Dave Donelson Tee To Green

Pound Ridge Adds More Private Club Amenities

2012-01-18T17:01:00.000-05:00

Individual and group plans with flexible playing options and an assortment of benefits are available this year at Pound Ridge Golf Club, the public daily fee Pete Dye design in Westchester County.

Season plans start at $4,000 and several inducements have been added for 2012. Plan holders will get a ten percent discount on pro shop merchandise. They'll also be eligible to compete in the inaugural club championship and monthly tournaments as well as a meet-and-greet social in the spring. The pro shop discount will come in especially handy given the number of balls you'll need to play the demanding course.

Corporate plans feature rounds priced at lower advanced reservation rates for unlimited designated individuals from a business. Plans start at $16,000 and include a complimentary foursome voucher, a $940 value.

“Our individual and group plans offer customized options specific to the unique needs of today’s modern golfer,” says Pound Ridge owner Ken Wang. “From the boardroom to the first tee, our corporate plans are designed for ease-of-access and entertaining clients on a world-class, resort level course.”

Since Pound Ridge opened in 2008, the club has proven there is a market for high-end daily fee golf in Westchester. It may be priced a bit out of the range of the four-rounds-a-week retiree, but it has filled a solid need for golfers looking for a country-club experience on a pay-as-you-go basis.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Some Positive Ideas About Public Golf

2012-01-11T16:21:00.001-05:00

The golf course architecture firm of Robert Trent Jones II® (RTJ II), designers of such storied public golf courses as Poppy Hills and Spanish Bay in California, Washington’s Chambers Bay, and hundreds of others in more than 40 countries around the world, offers ten tenets supporting accessible and affordable public golf.

They come in the form of a Public Golf Proclamation that complements efforts of the ASGCA, NGCOA, USGA, The PGA of America, and golf organizations, associations, and governing bodies worldwide to bring the game to more people in more places.

We should all embrace the comments made by Master Architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., who said, “We believe that golf should...be easily affordable and accessible to everyone who wishes to play it.” Jones took this further, writing in a recent letter to the New York Times, “Golf architects are often called upon to design courses that support upscale real estate developments. But the game’s roots reach down into the Earth, not up into trophy homes. Golf first developed 500 years ago as an accessible and affordable sport that brought people together outdoors, rather than separating them. Many great golf courses serve the public and the environment. The future of our sport lies in embracing the Scottish tradition in which all people are equal as they stand over a white ball.”

The firm's tenets say:

We aspire to:
1. Work with municipalities and other government entities to create great golf courses for their citizens through insightful, integrated master plans specific to each community.
2. Assist communities in creating programs and initiatives that make great public courses accessible and affordable to everyone.
3. Advocate for the creation of golf facilities on degraded sites to return unproductive land to productive and sustainable public uses.
4. Always protect and enhance the environment for the good of all.
5. Design courses that require less earth moving, water, fertilizer, and other resources in an effort to keep investment and operating costs—and therefore green fees—reasonable.
6. Create wider strategic routings and sets of shorter “family tees” to encourage children to take up golf and have fun playing it.
7. Advocate for innovative practice facilities where young people and newcomers can learn to love golf, and support programs and organizations that introduce new players to the sport.
8. Design facilities that encourage speed of play, including inventive layouts such as “Learning Courses,” par-three routings, 6-, 9-, and 12-hole loops, and others.
9. Create public courses that are flexible, fun, and challenging to golfers of a wide range of abilities.
10. Encourage golf course owners to support local businesses and take an active role in their communities.

Given the declining state of the game today, it makes sense doesn't it?

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Invaluable Lessons From John Kennedy

2012-01-04T14:08:00.001-05:00

At last, a golf instruction book that tells you how to think about the game, not just swing a club! It's Tales From The Lesson Tee by John Kennedy, Director of Golf at Westchester Country Club. Kennedy writes in the spirit of the famous quotation from Bobby Jones, "Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course, the space between your ears." His book is a compendium of stories, suggestions, and well-thought-out examples that prove how we mentally approach the game of golf is just as important--if not more so--than the physical moves we use to play it.

Kennedy's long, rich experience in golf shows on every page. He talks about the lessons he learned teaching the game to everyone from rank beginners to tour pros during his more than 20 years at Westchester, a PGA Tour stop for decades and one of the largest private clubs in the country. The PGA of America gave Kennedy the 2010 Horton Smith Award, honoring him as the nation's leading educator in his profession. When he makes suggestions about how to think about your game, you should listen.

Reading the book is like having a long, easy conversation with Kennedy. He doesn't just tell you to practice more, for example, he explains how to get the most from your time on the range, then mixes in a few stories of players who've done it both the right way and the wrong way--often to humorous effect. There are sections on how (and why) to set reasonable goals for yourself, how to find and work with an instructor that's right for you, how to maintain your mental equilibrium before, during, and after a round, and much more.

It is absolutely refreshing to read a golf instruction book that never once promises to help you hit it longer, higher, or straighter. The subtitle tells it all: "How To Know Your Game, Know Yourself, And Play Better Without Changing Your Swing."

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

RDC Group Adds Shackamaxon To Roster Of Fine Clubs

2011-12-21T14:55:00.004-05:00

The venerable Shackamaxon Golf and Country Club in Scotch Plains, NJ, has been purchased by an affiliate of RDC Golf Group, Inc. (RDC), a leading New Jersey-based golf course ownership and management company. Shackamaxon was founded in 1916 and features a historic A.W. Tillinghast golf course. The championship, par-71 layout boasts one of the most famous holes in the New York-metro area: the ninth-hole island green, one of Tillinghast’s first island green creations.

The club has hosted a number of prestigious events including the 1922, 1937, 1972 and 2002 New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA) Open Championship, the 1924 and 1977 NJSGA Amateur Championship, the 1928 Met Open, the 1955 Cavalcade of Golf and the 2010 Women’s Eastern Golf Association Amateur Championship.

The club’s new ownership group combines the golf expertise of RDC Principals Christopher Schiavone and Matthew Galvin with the hospitality experience of Warren Leeds, president of the highly-regarded Whippany, N.J.-based Ome Caterers.

“Shackamaxon is a great private club with a proud history,” said Schiavone. “My partners and I believe that our commitment to high standards, along with the support of a great membership, will ensure Shack’s future as one of New Jersey’s top country clubs.”

Schiavone’s family has been entrenched in New Jersey golf for 46 years, having co-owned Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster since 1965. Schiavone founded RDC in 1993, and shortly thereafter, joined forces with Galvin, who currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Golf Course Owners Association.

The company and its affiliates own and operate the renowned Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, NJ, and the family-oriented Tuscawilla Country Club in Orlando, FL. RDC also manages the Gil Hanse-designed public Tallgrass Golf Course in Shoreham, NY, and the daily-fee Putnam National Golf Club in Mahopac, NY.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Swing Science At St Andrews

2011-12-19T11:20:00.000-05:00

It may be home to the Old Course, but there's nothing ancient about the teaching facilities at St Andrews. A new biomechanics system has been introduced at St Andrews Links Golf Academy and it promises to measure the golfer's swing in ways you can't imagine. The system was developed by an Olympic athlete to monitor a golfer's movements using small sensors to detect rotational and translational movement of the segments of the body during the swing.

The Advanced Motion Measurement (AMM) System is used by a number of top players on the PGA Tour. The system was developed by Stephen Cheetham and his brother Philip, an Australian gymnast who competed in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. They founded AMM in 2003 to develop motion measurement products which can be used to improve the physical performance of athletes and to reduce the chances of injury.

The data from the swing motion measurement can then be fully analysed using TPI3D analysis software. The team of PGA professionals at the St Andrews Golf Academy, led by director of instruction Steve North, will use the system in their coaching programs to deliver precise swing improvement tips for their clients. It monitors elements such as sway, lift and thrust, pelvis rotation, forward bend and side bend.

“This is an impressive system which will give us a great deal of useful data in terms of analysing clients’ swings and precisely identifying aspects they need to improve,” said Steve. “It captures over 200 different parameters of the swing which will enable us to zero in very quickly on areas of weakness and to monitor improvements in performance. We are focused on delivering the best coaching we can to our clients using instruction techniques tailored to the golfer’s requirements and utilising the most advanced technology available.”

The AMM system is the latest addition to an array of technology used in the Golf Academy including Trackman ball tracking system, SAM PuttLab, K-Vest, SAM BalanceLab, V1 analysis software and online platform. The Golf Academy delivers coaching through its team of four PGA professionals and club fitting services through the Custom Fit Centre.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Paramount Names Steve Scott Head Pro

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Steve Scott, who famously battled with Tiger Woods in the 1996 U.S. Amateur, has been named the new head golf professional at Paramount Country Club in New City, NY.

Scott, who played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and had two victories on the Canadian Tour, turned professional in 1999. The now 34-year-old also has been the number-one-ranked amateur in the U.S. (1999), member of two Walker Cup teams and the U.S. World Amateur Team, and winner of both the stroke and match-play sections of the Western Amateur (1999). Scott also competed in the 1996 U.S. Open Championship and 1997 Masters.

“I’m very excited to be coming to Paramount,” Scott said, “a club with a great membership, long history, and outstanding reputation. The course is a hidden gem, one of the best layouts in the Metropolitan Area. It’s a shame more people don’t know more about it, but I certainly hope to help change that.”

For the past three years, Scott was head golf professional at The Ridge at Back Brook in Ringoes, NJ. A three-time All American at University of Florida, course commentator for Golf Channel and teacher at the Golf Digest Instructional Schools, Scott also was assistant golf professional at Canoe Brook Country Club (Summit, NJ), Jupiter Hills Club (Tequesta, Florida), and Hidden Creek Golf Club (Egg Harbor Township, NJ).

Paramount Country Club, founded in 1920, is a private club located on 217 acres of rolling hills high above the Hudson River in Rockland County, NY. The course was originally designed by Golden Age architect A.W. Tillinghast and is currently being renovated by Jim Urbina. When completed, the course will have many of its original strategic elements restored. It also will boast the one-of-a-kind “Reef Hole,” an especially challenging par-3 design that Tillinghast invented and used on some other courses, but exists today only at Paramount.

“I’ve been privileged to work at some of the finest clubs in the country,” said Scott. “I think I have an understanding of great architecture and there is no doubt in my mind that Paramount is right up there with the best of them. When Jim Urbina completes his restoration of Paramount many people will be amazed at what has been covered up for all these years. This is a wonderful opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Check Golf Weather at Golfweather.com

2011-12-07T05:57:00.000-05:00

Not sure whether to pack your rain gear? Check out Golfweather.com, an online weather forecast service for golf courses and golf destinations that now provides up-to-the-minute weather conditions at over 16,000 golf courses throughout the U.S. The brainchild of South African entrepreneur Moshe Adir, Golfweather.com offers real-time seven-day forecasts that include temperature, wind speed and direction, comfort level and probability of rain. And it's free!

“We gather raw weather data from renowned meteorological organizations and use my own forecast algorithms and weather models to provide longitude and latitude location-based forecasts for each golf club in the U.S. and around the world, which results in an incredibly accurate picture of what the weather is going to be like there on any given day,” says Adir, a three-handicap golfer. “Our detailed forecast is broken down into three hourly segments for 5a.m., 8a.m., 11a.m., 2p.m., 5p.m. and 8p.m. to give the golfer an understanding of when best to tee off." When I checked the site, times were listed according to a 24-hour clock, so be ready to do a little math.

It’s not only golfers who depend on the weather accuracy of Golfweather.com. Golf course superintendents are now tapping the online source when setting up their courses for the day and deciding on pin positions and tees according to wind directions and strengths.

Golfweather.com was founded in 2009 in South Africa, and by 2010 grew to include Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The free online tool now pinpoints weather at more than 26,000 courses worldwide. Golfweather.com has already released its app service for the iPhone and soon for Android phones.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

A Better Chance To Play The Old Course

2011-11-28T06:25:00.000-05:00

Here's some welcome news from St Andrews. Effective next year, the ballot for tee times on the world famous Old Course will be drawn two days ahead effective in January 2012. The ballot has been drawn one day ahead for many years but St Andrews Links Trust, which manages the seven public courses in the town, is making the change to help players plan their golf more effectively.

On Saturday, January 7, 2012, the ballot will be drawn for Monday, January 9 and will continue to be drawn two days ahead from then onwards.

The 48 hour ballot will dovetail with the one-day ahead booking system on the Castle, Jubilee, Eden and Strathtyrum courses and will enable golfers who have been unsuccessful in the ballot to book an alternative course for the day they want to play. The earlier draw will make it easier for visiting golfers to plan accommodation and travel arrangements and will encourage them to stay longer in St Andrews and play more golf in and around the town.

Euan Loudon, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said, “The ballot is designed to ensure that golfers who haven’t been able to book in advance still have a chance to play the Old Course. It has been drawn one day ahead for many years but we conducted an extensive consultation exercise with a range of different stakeholders and the feedback was that people felt drawing it two days ahead would make it much easier for people to plan their golf. We believe the change will help to improve the experience of playing in St Andrews and to ensure that people have more opportunity to book golf on the other courses.”

To enter the ballot requires at least two golfers and they will have to enter their names, home clubs and handicaps by 2pm. The ballot will take place every day of the week with the exception of Friday as there is no play on the Old Course on Sundays. The entries can be made by phone on 01334 466666 or in person at any of the three clubhouses at the Links.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Great Golf Art On Line

2011-11-18T07:04:00.000-05:00

Collectors and admirers of the finest golf art have a new online resource, St. Andrews Golf Art, where they can find work from highly regarded contemporary artists who have memorialized the game’s legends, historic courses and iconic competitive moments on canvas, in sculptures, illustrations or other media.

Renowned international artists were selected for the online launch of St. Andrews Golf Art, including Walt Spitzmiller, Joe Austen, Adriano Manocchia and Simon Russell. Their sought-after work is exhibited in museums, galleries and clubhouses, as well as held in private and corporate collections around the world. Each artist has a distinctive style that showcases aspects and interpretations of the game’s rich heritage and vital spirit.

Walt Spitzmiller

Walt is one of the world’s foremost sporting artists and his work is widely held by private and corporate collectors, including many golf legends such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson as well as the PGA TOUR. For many years, Walt’s art regularly illustrated stories in Sports Illustrated and GOLF Magazine, and he was the chief contributing artist to Senior Golfer Magazine.

Joe Austen

Joe is one of the world’s foremost painters of sports portraits. His oil paintings are exhibited in clubhouses and hotels in the United States, Japan and Europe and in prestigious private and corporate collections throughout the world. The Austen Gallery in the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland houses many of Joe’s impressive works, including the ambitious “World of Golf” (16’ x 10’) and the mesmerizing multiple swing action sequence portrait of Jack Nicklaus.

Adriano Manocchia

Adriano began his career as a photojournalist and traveled the world covering news events. In 1984, he started painting and quickly received the attention of collectors and art critics worldwide. Many of his early works concentrated on landscapes and the great outdoors. In 1992, Adriano was introduced to golf when the USGA commissioned him to paint a series of oils of famous courses. The PGA TOUR recently commissioned Adriano to create a major painting of the Tour’s new clubhouse at Sawgrass, with the 18th hole in the foreground, and the work is on display in the clubhouse’s Champions Room.

Simon Russell

Simon Russell is the pseudonym of a hyper-realist artist from the former Soviet Republic and is now resident in one of the new states surrounding Russia. He has a very fine eye for detail, having honed his talent in the etching of photography for gravestones. His depiction of golfers such as Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Payne Stewart, Colin Montgomerie and others is captivating, as is his interpretation of The Old Course’s famous Swilcan Bridge.

St. Andrews Golf Art also welcomes inquiries for special commissions from golf clubs, corporate clients or individuals who appreciate the appeal of acquiring a significant piece(s) of art from one of the world’s foremost golf artists. This could include incorporating a series of relevant pieces for a themed area, room or corridor of a clubhouse or private residence. For further information, contact Alasdair Busby at www.standrewsgolfart.com or by telephone 0044 (0)7757 358918.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Bensel Notches Back-To-Back Wins At PGA Assistant Championship

2011-11-07T07:54:00.000-05:00

Century Country Club's Frank Bensel laid down a scorching final round six-under-par 66 to grab the trophy for the 2011 Callaway Golf PGA Assistant Championship this last weekend. Bensel's come-from-behind win also made him only the second player to hoist the trophy two years in a row. The Purchase, NY, assistant pro also won the tournament in 2010.

At the beginning of the final round, Bensel was eight big strokes off the pace in a tie for 24th. Then he poured it on in a round that saw an eagle and five birdies to post a 283 total, a stroke ahead of a group of six players that included Aaron Clark of Springfield, MO, Scott Berliner of Albany, NY, Jamie Broce of Clayton, IN, Tyler Hitchcock of Orlando, FL, Ryan Sikora of Greensburg, PA, and Richard Terga of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The tournament was played at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL.

Bensel's win earned him a coveted spot in the 45th PGA Professional National Championship at Bayonet and Black Horse in Seaside, CA, next June, and a $9,000 first-place check. It makes him the fourth player in Championship history to win more than one title. He joins Darrell Kestner (1982, '87), Jim Schuman (1996, '97) and Kyle Flinton (2002, '03, '05) in the small group with multiple titles.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Miracle On Breeze Hill

2011-10-31T11:28:00.000-04:00

One of the more unusual--and entertaining--golf books I've read recently is Miracle On Breeze Hill: The Making of Atlantic Golf Club by Lowell Schulman, the man who created this great golf course on Long Island. What makes it unusual is that much of the narrative deals with the business side of building the club from scratch. This may sound like a dry subject of interest only to bean counters, but Schulman brings it to life with a chatty, effervescent style that adds a lot of human interest to the topic.

I've had the pleasure to play the golf course, too, which makes the story even more fascinating. Atlantic is a spectacular track that ranks right up there with its neighbors in the Hamptons, The National Golf Links, Shinnecock, and Maidstone. Schulman found the property, envisioned the course it could become, and hired Rees Jones to make it a reality. The story of how they turned farmland into a fine links-style golf course makes a fascinating read for any golfer with more than a passing interest in the sport.

In addition to telling his side of the story, Schulman enlisted the other major players in the tale to give their accounts. Rees Jones, greenkeeper Bob Ranum, and general manager James J. Glover all added insights. I was especially fascinated by Tom Julius, who shepherded the project through a Byzantine approvals process that could easily have brought it to a halt. The golf world is a better place for their efforts and the world's library of golf books is better for Lowell Schulman having added this volume to it.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Met Golf Writers Welcome New President

2011-10-26T14:41:00.001-04:00

Ralph Wimbish, Late Night Sports Editor of the New York Post and my partner in many golf adventures, has been elected president of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. He succeeds Ron Sirak of Golf World, who served for the past three years.

Bruce Beck of WNBC TV-4 and Peter Morrice of Golf Digest were re-elected vice presidents.

Wimbish, who has worked for The Post since 1988, previously worked at newspapers in St. Petersburg, Fla., Westchester Rockland, N.Y., Pontiac, Mich., Pittsburgh, Rome (Italy) and Middletown, N.Y.

He joined the MGWA Board of Directors in 2006 and became a vice president in 2008. A native of St. Petersburg, FL, and a graduate of the University of South Florida, he lives with his wife, Grace, in Mount Vernon, NY.

Re-elected to the MGWA Board: Sirak; Dave Anderson, New York Times; Daniel Berger, DMB Media Network; Martin Davis, The American Golfer; Damon Hack, Sports Illustrated; Ed Ingles, WRHU-FM; Pete Kowalski, U.S. Golf Assn.; Andy Lavine, Trump National Hudson Valley; Ann Liguori, Ann Liguori Productions; Jay Mottola, Met Golf Assn.; Howard Munck, freelance; Pat Norton, On Course Strategies; Bill Pennington, New York Times; Bruce J. Smith, Sporty Bear Productions; Chuck Stogel, freelance; Tony Wimpfheimer, The Met Golfer.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

USGA and R&A Finally Acknowledge Wind Broke The Rules

2011-10-25T14:14:00.000-04:00

The USGA and the R&A finally changed the rules of golf to reflect the reality of playing in windy conditions. Following an exhaustive, four-year review of golf’s 34 playing Rules, nine principal Rules have been amended to improve clarity and ensure penalties are proportionate. The most significant change that will affect most players is one dealing with a ball that moves after a player addresses it:

Ball Moving After Address (Rule 18-2b). A new exception is added which exonerates the player from penalty if their ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that they did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.

Hopefully, this will end situations like the one during the final round of this year’s Open Championship when Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was penalized when his ball was moved on the seventh green by the wind after he had addressed it.

Padraig Harrington, three-time Major winner and R&A-Working for Golf Ambassador, said: “I am delighted with the changes, in particular the ball moving after address. Every time the wind blows I am worried that my ball is going to move and I am worried about grounding my putter, distracting me from trying to hole my putt.

“This change will speed up play, there won’t be as many suspensions and players won’t be getting penalized or disqualified unfairly. It is definitely giving us players a little bit of a break.”

Among the other changes are these:

Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions (Rule 13-4). Exception 2 to this Rule is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 (improving lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play) is not breached.

Time of Starting (Rule 6-3a). The rule is amended to provide that the penalty for starting late, but within five minutes of the starting time, is reduced from disqualification to loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Previously this penalty reduction could be introduced as a condition of competition.

Another change is the announcement of publication of a single set of rules with a common cover, something it only took the two groups 60 years to accomplish. Commenting on the revisions to the Rules of Golf, USGA Senior Director of Rules of Golf Thomas Pagel said: “We have produced a unified code of the Rules of Golf for 60 years and although the context has been the same, we often found the perception that there were different Rules in place depending upon where you were to play the game.

“Now the book will not only have the same content, but it will also be presented in a uniform fashion with similar formatting and covers; this will truly be a single code governing the Rules of the game that reflects the strong collaboration between The R&A and USGA.”

There has been a unified code of golf since 1952 but until now The R&A and the USGA have published the same rules in separate editions, thereby giving the impression to some that the rules were different. However, this year sees identical publications with only some spellings and respective logos changing depending whether the edition serves the U.S. and Mexico or the rest of the world.

Golfing legend Arnold Palmer welcomed the announcement of a jointly published edition of the Rules. He said: “What has happened with The R&A and the USGA is wonderful. In the years I have been associated with the game and got to know The R&A and what their efforts are and having lived with the USGA all my life, one of the things I have always thought we should be closer together.”

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

The Science Says My Putting Sucks

2011-10-23T09:16:00.000-04:00

In my endless quest for lower scores (that's why we play this game isn't it?) and not willing to leave well enough alone, I spent some time with club fitters Woody Lashen and Kevin Gregorios from Pete's Golf Shop. The task: measure my putting stroke. The results: my stroke flunked almost all the tests.

Actually, it wasn't all that bad, but I have to say my confidence was pretty shaken after I saw what was really going on when I tried to use what I thought was a pretty effective putting technique. Kevin had me hit five putts--about ten-footers on a pretty straight line--and recorded them using the Science And Motion's PuttLab. The technology uses ultrasound to measure 28 parameters of the stroke.

I won't bore you with all the numbers (mainly because I'm not sure I completely understand some of them), but a few jumped out at me. Here's how my aim looked at setup.

Pretty ugly, huh? I've been told by neutral observers--some of whom snickered as they said it--that I typically address the putt with my shoulders aimed right. I guess I subconsciously compensate by aiming my putter face left, or closed.

Then there's the path my putter follows.

Kind of looks like it follows the direction of my shoulders, doesn't it? If this was all I'd seen, I might have tossed my clubs in the lake and retired to the chess board or some other game where aim doesn't matter. But then Kevin showed me what my putter face looked like at impact.

Now that's encouraging. My putting stroke may look like Jim Furyk's full swing--once described as an octopus trying to change clothes in a phone booth--but it puts the putter face squarely behind the ball at the moment of impact when it counts.

One thing I found that really surprised me, though, was the amount of loft I was adding to the putter with my stroke.

This was a real shocker because I've been working hard lately on doing just the opposite. I read Dave Stockton's book on putting and had just delved into Michael Breed's new book (reviews to come) and thought I was de-lofting the putter with a forward press. Guess not.

Of course, there were loads of other data in the report Kevin sent me after the session. He also measured the swing path, loft and rise of the club, the timing of my swing, and its dynamics (remember that octopus analogy?) as well as where on the putter face the ball made contact. It was all very helpful and I hope to spend more time with the system someday.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

A Unique View Of Golf

2011-10-12T06:49:00.000-04:00

Steve Sunenblick expresses his views of the game of golf in a fascinating way. An award-winning artist with studios in Portland, Maine, and San Miguel, Mexico, Sunenblick is an avid, nine-handicap golfer. Like the writer who writes what he knows, he paints what he knows....in this case, golf.

Sunenblick received his BFA from the Maine College of Art in and his work has been exhibited extensively in Portland, including several gallery exhibits at Le Galeyrie in Falmouth, Maine. In addition, Steve was selected for the 2006 juried Biennial for the Maine Center for Contemporary Art.

Sunenblick's work has also been exhibited and featured at high-profile events at the Desert Golf and Travel Show in Palm Springs, Calif.; at the Harmony Institute Golf Invitational in Harmony, Fla.; at the Essex Country Club in Manchester, Mass., and at the Bellas Artes in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. To learn more about this interesting golfer/artist, visit www.artofgolf.com.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

First Tee Celebrates Ten Great Years

2011-10-01T05:39:00.000-04:00

President Bill Clinton and NBC Sports personality Dan Hicks headline The First Tee of Metropolitan New York’s 10th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the American Museum of Natural History on October 5th. The event will celebrate the success the chapter has had over the past 10 years, and honor the Rudin Family, founding partners the MGA Foundation and Met PGA, and other key supporters.

To hear more about the event, click here (mp3 audio). For more information about the Gala contact, Rachel Newman at rnewman@thefirstteemetny.org or call 718-655-9164.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Such A Deal! At Putnam National

2011-09-28T11:18:00.000-04:00

Be one of the first 50 people to sign up for a 2012 Season Pass at Putnam National Golf Club, and enjoy unlimited golf for only $299. Putnam National, the New York, daily-fee, 18-hole championship golf course owned by Putnam County and operated by RDC Golf Group, offers a picturesque landscape of rolling hills, expansive fairways and undulating greens. To enjoy Hudson Valley’s great public golf value, call (845) 628-4200.

For $299, the first 50 golfers may play anytime weekdays and after 12 p.m. on weekends and holidays through the 2012 season. The next 50 golfers to sign up will be offered a 2012 Season Pass for only $349. The price will then rise to $399. Cart fees are required each play.

“I have been in this business for 15 years, and I have never seen a deal this good,” says Putnam National Head Golf Professional David Patrone.

I must confess I've been around even longer, and it looks pretty good to me, too.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Only The Shadow Knows How To Kill Your Slice

2011-09-23T06:00:00.004-04:00

Is that old banana ball still ruining your life on the course? Check out this drill from Brian Crowell's Slice-Free Golf. In this quick video, Brian shows you how to use your own shadow in a drill to help keep the ball in the short grass.

Slice-Free Golf is the culmination of Brian's years of studying golf swings that go wrong by going right. It's full of swing tips and drills to help you create a sweet, penetrating draw. You can learn more at www.slicefreegolf.com and you can get the book from your favorite bookseller--and ebooks are available too.

I had the pleasure of working with Brian on this book and can honestly say I learned more about my swing during that process than I have in nearly 50 years on the links.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Billy Casper Visits Hampshire CC

2011-09-22T06:52:00.000-04:00

Golf legend Billy Casper will entertain members at Hampshire Country Club on Saturday, September 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Casper will participate in a Q&A at a member breakfast, provide swing and putting tips, sign autographs and take photos with Hampshire members. The Masters and two-time U.S. Open champion with 51 PGA TOUR victories has close ties to Westchester County, having won his first major, the 1959 U.S. Open, at Winged Foot.

“Coming to Mamaroneck brings back wonderful memories for me,” says Casper, a member of the PGA and World Golf Hall of Fame. “I look forward to seeing everyone and making new friends; sharing tales and tips with golfers who love this great game is an honor.”

“Billy Casper’s unbelievable career, affection for the game and genial personality will make memorable experiences for our members,” says Steve Till, General Manager of Hampshire.

Overlooking Long Island Sound and only 30 minutes from Manhattan, the 116-acre Hampshire Country Club was organized in 1944. The golf course was designed by Devereux Emmett and built in 1927. It was fully renovated in 2004 by architect Stephen Kay to an 18-hole, 6,326-yard, par-71 layout with small, elevated greens and narrow, tree-lined fairways.

Redesigned in 2006, the expansive, stylish and handsomely-appointed clubhouse is home to both casual and upscale dining options. The restaurant, café, banquet area, outdoor patio and swimming pool feature expansive views of the Sound.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

My Numbers Show The Power Of Club Fitting

2011-09-20T12:14:00.000-04:00

Distance? You want distance? Get yourself to a competent club fitter immediately. I spent a couple of hours on the fitting tee with Steve Kurnit at DD Custom Golf, a new club fitting service operating at Fairview Golf Center in Elmsford, yesterday and saw some numbers that made my jaw drop. How about another 20 yards on my drives and ten more yards with my irons? Those numbers aren't to be sneezed at.

Steve started with a complete analysis of the clubs in my bag today. FYI, my driver is about five years old--and I was fitted for it at the time by a good, experienced club fitter. My irons have been around for three years and were fitted to me by the company rep, so these weren't off-the-rack junk either. I've also not been unhappy with the results I was getting--at least until Steve took me to the top of the mountain and showed me what kinds of shots I could hit.

My current driver distance is about average for a slightly better than mediocre player: according to the monitor, I carry it 226 yards and it runs out to a total distance of 254 yards. On this day, at least, I also hit it only about a yard off line. Then Steve started tinkering (mostly switching shafts) until he put one in my hands that carried 243 yards and produced total distance of 273 yards--with just a slight increase in distance off the center line. Maybe it's not tour length, but it's longer than I ever expected to hit the ball.

Then we went to my six iron. The current club carries 167 yards with a peak height of 27 yards and produces total distance of 185 yards. By the time Steve got done testing different configurations, I was hitting a six iron 175 yards in the air with another 20 yards of run out for total distance of 195 yards. That particular club didn't have quite as much height in the ball flight, though, (peak height of 20 yards) so he made up another one that carried almost as far--172 yards--at a peak height of 26 yards for total distance of 192 yards. All without tinkering with my swing!

Think about these numbers for a minute. If I'm playing a 450-yard par four now, it takes a 250-yard tee shot followed by a hybrid or even fairway wood to reach the green in regulation. If I arm myself with clubs made to Steve's specs, I'll be hitting a seven or eight iron into that green. Gee, you think my scores might go down?

BTW, I interviewed Steve not long after he opened shop in Elmsford. He explained the procedures he follows in an earlier post.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Westchester Women Dominate Tournament Field

2011-09-06T09:03:00.000-04:00

In an unprecedented achievement, the Westchester chapter of the EWGA advanced not one, not two, but seven golfers onto the EWGA Championship, the largest women’s amateur golf competition in the world. The chapter is sending more winners to the national championship than any other chapter in the country.

photo courtesy of Westchester EWGA

The seven winners include
First flight
- Sherri Wilson (1st low gross 84), Related Properties Corp.
- Linda Stillwell (1st low net 89), Corcoran Group

Second flight
- Sherry Bruck (1st low gross 94), Harquin Creative Group

Scramble team (net 67)
- Cara Vietri, MasterCard Worldwide
- Cindy Crowley, Olshan Realty Inc.
- Carolina Madero, MasterCard Worldwide
- Melinda Ruffing, Altria

They all qualify to compete in the 16th Annual Championship Finals, a 36-hole event to be held in Palm Desert, California, Oct. 20th and 21st. They will join the qualifying players from the 15 Semi-Final Championship events around the country.

“Of course it’s an exciting year for our chapter to have an unprecedented number of competitors who have succeeded at the northeast regional level, moving on to nationals in Palm Desert, California, said Chapter President and winner, Sherry Bruck. “The important thing to note is that we are all working women who just share a love of golf. EWGA encourages women of all skill levels to play and gives them an opportunity to learn, connect and grow with golf.” More than 200 women who make up the Westchester chapter of EWGA, the only all-inclusive female golf organization in the Hudson Valley.

Each of the Westchester seven are already champions, having competed and won in the Westchester Chapter Championship (one of 120 chapters nationwide) and then having won at the Metro Northeast Region level which is comprised of eight chapters. There are fifteen EWGA regions in the country.

Since its founding in 1991 as the Executive Women’s Golf Association, the EWGA has touched the lives of more than 100,000 women by connecting them to learn, play, and enjoy golf for business and fun. For more information about the association and its membership, visit www.EWGAwestchester.com

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Does Couples Win Mark End Of Pro Golf In Westchester?

2011-08-22T06:17:00.001-04:00

You couldn't ask for a more exciting golf tournament than the 2011 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship at Westchester Country Club. The most popular player in golf, Fred Couples, won it yesterday in a sudden death playoff that went three holes against John Cook.

photo courtesy of the Champions Tour

Couples trailed Cook by one stroke with three holes to play in regulation, but Cook opened the door for Couples at the par-3 16th by making bogey after a poor pitch shot from short of the green. Couples was over the green on the 225-yard hole, but he managed to save par and force a tie by holing a 15-foot putt just after Cook missed his par effort from 25 feet. After both players made routine pars on the final two holes of regulation and the first playoff hole, Couples appeared to have the advantage when he hit the par-5, 18th hole in two. However, he squandered the opportunity to win by three-putting for par from 70 feet. The duo went back to the par-4 17th hole where Cook pulled his wedge shot from the fairway 18 feet left of the hole. Couples, just barely in the right rough, launched a sand wedge shot that stopped just three feet from the cup. After Cook missed his birdie putt, Couples tapped in for the victory.

So what's next for the tournament? Executive Director Steven Schoenfeld told me yesterday before the final round that it's all up in the air for 2012 and beyond. While the event will be definitely be held--it is the Champions Tour's fifth major, after all--the venue is far from decided. The only thing for sure, Schoenfeld said, is that it won't be at Westchester Country Club next year. The PGA Tour would like to keep it in Westchester, and there are plenty of great courses that could host it here, but they need a title sponsor to make that happen. Otherwise, the event will probably move to one of the tour-owned TPC Courses where there's no rent required. This was the final year for Constellation Energy's sponsorship and the prospects of finding another title sponsor in this economy aren't great, although Schoenfeld said there are several meetings with potential sponsors next month.

It would be a shame to see professional golf leave Westchester again. Watching the game on television is nothing like standing fifteen feet away from a player like Corey Pavin while he goes through his pre-shot routine and blasts a bunker shot to three feet from the cup. Or seeing Mark Calcavecchia hurl his driver against a rock outcropping that snagged his off-line tee-shot. You'd never hear the words he used on TV, either. the Golf Channel did a great job of covering the tournament, but it can't match being there in person.

You also can't see the real golf course on the TV screen, no matter how big it is. The hardest hole at Westchester this year was the par-4 12th, which played to a stroke average of 4.421, ranking it as the fourth hardest hole on the 2011 Champions Tour. Only 10 birdies were made there during the four days of competition. You can't begin to see how elevated that green is when you see it on a TV screen, or how awkward the lies can be for the players' approach shots from the steeply falling fairway.

Let's hope the tour can find a sponsor and a keep professional golf in Westchester. I'm sure I'm not the only golfer who'd like to see Freddie defend his title next year.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Fedex Cup Isn't Only Great Golf Event At Plainfield

2011-08-21T06:00:00.010-04:00

While all golf eyes are fixed on The Barclays, the first playoff event in the quest for the FedEx Cup, that's not the only great golf event taking place at Plainfield Country Club. In 2009, Plainfield became the first private golf club in the country to build a First Tee chapter. In a relatively short time, the program has grown to over 250 aspiring young junior golfers who meet at Plainfield's West Nine in Edison, NJ.

In July of this year, The First Tee of Metropolitan New York launched its Path to College Program for First Tee participants at the club. On Tuesday, July 12, Drew University in Madison, NJ, hosted approximately forty 7th, 8th, and 9th graders for an information session and tour around the beautiful Drew campus. The information session focused on educating the participants on what steps they should take to prepare for college, including studying hard to achieve a high GPA and researching colleges to find the right one for each individual.

"One of the great things about being alive today is that we have options, especially when it comes to schools," said Luis Pena, Admissions Counselor at Drew University. "You need to take ownership of your college search. There is a school for every single person."

The participants were eager to gain as much knowledge about the college process as possible and were filled with questions for the counselors. "I learned that a college campus has a lot more to offer than sports," said Quavis Anderson, participant of The First Tee. "I want to find a place where I am comfortable."

Led by Drew University students, the participants went on a tour of the campus and got a taste for what college would be like. For some, this was their first time on a college campus. "I didn't think it would be this nice," said Andrew Gutierrez, participant of The First Tee.

Later in the afternoon, older students of The First Tee attended their first SAT preparation class, taught by Mark Hoyt. Participants were introduced to the math section of the SAT and learned about special techniques to use when solving the tricky SAT math problems. These classes will take place at both the Essex County and Plainfield facilities over the next 12 weeks and will prepare participants for the SAT this October.

The following day, high school students in the Program toured Rutgers University and gained additional information on the acceptance process and setting a proactive timeline for college admission.

For more information about Plainfield CC and the First Tee program there, contact Bill Castner, PGA,
(908) 769-3672 or castnerpga@gmail.com.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Met Open At Sleepy Hollow

2011-08-20T07:12:00.003-04:00

A powerful field of more than 150 golfers will compete in the Met Life Metropolitan Open Championship at Sleepy Hollow Country Club August 23-25. This will be the first Met Open hosted by the Scarborough, NY, club, a major highlight of Sleepy Hollow's centennial year celebration.

Defending champion Bob Rittberger will face challenges from top players like Rob Labritz, winner of the 2011 NY State Open, Andrew Giuliani, 2009 Met Open champion, Kevin Foley, 2011 New Jersey State Open champion, and Frank Bensel, 2011 Connecticut Open champion and a previous Met Open champion. Former champions of the modern era include Darrell Kestner, George Zahringer III, Bobby Heins, Mike Diffley, Johnson Wagner, and Andrew Svoboda. Wagner, who won the Met Open as an amateur in 2001, won the title again in 2002 for his first victory as a professional.

The Met Open was once considered one of golf's "majors" along with the U.S. Open and Western Open. Winners during golf's golden era include Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Byron Nelson, Craig Wood, and Claude Harmon.

photo courtesy of Sleepy Hollow CC

Sleepy Hollow Country Club was founded in 1911 by some of the nation's most prominent business leaders at the pinnacle of America's "Gilded Age" including members of the Vanderbilt and Rockefeller families. Charles Blair Macdonald, assisted by Seth Raynor, designed the course, which was later tweaked by A.W. Tillinghast. More recently, Sleepy Hollow Country Club completed a comprehensive restoration bringing back the original designs and concepts of Macdonald. The result is a wonderful classic yet fully up-to-date course world renowned for its 16th hole, with its dramatic green and unparalleled view of the Hudson Valley.

John Cooney, Jr., President of the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, said: "We are honored to have been selected to host the Met Open during our club's centennial year. Competing golfers will enjoy our unique and challenging course that is in keeping with the Met Open standards and tradition."

Over the decades, Sleepy Hollow Country Club has hosted numerous golf tournaments including the Met Amateur Championships in 1944, 1965 and 1983, the Metropolitan Golf Association's 2003 Ike Championship as well as the 1993 French-American Challenge. From 1986 to 1993, Sleepy Hollow hosted the "Legends of Golf" Senior PGA tour event and in 2002 it played host to the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.

Mr. Cooney added, "The strong fields and world-class venues that characterize the Met Open have made it one of the nation's most sought-after regional titles. Sleepy Hollow County Club is proud to join the Met Open's distinguished list of host sites."

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Fans Can Win At CE Senior Players Championship

2011-08-18T10:08:00.000-04:00

Tournament officials at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship today announced a special “Sunday Funday” promotion for the final round of competition on August 21 that will give fans on site the chance to win a 60” TV and $1,000 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card.

Fans attending the tournament at Westchester Country Club on Sunday, August 21 are encouraged to stop by the “Sunday Funday” contest area, located behind the television tower on the No. 18 green, starting at noon to fill out an entry form. During the trophy presentation at the conclusion of play on Sunday, approximately 6:00 pm local time, the 2011 Senior Players champion will draw the contest winner's name. The winner must be present at the No. 18 green when their name is drawn in order to claim the prize package.

“We're thrilled to bring the ‘Sunday Funday’ promotion to our fans, as it will add another level of excitement to the championship’s final round,” said Steven Schoenfeld, executive tournament director of the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. “I encourage everyone to come out to Westchester Country Club and watch some of the greatest players of our generation compete in the Champions Tour’s final major championship of the season. When you’re here on Sunday afternoon, be sure to register for your chance at winning this exciting prize package.”

Gates will open for Constellation Energy Senior Player Championship ticket holders at 8:15 am, on Sunday of tournament week. However, spectators entering after 3 p.m. on Sunday will be admitted free of charge.

The 78-player field at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship includes fan favorites such as Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin, Nick Price and Tom Watson.

Daily and weekly tickets to the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship are still available and may be purchased for a reduced price in advance online at www.ceseniorplayers.com or at the gate. Children 18 and under and active, retired and reserve military personnel are admitted to the grounds at no charge.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.