan, making birdie on the first playoff hole to capture the Connecticut Women’s Golf Association Championship at Wethersfield Country Club.

Yatsenick, of the Country Club of Waterbury, said she just wanted to make it a match when she faced the huge deficit after only 14 holes of the scheduled 36-hole final. But she got into the playoff with a conceded birdie on the final hole of regulation and then hit a 115-yard, 8-iron to 3 feet and made the birdie putt on Wethersfield C.C.’s first hole for the improbable victory.

“I kept battling; I wasn’t going to give up,” Yatsenick said after winning in her tournament debut. The teenager also had an ulterior motive. “I wanted to win for my grandfather (John Villano), who died in a car accident in Florida in December,” said Yatsenick, who will be a senior at Taft School in Watertown, Conn.

Lyons, of Timberlin Golf Course in Berlin, didn’t need such drama to win a third Southern New England Women’s Golf Association Individual Championship.

Lyons shot 7-over-par 153 for 36 holes for a three-stroke victory over defending champion Debbie Johnson at H. Smith Richardson G.C. in Fairfield. Lyons previously won in 2003 and 2007 and now joins Donna Perkins and Jen Holland as three-time champions. Nicole Damarjian won a record four titles, all in a row in 1986-89.

Johnson finished 10 strokes ahead of Lisa Fern-Boros.

Robin Bickerstaff, CWGA Major Tournament Chairperson,

Nicole Yatsenick, the 2011 Connecticut

Women’s Golf Association Champion,

and Penny Jones, CWGA President.


GOLF BUSINESSBy JOE GORDON

The official verdict has yet to be handed down on the Wentworth Hills Golf Club, but the court

of public opinion has apparently found the Plainville facility a stunning place to play in the first degree with amenities one wouldn’t expect to receive at a course with such reasonable fees.

A recent visit to the Plainville, Ma. facility made it clear that the new management team has acquitted itself admirably in its effort to show a bankruptcy court judge that the 11-year-old club, which has had five different ownerships, should not be subjected to “capital punishment.”

General manager Casey Bierer is awaiting an answer from the presiding court, which is expected to render a decision on the club’s future in late August.

Meanwhile, Bierer continues to receive many positive e-mails and letters from golfers who have either discovered or rediscovered that this 6,202-yard, par-71 course can provide a day of fun and challenge for $49 dollars including cart

Monday through Thursday and $59 dollars including cart weekends and holidays. For tee times or other information phone 508-316-0240 or log on to the web site at wentworthhillsgc.com.

“The only advertising we’re doing now is on WEEI, and we’re not doing any particular special for today (July 13). By the looks of things we’re going to get about 180 people out here. That’s unbelievable for us on a weekday. The word is getting out. We had 225 Sunday,” said Bierer.

Repeat business will be one of the keys to the course’s success. Bierer is providing the basics for such business. Along with the superior course condition, players can reach into ice-cold coolers for free bottled water at four different locations on the course. The acclaimed Lafayette House restaurant is providing the food and beverage service in the clubhouse.

“I think the golf course is in such spectacular condition that people are just telling all their friends. It’s amazing. All these people are showing up to play golf,” said Bierer.

Several weeks ago Superintendent Peter Ohlson lowered the greens mowers and the velvet bent surfaces, which were already in very good condition, approached perfection.

“I could not believe the greens. They have taken on a completely different complexion in terms of how the ball was rolling out, how true they were. The speed was just right. Not super-super fast, but certainly much more of a true roll. They are just going to get better and better over the course of the season,” said Bierer.

Bierer, whose TV and entertainment background includes a stint at the Golf Channel, is convinced the reason for the previous failures at Wentworth Hills have been rooted in past decisions to raise the fees beyond what the demographics suggested. The course opened in 2000. It was designed by Howard Maurer, who has done a number of Massachusetts courses. Wentworth Hills was originally developed and opened by the Baker family. It started as a nine-hole course before a second nine was added in 1971.

“We know what every single golf course is charging, and we had a gut feeling of what we could charge here and I think we priced it right. I think if we started to charge too much money that we’d get a backlash again and that’s what ended up happening here over the years. The prices just kept going up and up. People said, ‘forget it, you’re crazy,’” Bierer said.

The principal owner engaged Bierer’s brother Don, a financial expert and prolific asset manager, to find a way to rescue the course from bankruptcy court. Don immediately called on Casey and the team got the course opened in April.

“We have found resources because we know how important it is to make the golf course as good as we can make it,” said Casey Bierer. “My brother (who resides in Sherborn, Ma.) is in the commercial real estate finance and development business. He has managed over the years hundreds of millions of dollars in commercial real estate assets, including golf courses.”

Don Bierer has been a partner in a prestigious real estate firm in Boston which began buying and selling golf courses to finance construction funding and ended up owning several golf courses which were used as collateral. Newport National was one of them.

“My brother has a working business relationship with the principal owner of Wentworth Hills Golf Club,” said Casey

Bierer. “They’ve done some deals in the past. When he knew he was going to be able to hold on to this course and work through the bankruptcy proceeding when they gave him permission to reopen the course, he called my brother Don and said, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing or what your brother Casey is doing, but they’ve given me permission to go forward and reopen the golf course. I would love it if you guys could go in there and open it and bring the golf course back.”

Casey came to Plainville in April from his home in Pinehurst, N.C. Casey and his brother grew up in New Hampshire. Casey went to Boston University, Don went to UNH. Casey majored in physical therapy and sports medicine. With that background Casey landed a job at the Golf Channel.

“I moved out to California when I was a young man, and I fell in love with the entertainment industry. I started in the mail room at one of the big agencies out there. I became a literary agent, representing writers, producers, directors and cinematographers for television. And then I went on to be a development executive for Imagine Films, Ron Howard’s company. Then I went back into the agency business and after five years started my own management and production company. I always wanted to be a producer and I produced reality and documentary style television for all the networks and cable companies,” said Casey.

Casey found himself spending a great deal of time in Pinehurst with his parents. He was commuting between Los Angeles and Pinehurst.

“Matt Adams was having lunch with my brother and he told Don that the Golf Channel was always looking for good producers who know golf. He called down there (Orlando) for me for an interview and they hired me as a producer. That was in 2004. I worked there for a year as a producer,” said Casey.

Then he was approached by a top executive at the Golf Channel who told Casey they were going to hire another full time on-air business reporter. With Casey’s background in the game and its equipment, he was a logical choice.

“So I did that and it really blossomed into a much broader, larger on-air role for me which was a wonderful experience

Continued on next page

Golfers Rediscovering Wentworth


PEOPLE IN GOLF By JOHN TORSIELLO

Mia Landegren has never been afraid to test herself against the best. If that means taking

on the boys even up, she’s been up for the challenge. The Shepaug Valley Regional High School (Washington, Ct.) golfer, who will be entering her junior year in the fall, played number one for her team this spring and turned in consistently low scores. The 15-year-old would have certainly made All-Berkshire League honors had she not skipped the season-ending tournament held to decide such awards. You see, she was playing in the Connecticut Women’s Open that day at the Golf Club at Oxford Greens in Oxford, Ct., where she finished a strong 11th.

Only two weeks later she would realize her biggest goal of the high school season when she shot a three-over-par 75 at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron to finish fourth in the state boys Division IV tournament, thereby earning her All-State honors in the process.

On making All-State, she said, “It was a goal of mine and I was very excited to make the top 10. I played pretty well and went into the tournament confident. It was greens in regulation and playing steady golf.”

She finished three shots behind winner Eric Johnson of East Catholic High school. Landegren, who made two birdies, went out early and was the leader in the clubhouse for almost five hours before Portland High School’s Jon Sajdak came in with a 74.

The following day she returned to Tallwood and shot another 75 to qualify for the prestigious U.S. Women’s National Public Links Championship. She also attempted to qualify for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at Crestview Country Club in Agawam, Ma. earlier in the spring. She missed the cut, shooting rounds of 82 and 78, but said the trip was worth the effort.

“It was my first try at qualifying for the Open and it was a great experience,” said the 15-year-old. “It was an awesome tournament to play in and I got paired with a college freshman and a woman who plays on the LPGA and European women’s Tour. I was able to talk to them about what

it is like playing at those levels and gained some incredible knowledge.”

Landegren played in the Public Links but missed the cut by two strokes. She then traveled to Sweden to spend the rest of the summer, as she has the previous two years, training and playing in Sweden. She also could not defend her girls New England high school championship because of the trip.

“I go to Sweden in the summer and stay with a cousin because there is great competition there and they are producing a ton of great golfers. They run their tournaments different over there and I like it and have done well.”

Ms. Landegren is clearly a young lady on the rise in the world of golf. She is already being heavily recruited by a number of top schools, perhaps most notably Tulane University.

She finds motivation in going against good male players. “I really look forward to competing against the guys because I’ve always played against girls. I think it gives me a competitive edge when I do play against girls, and I like playing from farther back on the tee. It makes me work harder.”

Said her high school golf coach, Al Ciarlo, “Mia means everything to our team. Mia sets the bar very high for herself. I expected her to be the number one player in this league this year.”

Ciarlo said Landegren makes everyone around her better because other players are inspired to improve their games when they observe her work ethic. “Mia is always trying to challenge herself. She is a perfectionist, and sometimes that hampers her because she tries to be too perfect. She will hit a drive 230 yards with a five- to 10-yard fade and she is unhappy with the shot. I tell her often that pros make bad shots on national TV for hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

He added, “Mia works on her game year round, so she is steadily improving.

She is hitting her driver farther so far this year. She is constantly working on improving her putting stroke and her wedge shots. Her swing is one that turns heads no matter where we go. She draws attention but she handles it like a senior. That is one of the reasons why I made her a co-captain. Her major goal is to earn a scholarship at a top 10 academic school. She is the real deal and the sky is the limit with this young lady.”

While other big time juniors are in golf academies year round with thoughts of big money and fame dancing in their heads, Landegren is very content attending a public high school and playing for her school’s golf team.

“Shepaug is a great school and it doesn’t matter to be me if I go to an academy or not. I’ve made a lot of friends and I’m happy at Shepaug.” She has traveled to Florida during the off-season to work with swing coach, Cheryl Anderson. Her father, Erik, is her full-time coach.

Landegren plays out of Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, a highly regarded municipal track, where she has captured several girls’ tournaments. Mia Landegren is certainly one to keep an eye on over the next few years and beyond.

Mia Landegren playingfor Sweden (notice flag on

her cheek)

Landegren’s Star Shineswhich I wouldn’t trade for the world. I interviewed everybody from Jack Nicklaus to Arnold Palmer. I think I did over 400 player interviews in nearly six years. I loved every minute of it,” said Casey.

He lived in Orlando and traveled with the various tours. It was a perfect job for someone with his golf background.

“My golf background specifically is golf itself. I started playing when I was eleven, I fell in love with the game. Through a lot of different experiences I have had a chance to play golf all over the world. I’ve absorbed everything I possibly could about golf and golf courses for all these years. That’s why I was so excited when my brother called me and told me that we had this opportunity because I’ve always dreamed of doing this,” Casey added.

Casey has been more optimistic about Wentworth Hills recently than he was at the start of the venture. He is aware, however, that the judicial system is in control of the fate of this project. He can only do his best to please the customers and so far they have clearly been pleased.

Casey and his brother Don have made a formal deal with the owner pending the outcome in bankruptcy court. “Until that decision, we are strictly in a management role,” Casey said. “We worked out a deal with him that we are very comfortable with. He has given us a corporate guarantee. He is a friend of ours and we want to see it work. We know what we look like for this year no matter what happens and then if everything goes well moving forward we’ll actually have an ownership interest in the golf course and we’ll continue to manage the golf course. At the moment, it’s throwing everything we have at it to make it great for the rest of this year and hoping that things work out at the court levels so we can go forward next year.”

Joe Gordon is the retired golf writer for the Boston Herald and a long-time member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

Continued from previous page


CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC

Kuchar and Johnson Win 2011 CVS

Caremark Charity Classic

Heading into day two of the 2011 CVS Caremark Charity Classic, PGA TOUR stars Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson never gave up their first-round lead, fending off challengers Morgan Pressel and Davis Love III to claim the title by two strokes. The formidable team of Kuchar/Johnson posted a tournament-record low score of 24-under-par 118.

Kuchar, who turned 33 today had his dad, Peter, on the bag and his family in the crowd. “This is such a great place to play, the greens are so nice and the people are so nice, said Kuchar who was presented a cake by his family on the 18th green during the ceremonies.

For the third consecutive year, a coed team sat solo in second place at the end of the two-day tournament. Pressel and Love finished strong at 22-under-par 120. Defending champions J.B. Holmes and Ricky Barnes tied for third with Camilo Villegas and David Toms with a score of 21-under-par 121.

CVS Caremark CEO Larry Merlo presented the winners with the trophy, prize-money of $150,000 each and thanked the sponsors, volunteers and the great players who made up the 20-person field. “We were blessed with great weather, this was a record-setting score and we raised over a million dollars for charity during these three day, how can it get better than that,” said Merlo who has taken over the reins from Tom Ryan.

The following are the final results after the two-day event:1 -24 (118) $300,000Matt Kuchar/Zach Johnson2 -22 (120) $200,000Morgan Pressel/Davis Love IIIT3 -21 (121) $160,000Camilo Villegas/David TomsT3 -21 (121) $160,0005 -20 (122) $130,000J.B. Holmes/Ricky Barnes -20 (122) Brad Faxon/Gary Woodland6 -19 (123) $120,000Paula Creamer/Brandt SnedekerT7 -15 (127) $112,500Suzann Pettersen/Brett QuigleyT7 -15 (127) $112,500Juli Inkster/Peter Jacobsen9 -12 (130) $105,000Billy Andrade/Bill Haas10 -8 (134) $100,000Ben Crenshaw/Jhonattan Vegas

Matt Kuchar and his dad, Peter. As a teenager, Peter spent a year living in

Barrington.

CVS CEO Larry Merlo was excited about his first Charity Classic. “This is such a great venue for our suppliers

and the fans,” said Merlo.


CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC

The crowds were large for the Classic

Matt Kuchar and Zach

Johnson won the trophy and

$200,000

Paula Creamer was a hit at the event Photo credit:

Kevin Burns/Front Row Shots


WOMEN’S GOLF

The U.S. Open and the Open are over. History. But didn’t they make great theater as Rory Mcilroy played out

of his shoes to win the U.S. Open and the drama continued right up to the end at the Open with a tightly-packed field of U.S. and Northern Ireland players? I, like many others, was happy to see Darren Clarke holding the claret jug at Royal St. Georges.

Now it’s time to look forward to watching another drama unfold: the Solheim Cup. The women’s answer to the Ryder Cup, a team of the top U.S. golfing women go up against Europe’s team of leading players. Keep in mind, the United States won the 2009 Solheim Cup, 16 to 12, over Europe at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill, and the U.S. leads the overall competition 8-3, but they are 2-3 when competing on European soil.

It’s set for September 23-25 in Ireland and the venue in Dunsany, Co. Meath, just northwest of Dublin has something old, something new. The course designed by Jack Nicklaus is new; the five-star hotel on the grounds is new. But the imposing gray walls of

Castle Killeen, the “bones” for the new hotel is old, dating back to the 12th century.

I was there when the Castle Killeen course, with its with thick grasses, deep bunkers fanning out from the castle and rolling parkland terrain, debuted its first major event last year: the Ladies Irish Open. A handful of American players, including Solheim hopefuls Christina Kim, Brittany Lincicome, Angela Stanford, Kristy McPherson and Brittany Land were there to complete and get a preview of the Solheim course along with Europeans Laura Davies, Sophie Gustafson, and Suzann Pettersen

In August the teams will be announced. The U.S. team will consist of the top ten in the rankings and two picks by Captain Rosie Jones while the European team will be made up of the top eight best ranked players plus four captain’s choices.

Currently in the top ten and therefore strong contenders to make the U.S. team are Christie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford, Paula Creamer, Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome, Brittany Lang, Juli Inkster and

Christina Kim. There are still some tournaments to go so stay tuned as players will continue to earn points until the cutoff tournament.

Top ranked European players in the running include Laura Davies (ENG), Melissa Reid (ENG), Christel Boeljon (NL), Virginia Lagoutte-Clement FRA), Suzann Pettersen (NOR), Maria Hjorth (SWE), Anna Nordqvist (SWE) and Catriona Matthew (SCO).

Come September, instead of watching the action from your couch, why not book a flight to the land of “Riverdance”, C.S.Lewis, Cocanny, Guinness, and legends galore and watch the Solheim Cup up close and personal. The course is but a half hour drive outside Dublin and with the flags flying over the crenellated walls of the castle, it promises to be a memorable event.

Several hotels are offering Solheim packages that typically include tickets to the matches, breakfasts, accommodations and transfers to and from Killeen Castle. Some also include rounds of golf or a special dinner For example, a seven-night package at the Marriott Ashbourne Hotel in Ashbourne is priced from $1,757;

others start around $600.Other hotels offering Solheim Cup packages

are Ballsbridge Towers, the D4 Ballsbridge Inn Hotel, Clarion Hotel in Dublin and the historic Marriott Shelbourne Dublin Hotel.

Extend your stay a few days and play nearby courses like The European Course, the K-Club, Portmarnock Golf Links, Island Golf Club, St. Anne’s Golf Club and Howth Golf Club.

Céad Mile Fåilte! (100,000 Welcomes!) Solheimcup.com; killeencastle.com.

By KATHARINE DYSON

Excitement Heats Up for the Solheim Cup in Ireland


GOLF INSTRUCTION By KEN JEREMIAH

Many beginning golfers do not understand how to properly utilize the lower body in the

golf swing. Some of them turn the hips before shifting their weight forward; others keep the forward knee bent and drive it toward the target. Either mistake results in horrible shotmaking results.

In order to properly utilize the lower body in the golf swing, it is important to understand what should be happening. This is because the mind must fully grasp and understand a concept before the body will acquiesce.

How should one begin the downswing? Various players use different cues to initiate the movement. Some think of shifting their weight left or pushing off of the right foot. Others think of firing the right knee at the target or turning the hips toward the target. Although all of these thoughts could be beneficial to various players, they do not help players to understand what really should be happening in the golf swing.

There is a very simple drill that can be utilized in order to facilitate such understanding, a drill that should be completed without a golf club and without even assuming a stance. This is how to do it: stand straight and naturally with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly flexed. For a right handed golfer, the goal is to take a perpendicular step to the left with the right foot without moving the left one. (If you are left-handed, simply reverse the following instructions.)

This should be done slowly so that you can remain completely aware of what your body is doing to accomplish this goal. In order to move the right foot, the body weight must first shift to the left foot. Then, the hips must turn toward the target. Your chest will follow this natural rotation, as they are connected. When this motion occurs, you will find that your left knee naturally straightens as your hips and chest rotate to face the target. Your right foot then rotates and comes to rest on the toe of the shoe.

From this position, you can take a step forward. It is important to remember, however, that the step cannot be taken without all of the motions that preceeded it. When you have a golf club in your hand and you are trying to duplicate this motion, make sure that you do not try to skip any steps.

From the top of the backswing, shift your weight to the left side, then turn your hips and chest in order to face the target. Even with a golf club in your hands, do it slowly, striving to ingrain the motion. In this way, it will be easily integrated into your golf swing, and your shotmaking will greatly improve.

Correct Lower Body Motion


AMATEUR GOLFBy JAY NOMAKEO

Ryan Riley (Norton C.C.) defeated Fran Vana (Marlborogh C.C.) 4 & 3 with a chip in on the 33rd hole to win the

103rd Massachusetts Amateur Championship completing a grueling week in which he defeated Brenden Beeg (Vineyard G.C.), John Hadges (Thorney Lea G.C.), Dan White (Vespar C.C.) and Anthony Grillo (Farm Neck G.C.) in convincing fashion.

Jim Furyk is not the only golfer to change putters and win the biggest tournament of his career. Riley changed his putter the week before participating in the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Coincidently both Furyk and Riley purchased their new putters from the same outlet, Joe and Leigh’s Discount Golf Pro Shop in South Easton, Ma. Riley, like Furyk, changes putters regularly and for Riley he estimates he has changed putters 25 times. That’s good news for Joe and Leigh’s. The good news for Ryan Riley is he saved his best putting for the semis and finals to win the 2011 Mass Amateur Championship.

Riley decided to bring along the family to the Berkshires and mix a little golf with a much needed vacation. It turns out that it was a lot of golf with little time to relax. “You don’t arrive

Vacation to Victory

Ryan Riley with his prized trophy

at the Mass Amateur expecting to win, you just want to play well,” explained Riley.

With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees at the beautiful Wyantenuck C.C. in Great Barrington. Mass, players had to prepare for the back-to-back-to-back 36-hole marathon that would challenge the two finalists physically as well as mentally. “Wednesday was the first time I played 36 holes all year and I lost 8 pounds by weeks end,” added Riley referring to the first of three consecutive days of double rounds. “The course was spectacular and the people were spectacular. It (Wyantenuck C.C.) was a type of course where you had to put the ball in the right spots to score.” And score he did.

Riley saved his best for last and with a hot putter he disposed of both Grillo and Vana 4 & 3 in the semis and finals.

Vana bogeyed the first four holes and after a Riley birdie at 5 a rout seemed inevitable. Vana fought back, but could not catch a break. On number 17, Vana was 3 down and had a 15 foot birdie putt, Riley meanwhile was 40 feet and looking at a possible three putt. Riley drained the 40-footer and Vana covered with his 15-footer to halve the hole. On hole number 27,

Riley once again drained a long one from 25 feet with Vana covering from four feet. On the last hole of the match (33) Vana was once again looking to win a hole with a birdie putt from 12 feet. Riley, having hit a tree with his approach, landed in the green side bunker. Riley miraculously holed out from the bunker to win.

With the win Riley now leads the MGA Player of the Year award with his MGA Four Ball partner Herbie Aikens a close second. Riley and Aikens are three-time defending MGA Four Ball Champions. For Riley, one month earlier, he teamed with Aikens once again and won the Walter Cosgrove Worcester County Four Ball against Fran Vana and R.J. Foley in a playoff. It was another great finish for Riley as he birdied the 36th hole to go 13 under par. Moments later Vana birdied his teams last hole to force a playoff. In the playof Riley covered birdies by R.J. Foley on playoff holes two and four and won the tournament with a birdie on the sixth extra hole.

MGA tournament officials John Hull III and Tom Berkel, Wyantenuck C.C. members,

scored holes in one on the 9th hole days after the tournament in the same foursome!Jay Nomakeo is the associate editor of Southern New England Golfer and can be reached at [email protected].


PROFESSIONAL GOLF By BRUCE BERLET

The guy known as “The Junk Man” came to America from Sweden eight years ago with three

European Tour victories and a dream, to win at golf ’s highest level.

But try as Fredrik Jacobson might, he couldn’t attain that goal, notching three seconds and earning more than $10.5 million but never walking into a PGA Tour winner’s circle.

“It’s been haunting me,” Jacobson admitted at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.

Jacobson finally got his elusive victory on June 26, beating long-hitting John Rollins and tough-luck Ryan Moore by a stroke in the waterlogged Travelers Championship. He earned $1.08 million, but it was the trophy that came with the win that proved priceless.

“We were watching the FedEx Cup Championship (last year), and they had a recap of all the winners and everybody was hoisting trophies left and right,” Jacobson said after becoming the tournament’s first international winner since Hall of Famer Greg Norman of Australia in 1995. “I’m sitting there with my (three) kids, and my middle one, Emmie, goes, ‘Daddy, why don’t you have any trophies at home?’ I’ve got a couple in Sweden, but they’re in the garage.

“I told her, ‘I promise you I’ll get one this year for you.’ I’ve been asked so many times by the kids, ‘Did you get a trophy this week? Did you get a trophy this week?’ I’m glad I’m not breaking that promise to her.”

Jacobson, who earned his way onto the PGA Tour three years before 5-year-old Emmie was born, gutted out a 4-under-par 66 in the final round to tie the second-lowest total of 20-under 260 in the 28 tournaments at River Highlands.

At the midway point, Jacobson was four strokes behind the tournament’s other major individual story, amateur Patrick Cantlay, whose second-round 60 was the lowest score shot by an amateur in a PGA Tour event, broke the course record shared by seven players, including Phil Mickelson, and tied the tournament record shot by Tommy Bolt in the second round of the 1954 Insurance City Open at Wethersfield Country Club that he won in a playoff with Earl Stewart.

But while an exhausted Cantlay, a sophomore-to-be at UCLA who was low amateur and tied for 21st in the U.S. Open the previous week, struggled to a 72-70 finish and a share of 24th, Jacobson used a third-round 63 to take a one-shot lead he never lost the final day.

Michael Thompson caught Jacobson midway through the fourth round and Moore tied the Swede late, but a saving par at the 17th hole that epitomized his “Junk Man” moniker and Moore’s 4-foot par miss at the 18th proved the difference.

Moore, playing in the penultimate group in front of Jacobson, hooked his drive into a fairway bunker on the final hole and then found sand again on his approach. His bunker shot narrowly missed the hole, leaving the 4-footer that slid over the right edge, settling for a 63.

“That 18th is going to sting a little bit,” said Moore, who tied for second in his tournament debut in 2006 but finished three back of J.J. Henry, a native of Fairfield, Conn. “Just in a bad place off the tee and maybe a little too aggressive with my second shot. Honestly, I hit a pretty darn good bunker shot. I almost made it. Then I hit my first bad putt of the day. It was just a simple left-center putt, and I pushed it right in the middle of the hole and it topped out on the side. No excuses. I just missed it.”

Rollins also closed with 63, capped by a birdie at the 18th that ultimately got him a share of second. Thompson, a tour rookie,

Jacobsen Earns First Tour Win at Travelershad the final round’s best score, 62, to take fourth at 263, one ahead of Boston native James Driscoll, who closed with 67.

Cantlay’s tie for 24th was the best showing by an amateur since Wethersfield native Jim Grant tied for second in 1967. But Grant never led, which helped explain Cantlay’s fatigue and falloff the final 36 holes after having to play a double round on Friday in the wake of heavy rain playing havoc with the schedule.

The Travelers Championship was Cantlay’s fourth consecutive week of high-intensity competition, starting with the NCAA Championships and then helping

the United States beat Great Britain-Ireland in the Palmer Cup at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn. While he didn’t become the first amateur since Mickelson in the 1991 Northern Telecom Open to win a PGA Tour event, he did become part of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The shrine in St. Augustine, Fla., created a display featuring Cantlay’s historic second round with his scorecard, golf ball and a Travelers Championship pin flag. Cantlay returned to the play-for-no-pay ranks in the California Amateur minus more than $212,000 but with lots more confidence and experience that were priceless.

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PROFESSIONAL GOLFBy BILL DOYLE

Kyle Gallo didn’t know that he led the 102nd Massachusetts Open by a shot until his caddie told him in

the middle of the 18th fairway at Oak Hill Country Club on the final day. Then after he hit his approach to within 20 feet of the

Gallo Takes Mass. Open cup, he had no idea how close he came to giving that lead away.

Oak Hill head pro Jim O’Leary had watched others knock their approaches to the same area, only to have their golf balls roll back off the severely sloped Donald Ross green. He couldn’t understand why Gallo’s ball didn’t follow them. “I couldn’t either,” Gallo said.

Gallo, 36, of Berlin, Conn., then two-putted for par to close with a 1-under 69 on June 30 and finish with a three-day total of 5-under 205. Michael Ballo, 22, of Stamford, Conn., also fired a final-day 69 to end up at 4-under 206. Gallo pocketed $15,000 for his victory. Ballo earned $7,500.

“With the wind today and and the way they tucked some of the pins,” Gallo said, “It played a lot more difficult than it did the two previous days. Thank God that the greens weren’t a foot to two feet faster because they would be almost impossible to play.”

His one-shot victory may have boiled down to experience. He has plenty of it, having won four Connecticut Opens, a Maine Open and a Cape Cod Open. Ballo, on the other hand is only a year out of St. John’s University and was playing in just his third pro event of longer than one day.

Gallo, who shared the lead after two rounds, fell four shots back after he bogeyed 12 and 13 and Ballo, playing in the twosome ahead of him, birdied 11 and 12 and drained a 60-foot birdie putt on 14 to get to 7 under.

But Ballo hit his tee shot on the par-4 15th to the right and out of bounds by a foot. Ballo made double-bogey on 15 and he bogeyed 16 when he pulled his approach from the rough into a greenside bunker and couldn’t get up and down.

Gallo bounced back from his back-to-back bogeys with consecutive birdies. The 6-foot, 180-pound Gallo hit an 8-iron to seven feet on 14, then hit 8-iron to three

feet on 15 to take a one-shot lead over Ballo and pull into a tie for the lead at 5 under with Ty Capps of Palm Coast, Fla. Capps bogeyed his last two holes, however, to finish tied for third with Adam Rainaud of South Hadley and Nick Little of Crozet, Va., at 3 under.

Gallo admitted he had no idea he had fallen four shots behind with five to play. He didn’t know where he stood until he reached the 18th fairway, but he insisted it wouldn’t have mattered if he had known. He still would have remained calm.

“I’ve done it a lot,” Gallo said. “I’ve won four Connecticut Opens so it’s not new. I know how my body is going to react in certain situations. The sixth round of (PGA) Tour school, I’m standing inside the number. It doesn’t get any more pressure packed than that.” He missed his PGA Tour card by a shot at the 2004 qualifying tournament and plans to return to Q-school later this year.

“As wonderful as this is,” Gallo said of his Mass. Open win, “if I don’t move up to the next level, the year is still a letdown.”

Ballo had hit 3-wood on most tees on the long back nine, but because 15 is 461 yards long he used his driver on the hole all week, including when he tied Jim Ruschioni’s course record with a career-best 62 in a pro-member event on Saturday.

“The whole week I knew that that tee shot on 15,” Ballo said, “was one of the most important tee shots on the course. I really didn’t make a bad swing. What happened is I let the ball get a little back in my stance and I hit it high right. The wind is blowing left to right and it just kind of soared and went out of bounds.” But just barely. MGA executive director Joe Sprague took his time eyeballing Ballo’s golf ball and the out-of-bounds stakes before declaring the ball out of bounds.

“Unfortunately, those things happen,” Ballo said. “If it happened on day one and I still finished 4 under nobody would be talking about it, but it happened in the last round on the 15th hole when I had the tournament in hand.” Ballo missed a six-footer for birdie on the par-3 17th that would have tied him for the lead.

Franklin C.C.’s Brian Higgins, who shared the second-round lead with Gallo and Michael Welch of Furnace Brook G.C. in Quincy, bogeyed 18 to close with a 72 and share low amateur honors with Chris Congdon of Foxboro C.C. at 2 under.


CENTRAL MASS GOLF NOTEBOOK By BILL DOYLE

Rick Stimets was happy to win the Worcester County Amateur by seven shots, but he was even

more impressed that he surpassed his winning score of 2009 by 10.

Stimets, 20, carded a 3-under 69 at Wachusett Country Club in West Boylston in the final round on July 3 after shooting a 7-under 65 at Kettle Brook C.C. in his hometown of Paxton in the opening round to finish at 10-under 134. Ryan Riley of Norton C.C. also shot a final-round 69 to finish second at 3-under 141. Two years ago, Stimets shot 70-74-144 in the wind to capture his first Worcester County Amateur crown.

“This is the most special one, because I’ve never shot 10 under par in a two-day tournament and it feels good to win it twice,” said Stimets, a rising junior at North Alabama, was also medalist in the Division 1 state high school golf tournament twice in three years, first as a sophomore then as a senior at Wachusett Regional.

Stimets’s 65 tied the tournament course record set by Matt Parziale en route to his 2008 Worcester County Amateur victory. Rick Dunn, 58, of Holden shot the overall course record of 64 at Kettle Brook last year and watched Stimets play in the opening round.

Stimets led by four after the opening round so he played conservatively. Despite hitting irons and hybrids off

some tees and aiming for the middle of the green in the second round, he still made twice as many birdies (six) as bogeys. He missed only two greens in regulation in two days.

A day after his 30th birthday, Riley tied Stimets for the low round of the day and

placed second for the second year in a row. Riley, a Sutton native, didn’t putt well Saturday with his belly putter so he changed yesterday to a regular-sized putter and a cross-handed grip. The switch helped him card 15 pars and three birdies. Riley admits he switches putters “more often than you should.” When he and Herb Aikens won the Mass. Four-Ball championship for the third year in a row in May he switched from a regular putter to a belly putter for the second round.

Defending champion Brian Higgins of Franklin C.C. fired an even-par 72 to place third at 2-under 142.Good luck to Brittany Altomare of Shrewsbury and Cyprian Keyes G.C., who will play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Rhode Island C.C. Aug. 8-14. Altomare shot a 4-under 68 to earn medalist honors in the U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier July 7 at Echo Lake C.C. in Westfield, N.J.

Rick Karbowski, an instructor at the Auburn Driving Range, won two tournaments in the same week recently. The former Champions Tour golfer shot 68-69 for a two-day total of 5-under 137 to win the Massachusetts Senior Open at Holden Hills C.C. just a few days after carding a 1-under 70 to win individual honors in the NEPGA Pro-Senior Championship at Hopkinton C.C.

Karbowski, 56, of Berlin said his putter won him the tournament at Holden Hills C.C. and that’s a rarity for him. Former champion Fran Marello of Plymouth, Conn., finished a shot behind. Tennis legend Ivan Lendl shot a pair of 71s to tie for fourth.

The only two other times Karbowski played at Hopkinton C.C. were in 1972 and 1973 when he was an Auburn High student and won the state high school championship. The course was known as Saddle Hill C.C. then. “They need to hold a Champions Tour event there,” joked Karbowski, who played on the Champions Tour in 2006 and still plays occasional Monday qualifiers.

Karbowski combined with Paul Couture of Pleasant Valley, Cliff Calvao of Northboro and Gary Palmer of Segregansett in Taunton to share team honors at 8 under in the NEPGA Pro-Senior.

Matt Bianchini learned a valuable lesson while winning the third annual Patriot Classic at Mount Pleasant Country Club in Boylston July 10 _ never let up.

Playing in the last group, the 34-year-old West Boylston resident thought his closest competitor was playing partner Mike Arter, who was two shots behind, so he lagged his six-foot par putt to within inches of the cup on the final hole of regulation, then tapped in for bogey and a final-round 74.

What Bianchini didn’t realize, however, was that Steve Neidermire of Medfield had closed with a second-round 68 and Matt Michel of Danvers had finished with a 70 to tie Bianchini at 1-under 143.

“I was very upset and it was lesson learned,” Bianchini said. “You play the course and you shoot as low as you can.” He regained his composure, however, and birdied the first hole of the sudden death, three-way playoff to top a field of 65. He hit a pitching wedge from 129 yards out to two feet past the cup and made the winning putt.

“When you put it that close under that much pressure, it’s awesome,” Neidermire said. “Good for him.” Bianchini called it the best shot he’s ever hit under the circumstances and ranked the victory as the best he’s ever had, topping the past two Holden Hills Labor Day Four-Ball titles with Jeff Zidonis. Bianchini is a Mount Pleasant member and the tournament director.

Congratulations to 6-year-old Ned Wanda, a Mount Pleasant C.C. member from Northboro, who carded an ace this summer on the 13th hole at the Moorland Course at The Legends in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Ned played from the forward tees, a distance of 95 yards.

Stimets Wins Worcester County Amateur


PRODUCT REVIEWSBy BRUCE HUTCHINSON

Bionic Golf GloveAre your hands the most important tools you have? The orthopedic hand

surgeon that designed this ultimate glove of gloves thinks so. This innovative and revolutionary glove is like no other. Made with a patented pad technology it promotes a lighter more relaxed grip and also gives the player more protection in those areas that are prone to wear and tear. There are stategic web zones and mini terry cloth towels inside the glove allowing and helping the hands to stay cool, dry, and comfortable. The pre-rotated finger design maximizes dexterity and promotes natural hand closure. It has a great feel and fit to go along with all of its others attributes.

This product is offered in all sizes in both men’s and women’s. It is being looked upon as a piece of game improvement equipment and not just a golf accessory item. While Bionic gloves are more expensive than others, the added life created by its unique technology makes it a smart investment. Available at local retailers and online at www.bionicgloves.com.

Polara Ultimate Straight Golf Ball

There is a new golf ball on the market. It doesn’t conform to USGA standards, but

it is great for recreational use because it travels up to 75% straighter than a normal golf ball.

The Polara has self-correcting technology designed to help golfers with severe slices and

hooks. “We’re not trying to remove the skill from the game,” said Dr. Dave Felker, inventor of the new and improved Polara Ultimate Straight golf ball, “We’re just trying to reduce the frustration and embarrassment for those recreational golfers with severe slice and hook problems and help them play more from the fairway.”

We got to try these balls at a recent golf conference and they do work. “The New York Times did a front page feature on our ball, and it created a media blitz,” said Felker. The balls can’t be used in tournaments, but it is a great tool to help the recreational player have more fun with the game. “Gimmes, mulligans, winter rules and scrambles are not part of the USGA rules but are used by most players. This is just another tool to get more people to enjoy the game,” added Felker who said that the balls are flying off the shelves at golf retailers. (Editor’s Note: We were given a few dozen of these golf balls to test. They work and we’ve given them to charity tournaments. A sleeve of these balls make a great prize for the players on the team that finishes last.) You can purchase the balls at local retailers or find out more about the ball at www.polaragolf.com.

The 2011 ACCRA i Series iron shaft is available in 6 different weight options (40 thru 90 grams) and each weight category reflects a specific flex (LL flex to X flex). A certified ACCRA fitter can alter virtually any weight to any flex while also manipulating launch characteristics, just by the way that they tip it. This means, more options to fit more golfers than any other graphite shaft on the market.

This is truly a club fitters golf shaft as it plays right into their strengths, if a golfer wants to maximize his/her flight conditions, the 2011 Accra i series is like putting a canvas in front of Picaso.

The 2011 i Series iron shaft is designed using super high modulus graphite composite for the traditional ACCRA smooth “feel.” The constant taper design offers maximum energy transfer for increased distance without any loss of stability. Stronger players have been concerned about “jumpers”, this design eliminates flight inconsistencies and enables discerning golfers of all levels the ability to “work” the ball and control flight.

Along with the technological benefits, graphics adds to the general appeal. The company has many new hologram graphics!

Belly PuttWant to try a belly putter, but not sure you want the expense of

buying a new one? Clay Judice of Louisiana has developed a product that you can attach to one of your own putters to see if you like it. The Belly Putt is an ingenious attachment that transitions your putter to a belly putter in about five minutes. All the needed supplies are packaged together to make the switch. There is a cutting tool that is placed into the top of the grip that carves a hole needed to insert the extension. You can vary this depth to your own specs. An allen wrench is provided to tighten the screw to the top of the extension. The product can be removed easily. The product costs $39.99. You can visit their website at www.bellyputt.com or call 337-504-5503 for more information.

Listen to the Golf Radio Show every Saturday at

7 a.m. on WEEI. If you miss the show you can listen

to the podcast at www.snegolfer.com/radioshow.

ACCR i Series


COURSE REVIEW By RUSS HELD

No need to adjust your calendar, every day is Saturday at Crestview Country Club. The private club

on Shoemaker Lane in Agawam has long made service and course conditions a high priority.

“We are all about providing resort treatment seven days a week . . . Monday through Sunday we operate like every day is Saturday,’’ said Crestview’s head golf professional David DiRico. “The guys taking care of the golf courses, the staff in the pro shop, food and beverage . . . they are all ready to go, everyday, like it’s a Saturday. No one here takes a day off.’’

With a tough economy, DiRico said competition for the time and money of golfers puts such approach at premium. “We are a full-blown country club — pool, tennis, golf, dining, valet parking on Friday and Saturday nights,” he said. “The standards here have been set so high that our main focus and all our energy goes in to maintaining what we have.’’

Crestview, which opened in 1958, may be best known for its four years as host of the LPGA Tour’s Friendly’s Classic. The tournament attracted the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Dottie Pepper and others during its run from 1995-98. “We still draw on that, that the LPGA Tour played here and I know that they’d love to come back,’’ DiRico said.

“It is a great golf course then and still is now,’’ former LPGA Championship winner Chris Johnson said at a recent U.S. Women’s Open qualifier at the club. “It’s a place all of us like to play.’’

Crestview has not been immune to lowered membership numbers that have plagued many private clubs in recent years. The club currently has 225 golf memberships, which equates to roughly 300 golfers. DiRico said an ideal number would be closer to 275.

“We have operated at 300 (members) during the mid-90s and we have also been successful at 235,’’ DiRico said. “It’s like this pretty much anywhere and internally we are OK. We are fine, but ‘fine’ doesn’t always pay the bills.’’

The course has been owned, since last fall, by Woodlawn Realty, a group comprised of original Crestview members and their families. “They own the club,

they run the club and they have made a big commitment to sustain all that we have done to make Crestview what it is,’’ DiRico said.

DiRico said membership demographics are diverse, from everything to age to religion to hometowns of its members. “We have about 70 social memberships, but we are here primarily for golf,’’ he said.

And the golf is first class.The 18-hole Geoffrey Cornish design,

laid out across 230 of the property’s 500 acres, still plays to conditions that rival those of the LPGA days. “The greens are severe, undulating and fast,’’ DiRico said of putting surfaces that typically roll at 10 1/2 to 11 on the Stimpmeter. “Getting to the green is only half the battle, really.’’

The par-72 layout plays at 6,902 yards from the black tees has a course rating of 73.4 and slope of 128. Crestview’s finishing hole, an uphill par-4 which doglegs to the left, was amongst the toughest for the likes of the LPGA Tour players and is one of a handful of “signature holes.’’

“The fifth, the third, the ninth are great golf holes,’’ DiRico said. “We have a few you could pick, as signature holes.’’ The range, which has four tiers of teeing ground, stretches 250 yards wide and is 325 yards deep.

It all adds up to the capability to handle state-level men’s championships, USGA qualifiers, high school championships and PGA of America section events, among others.

“We have interest and we have talked to the MGA about a major championship coming here some day,’’ DiRico said of the Massachusetts Golf Association.

An underrated mark of a top-notch golf course can be shown by its short list of employees at two key positions — head golf pro and superintendent. DiRico, now working his 16th season there, is just the third golf pro there since its opening. The late Frank Kringle held that post through 1979, before his son Francis took over until the end of the 1995 season.

Those in charge of Crestview’s superior conditions have been Dave Clement, Gary Mondor and current superintendent Mike Bach. “Gary worked for Dave and Mike worked under Gary,’’ DiRico said of the

continuity.The clubs dues

rates for members aged 40-47 are listed at $3,950, with family rates for an additional $1,000. The full breakdown is available on the club’s redesigned web site at www.crestviewcc.org

Gary Desmarais is the club’s executive chef, one of approximately 75 employees during peak season. Mark Hare is the current club president. “We have a bucket list, things we’d like to do at the course some day . . . but we are in the middle of a resurgence and we are committed to maintaining all that we have,’’ DiRico said.

Crestview Country Club is Top Notch

The tough, uphill 18th at Crestview

And what better day to continue that than Saturday.


WESTERN MASS NOTEBOOKByRUSS HELD

If there is a silver lining to finishing in second place, Richy Werenski of South Hadley can take a lot of positives out of a two-week stretch in mid-July. Werenski,

19, was runner-up at the national-caliber 105th Southern Amateur Championship, and then took second at the New England Amateur a week later.

“The Southern gave me a lot of confidence,’’ the sophomore at Georgia Tech said. “I don’t think I am really hitting the ball any better. I’m just making some more putts and not making as many mistakes out there. “Second at the Southern was definitely one of my best finishes, best tournaments . . . it ranks up there with what I have done.’’

Werenski was tied for the lead with seven holes to go at Innisbrook Resort in Port St. Lucie, Fla., before he finished at

even par from that point on. At the New England Amateur at Metacomet C.C. in East Providence, R.I., Werenski was within four strokes of the lead after 67 holes before finishing six off the pace.

The member at Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley also tied for 33rd at the Dogwood Invitational at Druid Hills C.C. in Atlanta and shared 45th at the Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett C.C. in Rumford, R.I.

HALL OF FAME: The Western Mass. Golf Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2011, its fifth group of inductees.

The headliner is Bucky O’Brien, longtime head golf professional at Country Club of Greenfield. He will be joined by retired area superintendent Max Mierzwa, former two-time state amateur champion Gary Burnett and posthumously by former Springfield Newspapers sports writer Vic Wall and longtime area pro John Raimondi. Inductions, dinner and golf tournament are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30 at C.C. of Greenfield. A shotgun tournament (fivesomes, at $85 per player) will start at 11 a.m. A limited amount of

dinner-only reservations can be made at $30 per player.

RANDALL SCANDAL: Rusty Randall of Agawam aced the par 4, 273-yard 16th hole at Ledges G.C. in South Hadley on June 22. The first ace of his 40-year playing career also came on a day when cars - as potential hole-in-one prizes — awaited on all four par 3s during the Johnny Yee Memorial golf tournament.

“Imagine that? It wasn’t on a par 3. Everyone said I should have won two cars,” Randall said. “I could have used a car, my wife’s car just died and it’s going into the shop.” Randall, 47, used a driver during a scramble, on a hole that plays as a dogleg right. Frontside bunkers protect the green. Randall was awarded four tickets to the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship, which he gave away, and certificates to bring a foursome to a couple of area golf courses.

ACE BATOR: Springfield resident John Bator made his ninth hole-in-one, the latest at the ninth hole at Wyckoff Country Club in Holyoke.

And his “problem” is? “I’d really love to make an ace on all five of the par-3s at Wyckoff,” Bator said. “I really want to get No. 4.” The 11-handicapper has also aced the seventh, 16th and 18th holes at Wyckoff. He is missing one only on the fourth hole, although he missed by a half inch there during the same round as his seventh ace. Bator used a pitching wedge to ace Wyckoff ’s ninth hole, which played at 127 yards on June 7, for the third time. In Sept. 2008, he made two aces at Wyckoff during an eight-day span. He also made two holes-in-one during a one-month stretch in 2002.

HOLYOKE C.C. SOLD: Entertainment mogul Eric S. Suher has purchased Holyoke Country Club for $850,000. The Holyoke native owns Mountain Park, an adjacent outdoor entertainment venue, and three music-entertainment establishments in nearby Northampton. It was reported, but not a condition of the sale, that Suher plans to keep the nine-hole golf course in full operation.

The nearby Wyckoff Country Club has been targeted to house a casino by a group called Paper City Development if gaming is legalized. Holyoke C.C., which celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2006, occupies 46 of the property’s 109 acres.

A 64 SHARE: Mike Zaborowski of Agawam fired an 8-under-par 64 from the blue tees to tie the course record at St. Anne Country Club in Feeding Hills on June 18. He matched Tom Napolitan’s 64 that was shot in 1992.

Zaborowski, 52, dipped as low as 9 under after making a 7-footer for birdie at the 16th. He missed a decent birdie chance at 17, then three-putted from 25 feet at the par-5 18th to card his lone bogey. Zaborowski, a scratch golfer, fired a front-nine 30 after making birdie at Nos. 2, 5, 6 and 7 and an eagle at the par-5 eighth. The six-time club champion followed with a birdie at the 10th and 14th and saved par at No. 15, the only green he missed in regulation.

WESTERN FRONT: Anthony Vecchiarelli of Agawam reached the 64-player match play field at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Bremerton, Wash. He tied for 24th place after 36 holes of on-site qualifying, but lost a 2-and-1 decision in the first round at Gold Mountain C.C. . . . Fran Marrello of Canaan (Conn.) C.C. shot a 1-under 71 to win the Western Mass. Open by one stroke at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston on July 21. Dave Dell of Springfield C.C. was the top local finisher, placing fifth with a 75 . . . The late Henry Bontempo, the longtime pro at Franconia Golf Course in Springfield, was named as an inductee to the Connecticut PGA Professional Hall of Fame. He will be honored Nov. 20 at MGM Grand at Foxwoods Casino . . . Former Major League Baseball pitcher Mike Trombley of Wilbraham was among local golfers to qualify for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Trombley, who won half-dozen tournaments on the national Celebrity Player Tour, did not advance from 36-hole stroke play qualifying at Wyantenuck C.C. in Great Barrington. He was a two-stroke winner at the Stockbridge Classic singles championship in May. Trombley, 44, retired 10 years ago after an 11-year career with Baltimore, Minnesota and Los Angeles Dodgers . .

Worthington’s Steve Magargal, a regional radio personality and writing contributor to SNE Golfer, made the eighth hole-in-one of his career on June 26. The member at Worthington G.C. and Berkshire Hills C.C. used a 6-iron to ace the 154-yard 17th hole at Berkshire Hills in Pittsfield. He has aced all five par 3s at the Pittsfield course, with his first career hole-in-one dating back to 1972 . . . Parts or all of Veterans Golf Course in Springfield were closed from the better part of a month after a tornado caused major tree damage on June 1. The front nine at the municipal course was closed for two weeks and the back nine, which lost hundreds of trees, was out of operation until July 8.


CAPE COD NOTEBOOK By GEOFF CONVERSE

Hey, I’m Rory McIlroy and I’ve just won the 2011 U.S. Open Golf Championship without a

serious challenge. So, where do I go the day after the final round?

Well, many think McIlroy’s destination was his home in Northern Ireland.

WRONG! The likeable 22-year-old golf phenom made a stop at Cape Cod and the Willowbend Country Club before heading back to his digs in Northern Ireland.

Granted, there were some tired eyes, an unshaven face and unmitigated joy but for that moment, you could have stuck ice picks in Rory McIlroy’s back and he would have felt no pain. He was on top of the world and he had done something few golfers have the ability to do in just two months time.

This fine young lad from the land many like to call their roots had reversed his fortunes from an April implosion on the final nine of the Masters, where he was leading the field only to come unglued and look more like those guys who compete every Wednesday morning in the local men’s league.

Yet, when faced with that same situation in June, he had taken that lesson and showed that at his young, impressionable age, McIlroy was a quick learner. Not only did he maintain his advantage over the final day at Congressional Country Club outside Washington, DC, he put the pedal to the metal and left the field gasping for air as all they could inhale was his exhaust as he sped away to victory.

He did all the things you do when you win a “Major.” He talked to the media – TV, Radio, Magazines and Newspapers, and he did it with grace and class.

And yet, on Cape Cod, he showed a great gift that true champions possess – he honored a commitment he had agreed to well before the Open. He made the appearance he had signed on for. He was on time – a bit weary – but he was at the club at the appointed early hour that Monday.

Many would have understood had he begged off that Monday commitment to one of his sponsors, the watchmaker Audemars Piguet, which was staging an Investors Appreciation Day for Fireman Capital Partners at the Paul Fireman-

owned course on Cape Cod, but we got a glimpse of the stuff that young Mr. McIlroy is made of.

Also on hand that day was an impressive array of pro players that included Anthony Kim, Vijay Singh, Ian Poulter, Rocco Mediate and, from the LPGA, Christie Kerr.

Mediate summed up the impression McIlroy made with his composure and, a word not used too often these days, comportment, saying, “He’s been raised right. That’s a credit to his family (McIlroy’s father Gerry was traveling with his now ‘in demand’ son). He has a lot of good people around him. He’s going to be just fine.”

He got no argument from anyone who was at Willowbend that day.

Caron-Wood Charity ClassicThough they have not been too

successful on their respective pro tours lately, Cape Cod’s Jason Caron and Carri Wood have hit the bulls-eye with their annual fundraiser.

This year’s Caron-Wood Charity Golf Classic was, to put it mildly, a huge success. It had the perfect combination of great weather, a pristine golf course, causes that inspire people and the right combination of celebrities which made the Fourth Annual Caron Wood Charity Golf Classic at Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club in Brewster, to use a different sport metaphor, a home run.

Over 120 players were on hand including the likes of New England sports legends like Bobby Orr, John Havlicek, Jim Lonborg, Jim Rice, Mike Eruzione, Bob Montgomery, Bob Sweeney and Andy Brickley, the culmination of a two-day party to raise money for many different causes helped generate over $40,000 in contributions over the two days to be distributed to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, The Boston Bruins Foundation and three scholarships to golf-oriented local kids needing financial assistance to attend college.

This year’s donation to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute hits particularly close to home with co-founder Carri Wood, whose mother passed away two days before the

event after a two-year bout with cancer. Many felt that it was courageous for Wood to be on hand for the event, but, “My mother would have wanted me to play and be here,” Wood said. “It’s been rough, but this event means a lot to us and I’m glad I was here.”

“Each year we continue to grow and this year certain things fell into place for us in a lot of areas,” said Jason Caron, a former PGA Tour pro and co-founder of the event. The tournament has always been about Caron and Wood giving back to the game they love and help kids like themselves when they were in school, pursue a career in the field of golf be it as a player, a pro or as a superintendent.

This year’s scholarship winners were Kathleen Probolus of Nauset High School, Edward Coffin of Nantucket High School and Andrew Kelly of Falmouth High School.

The addition of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has helped the Caron Wood Foundation expand its reach and help kids with chronic diseases attend the Camp founded by Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward.

Young Golfers ShineOver the years, Cape Cod has been a

prime breeding ground for some of the area’s best young golfers and as we are in the midst of the summer tournament season, another young player is rising above the crowd with his golfing skills.

Curtis Collopy, a resident of Centerville who is heading into his senior year at Barnstable High School in Hyannis, has had a solid season this summer. Just before heading off to Florida to compete in the Optimist International Junior Championship at PGA National in Palm Beach, Fla. and then heading to Madison, Miss. to play in the “Big I” National

Championship (formerly the Insurance Youth Classic) after qualifying by winning the state title, Collopy tuned up by winning the Hyannis Golf Club Championship.

He is the youngest player to have ever claimed that crown and he did it with a flourish the final day. Collopy had six birdies and an eagle, overcame a triple bogey where a drop landed him in an impossible spot, and beat former champion and reigning Cape Cod Senior Amateur Champion Dick King by firing a 4-under-par 68 the final day to win by five shots over the 36-hole event.

“It could have been so much lower if he hadn’t gotten that bad break on the drop,” King said. “I would say it’s official that the torch has been passed to the younger generation. I don’t see them giving this thing back for a long time.”Geoff Converse has covered golf on Cape Cod for over 30 years and writes a Cape Cod Notebook column in each issue of Southern New England Golfer. You can reach him at [email protected].

McIlroy Stops in Cape Cod After U.S. Open Victory

Rory McIlroy

SubscriptionsWe continue to get many requests for subscriptions to the publication and have thus reinstituted them. If you can’t find this publication at your favorite course or range and wish to have it sent right to your mailbox, fill out the form on page 25 and send along a check that will cover postage and handling.


TOURNAMENT GOLF

Frank Bensel Captures Connecticut Open

Frank Bensel from Danbury, Conn. fired his third sub-seventy round to win his second Connecticut Open in the last three years at Brooklawn Country Club. Bensel, the assistant golf professional at Century Country Club in Purchase, New York, who slept on a two-stroke lead finished with that same margin of victory.

There were several players chasing Bensel throughout the day including Daniel Balin from Burning Tree Country Club and Dave Szewcul from Tunxis Plantation Country Club. But no other made a better move up the leaderboard than Tom McCarthy from Twin Hills Country Club. McCarthy, a recent graduate of Yale University, began the day five shots back but quickly moved up throughout the front nine. McCarthy made one bogey but still made the turn at four-under par for the tournament. He would go on to make three consecutive birdies on eleven, twelve, and thirteen to pull within one stroke off the lead but would make bogey on his final hole of the tournament to finish at six-under par.

Daniel Balin, an assistant golf professional and 2010 MET PGA Player of the Year, also completed a third round of sub-par golf to finished tied with McCarthy for second place. Balin started the day only three shots back and played extremely consistent making birdies on six, nine, eleven and thirteen before suffering his only bogey of the round on the par three fifteenth hole.

Bensel began his final round sixty-nine with a birdie three on the first hole. He would add one more birdie on the front nine and would not make a bogey until the par four sixteenth hole. Giving back a stroke to the field would not affect Bensel as he puts his tee shot on seventeen down the middle of the fairway. A par on seventeen and a green in regulation on eighteen gave Bensel three putts for the win. He would only need two. He

rolled his first putt one foot by the hole, reset and put the ball into the back of the hole earning him the 2011 title and the $10,000 first place check.

“Brad (referring to Brooklawn Golf Professional Brad Worthington) invites me to play in his pro-am here every year and this is one of my favorite courses,” said Bensel following the awards presentation. “It has been a difficult summer to keep golf courses in tournament conditions but Brooklawn has been tremendous all week long.” This was the sixth time Brooklawn has hosted the Connecticut Open (second only to New Haven Country Club’s seven).Partial Results 1 Frank Bensel, Danbury68 66 69 205 $10,000T2 Tom McCarthy, Twin Hills (a)70 71 66 207 $750T2 Daniel Balin, Burning Tree 70 69 68 207 $5,0004 Dave Szewczul, Tunxis Plantation (a) 71 67 70 208 $5005 Jack McConachie, Pine Valley 69 69 72 210 $3,000T6 Brian Ahern, Wampanoag (a) 74 68 69 211 $450T6 Bobby Gage, Candlewood Valley 72 70 69 211 $2,5008 Jason Caron, Greenwich, CT 73 67 72 212 $2,000T9 Brian Murphy, Brooklawn (a) 69 71 73 213 $375T9 Jason Thresher, Crestview (a) 74 68 71 213 $375T9 Brian Lamberti, Danbury, CT 71 70 72 213 $1,800T12 Evan Beirne, New Haven 68 73 73 214 $1,475T12 Jim Fitzpatrick, Yale 71 72 71 214 $1,475T12 Matt Smith, Quinnatisset (a) 75 72 67 214 $325T15 Kyle Gallo, Kensington, CT 74 69 72 215 $1,400T15 Kevin Josephson, Stanley (a) 72 71 72 215 $300T17 Mike Ballo, Jr., Woodway 74 71 71 216 $1,285T17 Steve Sokol, Orange Hills 74 69 73 216 $1,285T17 Matt Torrance, Lake of Isles 71 71 74 216 $1,285T17 Nick Torrance, Lake of Isles (a) 71 74 71 216 $250*Amateurs receive pro shop credits

Gilmartin Wins 4 Man Playoff, Second Ouimet

Memorial John Gilmartin saved his best for last

with birdies on both playoff holes to win a four man playoff and his second title in the 44th Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament at Woodland Golf Club on Friday. The 40-year-old hockey rink and league operator from Indian Ridge outlasted 16-year-old sensation Chelso Barrett of Keene, NH, recent Massachusetts Amateur champ Ryan Riley of Norton C.C., and Peter Williamson of Hanover (NH) C.C. Williamson recently led the first two rounds of the New England Amateur championship. The four tied at one under par 212 to force the playoff. The first two rounds were played at Charles River Country Club (Wednesday) and Dedham Country & Polo Club (Thursday). The final round is always played at 6,741 yard Woodland Golf Club, Mr. Ouimet’s home course. Gilmartin’s previous Ouimet win was in 2004.

Gilmartin came into the final round with a three shot but slipped with a final round 75 while Williamson birdied 17 for a 72, Barrett had 71, and Riley tied for the low round of the day with a 70. Gilmartin made a down hill 17-footer from the fringe for a birdie on the 301 yard 1st hole to start the playoff. Williamson had previously missed from 20 feet, Riley then missed from 8 feet, and Barrett sank from five feet for his birdie to extend the playoff. Barrett was runner-up in the US Jr. Championship recently. Gilmartin ended it with a 12 footer on the 16th, which was the second playoff hole. “I didn’t make any putts until it counted,” said Gilmartin.

Mike Cole of Gannon Golf Club birdied three of the first four holes to grab the lead in the Eddie Lowery Senior Division. He held on for a 72 and a 220 — a four shot victory over defending senior champ Jack Kearney and Paul Murphy of Charles River.

Megan Khang of Pembroke, considered one of the top junior prospects in the U.S., hit 16 greens enroute to a 71 and victory in the one-round women’s division. It was the first time anyone had broken par in this competition. Isabel Southard of Harmon Club was second at 72.

The Ouimet Memorial Tournament benefits the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. Partial Results:1 *John Gilmartin, Indian Ridge C.C. 68-69-75--212 T2 Ryan Riley, Norton C.C. 73-69-70--212 Chelso Barrett, Bretwood G.C. 73-68-71--212 Peter Williamson, Hanover C.C. 69-71-72--212 5. Ryan Gay, Augusta C.C. 71-71-73—215 6 Herbie Aikens, Pinehills G.C. 69-71-76—216 T7 Frank Vana, Jr., Marlboro C.C. 78-67-72--217Mike Dunham, Concord C.C. 73-72-72--217James Pleat, Nashua C.C. 72-71-74--217Joe Toland, Panorama at The Balsams 72-73-72--217T11 Hunter Stone, The Orchards G.C. 71-74-73--218Ricky Stimets, Oyster Harbors Club 73-75-70--218Ed Hjerpe, Rhode Island C.C. 74-68-76--21814 Colin Brennan, Indian Ridge C.C. 76-72-71--21915 John Nurczynski, Woodland G.C.73-73-74--220T16 Nick Maccario, Bradford C.C. 76-71-74--221Chad Stumpo, Blue Hill C.C. 72-73-76--221T18 Alex Daley, Marlborough C.C. 72-79-71--222Taylor Peck, Norfolk G.C. 74-75-73--222Jack Whelan, Myopia Hunt Club 76-69-77--222T21 Evan Harmeling, Andover C.C. 74-73-76--223Matthew Broome, Rhode Island C.C. 77-72-74--223T23 Kevin Carey, Dennis Pines G.C. 75-73-76--224Paul Heffernan, Jr., Charles River C.C. 67-76-81--224Jordan Burke, Needham G.C. 68-78-78--224John Jackopsic, Gillette Ridge G.C. 72-78-74--224

Senior Division1 Mike Cole, Gannon C.C. 75-73-72-213T2 Jack Kearney, Elmcrest C.C. 75-78-71-220Paul Murphy, Charles River C.C. 73-76-75-2244 Joe Keller, Oyster Harbors Club 72-73-82-227T5 Claude Hoopes, Kittansett Cl. 78-75-77-230Cy Kilgore, Tedesco C.C. 73-77-80-2307 Jon Fasick, New England C.C. 76-76-79-231

Women’s Division—Woodland G.C.1. Megan Khang 37-44-712. Isabel Southard 36-36-723. Mary Chamberlain 35-39-74 4. Nicole Scola 38-40-785. Elise Lemons 38-41-796. Kristen Macdonald 40-40-80

Rhode Island Senior Open to be heldSept. 26-27thThe seventh annual Rhode Island Senior Open will be held at Valley Country Club in

Warwick on September 26 and 27. This 36-hole stroke play event is open to all pros and amateurs 50 and over.

There is no cut, so all will play 36 holes. The size of the purse will be determined by number of entrants and sponsors. The entry fee for professionals is $225 and for amateurs (who must have a handicap of 12 or less) the fee is $175.

Entries must be received by Sept. 19. You can get more information about entering or sponsoring by calling tournament director Rick Holcomb at 401-862-4119.


GOLF TRAVEL By BRUCE VITTNER

It is not very often that this reporter goes on a golf vacation and the golf isn’t the first thing that sticks in my

memory.Not that the golf course wasn’t excellent,

but the Samoset Resort on the Ocean in Rockport, Maine is truly a gem from the quality rooms, to the fine dining and to the wonderful views of Penobscot Bay.

The 178-room seasonal hotel features a state of the art health club, indoor and outdoor heated pools, tennis, basketball, playground and this year undertook a multi-million dollar renovation of a new restaurant, La Bella Vita, the Spa at Samoset and three luxury guest cottages.

In 2010 Conde Nast voted the Samoset 3rd in the Top 80 Golf Resorts in the United States and Travel and Leisure magazine voted it #40 World’s Best Family Hotel. And this was before the recent renovations. “We think that this is the year that the Samoset is really going to POP,” said general manager Connie Russell who hosted a group of golf and travel writers in July. “With our new restaurant that is attracting many locals and the wonderful new spa we see ourselves as a great year-round destination,” he added.

We new it was going to be a great vacation as we watched a “Parade of Sails” with all the tall ships in Maine sailing in the bay less than a mile from our room’s balcony as we checked in. The resort sits

on a hill overlooking the bay with many of the golf holes between it and the ocean.

Back to the golf. The hotel was built in 1889 and the nine-hole golf course (links-style of course that ran right to the edge of the ocean) opened in 1902. The railroad and steamships used to bring guests to this regal vacation spot, and similar to Newport, the guests wanted to try their hand at the new game in the country that had been imported from the British Isles just before the turn of the century.

“We still have some of the small glasses that were used to put sand in for the tee shots,” said Gary Soule, director of golf at the resort for the past six years and my partner in a round of golf. “We have pictures showing the tiny tee boxes and the small greens,” Soule added.

During the Great Depression the property fell into disarray and was actually sold for $25,000 in 1941. It changed hands a few times and actually burned to the ground in 1972. In 1974 the property reopened with a totally rebuilt 18-hole golf course.

In 1981 course superintendent Greg Grenert was hired. He told the owners that the first impression that guests saw of the property was a huge field. “You only get the chance to make a first impression once, so I built the 10th hole and the 11th tee right along the entry road,” said Grenert who redesigned many of the holes.

Both 10 and 11 have small ponds (in front of the green on the par 4 tenth, and a forced carry for the short par 3 eleventh) that have water shooting a dozen feet in the air, and it provides a beautiful entryway to the resort.

You can see the ocean from 14 holes on the golf course. Number 3 is an uphill par 3 with the ocean on the left and a forced carry over reeds. Brad Booth, a Maine golf architect who has also done work with Brad Faxon, redesigned holes 4, 5, 14 and 18 and did a masterful job. Four is the signature hole that wraps around the coastline and finishes at the edge of the property and looks out along a breakwater built by WPA during the depression that extends seven-eighths of a mile out into the bay and has thousands of walkers each week.

Number 5 is an uphill par 3 that is well bunkered (Soule said there were 92 bunkers on the course). Our balcony sat just above this green and made it difficult to read a book because you were always looking to see how the golfers’ shots turned out. Looking back down the fifth hole to the tee that sits on a precipice with the breakwater behind is one of the prettiest views a hotel could have.

Number 14 looks like a nondescript hole from the tee box, but once you get out to your tee shot and look down to the hole with the ocean in the distance, you

have to smile. Fifteen runs right along the water and is a difficult par 4.

Nothing is as difficult as the last hole. “We are pretty sure this is the most difficult finishing hole in New England,” said Soule who added that the Nike qualifier and Cleveland Golf Tour events were held at the course and most all players said it was the most difficult hole that they had ever had to end their round. It is a 478-yard par 4 from the tips (446 from the white tees that we played) with four bunkers down the right side of the fairway and a bunker on the left, a pond to carry in front of the green with four bunkers surrounding the green. Play it as a par 5 and be happy.

The course measures 6,548 from the gold, 6,000 from the white, 5,803 from the senior tees and 5,621 from the forward tees, but with very few forced carries. It is extremely well manicured with L-93 bent-grass greens and wild bent growing in the fairways. The ball sits up well in the fairways and there are not many forced carries on this par 70 course. “We want people to enjoy their experience when they play our course,” said Soule who also runs a golf school and has a couple of assistants who give lessons. We were truly impressed by the staff at the golf course and throughout the property.

The Samoset has many “Stay and Play” packages. There is something for everyone in the family at this impressive resort. Fall golf must be so impressive with the many hardwoods and the mountains of Rockport in the background. That is if you can take your eyes off the beautiful ocean waters in front of you.

You can find out more about the resort and make reservations at www.samosetresort.com or by calling 800-341-1650.

Samoset Resort Shines in Maine

Samosetsits right along Penobscot Bay


GOLF TRAVELBy BRUCE VITTNER

For three years Kevin Smith of Sunny Hill Resort and Peter Maasmann of Blackhead Mountain have been

at the Boston Golf Show urging people, including this intrepid writer, to visit Greene County in the Great Northern Catskills. “You’ll love it,” said Kevin who talked about all the excellent golf in the area and specifically his resort of Sunny Hill and his two golf courses.

Since we had such a great time in the Poconos (see June 2011 issue), we decided to head back to the mountain range. The two-and-one-half hour trek from the Providence area (for many of our readers in southern New England, the journey is even shorter) lead us just west of the Massachusetts border along Interstate 90.

Kevin was right. There is fine golf in Greene County. There are also wonderful people and very reasonably priced places to stay and play golf.

Our first round was at Thunderhart at Sunny Hill in Freehold, N.Y. The course was opened in 1969 as a nine-holer for Smallinger’s Resort. The resort went bankrupt and the course was sold to private owners who built a second nine in 2000. “My father-in-law, Gary Nicholsen, met the course owner in town about six years ago and they talked about Sunny Hill Resort purchasing the course. It sits almost adjacent to our course and property and they consummated the deal,” said Smith.

The course is a neat track, and Gary’s son, Erik, is doing a fine job as superintendent. It winds through tall hardwoods and pines and the view from the downhill fifth hole is beautiful as you look at the mountains. Numbers 8 (a 200-yard par 3) and 9 (a 468 yard dogleg par 5) will get your attention and make your score higher than you thought it was going to be.

Number 10 is an excellent par 3 over water and 13 might be one of the tightest holes in the area. The course is a fun walk with the mountains as a backdrop on many holes.

Sunny Hill in Greenville has a course right on the property. It is a short (just over 4,300 yards) par 66 that is perfect for the youngsters and spouses who have trouble hitting the ball very far. We saw many families on the course, and it costs very little to play. Many people went out to play after dinner.

The great view from the 17th tee at Blackhead Mountain. That’s the Berkshires in the distance.

The course winds around the property. The downhill par 3 7th with a pond left of the green, the downhill par 4 11th with a narrow opening to the green, and the most difficult 205-yard par 3 12th over water could fit on any course in the country.

The best part, however, was the family atmosphere on the course. There is no need for forward tees as all members can hit from the same tee on the player-friendly course.

Our third course was Rainbow Golf Club also in Greenville. Owned by Birmann Walt, Jr. and his wife, Cookie, the course was opened with five holes in 1957. Four more were added in 1958 and the tough back nine was opened in 1995. There are five sets of tees at the course that measures 6,287 from the tips. Don’t be misled by the rather short distance—the course can be very difficult, starting with the first hole that is played over a pond to a very sloping green.

“We have the only island green in the area, and I suggest you play the blue (5,861) tees. It will give you a battle,” said Walt Birmann, Jr. who has been a PGA pro for over 25 years and designed the course with his father, Walt, Sr.

There is a special “Rainbow” set of tees on the card that combines both blue and white. “This is the most common and enjoyable distance for many who play the course,” added Birmann. The most difficult hole is the dogleg par 4 12th. You need to hit a drive of over 200 yards to see the green that sits over a pond. The pond is the site of the island green. “We made the distance 135 yards, the same as TPC Sawgrass,” said a smiling Birmann who uses this gold distance in his Rainbow set of tees.

Our fourth course was Blackhead Mountain Lodge and Country Club in Round Top, just 20 minutes from Sunny Hill. We had been looking at the mountains from our first three courses, and now we were climbing up the mountain to get to our course and lodging for the next two days.

The story on the next page gives a good account of the Maassmann family and their incredible accomplishments. As we played the course with Peter Maassmann, son of the owners and a PGA Class A golf professional, we were amazed by what the family had accomplished.

The course must go 400 feet up the mountain, and it makes for wonderful views and some very difficult and demanding

shots. The course only measures 6,076 from the back tees, but the rating of 133 gives a good indication of the quality and difficulty of the course.

“We opened the front nine in 1990,” said Peter who credited architect Nicholas Psiahas for giving them the vision to build the course. “We did the work mostly by ourselves (he, his dad, Ewald, and his brother Edward who serves as the course superintendent).

The three Maassmans spent the latter half of the 1990s going higher up the mountain and building the back nine. It opened in 1999. “We were so proud of what we had accomplished,” said Peter as we played our way up the mountain and then back down to the lodge on the 17th and 18th holes. They should be; we had so much fun playing this “thinking man’s” course. “It helps to have someone with local knowledge playing with you,” said Peter, as he gave me aiming points on many of the holes.

You could shoot a big number at this course, but it was my best score of the week. The couple from Canada who we met at dinner said that they did much better the second day they played it and were looking forward to their third round. Yes, you can play this course a few times without getting bored.

There were many holes that were memorable. Remember that all putts break away from the mountain. The par 3 4th has a large sloping green where you must stay below the hole with your tee shot. Number 9 is a very long dogleg right par 4.

You move up the mountain for holes number 1-8 and then come back down for number 9 near the clubhouse. Number 10 is a tough par 5 with a pond short right of the green. You then head way up the mountain that reaches its pinnacle at the 100-yard par 3 16th that goes straight uphill. Hit and hope, but make sure you get up to the sloping green.

The tee at 17 offers you a view of the Berkshires in the distance and it must be spectacular when the leaves turn in the fall. Number 18 measures 352-yards over a pond. The tee shot looks intimidating, but you are going straight downhill and the drive is much easier than it looks. It is a memorable trip around Blackhead Mountain.

Our last stop on this excellent vacation was Christman’s Windham House Golf Course in Windham. We had written about this course and the Christman family seven years ago when they had the Ben Sutton Golf School. There is still a golf school on the 27-hole property, a hotel, and restaurant.

Great Northern Catskills Golf


GOLF TRAVEL By CAROLYN VITTNER

In a little over three hours from our home in R.I., including a coffee stop en route, we pulled into the Sunny Hill

Resort in the Great Northern Catskills, New York.

The first thing I noticed as we were driving in was the fun the guests were having. I can see why — a schedule of the week’s happenings was handed to us when we checked in. Each day has a myriad of activities, depending on the day of the week, including shuffleboard, kids mini golf, wine tasting, live entertainment, karaoke, preschoolers’ tea party, as well as bus trips to area attractions (including Cooperstown) at no extra charge. If you get bored here, it is your own fault.

We arrived just in time to enjoy an outdoor barbecue lunch with all the fixin’s by their fishing hole. A gentleman playing old-time music on his keyboard entertained us. Good start! Most meals are served in a large dining room with a panoramic view of the beautiful Catskill Mountains.

But this story is as much about the family who owns the property as it is about its amenities.

Sunny Hill is owned and operated by the third generation of the Nicholsen family. This property has come a long way since 1920 when a dairy farmer from Norway took in boarders to make ends meet. Fast-forward two generations to grandsons Wayne and Gary Nicholsen. We were introduced to Gary by his son-in-law Kevin Smith, director of golf and do-it-all here (might as well keep it in the family). Most all family members work on the resort. It was Gary who gave us the grand tour of this vast property in his shiny red pickup truck.

It didn’t take long to realize this man does not sit hiding in his office all day. He stopped quite often to chat with several of his guests; he seemed to know everyone and their families. Most guests have been here before, some for over 50 years.

So why do they keep coming back? Imagine keeping the kids happy and busy all day (make that kids of all ages).

Almost every night there are “just for fun” rides that take you on a thrilling, sometimes scary ride around the area. As we were in line to get on the Monster

Every night is Fun Ride night at Sunny Hill Resort and the Monster Truck is one of the highlights.

Truck, we struck up a conversation with a young man behind us. He has been coming here for 12 years of his life and he is 13.

We shared our hearty home style meals with other first-timers, including a retired couple from Syracuse on a stay & play golf package as well as a couple of buddies on a golf/fishing getaway. They had such a good time this year that they plan on returning again with their wives in tow.

We will be back also — I want to try out the “just for fun” Bumblebee Car! I’m guessing there is one requirement — you must be a kid at heart to come here.

Our next stop was Blackhead Mountain Lodge and Country Club. This resort offers a different, more relaxing experience.

The property was purchased in 1967 by Ewald and Waltraud Maassmann (Ed and Wally), and Wally’s parents, Karl and Elli Lutz. This family had left Germany in the 1950s to start a new life in America. Ed and Wally had met in the new country, fell in love, got married and started a family (sons Edward and Peter). Now there was work to be done. Over the years, improvements were made to the resort and by 1999 a challenging 18-hole golf course was open. And now Edward and Peter with families of their own run this property.

Make no mistake, Ed and Wally are very much involved here. As we were eating our breakfast, which had been prepared and served by Wally, Ed was riding the tractor up the hill of the golf course.

If you don’t play golf, a short drive to the town of Woodstock is a lovely way to spend time shopping and having lunch. If you have enough time, take the short drive to Main Street in Catskill and check out the porcelain cats lining the main street—quite impressive.

It would be a shame to miss the views on their awesome golf course, however, so if you play golf, or think you can play, by all means do so. You are surrounded by the ever-beautiful Catskills and are treated to a different scene wherever you look. A family of deer was very kind to let my husband play through on the seventh hole; this was their territory after all.

Make sure to take the time to relax (you are on vacation for goodness sake). There is a lovely pool on site to cool off and then grab a book, put your feet up and enjoy. May I suggest “A Path of Pebbles.” This is a true story written by none other than Mrs. Maassmann about her life growing up in war-stricken Germany and her new life in America. This engaging book can be purchased in their pro shop.

About the food: Maassmann’s Restaurant is open to the general public for evening dining. If you want good authentic German food, this is the place to eat and mingle with the locals. You can be sure we will return to this very welcoming family resort.

Two different vacations, two different families with a common thread: proud to be hard working Americans.

Brian Christman was at the Connecticut Golf Show in March and insisted that we come back to his course and see the improvements. He was right. The course has a great deal of character as it traverses up a mountain.

Many of the holes look at the ski slopes on Windham Mountain. This was by far the longest course we played as it measures 7,114 from the tips. There are five sets of tees and we enjoyed the whites from 6,007 yards.

Number one goes straight uphill as does number two. It then winds back and forth for quite a few holes. You do not come back to the clubhouse after nine, but there is a halfway house for food and drink up at the top of the mountain.

Number 8 through number 12 is a great stretch of holes. The 10th is a downhill par 4 with water short of the green on the right. If the par 5 wasn’t such a good hole, it would turn into a great ski slope as you hit your tee shot up over a rise and then head straight downhill to the green. Don’t go over the green.

The finishing hole is excellent. This long par 4 heads downhill with a few terraces for the tee ball to land. Then it is a semi-blind shot to a green guarded by a pond to the right and a cliff to the left.

There is also a nine-hole Valley Course across the street from the hotel/motel complex and restaurant. The conditioning of the course was excellent.

Greene County, where all the courses are located, has a Rip Van Winkle Trail scorecard that has two holes from each of the nine courses in the county. If the other four courses are as nice as the five we played, then it would be imperative to someday play them all.

You can get more information about the area at www.greenecountygolf.com or www.greatnortherncatskills.com/resorts-lodging. Other useful phone numbers:

Sunny Hill: 518-634-7642Thunderhart: 518-634-7816Rainbow: 518-966-5343Blackhead Mt: 518-622-3157Christman’s: 518-734-4230.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at [email protected].

Family Affairs


GOLF TRAVELBy BRUCE VITTNER

Brunswick Islands is known as North Carolina’s Golf Coast. There is a good reason for that reputation. Thirty golf

courses, many in the “top courses you can play in N.C.” dot this county that starts at the end of North Myrtle Beach, S.C. and reaches to just south of Wilmington.

There are seven islands in Brunswick County. We had written a story ten years ago about Bald Head Island G.C., on one of the seven islands, that requires a ferry ride to get there. They just had major renovations to the course to make it even nicer.

We were part of a media trip in May sponsored by Brunswick Island Tourism to help promote the area. What a wonderful area it is. Most of the courses in the county are part of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday’s 100 courses. It is the northern part of the Grand Strand that encompasses courses from both South Carolina and North Carolina.

We have played and written about many of the courses in Brunswick County, but, truth be told, we always included it as part of our Myrtle Beach stories. The area can certainly stand on its own as a great destination for golf, beaches, accommodations and food.

Our first stop was at Thistle Golf Club in Sunset Beach. We had written about Thistle when it first opened and had no clubhouse but a great 27 holes. Those 27 holes are still as good as ever, but wait until you see the clubhouse. “We have a large membership who really enjoy the clubhouse and amenities as well as the fine course,” said director of golf Gene Welton, who is considered the dean of golf pros in the area. “I’ve been in the area for 41 years and used to own Gator Hole driving range and golf school,” added Welton.

The course is true links with hard rolling fairways, lakes and large sand bunkers. You won’t believe all the wildlife you will see at the superbly maintained course with heather-covered hillsides and huge rolling bentgrass greens. Marlene Floyd (Raymond’s sister who played on the LPGA Tour) works there part-time as a teaching pro and gave us a great short-game lesson.

This reporter has been to Myrtle Beach every year since 1987, often a few times a year, and had never stepped foot on Ocean Isle Beach. What a mistake. One of the seven islands of Brunswick Island, it is easily accessible over a huge bridge that spans the intercoastal waterway.

We stayed at Winds Resort Beach Club right on the water. Most all the rooms look right out over the Atlantic Ocean about 100 feet away at high tide, and we even managed a swim in the ocean before the excellent buffet breakfast

served to all the guests. The Winds has just over 100 rooms and has built some units perfect for golf groups on property. “We have been getting a lot of golf groups staying in those two-floor units that have a big dining room, large-screen televisions and a huge area for hanging out and playing cards,” said Mel O’Daniels, assistant director of marketing. There is also a Tiki bar amidst lush palm trees and dunes near the ocean.

Our next stop was at Leopard’s Chase at Ocean Ridge Plantation in Sunset Beach. We were fortunate to have been there for the ribbon cutting at Leopard’s Chase a few years ago, and it has matured wonderfully. Part of the Big Cats (four courses in Ocean Ridge), Leopard Chase earned “Top 10 Best new Public Courses in America” by both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine when it opened. There are some amazing holes on this tough Tim Cate design (he also did Thistle), especially the par 4 18th hole that requires a second shot over a pond with cascading waterfalls. Take an extra club, because the waterfall extends right to the edge of the green. The par 3’s are spectacular and the water on the course is a challenge.

Our stay for the next two nights was at Sea Trail Golf Resort and Convention Center. You don’t think of conventions often when you think of the Myrtle Beach area, but what a great locale and Sea Trail has the largest convention center on the North Carolina coast.

What it also has is three excellent golf courses that are always in great shape. “Our three courses are designed by Dan Maples, Rees Jones and Willard Byrd,” said president Tom Plankers who has more than 30 years experience in the golf course management and marketing business, and played nine holes with each of our groups.

Each course is quite different as bespeaks the designers themselves. Jones’ course, opened in 1990, has the typical green-surround areas that he is known for and some very difficult holes. The Maples course was the first to open on the property in 1985. It has water on ten holes. Maples’ father and grandfather worked with famed architect Donald Ross in Pinehurst, and you can see the influence throughout the course.

The final course, Byrd, opened in 1991 and made Sea Trail a true golf destination with the 54 holes. The greens were recently changed to Champion Bermuda and it gives the putting a different perspective than what we are used to in the northeast. The 18th hole winds between two-manmade ponds (water on 13 holes) and is a great test as it comes back to the large clubhouse.

Most all the accommodations at Sea Trail are in privately owned condos. They are beautifully decorated and very spacious and make a great spot for families or foursomes of golfers. The restaurant at the clubhouse serves excellent meals all day and they have many all-inclusive, and stay and play packages. There is a spa, large swimming pool, fitness center, off-site water activities, bike rentals, horseback riding and many other things for families and golfers to do.

Another excellent course we played was The Pearl Golf Links in Calabash. It is a 36-hole complex and we played the East Course that is a parkland layout through tall pines and live oaks with moss hanging that gives that true lowcountry feeling. “We’ve lowered our rates to stay competitive and many people have told us that The Pearl is their favorite course in Myrtle Beach,” said Mike Borton, son-in-law of the owners who helps manage and market the property.

You won’t believe the par 5 18th that winds across a tributary of the Calabash River. Your second shot is a true risk/reward as you need to go across the water. The more you cut off, the easier the third shot to the well-bunkered green. The West course is a much more links-style layout and both are well maintained.

We also managed to sneak in a round of golf at Farmstead Golf Links in Calabash while on the trip. Why sit around while there is all this golf, right? What a fun course. They have the only par 6 on the Grand Strand. It starts in South Carolina and the green is in North Carolina. What a great way to finish a round.

We have not mentioned the food. Calabash is known for some of the best seafood in America, and the ocean, bays and inlets are loaded with fresh fish that arrive at your table the same day they are caught. We had a wonderful dinner at Giggling Mackerel Seafood Grille on Ocean Isle Beach and two great meals in Calabash at Ella’s and The Boundary House..

Mitzi York, executive director of the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority, and our host for the trip said, “People think of coming to Myrtle Beach for a golfing vacation. We have so much to offer here in Brunswick County from great golf, wonderful accommodations, beautiful beaches, unique dining and great places to stay and play.” She is right.Useful websites and telephone numbers: www.ncbrunswick.com, 910-755-5517; www.thistlegolf.com, 910-575-8700; www.thewindsgolf.com or 800-334-3581; www.seatrail.com or 888-321-9048

Brunswick Island—North Carolina’s Golf Coast

The 18th at Leopard Chase is as pretty as it gets on agolf course


1. BEAVER RIVER G.C. (18) P343 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI, 401-539-2100 www.beaverrivergolf.com, PS, CR, CH, SB, O2. BLACKSTONE NATIONAL G.C. (18) SP227 Putnam Hill Rd. Sutton, MA, 508-865-2111 www.bngc.net, CR,CL,CH,PS,O,DR3. BLISSFUL MEADOWS G.C. (18) SP801 Chocalog Rd., Uxbridge, MA, 508-278-6110 www.blissfulmeadows.com, CR,SL,DR,PS,O,DR4. BUNGAY BROOK G.C. (9) P30 Locust St., Bellingham, MA, 508-883-1600 www.bungaybrook.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O5. BUTTON HOLE SHORT COURSE (9) P, X1 Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI, 401-421-1664 www.buttonhole.org, CL,CH,DR,PS, Lessons6. CAPTAINS GOLF COURSE (36) P1000 Freemans Way, Brewster, MA, 508-896-1716, www.captainsgolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O7. CHEMAWA GOLF COURSE (18) P350 Cushman Rd. N. Attleboro, MA, 508-399-7330, www.chemawagolf.com, CR,CH,O,CL,Tee times8. CONNECTICUT NATIONAL (18) P136 Chase Rd. Putnam, CT, 860-928-7748www.ctnational.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O9. COUNTRY VIEW G.C. (18) P49 Club Lane Burrillville, RI, 401-568-7157 www.countryviewgolf.net, CR,CL,PS,CH,O10. COVENTRY PINES G.C. (9) PHarkney Hill Rd. Coventry, RI, 401-397-9482 CR,CL,CH,SB, Senior Rates11. CRYSTAL LAKE G.C. (18) SP100 Broncos Hwy., Mapleville, RI, 401-567-4500 www.crystallakegolfclub.com, CL,CR,PS,CH,O,SB12. EAST GREENWICH G.C. (9) SP1646 Division Rd., East Greenwich, RI, 401-884-5656 www.eastgreenwichgc.com, CR,CL,CH,O,Rest.13. ELMRIDGE GOLF CLUB (27) P229 Elmridge Rd., Pawcatuck, CT, 860-599-2248 www.elmridgegolf.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O14. EXETER COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP320 Victory Hwy, (Rte. 102) Exeter, RI, 401-295-8212 www.exetercc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O15. FAIRLAWN GOLF COURSE (9) P,XSherman Ave. Lincoln, RI, 401-334-3937 www.fairlawngolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,SB,O16. FENNER HILL G.C. (18) P33 Wheeler Ln., Hope Valley, RI, 401-539-8000 www.fennerhill.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O17. FOSTER COUNTRY CLUB (18) P67 Johnson Rd., Foster, RI, 401-397-7750 www.fostercountryclub.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O18. GREEN VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP371 Union St., Portsmouth, RI, 401-847-9543, 401-842-0126 (T-times), www.greenvalleyccofri.com, DR,PS,CH,CR,O19. HILLSIDE COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP82 Hillside Ave., Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-9761 www.hillsidecountryclub.com,CR,CL,PS,O,Banquets20. JAMESTOWN G.C. (9) P245 Conanicus Ave., Jamestown, RI, 401-423-9930 www.jamestowngolf.com, CR,CL,CH21. JOHN E. PARKER MUNICIPAL G.C. (9) P17 Fisher St., Taunton, MA, 508-822-1797 CR,DR,CH,SB, Skins Thurs. 3:4522. JUNIPER HILL G.C. (36) P202 Brigham St., Northboro, MA, 508-393-2444 www.juniperhillgc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O23. LAKE OF ISLES C.C. (18) PNext to Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT,860-312-3636, www.lakeofisles.com,CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O24. LAUREL LANE COUNTRY CLUB (18) PLaurel Lane, off Rte.138, W. Kingston, RI, 401-783-3844, www.laurellanecountryclub.com,CR,PS,CH,O, Proper attire25. LOCUST VALLEY G.C. (9) P106 Locust St., Attleboro, MA, 508-222-1500CR,CH,SB,O,new low rates

26. MAPLEGATE COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP160 Maple St. Bellingham, MA, 508-966-4040 www.maplegate.com, CR,CL,PS,CH27. MEADOW BROOK G.C. (18) P163 Kingstown Rd., (Rte.138), Richmond, RI, 401-539-8491,www.meadowbrookgolfri.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O,PGA pro28. MELODY HILL COUNTRY CLUB (18) P55 Melody Hill Ln., Harmony, RI, 401-949-9851 CR,PS,CH29. MGA LINKS AT MAMANTAPETT (18) P,X300 W. Main Rd., (Rte. 123), Norton, MA, 508-222-0555, www.mamantapett.com, CL,PS,CH,SB,O30. MIDDLEBROOK C.C. (9) P149 Pleasant St., Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-9395 CR,PS,CH,SB31. MIDVILLE COUNTRY CLUB (9) P100 Lombardi Ln., W. Warwick, RI, 401-828-9215 www.midvillegolfclub.com, CR,CL,PS,CH32. NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP180 Paine St., Bellingham, MA, 508-883-2300 www.newenglandcountryclub.com,CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O33. NEWPORT NATIONAL GOLF CLUB (18) SP324 Mitchell’s Lane, Middletown, RI, 401-848-9690, www.newportnational.com, CR,CL,PS,SB,O34. NO. KINGSTOWN COUNTRY CLUB (18) P615 Callahan Rd., No. Kingstown, RI, 401-294-0684 www.nkgc.com, DR,PS,CR,CL,CH,O35. NORTON COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP188 Oak St., Norton, MA, 508-285-2400 www.nortoncountryclub.com, CR,CL,CH,SB,O36. PINE VALLEY C.C. (9) P136 Providence St., Rehoboth, MA, 508-336-5064 CR,PS,CH,SB37. PINECREST GOLF CLUB (9) P25 Pinehurst Dr., Richmond, RI, 401-364-8600 www.pinecrestgolfclub.org, CR,CL,CH,SB, Leagues 38. RACEWAY GOLF COURSE (18) SP205 E. Thompson Rd., Thompson, CT, 860-923-959,1 www.racewaygolf.com,CR,CL,PS,DR,CH,REST.,O39. REHOBOTH COUNTRY CLUB (18) P155 Perryville Rd. Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-6259 www.rehobothcountryclub.com, CR,PS,CH,O, Tee times40. RIVER RIDGE GOLF CLUB (18) P259 Preston Rd., Griswold, CT, 860-376-3268 www.riverridgegolf.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O41. ROSE HILL GOLF CLUB (9) P, X222 Rose Hill Rd., So. Kingstown, RI, 401-788-1088 www.rosehillri.com, CR,CL,CH,SB, Leagues42. SHENNECOSSETT GOLF COURSE (18) P93 Plant St., Groton, CT, 860-445-0262 (PS-448-1867) www.shennygolf.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,Rest.,O43. TIN CUP GOLF & DRIVING RANGE (6) P2 Fairway Drive, Coventry, RI, 401-823-4653www.tincupgc.com, CR,CL,CH,O,DR44. TRIGGS MEMORIAL GOLF COURSE (18) PChalkstone Ave., Providence, RI, 401-521-8460 www.triggs.us, CR,CL,PS,CH,O45. WAMPANOAG GOLF COURSE (9) P168 Old Providence Rd., Swansea, MA, 508-379-9832 www.wampanoaggolf.com, CR,CL,PS,CH46. WINDMILL HILL G.C. (9) X35 Schoolhouse Rd., (off Rte. 136), Warren, RI, 401-245-1463, www.windmillhillgolfri.com, CR,CL,CH,O,Restaurant47. WOOD RIVER GOLF (18) P78 Woodville Alton Rd., Hope Valley, RI, 401-364-0700, www.woodrivergolf.com, CR,CH,SB,O48. WOODLAND GREENS GOLF COURSE (9) P655 Old Baptist Rd., N. Kingstown, RI, 401-294-2872, www.woodlandgc.com, CR,PS,CH,O

DRIVING RANGESA. ATLANTIC DRIVING RANGES LTD. (9) X754 Newport Ave,. So. Attleboro, MA, 508-761-5484 www.atlanticgolfcenter.com, Shadow Brook, Heated tees, retail shop, mini golf, chip and putt

Golf Course Driving RangeDR = Driving Range( ) = Holes PS = Pro ShopP = Public CH = ClubhouseSP = Semi Private O = OutingsX = Executive SB = Snack BarCR = Car Rental CL = Club Rental

B. BUTTON HOLE LEARNING CENTER(9)PAR31 Button Hole Dr., Providence, RI, 401-421-1664, www.buttonhole.org, Target greens, two putting greens, lessonsC. GOLF LEARNING CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND19 Leonard St., Norton, MA, (exit 10 off Rte. 495), 508-285-4500, www.golflearningcenter.com, 1000 ft. grass teeline, heated bays, putting, chipping, bunkersD. IRON WOODS GOLF PRACTICE CENTER1081 Iron Hill Mine Rd., (off Rte. 146), N. Smithfield, 401-766-1151, www.iwgolf.com, lessons, putting greens, grass tees, covered area, bunkerE. MULLIGAN’S ISLAND GOLF & ENTERTAINMENT (9) X1000 New London Ave., (Rte 2), Cranston, RI, www.mulligansisland.com, 60 stall driving range, covered area, batting cages, mini golf, par 3 course, 18-hole pitch & putt, PGA Golf Academy, Spargo Golf on premises, club fitting and repairs

F. PAVILION RESTAURANT & DRIVING RANGE15 Frontier Rd., (exit 1 off Rte. 95), Ashaway, RI, 401-377-9900, www.thepavilionrestaurant.com, grass tees, mini golf, restaurant, Sports BarG. SEEKONK DRIVING RANGE1977 Fall River Ave., (Rte. 6), Seekonk, MA, 508-336-8074, www.seekonkdrivingrange.com, Covered heated tees, batting cages, mini golf, lessons available, grass hitting area

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1. AGAWAM MUNICIPAL G.C. (18) P 128 Southwick St., Feeding Hills, MA413-786-2194 www.agawamgc.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 2. AMHERST G.C. (9) P 365 S. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA, 413-256-6894 www.amherstgolfclub.org, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 3. BEAVER BROOK G.C. (9) P 183 Main St., Haydenville, MA, 413-268-7229 4. COUNTRY CLUB OF GREENFIELD (18) SP 224 Country Club Ln., Greenfield, MA,413-773-7530, www.countryclubofgreenfield.net DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 5. COUNTRY CLUB OF WILBRAHAM (18) SP 859 Stony Hill Rd., Wilbraham, MA, 413-596-8897 www.countryclubofwilbraham.comDR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 6. CHICOPEE C.C. (18) P 1290 Burnett Rd., Chicopee, MA, 413-594-9295 DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 7. EAST MOUNTAIN C.C. (18) P 1458 E. Mountain Rd., Westfield, MA, 413-568-1539 www.eastmountaincc.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 8. ELMCREST C.C. (18) Private 105 Somersville Rd., E. Longmeadow, MA413-575-7477 www.golfelmcrest.cc.com DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 9. FENWAY GOLF RANGE & PITCH & PUTT (DR) 112 Allen St., E. Longmeadow, MA,413-525-4444www.fenwaygolf.com 10. HAMPDEN CC (18) P 128 Wilbraham Rd., Hampden, MA, 413-566-8010 www.hampdencountryclub.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 11. HICKORY RIDGE C.C. (18) SP 191 W. Pomeroy Ln., Amherst, MA, 413-253-9320 www.hickoryridgecc.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 12. LEDGES G.C. (18) P 18 Mulligan Dr., S. Hadley, MA, 413-532-2307 www.ledgesgc.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 13. OAK RIDGE G.C. (18) P 850 S. Westfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 413-789-7307, www.oakridgegc.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 14. SHAKER FARMS C.C. (18) P 866 Shaker Rd., Westfield, MA, 413-568-4087 www.shakerfarmscc.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 15. SOUTHAMPTON C.C. (18) P 329 College Hwy., Southampton, MA ,413-527-9815 CR,SB,O,CH,PS 16. ST. ANNE C.C. (18) P 781 Shoemaker Ln., Feeding Hills, MA, 413-786-2088, www.stannecc.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 17. TEKOA C.C. (18) P 459 Russell Rd., Westfield, MA, 413-568-1064 www.tekoacc.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 18. THE BLANDFORD CLUB (9) P 17 North St., Blandford, MA, 413-848-2443 www.massgolftennis.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 19. THE CRUMPIN FOX CLUB (18) P 87 Parmenter Rd., Bernardston, MA, 413-648-9101 www.golfthefox.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 20. THE RANCH G.C. (18) P 65 Sunnyside Rd., Southwick, MA, 413-569-9333 www.theranchgolfclub.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 21. WESTOVER G.C. (18) P 100 South St., Granby, MA, 413-547-8610 www.westovergolfcourse.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 22. WORTHINGTON G.C. (9) P 113 Ridge Rd., Worthington, MA, 413-238-4464 www.worthingtongolfclub.net, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS

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SNE Golfer August-September 2011