Nicklaus Design Repeats As Asia’s Architect Of The Year
Nicklaus takes top course honors in China, Korea, Taipei and Indonesia
For the second straight year and the third time in seven years, the readers of Asian Golf Monthly Magazine have named Nicklaus Design as “Golf Course Architect of the Year in Asia Pacific.” The honor was announced recent on the closing eve of the 2009 Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and capped a night during which Jack Nicklaus was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award before a record number of close to 500 delegates from around the world.
As Asia is being celebrated as golf’s new frontier and arguably the most important player in the game’s future, Nicklaus Design is being lauded for its impact on golf’s past, present, and future there. The gala not only recognized the top course architect, but honored the top courses in different countries and regions throughout Asia.
Among the winners was the 1997 Jack Nicklaus design of the Mountain Course at Spring City Resort in Kunming, which repeated as Best Golf Course in China. Nicklaus Design’s Shadow Creek, which opened just last year in Beijing and has already received acclaim not only for its design but impeccable playing conditions, was named second runner-up.
For the second year in a row and just two years after opening, The Ocean Course at Sky 72 Golf Club was named Best Golf Course in Korea. Located in Incheon, this Nicklaus Design layout, which played host last week to the LPGA’s Hana Bank • KOLON Championship, was also voted No. 4 on the list of the Best Courses in the Asia Pacific Region.
The Best Course in Chinese Taipei went to Miramar Linkou Golf & Country Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course that opened in 1994. The top honor in Indonesia went to Bumi Serpong Damai Course at Damai Indah Golf & Country Club in Tangerang. This 1992 design by Jack was also named No. 5 on the list of the Best Championship Courses in Asia Pacific.
“Nicklaus Design is pleased and honored to win Asia’s Golf Course Architect of the Year, and we want to thank everyone associated with Asian Golf Monthly, not the least of which are the readers, for recognizing us again,” said Paul Stringer, Executive Vice President for Nicklaus Design. “Having the support and confidence of the golfers in Asia is a tribute to Jack Nicklaus and to our designers in Asia. We are also very proud that countries that are growing the game the fastest, particularly Korea and China, have recognized Nicklaus Design by applauding our work in their respective countries.
Nicklaus Design opened its first course in Asia 36 years ago in Japan, and now has no fewer than 75 spread throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim, including 14 courses in the vibrant and burgeoning golf market of China. Nicklaus Design’s first course in China was Chung Shan Hot Spring Golf Club in Zhongshan City, Guangdong, which opened in 1993. Jack’s ground-breaking design of the World Cup Course at Mission Hills then followed in 1994. The World Cup course and was named last year by LINKS Magazine as one of the 10 Most Influential Designs in Golf History, as it set the bar for golf in China and sparked a boom at Mission Hills, which now boasts a world-record 12 courses at the facility.
Nicklaus Design Asia, with offices or representation in Hong Kong; Beijing; Seoul, Korea; and Manila, Philippines, has 10 courses under construction in Asia, including five in China, three in Korea and courses in Cambodia and India. The firm also has another 29 signed and active projects spread throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim, representing China, Korea, Vietnam, India, Jakarta, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
American Junior Golf Association Announces 2010 Tournament Schedule
With 2009 having come to an end, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is eager to move into 2010 with an exciting schedule of events for Junior Golfers. With the addition of a few new venues this year and the allegiance and dedication of coordinators and impressive golf facilities, the young golfers taking part will enjoy the season ahead.
The Golf Academy of America will once again sponsor the AJGA’s preseason series, though Junior Golfers are only allowed to participate in one event per calendar year. While there are eight preseason events from which to choose, Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, California is the West Coast venue at this time. The events timing, scheduled for April 30-May 2, should offer ideal weather not to mention a nice vacation spot for family in tow.
Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series Events
With nine events scheduled, the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior-All Star Series, specifically designed for AJGA members ages 12-15, gives Junior Golfers a chance to earn entry into open tournaments. The events, scheduled throughout the U.S., will give young golfers a chance to hone their skills on the greens in Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Again, though golfers may choose any five of the nine events, the Aldila Junior All-Star event will take place at Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Santa Clarita, California, July 12-15. Impressively, Penn State Golf Course and Hilton Head are also hosting All-Star events this summer.
The Open Events schedule for 2010 has 56 events scheduled, ruling the calendar from April to September. Kicking off the season are three events April 1-4. Winn Grips joins the AJGA’s busy Easter weekend as title sponsor of the Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic hosted by Longbow Golf Club, being held at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz., for the seventh year in a row. Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club and Traditions Club at Texas A&M also return as hosts for Open events Easter weekend, April 1-4.
Three other Open events in April and May will give juniors the chance to test their skills before summer comes and golf gets into full swing. The Country Club of the South and TPC Craig Ranch will both host events, April 23-25, while Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club’s Prospector Course will challenge juniors, May 7-9.
Several new venues join the AJGA slate in 2010, with some hosting events for the first time and others rejoining the AJGA schedule. The AJGA Huntsville Junior will take place at The Ledges in Huntsville, Ala., July 12-15. Florida also gets a new event as Ritz-Carlton Members Club in Sarasota, Fla., will host the AJGA Sarasota Junior, June 14-17. The Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y., returns to the AJGA schedule after a long absence by hosting the AJGA Apawamis Junior, Aug. 9-12.
The northeast gains another new Open event with the Erie Junior Golf Classic, which will be hosted at the Kahkwa Club, host of the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur, in Erie, Pa., Aug. 16-19.
For the fourth year in a row, the AJGA will return to El Camaleón Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for the Mayakoba Junior Golf Classic, Aug. 16-19. Mayakoba is home to the PGA TOUR’s only event in Mexico and provides a unique opportunity for junior golfers to play a professional tour course outside the United States.
For the Junior Golfer who does exceedingly well, the opportunity may present itself by way of invitation to one of eleven events. The ANNIKA Invitational joins the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods on Presidents’ Day weekend in 2010. Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla., will host the unique all-girls event, while The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, will once again welcome 78 boys. Both events will take place Feb. 12-15.
The 33rd annual Rolex Tournament of Champions moves to Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark., June 28 - July 2. Blessings Golf Club, home to the Arkansas men’s and women’s golf programs, hosted AJGA Open events in 2008 and 2009.
Labor Day weekend will once again highlight the best junior boys in the world when The Junior PLAYERS Championship returns to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Sept. 2-5.
Where will you play in 2010?
No matter which level of junior golf you plan on playing during the 2010 season, the AJGA’s line-up of tournaments gives all its members the chance to play at some of the country’s greatest golf courses.
In addition to all of the courses mentioned, the AJGA will be returning to some of the traditional stops, including Coosa Country Club, Grayhawk Golf Club, Moon Valley Country Club, Bellefonte Country Club, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Sedgefield Country Club and Mission Hills Country Club.
Take advantage of the schedule release and start planning your year in Junior Golf now. Membership sign-up for 2010 is also available now - visit ajga.org for more information. As always, continue to check www.ajga.org for the latest information on where the AJGA will be headed in 2010.
2010 Is Your Year to PLAY Golf!
Certain that golf made your 2010 New Years Resolution list, I will be cheering you on as you make it to the course to continue playing the greatest game. However, beyond taking those late winter lessons or committing to a regular Saturday game, I have to ask-how do you plan to go from golfing to becoming a player of the game of golf? There’s a big difference: golfers are wondering why they can’t hit it solid and straight around the golf course, while players understand that they have to adapt to each situation and play the shot.
Too difficult, you say? You just want to learn to hit it straight? But-you should know this-it won’t always go straight on the course! It can be done on the range, but to truly progress you need to start learning what is actually happening on the golf course. And truly playing golf goes beyond hitting it solid and straight. So get ready and buckle up- this isn’t your conventional Sunday instruction.
There must be something beyond the golf swing-something that allows players with unconventional swings to excel. Players like Lee Trevino, Corey Pavin, Jim Furyk, and even Arnold Palmer. And, how often does Tiger Woods change his swing to adapt to a given situation? Yes, there are things that influence your ball beyond your golf swing. Take note of the following points and consider how they might apply to your favorite course:
Beyond the golf swing #1: When does your 7-iron go farther than normal? When it’s on a very ‘fluffy’ lie-called a flyer. When does your 7-iron go shorter than normal? When there is too much or too little grass to allow the club to strike the ball cleanly.
Beyond the golf swing #2: Because the golf course is not flat, you cannot hit every ball solid and straight. If the ball is above your feet-and therefore your clubhead is above your feet-it is no longer aimed in the same direction as your body alignment. It is actually aimed left of your alignment. And that is where the ball should go.
Beyond the golf swing #3: Tight lies are hard to hit solidly (and straight!). These are lies with little to no grass, so it’s difficult to get the ball to the sweet spot of the clubface. So, thinking outside the box: Which is more predictable, trying to hit it solidly, or understanding what the mis-hit will be and playing for that?
Conventional instruction suggests that you should learn to hit every shot solidly. But, for example, if you’re only successful 30 to 40% of the time, perhaps embracing the mis-hit is the answer. (Told you this wasn’t conventional!)
Actually, if you don’t have a perfect lie then the ball should not perform perfectly. It makes sense: How often are you able to take your performance on the practice range to the golf course? On the range, you are in control of the lie and the slope never changes. Of course it is easier to be consistent! Once you get on the course and every lie is different, your performance naturally suffers. Or, rather, it changes.
These changes may seem chaotic, but they can actually be predictable. Instead of asking what you need to do to make the next shot solid and straight, ask what the next ball will do that is not solid and/or straight. Your range performance is your baseline, or model, and should be considered more as a reference than as the on-course performance you aspire to.
In other words, when you hit that 3-wood from a tight, fairway lie on that par 5 and it slices, that performance is actually predictable! Sure, you would rather hit it solid and straight, or perhaps you’re one of the many who would love to hit a consistent draw. But, will the tight lie allow either one consistently?
Yes, but you’re a beginner, you say. As a teacher and coach, my goal is to get beginners on the course as fast as possible so they can immediately begin to understand that the perfect golf swing must change in these situations on the golf course. After all, giving you a golf swing is not that hard (come and see me-I’ll show you), and with clubfitting you can be successful very quickly.
But if I don’t prepare you for the changes you see on the golf course, you will fail out there and not know why. Letting you become a golfer rather than a player is like worrying about rolling the dice and moving your piece in Monopoly and never buying a property-you’re not playing Monopoly! And therefore you don’t have a chance to win.
In golf, if you recognize the on-course inconsistencies and learn to play for them, you will be rewarded with success. You can learn to play the game and you should. In golf, winning really is about how you Play the Game.
Bob Duncan is the Teaching Professional at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon, and has been teaching and coaching players since 1979. Bob is also the creator of the GolfeCoach, an interactive computerized golf coaching system. He can be reached at golfsavvy@msn.com.
The Most Important Tool For Your Golf Game Is…
How is it that golfers are willing to spend countless hours practicing their swing or spend hundreds of dollars on a new club or shoes, but ask them to spend 30 minutes in the gym to improve their biomechanical efficiency and they run away? The consistent factor in the execution of your swing is you. So with that in mind, wouldn’t you want to have a bio-mechanically efficient golf swing that keeps you free from pain or injury? Most golfers will downplay the physical demands of a golf swing, but in reality it is tough on the body. Any repetitive motion that puts a strain on joints or ligaments could have you reeling with pain after just a few holes or quick trip to the driving range. So are you taking care of your most important tool? I’m not talking about your treasured clubs or cart. I’m talking about your body and what you’re doing or not doing at the gym.
In the instance that you have a physical limitation and you continue to swing away at the range, your body will become unbalanced, making you more prone to injury. By working the body with exercises designed for the best golfers, you will not only protect those joints from overuse, but will also prevent some of the common injuries. Once you begin a program that targets your imbalances, i.e. weak muscles, tight ligaments, etc., your game will begin to improve. Playing with pain often causes golfers to adjust their swing in order to avoid pain, which may result in swing faults, i.e. slide, sway, over-the-top, etc. If the golfer with shoulder pain would just find the cause of the pain–something as simple as weakness in the upper back–this could save him from serious injury. Once you know the cause, then the work begins.
Working with an Authorized Titleist Performance Institute Instructor (Fitness, Medical or Golf Pro) will result in you being a healthy, pain free, better golfer. When your swing is in top biomechanical shape you cannot help but feel good when you play. The off-season is the best time to make those improvements to your best piece of equipment. Here in the Northwest, winter has come to visit but that doesn’t mean you need to sit around waiting for spring. By working on your body now, you will greatly benefit and have the edge on those who were waiting for the nice weather. To continue to neglect the physical aspect of golfing is like driving a car without the steering wheel. You have all the tools to get the ball where you want it to go, but if your physical abilities are limiting you then you can’t maximize your efficient golf swing potential.
Diana Del Garbino is a golf fitness instructor and the first TPI-Certified Level 2 fitness pro in Oregon. She works out of Muscles in Motion-Professional Training Studio in Lake Oswego, where she works regularly with local LPGA & PGA Professionals. To learn more about Diana and her golf fitness program go to www.mymusclesinmotion.com.
The Worst Advice Everyone Has Received
“Keep your head still”. These words are spoken so frequently that it is no longer advice but a mantra in the world of golf. There is little doubt the first time you picked up a golf club someone was nearby offering these words while teaching you how to swing the club. And so, just as quickly as you fell in love with golf, that mantra was instilled as ‘the way’. I will let you in on a little secret. This advice is keeping thousands of teaching professionals like me in business. If you keep your head completely still throughout your swing, it will be nearly impossible to make a proper weight shift into your right side and you will almost certainly have a reverse spine angle at the top of your swing.
Let me clarify a few things. Any vertical movement of the head in the golf swing will undoubtedly lead to inconsistent ball-striking. If a player properly coils their weight into the inside of his or her right leg in the backswing, the head will move approximately one to six inches to the right, the club will make contact, and the ball will sail. Skeptical? Hundreds of PGA Tour players move their heads laterally in throughout their swing. They are on the PGA Tour for a reason.
So how can we properly shift our weight in the backswing? One easy way to help get into a better position at the top of your swing is to start in a better position at address. The majority of golfers I see on a daily basis don’t get their head behind the golf ball at setup. Getting your head behind the ball at address will greatly improve your odds of achieving a proper weight shift in the backswing. In testing over 150 Tour players, we have found that the average PGA Tour player’s shoulders tilt 10 degrees to the right at address. This allows them to easily turn into their right side in the backswing. To help find this position, try this drill: Get into your setup position. Take your club and place the grip firmly against your sternum so that the shaft runs down your chest and between your legs. Now simply tilt your upper body to the right until the club hits the inside of your left leg. This is approximately how much your upper body should tilt to the right at address.
Now that you have addressed the ball properly, you have the best chance of shifting your weight properly in your backswing. There are three important things that must happen at the top of the swing: your weight must be on the inside of your right foot, your right knee must remain flexed, and your spine must be leaning away from the target. These three things will give you the greatest opportunity to make a powerful, on-plane swing.
So forget about keeping your head still. Simply get into a better position at address and start hitting the ball longer and straighter. Nonetheless, feel free to tell all of your golfing buddies to keep their head still…I could always use the extra business.
Jordan Cooper is a PGA Apprentice Teaching Professional and Club Fitter for GolfTEC in Bellevue, WA. He can be reached at 425.454.7956 or visit www.golftec.com/seattle for more information.Notes From the Newbie
Could it be that I am on my way to becoming a fully-fledged ‘golfer’? Is it possible that I am getting the hang of it? Though I am still a student, I am becoming a golfer, indeed. Like most golfers, I want to be good. I want to avoid embarrassing future golf partners and myself. While I have yet to officially play a round of golf, my time at the driving range and GolfTec is priming me for the big day.
This month I’ve been turning inward trying to take what I’ve learned so far and make it more automatic and fluid. If I’ve learned anything so far it is that setup makes the swing. Allowing myself to slowdown, I take the time on every swing to mentally check through my setup list. The results have been encouraging; I’m finding that I have fewer extreme mishits.
In addition to identifying necessary changes to my setup and instituting best practices, I have been working hard to keep control of my legs and hips. At my last trip to GolfTEC, Brett had me focus on steadying my lower body. During the lesson he had me hold a ball between my knees to try to calm my lower body movements. I’ve found that if I just keep my left knee from caving in during the backswing it keeps my lower body more in check. I’ve also been experimenting with keeping the muscles in my legs a little more tensed to provide a more solid foundation for my upper body.
Since air-swings and make believe hits in the living room don’t exactly give a clear picture, I made time and logged in some practice at the range. My choice of days could not have been worse, but I found myself nice and cozy under the heated shelters. During this specific session I focused on getting setup properly, keeping my lower body in check and hitting off the ground. The latter has been a real struggle for me. I will usually produce an erratic line drive from topping the ball. At the beginning of my session I was true to form, topping every unimpressive shot. I really tried to focus on my setup and run through my internal dialog that Brett, my GolfTEC Instructor, has helped me build in the past months. By the end of the session I had worked my way down the ball until I started to get underneath it. I was excited by my achievement and started extending my focus to aiming.
Despite the nasty weather and a discouraging start to my practice, I did have some success. It gets less embarrassing every time and I’m hopeful I’ll be able to get through a whole session without ever missing the ball sometime soon.
The day after my solo trip to the range, I went with Golf Today’s editor, Cameron Healey. This was the first time in months that I’ve done two days in a row in months. A second day of practice was just the motivation I needed since things really seemed to come together. I was hitting some dead straight shots-shots that confirmed for me that I am getting somewhere. I even managed to land over half-a-dozen shots on a green that was 150 yards out. Even my shots off the ground were working out. I still topped a few balls but my good hits were indistinguishable from my tee shots and among my best hits of the day. I think I left Cameron impressed by my progress since we last hit balls together.
For our last thirty balls, Cameron and I engaged in a friendly competition. Choosing a pin a mere 50 yards out, we shot for closest to the pin. Aiming for something closer than my maximum range was a first for me. I was more than a little perplexed at how to shorten my shots. At first I just tried to slow down my swing but still take it through the full range of motion. The resulting shots were constantly overshooting the target. Cameron suggested that I shorten my swing significantly and move my hands back to be even with the ball during setup, armed with these tips I got my range dialed in. Neither of us hit the pin. But, by the time we wrapped up there was quite a cluster of balls right around it.
This game was really useful for me for a couple reasons. One, it gave me a chance to really focus on aiming the ball. Two, it gave me another tool to break up my session at the range. Just going out and pounding balls as far as I can gets tiring and my back and mind need a break every now and then.
On both trips to the range but especially the second day I had a resurgence of an old problem. My club head was coming unscrewed at some point during my stroke. By the very end of my swing the club would feel as if it was broken. I’m certain that I’m not the strongest hitter to pick up a 6 iron so I figure that there is something wrong with either the club or my swing that is causing this. The strangest part is that it is hard to tell where in my swing the club head is loosening. I think that it is either happening at impact with the ball or during the rapid deceleration of my club at the end of the swing. In any case I tightened things up by hand as much as I could and kept on hitting.
I’m really happy about how this month has gone for me. My setup is improving, I am gaining control of my lower body, and topping the ball is becoming a thing of the past. That friendly challenge at the driving range has reminded me that I still have a lot to learn, but I am really on my way. I am proud to say I made these improvements on my own, having taken a month for independent practice, but its time to head back in to GolfTEC to see how my solo experimentation truly measures up (and to get my club head fixed). Hopefully the numbers from the computer and Brett’s observations will verify this!
If you want help with your swing, please turn to the digital edition of Golf Today Magazine: NorthWest Edition to see this month’s specials from our friends at GolfTEC.
PGA Tour Legend Greg Norman to Endorse CYBEX Golf Fitness
Cybex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYBI), a leading manufacturer of premium, high-performance exercise equipment for the commercial and consumer markets, announced today that PGA Tour legend Greg Norman will endorse its products as an official ambassador for the innovative CYBEX Golf Fitness platform.
As part of this multi-year agreement, 54-year-old Norman will serve as a CYBEX spokesperson, participate in strategic marketing initiatives and appear on behalf of CYBEX at the Golf Industry Show, February 10-11, 2010 in San Diego, California. Norman’s involvement with CYBEX will include his contribution to designing golf-specific exercises, forming a CYBEX Golf Advisory Council and facilitating partnerships for CYBEX with golf clubs, resorts and communities worldwide.
“Staying fit has been a key to success throughout my career,” says Norman. “I’ve worked out almost exclusively on CYBEX equipment for years, so this is a truly authentic relationship. I’m extremely impressed with CYBEX’s design, focus on exercise science and commitment to innovation.”
One of the most notable early proponents of fitness in golf, Norman played a key role in development of the PGA Tour strength and conditioning trailers. The two-time major winner and Hall of Fame golfer also has CYBEX fitness equipment installed in gyms at his home, office and country club.
“Greg is among the world’s most recognized athletes,” says John Aglialoro, CYBEX Chairman and CEO. “He’s a superb ambassador for the game and an incredibly astute businessman. We’re thrilled to partner with him and know he’ll play a key role further expanding market penetration of CYBEX Golf Fitness and our sought-after Sweet Spot platform.”
Developed specifically to meet the needs of the golf and country club market, the CYBEX Golf platform is designed to drive year-round revenue, enhance member retention and loyalty, increase fitness center usage and create a point of distinction to club prospects. This new, total fitness solution is based precisely on the equipment and exercises trusted by the world’s best golfers, nearly all of whom work out on CYBEX equipment, the only brand used in the mobile fitness trailers that travel weekly with the PGA and Champions Tours. The CYBEX Golf Spot platform is offered in pre-sized and custom plans to align with any club’s square footage of fitness center and member demographics, with more information available at www.cybexgolf.com.
“This is a unique opportunity to join forces with one of the sport’s most recognizable fitness ambassadors,” adds Larry Gulko, CYBEX Chief Marketing Officer. “Given Greg’s longstanding devotion to CYBEX, it’s tremendous to have him endorse our brand. The relationship will help fuel our growth globally, within and beyond the golf, country club and resort markets, while also enhancing brand equity for both enterprises.”
TPC Sawgrass, host of The Players Championship on the PGA Tour, is among hundreds of marquee clubs and resorts nationwide to have installed a CYBEX Golf Fitness center.
About CYBEX
Cybex International, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of premium exercise equipment for commercial and consumer use. The CYBEX product line, including a full range of strength and cardio training machines, is designed using exercise science to reflect the natural movement of the human body. Led by the Cybex Institute for Exercise Science, CYBEX fitness equipment is engineered to produce optimal results for users from the first-time exerciser to the professional athlete. Products are available for a wide range of facilities, from commercial health clubs to home gyms, and are sold in more than 85 countries worldwide. For more information on CYBEX and its product lines, visit the Company’s website at www.cybexintl.com.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These include, but are not limited to, competitive factors, technological and product developments, market demand, economic conditions, the resolution of litigation involving the Company, and the ability of the Company to comply with the terms of its credit facilities. Further information on these and other factors which could affect the Company's financial results can be found in the Company's previously filed Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, its Reports on Form 10-Q, its Current Reports on Form 8-K, and its proxy statement dated March 26, 2009.
Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Arizona Announce New Membership Plan
The award-winning, 36-hole Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club recently announced a new membership plan that allows for one golf course to be available for daily fee play each day. Until now the prestigious 11 year-old private club, located east of Phoenix at the base of the Superstition Mountains, has been exclusively available to members and their guests.
Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club features two Nicklaus Design golf courses, The Prospector and Lost Gold. Prospector, created by Jack and Gary Nicklaus, was the first course to open in this 870-arce master planned community in 1998. This classic 18-hole layout is surrounded by extraordinary views of the Superstition Mountains. One of the most striking features of the 7,185-yard Prospector course is an oasis-like water feature that extends the length of the 18th hole. This magnificent finishing hole is set in an amphitheater-type setting with the Superstition Mountains at your back and the beautiful clubhouse ahead. Prospector has been the host course of the 2002 Countrywide Tradition tournament and the home of the LPGA Safeway International from 2004 to 2008.
Lost Gold, created by Jack and Jackie Nicklaus, is a links-styled course that presents a different set of challenges. Open since 1999, Lost Gold completes the Superstition Mountain trail while weaving through magnificent desert terrain explored centuries ago by conquistadors in search of the Cities of Cibola. This 18-hole desert layout plays to a challenging 7,351-yards. The front nine of Lost Gold is laid out with several parallel fairways separated by moderately bunkered corridors. The back nine opens out into the desert where the view of the ever present Superstition Mountains is even more commanding.
“We’re excited to introduce Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club to both local and national golf enthusiasts that appreciate world class Arizona golf at its finest,” said Doc Belitz, Vice President of Operations for OB Sports Golf Management. “Golfers playing Superstition Mountain will experience the incredible conditions and ambiance of one of the nicest private clubs in the entire Southwest. Revising our membership plan provides the opportunity to showcase our incredible golf courses and clubhouse to prospective members. There has never been a better time to play or join Superstition Mountain.”
For more information on Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, call 480-983-1411 or visit www.superstitionmtngc.com.
Superstition Mountain Golf Club is professionally managed by OB Sports Golf Management, a diversified, golf-oriented company with a long history of success. OB Sports currently manages 30 premier golf courses and country clubs throughout the United States and Mexico. Known for its comprehensive and personalized services since 1972, OB Sports has become widely acclaimed as the leader in boutique-style golf course management. For more information about OB Sports Golf Management, visit www.obsports.com,call (480) 948-1300, become a Fan of OB Sports on Facebook at www.facebook.com/obsports or follow OB Sports on Twitter: www.twitter.com/OBSportsGolf
Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club At A Glance
Prospector Course: 7,185 yards, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Nicklaus
Lost Gold Course: 7,351 yards, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jackie Nicklaus
Tee Times: 480-983-1411
Website: www.superstitionmtngc.com
Club Guest/Daily Fee Green Fees: $120-$180
Membership Information: 480-983-3200
Professionally Managed by OB Sports Golf Management
A Husband He Is, A Golf Instructor He Is Not!
Hope everyone is having a great winter and you have all made some New Year’s resolutions. I’m hoping that married women everywhere have resolved to stop listening to their husband’s golf instruction. “What?” you say? “That sounds mean.” If you had seen what I saw while teaching golf in a retirement community in Yuma this winter, you would be screaming the same thing. I know the gentlemen have good intentions, but they are truly doing their wives a disservice by trying to teach them how to play golf. Just as sad as the frustration and confusion I witnessed was that a lot of the women just wanted to give up.
This is the scenario that I saw over and over again this winter. The men, enjoying that well earned retirement, want to have their wives join them on the golf course. That part is great. However, most of them have been playing for years and have well-groomed swings while the wives are just getting started. With an abundance of politeness leading the way, too many women are reluctant to say “Stop! This isn’t working!” They think that because their husbands have played for years, they must know what they are doing.
They tell them the standard but ineffective tips like “keep your head down,” or “bend your knees.” Here’s my favorite: “Keep your left arm straight.” These women are doomed from the get-go. Just think how much more fun you would have with your spouse if he or she left you alone and you could just enjoy each others company, foregoing a battle over technique.
Here is advice from a pro: set up in a comfortable position with just a light flex in the knees, club in the middle of the stance with their arms hanging down. All clubs, including the driver and wedge, need to be placed in the center of your stance because that is where you are most balanced. How much easier is that? Your arms need to feel flexible so they can swing freely and faster. Swing the club in a circle over your shoulder and to the target. Allow your body to respond to the motion of the club. I am going to keep saying these things because it is what happens in the swing and it is the easiest way to learn.
I would just like the women I teach to enjoy the game and avoid the frustrations that accompany instruction and criticism from their husbands.
So what should they do? Seek out a qualified teacher. And by that I mean someone who is going to teach them what to do with the golf club and not how to move their body. You may have to look around a bit, but is so critical to have the right information. To the husbands out there, don’t you want to spend time with your wives having fun being together on the course? Ok, send them to a qualified instructor and just give them encouragement. I know we can do this together.
Have fun and keep swinging!Erin Szekely is an LPGA teaching professional. For more information, please visit www.golfingwitherin.com or call 425-398-0443.
U of Oregon’s Bristow Qualifies for LPGA
Cathryn Bristow, a former member of the University of Oregon Women’s Golf team, has become just the third New Zealander to gain entry to the LPGA Tour.
Bristow, who represented New Zealand at last year’s Espirito Santo world teams championship, finished in a share of 22nd place in the five-round final stage of the LPGA Q-School tournament in Florida. She missed by one shot in gaining her full playing rights to the LPGA which will limit automatic entry to the biggest tournaments on the circuit next year.
“At first when I saw I had missed by one shot for the top-20 I was disappointed. But once I had time to take it in and realize what it meant and that I had got my card for next year I was overwhelmed,” Bristow said.
“It’s pretty cool. I am very excited and to tell the truth it’s not sunk in yet. This is exciting for me personally but when I found out that I am just the third New Zealander to do it is great. To represent New Zealand on the Tour next year is doubly exciting and I’d like to think we will have a few more in the years to come.”
Bristow, 25, fired a final round even-par 72 for a five round total of one-over par at Daytona Beach GC in Florida, and produced some consistent performances in the tough five-rounder.
“I played really well this week. In the main I hit the ball well. The key was my putting though. I really putted exceptionally and made some key putts that kept me in there.”
The University of Oregon graduate said she had to keep calm during the vital final round.
“I thought about a score that I had to make. Then I just told myself that I could not think about that and put any ideas of that out of my mind. I was nervous but also excited about today. I just tried to enjoy it and have fun.”
The left hander returns home to Auckland next week to take some time out before preparing for a return to the United States next year, where she hopes to base herself in Houston, Texas.
Bristow, who competed in the inaugural Women’s New Zealand Open this year as an amateur, is keen to compete in the event which could be her professional debut at the new Pegasus course near Christchurch in February. “I’ve been following progress and heard about it. I would love to be able to play in it again. It was fantastic to be part of it in Clearwater and I think that experience playing in that environment helped me today.”
Bristow was New Zealand’s leading amateur last year, finishing fifth individual in the Queen Sirikit Asia Pacific Teams and was the leading New Zealander in the Espirito Santo tournament.
*Story provided by the Oregon Golf Association. Please visit www.oga.org for more information.
