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Michigan Golf News April 14, 2006 Vol. 6, No. 15 _/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/ __/
BAY MILLS RESORT AND CASINO/WILD BLUFF GOLF COURSE
OTSEGO CLUB & RESORT-GAYLORD
SHANTY CREEK RESORT & CLUB
DESIGN YOUR OWN IRELAND GOLFING GETAWAY
IN GAYLORD, GOLF THE NATURAL: A JERRY MATTHEWS COURSE __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/
__/ MG ON THE ROAD Edited by Art McCafferty-Producer/Publisher, GLSP __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/
*** The Kendall Academy of Golf, feature owner Dave Kendall, and his fine cast of instructors; Tom Tontapanish, PGA, Paul Haase, PGA, Scott Hayes, Tom Harding, PGA and Sandy Wagner, LPGA. There are ample hitting bays for the Kendall Academy of Golf as well as those just coming in to loosen up. The facility has added new space and more heated tee bays, some of them now on a second story level.
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A Tour of Hawk's Eye http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/hawkseye/
*** --Dr. Bob Rotella, ³Golf is Not a Game of Perfect² In winning the Masters last Sunday, Phil Mickelson seemed at times to be playing a practice round. Paired with a pal, the easy-going Fred Couples in the final group, Mickelson smiled and joked, ³touched knuckles² after dual birdies, and gave every appearance of transcending the intense pressure of the day. ³We had a great time,² said Mickelson afterwards, ³and we kept saying how lucky we were to be in the final pairing on Sunday at the Masters, and how much fun it was.² Such ³letıs-enjoy-the-moment²-cameraderie called to mind Mickelsonıs last Masters win in 2004 when he was paired with Chris DiMarco, another friend on the Tour. In similar fashion, Mickelson was relaxed and smiling throughout the final round, connecting with the gallery and with his playing companion, staying in the moment, and yes, just having fun. Such an attitude was a major factor for Mickelson to finally win his first green jacket. No doubt it was also a factor for winning his second. When asked afterwards in the Media Center whether or not he would have had such a loose, good buddy atmosphere if playing in the final group with Tiger Woods or Vijay Singh, players with which thereıs been some tension (see disastrous 2004 Ryder Cup pairing of Phil and Tiger; see Vijay complaining about Phil ³spiking up² the greens at last yearıs Masters), Mickelson quickly laughed and said, ³That probably wouldnıt have happened.² What did happen, however, was Mickelsonıs masterful control of his game and his meticulous plan and strategy to confront a longer and more challenging Augusta National. Looking back at the week, Mickelsonıs victory can be broken down into three key elements: 1) taking advantage of the par-fives with his power; 2) demonstrating an air-tight short game; and 3) avoiding the ³big number² on a hole. Coming off his birdie-filled win in Atlanta, Mickelson arrived at Augusta with two drivers in his bag, one set for a fade, the other a draw. This little experiment worked beautifully as Mickelson led the field in driving distance. More importantly, he was 13 under par on the par-fives. Of the former Masters champions, only Raymond Floyd played the par-fives better at 14 under in 1976. Mickelsonıs short game was rock-solid, especially with those crucial three and four-foot putts where occasionally in the past his stroke broke down. To his credit, Mickelson has adjusted his once long, flowing stroke to a tighter, more compact one more suitable to Augustaıs ultra fast surfaces. He three-putted only twice in four rounds and none during the final 18. In stark contrast, Couples and Woods struggled mightily on the greens. ³I didnıt hit the ball like I was 46. I just putted like I was 66,² said Couples. Meanwhile, Woods admitted, ³As good as I hit the ball, thatıs as bad as I pu tted. I was a spaz out there.² (Note: On his website, Woods later apologized for the inadvertent use of this offensive term) Woods and Couples three-putted six times each. You donıt win Masters titles with a balky putter. Finally, Mickelson avoided the dreaded train wreckı during his four rounds. He never carded more than a bogey for the week, a pivotal statistic for winning the Masters. And when he got into trouble he managed to save par or bogey with a timely one-putt. During one round, Mickelson salvaged a bogey at the daunting 11th hole, after his second shot went into the water hazard, by deftly getting up and down after his drop. And in the final round, a key hole for Mickelson was the 10th. With the pin in the back, Mickelson left his second shot in the right, greenside bunker, leaving himself a long and dangerous third shot. But he made a superb bunker shot and then made the testy six-footer for par. The Masters week began with most of the attention placed on the golf course itself and how Augusta National had been lengthened and toughened up to combat the dire effects of game-altering technology. To say there was a bit of grumbling and second-guessing would be an understatement. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson went about his business with a smile on his face, a smart game plan, and two drivers in his bag. When asked Sunday night about those course changes, Mickelson quipped, ³You know, Iıd like to say one thing about the changes real quick. I really like em.²
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*** The Michigan PGA is excited to announce several changes for the 2006 Michigan Open Championship. The first major change is the expanded field size. The Michigan Open field size will expand from approximately 156 to 258. The expanded field will result in an increased number of qualifying spots at each qualifier. The change will also result in the use of both The Bear and The Wolverine golf courses for the first two rounds. The field will then be cut to the low 70 and ties for rounds three and four on The Bear. ³Weıre excited about the changes and feel that this will provide a great opportunity for a larger number of players to experience the Championship² said Executive Director Kevin Helm. Qualifying for the Michigan Open will be held on Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May, 23 at eight courses throughout the state. Qualifying sites for Monday, May 22 include: Pine Lake Country Club, Thousand Oaks Golf Club, and Walnut Hills Country Club. Sites for Tuesday, May 23 include: Boyne Highlands Heather, Flint Golf Club, Battle Creek Country Club, Prestwick Village Golf Club, and The Polo Fields Golf and Country Club. The deadline for entry into the 2006 Michigan Open is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10. Please visit the Michigan PGA website at www.michigan.pga.com to enter or call (517) 641-7421 with questions.
*** April 29--Excelsior Days Hickory Golf Tournament Excelsior Springs Golf Course in Excelsior Springs, Missouri May 14 GCS Hoosier Hickory Tournament Saddlebrook Golf Course, Salem, Indiana. May 19-20 Region 2 Hickory Tournament and Trade Fair Twining Valley Golf Club, Dresher, Pennsylvania. May 21 Sweden - Nynäshamn Hickory Open Nynäshamns GK, 45 minutes from Stockholm June 1 & 2 The Ashville Country Club Hickory Tournament June 1-2, 2006, Carolina Mountains Hickory Tournament, Country Club of Asheville, Asheville, NC. June 30 and July 1--The Hickory Open Belvedere Golf Club, Charlevox, MI July 29 and 30--The National Hickory Championship Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina July 30 - Sweden - Roslagen Hickory Greensome Roslagens GK, 45 minutes north of Stockholm. August 23-25 The 7th Annual Canadian Open Hickory Championship 27 hole Legends Golf and Country Club, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada (near Edmonton) August 26 - Sweden - Botkyrka Hickory Foursome Botkyrka GK, 30 minutes from Stockholm September 15, 16 & 17--Charles Blair Macdonald Matches & Eastern Canada Hickory Championship Niagara on the Lake Golf Club. This tournament celebrates the first US-Canada competition in September of 1895. It is played on the oldest North American golf course still on its original site (ca. 1875). September 17 - Sweden - Troxhammar Hickory Open Troxhammers GK, 30 minutes from Stockholm. September 30 - Sweden - Stockholm Hickory Greensome Stockholms GK, 10 minutes from Stockholm. November 12, 13, & 14--GCS Annual Meeting & Trade Show Suncoast Hotel & Casino, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada. Taken and edited from the Hickory Golf website http://www.hickorygolf.com/pages/tournamentscss.html
*** Ticket information at http://treetops.com
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A quickie report reveals that:
Best Balls for most:
Best for those with a slower swing:
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*** The Web site, which was launched two years ago, will serve as a resource for golfers of all skill levels from new and occasional golfers to scratch golfers. While there are many additional features to http://www.playgolfamerica.com, it is still the primary site for adult golfers to find programs to get involved in the game, including Aprilıs Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month, Free Lesson Month (May), American Express Womenıs Golf Week presented by Golf for Women magazine (June 3-10, 2006), Take Your Daughter to the Course Week (July 10-16, 2006), Play Golf America Days, as well as Link Up 2 Golf and First Swing programs. Taken and edited from a PGA news release
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Registration and breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. with an 18-hole shotgun
start at 10 a.m.. Lunch will be provided on the course and the event
will close with an impressive strolling dinner following the day of golf.
The day of entertainment will also include several giveaways,
challenges, and raffles during the round of golf. The event also includes a
Charity Dinner and Auction the evening of July 9th.
*** Next Week; Scott Head, Director of Golf for Treetops, will discuss the upcoming ING Par-3 Shootout and all the happenings at Treetop for this year.
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*** For the full year 2005, rounds played were down 0.1%. Year-to-date, regions experienced the largest positive swings were the Upper Midwest (+141.3%), Lower Midwest (+132.3%) and Northeast (+119.2%). The only region showing a decline was the Northwest (-28.0%). Year-to-date, play at premium public courses (those with peak season weekend green fees with cart above $70) rose 7.5%. At value courses (those with peak season weekend green fees with cart below $40), rounds played also rose 21.2%. At standard courses ($40-70), play was up 13.2%. At all public courses, rounds played were up 0.1% for 2005; year-to-date 2006, up 17.2%. At private clubs, 2005 rounds played were down 1.0%; year-to-date 2006, up 9.4%. Golf Datatech_s numbers show a 2.7% increase in rounds played in February and a 10.6% increase over the first two months. Taken from a NGF and Datatech release
*** Readership of the Michigan Golfer Ezine averaged 9,789 per issue in 2005.
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*** The PGA of America announced the dates as Valhalla prepares to host the largest international sports event ever conducted in Kentucky. Valhalla Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1986, has been host to the 1996 and 2000 PGA Championships, the 2002 PGA Professional National Championship and the 2004 Senior PGA Championship. The Ryder Cup, among the last great sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward, spans 35 competitions over 79 years. Since its origin in 1927, the United States owns a 24-9-2 record. Europe has won seven of the past 10 competitions, and will play host this fall, Sept. 22-24, 2006, at The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland. Taken and edited from a PGA newsletter.
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*** When you look up, causing an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again. Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing. When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls. If you're afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead of you is still putting out, you have two options: you can immediately shank a lay-up, or you can wait until the green is clear and top a ball halfway there. The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing. Thanks and a Tip of the Tam to our friend from Knorr Marketing, Jim McIntyre
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