Saturday, August 31, 2019

Cordillera Ranch Introduces The Lodges at Cordillera Ranch

Luxurious Overnight Accommodations Situated on Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course
for Members, Their Guests


(BOERNE, Texas) – Cordillera Ranch – the premier luxury community in the scenic Texas Hill Country – unveils The Lodges at Cordillera Ranch, upscale accommodations for members and their guests.

Situated on the third hole of the community’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and a short golf cart ride from its award-winning clubhouse, The Lodges focus on luxury, comfort and relaxation. The first building, which opened on August 20, features six rooms consisting of four Deluxe Suites and two Deluxe Rooms. The second building, scheduled to open later this year, will boast four Deluxe Rooms and a common area that overlooks the third hole.

Each Deluxe Suite and Deluxe Room is furnished with a king bed, complimentary Wi-Fi, standing shower, personal care products and the club’s premium collection of bedding and linens. Both also provide members and their guests with a private patio and complimentary golf cart, and the Deluxe Suite features a living room with a sleeper sofa.

“We are delighted to open The Lodges at Cordillera Ranch and provide our members, their guests, as well as guests of the club and our real estate team overnight accommodations that rival lodging at upscale resorts,” says Charlie Hill, President and Chief Operating Officer for DH Investments, developer of Cordillera Ranch. “The Lodges allow our guests to fully embrace our remarkable amenities and captivating natural setting – the relaxing evenings next to a fire pit while gazing at the starry sky, the morning sunrises across the Guadalupe River Valley and hill tops, and the wildlife peacefully traversing through the property.”

Cordillera Ranch’s consistent growth and stability has unquestionably instilled buyer confidence, as real estate sales in the community continue to flourish in 2019. A month ago, Cordillera Ranch reported 34 homes sold totaling $39.6 million this year, versus 30 homes sold totaling $31.5 million for the same period in 2018. Also, Cordillera Ranch is experiencing historically low levels of inventory, as less than four percent of homes in the luxurious enclave are on the market. Nearly 800 homes are completed (and more than 1,200 lot sales) , and at final build-out Cordillera Ranch will total approximately 2,500 homes and preserve 80% of the land in its natural state.

This year, the community unveiled several new or updated amenities for its members. In addition to the Lodges at Cordillera Ranch, the Golf Performance Center at Cordillera Ranch opened earlier this year and offers two hitting bays, each boasting a Flightscope Launch Monitor and three-camera system. The Golf Performance Center at Cordillera Ranch also is one of the few facilities in Texas to feature the Swing Catalyst 3D Motion Plate.

The club’s fitness center was recently renovated, complete with a reconfiguration of the facility, new program offerings and updated exercise equipment. The Vista Office and Visitor Center, housing the offices of Cordillera Ranch Realty, DH Investment Company, Pasadera Builders and the Cordillera Ranch POA administration, also recently opened.

Cordillera Ranch’s seven on-site, resort-style amenity clubs – Golf, Tennis and Swim, Spa and Athletic, Social, Rod and Gun, Equestrian and River – are all available under one membership. This trailblazing model continues to attract a wide array of buyers from throughout Texas and the United States. The Cordillera Ranch clubhouse was recently named the Most Beautiful Clubhouse in Texas by Architectural Digest. Community honors continue to roll in as well, as Where to Retire Magazine named Cordillera Ranch one of the “50 Best Master-Planned Communities in the U.S.,” and San Antonio Magazine tabbed it one of the best neighborhoods in the area.

For more information: www.cordilleraranch.com, 888.66.RANCH.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Dormie Network Ambassadors Ready for Korn Ferry Tour Championship at Victoria National Golf Club

A pair of Dormie Network ambassadors are teeing it up on one of their member courses this week during the Korn Ferry Tour’s season-ending championship at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana.

The Friday-to-Monday format (August 30 through September 2) of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance culminates with a Labor Day finish.

Victoria National is part of Dormie Network, a national, pure golf membership for traveling business professionals interested in full access to a quality portfolio of golf facilities around the country.

Victoria National previously hosted a Korn Ferry Tour regular season event from 2012-2018 and is widely considered one of the tour’s sternest tests, with holes 14-18 (known as the Gauntlet) providing a particularly challenging finish.

Two of Dormie Network’s ambassadors, Lanto Griffin and Zac Blair, have already earned their PGA TOUR cards for next year. A third, Brandon Crick, is battling to play his way onto the PGA TOUR next season.

“Victoria National absolutely ate my lunch when I was there three years ago for the then-Web.com Tour event,” Crick said. “It’s a great course: a difficult test, along with great hole designs and one of the hardest closing stretches I’ve ever played.”

A Nebraska native who secured his first finals berth as runner-up at Ellie Mae Classic in early August, Crick said his partnership with Dormie Network played a big role in his 2019 success.

In late April, another Dormie Network club, Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas, hosted the Korn Ferry Tour’s inaugural Dormie Network Classic.

“Getting a sponsor’s invitation to the Dormie Network Classic at Briggs Ranch from [general manager] Derrick Dixon was a real kick-starter for my season,” Crick said. “I Monday qualified into a few events earlier in the season, but had no luck in making the cuts. I was on the grind to get some points before the next re-shuffle or I would be facing potentially not playing the rest of the season.

“In getting into that event, I got things going and started to play well. I ended up [tied for 18th], even with a costly double bogey on the closing hole. Regardless, it was a much-needed week at a great golf course.”

The most significant moment of Crick’s season came with his solo second at the Ellie Mae Classic: with that finish, he cleared the top 75 and was secured in the playoffs. “It was a huge relief knowing that I now have a job on the Korn Ferry Tour next year if not on the PGA TOUR,” Crick said.

The only player who enjoyed a bigger week at the Ellie Mae Classic was Crick’s fellow Dormie Network ambassador Blair. Entering the final round one stroke off the lead, Blair posted a 3-under 67 to win his first Korn Ferry Tour title. The win catapulted the former BYU golfer and Utah native to 10th in the season-long points standings, and secured his return to the PGA TOUR for the 2019-2020 season.

Blair tallied five top-10s and 15 top-25s on the PGA TOUR from 2015-2018 before returning to the Korn Ferry Tour. He entered the Ellie Mae Classic on a hot streak, with top-10s in three out of his previous four events. But Blair was still outside the top 25 with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

“It was really great to get it done at the end of the season, when I was in the position I was in,” Blair said. “I’ve learned that some weeks stuff doesn’t go your way. You just have to accept that, move on, and keep doing what you do best.”

Blair is not playing in this week’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

The other Dormie Network ambassador competing this weekend at Victoria National, Griffin won his second-career Korn Ferry Tour title in a playoff at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship in April — one of four top-10 finishes in 2019. Griffin will be making his second trip to the PGA TOUR this fall after notching one top-25 as a rookie during the 2017-2018 season.

Griffin entered the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship ranked 91st in putting average, but finished the tournament tied for 13th. For that, he could partially thank PGA TOUR legend Vijay Singh. Griffin was on the practice green at TPC Sawgrass near his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, when he heard the voice of the 34-time winner and three-time major champion, who had missed the cut at the Masters only a day earlier. “Get your right elbow in tighter,” Singh told him. “Bend over more.”

The following week, Griffin finished second at the Dormie Classic at Briggs Ranch to ultimately lock up his TOUR card. “It’s amazing how you can go from being in the dumps to on cloud nine in two weeks,” he said.

Griffin said he is excited about another shot at Victoria National this weekend. Along with Victoria National and Briggs Ranch, the Nebraska-based Dormie Network also includes Dormie Club (Pinehurst, North Carolina), Ballyhack Golf Club (Roanoke, Virginia), ArborLinks Golf Club (Nebraska City, Nebraska) and Hidden Creek Golf Club (Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey).

“Dormie Network has given me full access to their collection of courses, which are perfect to play and practice,” said Griffin. “The network’s courses have helped me improve my game between tournaments. Not to mention, the entire team at Dormie Network has been so fun to work with and a great support team.”

Each Dormie Network club offers challenging and expeditious play, along with pristine course conditions, with hospitality at every turn. From Arnold Palmer to Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Dormie Network's nationally ranked clubs include designs from some of the most renowned course architects in the sport’s history. With close proximity to major cities like San Antonio, Omaha, Roanoke, Nashville, St. Louis, Richmond, and Philadelphia, these premier clubs are ideal for weekend getaways, buddy trips and corporate retreats alike.

“One of my favorite [Dormie Network] perks is the 15-minute tee times,” Griffin said. “This means the course isn’t slammed with players and you have the ability to play as fast as you’d like. Plus, the course conditions are world class—tough but fair conditions are what every golfer wants, and that’s exactly what Dormie Network provides. Also, the driving range is stocked with [Titleist] Pro V1 practice balls, so I get all the tools I need to work on my game.”

Added Crick: “I’ve been able to see three of the courses within the network, and all of them have been great. You truly do feel like you have the course to yourself, and to be able to play six courses in regions across the country is a great option that fits well with my travel schedule.”

Dormie Network members enjoy multiple exclusive facilities under a single dues structure. Premium accommodations and amenities complement a pure golf experience with truly stellar comforts and service. Network concierge services, on-site lodging, and premium hospitality make travel and camaraderie staples of membership in a network where every club feels like your home club.

“They are obviously great clubs that provide great experiences,” said Blair. “More clubs are likely to be added to the network, and most have on-site accommodations, so they’re great destinations to take a group of friends.”

Learn more at www.DormieNetwork.com, or contact Dave Plaster at 402.416.1106.

Circling Raven Appoints Scott Hendrick, PGA Class A Member, as Head Golf Professional

(Worley, Idaho) – Circling Raven Golf Club – the No. 1-rated public course in Idaho and amenity of Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel – has hired Scott Hendrick to be its Head Golf Professional. Hendrick previously worked as Golf Operations Supervisor at Canyons Park, Utah, a Vail Resorts property.

Scott Hendrick
Canyons Golf is an 18-hole course designed by Gene Bates, who authored Circling Raven’s acclaimed layout.

“Gene had nothing but great things to say about Scott, and they’re all true,” said David Christenson, PGA, Circling Raven’s Director of Golf. “He’s a sharp professional and a skilled golf and business manager who understands what it takes to run a first-class golf resort course that exceeds guest expectations.”

Hendrick ideally timed his arrival at Circling Raven, which is owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and celebrating its 15th Anniversary season this year. The Tribe recently announced that it will host a Symetra “Road to the LPGA” Tour event for three years beginning next season.

“Gene raved about Circling Raven; I’ve got great respect him, and he’s an amazing golf course architect,” said Hendrick, PGA, who graduated from University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. “Now that I’ve been here a few weeks, it’s clear that he wasn’t exaggerating in his praise for the golf club. First, no courses use 620 acres for their layout. Kudos to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for using some of its land so exquisitely. This place is a natural wonderland with an extremely fine golf experience and outstanding operations team at its core. I see why it’s ranked No. 1 in Idaho, and I’m honored to be here.”

Hendrick joined an operation that has been thriving this season. Golf rounds played, golf shop retail and total revenue have all increased in 2019, and the course has garnered multiple best-in-kind accolades.

Delivering value is perhaps Circling Raven’s greatest forte, as evidenced by its peak season rates (through Oct. 6), which top out at $99 on weekends, $89 on weekdays, and include 18 holes, golf cart with GPS, and range balls for use at the 25-acre practice facility. Circling Raven stay-and-play package prices start at $243 and include golf for two people and one night’s stay. The course doesn’t charge tax on its playing rates, food and beverage, or golf shop merchandise. The esteemed course is such an exceptional value that it ranked No. 17 in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses Re-Ranked by Price.”

To keep apprised of upcoming events and seasonal offers, visit www.cdacasino.com/golf. Book your round by calling 1.800.523.2464 or online at Circling Raven’s website.

Branson Golf Destination Thrives with Player Friendly Rates, Events, Infrastructure Upgrades, New Courses

(Branson, Missouri) – No place is adding new courses faster than Branson, where enhanced infrastructure at golf clubs, unique player friendly events, special rates, and tech additions this season makes 2019 another year of golf destination growth and proactivity.

Branson Hills Golf Club – the No. 2-rated course in Missouri – recently announced an all-day rate of $130, meaning golfers can play the acclaimed course twice in one day for $65 per round. Perfect timing in a destination where golf weather and autumn colors are ideal through fall. For those who don’t wish to play 36 holes in one day, the golf club offers 18-hole rates of $99 after 10 am, $79 after 2 pm, both a significant value at the acclaimed course.

Regarding value, Thousand Hills Golf Resort is embracing the concept in multiple ways. It’s adding new, large-group lodging units overlooking the Bob Cupp designed golf course. These come on the heels of new, on-course bridges and a fleet of Yamaha golf carts with updated technology and USB charging ports. Other 2019 highlights are Very Important Golfer (VIG) rates for locals, and more playing events like the monthly Golf Scramble Tournaments that offer on-course contests, games, and prizes.

“Scrambles are a crowd favorite, but they’ve traditionally been too expensive to play in,” said Gary Nelson, Golf Shop Manager. “We simply run our own events and don’t charge a premium for players to join the fun. We even put on a Hole-In-One contest, where players have the opportunity to win $10,000 and several golf-trip packages, depending on the hole.”

Holiday Hills introduced its VIP Booking Experience this season, which allows players to quickly and conveniently reserve and pay for rounds, among other things. By texting “Book” to (417) 374-2220, players can secure tee times. Texting “VIP” opts players in for special offers, and they can even learn about the state of Holiday Hills by texting “Course Conditions.”

“Our guests can book in less than two minutes if they want to pay ahead of time,” said Josh Bowlin, Holiday Hills Head Professional. “It’s worked really well because it allows golfers to save time and easily get the details they need.”

LedgeStone Country Club is home to the exceptionally well-regarded Tom Clark-designed course that is rated No. 6 in Missouri by Golfweek. It will hold its Outlaw Tournament Oct. 12-13. The 2-day, 2-player Scramble format competition includes an optional alternate-shot “Horserace” on Oct. 11 at 3 pm. In addition to two rounds, The Outlaw includes breakfast buffet and lunch each both days. Over $5,000 in Pro Shop Certificates will be handed out to 1st – 4th places in each flight. Tournament participants may reserve practice round tee times at a special rate. To learn more details, call (417) 335-8187, or visit LedgestoneGolf.com/Tournaments.

As Holiday Hills, Thousand Hills, and Branson Hills proactively unfurl new enticements at their courses, Big Cedar Lodge continues to evolve with its seemingly unending addition of new courses. Ozarks National – designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw – opened in May 2019. Payne’s Valley, by Tiger Woods and his golf architecture company TGR Design, is nearing completion and will be announcing opening plans soon. When it does, Big Cedar will be home to five course options, including Buffalo Ridges Springs (Tom Fazio) – ranked No. 1 in Missouri – Mountain Top (Gary Player), and Top of the Rock (Jack Nicklaus).

The Pointe has also added a new golf cart fleet this season. The popular 18-hole venue – where several performers from Branson’s famous live entertainment theaters live and play – has introduced 2020 Club Car Tempo EFI golf cars with GPS.

For more information, visit www.explorebranson.com/golf or www.facebook.com/BransonGolf/.

Jack Nicklaus II on Protecting the Environment



I could not agree with Jack Nicklaus II more. We ALL have a responsibility to protect the environment.

Learn more at www.nicklaus.com.

CertiFresh Cigar at the PGA Fashion & Demo Experience



I chatted with the guys from CertiFresh Cigar while at the PGA Fashion & Demo Experience at the Venetian in Las Vegas. These guys take care of everything.

Learn more at www.certifreshcigar.com and www.certifreshcartel.com.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Finn Scooters Offers Consumer Sales

(Missoula, Montana) – Finn Scooters, the new electric golf cycle that’s adding fun and speeding up pace of play at a golf course near you is now selling directly to consumers. Previously only available for on-course rental, the company is making a limited supply available for sale to the public at $3,699 plus $75 shipping. Finn Scooters have been shipping to golf courses since mid-June and can now be found at 40+ courses from Washington to Ohio and South Carolina to Minnesota with more shipping every day. To order a Finn Scooter for yourself or to Find a Finn for rental near you, go to www.FinnScooters.com.

Developed by Rick Reimers, founder and owner of the long-pioneering golf equipment company Sun Mountain Sports, Finn Scooters has its roots in golf and the potential to grow beyond it. Finn Scooter is a two-wheeled, single-rider cycle with an electric motor and lithium battery that offers a comfortable and stable ride that leaves all who ride it smiling.

“The inspiration for Finn Scooters is the desire to play a faster round of golf,” said Rick Reimers. “Riding Finn is invigorating and sporty while encouraging ready golf.”

The golf bag sits along the center-line of Finn Scooter offering easy golf club access and riding stability. Finn Scooter has front and rear suspension for a comfortable ride and braking with hand-operated hydraulic disc brakes. The electric motor is in the rear wheel offering a sleek design. The lithium battery can go up to 36-holes on a single charge though charging after every round is suggested.

Finn Scooter travels as the same speed as a traditional golf cart, approximately 15 mph, and offers the opportunity to substantially speed up the pace of play by naturally encouraging ready golf with each player driving directly to his/her ball. With Finn, a sub-two-hour round of golf is within reach.

Finn Scooters has also recently released a proprietary app to unlock Finn for use and collect the usage fee in a hassle-free transaction.

Reimers has a well-deserved reputation for creating innovative golf products that become industry mainstays such as the golf bag with built-in legs and the golf push cart.

Finn Scooters is a product of Sun Mountain Motor Sports, an affiliate of industry-leading golf bag, golf push cart and golf outerwear company, Sun Mountain Sports. Sun Mountain Motor Sports is a new company dedicated to solving golf’s biggest problem: slow play. The company’s new products are designed to make golf fast and fun, with a goal of 18 holes in 2 hours or less.

For more information, visit www.FinnScooters.com.

Labor Day marks a change of season at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) — At Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island, SC, there is a love/hate relationship with Labor Day.

They “hate” Labor Day, only because it signifies the end of summer — the busiest and most popular time of the year on Hilton Head Island and around the resort.

At the same time, they love Labor Day because it marks the beginning fall.

Because, while golf is a year-round activity on Hilton Head Island, locals know a secret: The fall season is a particularly special time for golf.

Temperatures on the island during the fall are perfect, with highs in the low 80s and the humidity low. (There’s a good reason fall is the most popular season of the year for weddings.) The skies are crystal clear by day and starlit by night. It’s truly the best weather to enjoy the palm trees, live oaks and rolling dunes that accentuate the beautiful golf courses. Not to mention, the island’s summer crowds have dissipated as the kids have returned to school. Traffic on the island is light and the most desirable tee times are available.

At Palmetto Dunes, there is another secret: Golf course conditions are at their best during the fall season. Summer aerations have been completed and overseeding has not yet started. Turf conditions during the fall at Palmetto Dunes match the perfect weather.

All three of the championship layouts at Palmetto Dunes have been named South Carolina’s “Course of the Year,” and the resort offers numerous ways to play them, from the traditional 18-hole rounds, to 9-hole time-savers late in the afternoon with friends or family and more.

Palmetto Dunes encourages golfers to walk, with pull carts at all three courses. Or you can ride in 2-seaters or 4-seaters, enjoy the Visage GPS touch-screen systems on the carts with USB ports to bring along your tunes,  get a little extra exercise with golf bikes at the Hills Course, or experiment with the Tempo Walk autonomous caddie units that follow you around the Jones and Fazio layouts.

Golfers wishing to tweak their equipment during their stay at Palmetto Dunes this fall can visit SwingFit at the Robert Trent Jones Course, which offers custom club fitting technology used to match your swing to any number of name brand clubs and shafts. SwingFit makes new clubs on-site and offers the state-of-the-art Gears 3-D swing analysis system — already a generation ahead of Trackman — that can teach and fit golfers to maximize their potential.

Last but certainly not least, Palmetto Dunes’ Director of Golf Instruction, Doug Weaver — a Lowcountry Golf Hall of Famer and teaching legend on the Island — and his outstanding staff offer free, Monday night clinics during the fall season. There are also options for individual, group and even family instruction classes available daily with yet another option of video analysis to take home.

As if all that wasn’t enough to entice a golf trip to Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort this fall, the resort is also offering a selection of golf packages to make your dream trip more cost efficient. The Fall Groups Package at Palmetto Dunes includes special savings for groups of 12+ golfers on three rounds of golf per person with one free replay round on same day of play for play August 1 - October 12, 2019. Choose from our three championship golf courses: Jones, Hills and Fazio. Other fall packages include Stay & Play Packages and Multi-Round Savings Packages.

Let’s see: Perfect weather, perfect course conditions, birdies and beer? What more could a golf nut ask for this fall?

Whatever that might be, they’ve got it at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort — Hilton Head Island’s ideal fall golf getaway.

For information about activities or reservations, please call 877-567-6513 or visit www.palmettodunes.com.

PGA Golf Club to Host Second Annual 'Red, White & YOU' Fairway 5K Run / Walk in October

(PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.) – PGA Golf Club – the PGA of America’s award-winning 54-hole facility –  will host the “Second Annual Red, White & YOU Fairway 5K Run / Walk” on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Open to everyone, the race begins at 6:45 a.m. with kick-off ceremonies. The 5K run / walk begins at 7 a.m., and a post-race celebration commences at 8 a.m. Early registration ends August 31 and costs $25; after August 31, the entry fee is $30 (service fees not included). Each participant will receive a race shirt and breakfast on the day of the race.

All proceeds benefit PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the flagship military program of the PGA of America’s charitable foundation PGA REACH. The year-round program introduces golf to veterans, while enhancing their mental, social, physical and emotional well-being. PGA HOPE also helps veterans assimilate back into their community through the social interaction of golf.

Registration for the race can be done online, and race packets can be picked up at Fleet Feet in Stuart, Fla., on Oct. 18 from 12 – 6 p.m., and at PGA Golf Club on the 19th from 9 – 11 a.m. Second Annual Red, White & YOU Fairway 5K Run / Walk sponsorship and donation opportunities are available.

For information about the event and sponsorships / donations, visit the event’s Facebook page or contact Heidi Geiser at hgeiser@pgahq.com or 772-467-5488.

The Second Annual Red, White & YOU Fairway 5K Run / Walk takes place seven weeks before the Red, White & You Charity Golf Event (Dec. 8). Open to all golfers, the fifth annual golf tournament begins at 8:15 a.m. with kick-off ceremonies, followed by a scramble competition (with divisions) at 9 a.m. A post-event celebration starts at 2 p.m. Entry for PGA Golf Club members, PGA Professionals and active or retired military is $85. Cost for guests of members and the general public is $110. Breakfast, lunch, golf prizes and tax are included.

“The tremendous success of our inaugural Red, White & YOU Fairway 5K Run / Walk inspired us to make this an annual event,” says General Manager and Director of Golf Jeremy Wiernasz. “It benefits a great cause in PGA HOPE, and we encourage everyone to lace up their running shoes and support our veterans.”

Owned and operated by the PGA of America, and known as the “Ultimate Golf Resort Destination,” PGA Golf Club is home to three distinct golf courses – the Wanamaker, Ryder and Dye – designed by renowned architects Tom Fazio and Pete Dye.

Next year, PGA Golf Club will host the 2020 Boys and Girls Junior Championships. The Boys Junior PGA Championship will be contested July 13 – 16; the Girls Junior PGA Championship will follow on July 28 – 31. Each event features 144 players in a four-round, 18-hole, stroke-play format.

In 2021, PGA Golf Club will host the PGA Professional Championship on the Wanamaker and Ryder Courses. The Championship will be comprised of players who advance from the 41 PGA Section Championships, along with past champions, competing to finish in the Top 20 and a spot in the PGA Championship. All four rounds will be broadcast live on Golf Channel.

To learn more about PGA Golf Club, visit www.pgavillage.com.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Tripp Davis Redesign of the University of Oklahoma’s Jimmie Austin Golf Course Honored

Course was showcased on Golfweek’s annual Best Campus Courses list


(Norman, OK)— The Jimmie Austin Golf Course at the University of Oklahoma underwent a major renovation recently by golf course architect Tripp Davis, and as a result the course jumped 14 spots to #6 on Golfweek’s 2019 Best Campus Courses List, which was announced this week.

Originally designed and built by native Oklahoman Perry Maxell in the early 1950’s, the Jimmie Austin Golf Course was reworked by Bob Cupp in 1996. The objective of Davis’s work was to adapt the course to the way the modern college players play, giving it the flexibility to strategically challenge the best men and women players in college golf, while establishing an historic and visually interesting style.

“I am pleased that Golfweek magazine recognized the significant improvements we made at the Jimmie Austin Golf Course and named the course at #6 on their ranking of the best collegiate courses in the U.S.,” said Davis. “Today’s top college golfers are playing a great deal differently than they did 25 years ago and the work we did at OU was to adapt to those changes while making sure the golf course has the flexibility to be set up in a way that would strategically challenge all players. Although the course can be set up to play quite long, we didn’t want length to be the dominant strength a player needs to play well. We wanted to make the ability to score as the most important strength.”

For more information about Tripp Davis and Associates, visit www.tdagolf.net or call 405-447-5259.

Princeville Makai Golf Club's Sunset Golf Cart Tour Named 'Best New Amenity' By Golf Inc.

(Kauai, Hawaii) – Princeville Makai Golf Club’s Sunset Golf Cart Tour has been named the “Best New Amenity” at a public/resort course by Golf Inc. magazine. Golf Inc. annually recognizes the best new amenities at public and private golf clubs in their September/October issue. In 2019, eight new amenities were honored by the industry publication, with Princeville Makai’s Sunset Tours leading the way in the public/resort course category.

Each day, the 90-minute guided tours begin at the Makai Grill, followed by five breathtaking stops with views of native flora such as plumeria and hibiscus trees; albatross and nene birds; and Garden Isle landmarks, including Hanalei Bay, Queen’s Bath, Kilauea Lighthouse, Anini Reef and North Shore beaches. The tour ends on the 7th hole as the sun disappears over the horizon. Tours are led by members of the golf staff, including Princeville Makai’s Head Golf Professional Tom Freestone and General Manager Doug Sutter.

“Very clever and a great way to capture additional income,” said Frank Benzakour, one of the Golf Inc. judges. “This team redefined the meaning of ‘innovate or die.’ A+ for effort and A+ for results.”

Princeville Makai Golf Club charges $69 per cart for the Sunset Golf Cart Tours. In 2018, more than 5,000 visitors took the tour generating additional revenue for the club. The club is on pace to break the 5,000 visitor mark in 2019.

“Our number one goal with the Sunset Tour is to help visitors learn about the area,” said Sutter. “It’s also an opportunity for our staff to share the Aloha Spirit with guests. We’re excited by how the Tours have grown with golfers and non-golf visitors alike.”

For more information on Princeville Makai Golf Club, visit www.makaigolf.com.

For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Rory McIllroy the Current Favorite to Win the Omega European Masters

(WAGER) - Rory McIlroy has opened up as the favorite to win the Omega European Masters at BookMaker.eu. Matthew Fitzpatrick is currently sitting behind McIllroy at 7-1 odds to win his third consecutive Omega European Masters.

Current Odds here - https://www.bookmaker.eu/live-lines/golf?t=4

Odds to Win the Omega European Masters

Rory McIlroy +400 (4/1)
Matthew Fitzpatrick +700 (7/1)
Tommy Fleetwood +1000 (10/1)
Danny Willett +2300 (23/1)
Alex Noren +2200 (22/1)
Matt Wallace +2500 (25/1)
Erik Van Rooyen +2000 (20/1)
Bernd Wiesberger +3300 (33/1)
Rory Sabbatini +3000 (30/1)
Thomas Pieters +3300 (33/1)
Lucas Bjerregaard +3700 (37/1)
Andrea Pavan +3400 (34/1)
Sergio Garcia +3900 (39/1)
Mike Lorenzo-Vera +5000 (50/1)
Lee Westwood +4700 (47/1)
Alexander Bjork +7000 (70/1)
Andrew Johnston  +7000 (70/1)
Eddie Pepperell +7300 (73/1)
Thomas Detry +7700 (77/1)
Joost Luiten +8800 (88/1)
Matthias Schwab +8800 (88/1)
Gavin Green +9800 (98/1)
Alexander Levy +9000 (90/1)
Romain Langasque +9500 (95/1)
Sam Horsfield +8800 (88/1)
Robert MacIntyre +11000 (110/1)
Andy Sullivan +9500 (95/1)
Troy Merritt +9900 (99/1)
Ashun Wu +9800 (98/1)
Jorge Campillo +9500 (95/1)
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +9900 (99/1)
Aaron Rai +10000 (100/1)
Marcus Kinhult +10000 (100/1)
Dean Burmester +10000 (100/1)
Jamie Donaldson +10000 (100/1)
Adri Amaus +11000 (110/1)
Jordan Smith +12500 (125/1)
Fabrizio Zanotti +13500 (135/1)
Lee Slattery +13500 (135/1)
Julian Suri +11500 (115/1)
Victor Perez +12500 (125/1)
Edoardo Molinari +14500 (145/1)
Nacho Elvira +10000 (100/1)
Benjamin Hebert +13500 (135/1)
Matthew Southgate +13500 (135/1)
Zander Lombard +13500 (135/1)
Mikko Korhonen +13500 (135/1)
Ross Fisher +11500 (115/1)
Victor Dubuisson  +12000 (120/1)
Ryan Fox +13500 (135/1)
Scott Hend +14500 (145/1)
Jason Scrivener +13500 (135/1)
Joachim B Hansen +12500 (125/1)
Haydn Porteous +13500 (135/1)
Wade Ormsby +14500 (145/1)
Renato Paratore +14500 (145/1)
Hideto Tanihara +16000 (160/1)
Sebastian Soderberg +15500 (155/1)
Guido Migliozzi +15000 (150/1)
Nicolas Colsaerts +15500 (155/1)
Luke Donald +15500 (155/1)
Pablo Larrazabal +14500 (145/1)
Jack Singh Brar +16500 (165/1)
Darren Fichardt +16500 (165/1)
Paul Dunne +14500 (145/1)
Romain Wattel +17500 (175/1)
Matthieu Pavon +17500 (175/1)
Sihwan Kim +14500 (145/1)
Chris Paisley +12500 (125/1)
Masahiro Kawamura +15500 (155/1)
Joakim Lagergren +17500 (175/1)
Adrian Otaegui +15500 (155/1)
Richard Sterne +17500 (175/1)
Oliver Fisher +15500 (155/1)
Lucas Herbert +15500 (155/1)
Field (Any Other Player +500 (5/1)

Defending Champ Tennant Prevails, Medalist Leach Rolls

(RELEASE) — Defending champion Lara Tennant, of Portland, Ore., rolled in a nerve-wracking 4-foot bogey putt to halve the 18th hole on Monday and seal a 1-up victory over Susan West, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the 58th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club.

Tennant birdied the par-5 15th hole for a 3-up lead with three holes to play, but she was bunkered on No. 16 and three-putted No. 17 for bogeys to West’s pars, bringing the match to the uphill, 320-yard, par-4 18th. Tennant’s approach shot left her with a daunting putt from the left side of the green, and she left it 18 inches from the hole. Tennant barely tapped the sliding, sidehill putt, but it missed the hole and ended up 4 feet past. She made the comebacker for bogey to halve the hole and win, 1 up.

“It’s one of those greens that I don’t think anybody is going to figure out,” said Tennant, 52, of the closing hole on the Donald Ross-designed course. “Maybe my goal the rest of the week should be to try to finish my matches before 18.”

No. 1 seed Martha Leach, of Hebron, Ky., completed her opening match on the 14th hole, notching a 6-and-4 victory over Jane Curtin, of Silver Spring, Md., after earning medalist honors in stroke play for the first time in her 71 USGA championship starts.

Leach, 57, the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, and husband John Leach, who coaches and caddies for her, were celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary on Monday. Her round got off to a nice start with wins on the first four holes, three of them with pars, and she weathered a bit of rain mid-round.

“I had a lull in the rain; I hit some bad shots,” said Leach, who was the low amateur in the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open last year. “But John set me straight and I started hitting it better after that. Didn’t make any substantial putts, but it’s all good. We’re a little wet, but we’re happy.”

Seven-time USGA champion Ellen Port, of St. Louis, Mo., the No. 2 seed, earned a solid 6-and-5 victory over fellow Missourian Kathy Glennon, of Wildwood, Mo.

“I was steady, I think I missed maybe one fairway and two greens,” said Port, 57, who has won this championship three times, most recently in 2016. “Kathy’s a really good player and we’ve played a lot of golf together. She’s not the person you want to draw because she’s a great putter, steady, a fierce competitor. But by her admission, she was a little bit out of sync.”

No. 3 seed Mary Ann Hayward, of Canada, broke away from Monica Townsend, of El Paso, Texas, by winning the ninth and 10th holes on the way to a 3-and-2 win. Hayward, the 2005 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and a four-time Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, was one of seven Canadian players to reach match play, and four of them advanced, including 2017 champion Judith Kyrinis, the No. 6 seed, who defeated fellow Canadian Audrey Akins, 4 and 3.

No. 4 seed Corey Weworski, of Carlsbad, Calif., won the first four holes on the way to a 7-and-6 win over Dori Eastwood, of Lexington, Ky. Weworski, 57, is the 2004 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and a two-time quarterfinalist in this championship.

NOTABLE:

Pam Kuong, of Wellesley Hills, Mass., the runner-up in this championship in 2015, outlasted Marilyn Hardy, of Magnolia, Texas, in 24 holes with a birdie on the par-5 sixth. Kuong birdied the 16th hole to square the match before the players halved seven straight holes, six of them with pars. “It was a great match,” she said. “I told Peter [McCarthy her caddie], ‘A birdie’s going to win this,’ and it should rightfully be a birdie. You don’t want to win it on a three-putt or something. On the sixth hole [24th of the match], Peter said to me, ‘Can you make this putt? I’m so hungry right now.’”
No. 7 seed Laura Webb, of Ireland, notched a 5-and-4 win over 2010 USA Curtis Cup captain Noreen Mohler, of Bethlehem, Pa. Webb was exempt into the championship off her victory in the 2018 British Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Crail in Scotland.
Diane Lang, of Weston, Fla., a three-time champion of this event and the No. 9 seed, lost a 4-and-3 decision to Rhonda Orr, of Canada. Lang, who won in 2005, 2006 and 2008, was not the highest seed to lose on Monday. No. 8 Leigh Klasse, of Cumberland, Wis., lost to No. 57 Cheryl Grigg, of Sea Island, Ga., 2 and 1.

QUOTABLE:

“When we were at dinner last night, someone said I can’t believe you’ve never been a medalist. And I said, well, I’ve played in 71 of these and only won one, so I’m thinking that chances of getting it are slim.” – Martha Leach, on earning her first No. 1 seed in a USGA championship on Sunday
“I think that’s a competitive thing, getting more mentally tough. I hung in there. I don’t even know how I made it all the way to 18, because I didn’t hardly hit any greens. I putted well, I chipped well… I think the mental toughness was still there, but I think the swing and the trust of the swing wasn’t.” – Kathy Hartwiger, 53, of Birmingham, Ala., the 2002 Women’s Mid-Amateur champion who was competing in a USGA championship for the first time in nine years and lost, 1 up, to Jayne Pardus
“I’ve got command of the putter and I feel really good about my game. When I was up on Kathy [Glennon], you have to discipline your mind and not say, I just have to par this hole… that is not what you need to be thinking. I have a very active mind, so I have to really try to pull in the reins a little bit.” – Ellen Port, the No. 2 seed and a three-time U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur champion, on her victory on Monday
“At one point, I was thinking, if one of us doesn’t make a birdie putt, we literally could keep going for a long time, because our games are almost exactly the same. We’re going to keep playing and make the turn.” – Pam Kuong, on her 24-hole win over Marilyn Hardy

WHATS NEXT:

The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday and the 18-hole championship final is set for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) Announces Wide Array of Exceptional Fall Golf Getaways

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) — recently named the International Association of Golf Tour Operators’ North American “Golf Destination of the Year” — has unveiled several group packages ideal for fall getaways.

SEA PINES RESORT

The Sea Pines Resort is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Harbour Town Golf Links with the resort’s best offer of the year — special savings packages at the luxurious Inn & Club at Harbour Town and in its deluxe resort villas. Select from a variety of golf and dining package options and receive a fantastic nightly rate on your choice of first-class accommodations.

Choose an amazing Sea Pines Resort experience, including:
- Accommodations at The Inn & Club at Harbour Town or in a deluxe resort villa
- Play one of the Resort’s championship courses, enjoy dinner at a resort restaurant, or both!
- Exclusive resort amenities
- And much more

Packages are available Sunday-Wednesday, September 2 through October 21, 2019 and Monday through Sunday, October 22 through February 29, 2020. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply. Visit HERE for more information.

PALMETTO DUNES OCEANFRONT RESORT

Mid-island, visitors can pack as much fun as possible into a four-day and three-night stay at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. The Birdies and Beer Package and Players Golf Special both feature outstanding resort accommodations on Hilton Head Island plus rounds of golf on your choice of three championship courses by Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills and George Fazio. Please view standard package details below for fall seasonal rates.

Birdies and Beer Package:
- 4 days /3 nights in a 2-bedroom villa at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
- Three rounds of golf on your choice of three championship courses (includes green fees and cart fees)
- Breakfast and Beers included
- Two hours of court time per day per villa or home at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center when available
- Complimentary Range Balls
- Pro Shop Merchandise & Dining Discounts at Big Jim's, The Dunes House & Alexander's Restaurant

Players Golf Special:
- 4 days /3 nights in a 2-bedroom villa at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
- Two rounds of golf on your choice of three championship courses (includes green fees and cart fees)
- Palmetto Dunes logo hat
- Sleeve of Palmetto Dunes logo balls
- Two hours of court time per day per villa or home at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center when available
- Pro Shop Merchandise & Dining Discounts at Big Jim's & The Dunes House and Alexander's Restaurant

Rates are based on four-person occupancy in a two-bedroom resort view villa. Reservations inside 30 days must be paid in full and no refund on cancellation. May not be combined with any other offers or discounts. Price subject to change and package subject to availability. Call 843-686-9671 to get a package quote or visit https://www.palmettodunes.com/golf/hilton-head-golf-packages.

THE HERITAGE GOLF GROUP

The Heritage Golf Group — which includes Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club, Shipyard Golf Club and Oyster Reef Golf Club — is featuring specials that include a Spring “Fore” 2020 Hilton Head package.

“Fall” into the Weekend Golf Package, starting at $145 per person per night. Package includes:
- Four nights in Luxury Villa Accommodations (Based on Quad (4) Occupancy)
- Four rounds of golf at your choice of Port Royal Golf Club, Shipyard Golf Club and Oyster Reef Golf Club.
- Unlimited replays on all courses
- Complimentary range balls prior to rounds
- Discounts on food & beverage and Golf Shop purchases

Some restrictions apply. Optional dates, pricing may vary and are based on availability. May not be combined with any other promotions. Includes all taxes and fees. For more information, call Nikki on 843-681-1706 or visit here https://www.hiltonheadgolf.net/offers-packages/fall-into-weekend-package/

Spring “Fore” 2020 Golf Package - It’s never too early to plan a golf trip for next year!  Secure your 2020 golf package now with $100 down per person:
- Pricing starts at $525 per golfer, includes four nights’ accommodations
- Pricing based on minimum of quad (4) occupancy per person
- Price per person includes all taxes, resort fees, unlimited golf, cart fees and warm up range
- $100 Gift Card per person which can be used for merchandise, food and/or beverages.

Package is available January 1 through May 29, 2020 only. Price is subject to change prior to booking package. Check-in Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  Optional dates, pricing may vary. Package availability and pricing subject to change due to seasonal rates changes, holidays, or events.  Call Nikki on 843-681-1706 or visit here https://www.hiltonheadgolf.net/offers-packages/spring-fore-2020-secure-your-package-now-for-your-2020-golf-trip-with-100-down-per-person/

“There are ample reasons why Travel + Leisure Magazine named Hilton Head the No. 1 vacation island in the U.S.,” says Cary Corbitt, President of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association. “Our courses, clubs and resorts provide year-round enjoyment and incredible value for families and friends searching for ultimate golf getaways.”

With numerous courses for players of any and all abilities, exceptional value, pleasant year-round weather and direct flights from more than 20 major cities, Hilton Head Island is one of the world’s premier golf destinations. In addition to the IAGTO honor, Hilton Head Island has received recent accolades from Golfweek, Golf Channel’s Golf Advisor and the South Carolina Golf Course Rating Panel. Hilton Head Island was named the 2019 “South’s Best Beach Town” by Southern Living Magazine.

From East Coast and Midwest population centers, enjoying a round of golf on one or more of the area’s 30-plus renowned area courses keeps getting easier. For decades, two airports have serviced the southern neck of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is about 45 miles south of Hilton Head, just across the South Carolina-Georgia state line. The regional Hilton Head Airport (HHH), meanwhile, is mere minutes from all island resorts.

Centrally located mid-island, Hilton Head Airport allows visitors and residents to enjoy the luxuries of a "big city" airport without hassles such as traffic jams when looking for a parking space, mile-long hikes from a parking garage to the terminal and long lines at the ticket counter.

In 2018, Hilton Head Airport completed a $27.5-million expansion project, lengthening the runway from 4,300 feet to 5,000 and allowing larger jets to land.

Now, three major airlines will be servicing Hilton Head Airport with nonstop flights to and from more than a half-dozen hub cities. Previously the only carrier flying onto Hilton Head, American Airlines began jet service immediately upon completion of the runway extension.

United Airlines now runs seasonal service in and out of the Hilton Head Island Airport to hub airports in Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York City. United operates nonstop flights from Hilton Head to Washington Dulles International Airport two times a day; flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport two times a week; and flights to New York/Newark Liberty International airport once per week.

Not to be outdone, Delta Air Lines now runs three daily flights between Hilton Head and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. On June 8, Delta will begin Saturday-only flights between Hilton Head and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. And, there are numerous additional flights into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport with Allegiant Air, American, JetBlue, Delta, Frontier, Sun Country and United all offering flights from multiple gateways.

More than a million rounds of golf are played on Hilton Head every year. While some of the top area courses are private, Hilton Head has earned its reputation as one of the world’s finest golf destinations, because of its outstanding public and resort courses that will satisfy the palate of even the most selective golfer.

For visitors, the “Golf Island” has made planning your golf vacation very easy by visiting HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com. Marvel at our 30-plus area golf courses, browse our custom resort packages and attractive rates, and see all that Hilton Head Island has to offer away from the links.

Planning your dream golf trip is just a click away.

Callaway Apparel Ambassador Matthew NeSmith Captures Albertsons Boise Open, Secures First PGA TOUR Card

(Miami, FL) — Callaway Apparel congratulates staffer Matthew NeSmith on his maiden victory at the Albertsons Boise Open on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Culminated by a birdie on the 72nd hole, NeSmith shot a Sunday low 64 to win by one shot and secure his PGA TOUR card for the first time. “We are thrilled for Matthew’s first professional victory,” stated Tim Reed, SVP of Sports Marketing at Callaway Golf. “With temperatures approaching 95 degrees, Matthew‘s Callaway Apparel, with stretch fabric and moisture wicking technologies, helped him stay cool and relaxed and enabled him to play his best to earn his TOUR card.”

Matthew's Winning Look:
- Men's Scramble Print Polo
- Men's Lightweight Stretch Tech Pant - Caviar
- Men's Perforated Belt - Iron Gate

“It’s awesome,” NeSmith said of the win and of earning his PGA Tour card. “It’s right up there with everything. I’ve done some really cool stuff throughout my career. Going to the PGA Tour next year, it definitely hasn’t set in yet. I can’t wait. It’s going to be so cool.”

More information: callawayapparel.com

Brooks Koepka Captures Second Consecutive PGA of America Player of the Year Award

TOUR Championship winner McIlroy wins a third Vardon Trophy


(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) – Two-time defending PGA Champion Brooks Koepka edged Rory McIlroy in capturing a second consecutive PGA of America Player of the Year Award, presented by the PGA of America for excellence by a PGA TOUR professional.

McIlroy, who won last weekend’s TOUR Championship and was a three-time-time winner this season, earned his third Vardon Trophy.

Koepka’s drive to a second straight PGA Player of the Year Award was highlighted by his repeat triumph in the PGA Championship in May. His overall 84 points are based upon 50 points for collecting his fourth career major along with victories in The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges and the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. He topped the season money list and was fourth in the Vardon Trophy standings for adjusted scoring average. The official PGA TOUR season money list concludes prior to the 30-player TOUR Championship.

McIlroy, the 2012 and ’14 PGA Player of the Year, was second overall with 78 points, followed by Patrick Cantlay and U.S. Open Champion Gary Woodland with 42 points each.

Since 1948, the PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with the PGA Player of the Year Award. It is presented to the top TOUR professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings, and scoring averages. Points for the 2018-19 season began with the Safeway Open on Oct. 4, and concluded Aug. 25, at the TOUR Championship.

In the Vardon Trophy race, McIlroy finished with a 69.057 adjusted scoring average based upon 72 complete rounds. He previously won the Vardon Trophy in 2012 and ’14. Cantlay finished runner-up at 69.306; followed by Webb Simpson (69.377), Koepka (69.395) and Justin Thomas (69.466).

Since 1937, the Vardon Trophy, named by the PGA of America in honor of legendary British golfer Harry Vardon, has been presented annually to the touring professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average. It is based on a minimum of 60 rounds, with no incomplete rounds, in events co-sponsored or designated by the PGA TOUR. The adjusted score is computed from the average score of the field at each event.

The PGA TOUR also recognizes its annual Player of the Year, with the winner announced in September, determined by a vote of the membership.

Rob Smith Named PGA Interactive General Manager

Former Senior Director of NBA Digital for Turner Sports to lead new era for PGA of America’s consumer-facing digital offerings

 
(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) – Rob Smith has been named General Manager for PGA Interactive, which includes an all-new PGA.com, along with the websites and apps that support the major Championships run by the PGA of America.
 
Rob Smith
As GM, Smith will oversee all operations of the Interactive business, which is being reimagined to serve as the destination to support a player’s golfing journey, by connecting them to PGA Professionals. In this newly created position, Smith will report to PGA of America Chief Commercial Officer Jeff Price.
 
Smith previously served as a Senior Director of Business Strategy and Operations for NBA Digital at WarnerMedia News & Sports (formerly Turner Sports) in Atlanta. At WarnerMedia, he also worked in various product development and management roles for CNN.com and PGA.com. Meanwhile, PGA.com, which has been under the day-to-day management of Turner Sports since 2003, will migrate to the newly created in-house platform within the PGA of America by the end of the year. In addition, NBCU/Golf Channel will produce the PGA’s Championship sites, along with rydercup.com.
 
The new PGA.com will be focused on creating multiple marketplaces connecting golfers with PGA Professionals, beginning with an emphasis on the coaching space. The under-construction, multi-sided platform will better enable coaching relationships for golfers throughout their golf journey, while enhancing the business value of coaching for PGA Members and their employers. This will elevate the PGA Professional and their facilities within the coaching community; set the foundation for future player interactions and broader integration; and create a “marketplace of marketplaces” to drive consumer engagement and revenue for PGA Professionals. PGA.com will also provide access to next-generation, cost-effective business management and instruction aids for PGA Coaches.
 
Smith’s responsibilities include driving marketplace and platform strategy; business and financial planning; and partnership development. This encompasses stakeholder management, leadership, teamwork, creating a unique digital venture and the development of the site’s commercial model. He will also oversee the integration of digital assets for the PGA of America’s Championships with NBC Universal and Golf Channel.
 
“Rob Smith’s expertise in producing best-in-class digital products makes him the right person to develop and drive a new and robust platform for PGA.com that offers a premium user-experience, with special access to top PGA Coaches,” said Price.
 
PGA.com provides a complete look at the world of golf—everything from equipment to courses, top instruction to golf travel tips. The site uses the expertise of the nearly 29,000 Professionals of the PGA of America to help consumers enjoy the game more.
 
“Through the PGA of America’s footprint of PGA Professionals, the next chapter of PGA.com will deliver a must-have experience that drives and significantly enhances a golfer’s journey,” said Smith. “The network of services created in collaboration with PGA Members will benefit both the golfer and Professional alike, and ultimately grow and improve the game for us all.”
 
Throughout his career, Smith has created award-winning digital experiences for consumers and fans, while operating and growing healthy and successful business models. He spent eight years at WarnerMedia, most recently focusing on Turner’s NBA relationship in business strategy and operations, while overseeing day-to-day and large-scale initiatives in partnership with the NBA—including business development, content licensing, sales, distribution and audience development.
 
Smith previously supported the PGA’s partnership with Turner, primarily in the operation of digital rights. Among his successes, he led the reinvention of many aspects of PGA event coverage, such as the 2016 Ryder Cup digital suite of products and services for fans, which set all-time records for Turner’s digital golf coverage and was nominated for a sports Emmy.
 
Smith started his Turner career at CNN and led the coverage of the 2012 Presidential campaign across the network’s digital brands and products. He helped lead the successful progression of storytelling throughout the entire 18-month election cycle, and also landed major partnerships for CNN’s television and digital coverage.
 
Before WarnerMedia, Smith spent five years at Moxie Interactive as an account and project director for Verizon Wireless’s device and e-commerce platforms. The digital ad agency covered all aspects of VZW’s major digital marketing initiatives, including media planning, media buying, interactive development, e-commerce transactions and digital strategy.
 
Smith holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Pennsylvania State University; and an MBA in Information Technology from the University of Delaware.

Monday, August 26, 2019

In Her 71st USGA Championship, Leach Earns First No. 1 Seed

(RELEASE) - Martha Leach, of Hebron, Ky., who is competing in her 71st USGA championship, shot a second-round 73 on Sunday for a 36-hole total of 1-under-par 143 to earn stroke-play medalist honors in the 58th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club.

Leach, 57, the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, edged Ellen Port and Mary Ann Hayward of Canada by two strokes for the No. 1 seed in match play, which begins on Monday. Port, of St. Louis, Mo., a seven-time USGA champion, and Hayward, the 2005 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, completed two rounds at 1-over 145. It was Leach’s first medalist honor in her 71 USGA championships – and while it’s a proud accomplishment, it’s sometimes seen as unlucky.

“I’m not low, am I?” Leach joked after she completed her round, in which she played with Hayward and 2002 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Corey Weworski, who finished alone in fourth place at 2-over 146. “Nobody really wants it. My compadres today were hoping that I got it and they didn’t get it.”

While it was Leach’s first time as medalist, it’s not her first medal. The younger sister of six-time USGA champion Hollis Stacy, she edged out her sibling last July in the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Chicago Golf Club, finishing in a tie for 10th and earning the silver medal as the low amateur. She will begin match play at 7:30 a.m. CDT on Monday against No. 64 seed Jane Curtin, of Silver Spring, Md., who made it into the bracket in an 8-for-5 playoff on Sunday evening.

“It was a good 73 today,” said Leach, who works as a realtor. “I didn’t put any stress on myself, so that was a positive. I didn’t hit it as well as yesterday, but coming down the last four holes I found the form I had yesterday, so that was encouraging.”

Like Leach, Port shot three strokes higher on Sunday (71-74). The St. Louis native, who won this championship for the fourth time in 2016, rallied with birdies on four of her last seven holes after struggling a bit at the start of the day.

“I was quick on some swings; my tempo was off on a couple of wedges,” said Port, 57. “And I yanked a pitching wedge from the middle of the fairway on No. 14 to make a double. But today was about learning from my mistakes, which I love. [Defending champion] Lara Tennant missed more greens today and it was actually serving her well. You’ve got to get a feel for the golf course.”

Tennant, who was co-medalist and No. 1 seed in 2017 and defeated Sue Wooster last October at Orchid Island for the title, is the No. 5 seed after rounds of 70-78. Hayward, a four-time Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, is the No. 3 seed and Weworski earned the No. 4 seed.

NOTABLE:

An 8-for-5 playoff was conducted immediately after Round 2 of stroke play concluded, and it took just one hole for five players to secure the Nos. 60-64 spots in the bracket after they completed 36 holes at 17-over 161. Susan West and Dori Eastwood made par 4s on the 347-yard 10th hole, while bogey 5s got Monica Townsend, Kathy Glennon and Jane Curtin into match play.
Karen Garcia and Pam Kuong, the two finalists in this championship in 2015 at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., both were in danger of missing the cut for match play after opening with 9-over 81s on Saturday. Garcia, of Cool, Calif., the 2015 champion, rebounded with a 2-over 74 to earn the No. 30 seed, while Kuong, of Wellesley Hills, Mass., rallied with a 78 to earn the No. 53 seed.
The field of 132 players averaged 80.88 strokes over 36 holes on the Donald Ross-designed Cedar Rapids Country Club layout, which was restored by course architect Ron Prichard in 2016. The final three holes, a trio of par 4s, proved daunting, ranking as three of the top four toughest: No. 16 was fourth-hardest, No. 17 was the hardest, and No. 18 played as the second-hardest.

QUOTABLE:

“I haven’t been playing well for over a year. In this championship last year at Orchid Island, I had one good day, and it was the first time I hit the ball really well in four months. Since then, it has been a struggle. We’ve been trying to tweak things in my swing, and John [Leach, her husband and coach] and I figured something out the other day.” – Martha Leach, who shot 70-73 in stroke play
“I told her she was 0 for 70.” – John Leach, Martha Leach’s husband, a golf professional who doubles as her caddie and her swing coach, on her previous USGA record of never earning a No. 1 match-play seed
“I look at qualifying as a day of learning. Somewhere down the road, something that happened is going to serve me well: with a distance, with the speed of a green, with a mistake I made before. You never get too old to learn.” – Ellen Port, the No. 2 seed for match play, who shot 1-over 145 for 36 holes
“I’m oblivious to the medalist thing. I’ve won the whole thing when I’m medalist and I’ve won the whole thing when I’m not medalist. It doesn’t have anything to do with your positioning.” – Ellen Port, who starts match as the No. 2 seed in her quest for an eighth USGA championship

WHATS NEXT:

The Round of 32 and the Round of 16 will both be played on Tuesday.

From the Nicklaus Tee at Valley of the Eagles

How would you play a 276-yard par 3, uphill, over water and a bunker? Play No. 5 at Valley of the Eagles in Elyria, Ohio and you have a chance to test yourself!

Branson Astounds with Array of Golf Stay and Play Packages, Amenities, and Lodging Options

Top-Rated Courses, Hotels Can Stand Alone or be Combined with Spa, Fishing, Shooting, and Nature Activities


(Branson, Missouri) – Branson commands attention as America’s fastest growing golf destination thanks to several new courses; fortunately the variety and high quality of amenities and overnight accommodations ensures guests luxuriate on and off the course.

Consider the brand-new Branson Reunion Lodges at Thousand Hills Golf Resort, home to the fun and well-conceived 18-hole layout designed by Bob Cupp. Four of the 7- and 10-bedroom units are brand new and open to welcome groups, with three more under construction.

The 7-bedroom units are comprised of three levels, over 3,500 square feet, and six private bedrooms featuring king-sized beds and private baths. The Bunkroom features three sets of twin bunkbeds and a bathroom.  The spacious, well-appointed kitchen is on the main level, the lower-level kitchenette has a refrigerator and wet bar. The 10-bedroom Lodges sleep also provide three levels, over 4,900 square feet, eight private bedrooms featuring king-sized beds and private baths, and two Bunkrooms. The main-level kitchen includes two refrigerators and dishwashers. The lower-level kitchenette adds a third refrigerator and wet bar.

“Our Reunion Lodges are first class and have been a big hit,” said Gary Nelson, Thousand Hills Golf Manager. “They’re ideal for our Stay and Play Package groups, have beautiful course views, and, of course, include our prime central Branson location.”

Guests of both Reunion Lodge types will have access to the Legacy Indoor Pool located behind the Lodges at Legacy Place. For more information: https://www.thousandhills.com/branson-lodging/branson-lodges/

Big Cedar Lodge continues astounding the golf world with an ever-growing portfolio of remarkable courses designed by some of the biggest names in golf. Ozarks National – designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw – opened in May 2019. Payne’s Valley, by Tiger Woods and his golf architecture company TGR Design, is nearing completion and will be announcing opening plans soon. When it does, Big Cedar will be home to five course options, including Buffalo Ridges Springs (Tom Fazio), Mountain Top (Gary Player), and Top of the Rock (Jack Nicklaus).

With those spectacular playing options leading the way – by arguably the greatest collection of iconic golf legends ever assembled in one place – the amenities and accommodations must be top notch as well. Indeed, they are, with unique stay-and-play packages pairing golf with spa, shooting academy, and guided fishing options. https://bigcedar.com/packages/golf-stay-play/

Standalone amenity options include boat cruises, horseback riding, children’s amusement center, several restaurants, pools, fitness center, and nature excursions. Overnight stay choices run the gamut from lodge rooms and private log cabins, to glamping units and exclusive accommodations.
https://bigcedar.com/packages/golf-stay-play/

For golfers who prefer more traditional hotel stay-and-play experiences, look no further than Branson Hills Golf Club, which teams with the Hiltons of Branson to offer two hotel options. Both the Hilton Branson Convention Center and Hilton Promenade are located within one block of each other and Branson Landing, the downtown Branson lifestyle retail, restaurant and waterfront entertainment district. Ranked the No. 2 best golf venue in Missouri by Golfweek (Buffalo Ridge Springs is rated No. 1), Branson Hills is a championship-caliber course designed by Chuck Smith with design associate Bobby Clampett, a former U.S. Amateur champion and network golf broadcaster. For more information, visit http://www.bransonhillsgolfclub.com/accommodations/ or call Hiltons of Branson at 1-800-HILTONS (445-8667), 417.336.5500.

Branson golf visitors often pair the fore mentioned courses with LedgeStone Country Club (rated No. 6 in Missouri), The Pointe, or Holiday Hills. For more information, visit www.explorebranson.com/golf or https://www.facebook.com/BransonGolf/

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Go Green: Swampbutt Underwear for Golfers

(RELEASE) - Are you tired of wet shorts rubbing bare spots on your inner thighs? Sick to death of your soggy backside? Is your wet butt print on the cart seat getting more attention than your 280-yard drives? Does Gold Bond powder leave a white cloud behind every time you fart? Suffer no more. Don’t go 18 holes making your own gravy. Wear Swampbutt Underwear Green for Golfers instead.

These remarkable garments are on sale this summer for $18.00 a pair plus postage. That’s only one dollar per hole, and they can be worn over and over, practically forever!

Get Confident Stupid!

A drier you is a more confident golfer.  As a very cerebral pursuit, it’s what happens between the players’ ears that matters the most. Anything that distracts the players’ attention can lead to bad performance. Wet stinky shorts on the golf course are distracting because they are uncomfortable and unsightly. The science behind Swampbutt Underwear is what makes them so much better than anything else.

Science of SwampButt Underwear

Sweat wicks across a larger area and evaporates faster because of this. The rate of wicking is related to the materials and the way sweat spreads across them. Polyester fibers are hydrophobic because they are really plastic and will not absorb moisture. Our performance undergarments are made from lycra spandex and polyester fibers. Instead of soaking in and weighing down the wearer, the water is drawn across the fibers and evaporates faster than possible with typical, cotton underwear.

Drier golfers are more socially acceptable. Don’t be left out because of your sweaty butt.

Check out the website HERE.

Wright’s 3-Under Round Sets Pace at Cedar Rapids Country Club

(RELEASE) - Sherry Wright, a 52-year-old physical therapist from Oxnard, Calif., shot a 3-under-par 69 on Saturday, one shot better than four other players, to take the lead after the first round of stroke play in the 58th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club.

There are only seven players within four strokes of Wright, and six of those pursuers have won at least one USGA title. Defending champion Lara Tennant, of Portland, Ore.; three-time Senior Women’s Amateur champion Diane Lang, of Weston, Fla.; and 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Am champion Martha Leach, of Hebron, Ky., are joined by Leigh Klasse, of Cumberland, Wis., at 2-under 70, while 2002 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Corey Weworski, of Carlsbad, Calif., and seven-time USGA champion Ellen Port both shot 1-under 71.

The lone player at 1-over 73 is Mary Ann Hayward, of Canada, the 2005 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and a four-time Canadian Women’s Amateur winner.

Wright, who is competing in her first Senior Women’s Amateur and fourth USGA championship and took up the game only nine years ago, was 4 under through 15 holes before her lone bogey of the day on the par-4 seventh. She finished with a pair of pars for the solo lead.

“I love the golf course, but really, I was saying that before I started,” said Wright, who made her fourth career hole-in-one in a sectional qualifier for this year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open. “I feel very fortunate to be here. To have a really good score on top of it is amazing.”

Tennant, who was the medalist in the 2017 championship at Portland’s Waverley Country Club – her home course – defeated Sue Wooster, of Australia in last year’s final at Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club in Vero Beach, Fla., had three consecutive birdies on holes 12-14 to get to 4 under, but she made a double bogey on No. 16.

“Those things happen, and you just have to keep going,” said Tennant, whose father, George Mack Sr., is again caddieing for her after last year’s title run. “I’m really happy that I parred 17 and 18, which are tough holes. I had great support out there from my dad, reading the greens and with club selection, which is very important out here.”

Laura Webb, of the Republic of Ireland, who is the only player to win her country’s girls, women’s and senior women’s titles, shot the lone 2-over round of 74 and sits in ninth place. Among the seven players at 3-over 75 are two USGA champions who are making their Senior Women’s Amateur debuts: 2002 Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Kathy Hartwiger, of Birmingham, Ala., and three-time Women’s Mid-Am champion Sarah Lebrun Ingram, of Nashville, Tenn., who will captain the 2020 USA Curtis Cup Team.

NOTABLE:

Judith Kyrinis, 55, of Canada, was 1 under through 15 holes on Saturday before fading at the finish for a 4-over 76. Kyrinis, the 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur champion, completed her second victory in the Canadian Senior Women’s Amateur on Tuesday in British Columbia. Kyrinis, of Thornhill, Ontario, also earned the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master (40 and older) titles with her 54-hole total of 2-under 217, matching her feat of 2016.
The 17th hole, a 355-yard par 4 with a second shot that plays over the Cedar River and features the club’s iconic swinging bridge, was by far the most difficult hole on Saturday. It played more than a full stroke over par at a 5.01 average. There were only five birdies and 32 pars on the day, with a whopping 64 bogeys, 24 double bogeys and 7 scores worse than double bogey.
Three of the five easiest holes in Round 1 were the par 3s on the Donald Ross-designed course, which was restored by Ron Prichard in 2016. No. 8 (128 yards) was 14th, No. 5 (121 yards) was 16th and the easiest hole of the day by stroke average was the 105-yard 12th, which was parred by exactly 75 percent of the field (99 of 132 players). It yielded 10 birdies, 22 bogeys and one “other” for a stroke average of 3.11.
After starting her round with a triple-bogey 7 and a bogey 5, Laura Coble of Augusta, Ga., played her last 16 holes in 1 under par for a 3-over 75. Coble was the runner-up in the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and a semifinalist in this championship in 2016.

QUOTABLE:

“I just feel like I had nothing to lose. I’m an underdog. I’m a nobody. Why not just go out and have fun? No one knows who I am.” – Sherry Wright, who opened with the low round of 69
“Donald Ross, he’s always had my number. I’ve been going for 30 years to Pinehurst and never won anything. So to get it all going together, I was so happy because I love Pinehurst. I love the tradition and it’s like home for me. I’ve always wanted one of those Putter Boy trophies. I came close in the regular North & South. I think I made the semis and the quarters, but never could do it.” – Ellen Port, on finally winning at Pinehurst in the Senior Women’s North & South two weeks ago
“I had [3-under] 33 on the front and I rolled the ball really well. I got a little quick on two swings, which led to bogeys, but I had so many burn the edge with my putting. I haven’t felt like I’ve putted well in the last couple years so it’s nice when the ball is coming off well.” – Ellen Port, seven-time USGA champion, on her opening 70
“I hit the ball really well today. I hit 14 greens in regulation and made a few putts. That’s the best way to play this course. Hit fairways and greens.” – Leigh Klasse, the nine-time senior women’s player of the year in Minnesota, on her 2-under 70
“I had a great start with a great group [Martha Leach and Mary Ann Hayward]. It was kind of inspiring – they’re really good players and they don’t mess up. Get to match play, that’s always my goal. Try to play good golf and everything else will take care of itself.” – Corey Weworski, on her opening round of 70
“I won the California State Seniors, but then I had a torn tendon and torn ligament, and I took off for two months. It’s a 50 percent tear. I was hoping that I didn’t need surgery, but I’ve been told that I have to get this done, it’s never going to go away.” – Corey Weworski, on playing with a brace this week

WHAT'S NEXT:

Round 2 of stroke play will begin at 7:30 a.m. CDT on Sunday, and the low 64 players will move on match play on Monday. If necessary, a playoff to determine the final match-play spots will take place on Sunday after the completion of Round 2.

Website: usga.org/seniorwomensam

North Carolinian Dean Channell Has First-Round Lead at U.S. Senior Amateur Championship

(RELEASE) - Dean Channell didn’t think he was going to enjoy a “home” game at the 65th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship when he just missed earning one of the four available spots at a sectional qualifier last month.

But the Cary, N.C., resident held out hope that as a first alternate from the Lexington (S.C.) Country Club qualifier, he might get the chance to compete at Old Chatham Golf Club, a layout he’s played “approximately 25 times” since the Rees Jones design opened in 2001.

Earlier this month, the 59-year-old received the coveted phone call from the USGA that he was in the field. Living just 8 miles from the venue, Channell didn’t have to make extensive travel plans, and his familiarity with Old Chatham provided a confidence boost.

Those positive vibes were on full display in Saturday’s first round of stroke play. Playing in a steady afternoon rain, Channell, a former tennis player at Virginia Tech, carded a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke lead.  

He was one of seven players to break par on an overcast day where temperatures were 20 degrees cooler than the two official practice rounds on Thursday and Friday. The rain, which was heavy at times, began falling just as the morning wave of 78 golfers were finishing. Just under a half-inch fell in a five-hour span.

“You rather not play in these conditions,” said Channell, “and I am not a mudder. [But] it worked out.

“I really hit it good. I think I hit 15 greens so that makes a difference. I putted well. I hit a lot of shots that were close, so I gave myself a bunch of chances.”

Starting on No. 10, Channell, who is competing in his second U.S. Senior Amateur (he missed the cut in 2015 at Hidden Creek after being in a 12-for-1 playoff for the last match-play spot), birdied Nos. 12 and 14 on the outward nine. He chipped in from 20 yards on the par-3 12th and chipped to tap-in range on the par-5 14th. He added birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 8 on his second nine, making a 15-footer at the sixth and a 25-footer on eight.

Channell wasn’t the only alternate to enjoy success on the first day of the championship. Greg Condon, 57, of Monte Vista, Colo., the first alternate from the Albuquerque (N.M.) Country Club qualifier, joined Kory Frost, 62, of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., at 2-under 70.

Condon’s 67 at his July 29th qualifier, which offered just one spot, would have earned him medalist honors at all but four of the 49 sectional sites. But he instead needed to survive a playoff to earn first-alternate status. Eleven days later, the USGA called to say he was in the championship for a third consecutive year.

With his 27-year-old son, Luke, on his bag, Condon got off to an inauspicious start with a bogey on the par-5 first hole. But he recovered quickly with a chip-in birdie at the par-3 second. He then made three consecutive birdies on Nos. 5-7 to make the turn at 3-under 33. He came home in 1-over 37.

“It’s damp. It’s wet, but it’s cool compared to the practice rounds,” said Condon, who shared medalist honors with eventual champion Jeff Wilson last year but was eliminated in the Round of 32. “The golf course was great. Hats off to the superintendent (Brian Powell) and the people here who are letting us play in their playground.”

Frost, meanwhile, played the only bogey-free round on Saturday, with birdies on the par-5 first and par-4 16th holes.

Chris Hall, 61, of Marietta, Ga., 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur champion Doug Hanzel, 62, of Savannah, Ga., Pete Williams, 60, of Juno Beach, Fla., and Brian Cain, 57, Montpelier, Vt., all carded 1-under 71s. Hanzel, who started on No. 10, rallied from a 3-over start to shoot 4-under 32 on his second nine.

What’s Next

The 156 competitors will play one more stroke-play round on Sunday after which the field will be trimmed to the low 64 scorers for match play beginning on Monday. Match play continues until Thursday morning’s 18-hole championship match.

Notable

The stroke average for the first round was 77.57, with the 450-yard, par-4 18th playing the most difficult (4.68) and the 503-yard, par-5 14th playing the easiest at 4.96. It was the only hole to play under par on Day 1.

Defending champion Jeff Wilson, of Fairfield, Calif., made 17 pars and one bogey en route to a first-round 73. Wilson is vying to become the first back-to-back champion in 39 years. William C. Campbell won the title in 1979 and 1980.

Paul Simson, of Raleigh, N.C., a two-time U.S. Senior Amateur champion (2010 and 2012), had the honor of hitting the opening tee shot. Simson, however, struggled to a 5-over 77, meaning he’ll have some work left on Sunday to avoid missing match play in this event for the first time in 13 appearances. His overall Senior Amateur match-play record is an impressive 33-10. Simson, who has been medalist or co-medalist in this championship a record-tying four times, owned a 71.25 stroke average (24 rounds) coming into the event.

Two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Tim Jackson, of Williston, Tenn., withdrew on Friday night due to the passing of his father-in-law. He was replaced in the field by Rusty Strawn, of McDonough, Ga., the first alternate from the Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., site.

Ken Kinkopf, of Jupiter, Fla., who won this year’s North & South Senior Amateur at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, withdrew on Saturday morning with a neck injury and was replaced by John Hahn, of Las Vegas, Nev. Hahn won a playoff for first alternate in his sectional qualifier at Red Rock Country Club in Las Vegas. Hahn’s son, also named John, qualified for the 2013 U.S. Open among his nine USGA starts, and won the 2009 Western Amateur.

Two-time USGA champion Marvin “Vinny” Giles, 76, of Richmond, Va., the oldest competitor in the field, matched his age with a 4-over 76. He doesn’t know how many times he’s achieved that feat, but said, “I’m at least at 260 and I didn’t start counting until I was 70.” Giles won the 1972 U.S. Amateur and the 2009 U.S. Senior Amateur. He says this is likely his final Senior Amateur as his 10-year exemption for winning at Beverly Country Club in Chicago ends this year.

Brian Cain, of Montpelier, Vt., had quite a day in his first USGA championship start. Not only was he celebrating his 28th wedding anniversary with wife, Lilli, but the 57-year-old also made an eagle-2 on his opening hole, the 368-yard, par-4 10th and nearly aced the 172-yard, par-3 17th, knocking a 5-iron to inches of the hole. On No. 10, he holed out a 9-iron from 135 yards. Cain, who is entering his ninth season as the Montpelier High golf coach, posted a 1-under 71.

This was the first time that Dean Channell’s wife, Kathy, had watched him play in a competitive event. Kathy came out to watch the last nine holes, where Dean registered four birdies en route to his 68.

Quotable

“Without question it helped me. I am familiar with the shots. It played a lot faster when it first opened so it has changed over the years. But it is nice to look at a green and semi-know what the contour is. You don’t have to stress about it.” – Dean Channell on his familiarity with Old Chatham

“Over the years, I’ve probably played better golf walking than riding. Maybe it is [more] time to think [between shots]. And your whole life, you’ve got that timing between shots.” – Greg Condon, of Monte Vista, Colo., on his preference to walk over riding in the U.S. Senior Amateur

“That’s an honor. I think they did that for [North Carolina native] Scott Harvey down at Pinehurst also [for the 2019 U.S. Amateur]. I think that’s a really nice gesture. It’s something you always will remember, which is kind of cool.” – Paul Simson, of Raleigh, N.C., on hitting the first tee shot of the championship

“I’ve kind of been fighting a little neck issue and it’s been tough to swing at it. I feel a little bit better than we’re in at 77, and maybe if I can get it a little looser tomorrow, we can get us a decent round and get into match play.” – Simson on his round.

“This will be my last [U.S. Senior Amateur]. I haven’t really played with a pencil in my hand since April at the Coleman [Invitational at Seminole Golf Club]. That’s the last real tournament I played. I realize that my [competitive] days are over. I still enjoy playing. But I don’t have any delusions of grandeur.” – Marvin “Vinny” Giles, 76, of Richmond, Va., on his expectations this week

“It’s the only goal I have anymore. I’m spotting [most of the field] 20 years and probably 30 or 40 yards.” – Giles on his quest to qualify for match play

“It was a good score. If you drive it the fairway, with the big greens, you can play. But if you hit in the rough it is a lot of work out there. It is hard to get a club through with it wet and gnarly.” – Michael McCoy, of Norwalk, Iowa, on the championship setup at Old Chatham

“I don’t play a lot of recreational golf. I still am addicted to competitive golf and [I enjoy] standing over a ball, knowing that you have to execute. My experience is mostly in New England but I have a lot of it. Once I got inside the ropes it felt like, ‘I want to hit this shot.’” – Brian Cain, of Montpelier, Vt., on his first USGA championship appearance