My Extreme Macho Mexican Golf Vacation

by  Mark Knudson

When you think of a golf vacation with your wife and friends, you likely picture yourself in the sweet surroundings of Palm Springs or Sun Valley.  For most people, a polished course, free of intimidating wildlife, and a rented Escalade to take you around town after a round of golf sounds ideal. 

I recently took that coveted golf vacation with my wife and friends but traded in conventional and convenient for daring and dramatic.  Before you read on, let me start by saying that the golf vacation that I am about to relate is only recommended for the manliest of men or women.  If you want to play it safe, golfing in your Footjoys in a golf Mecca like Myrtle Beach, the trip I am about to describe is not for you.  If you’re the kind of golfer that is always playing it safe with your irons and distance logs then do us all a favor and stop reading right now. 

This golf adventure was engineered by a 3^rd degree Ninja golfer whose motto is “Grip it and rip it!” not “putt for dough”.  But if you enjoy driving 80 mph in your jacked up Mexican Ram Charger on a winding two-lane jungle road in Mexico, sans gas gauge, then this adrenalin-filled vacation may be just what you’re looking for.

It started with our flight to Puerto Vallarta.  After settling in, we made our way to the Von Hagge designed El Tigre at Paradise Village.  Much to my delight, El Tigre  clubhouse is well equipped for the golfer who chooses to travel light.   With friends in tow, sunscreen and extra water accounted for, we headed out to the greens with our rented–but brand new–Taylor Made clubs.   These clubs, rentals mind you, left me completely satisfied.  I achieved my usual score and did not find myself looking for ways to compensate my swing.  In fact, when we went over the bridge to set up for the island shot on number 6, we noticed a family of razorback iguanas staring us down.  “Bring it lizard!”  I thought as I stuck a 9-iron shot six feet from the cup.  Birdie.

This was a fun round of golf on a long and manly course lined with palm trees and water hazards.  The service and company were great, but remember, this was just a warm-up round to get acclimatized to the soggy Mexican pea grass and humid sea breezes.   You don’t want to feel too much adrenalin unless you are ready for it. 

We spent the night in a little condo named Club Buena Vista, located about five minutes south of town in the Conchas Chinas area.  The view of Banderas Bay was spectacular and the water was a little cold…just how I like it.  Puerto Vallarta is lucky to have six pro-quality golf courses to choose from.  Besides El Tigre, we have heard good reviews on the Four Seasons course at Punta Mita. Jack designed their course that features a 17^th hole that is contained on a rare natural island just off the shore.  The Vista Vallarta complex also has 18 holes also designed by Jack and another 18 by Weiskopff.  If you’re into view, this course might be for you.  But now the adventure begins.

Day two of our trip reminded me why I like to travel in the winter.  Mornings are beautiful in Puerto Vallarta in January.  The toughest choice is whether to have that cup of coffee on the sunny patio or start your day immediately, taking full advantage the inspiring weather.  However, if golf is on the agenda as it was for me, you have to know that by noon the humidity can slow even the manliest of hackers.  Average temperatures in Puerto Vallarta are in the 80’s year round.  My advice: start early unless you like it when they see you sweat.

Coffee in hand, we headed south in our Ram Charger from Puerto Vallarta on Route 202 towards our second golfing destination of Isla Navidad.  This spectacular course is situated on an island aside the beautiful Grand Bay Hotel about 3 hours south of Puerto Vallarta - four hours if you drive the speed limit and slow down for speed bumps.  My good friend Rick was driving and bet that we could make it to the next pueblito before we ran out of gas.  Rick lost that daring wager as we ran out of gas at the crest of a dangerous hill in the Mexican badlands. No worries.  We did rock-paper-scissors to see who would go for gas. I lost and I had to hitchhike about ten miles…No problemo.  When the senoritas dropped me off in El Tuito I found no gas station but a little market where fuel was actually sold in pickle jars.  Now that is my kind of pit stop!

When we arrived in Barra de Navidad we were impressed by the nearby island that is headquarters to the fabulous Grand Bay Hotel, rated by the Travel Channel as Mexico’s best.  This picturesque island was discovered on Christmas Day (Sp: Navidad) by Hernando Cortez and his Spanish sailors in 1533. They founded the ship-building port where explorations to Japan and the Philippines were initiated.  A short ride via water taxi took us from the quaint Mexican village of Barra de Navidad to the Grand Bay dock where we were surrounded by elegant gardens, inviting pools and the trappings of the rich and famous.

After a great dinner and watching sports on cable at the Grand Bay’s well-appointed guest suites, we arose with great anticipation of the round of golf that awaited us.  We were lucky to be accompanied by the course Pro, Rafael Ramirez, who taught us a few Mexican cockfight golf secrets as we tackled the 27-hole wonder.  Van Hagge designed Isla Navidad and created many surf and sod masterpieces.  The oceanfront greens on the 12^th and 14^th holes especially reminded me of the Spanish Galleons that moored there with their virile warriors so long ago.  Now, the nearby marina moors host high-end yachts and schooners.  We watched in awe as our personal pro “El Rafa” ripped a 260 yard 3-wood over the ocean inlet on hole #20 for a tap in birdie. After our round on Isla Navidad we checked out the boy toys at the marina and then partied into the night under a barrage of fireworks at the Grand Bay.  The skyrockets reminded us of cannon fire, as we went to bed smelling like gunpowder.  Nice.

The next morning we were ready for El Tamarindo.  About 30 years ago Robert Trent Jones Jr. and David Fleming embarked on a golf project that is as heroic and wonderful as a Chuck Norris stunt double.  In the beginning, this course was hacked out of the jungle with machetes.  The jungle workers were met with jaguars, wild boars, coral snakes, and even boa constrictors.  They built a six-mile road through the jungle of cobblestones and pavers.  It took 600 men over three years just to build the road to the golf course.  When you put in that much man sweat just to get there, the golf course has got to be good.  And it is.  In my opinion El Tamarindo stands as the finest macho golf course in the world.  Located about 45 minutes north of Isla Navidad and three hours south of Puerto Vallarta, El Tamarindo is surrounded by untamed jungles and craggy seascapes. This golf marvel stands as a monument to manliness.  A note of caution: if your ball goes into the rough, don’t go looking for it…without a machete.

One of the unique things about El Tamarindo is the presence of families of wild tejons on almost every hole.  A tejon, or coati, is a long-tailed animal that is a cross between a large squirrel and a badger with a pointy nose.  As we golfed we were met at every hole by these friendly beasts.  Their cuteness can easily be called into question, but once we understood their diet (an extravagant cuisine of worms) we had no reason to fear for our safety. 

The whole golf course at El Tamarindo is a wonder of nature and a monument to the ingenuity of real men. When you come over the hill and see the green on number 8 you have to gasp.  Finally you have a chance to turn a 200-yard drive into 350 plus.  No fibbing or fuzzy math needed; this vertical drop is on your side.  My heart rate doubled as we drove our supercharged golf cart down the winding path to the green and adjacent Pacific Ocean.  Then we looked at the 9th tee.  My inner woman wept as I gazed up at the 6-tiered tee boxes high above the green.  We drove our cart slowly up the switchbacks to the black pro tees.  After admiring the Pacific seascape, we let it rip with wedges to the green below.  One false step or errant cart maneuver would have sent us to a watery grave in the cliffs and crashing waves below.   However, my wife Wendy passed out the high fives when her drive ricocheted off a cliff and wound up closest to the hole.

On the green we found a mound of fresh dirt that had been created by a burrowing Mexican mole moments before our arrival.  As we made the turn and headed to the equally spectacular and difficult back nine, we noticed that several greens keepers were following us on landscaping carts.  As we left each hole they would mow and rake behind us to keep each hole immaculate.  If we happened to hit an errant ball, the gardeners would venture into the wild with their machetes to retrieve it only to sell it back to us a few holes later. 

After 18 holes, we were greeted by Ismael Galvan, the head pro at El Tamarindo, who laughed as we told him of our recent run-ins with wild animals and magnificent drives.  After a satisfying day on the links we took our Ram Charger to the adjacent El Tamarindo Resort to settle in for the night.  There on the sandy beach we watched the sun set over craggy cliffs and pterodactyl-like birds soar in the ocean mist.  Each of the individual villas has a private pool and state-of-the-art sound and video not to mention king beds and sheets with 1000+ thread count.  The food was spectacular, the company was wonderful, and I knew that this day of golf would go down as one of my best ever.

The next morning we headed north, back towards Puerto Vallarta.  Our last stop along the way was at one of the most romantic small resorts on earth.  Las Alamandas is located about an hour north of El Tamarindo and two hours south of Puerto Vallarta. This monument to romance has been providing rest to the likes of Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, and Fazio for over 30 years.. 

While there we met Las Alamedas’ owner, Isabel Goldsmith Patino, who finished the project that her grandfather had started in the 60’s.  Antenor Patino, also known as the “Tin King”, was the son of the fifth wealthiest man in the world before his family’s Bolivian mining interests were nationalized in the 50’s.  Antenor barely escaped with his life and a few million gold doubloons, which he used to build his exotic Moorish castle “Las Hadas” in Manzanillo (featured in Bo Derek’s movie “10″) and later start Las Alamandas.  Isabel’s legacy has been to use her influence at Las Alamandas to conserve the Costa Allegre in a beautiful way for generations to come.  Wendy and I agreed to count our stay at Las Alamandas as a second honeymoon.

We ended our week-long golf and beach vacation with a last-minute shopping trip at Puerto Vallarta’s famous Malecon boardwalk where we strutted our stuff then finished the evening with shrimp tacos and fajitas at the hip seaside restaurant Mi Querencia.  In English, Mi Querencia means “my preference”.  A fitting closing statement to a week filled with adventure, sunsets, wild animals, and some of the best golf memories I will ever have.

For more information about the golf courses and resorts mentioned in this article contact the following websites: 

www.lasalamandas.com

www.wyndham.com/grandbay

www.eltigregolf.com

www.eltamarindoresort.com

Mark Knudson is the owner of Fifty Best and MexicoInsideOut. He can be reached at fiftybest@hotmail.com or call 425-681-1627.

Thar’s Gold In Them Thar Hills

by Clifford Cowley

I am always hunting for that little known gem of a golf course.  Whenever I travel, I look in the phone book for that inexpensive “9-holer” that I can play in a quick hour and a half and be on my way, nobody (especially my wife) the wiser (hope she doesn’t read this one).  Not only do they allow me to get my golf fix, but those courses always have things about them that make them special.  Laurel Hill Golf Course, near the town of Gold Hill, Oregon, is no exception.  

Located in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, just 15 minutes from Medford, Laurel Hill sits on 28 acres that was literally carved out of the timber by Harvey Granger in 1975.  After being involved in the golf industry for many years, Granger purchased a 350 acre parcel near Gold Hill and went straight to work on his vision of having his own golf course.  When he built the clubhouse, he also built a studio apartment on one end.  Jan Fish, Granger’s daughter, and her husband, Peter, lived in the apartment and ran the golf course when it was completed in August of 1977.  Jan recalls, “We used to get up in the morning and fix breakfast in the club house and then cook our dinner after we closed up at night.” It has been a family affair ever since.  Jan and Peter still run the golf course; Jan working in the pro-shop while Peter oversees maintenance.

Granger used rough-hewn timbers from the property for the trusses in the clubhouse, natural wood tables (any country inn would die for) and a huge fireplace and hearth.  While he gets high marks for resourcefulness, patrons get the benefit of a comfy and cozy lodge atmosphere where winter golfers can warm themselves by the fire after completing a round of golf.

Food is also available in the clubhouse.  Golfers can purchase a variety of prepackaged snacks, but the chili or one of Marge’s delicious hamburgers with your favorite soda or beer is a must after a round. 

 Facilities include a driving range and a putting green.  Golf carts are available though not really needed. The course itself winds its way through a grove of Laurel, Pine and Oak trees.  The trees are what make the course, especially in the summer time when it’s 100 degrees, according to Jan.  But the trees, which literally make Laurel Hill the “coolest” course in the summer months, can also make it challenging.  “You not only have to plan your shot for distance, but you also have to line it up for width, or the canopy of branches will come into play,” she says.  “It’s what makes the course unique, fun and challenging.”

The 1,910 yard executive par 3 shoots par 31, playing from the blue or red tees.  Man-made Sissy Creek runs across the 1st hole (one of three par 4’s), into two ponds guarding the first shot on the 9th.   Kane Creek runs on the left of the 2nd and 3rd holes providing extra giddiness for the avid golfer.  The 4th, the shortest on the course, is a tricky 110 yards with a small landing area.  Holes 5 and 6 are straight away par 3’s at 147 and 175 yards respectively.  The only uphill climb is on the 6th hole, and it’s not much, more like a gentle slope, but the green is steep and tricky, especially if your are above the hole.  Holes 7 and 8 are parallel dog leg par 4’s that allow risk-and-reward drives if you can command a draw or fade at will.  The 9th, as I mentioned before, screams out for a lay-up shot to the twin ponds unless you can accurately produce a draw that starts at 150 yards (but hey, who lays up?).  The 9th green also has a unique quality.  According to legend, the green lies right over the Vortex.  The Vortex is a mysterious “magnetic line” that runs underground through Southern Oregon.  According to legend, when Granger built the green it was flat.  Over time, the green developed a small depression on the right hand side and the ground was slightly pushed up at the back of the green.  Granger filled in the depression, only to have it reappear, and the ground at the back of the green pushed up even more, again and again.  It is said that no one, except for former maintenance superintendant, Daniel Alexander, has been able to sink a putt from that depression no matter where the flag is.  I tried.  The putts went below, beyond, above and short.  Not one hit its mark. 

Whether you are traveling through Southern Oregon or live in the Rogue Valley, if you want to get a quick golf fix and enjoy a challenge, Laurel Hill Golf Course is a golden opportunity to play a family (and pocket book) friendly golf course.  Thar’s gold in them thar’ Laurel Hill!    

Cliff Cowley lives and works in Southern Oregon.  When he is not on the golf course, he teaches English at a local middle school in Medford. He runs a writers’ group for young writers, and puts on a young writers’ camp, sponsored by the Oregon Writing Project and Southern Oregon University. He can be reached at cliff.cowley@gmail.com.

  

 

 

Seniors Can Still Have Their Moments

by Tony Dear

Twenty five years ago, golfers reaching their 50^th birthday had some justification for thinking their best golf was behind them. Where else could it be, after all? Some even thought their golfing days had come to an inevitable conclusion and that it was time to trade the sticks and pull-cart in for a rod and a boat.

Their tiny-headed, persimmon drivers could no longer propel their Surlyn-covered Wilson Ultras a respectful distance.  To reach even medium-length Par 4s in two was becoming increasingly impossible; their iron shots barely got off the ground because their irons were not terribly forgiving and the ball had trouble getting airborne without much clubhead speed behind it.  Their no-insert blade putters, which had a tendency to twist at impact, sent their increasingly common miss-hits wide or short of the hole.

Then there was the pain of swinging a club. With their backs, necks, legs and various other body parts aching, getting the club’s head above their own was asking a lot and sending it back to the ball with any power just wasn’t going to happen.

For senior golfers needing confirmation that those dark days are long gone, and that there can now be life, abundant life, after 50, all they had to do was tune in to last year’s Open Championship coverage from Turnberry and watch a 59-year-old Tom Watson come within one seven-foot putt of clinching a sixth Claret Jug. That incredible performance came exactly twelve months after 53-year-old Greg Norman had led going into the final nine holes at Royal Birkdale, eventually finishing tied third behind Padraig Harrington and missing out on his third Jug.

Granted, Watson and Norman are uncommon athletes who have played at the highest level throughout their adult lives. But both, along with all the other senior golfers still shooting in the 60s, are well aware that without technological breakthroughs in equipment and more effective training aimed at maintaining their flexibility, they would not have been able to compete with much younger golfers. Watson probably wouldn’t have played at all, in fact, were it not for advancements in the same hip replacement surgery which allowed him to replace his arthritic left hip and get back to swinging a driver within two months. “I picked Dr. Joel Matta to perform the surgery,” Watson told Golf Digest in March 2009. “He popularized the Anterior Approach, and has done more than 1,700 of them. He believes that hip rotation drives the golf swing and that this is the best option for golfers who need hip replacement. The incision is smaller than with conventional hip replacement surgery, there is less compromise in the overall procedure, and the recovery time tends to be much quicker.”

Better surgery techniques are great but only appropriate, of course, when all the alternatives have been tried. “Before going under the knife, attempts should be made,” says fitness and flexibility expert Roger Fredericks, “to alleviate pain and improve your range of motion by adhering to suitable exercises suggested by a physical therapist. Every year approximately 30 million Americans consult an orthopedic surgeon about some form of joint surgery,” he says. “These same people are taking their anatomical dysfunctions to the course and having a hard time. The sedentary lifestyle that exists in most of the world today is the number one problem in the golf world, because it robs us of flexibility and strength in the muscle groups that are important when swinging a golf club.”

As we age, Fredericks continues, we begin to lose bone density, muscle mass, flexibility, eye sight, hearing, and so on. “Working on golf swing mechanics alone won’t give you more strength and flexibility,” he adds. “But you can improve the range of motion in your body as a senior, and reduce your pain, if you stretch the right muscles, the right way.”

Anyone who has been swinging a golf club for 20 years or more probably believes that playing the game can have a negative impact on the back. But that’s nonsense, says Fredericks. “If your hips are in good shape your back will probably be fine,” he says. “90% of back pain is caused by hip dysfunction. If you want to improve your back you need to work on the muscles/joints to which the spine is attached. Poor alignment can set off a chain reaction throughout your body. You can ease back pain by loosening your hip/pelvic muscles. Work the hamstring, the inner and outer thigh, and the hip flexors.”

Susan Hill, President of Fitness for Golf based in Bend, Ore, is another who emphasizes the importance of the hips with her senior clients. “Research shows that seniors can maintain the distance they hit the ball by seeking to improve their hip rotation,” she says. “Lack of distance is the most common complaint in this group and it is largely attributed to tighter hips. Many seniors simply ’spin’ their hips for rotation, but that creates absolutely no resistance in the body and usually results in the club approaching the ball on completely the wrong path.”

Hill cites two exercises from her excellent book 101 Stretches for Golf that should help senior golfers improve the strength and movement of their hips. “The first targets the hip flexors (the group of skeletal muscles that act to flex the femur onto the lumbo-pelvic complex, i.e. pull the knee upward),” she says. “Begin by standing with your feet together, then extend your left foot out to the side of your body as far as you can while maintaining balance. Keep your right leg straight, but not locked. Place your hands, one on top of the other, on your left knee. This will help you maintain balance.”

The second, Hill says, will help increase the hips’ internal and external rotation. First, with your feet shoulder width apart, rotate your right foot clockwise as far as possible, keeping the heel planted. Rotate your body away from your turned-out toe. Then, with feet still shoulder width apart, rotate the right foot anti-clockwise as far as possible. Rotate your body towards the turned-in toe. The knee should be straight but not locked.

“The main thing with seniors is to keep them standing,” adds Hill. “For many, it is difficult to get on and off the floor so standing positions are best.”

With stronger, faster-moving hips, the 50-year-old golfer will certainly limit his loss of distance. And he might even increase the distance he can hit the ball with a brand new set of clubs.  Not just any old clubs though, stresses Jay Turner, owner of Redbird Sports on Seattle’s Beacon Avenue South. “In my opinion, the first thing to remember when buying new golf clubs is that you are a unique individual and not a category; senior, lady, junior etc. Way too often golfers are pigeonholed into a category based on their age or gender. Physical size, ability, physical condition and golf-related goals are the most important things to consider when one is being fitted.”   Turner advises seniors to get properly fitted. Find an experienced fitter who is able to make accurate physical measurements and assess your abilities correctly, he says. And during the fitting process, make sure you clearly articulate your goals and disclose any related physical limitations you have. “In my twenty five years of fitting, I’ve seen way too many seniors fitted based on their age with little consideration given to their size and ability. The result in many cases is clubs that are too light, too flexible and in some cases too long. If your fitting centers on the fact that your age qualifies you for early bird specials and AARP benefits, I suggest you find another place to buy your golf equipment. Properly fitted golf clubs function better, producing better shots which ultimately results in more satisfaction and enjoyment.”

A change of ball might help you regain a yard or two as well. There are dozens of golf balls designed specifically for helping those with slower swing speeds maintain their carry length. And, unlike those granite balls of yesteryear, they do actually respond well with shots on and around the greens. You might consider opting for one of the new ladies’ models that, by way of altered dimple patterns or softer cores, help you launch the ball higher and add up to five yards with a driver.

With your new hips, better-fitted clubs and a pink ball (only joking, your new ball will be white but guys might want to hide the pink box from their buddies) you are ready to return to the golf course where, says GolfTEC’s Laurie Hillyard, there are a couple of things you can do, even before you start the swing, to help increase your clubhead speed. “A light grip is essential to a dynamic release of the club,” she says. “And turn your left foot out about 45 degrees. That enables you to turn the hips quicker in the downswing. And don’t worry about getting the club to parallel in the backswing, but do try to turn your shoulders as far as they will comfortably go. Mostly though, just focus on making solid contact.”

Alas, even with all the technological assists senior golfers are benefitting from nowadays, there will come a day, insists Tom Sovay, seven-time Washington PGA Teacher of the Year, when you will just have to accept the fact you can’t hit the ball as far as you used to. “The biggest problem I see with seniors, is they just don’t accept the distance they hit the ball,” he says. “I’m 48, and I don’t hit it nearly as far as I did when I was 20, even with a modern driver and golf ball. Don’t live in the past. Who cares if everyone else in your group is hitting a 7-iron and you need a hybrid? I remember a friend of mine teasing me because he hit a pitching wedge on a Par 3 while I had an 8-iron in my hands. I stepped back and told him that my 8-iron was going closer than his wedge, then addressed the ball and made a hole-in-one. Enough said.”

Where to Play
Senior golfers can benefit from senior rates at a number of public-access courses in our region. Seattle’s municipals, Jefferson Park, Jackson Park and West Seattle, offer seniors a $6 discount on the standard weekday rate of $30 (+ $13 for a seat on a cart). In fact, all Premier Golf-operated facilities across Western Washington offer senior reductions. At Gold Mountain in Bremerton, the cost of a senior annual pass is $1,150. That’s $850 less than the cost of a regular pass. Access Golf Management offers the senior reduced rates at Willows Run ($31 with cart) in Woodinville, Druids Glen ($34) in Covington, Kayak Point ($28) in Stanwood, and Capitol City ($22.60) in Lacey. Senior rates, with cart, at Meadow Park and Lake Spanaway in Tacoma, are $35 and $27 respectively.

The City of Portland also helps the senior out a little. 18 holes at Eastmoreland and Rose City costs just $23. It’s $22 at Redtail, and they can play the Greenback Course at Heron Lakes for just $11. A round on Great Blue is $22.

The Golf Warehouse “Tees Off” the 2010 Season With Exceptional New Golf Products and Hot Deals

Internet golf pioneer to industry leader, TGW.com took its first online order in April 1998. Now, with 170,000 square feet of warehouse space devoted to a huge selection of golf related products, TGW.com has become Golf’s #1 Online Superstore.  

During its 12 year history, TGW has set the standard for excellence by offering the largest and broadest selection of golf products in the world-over 40,000 products are currently available.  With so many items to choose from, customers should easily be able to find exactly what they’re looking for. When purchasing a product through our website, customers can immediately see if the product is in stock. Not sure about a product? You may wish to check out one of over 80,000 reviews submitted to us by customers who purchased the same product.  Because of this, our goal is to maintain the largest in-stock inventory of any on-line golf store. Once The Golf Warehouse® receives an order for an in-stock (non-Special Order) item it is shipped to the customer the same day if the order is received by a certain time.

Because having the right equipment is essential and buying online doesn’t allow testing, TGW.com offers a 30-Day Playability Guarantee on select club purchases online that gives customers peace of mind and reassurance that if they are dissatisfied for any reason, the covered club can be returned for full purchase price to be applied to any future purchase. The 30-Day Playability Guarantee gives customers peace of mind and reassurance that if they’re not satisfied for any reason, the covered club can be returned for full purchase price to be applied to any future purchase.  Moreover, TGW offers a low price guarantee: Find a lower price and we will match it.  It’s that simple! This applies to both in-stock and out-of-stock (non-Special Order) merchandise (as long as the product is available from an authorized seller). TGW.com prides itself on being the home of golf’s everyday lowest prices, and we constantly search for golf’s lowest prices so you don’t have to.

Are you uncertain about the proper club fit?  You may want to go through the online custom club fitting program that allows you to answer a series of questions that results in the best fit for you.  A hassle-free club trade-in program is another feature of TGW.com.  See your trade-in value immediately online and this can be applied to your new club selection.  

The Golf Warehouse® stands behind every item sold and remains committed to having customers who not only want to shop again but will go out and tell their friends about their great experience.  That’s why we offer a 100% money back guarantee. In the unlikely event that a customer is unhappy with a product, it can be returned within 60 days in new condition for full purchase price, and with EZ-Returns & Exchanges, you can do it all online. As an added bonus, TGW also offers free ground shipping on exchanges.

Sometimes a product requires a personal touch. That’s no problem, because TGW offers customers the opportunity to personalize online. We have made available a multitude of styles, colors and other personalization options that allow you to take control of the desired product and make subtle (or even not so subtle) changes. For example, a customer can do something as minor as having a Callaway golf ball initialed, or may opt for something more complex, like changing the color scheme of a FootJoy shoe and/or adding an embroidered monogram or logo. Customers can also personalize tees and other accessories that cater to individual taste.

Are you planning a tournament or need some dynamic gifts for your company?  TGW’s Corporate/Tournament Department provides personalized service, a vast selection, reliable delivery   and quantity pricing to meet your needs.

In 2006, BaseballSavings.com and SoftballSavings.com became siblings to the TGW family, with substantial growth occurring during the following years. Over 20,000 baseball and softball products are available to choose from. While Baseball Savings’ Internet sales continue to grow, we recently released our first Baseball Savings mail-order catalog this spring.  Do you have a baseball or softball team that needs uniforms or equipment?  The Team Sales Department can personally assist you with a large selection of products and quantity prices.

The Golf Warehouse® began as a small family business with lofty expectations. Through steadfast leadership and a small but hungry group of employees dedicated to making the business venture a success, TGW expanded from a relatively unknown entity into a national success. Our associates work diligently to ensure that our customers are 100% satisfied and will look forward to their next experience with us.  The way we look at, we offer products but in reality, we’re selling fun.

The Golf Warehouse® is a brand in the portfolio of Redcats USA, a multi-brand, multi-channel web-driven company offering apparel, lifestyle and domestics, and sporting goods via catalog, Internet and retail stores.

Governor Appoints Central Oregon Tourism Executive

Governor Ted Kulongoski announced that he has appointed Alana Audette, President & CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association, to fill a vacancy on the Oregon Tourism Commission.  The appointment of Ms. Audette will become effective following Senate confirmation.  The Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled to take place in the February 2010 special legislative session.

“It is a true honor to have been appointed to serve on the Oregon Tourism Commission to represent not only Central Oregon, but the state tourism marketing objectives as a whole,” stated Ms. Audette.  “The state of Oregon is represented by an exceptional team of tourism professionals and it will be a privilege to participate at the policy level of statewide tourism marketing,” Audette continued.

The statutory mission of the Oregon Tourism Commission is to encourage economic growth and to enhance the quality of life in Oregon through a strengthened economic impact of tourism throughout the state.  The Commission shall encourage increased expenditures by visitors to Oregon and by in-state travelers, and shall cooperate with local regional and private tourism entities. 

The Central Oregon Visitors Association and Travel Oregon work in partnership at the statewide and regional levels through leveraged cooperative efforts, to mutually enhance travel and tourism for Central Oregon and the state.

For more information, visit www.VisitCentralOregon.com or call 800-800-8334.

Couples designates Presidents Cup Funds to The First Tee of Greater Seattle

Seattle native Fred Couples, a 15-time PGA TOUR event winner, designated a check in the amount of $20,000 to The First Tee of Greater Seattle.  The contribution is a portion of the charitable proceeds generated from the 2009 Presidents Cup at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, at which Couples served as captain of the U.S. Team. 

“The First Tee of Greater Seattle is honored, thrilled and deeply thankful to be a recipient of Mr. Couples’ generosity,” remarked Heidi Wills, executive director. Calling him a role model for the program’s young golfers, she said Couples exemplifies The First Tee core values of respect, confidence and sportsmanship. She also noted he epitomizes another core value, perseverance, with his remarkable achievements while enduring recurring back problems. 

“This funding comes at a crucial time for our nonprofit organization and will allow us to expose children to golf who might not otherwise have the opportunity,” Wills emphasized.  The organization is headquartered at Seattle’s Jefferson Park Municipal Golf Course, where Couples played during his early years of golf. 

Couples grew up in Seattle where his father worked in the City of Seattle’s Parks and Recreation Department. As a youngster, “Freddie” caddied for a top local player who gave Couples his first set of golf clubs.  He became a top junior and amateur player in the region, then played on the golf team at the University of Houston.

Since turning pro in 1980 he has amassed 15 Tour victories and numerous awards and nicknames. In 1992, he won The Masters and was named PGA Player of the Year, PGA TOUR Player of the Year and won the Vardon Trophy (for low scoring average). He was a member of the U.S. Presidents Cup Team four times and will make his debut on the Champions Tour this year.

Among his nicknames are “Boom Boom” for his booming drives, “Freddie Cool” because of his easygoing temperament, “Mr. Skins” because of his dominance in Skins Games, and “King of the Silly Season,” in reference to the made-for-TV events staged in the winter that are sometimes known as the “silly season.”

The Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup is a unique golf event in that there is no purse or prize money. Players are not personally paid for their participation, but each competitor, captain and captain’s assistant is allowed to allocate funds to chosen charitable causes. 

 More than $4.2 million was distributed to charitable causes from the 2009 event, a record-tying amount for the prestigious competition and part of the nearly $22 million raised since inception of The Presidents Cup event in 1994. 

The Presidents Cup, a team match play competition features 24 of the world’s top golfers - 12 from the U.S. and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe. It is held every two years, alternating since 1996 between U.S. and international venues. 

About The First Tee of Greater Seattle
The First Tee of Greater Seattle (www.thefirstteeseattle.org) was formed in 2001 from a collaborative effort involving the Broadmoor Golf Club Foundation, The First Tee, the Board of Municipal Golf of Seattle and the City of Seattle. It became the 106th chapter of The First Tee on December 20, 2002.  Its mission is to impact the lives of young people in the greater Seattle area by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

The Seattle chapter began programming for 224 kids in 2003 at Jefferson Park Golf Course in Seattle. Since then it has expanded to Jackson Park Golf Course (in 2004), the Crossroads Par 3 Golf Course in Bellevue (in 2005) and the Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent (in 2009).  Last year, The First Tee of Greater Seattle served over 1,000 kids ages 8 to 18 at these facilities. The First Tee also offers introductory classes for 6 and 7 year olds called Target/New Friends to Golf. Additionally, the organization introduces over 20,000 elementary school children to golf in their physical education classes through the National School Program in the Seattle and Kent School Districts.

It’s Coming. SPRING. Are you Ready?

by Erin Szekely

As I sit here writing this article the rain continues to fall.  Ah, Spring, where are you?  We are hearty souls here in the Northwest, but there is a limit.  I suppose we shouldn’t complain as most of the country has been in a deep freeze all winter.  But about this time of the year we do start getting anxious to get out there to play.

You know, golf really is an amazing game that feeds all of our senses.  It is so great to be out in the sunshine, walking on the green grass, being with our friends and challenging ourselves to do better.  Could it be any more fun?  Well, I suppose if we were improving from year to year, that would be cool too. 

So, are you? Improving, that is?  If not, why not?  Is it your equipment, your attitude or your instruction that is holding you back?  I know a lot of golfers won’t see an instructor because they are afraid they are going to take a step back in their progress. But if that is the case, they are going to the wrong instructor.  Find someone who will teach you what to do with the club, not what to do with the body, and will work with the skills you have.  Sounds easy, but you really do need to do your homework.  It’s worth it. And now, according to a study conducted by Dr. Gabriele Wulf, Department of Kinesiology at the University of Nevada, there is scientific evidence that those who are taught what to do with the body and those who are given no instruction at all, fare about the same, whereas those who are told what to do with the club do 33% better.  This study and others have shown that an “external focus of attention enhances golf shot accuracy in beginners and experts”, as opposed to internal focus on the body. 

So after you have found a great instructor, take a look at your equipment.  Technology has changed dramatically and having the right clubs can make a huge difference.  This is especially true for women who generally inherit their husband’s cast-offs.  Ladies, when you buy your equipment, don’t just purchase “women’s clubs”.  More often than not, they are too light and the shafts have too much flex.  A men’s club with a senior flex might be better for you.  Experiment a bit and don’t feel pressured. 

Next, get fit, flexible and adopt a great attitude for the new season.  There is so much out there to help you with this.  I’ve been doing Pilates, walking and working with my Wii Fit program, which has tons of fun things to do.  So much fun that it doesn’t feel like you are working at all.  Yoga is another great way to stay in shape, gain flexibility, and calm your mind. So find something that works for you and do it.

With all the stress that we have to deal with, take a moment, slow down, and enjoy your time on the links while getting plenty of vitamin D. 

A quick thank you to Ken Kubitz, my instructor, for all his help and encouragement and introducing me to Manuel de la Torre.

Have fun out there and keep swinging. Erin Szekely is an LPGA teaching professional. For more information, please visit www.golfingwitherin.com or call 425-398-0443.

TaylorMade Introduces R9 SuperTri and R9® SuperTri TP Drivers

First Drivers to Incorporate Movable Weight Technology and Flight Control Technology in a 460cc Clubhead First came the R9 driver, which combined Flight Control Technology (FCT) and Movable Weight Technology^TM (MWT®) with three movable weights in a 420cc head. Next came the R9 460 driver with FCT alone, only in a larger and more forgiving 460cc head. “Those two drivers were created because TaylorMade didn’t yet have the ability to combine both FCT and MWT in a 460cc head,” said Todd Beach, TaylorMade’s senior director of metalwood development. “A year later, we do.”

Introducing the R9 SuperTri driver, which combines FCT and MWT with three movable weights in a 460cc head, marking the ultimate unification of TaylorMade’s major driver technologies with maximum size to deliver massive distance and forgiveness.

The R9 SuperTri was made possible by two crucial developments by TaylorMade engineers that saved enough weight to allow FCT and MWT to coexist in a 460cc head. The first is better, more widespread use of TaylorMade’s Ultra-Thin Wall technology throughout the clubhead. The second is a new, lighter FCT sleeve that does everything the former one did while weighing three grams less.

FCT + MWT + 460cc = Supreme Adjustability, Distance and Forgiveness
The impact of incorporating FCT and MWT into a 460cc head is enormous. The larger head is more forgiving, and its CG is two millimeters farther back in the head than the R9 driver, making it easier to launch the ball higher and with more spin, helping players gain more distance. At the same time, the inclusion of MWT with three weights promotes a side-to-side trajectory change of up to 75 yards.

Inverted Cone Technology (ICT) is also a crucial piece of the R9 SuperTri’s makeup. Though it’s milled onto the back of the clubface where it’s out of sight, ICT plays a critical role by dramatically increasing the area of the clubface that delivers fast ball speed, promoting more distance on off-center hits.

R9 SuperTri Features Reshaped Crown, Lighter Shaft
The R9 SuperTri’s clubhead is sleeker than previous R9 driver heads, thanks to a reshaped crown that reduces wind resistance. Though the shape is more aerodynamic, the face is the deepest (62mm) TaylorMade has ever incorporated into a driver with MWT, and is deeper than most other competitive drivers currently on the market. Visually, the R9 SuperTri clubhead is a killer, thanks to its new shape and its black-on-black color scheme, including a black PVD clubface last seen in the r7 SuperQuad.

The R9 SuperTri is equipped with a Fujikura Motore 60-gram shaft, which is five grams lighter than the Motore 65 used in the R9 driver. In addition to being lighter, the Motore 60 makes it easier to launch the ball on a higher launch angle and at a higher spin-rate, which helps many players achieve longer carry for increased distance.

R9 SuperTri: The Most Advanced TaylorMade Driver Ever
The R9 SuperTri unites four viable performance technologies: FCT, MWT, UTW and ICT. Never before have four such impactful, performance-enhancing technologies been combined so effectively in a single driver. Plus, there’s the superior aerodynamics of the new crown shape.

The R9 SuperTri and R9 SuperTri TP are the most advanced, highest-performing drivers TaylorMade has ever developed. The distance-producing power and shot-straightening abilities created by their combined clubhead size, clubhead design, performance technologies and shaft specifications make them clubs that no golfer should be without.

The R9 SuperTri includes three weights - 16-gram, 1-gram, 1-gram - and an FCT torque wrench. It’s available in four lofts — 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 - and five shaft flexes — L, M, R, S, X. Street price is $399. The R9 SuperTri TP features the same head as the R9 SuperTri but with a choice of ten premium shafts including the Aldila Voodoo, Mitsubishi Fubuki and Matrix Ozik. Choosing a custom TP shaft adds an additional $100 to the cost of the club. It becomes available starting on February 19, 2010. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (866) 530-TMAG (8624) or www.taylormadegolf.com, www.adidasgolf.com, and www.ashworthgolf.com.

Seniors Can, And Do, Become Better Golfers!

by Brett Wilkinson

At GolfTEC’s Seattle-area facilities, about 50% of our clientele are senior golfers over the age of 55.   In training so many seniors, we have watched countless men and women swing the golf club and we know what part of the golf swing the mass majority of our senior golfers are good at-and where they are limited.  From my perspective, here are a few areas of concern for most senior golfers:

        * Better lower body stability!  Initially, most of the seniors we work with struggle with maintaining good lower body stability in their back swings.  Some get up on their toes and others get too deep in their heels.  Focus on staying more grounded, with your foot and leg work, throughout your swing.  The old adage “swing within yourself” is vital to maintaining and sustaining better balance.

            * Gain more flexibility!   It is key to promote as good a shoulder turn in your back swing as possible.  When the body is tight, it is really difficult to maximize the mobility out your shoulder turn.  The more flexible the upper body is the better shoulder turn you can make, and thus, the more power you can generate.

            * If you have a difficult time getting more flexibility in your upper body, hinge your wrists sooner!   Often, our senior clients cannot make a quality shoulder turn.   We encourage them to hinge their wrists earlier in their take away.  Then we ask them to make as good of a shoulder turn as they can.  This promotes a healthier swing arc and allows them to gain more club head speed and pop out of their shots.

              *  Transfer your weight!  One of the big power zappers in the seniors we deal with is a poor weight transfer in both the back swing and down swing.  Getting out of position at the top, with a poor shoulder turn and/or unstable lower body, inhibits most senior’s ability to transfer power to the front leg in their down swing.  So, as a result, they tend to spin their hips and hit most of their shots with their hands and arms. 

            * Have some hybrids in your golf bag!   Many of our seniors still have a 3 or 4 iron–or both-in their set.  These clubs rarely see action because they cannot get them up in the air and they cannot get decent yardage.   Thanks to great design, hybrids help get the ball airborne, reduce miss hits, and increase yardage.  Additionally, they are great clubs from both good and poor lies, so they give more options on the golf course.

            * Have the proper shafts in your clubs!   We see too many senior men come into our stores with stiff shafts in their clubs.  Perhaps a few years ago they could generate the club head speed to justify these shafts.  But as age creeps in, most seniors have a difficult time sustaining their swing speed, thus the stiffer shafts are doing more harm than good.  Golfers then have a difficult making good contact and getting good distance because the shaft is too strong to promote desired results.   Try swinging some different clubs with an “A” flex senior shaft; you will quickly see the advantage in updating your shafts.    “A” flex senior shafts have a maximum flex to compensate for your shorter shoulder turn and slower swing speed.  You will surely gain some distance and accuracy. Have enough degrees of loft on your driver!   We club fit for seniors quite frequently, and most show up with anywhere from 8-10 degrees of loft on their drivers.  We recognize seniors’ lower launch angle and ball flight, varied shot dispersion, and limited distance.  We have them try drivers with 12-14 degrees of loft and almost immediately all of these things improve.  Address these areas of concern that may be holding you back from better results.  And remember, as long as your health is good, golf is the game forever!

Brett Wilkinson, PGA, is the Store Manager/Director of Instruction at GolfTEC Bellevue. He can be reached at 425-454-7956 or email bwilkinson@golftec.com.

My Two Cents

by Cameron Healey

We have a Winner!

Golf Today extends a hearty congratulations to Gene Gilbertson from Seaside, OR who correctly guessed and matched the names of the Washington and Oregon private and public golf courses featured on Golf Today’s December cover.  Gene and three of his golfing buddies have chosen to tee it up at Chambers Bay later this month on Golf Today Magazine’s dime.  No slouch on the greens, Gene currently plays to a 12 handicap and practices his craft at the Gearhart Links in Oregon 2-3 times a week; however, he is thrilled to have an opportunity to test his mettle on a track that will play host to the 2010 U.S. Amateur and 2015 U.S. Open. Let us know how you fare, Gene, and congratulations again from the Golf Today team! 

Seattle, Portland, & Spokane Golf Show
Rain, rain, rain! The wet stuff… and lots of it! Yes, based on the 5 inches more rain that fell on Seattleites last month compared to the same time last year, I feared that I would teeter on the edge of insanity. Of course, it is a safe bet that the Northwest winter will not result in a Vitamin D overdose anytime soon and the short dreary, wet, and often frozen days makes golfing best reserved for the hardy few. Kudos to the hardy few! While I have not put my clubs in hibernation, I would hardly declare that I have been a playing fiend either. Is that shameful? But, with the promise of better playing days ahead, I confess that I have readily jumped on the excitement band-wagon and began preparing for the upcoming Seattle, Portland, and Spokane Golf Shows.  While Seattle Golf Show producers Owen Hoskinson and John Tipping have brought forward the show by one month to early February and have earmarked it as the “official” kick-off to the golf season in the Northwest, I’m simply looking forward to the anticipation of warmer days and better golfing conditions to come!   And based on the 17% jump in attendees last year, I’m sure Tipping and Hoskinson are anticipating another great turnout for 2010.

You only have to consider what is coming down the pipeline this year for the Northwest region such as the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers and the 2010 Boeing Classic at TPC Snoqualmie or the much anticipated 2010 U.S. Senior Open scheduled for late July at the Sahalee Country Club with Freddy Couples in tow and it all makes me a little giddy. To that end, Golf Today invites you to put on your thermals, don the Gortex, and visit us at our double booth at the Seattle Golf Show February 12-14, pick up copies of Golf Today at the Portland Golf Show, or visit us at the Spokane Golf Show Feb 20-21 where you can win a ton of prizes, including brand spanking new drivers, Stay-and-Play trips, and of course, take a shot at guessing how many pink tees are in our popular “Guess the number of Pink Tees” competition. Guess correctly and you’ll go home with either a brand new Cleveland or TaylorMade R9 Driver! 

Heron Lakes Spring Classic
While response to our 2010 Heron Lakes Golf Classic, a fun one-day, play your own ball  event Monday, April 26 at Heron Lakes Golf Course’s Great Blue Course has been great, we still have a few remaining foursomes available, so don’t wait.  Yes, this event is open to ALL of our readers in WA and OR and you do not need to have a handi­cap; in fact, all players, regardless of their score, will take home goody bags worth $100 in value PLUS have an opportunity to win great raffle prizes such as stay-and-play packages, tickets to the 2010 U.S. Senior Open, 2010 Boeing Classic, two-somes to the highly acclaimed Tetherow, Wine Valley, and Pumpkin Ridge Golf Clubs, and free or discounted golf certificates at other great Portland and Oregon courses. Please see page 36 for more details.

What’s New? 

Jorgensen Golf Club
While you may be familiar with local retail golf store Jorgensen Golf located in Mukilteo, WA, you may not be aware that the Jorgensens also run a men’s and women’s amateur golf club. Yes, Diana and Julius Jorgensen organize over 80 tournaments a year played at various Northwest tracks that include Chambers Bay, Langdon Farms, and Bandon Dunes. New this year is the opportunity for golfers to play at selected country club venues, so be sure to check out www.jorgensengolf.com for more information. The Jorgensen Golf Tour is open to players based on handicap index and all players have the opportunity, based on gross and net scores, to earn payouts equal to 40% of the field to win in-store credits for merchandise at Jorgensen Golf.  Based on the number of balls I lose each round, I love this idea!  Other membership benefits include a USGA GHIN handicap, PNGA Membership, Western WA Chapter PGA Pro-Ams, 20% off private video lessons, and free full swing simulator use for custom fitting.  Look to their ad on page 5 for details.

Riverside Golf Club
The next time you are driving on I5 between Seattle and Portland and find yourself with the golfing itch that you just have to scratch, make sure you make a slight detour to play the Riverside Golf Club located just 5 minutes off the Interstate near Chehalis.  Built in 1927 as a 9-hole track that eventually developed to the full 18 in the 1950’s, Riverside is one of those local tracks popular with the locals, but deserving of a much closer look from the region’s golfers.  The golf is challenging for both weekend duffer and scratch golfer alike and the tree-lined surroundings are just delightful. It doesn’t hurt that the amenities and clubhouse (rooftop bar included!) are top notch and the restaurant menu is great-sure to satisfy the biggest post-game appetite. Yes, come spring I suspect the new rooftop bar will be a popular place for golfers while they bask in the afternoon sun reflecting on yet another quality round of golf.  If you are somewhat of a traveling golfer, Riverside makes it easy to stay and play with a dedicated RV park containing 26 sites both 40′ and 50′ w/ full hookups, water and septic hook ups w/ 50/30/20 amp service. As mentioned, they have stay and play packages available. In summary, Riverside is worth the trip where you can play golf at an affordable price in a relaxed atmosphere and maybe even enjoy a few laughs with the locals. For more information, check out their two-for-one specials on page 8 for more information. 

Semiahmoo Resort Golf & Spa
Is offering Northwest golfers a terrific opportunity to buy Pre-Season Golf Cards and save some coin. This is simply a great deal that will save you both time and money on the links with the Semiahmoo Pre-Season Rounds Card. All you need to do is pick the days and the number of rounds you want to play and you save a ton of money. Simple as that, but don’t delay as there are only a limited number remaining! For more information call 800-231-4425! 

POW Gloves
If you are like me you probably have 3-4 gloves sitting in your bag in various states of disrepair.  To me a glove is a glove.  However, when I met the folks at POW gloves last year at the PGA Show in Vegas, I’ll admit I changed my tune. Designed by a team of young guns who have made a name for themselves designing and making ski, snowboard, and mountain bike gloves, POW gloves are a combination of superior function, top notch quality, and frankly, are just plain cool! Each product is made from the finest quality materials and will find favor with both men and women with style. Made with Japanese Grain Cut Cabretta Leather, POW gloves feature air ports on and between fingers to help your hand breathe and are engineered with a pre-curved design that makes taking the glove on and off a cinch. In addition, the glove has Follow Thru Stretch Paneling that maximizes both comfort and ‘feel’.  Yes, they are a firm fit initially but after a few holes POW gloves loosen sufficiently to comfortably mould to your hand, even in damp conditions, allowing golfers to truly “feel the contact” of the club during the swing.  When it comes to function, POW gloves offer both the traditional adjustable hook and loop fastener and the more innovative zipper cuff which allows for quieter operation-important when your partner is lining up a 3 footer! With names such as “Townie” and “Noonan”, and colors and designs such as pink, pearl white, and blue/green argyle, you’re sure to find a style and color to fit your individuality.  For more information, please visit www.powgloves.com or call 888-POW GLVS.
 

Spherical Blade Putters
Ok, hands up from all those that want fewer putts in a round! Hmm.  No brainer, really.  While there are seemingly endless variations of putter designs and nuances of what constitutes a solid putter, one company that is beginning to make some noise in the industry is Spherical Blade putters.  Golf Today had the good fortune of meeting the S-Blade team at the PGA Show last year and was impressed by their technology. How so?  S-Blade Black Eye Series Putters have a spherical shaped face, which means the putter face is designed with gentle curves both top to bottom and side to side, and engineered so that the contact is just above the mid-point of the ball.  This promotes top over bottom roll and a wider sweet spot for better alignment during the putting stroke.  The end result of this technology is that it creates no skid or bobble when the ball leaves the face, and coupled with accurate alignment, equals more holed putts.  New in 2010 is the new putter Line called Black Eye Series with model names like Emperor Classic, Emperor Blade, Sabretooth, Crescent, and Arrowhead!  With a street price of $190 they are not cheap, but you get what you pay for, right? If you want to demo a S-Blade putter, make sure you sign up for our Golf Today tournament in Portland, OR April 26^th and try your hand at the long putt competition.  Top two winners each win an S-Blade Putter to add to their bag!  For more information, please visit www.sbladeputters.com.

Enjoy the issue and we’ll see you on the links! Oh, and if you have something to say or are you interested in having your product featured in Golf Today, please drop me a note at  cameron@golftodaynw.com.

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