Ed Francese Inducted into Southwest Section PGA of America Hall of Fame

(SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.) – Prominent Arizona golf industry leader, Ed Francese was recently inducted into the Southwest Section P.G.A of America Hall of Fame. Francese joined four other 2012 Hall of Fame inductees who were recognized at the recent Southwest Section Awards Dinner held in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Southwest Section PGA Hall of Fame Committee, comprised of prominent section professionals and other industry leaders, selects Hall of Fame award winners.

The inscription on the plaque for the Hall of Fame winners reads:
“The highest honor the Southwest Section PGA can bestow. This faithful PGA Professional will be forever remembered for his significant and endearing contributions to the game of golf and the Southwest Section PGA.”

Francese has certainly had his share of significant contributions to the game and to the Southwest Section PGA. He has also served as a member Southwest Section P.G.A Board of Directors for 10 consecutive years and has a decorated career within the Arizona golf industry for over three decades.

Francese is no stranger to awards from the Southwest Section P.G.A, having received honors such as the Southwest Section P.G.A Golf Professional of the Year (1982 and 1993) and Southwest Section P.G.A Player of the Year (1976).

An accomplished player, Francese has competed in the Goldwater Cup Matches eight different years and competed at the highest level playing in the 1977 P.G.A Championship at Pebble Beach, in the Phoenix Open three times and the Tucson Open twice.

His mark on to the golf industry is also prominent in the golf courses themselves as he has served as the construction project manager at nine different gol f courses including notable Arizona courses such as We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s Cholla Course, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s Saguaro Course and the Gallery at Dove Mountain in Tucson, to name a few.

Today he is the principal of EF Golf management and consulting. Together, in a partnership with OB Sports, Ed Francese manages all aspects of the highly acclaimed We-Ko-Pa Golf Club that has earned a number of Top 100 accolades and who’s Coore-Crenshaw, designed Saguaro Course is currently ranked as the No. 1 “Best Course You Can Play in Arizona” by Golfweek Magazine in their State-by-State ranking.

Francese joins an esteemed group of Arizona golf industry professionals who have been inducted into the Southwest Section P.G.A Hall of Fame. Past inductees include former P.G.A President Brian Whitcomb, the late Johnny Bulla who was a legendary player and golf course architect as well as the late Arch Watkins who spent over 35 years serving the Arizona golf industry, to name a few.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Great Gorge Reborn as Retro Golf Experience

(HAMBURG, NJ) - The 1970s are back and in full swing at Crystal Spring’s Great Gorge Country Club, where the retro-chic interior design of the clubhouse rekindles the “Playboy” atmosphere that Hugh Hefner originally created.

Opened in 1970 as an amenity to Hefner’s famed Great Gorge Playboy Club, the extraordinary George Fazio-designed 27-hole golf course continues to stand the test of time.  And now golfers can step off the course and onto the shag carpet that is part of the Playboy setting at Great Gorge.

Great Gorge has channeled Hef’s mojo to shake up things.  Among the new amenities and 70s touches include psychedelic wallpaper, casual nightclub style seating; a totally groovy outside deck perfect for mingling and group gatherings; funky new merchandise selections, featuring Loudmouth golf apparel and very cool shades.

The three nines include the Quarryside Course (playing through spectacular rock outcroppings and diverse water hazards), the Lakeside Course (set amid sparkling lakes and mature trees, with dramatic elevation changes), and the Railside Course (the most scenic nine and also, the most forgiving, as strategically protected green sites are sculpted into the dramatic terrain).

To open up the 2012 season, golf groups may take advantage of the Vintage 1970’s golf package.  This package and special rate is for golf groups of 16 or more and is priced at $70 per person for:
* 18 holes of golf with a cruisin' cart
* Unlimited range balls
* Yardage book
* $5 Pro Shop Credit
* Pabst Blue Ribbon Keg at the 19th hole
* Burgers n' dogs, saucy salads & Hef's famous cheesecake
* Coffee, tea and TAB  

To book your golf group and get the season off to a groovy start, call (973) 827-4357 or email GolfOutings@crystalgolfresort.com.

Crystal Springs Resort brings the best public golf facilities in New Jersey together to form the northeast’s premier golf destination.  Golfers can choose from seven award-winning layouts designed by some of the game’s best architects including Roger Rulewich, George Fazio, Robert von Hagge and Robert Trent Jones, Sr.  The lineup includes: Ballyowen, recognized as the No. 1 course in the state of New Jersey, and named among the “Top 50 Resort Golf Courses in the U.S.” by Golfweek; Black Bear, Cascades, Crystal Springs, Wild Turkey, Minerals and of course, Great Gorge.

Crystal Springs Resort is conveniently located just one hour from New York City and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).  It’s also easily accessible from LaGuardia and JFK, as well as by numerous private aviation facilities.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Caddy for a Cure Announces Launch on Champions Tour at 2012 U.S. Senior Open Championship with Tom Lehman

Charitable program expands with new tour opportunities

(Coral Springs, FL) - Caddy For A Cure, Inc., the professional golf opportunity to go inside the ropes and caddy for a day with the world's best players, announced the expansion of its program to the Champions Tour. The unique charitable fundraising program will be kick-starting its expansion with 2011 Charles Schwab Cup winner, Tom Lehman, at the 2012 U.S. Senior Open Championship.

The 2012 U.S. Senior Open Championship will be played at Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Lake Orion, Michigan outside of Detroit. The tournament dates are July 9th through July 15th and the caddy experience will be Tuesday, July 10th during the official practice round preceding competition.

Following an extremely successful career on the PGA TOUR where he achieved five TOUR wins, including holding the world No. 1 rank and the Open Championship in 1996, Lehman joined the Champions Tour in 2009. Since playing on the Champions Tour Lehman has achieved eight Tour wins and the highest Tour honor of the Charles Schwab Cup title in 2011.

Caddy For A Cure CEO and program founder Russ Holden said "We are extremely honored to be expanding onto the Champions Tour this year, particularly with such an amazing player as Tom Lehman. Lehman has participated with us in the past on the PGA TOUR and we can't think of a better way to announce our new opportunities than with him." Holden continued, "When I approached Tom he was eager to continue his support of our program on the Champions Tour. So much so he suggested the U.S. Senior Open Championship as the venue, knowing this golf major would provide an amazing experience for the winning golf fan and maximize fundraising for our causes. This really speaks volumes about the kind of man Tom Lehman is and his heart for giving back from the game from which he has achieved so much success."

Caddy For A Cure has been offering PGA TOUR caddy experiences for charity since 2003, and LPGA experiences since 2010, with proceeds benefiting multiple causes. Benefitting charities include the PGA TOUR Birdies for the Brave military outreach, the PGA TOUR Professional Caddy Assistance Foundation, the LPGA Foundation USGA-Girls Golf program, the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund and each participating player's and host site's charity. All program caddy experiences may be found from the Caddy For A Cure website at www.caddyforacure.com or you may contact Caddy For A Cure directly for more information.

Please visit the generous sponsors Emerick Construction, Sharpie pens, The Otter Company, Thorlos, the JetBlue Challenge and VedaloHD Sunglasses.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

PlaneSwing Supports Troops' Charities

PlaneSWING - the kinaesthetic full swing teaching system - has committed to supporting, through the PlaneSWING Foundation, the Troops' Charities in their efforts to aid the rehabilitation of injured soldiers returning from war zones.

In partnership with Golf Supports Our Troops founder Brian Coleman, a PlaneSWING System was donated to Green2Green Foundation at Wedges & Woods in Augusta, GA.

PlaneSWING CEO Tony Clark commented: "We are committed to supporting directly and indirectly those that work tirelessly for our injured service men and women. I have been involved with Golf Supports Our Troops for over seven years and have witnessed first-hand how Brian and Nancy Coleman have transformed lives."

Tony Clark is pictured in PlaneSWING with Captain (Retired) Joe Caley, who has battled serious injury and multiple operations to become an accomplished golfer thanks to the Green2Green Foundation. See www.green2greenfoundation.org.

Clark added: "PlaneSWING provides a stable and safe environment in which to learn the golf swing, building confidence, strength and a repeatable motion that can immediately be transferred to the course."

Brian Coleman commented: "Golf Supports Our Troops has supplied golf equipment to aid rehabilitation at Veteran Hospitals across the US and also provided nets and thousands of clubs and balls to help set up "driving ranges" in Iraq and Afghanistan! The Troops really appreciate the efforts of all the Charities involved"

For more details about Golf Supports Our Troops visit www.golfsupportsourtroops.org or contact PlaneSWING direct at onplane@planeswing.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Renaissance Makes 'Final 3' for America's 2012 'Course Of The Year'

(Boston, Mass.) - The National Golf Course Owner's Association has selected Renaissance as one of three finalists for their 2012 "Course of the Year." Renaissance will be representing the New England Chapter as its first course ever to be chosen a finalist.

Once a year, the NGCOA narrows its 18 regional Course of the Year winners down to three. Other finalists for the NGCOA's Course of the Year Award include The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind. and Scott Lake Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. The winner will be announced during an awards ceremony that will take place February 28th in Las Vegas at the NGCOA's Annual Convention.

The "Course of the Year" award recognizes Renaissance and its staff as a model operation in the industry, taking into consideration four key components: 1) Exceptional Quality of the Course, 2) Exceptional Quality of Ownership and Management, 3) Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, and 4) Significant Contributions to the Game.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Medicus Golf Reveals Five Keys to Pure, Consistent Ball Striking

Company Launches New Website While Developing Training Aids for Each Key

(Vista, Calif.) – Ben Hogan’s swing was sweetly controlled. Arnold Palmer lashed at drives with powerful fury and Jim Furyk famously kills snakes in a phone booth. Clearly no two golf swings are quite the same.  But a recent study by Medicus Golf identified five basic elements that every great golfer—from Bobby Jones to Tiger Woods—has in common.

Arguably the next significant advance in golf instruction, the Pure Strike Keys to Consistency are principals that can help all golfers hit the ball with repeated accuracy and steady distance, which leads to better scores, said Medicus Founder and President Bob Koch.

“One reason teaching is so complicated is that a student can’t focus on 10 different parts of the swing at once,” explained Koch. “But while golf’s most prolific champions had different grips, stances and swing planes, all had mastered five essential things that are obvious on film and in photos.  It’s the common traits that enabled the greats to strike balls with consistent purity.”

Even if a student focuses on just one Pure Strike key, he added, the performance of the swing is instantly improved. Put together all five and the combination is the simplest way any golfer can build an accurate, repeated swing that strikes a golf ball pure, time after time.

Developed in conjunction with PGA Instructors Chuck Evans, Randy Sparks and Dave Wedzik, the Pure Strike Keys can be found on the new website www.purestrike.com.  It contains information, videos and will also feature links to webinars on each of the Pure Strike Keys. A DVD and instruction book will follow this spring. Meanwhile, Medicus is developing training aids for each Pure Strike Key to help golfers engrain the fundamentals. All five training aids will be available for purchase in 2012 on the aforementioned website.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Circling Raven Golf Club Offers Substantial Savings With New, All-Inclusive Stay-and-Play Package

(WORLEY, ID) - Circling Raven Golf Club - the highly decorated amenity of the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort in scenic Northern Idaho - today announces a new, All-Inclusive Stay-and-Play Package, offering substantial savings on golf, lodging, dining and spa treatments.

For $299 per person, guests receive two nights lodging (double occupancy) in the luxury Spa Tower of the newly expanded Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort, a round of golf for two, $50 per person spa service credit, $25 per person dining credit, and $15 of "casino cash" if enrolled in the Rewards Club. The deal offers a total savings of $200 and is valid seven days a week.

"Circling Raven and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe are committed to providing a high-quality experience at affordable rates," said Circling Raven Director of Golf Tom Davidson, PGA America Resort Category Merchandiser of the Year in 2011. "The resort expansion and All-Inclusive Stay-and-Play Package further enhance the value and options we offer guests."

Last spring, the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort, rated a "Premier Golf Resort" by GOLF Magazine, opened nearly 100 upscale hotel rooms in two towers overlooking the golf course. Other new amenities include a gourmet steakhouse, a 15,000-square-foot, full-service spa, a sports bar and café, and a 10-acre "Front Yard" that serves as an outdoor amphitheater for concerts and other outdoor events.

Daily rates at Circling Raven Golf Club - a Gene Bates design that meanders through 620 acres, with only 100 representing cultivated ground - are $65 (Monday - Thursday) and $75 (Friday - Sunday) from April through May 17. After May 17, the rate is $80 on weekdays and $95 on weekends. Same day replay rates are $45.

Single-night, stay-and-play deals are also available, starting at $99 per person and include one night lodging (double occupancy) in the Spa Tower and 18 holes of golf for two, plus cart with GPS and use of the expansive practice facility.

To book tee times or a stay-and-play package call 1-800-523-2464 or visit www.circlingraven.com.

To receive more information as well as the latest news and information about Circling Raven Golf Club and Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort, visit www.facebook.com/circling.raven and "Like" the Circling Raven and Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Pages.

SUGGESTED TWEET: Save $200 on golf, spa, lodging and dining with Circling Raven Golf Club's new All-Inclusive Stay-and-Play Package: www.cdacasino.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com