rickyleepotts…an opinionated realist

The 92^nd PGA Championship is now in the books. The event took place at Whistling Straits located on Lake Michigan in Haven, Wisconsin. The field featured some of the best players in the world for the last major of the season.

Highlighted were players like Phil Mickelson who is well on his way to becoming the world’s number one ranked player and Tiger Woods who is fresh off a devastating finish at the WGC-Bridgestone the previous week. Both these players, and many more, were featured throughout the week and into the weekend as the PGA handed over another Wanamaker trophy.

The trophy went to Martin Kaymer, a twenty-five-year-old from Germany. He played some great golf and managed to get himself into a playoff with long-ball hitter Bubba Watson. But when Dustin Johnson came to the 18^th tee, he had a one shot lead heading the pack at twelve under par. An arrant tee shot, landing some twenty yards right of the fairway, would later lead to a bogey finish. This would put him into a playoff with Kaymer and Watson.

Whistling Straits, designed by Alive and Pete Dye, features over 1,200 bunkers. Because of this the PGA had made sure all players and rules officials were aware of the rules of golf in regards to bunkers. If you play golf then you know there are a few rules you must follow. One of the most basic things to remember is you are not allowed to ground your club until you hit the golf ball. If you ground your club before in a bunker it is a two shot penalty. Most golfers know this, especially PGA Tour players.

On 18, when Dustin Johnson his hit tee shot way right, he would just be lucky to find the ball, let alone get a good lie. Where he hit spectators and sure enough surrounded the ball, he had a good lie. His ball ended up in a section of the course that has been trampled down by spectators all week long. The ball was sitting up and he had a shot at the green.

Dustin grabbed a club from his bag, took his stance, and grounded his club. The video shows that as soon as he grounded his club he backed off and made notice to a shadow that was affecting his thought process. He carried on and managed to hit the shot up by the green. From there he would fail to get up and down and would be forced into a playoff with the other two competitors.

Before they could even tee off, someone called his attention back to the area in which he had hit his second shot. Dustin was in a bunker. One of the many bunkers on the course, and one that had been walked in all week from onlookers trying to get a good view of the action on the course. Eventually he would suffer a two shot penalty and end up finishing in a tie for fifth place.

All day I have been hearing about this incident. Even yesterday, after they called attention to the rules violation, more attention went to Dustin than did the winner of the championship. Dustin was upset and all of the media attention went to the locker room just trying to get a piece of his story.

What bothers me is he broke a rule. Golf is one of the greatest games on earth and has a rulebook as thick as a phone book. But just the same, he broke a rule. Golf is based on tradition and the rules of golf are held very close to those players who take the game seriously. While I take the game of golf seriously, I break some rules from time to time. But I am not a professional athlete playing on the PGA Tour with a one shot lead going into the final hole of a major championship.

You might remember Dustin having thrown away the US Open at Pebble Beach earlier this year. He went into the final round with a huge lead and managed to just throw it away one shot at a time. Dustin is only twenty-six years old, so perhaps this is just another lesson well learned, but at the end of the day he broke a rule.

Dustin never once argued the violation, it was eventually left up to the rules committee. But you could tell by the way he approached the media he did not agree with the final call. I will give him credit that the area where his ball finished looked more like a waste area than a sand trap. You are allowed to ground your club in a waste area. But playing on a course with over 1,200 bunkers he might have thought to ask if he could ground his club before just assuming he was in a waste area.

I will stand by the rules of golf and by this decision. He broke a rule and had to suffer the consequences. There is no reason to keep talking about his mistake. How about we pay attention to the man that had the lowest score at the end of the week? Martin Kaymer is whom we need to be focused on here. Let’s all give a round of applause to Martin Kaymer, the winner of this year’s PGA Championship.

Did you see the tournament this past weekend? What did you think of the ruling? Was it a fair decision or was Dustin robbed of another shot at a major victory?

Golf is quite possibly the greatest sport on earth. There is so much tradition to the game, and so much history. It is one of the only sports where you never have the same shot twice. You could hit ten balls from the exact same location, and never see the same shot twice. You have to deal with the line you get, the wind blowing all around you, the bounce the ball gets. There is just so much to think about when hitting a golf shot.

But as a golfer, matched with all the tradition that goes along with it, finding a place to visit is not hard. Golf courses are all over the world, and many of these are places that every golfer should visit at least once. I might just have planned your next vacation.

British Golf Museum

Located at St. Andrews, the home of the game of golf, you can visit the British Golf Museum. The museum is also quite affordable. I am not sure they take into account the money you had to spend to get there on airline tickets and hotel rooms or not, but admission is only $8 for adults. You will find the museum located just behind the clubhouse at the Old Course. Inside, you will find golf memorabilia from the old age to the modern age, and you can even look at the very first golf rule book. This piece dates back to 1774.

The Dunvegan

If you make the trip all the way to the St Andrews, you might as well take some time to grab a drink at The Dunvegan. This place sits right across the street from the golf course, literally right across from the 18^th green at the old course. The only bad thing about this place is that it will be filled with other people just like you. Very few locals visit here because of this. But sit down, grab a pint of beer, and take a look at all of the memorial and images hanging on the wall. Because of its proximity to the golf course, most of what you will see on these walls is from the course itself.

In Celebration of Golf

If you want to stay in the United States and play some golf, then head west to Scottsdale, Arizona. In and around Scottsdale, you will find hundreds of golf courses, and the store In Celebration of Golf. This 15,000 square foot store is located in a strip mall. You can look through over 3,000 different items including artwork, clothes, memorabilia, and even furniture, all dedicated to the game we love. You can even purchase custom golf carts here. This place is huge, so make sure you take your time walking around. You might just get lost.

Par-King Skill Golf

Here in the Midwest, head up to the north side of Chicago and take some time at Par-King Skill Golf. Not a golf course per se, this 75,000 square foot facility houses the most creative miniature golf course on the planet. There are thirty-six holes here, and on one of the holes you will find a twelve-foot statue of the Sears Tower, a huge looping roller coaster, and a giant roulette wheel at the end. If you are worried about how much an experience here will cost, don’t. Adults can play for less than $10. But note that with so many moving parts and so much going on inside, you must be at least forty-eight inches tall to enter the facility.

17 Mile Drive

Make sure you take your time on this California drive. From Carmel to Pacific Grove, you are going to see a lot of photo opportunities. While on this journey, you will see Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Cypress Point , and a lot more. When you enter the seventeen-mile drive, be prepared to spend about $10 for the toll. With that toll, you will be handed a map to help you navigate your journey. If golf is not your thing, don’t worry. You can see whales, otters, and more off the coast. To enjoy this drive right, give yourself at least two hours. (Note that just up the road, headed north, you can find Stanford University, where the great Tiger Woods attended school for three years. Google headquarters are also up the road in Mountain View.)

Sky 72 Golf Club Driving Range

Sure, you have to visit Seoul, South Korea to see this facility, but it might be worth it. Sky 72 Golf Club Driving Range opened back in 2005, but has become world-renowned for its design and location. A mere ten minutes from the Incheaon International Airport, this facility has over 300 hitting bays, and is wrapped around in a circle with about four hundreds yards from any given side to the other. If you are worried that a driving range just has a handful of green mats and some plastic tees, this place might surprise you. Each bay has automatic teeing mechanisms, the highest quality mats of any range on the planet, and high-powered industrial lighting for hitting balls at night. Buckets of balls are less than $5, but you can, if you want to spend some time here working on your game, get a full day pass or even a weekend pass for an increased rate.

TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course

Often considered to be the first major, the TPC Stadium Course in Ponde Vedre Beach, Florida plays host to the PLAYERS each spring. The course is famous for its huge clubhouse, and the number of domestic and international players alike who have won here. It’s also known for the number of PGA players who live on property. There are tons of courses around here, but nothing compared to the TPC. Here, you can schedule a tour of the course, see some of the places where the players walk in and around the facility, and even share in stories with caddies and members who are now volunteers. You can even walk around the clubhouse, have lunch in their bar and grill, or just take pictures of the golf course. Standing on the 17^th tee, looking at that island green, is something else. The course is also public, so if you get a chance, book a tee time. It might set you back about $500 after tee times and tipping a caddy, but it will be worth it in the end to have played where some of the best in golf have won.

There are so many more places that you can visit as a golfer. From the World Golf Hall of Fame to the USGA Museum, the game is set on display all over the world. Just ask any golfer, and he or she will tell you importance of maintaining the great history of this game. All of these places and more are doing just that. So grab your clubs, purchase your plane tickets, and see what this great game has to offer.

This year, I had the chance to travel north and play some golf. And when I say north, I mean way north. Over six hours north to be exact. I headed from Indianapolis all the way up to Roscommon, Michigan. Sheryl and I were spending the weekend at Forest Dunes Golf Club. I would play a couple rounds of golf, relax a bit, get in some reading, and just relax the weekend away. While there I had the chance to play with the head professional, Donny Fisher. I had met him (on the Internet of course) several months prior and now was finally going to shake the man’s hand. We had chatted on Facebook a time or two, but had never met in person. I would play eighteen holes with him that Saturday, watch the fireworks that weekend with him and his wife (and newborn baby), and get the chance to have dinner with him as well. It was a perfect weekend spent on a perfect golf course. That wasn’t enough for me though. I had to get to know Donny a little more. I also wanted my readers to get to know him as well. So Donny and I sat down and what you see here is a better look into his life, on and off the golf course. Donny has gone from being a client to a friend almost overnight. It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Donny Fisher.

How long have you been playing golf?

I have been playing golf for fifteen years now.  I did not play in high school, but worked at a golf course where I grew up during high school and fell in love with the industry.

Who is your favorite player on the PGA Tour?

My favorite player to watch was Tiger Woods.  I remembering watching him at Torrey Pines on Saturday and getting goose bumps.  I enjoy the young players like Ricky Fowler now.  He has a little flair and is making orange a popular color to wear again.

Tell me a little bit more about working at Forest Dunes Golf Club.

Working at Forest Dunes Golf Club is a true blessing.  We have the most caring staff and it is a joy to come to work every day.

Do you ever get bored living in the middle of nowhere?

Roscommon is a wonderful place to live.  We have Higgins Lake, which is a crystal clear lake nearby and many outdoor activities at our fingertips.  I love the outdoors and love living in northern Michigan.

What is the best round you have ever shot at Forest Dunes?

My lowest out here is a 68.

Have you ever shot anything better than that? If so, where?

Not yet.

From driver to golf ball, what’s in your bag?

• Callaway FT-9 I-Mix 9.5 degree Driver with a Mitsubishi Fubuki Tour shaft
• Callaway Diablo Edge Tour 3 –Wood
• Callaway FT Hybrids – 3 and 4
• Callaway X-Forged Irons with Project X 6.0 shafts – 5 – PW
• Callaway X-Forged Wedges – 50, 54 and 58 degrees
• Odyssey Black Series Tour #1 Putter
• Callaway Tour i(z) Balls

How many times a week do you get to play?

I try to play at least two to three times a week.

Do you like working for Troon?

Absolutely, Troon Golf is an outstanding management company.  Troon Golf manages over 180 courses around the world and offers excellent opportunities for advancement.

Tell us a little bit more about the process to become a teaching pro.

I am going through the PGA PGM program.  To get into the program there is a playing ability test and then three levels of business and game books.  All levels check points are at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida.  The books are very in-depth on all aspects of the golf operation.

What are your thoughts on teaching aids like The Putting Arc or the Medicus?

I have never been big on using manufactured teaching aids such as the Putting Arc or the Medicus.  I like to use alignment sticks and even have used a tennis racket in a lesson.  I feel it is important not to get too technical and preach using the big muscles.

I recently wrote a blog post on my pre-shot routine. What is your pre-shot routine like?

I believe that a pre-shot routine is very important to have in your game.  My pre-shot routine is to get behind the ball and visualize the shot I want to hit.  I always pick a spot a few inches in front of the ball to aim to.  As I talk my stance I focus on my grip and swing away.

What is your favorite thing about the game of golf?

Golf is such an honorable game, it the only game that the player is responsible for calling a penalty on himself or herself.

I know you are a Tiger Woods fan. How do you think this entire scandal will affect him and his career.

Just that it will.

What do you like to do when you are not playing golf or giving lessons?

I love the outdoors and spending time with my wonderful family.  I enjoy hunting and fishing very much and relaxing takes a close second.

What is your favorite thing about living in Michigan?

The natural resources located right in our back yard to start.  There are so many great things to do that nature has given us.  From the lakes to wilderness to streams.  I am in heaven.

There are a ton of lakes up there. Do you have a boat?

I do not own my own boat.  Boating and golf seasons tend to clash up here.

Have you ever had a hole in one?

No.

Forest Dunes has a 19^th hole to help settle bets. Have you ever won a bet on that hole? What about lost a bet?

When we go out to play we usually use the 19^th hole to see who is going to wash and put away the cart.  I am not sure on my overall record.

What is your favorite hole at Forest Dunes?

They are all great and we really do not have a signature hole, but hole number eight stands out as my favorite.

I bet you guys get a lot of snow up there during the winter. How do you stay busy in the winter?

As a staff we have a lot of work during the off season from attending golf shows to ordering merchandise and planning for the upcoming season.

What is your favorite kind of music?

Right now I am listening to a lot of Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews on my iPod.

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

Entertaining was Garth Brooks. Best ever was Jimmy Buffett. I am looking forward to seeing U2 next year at Spartan Stadium.

You are really involved with junior golf up at Forest Dunes. Tell me more about what you are doing with that and what your goals are with that in the future.

I very much enjoy working with the juniors.  They are the future of golf and I love the energy the have.  Seeing a junior grow up right in front of you is a wonderful feeling.

Forest Dunes is literally in the middle of nowhere. What kind of wildlife do you guys have up there? (Granted, I saw a deer and some turkeys during my visit.)

We have deer, turkeys, bald eagles, badgers and the occasional bear.

There are a few bowling alleys close to the golf course. Do you ever go bowling?

Not very often.  I did bowl in a league one year to see if I liked it.  Not so much.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Chasing my right now seven month year old son around and teaching him different sports.  I plan to still be with Troon Golf as well.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done? I am talking as a player, as a professional, and as a man.

I want to be remembered as a genuine person.  I am very caring and wear my emotions on my sleeve.  I really enjoy making people laugh and feel good.  I want to make a difference whether it is on the course or in someone’s life.

In all of the interviews that I do I always give the artist the last word. Why not you? Go!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

I have been playing golf for as long as I can remember. I started playing golf when I was little, and kept improving the closer I got to high school. Then, when faced with the decision to play baseball or golf, I chose golf. I went to tryouts, did well, and ended up playing four years of varsity golf at Northview High School in Brazil, Indiana.

I ended up playing quite well through my years in high school, and when it came time to choose a college, I picked based on golf. I went to Marian College, now Marian University, and hated every second of it. Sure, I had some good memories there, met some good people and made some lifelong friends. But I hated the golf program. I hated the way the coach handled practice sessions, and basically ended up hating the entire way collegiate golf was run.

I left Marian and went to IUPUI to study engineering at the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology\. I tried to walk onto the team at IUPUI, but after about a half an hour of watching these guys hit balls I knew that college golf was not for me. I accepted this decision, quit the team, and ended up working at a practice facility for the next two years, working on my game the entire time.

I actually got down to a 1 handicap. For those of you who do not know what a handicap is in golf, or how one is calculated, basically I mean that I average one strike over par on any given course on any given day. To show you the different between me, and say Tiger Woods, he caries a +6 handicap on average. That means he shoots six shots under par every time he tees it up. That is a huge difference when you are talking strokes. Especially considering the courses he plays.

Playing golf has taught me a ton about patience. From missed shots off the tee to missed greens from the fairway or rough, golf can be a very aggravating sport. Some people play golf to relax and get out of the house. And while it does that for me too, it can still be quite the nerve-wracking experience.

Part of what makes my golf game so consistent is my preshot routine. Every player on tour, even amateur players, will tell you that this is the most important part of your golf game. Having a solid preshot routine will allow you something to focus on, something to back off and get your head on straight when flustered, and something to keep you sane when  you’re having a bad golf day.

My preshot routine started when I was in high school.  I played for years without one and then one day, while watching the Golf Channel, I saw a special about them. I decided to go out into the yard right then and there, and develop a preshot routine.

Driver

My preshot routine is different for nearly every club in my bag. Allow me to break this down into my driver, my irons, my wedges, and my putter. Let’s start with the driver.

When I grab the big dog out of the bag and stand on the tee looking at my shot, I usually am looking right down the middle. I have the tendency to hit the ball very straight from the tee. Don’t ask me why, but I hit the ball straight. Now, I never said I hit it far. if you look at guys on the PGA Tour, they are hitting the ball three hundred yards or more off the tee time and time again. I might hit the ball two hundred and eighty or ninety on a good day. But again, I am hitting fairways. I actually, through my four years of school, led the team in fairways hit and greens hit in regulation. Apparently, hitting the fairway means you hit a lot of greens.

With the driver in my hand, I look down the middle of the fairway and picture the drive in my head. I see the ball leaving the tee box and I see where it lands, how it bounces, and where it ends up. With that in mind, I look left and right and decide where, if I mis-hit it, where I want it to go. Recently I played a golf course up in Roscommon, Michigan. I had no choice. Hit it in the fairway or chop out of the trees. It was a very tight and strict golf course.

After picturing the ball flight, I take two smooth and full swings parallel to the ball. Not sure why I do it this way, but I just want to get a feel for my swing. I check where my hands are and where I am leading with my hips. Then I step up to the ball. I actually stand behind it to get a good placement in my stance. Once I do that, I grab the club and line it up on the line I had just envisioned in my head.

Then, I take a couple of waggles, look down the line, repeat, and am ready to swing. Once I take the club back, a million things run through my head. I worry about not making contact, about hitting it right, about hitting it left, or missing the ball all together. Lucky enough for me, I usually hit it. Not always in the fairway, but I always hit it.

Irons

Long irons are the same as my mid and short irons, and it is a similar pattern as on the tee. Let’s say that I hit the ball down the middle and I have about one hundred and sixty yards into the green. I grab my seven iron. I do the same by taking the two smooth and consistent swings, then I think out loud where the ball will go. I say, “Left to right ten yards.” I say that, spin the club in my hands, and repeat the same pattern of ball positioning and line of sight. I take only one look now, and focus on making solid contact and taking a heavy and solid divot.

After I hit my irons, I worry more about my follow-through than anything. I have to make sure I get through the ball, that I make solid contact with the ball and the ground, and that I picked the right club. You might hear me yell, “Be the right club…” or “Get down ball, get down!”

Wedges

Anytime I have a wedge in my hand, it means I missed the green. Or, I have hit a huge tee ball. But most of the time, it is because I missed the green. So, on the way to the hole (I always walk, I hate to ride) I am thinking about the green, the way the green slopes, and the possible position my ball is in. With golf, a lot of things can come into play. You can have greens sloping away from you, tons of green to work with, or no green to work with at all. It all depends on where you miss.

Now, I said earlier that I think about where my miss will come while on the tee. I hardly ever think about that with my second shot. I guess I just assume that I am going to hit the green. But when I don’t, that leaves it in the hands of my fifty-six degree wedge, or my sixty degree sand wedge. More than likely I will hit the fifty-six, but that is just a personal choice.

I will take an almost immediate stance, because I have been thinking about this show all the way to the ball. When I think about it, I just want to see what happens next. So I step up, stand behind the ball, and take three practice swings exactly the power and speed I want to hit the shot. If I can perfect that one of the three times, making perfect contact with the ground and the grass, then chances are I will hit a decent shot from the rough or the fringe.

Once I hit the shot, I watch and hope for it to check, to roll out, or to just go in the hole. I have been known for having pretty soft hands around the greens. That means that I have a lot of touch and can hit a ton of great short shots close.

Putter

Oh boy, the putter. This is the worst club in my bag. I wish I could make putts. I have incredible judge of speed, don’t get me wrong. I can get the ball there, and get it close, but it rarely goes in. Even when I was paying with the head professional up at Forest Dunes Golf Club in Michigan, he nearly raved on my speed. I had never played the course before, and I didn’t even get the chance to make some putts on the practice green before we went out and played. The first putt, a thirty-five footer, I left within inches. I didn’t make a birdie all day.

When I have a putt, whether short or long, I walk around it. I look at all the options and take in all the chances of where it might break. Depending on fast the greens are, and how smooth they are, I will stand behind it and line it up from the stereotypical catcher’s position behind the ball. Then I bring out the plum bob. Yep, I use the age-old technique of the plumb bob. The concept behind this is to stand half of the distance back behind the ball as it is to the hole. You then hold the putter up at eye level, leaving the tip of the putter on the top of the ball. Then, close your dominant eye. This shows you the break of the green from left to right. Does it work? Who knows? Must not, given the way I putt.

As you can see, a lot goes into making a single swing on the golf course. This does not take into consideration balance, swing speed, wind, hip rotations, or any one of the other million thoughts going through my head on the golf course. They say golf is easy, just put a little ball in the hole. I dare you try it and tell me its easy. It might be the hardest sport in the world to learn how to play by the rules and to be competitive in. I have been playing my whole life, and there are tons of guys out there better than me.

Golf is a game that we can play forever. Some of the best golfers in the world are older and retired. It is a great way to get some exercise, and there are literally courses everywhere. From the hills of northern Michigan to the deserts of Arizona, there are courses around every corner. I just hope this gives you a better idea on implementing a preshot routine and shows you a little bit more about my swing. Golf is tough, there’s no doubt about it. Fore!

I have never actually met the man I am sitting with today. We have only chatted a few times on the phone and shared in a handful of emails. But from the moment I started talking to this guy I knew we were going to become friends. He likes to travel, which is a plus. He likes to play golf, which is plus. And he is good at golf, promising to help me learn how to make some putts. That is definitely a plus. He is down to earth, understands what it means to work hard, and is just a truly passionate individual. So I asked him if I could share his story with my readers. He was happy to, and was nearly excited about the chance to appear on this blog. If you are looking for this man on the golf course, good luck. He is either in the clubhouse working, on the range working on his swing, on the putting green perfecting his stroke, or on the course making birdies. It is my pleasure to bring to you the gman-GOLF aka Gerard Scheer.

How long have you been playing golf?

I have been playing golf for about twenty years.

What is your first memory of the game?

The first birdie I ever made.  It was on the first hole of a par 3 golf course with my father and I played a lot while growing up.  I hit a shot that barely made it off the ground but rolled 140 yards or so to the edge of the green.  There, I was able to roll in a putt of 75 feet or so. Pretty cool stuff!  After that I was hooked!

What is your current handicap?

I am currently playing to zero (scratch).  I have been trying to compete in as many events that my schedule allows me to but with the knee injury and the demands of teaching the game I am not quite where I need to be in order to compete full time.  The short-term goal is to get to a plus 1 or 2 by the end of the fall.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I was involved with a lot sports while growing up including basketball, soccer, and baseball.  Golf was something I did with my father to spend time together.  It did not take long to fall in love with the game, abandon all other sports, and begin my travels on a road to professional golf.

Tell me about the “Think Tank” that you are associated with.

The “Think Tank” is my personal home teaching studio.  With the help, and permission, of my wife Meredith I was able to transform our garage into a home teaching studio. Being from the northeast it is somewhat difficult to keep my game in shape during the off-season.  My studio allows me to not only give lessons during the winter but to also work on my game and keep my tools sharp too!

Do you like working at the Aspetuck Valley Country Club of Weston?

I love it!  The Aspetuck Valley Country Club of Weston gave me my first official start into the golf business and I owe a lot to many individuals who have come and gone through the years.  The AVCC family is a big part of my life and I will always hold a special place in my heart for their kindness, generosity and most importantly their friendship.

You give a lot of lessons. I miss a lot of putts on the low side of the cup. Can you provide me, and the other readers out there who suffer the same things, any advice for making more putts?

We have all heard that putting is more than 50% of the game.  This is a proven fact.  I feel that golfers who miss putts on the low side are not hitting the ball hard enough.  100% of all putts that are short never go in.  Practice your speed by looking at the hole while putting.  Take the emphasis off of the line and practice by “feeling” a good solid stroke.  Players who concentrate on the line too much usually leave the ball short or miss on the low side of the cup.  A great drill that you can do is to place a tee in the back-side of the cup.  Hit a lot of straight five footers while looking at the tee.  Resist the temptation of watching the ball while you make your stroke.  Putting is all about feel!  Feel what it is like to make a stroke and you will be well on your way to holing more putts.

Have you ever had a hole in one?

No holes-in-one but I have had a double-eagle. (Note that a double-eagle is a two on a part five.) Some say this is more rare than hole-in-one.  It was kind of cool!  Foggy day, downhill 5-par…driver, 5-wood nothing but net baby!

What is the lowest round you have ever shot?

67…Don’t really remember it too much, I just remember having a lot of fun doing it!  Hopefully there are a lot of low rounds left in my golfing career…maybe even one that starts with a 5?

The highest?

110…in my first big event as an amateur.  Counted every stroke and posted my score.  That’s the way it should be done.  These guys who no-card or withdraw from an event because they are embarrassed with their score should be shot!  If you tee it up you post your score!  No excuses!

Thanks to you I am now reading Global Golf Post almost everyday. What is your affiliation with them?

The Global Golf Post is one of the most informative pieces of golf news that I know of…it is free and it is web-based which means no more piles of magazines cluttering up my home!  Everything you need, as far as golf news is concerned, can be found by accessing your inbox.  Global Golf Post will email you a link to the latest issue on a weekly basis, usually first thing Monday mornings after the completion of most major touring events.  Simple, clean, quick info at the click of a mouse, how easy is that?

Speaking of affiliations, whom else are you working with right now?

Callaway, Eyeline Golf, PGA of America, US Kids Golf, Titleist Performance Institute, Sport & Orthopedic Physical Therapy to name a few.

I’m not sure we can be friends anymore. You are a Boston Red Sox fan.

Yankee fan Ricky?  See you in the playoffs baby!

But then again, you also use Apple products.

Best technology on the planet in my opinion!  iMac, Macbook, iPhone…come on dude!  How can you go wrong!

What’s in your golf bag?

• Callaway 10.5 Degree FT-iZ I-Mix Driver
• Callaway Diablo 4-Wood
• Callaway Diablo 3-Hybrid
• Callaway Diablo Forged Irons 4-PW
• Callaway Jaws Wedge System 52,56,60 Degree
• Taylor-Made Monza Spider Putter

What is your passion when it comes to your fashion? What sort of statement are you trying to make?

I love color, plain and simple!  People, from time to time, comment on the outfits that I wear.  I sometimes hear “boy I wish I could pull that outfit off” or “Wow, are you trying to blind someone with those colors?”  Why should I dress like everyone else?  I am who I am and there is no changing that…I know what I like and I will never let anyone else determine what I do, say, or wear!

You have an insane playing schedule this year. How do you find time to play that much, practice to stay on the top of your game, and still work?

Playing and practicing has been a struggle thus far.  I have been concentrating on getting healthy since March and I still have a long way to go.  The tournament schedule that I put together in the beginning of the 2010 season was a best-case scenario.  Unfortunately, my game has slipped a little due to my injuries and a somewhat over-loaded work schedule.  I have been in the process of putting together a winter playing schedule.  This should give me ample time to prepare for some events in the West Palm Beach area of Florida during the winter months.

What is the one golf course that you have always wanted to play but never had the chance to get on?

St. Andrew’s; the home of golf.  Need I say more?  But someday my friend, someday!

You play a lot on the east coast. Ever make it to the west coast to play?

Not yet, although I am planning on making a trip out there really soon.  Maybe with my wife, maybe with the fellas.  I am not quite sure when and where but I know that I will get there soon!

Do you prefer to walk or ride when playing casually?

I love to walk when I play whether it be in a tournament or during a casual round.  Unfortunately, due to the two surgical procedures that I had done to my left knee over the past few years , it has been difficult to do so.  I am trying to get back into shape and build some strength back into my legs.  Hopefully with the help of my friend and physical therapist, Paddy Jarit, I will be able to walk the links on a full time basis really soon.

You put a lot of focus on goal setting in your teaching. What are some current goals of your own?

Becoming the best person and player I can possibly be, plain and simple.

What is the Branded Academy?

In November of 2009 I partnered with Interactive Frontiers, makers of the #1 rated Digital Coaching Software in the country.  Together, we developed a branded golf academy tailored specifically for my students and gman-golf.com.  I feel that video feedback is imperative in the development of any player and the GMan-Golf Branded Academy provides an online storage “locker” for my students to access their own video lessons from any computer or smart phone in the world.

Tell me about your experience at Methodist University.

What a place!  What an experience!  Methodist University allowed me to grow as a person as well as a golfer.  Best five years, yes five, of my life!  When not in class I played golf four-five days per week, mostly in the neighboring hills of Pinehurst, North Carolina.  Tough life huh?  The Professional Golf Management (PGM) Program at Methodist was, and still is, on of the best training grounds for young people who are interested in pursuing a membership into the PGA of America.

So on a typical Sunday afternoon where can I find you?

You can find me teaching at the Aspetuck Valley Country Club in Weston, Connecticut.

What do you drink out on the course to stay hydrated?

Lots of water mixed with Amino Vital.  This product really helps me to stay focused and energized during a round of golf.  I have been using this product for about two years and I have definitely seen a difference in my play, especially coming down the stretch of the back nine.

How important is a golfer’s fitness in today’s game?

Well, since golf is one of the worst sports for your body I would have to say that fitness is extremely important for any caliber of golfer.  From touring professional to the weekend player, it is a proven fact that having a sound golf-specific regimen will allow you to play longer in life with less potential for injury.  A fit golfer will have a better chance to shoot lower scores…what are you waiting for?  Seek out a local fitness professional, preferably TPI Certified, and have them develop a program that is in line with your golfing goals.

Explain your typical workout routine.

Cardiovascular, abdominal work, golf-specific stretching followed by weight training.  Stretching is the key, stretch as much as possible to keep your muscles loose and limber.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Playing the best golf of my life.  I will let you figure out the details.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

As a person who put his best foot forward in order to accomplish his goals.

I always let the bands that I interview get the last word. Why not you? Go.

Protect your dreams!

Growing up my sport of choice was always baseball. I played in summer leagues and grew up thinking I would play in high school, college, and possibly even the major leagues. However, when getting close to starting my freshman year, I discovered golf. I was instantly hooked. I had a set of clubs when I was little, but there was just something about the game that pulled me in. From the time spent outside with Mother Nature to the competition factor, I knew that golf was going to be my new addiction.

That addiction has carried over into an absolute love for the game and a passion for playing as many courses as I can. Similar to how I dislike drinking the same bottle of wine twice, I hate playing the same golf course twice. I want to get out there, experience as much as I can, and play as many tracks as possible. Not to mention the places I get to see and the cities I get to visit along the way. The travel portion of a golf trip is just about as exciting as playing.

This summer I decided to take a trip north. We went way north, all the way to Roscommon, Michigan. From Indianapolis it was about a seven hour drive. And trust me, it was a boring seven hours. Through Indiana you get pretty much cornfields and gas stations. When you hit Michigan, the terrain gets a little nicer, but rather than cornfields you get forests and lakes. Still a pretty boring drive. And we made most of ours at night, so it didn’t really matter much anyway.

When we got to Roscommon, and lost cell phone service for the next four days, I knew we were in the middle of nowhere. Upon our extremely late arrival, I was forced to pick up a late check-in package at the clubhouse. Sheryl Hugill and I were at Forest Dunes Golf Club. Here we would spend the next four days relaxing, playing golf, drinking various microbrews in the clubhouse bar, and chatting with two people who would soon become good friends of ours. Welcome to Forest Dunes.

Where is Forest Dunes?

Forest Dunes Golf Club is located in northern Michigan in the small town of Roscommon. Here in Roscommon there is not much to do. Well, besides golf. But in Roscommon you are reminded of the great American Midwest town. There are a handful of stores, most of them locally owned, a few gas stations, and a bunch of hole-in-the-wall bars and restaurants.

One day, looking for a place to grab some lunch, we did manage to make it into town to experience one of these holes in the wall. We ended up at Fred’s of Roscommon. This place was neat, actually, as it was a restaurant, bar, and bowling alley all wrapped into one. After ordering a couple lunch specials, we took some time to pet the huge buffalo head hanging on the wall and grab a view of the parade going on outside. It was the 4^th of July weekend after all.

If you are coming from the south, prepare for a long and boring ride. You can take interstate 69 all the way up until you reach 127, which will take you pretty much into Roscommon. It’s not that the city is hard to find necessarily, it’s just literally in the middle of nowhere. When we left 3G cell phone service, I got scared. But when we lost cell phone service all together I was even more frightened. We ended up going three days straight with no cell phone service. The only thing that kept us sane was the Wi-Fi offered in the clubhouse.

What is Forest Dunes?

A great experience, that is what Forest Dunes is. Imagine looking from an aerial view of the Huron National Forest. Look down, and all you see is trees, trees, and more trees. Now imagine that a golf course was just picked out of the middle of the forest. There you have Forest Dunes.

The highlight of Forest Dunes is the golf course. The course was designed by Tom Weiskopf. Tom used to play on the PGA Tour, but has made quite a name for himself designing golf courses. Forest Dunes is said to be one of his best designs yet.

Accommodations

If you are planning on staying at Forest Dunes, prepare to be impressed. There is not a hotel there. There is actually not a hotel anywhere near Forest Dunes. But that’s okay. You can just stay in one of the many homes located on the property. While there we stayed at the Buck, one of the homes sitting right on the water. No, not the ocean, but a manmade lake. There are actually a few manmade lakes at Forest Dunes, some just for looks, some meant for fishing (ice fishing in the winter) and others meant for boating and swimming. We didn’t get in the water while we were, but we sat out on the beach and read a few nights.

The house we were in had two double beds in one bedroom, a two-car garage, a king size bed in the master suite, a full kitchen, a view of the water, and much more. It literally was a house. I told Sheryl when we got there, “Pretty nice hotel room, don’t you think?”

One thing about Forest Dunes, besides its utter beauty and location, is how safe it is. I was a little worried when we got there, as the doors were all open and the lights were all on. But after asking Jennifer Middleton—the membership director at Forest Dunes—about the safety, she assured me we would be fun. She said that she hasn’t even locked her doors in six years! Refreshing as how I lock my doors when I run to get something from my car!

Amenities

Do you like the outdoors? I hope, because that is where you will spend most of your time here. If you like to fish, grab your pole and head over to Lake AuSable. They keep this lake stocked full of fish for that reason and you can fish all year round. Donny Fisher—the head pro at Forest Dunes—said that every winter you can find just as many people ice fishing as you can during the summer when the weather is nice!

If fishing is not your thing, then jump in one of the many random canoes just lying on the beach. They are sort of a first-come, first-serve kind of a thing, but that doesn’t stop people from taking a spin around the lake. Be careful though, the lake gets quite deep, and from the beach it tends to slope off quite quickly as well.

Don’t like splashing in the water? Then why don’t we go for a bike ride? There are trails everywhere at Forest Dunes. There are also volleyball courts, horseshoes, and more. There is always something going on, even when there is nothing going on.

Need to relax? Well, let’s just head over to the spa shall we? The spa has only been around for a little over a year, but you can get the true VIP treatment here. From a simple massage to hand and foot therapy, the Forest Dunes spa is ready for you to spend a relaxing day letting go. The spa is only open for reservations, so make sure you make an appointment soon.

If you are in need of some exercise, then head over to the fitness center. Located on the second floor of the clubhouse, you will find a huge workout facility offering yoga classes, fitness equipment, treadmills, and more. Of course, while we were there we decided against working out. There were just too many other things to do! This is a great benefit to the members though, and one that is used by a lot of folks.

If you are like me, and just have to have the Internet at your fingertips, then take advantage of their full service business center. The clubhouse also has free Wi-Fi for members and guests and allows you to stay in touch with folks back home or to check your email while on the road. Note that the homes do not have Wi-Fi, or cell phone service for that matter, so make sure to take advantage of the Wi-Fi offered here. I spoke with Donny about that actually, and he said they are in the process of getting Wi-Fi to the homes. (They do have satellite television in the homes though!)

If none of that suits your fancy, and you are still looking for something to do, you can jump in the car and find a wide range of other activities nearby.  Like to gamble? Then head to a casino. You can also go horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and more. Again, there is always something to do here at Forest Dunes, no matter how secluded it might be.

Golf Course

Oh boy, here we go. This is the main reason why I came to Forest Dunes. The golf course at Forest Dunes is the main reason most people come here. Well, that and the view.

When we first arrived to Forest Dunes, it was after midnight and all I could see were the lights around the clubhouse. I stopped in, grabbed our late check-in package, and headed to the house. We did see a deer when we were pulling out of the parking lot. But needless to say, we didn’t get a good view of the golf course. I wouldn’t get the chance to see the golf course until Saturday morning. Donny and I had an early tee time.

When the sun came up the next day, I awoke excited to get on the golf course. Being a Troon course, I knew it would be in great shape, but I was not ready for what was in store for me. When I first pulled up, there were only a few cars in the parking lot. I would later learn that is pretty typical as the course only gets around 10,000 a year.

I had not met Donny until that morning, but had seen pictures of him on Facebook. So, after saying hello to the greeters, I headed into the clubhouse to just kill some time. I was about a half an hour early, so I figured why not. As soon as I walked into the clubhouse, Donny walked out of his office to introduce himself. From there, it was off to the practice facility.

Most Troon courses I have played, if not all Troon courses I have played, have immaculate practice facilities. From the multiple targets on the driving range to the undulating practice greens, these facilities are usually taken care of just like the golf course itself. Forest Dunes was no different. When we got to the range, sitting to the left hand side of the massive clubhouse, I was in awe of the view from here as well. Behind you was the golf course, in front of you the practice range. This range is neat because you can hit balls from either side.

Donny said that both sides of this driving range offer unique shots to work on. From where we were hitting, there were about five pins in reach. I hit my usual wedges to start, then a few seven irons, a handful of three iron shots, and back to the wedges. One of the greens that was out in the distance was guarded by a bunker and an overhanging tree. Donny explained to me that hitting shots that you might actually see on the course makes all the difference.

We didn’t get a chance to putt before our round; it was off to the first tee. I had not hit a driver on the range either so I was a little nervous I might yank it into the high grass. But I didn’t. I placed the ball right down the middle. I caught it a little thin, but the ball ran for quite a while on the hard, yet smooth fairways. It left me with a seven iron onto the green. I yanked it, again blaming it on the tense muscles, into a greenside bunker. From there I would hit out to about ten foot, two putts, and happily walk to the net hole with a bogey.

I actually didn’t mind starting off with a bogey. I was just happy to be there, playing golf, and being able to take in all the sights and sounds of Forest Dunes. From there, I would bogey the next, then the next, and then hit a streak of pars.

On hole two, before I get too far into the round, we saw some wild turkeys just off the side of the fairway. I had seen a turkey before, sure, but not on the golf course. Never mind the deer that would later run right beside the fairway on hole sixteen. Donny said the later in the season it gets, the more wildlife you see. They even have guys hunting out here in the fall and winter.

The front nine was fun. Hole eight had to have been my favorite on the front side. It had a great view for your second shot. It went downhill, toward a lake, and had the clubhouse in the background on the left with trees and forest on the right. From there, hole nine would have you hitting over that same lake to a small green to finish with a par three. Donny said no matter what the distance says, hit a club, if not two clubs extra. There was wind over that lake that you just didn’t feel from the tee box. (Playing with someone that had the local knowledge like Donny did made my day even that more enjoyable. Better yet, I was playing with a guy who had local knowledge and was a professional. It couldn’t get any better.)

By the time we hit the back nine, I was ready to make some birdies. That sadly never happened, but I did start hitting some better shots on the back. The back actually starts off with a short, almost reachable par four. However, there is trouble right, trouble left, and with a split fairway you almost want to hit an iron off the tee. Of course, I took out a driver and ripped it into the junk on the right. I did manage to get out and up and down for a par.

The back nine is nothing like the front. On the front side trees and tight fairways surround you. And while there are a couple of tight fairways on the back side, it is a lot more wide open. The backside, just as pretty as the front, proved to be the easier of the two sides for me. Maybe I was starting to putt well, I don’t know. But by the time we got to hole sixteen, I was just so overcome by the golf course all I wanted to do was camp out on one of the tee boxes.

We got to the last hole, I ripped a driver left, and ended up finishing with a bogey six. But not really. Here at Forest Dunes, you have one more hole to play after you finish your eighteen. Most golf courses consider the bar inside the clubhouse to be the nineteenth hole. But not here. Here you play one more. The hole, titled the Bye Hole, is setup to settle bets. So if you are done and tied, well, no more.

This hole is pretty cool. Water comes into play, as does a bunker. But this bunker is not your typical bunker. This bunker is in the center of the green! You might have seen this a few times on the PGA Tour as they have some holes with a bunker in the middle of the green. But it is a sight to see from the tee box.

When the round was over, we all shook hands (Donny’s apprentice joined us on the back side) and headed into the bar for a bite to eat and an ice-cold microbrew. I ordered a wedge salad, a club sandwich, and a blackberry stout to drink. It was the perfect end to a perfect round of golf. I ended up shooting 82 that day, and while I would have liked to be lower (excluding that nine I had on the front side), I will take it. And apparently I beat Donny. But I think he let me win.

Restaurant

As if the golf course was not enough. They had to go and throw a restaurant into the mix. And you all know how much I like to eat. So after our round, I had my first chance to see the restaurant and to take a gander at the menu. When I sat down, I was handed an over sized menu on card stock. I was a little surprised the menu was not a tad bit nicer than this. Especially considering where we were. But I quickly saw past that and started reading the menu. I was immediately turned to the wedge salad.

I ordered that, and while Donny decided what he wanted for lunch, I also snagged a club sandwich. Based on Donny’s recommendation, I thought I would give it a shot. Oh yeah, and the blackberry stout. Imagine taking Guinness and mixing in a handful of blackberries just to give it that added kick of flavor. Yeah, they have that…on tap. I also had another beer that I had never heard of, but nothing could top the blackberry beer.

When the salad arrived I was ready to dig in. I poured my bleu cheese dressing all over it and went to town. And it was delicious. If you have never had a wedge salad, I must suggest you drop what you are doing and go get one. Right now! They are that good. And by the time the club sandwich came, I was ready for another beer. And I finished the club, don’t you worry. It was equally delicious. I would later learn that they had a new food and beverage director and he is bringing in a lot of ideas for the menu. I must say, if this is what is to expect from the new menu, appearing in early August, then you are in for a treat.

By the time we got to dinner a few hours and a nap later, I was hungry again! I was looking over the entrees and had no idea what to order. They had some interesting menu items on their dinner menu, including roasted duck in a chocolate chili glaze. That is what I ended up getting, and it was the tenderest duck I have ever eaten. It was just enough to satisfy. I had another one of those beers, and sat back after dinner satisfied. Of course, Sheryl ordered dessert.

She ordered a slice of cheesecake, one of her favorites. Donny and Jennifer also ordered dessert. I had another beer. I am telling you, this blackberry stout is really that good! By the time we were done eating, I think everyone was ready to just enjoy a nice Saturday night in. Sheryl and I headed back to the house to read on the beach by the water. It was a great way to end a perfect day of golf, food, and friends.

Surrounding Area

I wish I could tell you there is a lot of stuff to do around Roscommon, but I can’t. That’s because there isn’t. But for someone like me, who just wants a place to relax, lie on the beach, and get in a few rounds of golf, it is a perfect destination. Sure, there are a few shops here and there in downtown Roscommon, but nothing worth getting excited about. We did walk through one of the local grocery stores, and had lunch in one of the local hangout spots, but again, it is a small town, with nice people all around, and not much to do besides relax.

There are some bigger cities nearby. When I say nearby, remember we are about five miles from cell phone service here. A good hour, hour and a half drive will have you in a number of casinos. You can even head over to Traverse City, about an hour and a half from Roscommon, to visit the cherry capital of the world. While we were in town they were having the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. Sheryl tried to go on Saturday, while I was playing golf, and ended up coming back because traffic was so bad. But according to Donny, Traverse City is a great town. He compared it to Scottsdale, Arizona, only in Michigan.

If you come to Michigan, or to Forest Dunes for that matter, just bring some good books, a board game or two, maybe a DVD, and an open mind. This truly is a place where you can leave your doors unlocked at night.

Press Coverage & Awards

Forest Dunes is not as secluded as you might think. They have been recognized by various magazines and media outlets for the facility, the golf course, and more. Below you will find a list of just a handful of the media coverage Forest Dunes has had recently:

2010

• Golf Week Magazine: Best Residential Courses in (America) – #30 Forest Dunes
• Golf Week Magazine: Best Modern Courses in (America) – #90 Forest Dunes
• Best Courses you can play (Michigan) – #3 Forest Dunes

2009

• Golf World Magazine: Readers’ Choice Awards (America) – #1 Forest Dunes
• Golf Week Magazine: Best Modern Courses in (America) (1960 – Present) – #82 Forest Dunes
• Best Courses you can play (Michigan) – #2 Forest Dunes
• Best Residential Courses (America) – # 24 Forest Dunes
• Golf Digest: 2009/2010 America’s Greatest Public Courses – #18 Forest Dunes
• 2009/2010 America’s Greatest Courses Overall (Michigan) – #6 Forest Dunes
• 2008/2009 Best Places to Play – 4 1/2 Stars

As you can see, some of these publications are serious business. From being featured on the front cover of Great Lakes Midwest Golf Life to having an all out featured article in Golfweek’s Definitive Guide to The Golf Life, this club means business. How cool would it be to work at a place that has been recognized by Golf World Magazine as the #1 Reader’s Choice Award?

Faculty & Staff

Nice would not even begin to describe the people at Forest Dunes. I had first been introduced to Forest Dunes through my work, but had no idea it would turn into friendships and a chance to visit the property. I had been in contact with Jennifer, the membership director, for a few months before I headed north. I had chatted with Donny here and there, and we were Facebook friends, but never had communicated as much as we did during our stay.

When I got out of my car on Saturday, my first chance to meet anyone from the club, I was greeted with a friendly hello and was offered assistance with my golf bag. I felt like royalty or something. It seemed that even the guys handling the carts had a genuine interest in my enjoyment at the club. Not to mention the guys working in the pro shop and the ladies tending the bar – even the servers, for that matter. Everyone was just so darn nice.

Donny and I had the chance to play on Saturday, so we got to know each other quite well during my trip. He and his wife even invited Sheryl and me to watch the fireworks with them on Sunday evening. He said he knew just the spot to take us and would pick us up around 9:00 PM. Long story short, he did know a great place. Good thing he had four wheel drive. We ended up literally on the top of a mountain. Now, granted it was only a few thousand feet high, but we ended up watching fireworks displays from about the best spot possible. We saw roughly six or seven different fireworks displays that night. We could see that far. It was a great way to spend the holiday, that’s for sure.

The moral of the story is, the people at Forest Dunes are not just nice, they are genuine. They care about their job, they care about the people who play the course and that eat at the restaurant, and they truly cherish the relationships they build. I am happy to have met the people that I did and I look forward to growing better friends in the future with all of them.

Do you like to play golf? Maybe you just like good food and enjoy being treated like a king or queen. Or perhaps you just like to relax, read a good book, and go for a quick swim right off your back deck. Whatever the case may be, go to Forest Dunes. This place is hidden, in the middle of nowhere, and lacks the luxuries like cell phone service and Wi-Fi that you get at home. But that is just part of it and even adds to the enjoyment of spending a weekend away. I will be back, rest assured, and I will be taking friends with me when I go. I want as many people to experience Forest Dunes as they can. Thank you to Donny, Jennifer, and the rest of the Forest Dunes staff for providing me with a unique and nearly perfect weekend. Fore!

High school was a big waste of time for me. I hated school, quite frankly. I was always bored with it. From history class to mathematics and even lunch breaks, I dreaded the school year. I rarely did homework, but still managed to get good grades. I had few friends through high school, and have actually lost touch with nearly all of them. To this day, I only speak to maybe one or two of them.

High school was a time to work on my golf game and prepare for college. I had no idea where I was going to school, but I knew I wanted to play golf. I had looked at schools all over the country, and was not sure where I wanted to end up. One school, Palm Beach Atlantic University, was the front-runner for a long time. It is located in Palm Beach, Florida, just north of Fort Lauderdale. The school literally sits right on the beach, and their home golf course is a Trump National track. It was perfect.

Part of the application process, besides the actual application itself, was a letter to the office of admissions. I had actually been asked to write a letter like this to most of the schools I had applied to. But I wanted to share the one I had written to Palm Beach Atlantic with you here today. This letter was written on Thursday, February 14^th, 2002.

“Let me start off by saying that it is an honor to be able to apply to your school. I love the fact that your school is a Christian college, and I feel that it will fit quite nicely into my future plans and goals. I plan to attend, if accepted, Palm Beach Atlantic College for four years and receive my bachelor’s degree in compute science. I then plan to attend a university, unknown at this current time, and receive my masters up with doctorate in that field as well. I feel that Palm Beach Atlantic offers a good course curriculum, whether it is computer science or not, and will be a challenge not only in the classroom, but also on a personal and spiritual basis.

Compute science is one of thousands of thing that I am interested in. I chose this field of study for more than one reason. First, I enjoy computers and the way they work. I feel that every computer, in a sense, is like a human being. Each has its own components, or body parts, and the all look the same in a matter of respect. Like human, their parts that are similar sometimes falter and are left to be fixed. This is like when a human gets hurt; he/she must then see a doctor. If I were given the chance to attend PBA, I would do everything in my power to succeed in this field of study. I love how the course curriculum offers a background of Christianity in every classroom. It reassures me that I am doing the right thing when it comes to learning. God has a plan for me, like He does for us all, and I feel that my plans include the four years that I would like to spend learning at PBA.

Golf is another thing that is big in my life. I have played for four years on my high school team, and I wish to play in college. I feel that I am good enough to play on the collegiate level, and if I ma accepted to PBA, I will try to make a differing in the team. If you were to ask my high school coach, I am sure he would have nothing but good things to say about me as a person and a golfer. I also feel that the team has brought a sense of brotherhood to me on a personal level. This year, on the high school team, I plan to make the best of my final year in school and show my coach that I am collegiate material.

In closing, I believe that there is no other school that I am aware of that will provide me what I need to succeed in the future. I feel that PBA would fulfill all of my goals in the classroom and then a step further with my spiritual level.”

Having read that some eight years after writing it, it reminds me of how much I wanted to go to that school. I remember driving down there to meet the coach, play the course, and talk about my potential as a member of the golf team. He was impressed with my swing and said I would make a great fit for their squad. And I was eventually accepted into that school. But for some reason I decided against it. I ended up playing golf and studying for my first two years at Marian College.

But memories like this are important as I start to look into graduate schools. That has not changed in the eight years since I wrote this. I still want my master’s degree. And I still wouldn’t mind getting my doctorate if that ever becomes an option. I just thrive on learning and desire that net level of education.

Anyone out there who is looking to start college, remember that it is a small portion of your life that will teach you so much not only about yourself, but also about how you work and deal with others. I with you luck in your collegiate activities, and I hope that this blog entry shows you a little bit about where I started before college and where I have come in the last eight years since.

Just because Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world does not mean he is immune to injury. Tiger has actually been hurt a lot more than you might think. The man is only thirty-four years old and has been through some intense rehab on his knee. Not to mention the mental rehabilitation he has gone through since last November. But that is neither here nor there.

Tiger has a swing speed around 130-135 miles an hour. Imagine all of the golf balls he hits on the practice tee, not to mention in tournaments and practice rounds. He is a workout machine, but he can still get hurt like the rest of us. I wanted to take some time to discuss Tiger’s growing list of injuries and talk a little bit about how they might effect his game the older he gets.

Face

Tiger was in a single car accident last November just outside of his home in Windermere, Florida. He actually hit a fire hydrant and then ended up hitting a tree near the end of his driveway. However, I will let you decide what caused the accident. I ignore speculations that his wife was chasing after him. (I hate to say this, but the South Park episode where they make fun of Tiger and other cheating celebrities is quite funny.) In this crash Tiger suffered facial lacerations, and a busted up lip that required immediate medical attention. He was later released from the hospital, but had to visit after the accident to clean up all the cuts and bruises he suffered.

Eyes

In golf, you depend so much on your sight. Tiger, however, has now undergone laser eye surgery twice. He went through it most recently in April of 2007. Ever since his first surgery, early in his career, he had been complaining about squinting and massive headaches. The result was another surgery. Tiger is actually sponsored by LASIK. You can watch a video of him on their website explaining his operation and the success that he had once it was completed.

Neck

This is a big one for Tiger. He actually withdrew from the TPC Championship because of this injury. Some folks say that he was not really injured at all, and that he just didn’t want to finish in last place. However, I think this is a serious injury, and one that can creep back up if he is not careful.

The issue is an inflamed facet joint in his neck. The facet joint is actually located on either side of the neck, and is used to help stabilize the neck during movement. These joints are also used for extending, bending, and rotating the neck. The injury that Tiger suffered from earlier this year was said to be a “season ending injury.” However, Tiger was back in action only a few weeks later. This did not help the fact that half of the population thought he was faking it to begin with.

Leg

I am sure you remember this one. Tiger was playing in the final round of the US Open back in May of 2008 when he injured his knee. Because of the incredibly fast swing speeds he produces, this is not something to ignore. While playing in the final round, he tore his leg up so badly that it was actually considered broken in medical terms. He continued to finish the round, making a long putt on the last hole to force a playoff. He would later win that event after a few longer birdie putts found their way into the hole. He took some time off, had surgery, and managed to recover quite nicely from it.

Achilles

In December of 2008, again because of the quick swing speed, he tore his Achilles tendon. He began rehabilitation on the muscle and ended up being fine for the rest of the season. But again, like his leg and his neck, this is not an injury to ignore. This is a muscle used every time he takes a step, and when you swing a club over times a day, you need to have all the strength you can in that muscle.

Head

Too bad that stress is one of the leading causes of head and neck injuries. Tiger has suffered an immense amount of stress in his career. From an early age he has been traveling the world playing in tournaments, dealing with immediate fame when he turned pro back in 1996. Add the worry of multiple swing changes and teaching instructors, the passing of his father, and the latest sex scandal that he has found himself in the middle of. Just a few weeks ago, a lady said Tiger was the father of her eleven-year-old son. (I must admit that the kid does look an awfully lot like Tiger.)

Wrist

It was a while ago, but back in 1995, Tiger withdrew from the US Open after suffering a wrist injury. He was hitting a shot out of extremely deep rough, and that was that. The wrists are so crucial in getting a good rotation around the body, putting a lot of spin on the ball, and just simply swinging a golf club. As with the every part of the body, making sure these are in tip top shape is a must. I mean, have you seen him hit some of the shots he does? When Tiger gets into some deep rough, he always muscles his way out of it somehow. That eventually puts a lot of stress on his wrists.

Knee

Let’s get back to the legs. Tiger had ACL reconstruction on his left knee in 2008. This would actually prove to be Tiger’s fourth surgery on his knee. This came at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines. It would later be revealed that Tiger had actually been playing for ten months with a torn cruciate ligament. He would later state that just walking was painful for him, let alone swinging a golf club. And you can see that in his face when he swings. Watch some coverage of that event and you will see what I am talking about.

Tiger is a prime position to simply fall apart if he is not careful. Granted, Tiger runs about five miles a day and lifts weights for about three hours a day, not to mention the balls he hits and the rounds he plays. He is not ignoring his health by any means. But health is one of the most valuable assets to a golfer. As long as Tiger can stay healthy, he will be fine. I just hope that he can get all of these major health issues out of the way and start hitting some more fairways pretty soon. Just be careful this year out there on the PGA Tour. Tiger is hitting the ball better than he has in two years. As soon as he figures out that putting stroke, he might not ever lose again. Go get them Tiger!

After spending almost a week down in Florida for the 2010 Spring Golf Inc. Magazine Conferences, I had an itch to play some golf. Being down there surrounded by beautiful golf courses everywhere you look made it seem impossible to not have packed my clubs. So on the last day of the conferences we packed our things and headed to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida to see the TPC Sawgrass. This is where they hold the year’s fifth major, the Players Championship. Guys like Phil and Tiger play here every year and the course has all sorts of history. Thanks to a phone call and some great conversations, we were able to tour the clubhouse and a handful of holes out on the course. I also had the chance to secure an interview with their head professional, Mr. Matt Borocz. He was gracious enough to answer all of my questions leading up to this year’s event and I am extremely please to introduce you to Matt here today.

How long have you been playing golf?

I started playing golf when I was six years old.  I would practice in our yard with my brother and dad.

What is your first memory of the game?

I would always practice around the house.  My first significant memory was attending the 1987 Ryder Cup at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio with my dad, my mom and my brother.  That was the first time I received an autograph from the “Golden Bear” Jack Nicklaus. I also remember the European team celebrating their victory on the 18th green.

Did you, or do you currently, play any sports other than golf?

As a kid, I played soccer for six+ years, karate for six+ years and then I just wanted to focus on golf full-time.  I also snow skied throughout middle school and high school.  In High School I played four years of varsity golf.

Ever had a hole in one?

Still waiting on one.

What is your lowest round you have ever shot?

My lowest 18-hole round in competition is a 72 when I was junior in high school.   I consider myself an average player.  Since I was about thirteen years old, I knew that I wanted to become a PGA Club Professional.  I love/enjoy being around the golf course.

What about the highest?

Not sure, only focus on the positive rounds.  I’ve learned a lot since my junior golf years.  Now that I do not play as much, I enjoy the game much more.  It is a privilege to play, no reason to get frustrated.

How many rounds a week do you play?

Very good question. It fluctuates based upon business levels at the club.

So, you might be working for one of the nicest and most talked about courses in the game. What is like working for the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course?

I am honored and privileged to have the opportunity to be employed at TPC Sawgrass.  It is a very special place being the home of the PGA Tour and The Players.

I am sure you have had the chance to meet many of the games great players. Anyone stick out more than another?

I had the opportunity to meet Phil Mickleson in the Champions Locker Room after his 2007 Players victory.  I also had the privilege to meet Tiger Woods at the 2008 “Tee It Up with Tiger” presented by Nike Golf.

I told myself a few years back I am not allowed to die before I have a meal with Tiger Woods. Have you ever had the chance to sit and chat with Tiger? (Note that I am his biggest fan. I will argue that with anyone!)

As I mentioned above, I had the opportunity to meet him on the 10th tee of the Trump National Golf Club LA.  I was impressed with how he took time to say hello to each participant in a sincere manner.  A very cool experience!

Where are you originally from?

I am from Strongsville, Ohio. It is a suburb of Cleveland.

You seem to work with a bunch of really nice individuals including your general manager Mr. Bill Hughes. Tell me what it’s like working with a team of well-oiled machines like Mr. Hughes.

That is a very good question.  It is a privilege to work around such a passionate/dedicated group of people.  Everyone on our team is focused on creating a magical expereince for our members and guests.  Everyday Bill comes with a “Can Do” positive attitude.  He is always trying to bring the best out of individuals, department and club as a whole.  There is never a day that Bill does not bring a 100% passion for TPC Sawgrass and PGA Tour.  I’ve been extremely blessed to have a great group of PGA Professionals that have been mentors to me.  They taken an interest in my career and have been a tremendous help along the way.  I hope I can have the same impact in my career.

How many balls have you hit in the water on hole 17?

Only positive thoughts…do not count.

What are you doing during the week of the Player’s?

Our #1 goal is to offer a memorable expereince to our PGA Tour players and their families.  My goal is to support the golf operations and the Players Championship Team.

So I want to come back to the club and play a round with you and Mr. Hughes. Any chance we can make that happen before the year is out?

Please let me know when you are visiting the Jacksonville area.

What is in your bag? (I am talking everything from the driver to the putter and everything in between.)

907D2 driver, 906 F2 3-Wood – 15 degree, Titleist Hybrid 585-H – 19 & 24 degree, Titleist AP2 Irons, Vokey Wedges 54 and 60 degree, Scotty Cameron, Studio Select Newport 2, Titleist Pro VIx (Initials – MEB), Titleist Players Glove, Foot-Joy Shoes – Dry Joys and Icons. That’s everything!

How much TPC Sawgrass merchandise do you own?

The majority of my clothes have the TPC Sawgrass logo.  There is no reason to shop at another store.  Our golf shop has just about everything available to the customer.  Recognized as Best 100 Golf Shop by Golf World in 2009.

You look to be pretty young. When did you first become a pro?

When I was eleven years old I started at Columbia Hills Country Club as a caddie.  That same year I was practicing at a local public course. (Pine Hills Golf Club)  The PGA Head Golf Professional saw me on the practice range.  He asked if I wanted to work for free golf and a sleeve of practice balls per week.  I took the job right away, shagging golf balls on the range every Saturday and Sunday.  After two years, I was promoted to work the golf carts as a starter.  I worked at Pine Hills for seven years and completed my first college internship at the club.  I started at Coastal Carolina Univeristy, Conway, South Carolina, in the fall of 1998.  In 1999 I had a very lucky break and had the opportunity to work at TPC Myrtle Beach.  I started on the practice facility and moved up to the outside operations department. My senior year of college I was offered a full-time position as Assistant Golf Professional.  In 2004 I had the opportunity to interview at TPC Sawgrass for the Assistant Golf Professional position.  In December 2005 the Head Golf Professional left for a new opportunity.  At that time, I had the opportunity to improve my knowledge and develop my experience as a golf professional.  My goal was to increase my value in the TPC Network and hopefully prepare myself for a Head Professional position in the TPC Network.  I was very lucky to have people that believed in my abilities.  I have been very fortunate to have a team that supports the core values and club mission.  In May 2007 I was promoted to Head Golf Professional.

I graduated from Coastal Carolina Univeristy, BSBA in Marketing speciliazing in Professional Golf Managment.  Elected to PGA of America membership in May 2004.

Who is your favorite PGA Tour player?

When I was a kid, Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples.  Now, I have an interest in the local players that call TPC Sawgrass home.  Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Fred Funk, Frank Lickliter and the other thirty some players that live locally.

How many days a year can you actually play golf in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida? (They say you can play 360+ days a year in Scottsdale. I just want to compare!)

The TPC Sawgrass (The Players Stadium and Dye’s Valley Course) is open 365 days per year.

I can’t afford it, but what sort of benefits do members get?

TPC Sawgrass Social Club Membership

The TPC Sawgrass Social Club Membership provides you with access to bring guests to TPC Sawgrass for breakfast, lunch and casual dinner service in Nineteen and access to Champions, the formal, members-only dining room, for dinner. Benefits include exclusive, member-only pricing, a 20% discount on a la carte and wine by the bottle menus for parties up to eight. You’ll also receive a $300 credit towards food and beverage purchases to be used during the annual term of your membership. Social Club members will also be able to enjoy occassions by invitation, such as wine dinners hosted by renowned wine makers, themed dinners, events and holiday functions.

When it’s time to play the game, Social Club members will have access up to forty-eight in advance to The Players Stadium Course or Dye’s Valley Course with a 10% High Season discount and a 25% Summer Season discount. Other Social member discounts include 20% savings on merchandise in the full-service golf shop and a 20% discount at the Tour Academy. In addition, both you and your spouse will enjoy charge privileges at the TPC Sawgrass.

You may upgrade to a Social Associate Membership for an additional $450, which allows you to book golf fourteen days in advance for members appreciation rates. The member’s first round of golf on The Players Stadium Course is included with this upgrade.

TPC Sawgrass Social Club Membership

Annual dues are $500 for a one-year membership.

Dye’s Valley Annual Pass

As a Dye’s Valley Course Member, privileges will be extended to your spouse and dependent children up to the age of 25, and is non-transferable. Annual dues are $2,400*. Renewal dues are billed annually.

Members play for cart fees only when playing Dye’s Valley and receive member appreciation rates when playing The Players Stadium.

* Member pays cart fee only on Dye’s Valley Course

* May make starting times up to 10 days in advance on Dye’s Valley Course and

*7 days in advance on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course

* Accompanied guests pay 25% less than current seasonal guest fee

* Engraved bag tag for new members

* Dining room and banquet facilities available for daily use or private and group functions

* Use of practice facilities; Practice balls are supplied when playing a round of golf

* Use of daily lockers during your visit

* Forecaddies, Double bag and single carry caddies available upon request

* Members receive a 20% discount on dining, Golf Shop merchandise, and TOUR Academy Lessons, club fitting, and repair

Member Appreciation Rates when playing The Players Stadium Course:

* Bring one to three paying guests, Member pays $50 golf fee.

I just can’t get over the fact that you are the head pro at the TPC Sawgrass. I want your job!

Thank you – It’s an honor and privilege to carry the tradition of TPC Sawgrass.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would be very happy with being the Head Professional at TPC Sawgrass.  I think it’s a position that should have stability and consistency.  My next career goal is to be a General Manager with the TPC Network.  I would like to accomplish this in five to eight years from now.

What do you, as a professional, want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

Another very good question. Give back to the game that has been very good to me.  Recruit, hire, and train PGA Professionals for their next career step.  Hopefully they will filled prepared and ready for their next opportunity.

I always let the bands that I interview get the last word. Why not you? Go.

What do you enjoy most about your blog writing? And why?  What are your career goals and aspirations? Thank you for including me on your blog and enjoy the Players!

The concept for this new blog series came while I was traveling for work down at the PGA Merchandise Show. I have been playing golf for as long as I can remember and I wanted to figure out a way to write about something I loved as much as golf. So while walking around the showroom floor down in Orlando I had this concept to writing about the rounds of golf that I was already playing. I play golf as much as I can and the rounds produce nothing more than a scorecard and some mediocre memories based on how well I played. But that is where I decided to start writing about the golf that I was playing.

So I sat down and figured out a template of how I wanted to write these golf blogs. I decided that I would write a quick overview of the golf course, and then break down each hole on the course as I played it. I will talk about the distance of the hole from each set of tees, the hazards to be aware of when teeing off and hitting your second shot, the greens and their size and speed, and anything else that I can think of that is important for your round if you choose to play these desired locations.

The first golf course that made the list was Arbor Trace Golf Club in Marion, Indiana. The course is located about an hour from where I live in Fishers, Indiana and was not a bad drive at all. You can get to the golf course a couple of different ways, but since I live right off of Interstate 69 I took that straight north. Thanks so my iPhone’s global positioning system I was able to go turn for turn right into the club’s parking lot. Be careful when traveling to the course as you might miss it if you are coming from the east. There is no prominent sign telling you where you are.

When I first pulled in to the small parking lot I was pumped to finally be back on the golf course this year. I had not hit a single ball since the end of last season and I was excited to just get a club in my hands. I got out, stretched, and headed into the clubhouse to get a bucket of balls and warm up a little bit before my round.

When you first walk into the clubhouse you will see two different areas to visit. One area is the actual pro shop where you can check in and pay for your round or range balls. The other area is the dining area and while it is not an actual restaurant, the staff was friendly and they had a wide range of things to choose from. At the turn I had a chili dog, and after loading it up with onions and relish it was a meal fit for a champion. I highly recommend one of these when you are there. They are only $1.75 each, so you wont break your wallet either.

In the pro shop you will likely meet Jack Hart, the man behind the incredible golf course you are about to play. When I walked in he was the one that greeted me and even took the time to share a few pieces of information about the golf course. You can also shop for new shoes, a new driver, a new set of irons, or any other club that you might want to throw in your bag. They also have a wide variety of golf balls including the Titleist Pro V-1. That is my ball of choice, and they are competitively priced coming in at just under $50 a dozen.

They also have a handful of items that have the Arbor Trace Golf Club logo on the side. You can grab a bag of tees, a divot tool, or even a copy of the latest USGA rules book. There is really nothing missing from this golf shop. And if you are the kind of person that likes to hit a club before you buy it, the folks at Arbor Trace are always holding demo days with the industries’ leading manufactures. For instance, they have one coming up in a couple of weeks with Callaway. They are even giving you a free video camera if you buy a driver to help you tape and learn more about your swing.

Like I said, I had not hit a ball all year long so I wanted to warm up a little bit. I grabbed a small bag of balls and headed down to the driving range to warm up. The range is pretty wide open, but sits right next to the golf course. So if you have a big hook or slice, I might be cautious of where you aim. The range is also only about 250 yards deep, so if you are a long ball hitter then you need to make sure to not pull the big dog out of the bag.

After I was done hitting some balls I headed back to the clubhouse, jumped in my cart, and headed over to the first tee. Jack had warned me that the front nine was the easier of the two nines and that I needed to take advantage of the shorter holes and the par 5s. If you are playing from the back tees, the blues, you only get two par 5s all day. On the back, only the white tees and up will have a par 5. Jack later told me that folks used to complain the course was too much of a chip and put curse. So, they made the back longer, harder, and took away both par 5s for the long hitters. Trust me, when we get to the backside I quickly learned what it was like to make a bogey or two.

Hole 1 – Par 4 – Handicap 9

Blue – 360 Yards | White – 350 Yards | Gold – 300 Yards |Green – 260 Yards

Hole one is a pretty open first hole. It is a short par four leaving most players with a short iron or a wedge into the green. There is minimal tree coverage on both sides of the green and a small bunker guarding the front right of the green. Most of the bunkers on the course were small, some not even worth having in my opinion, but they do make it interested when hitting your approach shots.

The green on hole number one is very small and pretty much flat for the most part. For this early in the season the course was in great shape. The fairways were cut short, the greens were running smooth, and the grass couldn’t have been any greener. But hitting your approach shot into hole number one make sure you don’t miss long or you will end up in some thicker tree coverage.

Hole 2 – Par 4 – Handicap 1

Blue – 430 Yards | White – 400 Yards | Gold – 325 Yards | Green – 280 Yards

Hole two is a gorgeous golf hole. Standing on the tee box you see the green, even though it is some 400 plus yards away, a huge body of water guarding the front of the green. On the left hand side there is a fountain for aesthetics and a bridge to get you over the water if you are walking. I was in a cart for my round, but I thought the bridge was a nice touch. My drive ended up left behind some trees so I was unable to even go for this green in two shots. I hit a punch six iron out under the trees and left myself a wedge into the green.

The green was a little big bigger on hole two and it guarded in front by the water and long by out of bounds. There is actually a road behind the green and this forces you to be fairly accurate. Hit the ball short and you’re wet and go long and you are facing a two shot penalty. I ended up missing my ten-foot par putt and took my first bogey of the day on hole number 2.

Hole 3 – Par 4 – Handicap 3

Blue – 435 Yards | White – 335 Yards | Gold – 310 Yards | Green – 270 Yards

Nothing like getting your round started off with two of the hardest holes on the course. This hole comes in as the third hardest hole on the course, and it looks that way from the tee box. The hole is long, first off, with trees lining both sides of the fairway. The only thing good about this hole is the green. It is yet another circular green and is a little bit larger than the first two holes that you just played. But, the length plays a bear on this hole.

My tee shot ended up right, again outside of the fairway and behind some trees. I hit a punch Tight Lies (yes, I still carry a Tight Lies) and ended up hole high just left of the green. After a nice up and down I walked away from this hole with a par. If you get a par on this hole you will feel like you gained one on the field. Outside of the water being on the previous hole, I would consider this hole just as hard as number 2.

Hole 4 – Par 4 – Handicap 11

Blue – 310 Yards | White – 290 Yards | Gold – 280 Yards | Green – 270 Yards

When walking off of 3 green you will notice a small rest area just behind the tee box on hole 4. It is nothing to get too excited about, but there is a golf ball washer, a water fountain, and a Pepsi machine in here. It makes it a nice place to take a quick break if you have a group playing a little bit slow in front of you.

This hole is quite short, considering the first few holes you just played. But this hole, although seems like you might be able to reach it if you have a good swing at it, tosses some trees on the right hand side toward the green. There is also out of bounds long and right so you are basically forced to hit a three wood off the tee. There is also a bunker short and left of the hole to catch any miss hits. However, as tough as this looked from the tee, I pulled a driver and smoked one in the trees on the left. I had a shot at the green, tossed a 56 degree sand wedge onto the green, and drained the fifteen footer for birdie.

Hole 5 – Par 5 – Handicap 15

Blue – 540 Yards | White – 485 Yards | Gold – 410 Yards | Green – 400 Yards

This hole runs right alongside the same cornfield that you have been seeing in the distance all day long. It is the first par 5 on the golf course and is not an overly long golf hole. The green sits a little bit up hill from the tee box, and the fairway is lined on either side with light tree coverage. Of course, the way I was hitting the ball that day, I turned one over and tossed it into the trees on the right. Take note that from the tee maybe 260 yards out or so there is a little bunker that can cause some damage if you are not careful.

When I got to my ball I had only a few inches of room to work with. I decided to grab the trusty Tight Lies and take another swing at it. The ball came off the club face perfectly and the ball landed just short of the green. I had a nice little pitch and run for another chance at birdie. I hit the wedge a little fat and the ball checked on the green, but I hit the putt too hard, took the break out, and walked away with a par. Then again, you can never be too upset with a par.

Hole 6 – Par 3 – Handicap 5

Blue – 175 Yards | White – 165 Yards | Gold – 140 Yards | Green – 125 Yards

I have never been a big fan of par 3s, simply because there is so little room for error. This is the first par 3 on the golf course, and is not an easy one. I pulled a 5 iron here, as there was a little bit of wind in my face. You want to make sure not to miss left due to the heavy tree coverage. But there is plenty of room right, so swing away.

Once you get on the green make sure to miss it low. The green slopes back to the front and can make for some quick putts. My shot was dead at the flag, but after a bad bounce it ended up being long and sitting in the fringe. My putt ended up short and left, but it was good distance and left for an easy tap in.

Hole 7 – Par 4 – Handicap 4

Blue – 305 Yards | White – 280 Yards | Gold – 275 Yards | Green – 260 Yards

Hole 7 is quite the intimidating tee shot. The green is a little bit of a dogleg to the left, with more heavy trees short and left and water all down the left hand side. You don’t think this water will come into play, but standing there, especially from the blue tees, it is quite the nerve-racking tee ball. If you are going to miss off the tee, miss right.

I hit a driver trying to actually fly the trees on the left and land somewhere near or on the green. I had a touch of wine behind me and swung for the fences. Guess where I ended up? In the trees! I had another shot to the green, but no look at the glad from the trees. However, I tossed it up there and landed about fifteen foot from the hole. I two putted for a safe par.

Hole 8 – Par 3 – Handicap 7

Blue – 155 Yards | White – 140 yards | Gold – 130 Yards | Green – 120 Yards

I have never seen a par three like this before. The same water that you hit over on the last hole comes into play on this hole. But, there is a net hanging above directly behind the green. The reason for the net is to stop balls from the tee box affecting the players putting on the next hole, but it is funny to think that if you hit it long you might stay dry.

I hit an 8 iron up there and the ball rolled off the backside of the green. Again, getting a close up look of that net was interesting. I two putted for par, leaving it some good speed on the under side of the hole. I remember Justin Leonard once saying that if you miss a putt above the hole there is always the chance that it will drop. He stated that amateurs miss putts below the hole. I guess I know where I stand.

Hole 9 – Par 5 – Handicap 13

Blue – 555 Yards | White – 505 Yards | Gold – 410 yards | Green – 400 Yards

The final hole on the front nine is yet another par 5. This hole is straight away with a wide open fairway. There are light trees on the left and right, but if you are going to miss do so on the left hand side. This will give you the better shot into the green. The second shot goes down hill and back up hill right by the green and I was unable to get there in two. I hit a Tight Lies and was a good thirty yards short. I did manage to get up and down though.

On this hole make sure you do not hit the ball long. The clubhouse sits directly behind the green and the tenth tee is just to the left of the green. Also, right of the green and short there are some thicker heavy trees protecting the second shot. Either way, I suggest playing this hole as a three shot par five and hoping you can knock one in for birdie once you make the putting surface.

After the front nine I stopped in the clubhouse and grabbed a soft drink and one of those killer chili dogs. I chatted with Jack Hart a little bit about the back nine as well. He made a point to mention the two now par 4 holes on the backside. Originally they were par 5s from all sets of tees, but now they have rearranged the course and made them par 5s from the white tees and par 4 from the blue tees. I had been playing the blues for the front nine and had started to think I might change my mind for the backside.

Hole 10 – Par 4 – Handicap 18

Blue – 300 Yards | White – 260 Yards | Gold – 250 Yards | Green – 230 Yards

When I stepped up to hole ten, I had a tough decision on whether to hit a driver off the tee or take a Tight Lies and just get it close to the green. Being only a 300-yard hole I chose to take a driver out and smoke it to try and get close. Trees line the fairway on both sides and a bunker on the front left side of the green. The tree coverage is lighter on the left hand side so it makes sense to throw a bunker over there.

Take note when teeing off the water that is on the short hand side of the tee box. It will not come into play on this hole, but later it will be noticed. When you make it to the green you have little room to work with and the green slopes from the back to the front. I started the backside off the same as I did the front with a par.

Hole 11 – Par 4 – Handicap 8

Blue – 470 Yards | White – 415 Yards | Gold – 360 Yards | Green – 290 Yards

The 11th hole is a beast. Sitting at 470 yards from the back tees, you have to hit two great golf shots to make it home in two. Try to play this hole as a par 5 if you are not long off the tee and if you can walk away from this hole with a par consider yourself one up on the field.

The fairway is lined with trees both sides, but it is a pretty wide open fairway. You have to be able to swing away here for the sheer distance to the green. Once you are in the fairway, however, you have a small green that sits uphill to content with. If you are going to try to take a shot at the pin, which being it’s a par 4 you more than likely will, miss left. Right is covered with thick trees and leaves for a tough up and in.

Hole 12 – Par 3 – Handicap 6

Blue – 165 Yards | White – 155 Yards | Gold – 135 Yards | Green – 95 Yards

This hole is sitting right up against the cornfield and is protected pretty much all the way around by water. You have a nice sized pond on the front and right side of the green. When I stepped up the pin was in the front right, making me want to just miss left and long to stay dry. I didn’t as I hit it in the drink on my first shot. I hit an 8 iron, with wind at my back thinking that was enough, but the hole plays longer than the distance.

As if the water was not enough to throw you off, there is a bunker on the back right side of the green as well. This just shows that you need to aim left, miss left, and stay clear of the water. The pond is a red stake hazard, so you could potentially get a decent second shot depending on where your ball enters the pond, but that means you drop two and are hitting three form the field. I did in fact get up and down to save bogey.

Hole 13 – Par 4/5 – Handicap 14

Blue – 470 Yards | White – 475 Yards | Gold – 400 Yards | Green – 390 Yards

This is the first of two holes on the back that will confuse the average golfer. If you are playing the tips and are teeing off from the blues, this hole plays a little bit shorter than the whites. However, this hole for you would be a par 4. If you are playing from the white tees, like most golfers do, you will have a bit longer to get to the green, but this will be playing as a part 5 for you. Apparently folks here used to complain about the distance of the course so they decided to make some adjustments.

I hit my drive a little thin here, which left me a good fifty yards short of the dogleg. You need to be at least 275 from the whites to get around the corner. If you are not around the turn you have no shot at the green, as there is heavy tall tree coverage over to the left. I ended up hitting a smoking Tight Lies just around the bend; hit a seven-iron close, and two putted for a crowd-pleasing par. If you are playing from the blue tees, I wish you the best of luck on this hole.

Hole 14 – Par 3 – Handicap 2

Blue – 245 Yards | White – 215 Yards | Gold – 180 Yards | Green – 150 Yards

Talk about a long par 3. Standing from the blue tees you feel like you need to pull a driver to get close to the green. From the whites I took a Tight Lies to get there. The green is pretty big, considering the rest of the greens on the golf course, and the green is surrounded with trees on either side.

I hit the ball left about pin high but had a low hanging limb to contend with. I hit a wedge up and under, snapped a piece of the limb, and the ball came out hot and ran through the green. I did not get up and down and took a bogey. But, at the same time a hole this long I am just glad it was over.

Hole 15 -  Par 4/5 – Handicap 16

Blue – 460 Yards | White – 480 Yards | Gold – 430 yards | Green – 385

Let’s go deep into the woods on this one. The tee box on hole 15 is buried in the woods you have been appreciating all day. You arrive at the tee and again the blue tees are in front of the white tees. This is because this is the second hole that was turned into a par 4 for the folks hitting from the blues. This hole is also another dog leg, almost 90 degrees to be exact. It is almost impossible to hit driver off the tee as you only need to go some 240-250 yards to get around the bend. From there the hole is not that long.

I took a driver, of course, and smoked it into the woods on the left. This left me with almost no shot to the green and a tough thick nearly buried in the rough lie. While walking to my third shot, which landed just short of the green, I noticed a bell just off the cart path near the bend. This is intended for folks to let the group behind them know it is OK to hit their drives and that the group in front is out of their way. I thought this was a cool feature and something I have never seen before.

Hole 16 – Par 4 – Handicap 12

Blue – 440 yards | White – 400 Yards | Gold – 340 Yards | Green – 385 Yards

Take out your driver and let it rip. This hole is pretty much wide open. You won’t see another more open fairway on this golf course. However, the hole is long and the green is uphill. The hole plays a lot longer than it actually is. The green is also pretty wide open and you can miss on any side without too much trouble.

The green is pretty small, but after this many holes you are used to it by now. I took a driver, smoked it up the left hand side, and actually hit about the best shot I had hit all day. I ended up, of course, right behind a tree and had no shot at the green. After a 6 iron knock down I chipped it up and in for a par.

Hole 17 – Par 4 – Handicap 10

Blue – 425 Yards | White – 400 Yards | Gold – 355 Yards | Green – 285 Yards

This is another pretty wide open hole. There is a bunker short and left, but the hole plays pretty easy from the tee box. There is, when coming into the hole, out of bounds behind the green so make sure to watch out for that when hitting your approach shot. You also have to contend with scattered trees all down either side of the fairway. When you do finish on the green, however, you have a relatively flat putting surface and can take dead aim at the hole.

Hole 18 – Par 4 – Handicap 4

Blue – 450 Yards | White – 395 Yards | Gold – 355 Yards | Green – 290 Yards

Most golf courses like to finish with a par 5.If not, they like to finish with a strong and difficult par 4. That is what Arbor Trace Golf Club has done. This hole is not easy by any means. Remember that water I told you to pay attention to on hole 10? This pond comes into play on hole 18. It is reachable from the tee box so make sure you play it out to the left.

The blue tees on this hole are some 30-40 yards behind the whites and take you back into the woods almost. The hole is not easy from the whites either, but makes for an interesting finish. If you are coming down the stretch and need a birdie, this might not be the hole for you.

My round at Arbor Trace Golf Club was just what I wanted it to be. It was my first round of the season and was actually the first time I had hit balls since last fall. But after a bucket on the range and 18 holes on the golf course I was ready to get out there and play some more. This game is an addiction and the folks at Arbor Trace helped me feed my need.

The golf course comes in at a par 72 from the white tees or a par 70 from the blues, and is a blast to play. From the small sloping greens to the pick your spot drives that you are forced to hit on nearly every hole, this is not a typical municipal course.

When you make your way up to Marion to play the golf course, make sure you introduce yourself to Jack Hart, grab a chili dog at the turn, and just have a blast playing a difficult and extremely affordable golf course. I cant wait for my next round. Until then, hit it straight!