2013 Golf Oklahoma Apr | May issue

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 1Official publication of the Oklahoma Golf Association

2 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

TAG YOUR PHOTOS ON TWITTER & INSTAGRAM USING

TO UNITE OUR CONVERSATIONS ONLINE!

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 3

TAG YOUR PHOTOS ON TWITTER & INSTAGRAM USING

TO UNITE OUR CONVERSATIONS ONLINE!


405.359.0594www.mha-ins.com

BENEFITS

Local Service With National Clout

The right solution at the right time. Simple to say, harder to deliver – especially when it comes to employee benefits & health insurance.

Reform? Strategy? Compliance? Wellness?We Can HELP!


N U M B E R 18N U M B E R 18N U M B E R 18

When it comes to championship public golf, there’s no better destination than Alabama, where we’re proud to claim three of America’s 50 Toughest Courses as selected by Golf Digest. For starters, there are the 468 holes along the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Stretching from the mountains in the north to the Gulf Coast in the south, these 26 courses will test your golfi ng skills as well as your intestinal fortitude. Then there are the many other impressive courses scattered across the state, designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer and Jerry Pate. Each with its own set of challenges, each with its own set of rewards. And each along an epic road trip to the state of Alabama.

Note: Please park responsibly. And not on our golf courses.

To start your Alabama Road Trip, scan this code with your smartphone.

ABT-1070-81260.indd 1 1/12/12 1:03 PM

405.359.0594www.mha-ins.com

BENEFITS

Local Service With National Clout

The right solution at the right time. Simple to say, harder to deliver – especially when it comes to employee benefits & health insurance.

Reform? Strategy? Compliance? Wellness?We Can HELP!


Vance Ford • Miami, OK • 510 N. Main • (918) 542-3341 • www.vanceford.com

Vance Country Ford • Guthrie, OK • Exit 153 & I-35

(405) 282-2113 • (800) 375-4471 • www.vanceautogroup.com

A V A I L A B L E A T

John Vance Auto Group

I N G U T H R I E , O K

A N D

Vance Ford/Lincoln

I N M I A M I , O K


Vance Ford • Miami, OK • 510 N. Main • (918) 542-3341 • www.vanceford.com

Vance Country Ford • Guthrie, OK • Exit 153 & I-35

(405) 282-2113 • (800) 375-4471 • www.vanceautogroup.com

A V A I L A B L E A T

John Vance Auto Group

I N G U T H R I E , O K

A N D

Vance Ford/Lincoln

I N M I A M I , O K

ContentsApril | mAy 2013

www.GOlfOklAhOmA.OrG

Volume 3 issue 2

OklahOmauprising

Features

28 OU Jimmie Austin to host two huge

events this spring

33 Pete Dye looks back at his time

with Ernie Vossler

34 2013 Patriot Cup, which stars will

be on hand?

38 The Big Island is the place for vari-

ety of idyllic getaways

On the cover: left to right, Hayden Wood, Bren-don Jelley and Taylor Moore are three examples of the current strength of Oklahoma junior golf.

Departments

8 Letter from the editor12 OGA13 Rules, Gene Mortensen14 The Goods16 Equipment20 Chip Shots, Oklahoma news26 Where we play: Rose Creek44 Pro Profile45 Amateur Profile46 Look Who’s Playing48 Junior Amateur Profile51 WOGA53 Instruction56 Fitness 58 Superintendent’s Perspective59 Schedules, Results

Whether they are headed out-of-state, like Taylor Moore at Arkansas (Page 40), or going to Oklahoma State(Brendon Jelley, Page 48), Oklahoma junior golf is producing some of the nation’s best talent, thanks in part to Morri Rose(Page 8).

Support junior golf by contributing to the OGA foundationCall 405-848-0042 for more information

34

APR|MAY 2013

APRIL6HOUR


The boldface names in the golf results in your daily paper are no longer just former Oklahoma State or Oklahoma players.

He doesn’t get a lot of recognition for it, but Tag Ridings, Tulsa’s Memorial High School class of 1992, is the last player from the state to make an extended career on the PGA Tour.

And Tag has worked hard for it. The man has gone back and forth from what is now the Web.com Tour to the PGA Tour again and again, gut-ting his way through Quallifying School, earned battlefield promotions. It’s not easy earning a spot on the PGA Tour and even harder to stay there.

This year Tag has some company. Robert Streb is the first product of pow-erhouse Edmond North, winners of eight consecutive Class 6A titles, to make it on the PGA Tour, but will almost certainly not be the last. Look how players from North and the state in general are suddenly the coveted recruits at major colleges here and elsewhere. You can read in Clay Henry’s story in this issue how they are still celebrating in Fayetteville that Taylor Moore of Edmond Memorial decided to attend Arkansas instead of OSU. Also in this issue we profile Brendon Jelley of Jenks, who continues the influx of home grown players at Oklahoma State. And Mark Felder’s OGA column details how the OGA Foundation is now sponsoring the PGA sec-tion junior tours, making them even better as well.

Even without Moore, the Cowboys will soon be putting out a lineup more heavily dominated by Oklahoma players than at any time since Mike Holder began recruit-ing nationally soon after he took over in 1973. Ian Davis from Edmond’s Deer Creek is entrenched as a starter along with junior Talor Gooch of Carl Albert in Midwest City. Jelley joins the program in 2013 And two Edmond North stars, juniors Nick Heinen and Hayden Wood, have given verbal com-mitments for 2014.

Who knows which of the talented juniors the state is producing will join Streb on the PGA Tour. Ryan Spears of Del City, who played collegiately for Wichita State, is do-

ing great in his first season on the Web.com Tour with two top 25 finishes in his first three events. He could be out there as soon as next year.

Kevin Tway of Edmond North is playing professionally on various mini-tours and certainly has the talent and determination. Hunter Sparks of Putnam City is winding up a great college career at Wichita State and it would not be surprising to see him succeed

quickly as a pro. All the men’s and

women’s teams at the four Division I programs in the state currently have Oklahoma products on their rosters. At the Division II and NAIA schools, in-cluding perennial national champi-onship contenders Oklahoma City Uni-versity, Oklahoma Christian and Uni-

versity of Central Oklahoma, Oklahomans play key roles at all three. All 11 players on Pat Bates’ UCO roster are Oklahomans.

The strength of Oklahoma junior golf is due to the efforts of many, but one man cer-tainly deserves special mention. Morri Rose, who founded and has run the Oklahoma Ju-nior Golf Tour since its inception in 2002, has done more to change the fortunes of state juniors than anyone.

Rose, a retired school teacher and princi-pal, founded the OJGT after a conversation with Holder asking why Oklahoma junior golf wasn’t stronger. They have no place to play in the fall, Holder told him.

Well, they do now. The OJGT has grown from six events to 13. It allows the state’s top juniors to compete against top players in ranked events on an inexpensive basis. The Red River Shootout, which pits the top juniors in Texas and Oklahoma, typically draws more than 25 college coaches.

“I wanted to give kids a quality event where they could afford to play a lot of golf,” Rose said. “I’ve been real lucky with how it’s worked out.”

In the past 11 years, more than 300 OJGT graduates have gone on to earn close to $6 million in scholarships. That’s an amazing testament to what Rose and the OGA have accomplished through the OJGT.

Well done Morri.– Ken MacLeod

Moori Rose, here with Nick Heinen, has done wonders for junior golf in the state.

Letter from the publisher

Proton Therapy Center

When your husband is diagnosed with prostate cancer, it impacts you and your marriage as well.

And so do the potential side effects of some of the most popular and traditional treatment options.

But now there’s proton therapy, an advanced form of radiation treatment from ProCure. Unlike

traditional (x-ray) radiation that penetrates well beyond a tumor, damaging healthy surrounding

tissue, proton therapy precisely targets the tumor, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue virtually

unaffected. In fact, in most cases, patients report little to no side effects, such as incontinence,

damage to the bowel, and other unwanted consequences. Learn more about the advantages

of proton therapy by visiting procure.com/ok or calling 877.917.7628.

Women get prostate cancer too.

procure.com/okCopyright 2013 © ProCure. All Rights Reserved.

DATE: 3.19.13 CLIENT: PROCURE TRIM SIZE: 8.375" x 10.75" AppRovAL INITIAL/DATE/TIME AppRovAL INITIAL/DATE/TIME

FILE NAME: PROC137007 A Afam OKC pREpARED BY: Dave LIvE SIZE: -.25" all 1 ART DIRECToR 4 pRoD. MGR

pUB/ISSUE: Golf OK April/May INTERNAL RoUND: R1 BLEED SIZE: +.125" 2 CopYWRITER 5 pRoJ. MGR

FILE TYpE: INDD CS6 CLIENT RoUND: R1 LASER SCALE: 100% 3 CopYEDIToR 6 ACCoUNT MGR

NoTES:

Volume 3, Number 2

Golf Oklahoma OfficesSouthern Hills Plaza

6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 200Tulsa, OK 74136918-280-0787

Oklahoma City Office405-640-9996

publisherKen MacLeod

[email protected]

COO/marketing DirectorA.G. Meyers

[email protected]

Art & Technology DirectorChris Swafford

[email protected]

Subscriptions to Golf Oklahoma are $15 for one year (five issues) or $25 for

two years (10 issues). Call 918-280-0787 or go to www.golfoklahoma.org.

Contributing photographersRip Stell, Mike Klemme

Golf Oklahoma pGA instructional StaffJim Woodward

Teaching Professional, Oak Tree [email protected], 405-348-2004

E.J. PfisterTeaching Professional, Oak Tree National

[email protected]

Pat McTigueOwner, GolfTec Tulsa and Oklahoma City

[email protected]

Steve BallOwner, Ball Golf Center, Oklahoma City

www.ballgolf.com, 405-842-2626

Pat BatesDirector of Instruction, Gaillardia Country Club

[email protected], 405-509-3611

Tracy PhillipsDirector of Instruction, Buddy Phillips Learning

Center at Cedar [email protected], 918-352-1089

Jerry CozbyPGA Professional

[email protected], 918-914-1784

Michael Boyd, PGA ProfessionalIndian Springs Country Club

918-455-9515

Oklahoma Golf Association2800 Coltrane Place, Suite 2

Edmond, OK 73034405-848-0042

Executive DirectorMark Felder

[email protected]

Director of handicapping and Course ratingJay Doudican

[email protected]

Director of Junior GolfMorri Rose

[email protected]

Copyright 2012 by Golf Oklahoma Magazine. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Golf Oklahoma. Golf Oklahoma is published

by South Central Golf, Inc.

Golf Oklahoma

Proton Therapy Center

When your husband is diagnosed with prostate cancer, it impacts you and your marriage as well.

And so do the potential side effects of some of the most popular and traditional treatment options.

But now there’s proton therapy, an advanced form of radiation treatment from ProCure. Unlike

traditional (x-ray) radiation that penetrates well beyond a tumor, damaging healthy surrounding

tissue, proton therapy precisely targets the tumor, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue virtually

unaffected. In fact, in most cases, patients report little to no side effects, such as incontinence,

damage to the bowel, and other unwanted consequences. Learn more about the advantages

of proton therapy by visiting procure.com/ok or calling 877.917.7628.

Women get prostate cancer too.

procure.com/okCopyright 2013 © ProCure. All Rights Reserved.

DATE: 3.19.13 CLIENT: PROCURE TRIM SIZE: 8.375" x 10.75" AppRovAL INITIAL/DATE/TIME AppRovAL INITIAL/DATE/TIME

FILE NAME: PROC137007 A Afam OKC pREpARED BY: Dave LIvE SIZE: -.25" all 1 ART DIRECToR 4 pRoD. MGR

pUB/ISSUE: Golf OK April/May INTERNAL RoUND: R1 BLEED SIZE: +.125" 2 CopYWRITER 5 pRoJ. MGR

FILE TYpE: INDD CS6 CLIENT RoUND: R1 LASER SCALE: 100% 3 CopYEDIToR 6 ACCoUNT MGR

NoTES:

Eat. SlEEp. Swing.

CLASSICOne night lodging in a regular lodge room, 18

holes golf w/cart.

$55.00 - Lake Murray, Sequoyah$65.00 - Roman Nose or Lakeview Lodge/Cedar Creek at Beavers Bend

EXTREMEDinner on night of arrival, one night lodging in a regular lodge room, breakfast on morning of departure, 3 complimentary golf balls/pkg of tees, unlimited rounds of golf w/cart on day of arrival/departure.


SUPREMEOne night lodging in a regular lodge room, breakfast,

3 complimentary golf balls, 36 Holes w/cart.


lake Murray lodge, ardmore

800.257.0322

Sequoyah lodge,wagoner

800.368.1486

lakeview lodge/Cedar Creek at Beavers Bend, Broken Bow

800.435.5514

Roman nose lodge, watonga

800.892.8690

Package prices valid from April 16, 2013 through September 15, 2013. Prices per person, double occupancy required, taxes & gratuities not included. “Supreme” package includes breakfast coupons valued up to $9.00 each. “Extreme” package includes breakfast coupon valued up to $9.00 and dinner coupon valued up to $20.00 . Guest receives meal coupons at check-in. Meal coupons have no cash value and can only be redeemed for food. Packages not valid on weekends or major holidays, for large groups or tournaments. Cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.

Cedar Creek

lakeview

Sequoyah

Sequoyah

Roman nose

Roman nose

lake Murray

lake Murray

travelok.com

oklahoma State Parks golf course packages offer everything you need for that perfect day on the greens.

1729-3-OTRD Golf OK Ads_2.indd 1 3/25/13 1:49 PM

Eat. SlEEp. Swing.

CLASSICOne night lodging in a regular lodge room, 18

holes golf w/cart.


EXTREMEDinner on night of arrival, one night lodging in a regular lodge room, breakfast on morning of departure, 3 complimentary golf balls/pkg of tees, unlimited rounds of golf w/cart on day of arrival/departure.


SUPREMEOne night lodging in a regular lodge room, breakfast,

3 complimentary golf balls, 36 Holes w/cart.


lake Murray lodge, ardmore

800.257.0322

Sequoyah lodge,wagoner

800.368.1486

lakeview lodge/Cedar Creek at Beavers Bend, Broken Bow

800.435.5514

Roman nose lodge, watonga

800.892.8690

Package prices valid from April 16, 2013 through September 15, 2013. Prices per person, double occupancy required, taxes & gratuities not included. “Supreme” package includes breakfast coupons valued up to $9.00 each. “Extreme” package includes breakfast coupon valued up to $9.00 and dinner coupon valued up to $20.00 . Guest receives meal coupons at check-in. Meal coupons have no cash value and can only be redeemed for food. Packages not valid on weekends or major holidays, for large groups or tournaments. Cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.

Cedar Creek

lakeview

Sequoyah

Sequoyah

Roman nose

Roman nose

lake Murray

lake Murray

travelok.com

oklahoma State Parks golf course packages offer everything you need for that perfect day on the greens.

1729-3-OTRD Golf OK Ads_2.indd 1 3/25/13 1:49 PM

Get some golf satisfaction.- Star Rewards rate of $40 from April–October- Come play all day and all night with the “Unlimited Golf Package”- It’s the “real deal”– Full golf memberships start at $150 monthly or $1,500 annually- New pristine white bunkers | Championship golf conditions | Excellent service

Call 800.760.6700 to reserve your tee time, book a golf package, schedule an event or inquire about membership.

TOP 3 PLACES YOU CAN PLAY IN OK. –GOLFWEEK

I-44 EXIT 240, TULSA, OK | HARDROCKCASINOTULSA.COMCopyright © 2013 Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC. Rates subject to change at the discretion of management.

CNENT_26558_HR_Golf_OK_'13_April&May_AD_139464.indd 1 3/15/13 4:10 PM


justicegolf.com

Oklahoma City (405) 634-0571Tulsa (918) 663-0571

Toll Free (800) 276-0571

Oklahoma Golf Association News

The Oklahoma Golf Foundation is proud to be the new present-ing sponsor of the PGA South Central Section Junior Golf Tour.

The section operates two summer tours, one

for entry level players and one for more advanced players. The entry level tour will now be called the South Central PGA Junior Golf Tour presented by the Oklahoma Golf Foundation. The Foundation is also help-ing with several of the events on the South Central PGA Players Tour, which is the more advanced tour.

The junior tour typically has close to 40 events each summer while there are 10 events on the Players’ Tour. Schedules for 2013 are listed on the section wesbiste at www.souothcentralpga.com and in the schedules section at the back of this magazine.

Between our tour (the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour in the fall) and our junior events and what the section is doing, we’re giving kids more high quality tournaments to play in. That’s very important to us. The section

has stepped up and upgraded its junior pro-grams and we want to help them as much as we can.

Junior golf in Oklahoma is producing ex-tremely talented players of late. Witness the proud Oklahoma State University program, for which recent OGA Junior Champion Ian Davis is a starter along with Talor Gooch of Midwest City and three other Oklahoma juniors will join him in the future. Jenks se-nior Brendon Jelley will join OSU in the fall and talented juniors Hayden Wood and Nick Heinen of Edmond have verbally committed for 2014.

OJGT alumni dot the rosters of all the Di-vision I golf programs in the state. Oklahoma has Austin Fuller, Will Kropp and Charlie Saxon with current 6A champion Max Mc-Greevy of Edmond Santa Fe heading there in the fall. Megan Blonien of Altus is playing as a freshman at Oklahoma State, Jade Staggs and Amanda Johnson play for the Sooners, Aston Collier for Oral Roberts, Nadia Majidi is committed to Tulsa. The Tulsa men’s team has three OJGT grads starting in Logan Mc-Cracken, Colton Staggs and Chris Worrell. Taylor Moore of Edmond, one of the nation’s

top-ranked juniors was the prize recruit for the Arkansas Razorbacks where he is playing his freshman season.

Former OGJT and Edmond North gradu-ate Robert Streb became the first alumnus to play on the PGA Tour when he earned his card for 2013. Ryan Spears of Del City is on the Web.com Tour. Kevin Tway of Edmond is playing professionally on various circuits working his way toward the PGA Tour.

On the OGA website one can find a list http://okgolf.org/JrGolf/Alumni.htm of more than 300 graduates of the OJGT Tour who have gone on to earn college scholarships over the past 11 years. OGJT director Morri Rose estimates that more than $6 million in scholarship dollars have been awarded to OJGT players in the last 11 years. That’s a tribute to Morri and all the work he has done to make Oklahoma the junior golf power-house it has become.

The OGA has a great calendar of events for 2013 highlighted by the State Amateur Championship July 22-24 at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. Call us at 405-848-0042 for more information, to join the OGA or to donate to the foundation.

mark felderOGA Executive

Director

OGA Foundation sponsors PGA Junior Tour


Fairfax Golf ClubMembership Packages Corporate Outings & Events Semi-Private Course Daily Green Fees

For more info, Contact Jeff Tucker, PGA Pro (405)359-8600Just off 1-35 at 2905 N. Sooner Rd. Edmond, OK 73034

“It can’t take that long to play 18 holes... can it”? If you are hearing that refrain more and more often at your club, you will be excited by a new study from the USGA’s leaders. They are going to name a committee to examine the causes for slow play and come up with solutions. They have come to realize that slow play is a major distraction for everyone and is a contributing factor in the number of players who are leaving the game. It’s about time!

Quick to follow suit, Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem announced that the PGA will conduct a yearlong comprehensive study to examine slow play. One wonders why it will take a year when they have examples like the following. This year, when Robert Garrigus had two holes left to finish his last round at Torrey Pines, Tiger had 11 holes left to play. Garrigus finished his round, ate lunch, drove to a private airport, flew to Phoenix, drove home, unpacked and, when he turned on his TV, Tiger was on the 17th hole. (Golfweek – 2/8/13 @ page 2)

The Rules require each participant to “play without undue delay . . . .” (Rule 6-7)

If you were to ask 20 players what that means you might hear 20 dif-ferent answers. The Rules also give a committee the authority to estab-lish pace of play guidelines which inform the players how long they have to complete a round, a hole or a stroke. Not many clubs actually do this and I believe they are pass-

ing up a golden opportunity. Rule 6-7 also provides for penalties if a

player does not play “without undue delay.” The first breach is a loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play. A sec-ond breach is disqualification. In a note to the Rule, committees are given some leeway with penalties and can punish slow play on a graduated level with the ultimate penalty being disqualification. When is the last time a PGA player received a penalty? Assessing a PGA member a penalty directly impacts his score and, thereby, his income. I suggest he would play faster and so would all of the amateurs who like to emulate the pros.

While we wait for the powers-that-be to address the issue and, hopefully, establish guidelines and enforcement policies that lo-cal clubs can adopt, I offer this suggestion.

Usually, each group has assigned one of their number to record the scores. Why not assign him the additional duty of being the “pace monitor.” Along the bottom line on the scorecard, use an average of 14 minutes per hole and log a running total of elapsed time to complete 18 holes; for example, 14 – 28 – 42 – 56, and so on. If your tee time was 9:30, and it is now 11:45, the monitor will know that the group should be on the 10th green. If the group has not reached that point, they have a problem. If they have a problem, sim-ply move to the place on the course where they should be. When you create a problem . . . fix it!

Dave Pelz, the short-game guru, has a sug-gestion to speed play. It is his contention that each player should only go to his golf bag once every shot. Take out your driver at the first tee; hit your shot and, instead of fiddling behind the cart with your clubhead cover for 30 seconds, drive to where the ball came to rest. Put your driver away and select a club for your next shot, and so on. Pelz claims it will reduce each round by 15 minutes.

Do your part to maintain a good pace of play and everyone will appreciate your ef-forts.

Gene mortensenOGA Rules

Director

USGA, PGA Tour to take on slow play, quickly we hope

NEW LOTS NOW AVAILABLE


The goods Some things we like to do before and after the round

Take two golf-obsessed high school seniors wondering what to do af-ter graduation, set them out on the

road with their enthusiasm, naiveté and low handicaps, and what do you get?

Two similarly entertaining yet quite dif-ferent coming-of-age narratives, with golf. In “An American Caddie in St. Andrews” (Gotham Books, $26), Oliver Horovitz describes a span of years spent caddying, largely on the Old Course. Dylan Dethier’s “18 in America” (Scribner, $25), recounts his year on the road playing at least one course in each of the lower 48 states.

The more I age the more I recog-nize the sagacity in the old saw that youth is wasted on the young. How many of us ponder, if we had it to do all over again, different choices, and the roads not taken?

What’s appealing about both these young authors is that at a certain point they made choices to go for it—and the books are the reports on how it all turned out. Luckily, both can write surprisingly well, with am-ple self-deprecating humor.

Horovitz has several advantages over Dethier—his book arrived first, writing is in the genes (his father is playwright and screenwriter Israel Horovitz), and the greater time span allows for a few more crisis to rise and be resolved, or not. And at its heart the book is a love story.

We meet the young Horovitz short-ly after graduation in 2003 facing a gap year—he has been accepted to Harvard, but not until the fall of 2004. He fills the year at the University of St. An-drews with typical student life—including a student links ticket allowing him unlimited play on Links Trust tracks, meaning an al-most daily round on the Old Course.

As the term nears its end Horovitz casts the die by enrolling in the Old Course cad-die training program. As with any trainee, but particularly a young American trainee, Horovitz is about as welcome in the caddie

shack as malaria. His rookie mistakes, excessive

chatter and stepping on the figu-rative toes of the veteran caddies get things off to a humiliating start, all under the fearful eye of

dreaded caddie master Rick Mackenzie. But by a relentless schedule of double loops and gradually learning the ropes, the day finally comes—some 40 rounds and some 40 pages into the book: Mackenzie removes Horo-vitz’s trainee

caddie badge and shakes his hand: “`Mmm-mmm, you’ve done well,’ he says, almost re-luctantly. ‘Now don’t fook everything up.’”

Horovitz wisely looks at the next four years through a reverse scope—compacting his university years at Harvard (majoring in film) into single chapters while concentrat-ing on his adventures, or misadventures, in returning to the caddie shack in Scotland.

There are plenty—a surreptitious period of training gorgeous Model Caddies, an act

that if discovered would have fooked every-thing up; a summer of trying to complete a student film project on the caddies while still doing his own looping; a thwarted love affair with a Parisian (the book’s subtitle is “Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course”).

The book is a valentine to the St. Andrews golfing grounds and the caddies who choose to spend their working lives there--as Horo-vitz still does, now dividing his time be-

tween New York City and Scotland.Throughout his early years in St.

Andrews Horovitz has one mighty ally in Ken Hayward, his maternal great uncle, who lived a drive and a wedge from the Old Course first tee. Horowitz writes about their week-ly dinners and other get-togethers with a warmth that increases as Uncle Ken’s vitality decreases over time. This is the other love story in the book, a poignancy ratified with the book’s dedication to Uncle Ken.

On the roadI frankly expected Dethier’s book

to suffer by comparison, and that the book’s subtitle was larding it on: “A Young Golfer’s Epic Journey to Find the Essence of the Game.” But I was more than pleasantly surprised. Yes, his voice sounds younger than Horovitz’s, a bit more uncertain and the narrative more episodic.

But then that was precisely the nature of his trip: seventeen-year-old leaves home in Williamstown, Massachusetts in the fall, aiming to play golf in every contiguous state over the next year. Pretty epic.

He has the goal, but not that much of a plan, perhaps less of an agenda. (One Alabaman he meets

says he wanted to play with Dethier, “Be-cause you’re not doing it for charity.”) De-thier thinks he knows why he’s going, but he’s not really that sure. How could he be? He’s seventeen.

He loves golf, but distrusts the golfing elite. He has his parents’ reluctant blessing and the family Subaru Outback, but not much mon-ey. He expects to sleep mostly in his car and “play the three-buck courses of the country, maybe some three-hundred-dollar ones too,

the BookshelfYouth will be servedby tom bedell


Defying expectations, Audi has done something unusual--by American stan-dards--in its flagship A8. For 2013, Audi has released a V6, 3.0-liter model, the A8 L 3.0. Just as aesthetically pleasing as the still-available A8 L 4.0, the V8, this leaner model still runs faster than the V6 would lead you to believe.

In fact, the new V6 ran the quarter mile in an impressive 5.3 seconds, and topped out in the quarter mile at 103 mph. In other words, a driver won’t lack for power and acceleration in the 2013 A8. Gas mileage

is virtually identical to the V8, a combined 21 mpg overall.

Because its an Audi, the interior is de-signed for driving. The front seats have a redesigned comfort panel that allows more specific adjustments than we have seen on any other make of automobile, 12 different adjustable zones. Even the rear seats boast three and a half feet of legroom, making the A8 a perfect choice for long drives.

Digital technology is becoming standard i n d u s t r y -

wide, and the A8 has almost everything. Ac-tually, if you opt for the optional DVD play-er, it does have everything: bluetooth, iPod input, navigation system, and satellite radio. The new remote touchpad seems a novelty at first, but once the gadget is mastered, it proves to be quite useful.

Ten option packages are available with the model, including a camera assistance package for backing and parking, an ex-tended leather package for additional luxury, and a media package that includes the DVD player. MSRP beings at $72,200. Test drive one at Bob Moore Audi of Oklahoma City.

audi a8by greg horton

A progressive technological advancement

ONLINE: Get the latest news on Oklahoma golf at

golfoklahoma.org

and meet all kinds of Americans.”And that’s just what happens. He begins

his trip in a near fugitive mode, playing goat tracks at twilight and pilfering hotel buffet breakfasts by posing as a guest. He occa-sionally works out a bed and some meals through connections arranged by more than six degrees of separation.

Two days before he turns eighteen he takes a foolish hike into the Big Horn Mountains and almost breaks his sole rule for the trip: “Don’t die.” At an Indian casino he becomes dangerously addicted to black-jack and almost blows his entire stake. In Oklahoma he plays at the Muskogee Coun-try Club, and survives a rogue snowstorm.

The nature of the trip changes after a USA Today article about him appears, and his email inbox begins to fill with in-vitations. Beset with typical ambivalence, Dethier doesn’t know quite how to take it: “[Now] I was closer to a guest of honor than a wandering vagabond—which either meant I had won the game or lost it.”

One article leads to other interviews, play

at the very elite courses he eyed suspi-ciously but can’t help but admire, and a real mental tussle.

Dethier cover his own blue high-ways and uses the term from time to time. If no William Least Heat-Moon, he’s clear-eyed, sincere, and unspar-ing in revealing his own instances of arrogance, impatience or just being a moody teenager.

It’s a very American thing to do, hitting the road in search of America. Dethier’s discoveries may ultimately be more personal than emblematic, but his many envious playing part-ners across the country certainly agree he has a pair for even at-tempting the feat at his age.

The rest of us can join in through these pages, while trying to damp down our own envy.

Tom Bedell, wily with experience, vaguely remembers being young once.


Even though it is early in the season, Golf Oklahoma decided to take a look at the clubs and balls, which have shown so far to be popular and have strong sales numbers. Admittedly this was and is an unscientific investigation, but there’s no doubt all these products are of top-quality design and man-ufacture – well worth considering for your next purchase.

DRIVERSTaylorMade Golf, as it has for the past

several years, is dominating this category and it would appear the new R1 and Rock-etBallz Stage 2 drivers will continue to keep them at the top. The R1 ($399) pushes be-yond where its predecessors, the R11 and R11S, were by offering the choice of 168 adjustment combinations to customize its performance. There are two movable sole weights, seven different face angles and 12 loft settings that allow lots of correction for swing tendency – and faults. In addition there’s new black and orange graphic on the now iconic white clubhead.

TaylorMade has also updated the Rock-etBallz driver line with RocketBallz Stage 2 and given it a 12-position loft adjustment sleeve. Engineers were able to move the center of gravity somewhat lower and sur-prisingly more forward as well, producing a flatter basic trajectory. This in combina-tion with changes to the aerodynamics of the head shape the company says gives nine more yards for better players. There’s no doubt the Stage 2 is longer than the 2012 model based on our use. How much depends on the player, but it certainly may be categorized as a low-spin driver. Rock-etBallz Stage 2, also with the TMaG white clubhead, has a street price of $299.

PIING has created some buzz with its adjustable G25 driver ($349 street) and the second adjustable driver along with the Anser, which is made for better players, in-troduced in 2013. The G25 is available in one of four basic lofts from 8.5° to 12° and then may be adjusted up or down by ½ de-gree using a set screw. Compared to the old G20 the head is longer from face to rear and has the center of gravity deeper and lower, which tends to give a higher launch, me-dium spin ball that should help add some distance.

Titleist has updated the 910 driver line

with the new 913D2 and 913 D3. The 913 D2 is made for the mid- to higher-handicap golfers and has a 460cc full pear-shaped head with adjustments using Titleist’s hosel adjust-ment system for loft and lie angle. The 913 D3 for low-handicap players has the same adjustment system as the D2 but a slightly smaller clubhead (445cc) in a more classic pear shape. Both 913 models carry a street price of $399.

Callaway Golf RAZR Fit Xtreme Driver ($400) has some modifications compared to its predecessor RAZR Fit and is the model Phil Mickelson raved about after the trounc-ing he gave the field at the Waste Manage-ment Phoenix Open in February. It retains the OptiFit Hosel allowing for 3-face angle adjustments and there are movable weights to produce a neutral or draw bias. A new forged composite crown is stronger than titanium, according to Callaway, and de-signed to push the center of gravity lower in the clubhead.

“My Fly” Technology is featured by Co-bra Golf in the AMP Cell drivers that have adjustments for loft and trajectory plus their SmartPad Technology. Cobra says Smart-Pad keeps the clubface square at address though the loft setting is changed. Visually the AMP Cell line stands out, showing off in four bright colors, either silver, red, or-ange or blue. The Pro model (street $400) offers four loft settings plus 8.5-degree fade and 9.5-degree fade. The regular model ($300) has four also, with 9.5-degree draw and 10.5-degree draw.

FAIRWAYS AND HYBRIDSThe RocketBallz Stage 2 from TaylorMade

Golf continues the reputation made by the original RocketBallz fairways of last year – hot and long. There’s a Speed Pocket behind the clubface for more face flex which adds ball speed and the center of gravity has been repositioned lower and closer to the face to get a higher launch angle with even lower spin. Street price is $250 for the regular mod-el and $280 for the RocketBallz Stage 2 Tour model, which comes with loft adjustability.

Tour Edge Exotics XCG6 fairways ($300) is a nice improvement over the older, very highly regarded model. The company says according to its testing the XCG6 is the lon-gest Exotics they have ever made. It has a

beta titanium cup face and steel body with a tungsten sole plate, combo-brazed together to save weight. The look at address is confi-dence-inspiring while the variable thickness face provides lots of forgiveness.

You can’t talk about hybrids without mentioning Adams Golf. Adams is the num-ber one played hybrid on the PGA Tour for good reason. The new Idea SUPER S hybrid has both a sole slot and crown slot for more ball speed while providing a lot of help on off-center hits. They used a multi-material design in the SUPER LS (low spin) hybrid to allow a very low center of gravity placement. There’s a titanium face and crown, a stainless steel sole in addition to the crown and sole slots, making a very hot face. The SUPER S hybrid is $150 and the SUPER LS for low-handicap golfers is $300.

IRONSCallaway seems to have a winner with the

X Hot irons, now available in regular and Pro versions. X Hots carry street prices of $700 for the regular model (in steel 4-iron through AW) and $800 for the Pro model. Both feature an undercut cavity in the back and the Speed Frame Face Technology first seen in several of their driver models. Lofts are “aggressive,”

meaning stronger than what is thought of as tradi-

tional so that a 4-iron

i s

at 20 degrees and the pitching wedge 44 degrees. With lots of weight in the sole, X Hot irons get the ball airborne easily and iron-for-iron should give more distance.

movers and shakersThese products have created buzz

EQUIPMENT By ED TRAVIS

Calloway X Hot

Titleist913 D2

TaylormaderocketBallz Stage 2


ONLINE: Get the latest news on Oklahoma golf at golfoklahoma.orgEQUIPMENT By ED TRAVIS

RocketBladez are the newest irons from TaylorMade Golf and have a first for any iron; from the 3-iron through 7-iron there’s a slot in the sole to allow for more flexing of the face and more ball speed. The slot compliments their proprietary inverted cone shape behind the clubface and high MOI from redistributed weight. TMaG makes a RocketBladez Tour model as well with less offset. Street price for the regular set 4-AW with steel shafts is $800, with graphite shafts $900. The Tour version with steel shafts is $900.

Players also seem to like the new Cobra Golf AMP Cell irons. For a game-improve-ment category iron they look very clean at address and have Cobra’s metalwood face-weld construction along with the AMP Cell perimeter weighting and center of gravity positioning. Priced at $700 for 4-iron through gap wedge, purchasers have a choice of four accent colors in the rear cavity including or-ange, presumably the favorite of endorser Ricky Fowler.

BALLSThe grinning face of David Feherty pro-

moting Bridgestone’s new e-series balls has

become a familiar sight during golf telecasts. And while we aren’t looking for Titleist to be knocked off its perch as the number one golf ball brand, Bridgestone is penetrating the market with its entire lineup.

All three of Bridgestone’s e-Series models have a new 326-seamless dual dimple pat-tern for less drag and more lift – very good characteristics if you are looking for more dis-tance. The e5 is a two-piece construction designed for distance but has a urethane cover which offers good control on short shots. Bridgestone’s e6 has a softer Surlyn cover than last year and a lower compression core matched with what the company calls an “anti-side spin” middle layer. Bridgestone says the e6 is the best selling of the e-series worldwide. The e7 is a 3-piece designed Sur-lyn cover ball also with a mantle layer for re-duced spin. All of the e-series have a street price of $27.

Titleist did introduce a revised Pro V1 and Pro V1x with the improvements from the

preceding models incremental. Since being the first urethane covered solid construction ball 13 years ago this line has been completely dominant in the ball business and continues to be the best-selling ball. The 2013 Pro V1 according to Titleist has a somewhat softer feel while giving more distance plus the cov-er has a more scuff-resistance paint. The Pro V1x still is the longer of the two because of a slightly firmer cover and has the same paint upgrade for scuff resistance. Street prices for both are $48 per dozen.

*Offer good at Tulsa location only. Offer not valid on Phone or Internet orders. Due to manufacturer restrictions, offers exclude golf balls, select new release and other select products. Offers exclude all products from PING and select products from Titleist, FootJoy, Mizuno, and certain other manufacturers. Select sale and clearance items excluded. Offer is limited to one transaction per code/coupon. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer/coupon or used for previously purchased merchandise, exchanges, special orders or toward gift card purchases. Offer valid while supplies last, no substitutions, backorders or rain checks. Coupon becomes void if copied or transferred and where prohibited by law. Any other use constitutes fraud. In case of returned merchandise, coupon savings may be deducted from refund. Cash value 1/20 cent. Offer expires 05/31/13.

$10OFFA PURCHASE OF$50 OR MORE

Best Selection of Premium Golf Equipment, Apparel & Shoes State-of-the-Art Simulators, Launch Monitors & Hitting Bays

Club Repair Specialists & Performance Fitting ExpertsWorldwide Delivery

PLAY ABETTER GAME.

edwinwattsgolf.com

TULSA • 6006 South Sheridan Road • 918.388.4580

« NEW 2013 DRIVERS »


by greg horton

Chateau Ste. Michelle offers a line of single-vineyard wines that show-case the best of the Columbia Val-

ley in Washington. Canoe Ridge Estate is just north of the Oregon border in the Horse Heaven Hills region, an American Viticultur-al Area (AVA) that was established in 2005.

Wines from the Horse Heaven Hills ben-efit from eastern Washington’s interesting geological history, especially large depos-its of basalt beneath the soil. The growing

season is long and mild, contributing to the exceptional character of these wines. The basalt

and other deposits from the Columbia Riv-er’s track give the wines a delicious, mineral quality that adds structure and complexity.

Oklahoma has three of the Canoe Ridge Wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle: Caber-net, Merlot and Chardonnay. The Chardon-nay will be a favorite for wine drinkers who love traditional California Chardonnay. The style is round and elegant, with notes of apple, pear, and citrus.

What the Columbia Valley produces better than just about any region in America is Mer-lot. The complex soil composition gives the Merlot a stronger backbone, more layers and rich fruit flavors. The Canoe Ridge Merlot fea-tures cherry, plum and tobacco. The tannins are firm without being too intense, imparting great structure to a rich, complex wine.

The Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvi-gnon is really a Bordeaux-style blend. The 80-percent Cabernet is supplemented with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Fans of

California Cabernet will notice fa-miliar notes like red fruit, vanilla and cedar, but the distinct cola quality of Washington stands out in this Cabernet. The fruit is more red than black, and the solid acidity makes this a great choice for pork, beef or game.

Also in the Horse Heaven Hills is Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Horse Heaven Vineyard. Okla-homa only gets one wine from this vineyard, a Sauvignon Blanc. The Horse Heaven Vineyard Sau-vignon Blanc is a great change of pace for a market saturated with the two dominant Sauvignon Blanc styles: Marl-borough from New Zealand or Napa. Both have excellent qualities and an array of fans, but Sauvignon Blanc from Washington of-fers a completely different experience of the grape.

Chateau Ste. Michelle ages the Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc in a com-bination of stainless steel and oak. The ef-fect is a richer, rounder mouthfeel with no loss of the crisp acidity expected.

horse heaven hillsUnique geology creates a flavorful blend

la Flor Dominicana A strong complex cigar

The goods

Quality and consistency are as synony-mous with golf as they are with cigars. Over 17 years ago Litto Gomez started producing tobacco at his farm in La Canela, Santiago, Dominican Republic. What started out as a boutique cigar line blossomed into one of the most prestigious premium cigar compa-nies in the world. From the petit L250 to the unique Double Ligero Chisel, La Flor Domin-icana presently manufactures twelve differ-ent cigar blends. They have choic-es in flavor and strength profiles tailored to any time or occasion.

It could be said the founda-tion and heart of La Flor Dominican comes from their Cabinet Oscuro cigar. The L400 is constructed from a rich Ecuadorian Su-matra ligero wrapper, Dominican filler and binder. The Oscuro concept uses a special-ized fermentation process adding complex-ity and strength, darkening the cigar to near maduro.

The pre-draw is very smooth and easy, leaving a mild earthy tobacco taste on the lips and tongue. At light up, the flavor be-gins with very mild spice and citrus notes that slowly expand giving way to a blue-gray smoke.

The Cabinet Oscuro L400 is considered to be an upper-medium to full-bodied cigar. This smoke is a must have in the humidor and at a respectable price point between $6-$9. Best enjoyed on the golf course, after a nice steak or paired with your favorite scotch.

Proudly serving Oklahoma with a fine selection of cigars and related products.

Stop on by our current location and share a smoke with us!

2726 W Britton RdOklahoma City, OK 73120

www.ztcigars.com(800) 340-3007


Make your gaMe More powerful. SHOP GOLFGALAXY.COM

is PowerfulCOLOR

Visit these locationsFor tour-level club Fittings and Repairs Performed by PGa/lPGa Professionals and certified Fitters.Oklahoma City13830 north Pennsylvania ave.oklahoma city, oK405.748.4129

larry gosewehr PGA Professional

Tulsa9121 east 71st st.tulsa, oK918.249.1137

Tom faires PGA Professional

Limit one coupon per customer. Minimum purchase of $100 before sales tax. Total amount of coupon must be redeemed at one time. Cannot be combined with any other offers, coupons or used for previously purchased merchandise. Coupon valid on in-store purchases only. Not redeemable for cash, gift cards or store credit. No reproductions or rain checks accepted. Returns or exchanges where an Advantage Club Golf Reward Certificate or other discount was applied may result in an adjusted refund amount. Excludes Under Armour, PING, Titleist, Mizuno, FootJoy DryJoys Tour and FootJoy XPS-1, adizero Tour and adizero Sport, Nike Golf TW13, electronics, grips and shafts, select new release Callaway Golf, Cleveland, Odyssey, Scotty Cameron, Cobra, TaylorMade, Nike Golf, ecco and FootJoy merchandise. Some additional exclusions may apply. See store for details. Valid through 5/31/13.

$20OFFyour next PurCHASe oF $100 or More

tAKe

VAlid tHrougH 5/31/13

P00012997


News from around the state

by ken macleod

photos by rip stell

The Club at Indian Springs, complete with a new name, new logo and many new fixtures and improvements, has recently been reintroduced to members both old and new.

The 36-hole facility in Broken Arrow has undergone so many renovations since being purchased last fall at auction by Paul Glover and Ryker Young that it’s hard to keep track without a scorecard, which, by the way, will also be new.

One look inside the formerly dingy lock-erroom, now spruced up with new carpet, ceilings, paint and fixtures, or the new fit-ness facility, card room, grill or patio, lets you know that the new owners are serious about reviving the fortunes of a club that was in dire need of a fresh start.

The $700,000 in renovations, which also include a new bag drop, improvements to

the parking lot, facade, heat and air and ex-tensive landscaping around the clubhouse and on the course, have been a whirlwind for general manager Mark Barrett, who thrives on just this sort of challenge.

“This is my drug of choice,” Barrett said. “I love fixing what’s broken.”

“This is the most excited I’ve been since I’ve been here,” said head professional Mi-chael Boyd. “Obviously there’s been some difficult times here. The members have hung in there and kept me hopeful because of how supportive they are of the club.”

“The new owners, when they start a proj-ect, they don’t cut corners,” Barrett said. “They might go in a room and argue, but when they come out, they’re united. “

The changes have already resulted in 65 new members and the first few months of making expenses match revenue in years. Barrett had to put together a business plan, budget, employee handbooks, rules, poli-cies and new membership program for ju-

niors. The new website, indianspringsclub.com, will feature the ability to make online tee times. A new chef, Tiffany Woodrell, who formerly worked at Southern Hills and The Oaks and who specializes in pastries, has been hired, Improvements to the tennis courts and an upgrade in poolside service are planned.

One of the most interesting changes for golfers will be the decision to shut down the shorter Windmill course in July for six weeks to convert the greens to Champion Bermuda from the current Penncross bent grass. Indian Springs has watched with in-terest how the greens have held up at Page Belcher, which converted two years ago.

“They’ve done a great job at Page Belcher and we figured we could do as well or bet-ter,” Boyd said. “It’s going to make a big dif-ference in how playable they will be in July and August and we’re not worried about them holding up in the winter this far north. It’s been proven.”

The greens renovation is scheduled to start July 15.

renewal at indian springs New ownership brings exciting changes

Chip shots

The bar, card room, patiio and workout room are just a few of the upgraded areas at The Club at Indian Springs

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 21www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 21

Cedar Ridge renovationsWith a renovated pro shop and a brand

new pool and fitness center, Director of Golf David Bryan is taking over at a Cedar Ridge Country Club that has more to offer than at any time in its 43-year history.

Bryan replaced Buddy Phillips, who re-tired in the fall after 40 years as the head professional at Cedar Ridge. It will take time for anyone in that position to put their own imprimatur on the club. Bryan said member-ship and staff have been very welcoming.

“The membership has been awesome, very supportive during the transition,” said Bryan, the son of long-time Southern Hills head professional Dave Bryan.

The new pro shop now has a large bay window facing the first tee and a new office for the assistants. The room feels larger and airier, though in reaility its a bit smaller due to the new office.

“Everyone who comes in is convinced it’s larger,” Bryan said. “The reaction has been great.”

The huge new pool offers a giant slide, diving area, lap lanes and a walk-in beach area. The two-story fitness center will keep members fit for the rigors of playing one of the state’s most challenging courses.

Cedar Ridge was the site of an LPGA event from 2004 to 2008 and has been a frequent host to USGA qualifiers, OGA champion-ships and other state and regional events. It is ideally situated to host tournaments, with a course that is easily walked and has ample viewing lanes. The course itself is extremely challenging and maintained superbly by superintendent Mike Wooten and his staff. There is plenty of nearby parking.

“We always want to maintain good rela-tionships with the USGA and other govern-ing bodies,” Bryan said. “There’s nothing on the schedule right now, but that doesn’t mean we’re not actively looking.”

Sugar Creek Canyon closedUnlike at Indian Springs, the purchase at

auction of Sugar Creek Canyon Golf Course in Hinton by a local funeral home owner proved a dead end for the golf course, which closed on March 25.

Andy Turner, owner of Turner Funeral Home in Hinton, bought the course at auc-tion for $1,075,000. He said his plans were to use the clubhouse and other buildings to expand his funeral home business.

“I don’t know anything about golf or being a golf-course owner,” he said. Turner added that the price he paid was specifically for the buildings and the more than 215 acres of golf

course land he acquired was almost inciden-tal. He said he would consider selling or leas-ing portions of the land.

Sugar Creek Canyon was built in 1999, designed by Oak Tree member Mark Hayes and featured nine holes of fairly flat land and a back nine of more dramatic holes alongside Sugar Creek Canyon. It was owned and oper-ated by the Hinton Economic Development Authority, which sold the course through Williams and Williams Auctions of Tulsa.

Turner said the price was excellent for his purposes and that most of the bidders had in-tentions of using the land for purposes other than a golf course.

Sugar Creek Canyon’s clubhouse soon to be a funeral home.

Renovated pro shop at Cedar Ridge CC.

For the sporting and gaming enthusiast – nothing could be better than a three-in-one package of golf, fishing and casino action at Pointe Vista and Choctaw Casino Resort. Enjoy Texoma’s most Dynamic Stay-n-Play Package, which includes:

• Championship golf at the nationally-ranked Chickasaw Pointe Golf Club• World-class “striped bass” fishing chartered from Catfish Bay Marina• Gaming action and luxurious accommodations at Choctaw Casino Resort

***800.788.2464 ext. 1235 to BOOK PACKAGE***

FISH & CHIPS & MORE CHIPS

For Tee Times: 580-564-2581

PO Box 1009, Kingston, OK 73439 / www.Pointe-Vista.com


Chip shots

A new $1.3 million, 6,500-square-foot club-house will soon adorn the Peoria Ridge Golf Course in Miami, giving fitting amenities to a golf course that has hit its stride as both a strong public-private option for local golfers as well as a destination course for the area and for guests of the nearby Buffalo Run Casino.

Peoria Ridge, a 1999 design by Bland Pitt-man of Pittman-Poe & Associates in Broken Arrow, has consistently improved under the guidance of the Peoria Tribe led by Chief John Froman as well as benefitted from the stewardship of head professional Keith Neel and superintendent Milton Hale, who has been there since grow-in and has had the

course in magnificent condition the past few years.

The clubhouse will sit on higher ground than the current clubhouse, which may be turned into a fitness center. Since the closing by the tribe of Miami Country Club, many members have migrated to Peoria Ridge, which is now semi-private. The new club-house will have men’s and women’s locker-rooms as well as a banquet area capable of seating 175. It will have a full-service grill and also offer bag storage.

The clubhouse is scheduled to be com-pleted and open in October.

“This is the last piece we need to take our facility to another level,” Neel said.

“This will really help make Peoria Ridge one of the top destinations in northeastern Oklahoma,” Froman said.

Van Pelt to co-chair councilTulsan Bo Van Pelt was recently elected

co-chairman along with Mark Wilson of the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council by the tour membership. The 16-member PAC advises and consults with the PGA Tour Policy Board (Board of Directors) and Com-missioner Tim Finchem on issues affecting the tour. Van Pelt and Wilson will succeed Paul Goydos and Steve Stricker on the PGA TOUR Policy Board in 2014 and will serve three-year terms (2014-2016) as Player Direc-tors, joining Jim Furyk (2012-2014) and Har-rison Frazar (2013-2015) on the Policy Board.

“I really didn’t think I would win,” said Van Pelt, a 1998 graduate of Oklahoma State University. “I was as shocked as anybody. It’s a nice honor when you’re voted for by your peers.

“As far as a time to be involved, this is a great time. The Tour is going through some big issues and this will be a great time to meet some of the independent directors and will be a good education for me on how the Tour works.”

Among the issues the Tour is studying are pace of play and keepiing tabs on the an-chored putting controversy.

Artist’s rendering of the new clubhouse under construction at Peoria Ridge.

New clubhouse coming for Peoria Ridge

QUAIL CREEK has consistently provided the ultimate in recreational club facilities including golf, tennis, swimming, � tness, a variety of social activities, as well as, casual and formal dining!

Quail Creek Is Proud to Support theOklahoma Golf Association

3501 Quail Creek Road, Oklahoma City, 73120

(405) 751-0811

Q U A I L C R E E K G C C . C O M


Golfsmith debuts in OKCNever one to back away from a little

competition, Golfsmith International opened its Oklahoma City store March 1 within a block of retailers Golf USA and Golf Galaxy.

The Golfsmith, at 21210 W. Memorial Road, is a 33,000-square-foot monster in the building of a former Ultimate Electron-ics. It is outfitted with four computerized club-fitting studios, a five-bay driving range and a branch of GolfTec. The chain takes its commitment to club fitting seriously.

“We have gone to a money-back guar-antee for 30 days if the clubs don’t fit or for some reason you’re not satisfied,” said Mike Gomez, the Midwest field market-ing representative for Golfsmith. “With our selection and prices plus the complete commitment we make on the club fitting side, we’re confident the store will do very well.”

In addition to clubs, balls, shoes, tees and other golf essentials from brands such as Ti-tleist, PING, Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra, PUMA, Nike Golf, Mizuno and more, Golf-smith offers a wide selection of authentic golf apparel brands and fashions not found

in a typical department or discount store. Golf-ers will also find the lat-est hi-tech accessories such as GPS units, swing a n a l y z e r s and range-finders.

The new store is part of a continued growth strategy by Golf-smith that is bucking an industry trend of golf-store closures. According to the Na-tional Golf Foundation, almost half of all golf stores in America closed in the last de-cade. The Texas-based golf retailer will con-tinue its expansion in 2013 with 10 planned stores throughout the United States.

Golfsmith began in Austin, Texas, as a component club maker whose parts were purchased through catalogs and later online by do-it-yourself enthusiasts. The compa-

ny has evolved into one of the leading golf retail stores, its force enhanced when it was purchased by OMERS, a Canadian pension fund which also owned Golf Town, the largest golf retailer in Canada. The two now operate as Golfsmith International.

Golfsmith offers a comprehensive online store at www.golfsmith.com. Customers can register on the site for special offers and updates on the grand opening by signing up for “E-mail Offers” or going to golfsmith.com/okc.

Golfers line up outside Golfsmith in Oklahoma City on opening day.


by ken macleod

Rick Reed was the ideal choice to be honored by the PGA South Central Section with its Professional of the Year award, say those who know him best.

“Rick is just a great guy to work for,” said Regina Goodwin, who has been an as-sistant professional at The Oaks CC since 1995, one year prior to Reed’s arrival. “He’s fair, he’s honest and he’s loyal to his staff. Sometimes it’s hard for a female to talk to a male boss but it’s always been very easy for me to talk to Rick.

“Rick is very well respected by the mem-bership here. He’s very passionate about his job.”

Reed gave an emotional acceptance speech at the section’s annual awards din-ner at the Doubletree Hotel at Warren Place. “That’s something you never dream

about,” Reed said. “I was honored and overwhelmed.”

Reed has been at The Oaks for 17 years after serving as the head professional at Shangri-La Resort from 1989 to 1997. He attended the University of Tulsa from 1971-75 and began his career at Ridglea Coun-try Club in Fort Worth under the tutelage of Raymond Gafford, a Texas Hall of Fame pro who grew up playing with and against Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. When Gaf-ford retired, Reed became an assistant for Buddy Phillips at Cedar Ridge CC in Bro-ken Arrow until the Shangri-La position opened.

“It was invaluable training working for those two,” Reed said. “Raymond played in 12 or more U.S. Opens and in the Mas-ters twice. He led Colonial once after three rounds before losing to Hogan in the final round. If he had hung on and won, his life

would have been a lot different.”Reed doesn’t get out to play as much as

he should. He derives the most satisfaction from providing service to his members.

“For me, if there’s something I can do to make them have fun or increase their en-joyment, that’s what really satisfies me,” said Reed, who is only the fourth head pro in the history of the Oaks, an A.W. Tilling-hast design that opened in 1924.

Among other highlights was the first an-nual Patriot Award given to Peter Vitali of Gaillardia Country Club for the massively successful Fairways for Freedom event last Oct. 5 that raised more than $200,000 for the Folds of Honor Foundation and David Feherty’s Troops First Foundation.

Former section executive director Barry Thompson was made an honorary section member. Hall of Fame inductees were tena-cious competitor Bob Ralston of Stuttgart (Ark.) Country Club and former Oklahoma State University golf coach Labron Harris (posthumously).

Dedication rewardedReed is Professional of Year

Chip shots


For the first time in more than 20 years, the LPGA returns to North Texas with a full-field, ladies professional event at Las Colinas Country Club, April 25-28.

The North Texas Shootout will feature many of the best female players in the world competing for a $1.3 million total purse. It will be the first LPGA tournament in Texas since the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open at Co-lonial Country Club. The most recent regu-larly scheduled tournament was the Mary Kay Classic at Bent Tree Country Club in the 1980s.

“This is the result of a lot of hard work from local volunteers over the last two and a half years,” said Kathy Wilkins, founding member of the Irving-based Nexus Club, which is organizing and sponsoring the tournament.

“There are so many great players from Texas and it’s been so long since they have played here, we are already seeing a huge surge in ticket sales.”

Wilkins said the idea of the LPGA’s North Texas Shootout is to draw fans from over North Texas, Oklahoma and even Arkansas to see the finest women golfers over four days of competition.

The par-71 Las Colinas course will play at 6,400 yards for the women. Opened in 1963 and recently renovated, it’s less than two blocks away from the better-known TPC-Las Colinas layout in Irving, which annually hosts the PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Cham-pionship each spring.

Already committed to this year’s first local tournament is 2012 LPGA Player of the Year and former Arkansas college star Stacy Lew-is from The Woodlands outside of Houston. Fort Worth’s Angela Stanford, another LPGA champion, has committed, as has McKin-ney’s Brittany Lang, world No. 1 Yani Tseng and top players Natalie Gulbis, Christi Kerr and Morgan Pressell.

“I’m extremely excited for the opportu-nity to play in my home state again,” said Stanford, a four-time member of the wom-en’s Solheim Cup team. “North Texas is a community with a passionate fan base and I know they will enjoy having our Tour in town.

“For me, this is a dream come true.”With the all-time LPGA winner Kathy

Whitworth hailing from Monahans and the famed Babe Didrikson from Beaumont, Tex-as has always had a strong LPGA presence.

Houston was once the site of the Tour’s headquarters and its Hall of Fame, but for various reasons the Lone Star State had a hard time attracting tournaments.

Houston and Austin have both held short-lived events, with Dallas a longtime host of the LPGA Skins Game.

“It just makes sense for the LPGA to be in North Texas and we look forward to show-ing golf fans in the overall region why it’s different on the LPGA,” said commissioner Michael Whan.

Tickets are priced at $25 daily or $75 for the week. Sponsorship and hospitality pack-ages along with chances to volunteer are also available at www.ntshootout.com.

— art stricklin

Dynamic Golf open in TulsaWhen it comes to golf instruction, Billy

Farha has found that the simpler the instruc-tion is, the more benefit reaped by the stu-dent.

The former mini-tour player has opened a studio in Tulsa called Dynamic Golf based on the principal that the fundamentals – grip, stance, posture and alignment – that lead to consistent ball striking are there for everyone.

Farha has all the bells and whistles offered by the V-1 Video Analysis System in his

Tulsa studio at 3023 S. Harvard Ave., Suite G. Making sure the student understands what he is looking at is a big part of Farha’s method.

“Everything flows from the fundamen-tals,” he said.

The V1 Video Analysis System allows the student and teacher to see the swing using high speed video capture, digital graphics and effects and tour player comparisons if desired. Lessons can be sent via email to your smartphone or computer to enhance and improve the learning experience!

Farha, who grew up in Bristow and played mini-tours professionally for years before getting into the restaurant business in Tulsa, just recently returned to teaching the game he played competitively for many years.

Lessons are $75 per hour or $45 per half hour with special packages and discounts available. For those who would like to see their swing on video along with a couple of tips, Farha offers a simple analysis for $35 that requires no more than 30 minutes.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Satur-day, with lessons available by appointment at other hours. For more information, go to www.dymanicgolftulsa.com or call 918-504-5037.

New LPGA event to debut in North Texas

The Best Golf in Oklahoma City!

Featuring seven of Oklahoma City’s best 18-hole golf courses, one nine-hole course, driving ranges, restaurants and tournament facilities.

405-691-1727 405-424-1421 405-677-8874 405-843-1565 405-424-4353

Make Oklahoma City’s finest golf courses your destinationFour-star golf courses • Tee times available • Now booking tournaments

Call today for Reservations!


Despite many blurry moments when the outlook at Rose Creek Golf Club was anything but rosy,

the Edmond community’s original vision has never been clearer.

The master plan was for Rose Creek to someday become private. The move from public to private has evolved slowly, but the club’s first significant advancement has arrived.

The club is on the verge of becoming semi-private. As of March 20, Rose Creek was just 15 memberships shy of its goal of 300, at which time the club will become pri-vate and open to members only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays each week. The course will remain open to the public Mon-day through Thursday.

“Back in 2009, it was a very scary point for a lot of homeowners in Rose Creek,” said Chad Lamb, who was hired as head golf professional in June of that year.

When Tour 18 Inc. purchased the prop-erty in April 2009, one of the ownership group’s first ventures was to offer lifetime memberships. The club sold 50 member-ships at $30,000 each in slightly less than two weeks. “After that happened, everyone around here kind of went, ‘Wow,’ ” Lamb said with raised eyebrows.

A “Test Drive Membership” was made available for a one-time initiation fee of $500 with monthly dues ranging from $300-$350.

“In Oklahoma, there’s kind of a defined line,” Lamb explained. “You’re either pub-lic or you’re private. There’s not a bunch of

semi-private clubs that you’re competing against in Oklahoma, especially Oklahoma City. I guess you could say we’re going to get the best of both worlds. The people who pay a membership are going to have access to a private club on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Then the public will still be al-lowed to play (Monday through Thursday), and we’ll still have our outside revenue coming in with big tournaments.”

Based out of Houston, Tour 18 Inc. so far has spent an estimated $3.5 million for ma-jor improvements at Rose Creek, which has included a new clubhouse, rebuilt bunkers, several re-sodded areas, a fleet of new golf carts, new maintenance equipment and a larger work force.

The original plan was for a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse to be built, but Tour 18 Inc. upped that to 16,000 square feet. “Some other owner-ships and mem-berships would have thrown their hands up in the air and gone, ‘I surrender,’ but not Tour 18, which has done nothing but keep putting money into what their asset is,” Lamb said. “This place definitely has had its struggles.

In the beginning, it was somewhat cursed. Now I look at it and things are going great.”

General manager Tom Hodkin has seen Rose Creek grow since “it was just a pasture and oil wells. I came out here and looked at this place in 2000 and there was just nothing here. There was a row of trees down a fence line. This was originally planned to be a dai-ly fee course that, as the community built out, it would eventually go private. I think that was Tour 18’s goal as well and that’s kind of the direction they’re going in now.”

Designed by famed architect Arthur Hills, who also designed neighboring Gaillardia Country Club six miles away, Rose Creek Golf Club is a modified links course that opened in 2003. As is the case with most residential projects, the golf course came first, the houses came second.

“They built a community using the golf

the blooming of rose Creek

by john rohde

Upscale Oklahoma City course to go semi-private this spring

The Arthur Hills-designedRose Creek Golf Club is

going semi-private inthe near future.

Where we play

Hot summer days are no problem with Rose Creek’s water park.


course as the centerpiece,” Hodkin said, “but if the golf course is not going to succeed, the community is not going to succeed. That’s the beauty of what eventually happened here. We were able to make a good, seam-less transition with this new ownership.”

For Rose Creek, everything bad seemed to hit at once.

Like many venues in the golf industry, the club endured a crippling hit during the nation’s Great Recession from 2007-2009. The club’s sale in 2009 also coincided with two local bouts of winter kill. There was too much cold, then too much rain, then too much heat.

“We hit a lull when there was a lull all over the United States,” Hodkin said of the Great Recession, “but we certainly have come back a lot quicker. Last year we had our best year. We had 41 developer lots sell, 33 re-sell lots and 36 homes sold, which is over 100 transactions. When it is complete-ly built out, we will have a little over 600 homes, including the cottages.”

Rose Creek has long appealed to promi-nent residents, including several players and front-office personnel with the NBA

O k l a h o m a City Thun-der. Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Eric Maynor are former residents.

Through all the uncer-tainty, Rose Creek has been quite c o g n i z a n t of its public image. “One of the things we tried very hard not to do was have that stigma hanging around our necks of ‘bank-ruptcy’ and ‘foreclosure.’ Most people never knew there was even a transition,” Hodkin said.

Rose Creek’s location dissects two thriv-ing school districts, with Edmond in the “southern hemisphere” and Deer Creek in the “northern hemisphere.” Houses within the community range from smaller cottages

and villas to a 10,000-square-foot home.“They just seem to get bigger and bigger

and bigger,” Hodkin said of the houses.Once the golf course began to thrive, so

did the entire community.“We’ve got a very successful, thriving

community right now that far exceeded our expectations,” Hodkin said.

John Rohde is a sportswriter for The Oklaho-man at NewsOK.com.

Rose Creek’s clubhouse is ready for the transition to a private club.


No golf course in Oklahoma will have a busier spring than the Jimmie Austin Uni-versity of Oklahoma course in Norman, which will host two big women’s events: an NCAA regional May 9-11 and the penulti-mate USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship June 17-22.

The course is still accepting volunteers who wish to help with either or both events. Sign up at www.ougolfclub.com. Volunteers who work a combined total of four shifts at the two tournaments will receive a golf shirt from both events and be invited to a special golf outing on June 23, as well as receive a package of tee prizes.

Watching the host Sooners will be one of the highlights of the regional. Led by reign-

ing NCAA champion Chirapat Jao-Javanil, the second-ranked Sooners are one of the top contenders to win the NCAA Cham-pionship. Oklahoma State, led by senior Kelsey Vines, is also capable. Tulsa and Oral Roberts will hopefully be assigned to the same regional, although that hasn’t neces-sarily been the case in the past.

There is no charge for spectators for either event.

A much more daunting challenge for di-rector of golf Rodney Young is preparing for the WAPL. Any USGA event brings a host of requirements, including the necessity to raise about $100,000 to pay for volunteer uniforms, welcome dinner, a program, food

tournament CentralJimmie Austin readies for NCAA Regional, U.S. Women's Public Links Championship

Jimmie Austin will be the site of two prestigious tournaments this spring.

Stay and atPlay

W W W . O U G O L F C L U B . C O M | ( 4 0 5 ) 3 2 5 - 6 7 1 6

Welcome to the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club, the

home of championship amateur golf in the state

of Oklahoma. The award-winning layout welcomes

two national championships to Norman this spring as

the OU Golf Club plays host to the NCAA Women’s

Regional Championship on May 9-11, followed

by the 37th U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links

Championship on June 17-22.

Volunteers are needed for both events. Visit ougolfclub.com or call

(405) 325-6716 to sign up and learn how to earn your volunteer gift package,

valued at over $200!

OKLAHOMA’S CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF CLUB.

JAOUGC_Golf Oklahoma 2013.indd 1 1/10/13 12:14 AM


and beverage, banners and signage, courtesy cars, etc.

Fortunately, much of the power and infor-mation technology as well as a permanent scoreboard was put in when Jimmie Austin hosted the men’s public links championship in 2009.

The USGA has announced that it will discontinue hosting the public links events for men and women after 2014, noting that access to tournament competition has in-creased greatly for all golfers. The event is dominated by college players, although some mid-amateurs and even younger play-ers will be threats. Michelle Wie won the event at age 13 in 2003.

The event began in 1977 and was previ-ously held in Oklahoma in 1988 at Olde Page Golf Course at Page Belcher in Tulsa. Pearl Sinn won the event, while Lee Ann Hammack of Oklahoma City was the med-alist for the 36 holes of stroke play.

Young expects the golf course to be in excellent condition and present as sturdy a challenge as the respective governing bodies want their players to face.

“Cody (superintendent Cody Elwood) and his guys are just so good,” Young said. “We just got through aerifying and you can’t see anything on the greens. No sand, no

marks. They really do a good job.”The tee boxes at Jimmie Austin were con-

verted successfully to zoysia grass last fall. Clubhouse renovations continue as well as landscaping improvements. The course overseeds its Mid-Lawn Bermuda fairways with rye grass each fall and maintenance practices will encourage the rye to contin-ue to flourish until after both events so as to prevent golfers from playing during the transition back to Bermuda.

The course will soon be going to bid on a new turfgrass maintenance facility and re-search center. Construction will begin soon

after the public links championship. Volunteers are needed to work at both

events. Sign-ups are under way at www.ougolfclub.com. Volunteers who work for a combined total of four shifts at the two tournaments will receive a golf shirt from

both events, and be invited to a special golf outing on June 23 to play from the same tournament conditions as the WAPL contes-tants. A nice package of tee prizes will go to each of those volunteers.

Volunteers who sign up for at least one shift at both events or two at one event will receive a golf shirt from that event. If you cannot sign up online, call 405-325-6716.

2012 NCAA champion Chirapat Jao-Javanil

Online volunteer registration is now open for the 2014 U.S. Senior Open Championship at Oak Tree National, scheduled July 7-13, 2014.

More than 2,800 volunteers are needed to fill positions on more than 28 committees, includ-ing marshals, transportation, leaderboards and merchandise. Early submission of the applica-tion allows volunteers to specify their commit-tee preference. Interested volunteers should visit www.2014ussenioropen.com. A full description of committee responsibilities is provided on the Web site to assist volunteers in determining their prefer-ences.

All volunteers are required to purchase the basic

volunteer package for $125 (a $250 value), which includes one championship golf shirt, one cham-pionship windbreaker, one championship ball cap or visor, one water bottle, and one volunteer cre-dential valid for all seven days of the championship, as well as complimentary food, snacks and bever-ages on the days of service. Additional packages are available that will include upgraded access to the Trophy Club Pavilion. Each volunteer will be asked to work approximately 16 to 20 hours, or four to five shifts over the course of the championship.

For additional information, contact Bri-anne Miller at (402) 991-1424 ext. 5 or [email protected].

2014 u.s. senior Open seeks volunteers

T H E F O U N D AT I O N H A S B E E N L A I D . B U I L D I N G F O R T O M O R R O W .

SOONERR Y A N H Y B L

G O L F C A M P

REGISTER NOW AT: SOONERGOLFCAMP.COMThe Sooner Golf Camp is open to any male or female 9-18 years of age (limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender).

NEW FOR 2013: Now accept ing female campers!Session 1: June 23-26 • Session 2: June 27-30

FUN RUNAT THEMOREB U F FA LO R U N C AS I N O & R E S O RT

RECEIVE AN EXCLUSIVE

$29.50golf pACKAGEMONDAY-FRIDAY AT THE PEORIA RIDGE GOLF COURSEGREEN FEE & CART INCLUDED

VISIT PEORIARIDGE.COM FOR DIRECTIONSEXPIRES MAY 31, 2013

AWESOME STAY & PLAY PACKAGES

1000 BUFFALO RUN BLVD | MIAMI, OK 74354 WWW.BUFFALORUN.COMMANAGEMENT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 800.522.4700

PACKAGE 1 - $175• $150 Slot Play • $25 Blackjack Matchplay • One night hotel stay • Three meals

PACKAGE 2 - $345• $300 Slot Play • $50 Blackjack Matchplay • Two night hotel stay • Six meals

PACKAGE 3 - $345• $150 Slot Play • $25 Blackjack Matchplay • One night hotel stay • Three meals • One round of golf w/ cart

PACKAGE 4 - $405• $300 Slot Play • $50 Blackjack Matchplay • Two night hotel stay • 6 meals • Two rounds of golf w/ cart


FUN RUNAT THEMOREB U F FA LO R U N C AS I N O & R E S O RT

RECEIVE AN EXCLUSIVE

$29.50golf pACKAGEMONDAY-FRIDAY AT THE PEORIA RIDGE GOLF COURSEGREEN FEE & CART INCLUDED

VISIT PEORIARIDGE.COM FOR DIRECTIONSEXPIRES MAY 31, 2013

AWESOME STAY & PLAY PACKAGES

1000 BUFFALO RUN BLVD | MIAMI, OK 74354 WWW.BUFFALORUN.COMMANAGEMENT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 800.522.4700

PACKAGE 1 - $175• $150 Slot Play • $25 Blackjack Matchplay • One night hotel stay • Three meals

PACKAGE 2 - $345• $300 Slot Play • $50 Blackjack Matchplay • Two night hotel stay • Six meals

PACKAGE 3 - $345• $150 Slot Play • $25 Blackjack Matchplay • One night hotel stay • Three meals • One round of golf w/ cart

PACKAGE 4 - $405• $300 Slot Play • $50 Blackjack Matchplay • Two night hotel stay • 6 meals • Two rounds of golf w/ cart


by del lemon

Golf lost one of its finest ambassadors and visionaries with the passing of Ernie Vossler, who rose from humble beginnings in Texas to alter the landscape of golf in the United States and beyond.

When the 1941 U.S. Open started at Fort Worth’s Colonial Country Club, 13-year old Ernie was helping his father on a new house being constructed across the street from the No. 1 tee. Ernie’s dad was a plumbing con-tractor. Ernie’s weekends were spent helping his father with the family business. He had never picked up a golf club before he saw the massive galleries at Colonial. But from that week forward competitive golf and the development of championship golf courses became his life calling.

Vossler was “old school” — literally. He graduated from Fort Worth’s iconic R.L. Pas-chal High School, which produced Medal of Honor recipient Charles Frank Pendle-ton, two governors, golf legend Ben Hogan and Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon. Vossler caddied at Colonial and played on the golf team at Paschal with Dan Jenkins, who was elected to the Golf Hall of Fame in 2012 as a writer.

Vossler evolved into an expert ball striker, teacher and tenacious competitor. By the time he turned 35 he had won three times on the PGA Tour and finished fifth at the 1959 U.S. Open. He later taught the game at

Quail Creek in Oklahoma City and Tulsa’s Southern Hills.

Vossler was mostly a self-taught player but credited his father with teaching him the people skills and business acumen that led to an array of championship courses in California, Oklahoma, Arizona, Nevada, the Deep South and across the Pacific to main-land China. In conjunction with business partner Joe Walser and architect Pete Dye, he founded Landmark Land Corp., develop-ing dozens of prestigious residential and re-tirement communities centered around golf as a lifestyle.

Under Landmark, Vossler, Walser and Dye expanded the map for championship golf in America. They constructed courses with indigenous turf grasses and extreme degrees of difficulty to confound the world’s best players, but which remained imminent-ly enjoyable and great sources of pride for membership and property owners who paid the bills.

It all began with Oak Tree National in 1973. Among the best known other Land-mark developments: PGA West, TPC Sta-dium Course, La Quinta, Mission Hills, Oak Tree CC (36 holes), Palm Beach Polo and Country Club and Kiawah Island (SC) Ocean Course.

Vossler-inspired courses hosted events ranging from the U.S. Amateur, PGA Cham-pionship, Skins Game, PGA Cup Matches and the 1991 Ryder Cup “War at the Shore” at Kiawah Island.

He never forgot his roots in Texas and Oklahoma. He could be outspoken at times. His accomplishments as a player, teacher and developer imbued him with great self-confidence. Whether a $5 Nassau or real-estate deal in the desert, Vossler was the guy you wanted on your team. When Landmark fell on hard times and its assets were seized and auctioned, he didn’t mince words.

“Sure I was vocal about it,” Vossler told Golf News magazine. “One thing though, my partner, Joe Walser, has always been a gentleman about it. I don’t know if he’s ever been upset with anybody. But I’ve been a horse’s ass. And if George Bush Sr. walked in here today, I would tell him that right to his face. He knew better than to allow that to happen.”

Ernest Orville Vossler was married to LPGA Hall of Famer Marlene Hagge. He died at his home in La Quinta, Calif., on Feb. 16 at the age of 84.

Austin-based writer Del Lemon is the author of Golf in Oklahoma.

golf losesold schoolvisionary

Oak Tree co-founders Ernie Vossler, left, and Joe Walser Jr., right.

2013 COWBOY GOLF CAMPJUNE 9-13 / JUNE 13-17BOYS & GIRLS AGE 11-19

GOLF INSTRUCTION: THE COWBOY WAY

Cowboy Golf Camp is open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender.

FOR MORE INFO OR TO ENROLL YOUR CHILD,CALL 405-269-6293, VISIT OKSTATE.COM OR COWBOYGOLFCAMP.COM

RICKIE FOWLER2008 Ben Hogan Award Winner2-Time First Team All-American

2010 PGA Rookie of the Year2010 U.S. Ryder Cup Team Member

2012 Wells Fargo Championship Winner


by wayne mills

Pete Dye met Joe Walser and Ernie Vossler innocently enough. Joe and Ernie were PGA Tour mem-bers playing in the old 500 Festival Open at Speedway Golf Club in Indianapolis during the 1960s and Dye was a hometown amateur hotshot. In later years they would go on to make his-tory together in the golf-course development busi-ness.

Dye must have made an impression on them when he mentioned he wanted to leave the insurance business to start designing golf courses because when Walser and Vossler got their first develop-ment deal in Greenville, S.C., they called Dye to design.

Joe and Ernie bailed out in the middle but Dye stayed on to finish the project.

After Walser and Vossler settled in as club pros in Oklahoma City, they took on

the development of Oak Tree Golf Club in Edmond in the early 1970s and hired Dye again as the course architect.

“I wasn’t so sure about that project either,” said Dye, “When I first went out there, there was nothing, I mean zero. I had no idea how successful they would be at Oak Tree.”

That success at Oak Tree was the beginning of a nearly 20-year relationship that changed the face of golf-course design and golf-community development.

“They were the best people to work for,” Dye recalled, “They never really

said much to me about what to do or not to do except for one time at Oak Tree when Er-nie said he thought the third green was too small.” Dye enlarged the green but “put it back to its original size after Ernie left.”

With the golf boom times of the 1980s, Walser and Vossler had become Landmark Land and headed to the desert of California

and the Coachella Valley to develop PGA West, La Quinta Hotel Golf & Tennis Resort, Mission Hills, Carmel Valley Ranch Resort, and Moreno Valley Ranch, with Dye doing the honors on the course architecture. Dye says, “I must have gone out to California a thousand times working on those courses.”

One of the few times he was instructed by Walser and Vossler was when it was time to build the Stadium Course at PGA West. In an-ticipation of having a PGA Tour event there they told Dye to “make it very difficult.”

He did that of course, and the Tour stopped there as part of the old Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Dye and Landmark continued their col-laborations for more golf at Oak Tree and the iconic Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina among others through the end of the ’80s and into the early ’90s until Landmark got ensnared in the Savings and Loan debacle that proved to be its undoing.

For a couple of old club pros from Okla-homa City, and an old insurance salesman from Indiana, the partnership of Ernie Vossler, Joe Walser and Pete Dye forever changed the golf landscape in this country.

partnership spurred Dye's career

Tulsa golfers will again be able to en-joy the fast and firm Champion Bermuda greens at both Page Belcher and Mohawk Park golf courses in 2013 while saving mon-ey and earning free green fees at the same time.

Tulsa Golf introduces the Advantage Card program for 2013. The card is $59 and just $39 for seniors age 55 and above. With the card, you’ll enjoy special rates on week-days and weekends, as well as rewards points for each round leading to free green fees and other special offers.

This fantastic offer includes a free round of golf with cart the day you sign up.

Non seniors also receive a range card and special weekday pricing. The card is valid at Stone Creek and Olde Page at Page Belcher and Pecan Valley and Woodbine Park at Mohawk Park.

Tulsa Golf strives to make golf affordable year round for the many thousands of pa-trons who play the Tulsa public courses on a regular basis. For more complete details on the program or to have your questions answered, check out the website at www.tulsagolf.org or call 918-446-1529 for Page Belcher or 918-425-6871 for Mohawk Park.

tulsa golf introduces advantage CardThe Page Belcher and Mohawk Park’s All New Advantage Card makes playing more golf more affordable than ever!

Visit TulsaGolf.org for details.

Pete Dye during Oak Tree construction.


patriot Cup 2013American Inspirationby jimmie tramel

David Feherty watches Rickie Fowler tee off in 2012 Patriot Cup.

On Memorial Day of 2012, it was difficult to distinguish which was the more awe-inspiring view at

Patriot Golf Club.Look to the west and you saw a first hole

that could and should be a photo on a golf calendar. There’s a 150-foot drop from the tee box to the fairway and, beyond the fair-way, you can see (this isn’t too much of an exaggeration) forever.

There’s no way – no way – you can take in that view without aching to tee up a ball.

Then you look toward the ninth green, where participants have gathered after fin-ishing a third annual and star-spangled Pa-triot Cup celebrity pro-am. The view is just as impressive.

The guy in orange? That’s the PGA Tour’s young rock star, Rickie Fowler, who stuck around long after his round was over to sign autographs.

And there’s Gary Woodland and Corey Pavin and Craig Stadler and Tom Lehman and a bunch of other fellows who hit a golf

ball for a living.They’re rubbing elbows with country

singer Vince Gill and the band mem-bers from Rascal Flatts and Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (of course, someone in the gallery wore a Browns jersey) and, hey, didn’t that guy over there used to coach at Minne-sota State?

Craig T. Nelson, who played the title character on the television series “Coach,” was a first-time Patriot Cup participant.

“He showed up last year and said it was one of the greatest weekends of his life,” Patriot Golf Club and Patriot Cup founder Dan Rooney said. “When you get feedback like that, you hope that you are moving in a positive direction to create something special.”

In a span of three years, the Patriot Cup had grown from noble idea -- let’s remind people about the true meaning of Memorial Day while simultaneously raising money for

a good cause -- to a must-see and inspiring event.

What’s next for the Patriot Cup? Since Rooney is an F-16 fighter pilot, the sky is re-ally the limit.

“Oh man. I don’t know,” Rooney said when asked what the Patriot Cup is des-tined to become.

Dan Rooney always dares to dream big.


“I’m not necessarily a guy that looks at it maybe that way. I know hopefully it’s head-ed where it’s supposed to be, whatever that looks like. I certainly would love to grow it. We continue to work on making the Patriot Cup more special. We continue to work on having a Champi-ons Tour event.”

Rooney said the big thing in launch-ing a Champions Tour event is find-ing the necessary sponsors to fit the size of the purse. Will it happen or won’t it happen? Rooney doesn’t want that to be a defining factor in whether the Patriot Cup is viewed as successful or unsuccessful.

It’s successful, period, if the event puts the memorial back in the day.

Rooney said the inspiration for the Patriot Cup was to open the doors to Patriot Golf Club on Memorial Day to remind people what the holiday is supposed to be.

By definition, Memorial Day -- the final Monday of May -- is a day to remember the

men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“With my military background, I’ve got a great respect and understanding for what the day means,” Rooney said. “The more I talked to people about it, the more I be-

came very aware that people identi-fied Memorial Day with the unofficial beginning of sum-mer, the day that the pool opens for the year, the mat-tress sale, the car sale... This day of probably the great-est reverence in our country, it really lost its meaning.”

That hit home with Rooney, a veteran who, in 2007, launched the Folds of Honor Foundation to provide educational scholarships to spouses and dependents of soldiers killed or disabled while defending the nation. The Patriot Cup benefits the Owasso-based foundation.

Did Rooney take it personally that, for many, Memorial Day had become an excuse to fire up the grill?

“I think I took it as a personal responsibil-ity. I don’t think I took it personal,” he said before adding this:

Feherty and Fowler share a laugh.

Actor Craig T. Nelson after 80-foot birdie.


Major Dan Rooney is a doer. Athletically, he is a mostly self-taught golfer good enough to play professionally, a marathon run-ner, a fighter-jet pilot capable of keeping a clear head at speeds and G forces that would make most of us sick and dizzy.

What Rooney does best, however, is dream big and inspire oth-ers to come along for the ride.

His new book, A Patriot’s Calling, Living Life Between Fear and Faith, sheds some light on the Rooney projects with which we in Oklahoma are most familiar. The Big Four are the building of The Patriot Golf Club, the start of the Folds of Honor Foundation along with its two major fund-raisers, Patriot Golf Day and The Patriot Cup.

All of these required major feats of inspiration, bringing on board everyone from the USGA, PGA of America and former President George W. Bush to the local contractors who donated time, materi-als and labor to the construction of the Folds of Honor Foundation headquarters.

Rooney writes of his remarkable journey as the search for quin-tessence, described as “God’s reward to those who push themselves physically, spiritually and emotionally. This triad is the elixir of life, and each day I strive to make a little progress in these three areas.”

How and why he came to believe in quintessence, where it has led him and where it may lead him next are part of what you’ll dis-cover. There are passages you’ll want to share with your children in the hopes it will inspire them just as listening to Dan always in-spires me.

Having followed all four of those projects for years, there were still a lot of inside stories and new material in the book that all readers will enjoy. To order a copy, go to www.foldsofhonor.org. The proceeds will benefit the foundation, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for the families of servicemen killed or wounded in the line of duty.

— by ken macleod

a patriot's Calling

“We are a product of our environment. Guys who lose their lives are on the sixth or seventh page of the newspaper. It’s our so-ciety that commercializes at every opportunity that it gets and Memorial Day, it has turned into another day off. It’s tough. I look at Veterans Day the same way. Most of us can’t tell you what month it is in.”

FYI: Veterans Day in in November.

And the Golf Channel, whose cameras were on hand to capture the third annual Patriot Cup, chose to air an hour-long feature about the event during the week of Veterans Day last

year.Rooney called the timing “a moment of

synchronicity, if you will, when chance and purpose come together.” People who turned on the Golf Channel last Novem-ber got a reminder of what the next Memorial Day should be about.

In the meanwhile, the evolution of the Patriot Cup from 2010 until now has been amazing to watch.

Rooney had very few contacts when he first started recruiting partici-pants and he said the first Patriot Cup was “pretty much guts and feathers.”

To be clear, it was a nice field that included Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bo Van Pelt, Mark O’Meara, Scott Simpson and Loren Roberts playing alongside armed forces veterans.

Rich Lerner of the Golf Channel loved the vibe and spirit of the first Patriot Cup tour-nament and a gala that followed. He told Rooney he thought the event had all the in-gredients to be something really special and -- of course -- it would remind people what Memorial Day is all about.

NHS Sports Group, which runs the Me-morial Tournament on the PGA Tour and other golf events, jumped on board as a partner, offering to run the Patriot Cup pro bono, beginning with year two.

Rooney is still beating the bushes for players, but he said it’s a thrill when past participants call him early in the year and ask if they are going to be invited back.

Of course. Welcome back. And that means you too, Memorial Day.

Pros line the range at the outset of the 2012 Patriot Cup.

Singer Vince Gill is a fixture at the event.

patriot Cup notebookWhen: Monday, May 27Where: Patriot Golf Club, OwassoTickets: $35 in advance, orderthrough tickets.hardrockcasinotulsa.com or follow link atpatriotcup.comParking: Free parking and shuttles atHard Rock Casino and at Stone Canyon Elementary.Concessions: Available onsiteField: Commitments not finalized at press time: Ex-pect Rickie Fowler, Bo Van Pelt, Hunter Mahan, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin and other pros and celebrities who have supported Patriot Cup in past along with some exciting new commitments for 2013.


Rediscover nature. Redefine home.

Stone Canyon seamlessly blends nature’s beauty into the finest homes, golf, education and amenities with a deep respect and appreciation for the native landscape. We connect family and friends in an environment that links to the natural surroundings, encouraging outdoor play, walking, bikingand community. We help make nature your second home.

• Custom Homes, up to One Acre Home Sites• 20-Acre Park with Natural Playscapes and Trails• 100-Acre Stocked Recreational Lake• Home to The Patriot Golf Club• Owasso Schools, Stone Canyon Elementary

Reunite with Nature.

7500 N 177th E Ave., Owasso, OK 918.376.6764 • www.stonecanyonliving.com7500 N 177th E Ave., Owasso, OK 918.376.6764 • www.sstonecanyonliving.com75 77 , , 9 37 7 4 y g

l l bl d b h f h lf d d

Exclusive Homesites overlooking The Patriot Available Now


by art stricklin

KOHALA, Hawaii -- Traveling to the Big Island of Hawaii and attempting to find new and renovated golf courses in what is known as the Golf Capital of Hawaii can be one pleasantly frustrating experience.

There are so many good ones here, so many scenic layouts, famous courses, hid-den gems and exclusive private enclaves that the golfing choice can be downright confus-ing -- in a good sort of way.

But thankfully, for golf on the Big Island there can be no wrong choices on where to play or stay and where to tee it up while you are here.

The largest land mass in the Hawaiian chain has 17 different public courses scat-tered around the island, but the most resort friendly and accessible are located on the Kohala Coast on the northwestern side of the island, close to where the famous Iron-man Triathlon is run every October.

Mauna Kea Golf Course was the first re-sort course on the island, built by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the late 1960s with an ad-joining hotel designed and later owned by Laurence Rockefeller, stocked with artwork from his private collection.

The course was famously opened on Aug.

8, 1964, when golf’s Big Three, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Palmer, all hit a tee shot over the churning Pacific Ocean on the par-3 third hole.

Jones’ son, Robert Trent Jones Jr., recently completed a $150 million renovation of the course, moving, adding and deepening dozens of bunkers to challenge golfers playing with modern equipment, along with adding ultra dwarf Tif-Eagle Bermuda grass, but not changing the un-derstated elegance and historic nature of the layout.

“Many people think he made the course tougher with the additional bunkers, but the course is still enjoyable for all levels of golfers playing from the different tees,” said Mauna Kea Director of Golf Josh Silliman.

Indeed , the course is still the most popu-lar on the island among visitors and can be accessed by Mauna Kea Resort guests or those staying elsewhere.

Next door is the Hapuna Golf Course de-signed in 1992 by Arnold Palmer and associ-ate Ed Seay. It’s a more narrow links-style routing on a higher elevation than Mauna Kea, which goes down by the ocean.

Further south on the coast are seven dif-ferent layouts, almost all along the ocean, with equal parts challenge, beauty, in-sea-son whales and usually plenty of wind.

The Francis H Brown courses, named for the Father of Hawaii Golf, are located next to the outstanding Mauna Lani Resort. The North and South courses are both located next to the sea.

The par-72 South Course hosted the Senior Skins game for a decade and photo memories of the professional greats line the clubhouse walls. The most famous hole is the par-3 15th, which is a true island green surrounded on all sides by the Pacific.

The North Course is built on and through

kohala, hawaiiVariety on The Big Island makes choosing a chore

The 11th hole at Mauna Kea Golf Course.

Mauna Kea’s 17th hole on the North side.

DESTINATIONS


the abundant dark lava flow in the area and offers plenty of dramatic ocean views itself.

The Waikoloa Beach courses, the Beach and the Kings, also offer plenty of ocean views. These Jay Morrish-Tom Weiskopf layouts have both links routing and lots of trade wind breezes. The Waikoloa Village course is located across the highway on higher elevation and is routed through some houses.

Still further south is the Four Seasons Hualalai, a fine par-72 Jack Nicklaus design. It’s laid out along the coast and inland green fields surrounded by the lavish resort hotel and luxury residences. The signature hole is the par-3 17th, 164 yards from the back tees with the ocean all along the left and a strong wind usually blowing in from the water.

Under the hidden gem category you can certainly file the Kona Country Club, with the Mountain and Ocean courses on the southern end of the island, located. It is ad-jacent to the equally good Sheraton Kona Resort that hosts the annual Kona Coffee Festival.

While not on the shoreline, the Big Island Country Club and the Makalei Country Club offer great mountain views with the water shining in the distance. Their rates, even for mainland visitors, are worth the drive off the beach into the hills. The Makalei course has one of most challenging opening holes, a straight uphill par-4 test.

The Big Island also has the widest variety of top private courses which you can try with varying amounts of success to access.

The Tom Fazio-designed Discovery Land project, Kukio, is next door to the Four Sea-sons. It has a challenging par-72 layout and a unique par-33 short course. Your chances are probably slim on getting on here, but it’s certainly a worthy goal.

Guests staying at the Four Seasons also have the opportunity to play at the pri-vate par-72 Tom Weiskopf-designed Ke’olu course, located next to the Nicklaus Hualalai layout. While not on the water, the Ke’olu course is considered a few shots harder be-cause of the deeper bunkers and longer par- 4s.

The David MacKay Kidd-designed Nanea course, built for Charles Schwab and friends, is directly across the street from the Four Sea-sons. Lots of luck getting on one of the most exclusively private courses in the world.

Nicklaus also has another private course, Hokulia, which is south of the international airport.

With the outstanding courses offering all price levels, there are also all manner of food choices from in-resort to the local favorites like Kona Brewing Company. The unique

Mango Hotel has stood on the same spot for nearly 80 years and still offers its wonder-fully limited menu on the wall chalkboard highlighted by the always popular fried pork chop.

Off-course attractions include helicopter

tours, sailing adventures and the spectacular Mauna Kea observatory.

Yes indeed, the golf capital is in fine shape with attractions to please all types of Ha-waiian visitors. For more information, go to www.bigisland.org or gohawaii.com

Hole 3 at Mauna Kea Golf Course.

DESTINATIONS

Open to the Public • Find us on FacebookRanked 4th in the State by GolfWeek Magazine

1600 Ledgestone Way - Branson West, MO 65737417-335-8187 - www.ledgestonegolf.com

LedgestoneBeautiful views, even better golf


afamilytradition

by clay henry

Arkansas golf coach Brad McMakin dealt with a lot of superlatives as he talked about Taylor Moore. He

talked about his golf game, his makeup and his bloodlines. Then, he went too far. Mc-Makin said his freshman standout was such a fine athlete that the 5-10 golfer could dunk.

McMakin is almost beside himself when he tries to describe what it meant to land Moore, perhaps the nation’s top junior golfer who comes from Edmond Memorial High School, right out from under Oklaho-ma State.

If there ever was a town tied to a golf school, it would be Edmond to Oklahoma State. That’s where the legends of O-State golf reside.

Never mind that both of Moore’s parents, Rod and Melinda, are UA grads. Rod played baseball under Norm DeBriyn and Melinda was a cheerleader.

It was still a monumental recruiting feat because Taylor often drove to nearby Still-water to study OSU standouts Rickie Fowler and Kevin Tway. And early in Moore’s ju-nior career you’d see him wearing O-State colors, orange and black.

All of that just made McMakin’s recruiting victory over the Cowboys a little sweeter. And don’t ever forget that McMakin covets any victory over Oklahoma State and the

sweetest happened in Edmond. McMakin was captain of the 1989 Oklahoma Sooner team that knocked off Oklahoma State at Edmond’s Oak Tree Country Club to win the NCAA National Championship

“Yeah, I do like it,” McMakin said when asked about beating the Cowboys. “I really do.”

McMakin, in his seventh year at Arkan-sas, wanted Moore badly. He said he knew early in Moore’s junior career that he would be the number one target in the country. He’d already set sail for any Moore outing before hiring assistant coach Barrett Lais three years ago.

“The first thing I told Barrett, we have to sign Taylor Moore,” he said. “We have to. That’s your job, make sure we get him.”

It’s simple. McMakin knew that Moore had Arkansas ties. Melinda is from Little Rock. Rod, who grew up in Oklahoma and attended Seminole Junior College before hooking up with DeBriyn, is dedicated to his alma mater.

“They are diehard Razorback fans,” Mc-

M a k i n said. “I knew how much when I’d go see Taylor play a junior tournament and he’d tell me that mom and dad were in Fayetteville to watch the Auburn game. They’ve had season tickets for a few years.”

There’s that simple fact that Rod and Me-linda are Razorbacks, but it wasn’t an easy task to land Moore. He was told from an early age that when it came time to pick a college, he’d be given total freedom in the choice.

“Taylor knows how we feel, but at the same time, we made sure he knew we sup-ported him no matter what he did,” Moore said. “And once he settled in that he was a golfer, it was pretty clear that Oklahoma State was a really good choice, too. How can you argue with what they’ve done there?

“They’ve got 11 national titles. They have guys all over the PGA Tour. And right here in Edmond, you go to Oak Tree and about any day you go to the range, there’s Scott Verplank, Bob Tway and a ton of other great O-State players. He was around that from the time we moved here.”

That was early in Moore’s junior golf ca-reer. Born in San Angelo, Texas, where Rod was head coach at storied Central High, Taylor was exposed to every form of athlet-ics. His father coached football and baseball at both Texarkana schools, sending the likes of Jacob Skinner and Jeremy Harrell to Ar-

moore's college choice stillbeing celebrated in fayetteville

McMakin said his fresh-man standout was such a fine athlete that the 5-10 golfer could dunk.

tulsachamber.com

Our Small Business Council connects owners who have great ideas. We also offer the Circuit

Series of events to help you network and promote your business. Come join us. We have people who

want to meet you. Stronger. Together. Join us.


tulsachamber.com

Our Small Business Council connects owners who have great ideas. We also offer the Circuit

Series of events to help you network and promote your business. Come join us. We have people who

want to meet you. Stronger. Together. Join us.


kansas to play football. He finally got out of coaching to settle in with an oil and gas company in Edmond. But the baseball and basketball didn’t fall away until just a couple of years ago.

“Taylor is just so athletic that he could have done a lot of things,” said Rod. “I was pretty sure it was go-ing to be baseball until he hit about 14. He played on a high-level travel team that won a lot of national titles. He played short and second. He was about as smooth as you were go-ing to find for a middle in-fielder.”

Arkansas sophomore Brian Anderson and fresh-man Isaac Hellbusch were on those same travel teams. That was the heart of a great infield.

“Taylor played up on Brian’s team,” Rod said. “You’d have a hard time finding a better double-play combina-tion. Brian might have had the better arm, but not by much. They could turn it as slick as you are going to see.”

Taylor said his early dreams were of play-ing for the Hogs, just like his dad. He re-members going into Dave Van Horn’s office on some of their trips to Baum Stadium just

to say hello. Rod and Van Horn are long-time friends from college days and their time together in Texarkana when Van Horn was a junior college coach.

DeBriyn recalls Rod’s days as a Razor-back with fondness. Rod also worked as a graduate assistant be-fore heading to Texas to coach high-school football and baseball.

“Rod could hit a fast-ball, but really he was more of a defensive star,” DeBriyn said. “He could really run in center field. He covered

a lot of ground.”Rod said, “Coach D is being nice. I could

hit a fastball, but once they figure out you can’t hit a curve or a changeup, you don’t see anything else. It was awful trying to hit

a changeup.”Rod wasn’t a golfer when he got to Fay-

etteville, but he was by the time he left. DeBriyn tells stories about giving the staff a half day off and almost every time Moore would head to Paradise Valley to find Deane Pappas, a star on the UA golf team.

“Say, we’d have the guys come in for some work in the cage at the end of the day and here would come Rod, covered in sweat in his golf stuff,” DeBriyn said. “I’d ask him about his scores and he’d say, 1-over. He got pretty good.”

Rod said, “Deane got me up to speed pretty fast. We had classes together and he told me he could teach me. I started out not breaking 90, but in two years, I was prob-ably scratch.”

Taylor Moore got the good genes from dad and maybe better ones from Melinda.

“I’d have to say both of them were pretty athletic and I benefited in all ways,” Taylor said. “They said mom was pretty good at gymnastics, so that’s athletic ability. They said she had leaping ability. I think I got that from her.”

Rod said, “No doubt. Speed was my asset and I could leap a little, but Melinda really

See Moore page 50

Moore is driven to succeed.

• Edmond & Deer Creek Schools• 24-Hour Security• 100% Financing available on Developer Lots (for qualified buyers)

• State-of-the-Art Aquatic @ Fitness Center• Community Events for the Entire Family• Clubhouse and New Outdoor Pavilion with Spectacular View

• Golf Memberships Available• 1st Class Practice Facility• Men’s, Women’s and Couple’s Golf Associations• Trellis Restaurant

A LIFESTYLE YOU DESERVE

For membership information contact 405-330-8220 • tour18.com • 17031 N. May • Edmond, OK 73012For developer information contact 405-330-3050 • rosecreekok.com

A G O L F C L U B C O M M U N I T Y F E A T U R I N G

FINAL 20

LOTS NOW

UNDER

CONSTRUCTION


• Owned & operated for over 32 years • Exclusive residential & commercial properties • Golf course & development pricing available • Highest quality, mature plant materials

• Metro’s most competitive prices on specimens • Landscape consultation & design available • Nursery tours by appointment

(405) 842-8288

ScapesIncOKC.com


Jim WoodwardJim Woodward accomplished a

lifelong goal last fall by winning a national championship. He made an eagle on the par-5 final hole of the 2012 Southworth Senior PGA Pro-fessional National Championship, hitting his second shot from 245 yards to within tap-in range to edge Mike Miles of Huntington Beach, Calif., by a single shot.

For the 55-year-old Woodward, director of instruction at Oak Tree National, it was a moment of elation in a career that has spanned some significant highs and lows. The win gave him a spot in the 2013 Senior PGA Championship May 23-26 at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis and gave him hope he can qualify for and be competitive in the 2014 U.S. Senior Open to be held on his home course at Oak Tree National.

You’ve had some time to re-flect on the PNC victory. What does it mean to you?

When you win something big, it takes a while to put it in perspective. I was very lucky to win the golf tournament, hitting that shot from 245 to a foot. It was my turn to be in the right place at the right time and catch the right break.

Late that night, sitting on my hotel balcony with a good Cu-ban cigar, I reflected on all the work I’ve done and what I’ve been through to finally win a national event and how impor-tant it is to my life. As neat as that felt, in the bigger scheme of things it’s not very important. There are people going through real mental and physical chal-lenges every day that are much more important.”

Still, it must have felt like you caught a break, one you always looking for on your five-year PGA Tour career that never came?

The crazy thing about being a good golfer is you’ve got to have a good break and be in the right place at the right time. That’s what separates all the guys on

the web.com tours and lower end of the PGA Tour money list from the guys at the top. I had a couple of opportunities but it didn’t work out. Then I broke my kneecap at the Houston Open in 1993 and I was never the same after that.

I have a good friend who tells me you can look back and glance at what you did in the past, but don’t stare at it. That’s pretty good advice.

You made a good run at The Champions Tour but the quali-fying rules make it exceedingly difficult to break in without a lot of career money. How hard was it to try to get in through Monday qualifiers?

Very hard. Willie Wood went out and played on Mondays and broke through and won twice last year. I’m very proud of him because I know how hard that is to do. What I said to myself was if I don’t get that break, I’m not going to stay out there forever trying. I’ve got a lot of knowl-edge in this brain about golf that I can pass on to other kids.

What makes Jim Woodward tick as a teacher?

I try to keep the game simple. Grip, stance, posture. I don’t use much video. I think it’s too analytical and makes the student think too much. I look at Arnold Palmer, Orville Moody, Miller Barber, Jim Furyk. There are a lot of ways to swing the club,

MAHOGANY’S PRO PROFILE

See Pro Profile, page 47


pat mckamey

Pat McKamey, a former president and director of the Women’s Okla-homa Golf Association, recently was named one of the 14 members of the USGA Women’s Committee that oversees all USGA women’s championships, including the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Women’s Amateur. She joins Lew Erickson of Tulsa on the committee, giving Tulsa and Oklahoma two members on one of the USGA’s most important com-mittees.

First, congratulations on your appointment. What will be your role initially?

The Women’s Committee is there to oversee the conduct of the women’s national champi-onships. All of us will be expect-ed to work on the U.S. Women’s Open and Amateur and to serve as a liaison between the state organizations and the executive committee.

For each of the champion-ships, a member of the commit-tee will serve as chairman, as Lew is currently doing with the Senior Women’s Amateur. You help as invited or needed. Since I’m in my first year I’ll be doing a lot of listening and observing.

What was your prior USGA experience? How did you get interested in being a rules of-ficial?

I served for 10 years on the Women’s Mid-Amateur Cham-pionship Committee and six years on the Regional Associa-

tions Committee. I was presi-dent of WOGA from 1997 to 2001.

When I was president, I fig-ured if I’m going to do this job, I better know something about the rules. The USGA had a two-day rules clinic in town, which I attended and I also did fairly well on the exam the first time.

Between the tournaments that WOGA administrates and your new role with the USGA, you are volunteering a lot of time to the benefit of golf.

My husband Bill retired three years ago and he is interested in doing some traveling and golf-ing. We have a grandson and some other things we want to do. The USGA role will re-quire travel around the Open and the Amateur and then we’ll just have to see what the time requirements are from there. I may be looking to cut back on some of the other stuff.

Are you proud of what WOGA has been able to ac-complish in recent years, and what are the next steps for that organization?

I’m really proud of the way we’ve grown and changed our direction. Getting our 501-C3 status was big and now we can look for sponsors. We’ve got-ten more involved with junior golf, both our tournaments and doing the high-school tourna-ments. We’re going to be initi-ating a college scholarship pro-gram and hoping to initiate a grant progra m for high-school programs to offer support in terms of uniforms and travel bags.

Next step for us is to estab-lish our own office with at least a part-time executive director. We want to continue to work with the OGA and establish greater efficiencies. We’re cel-ebrating our centennial as an organization in 2015 and we’d like to get up to 1,000 mem-

CHARLESTON’S AMATEUR PROFILE

See Amateur, page 47


When not behind the bench, Oklahoma Su-preme Court Justice Joseph Watt can often be found at the golf course, either volunteering his time to help run tournaments or trying to preserve his hard-earned money from “a bunch of oilmen who don’t believe in the concept of a 401k.”

Watt, 66, plays at Oak Tree National, where he once maintained a 4-handicap and won the club senior championship. He is now a 12 but “getting my game back slowly.” Watt is an tire-less volunteer, having worked every major event in the state since the 1988 PGA Championship at Oak Tree as well as many PGA Champion-ships including 2005 at Baltusrol, 2006 at Me-dinah and 2008 at Oakland Hills as well as the 2007 Senior PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, S.C.

How did your second vocation get its start?When the PGA Championship came to

Oak Tree, I wanted to be involved. I volun-teered to work in the scoring division and in the merchandise tent. I got to know folks and those are basically the areas I’ve been working at PGA events ever since.

People ask me why I would want to go spend 16-hour days working in a mer-chandise tent on my vacation. I just love golf and it’s a way for me to give back. I remember the PGA Championship in Tulsa in 2007, it was so hot doing the walking scoring I thought it was the end of me. But for the most part, you’re around what you love doing and you’re giving back. I think everyone ought to give something back to the game.”

Have you already started work on your role

for the 2014 U.S. Senior Open at Oak Tree?I am the vice chairman for scoring ser-

vices for the 2014 Senior Open. We will be handling all the walking scorers, standard bearers, basically anything to do with scor-ing. They’ll be about 325 folks that I’ll be responsible for.

How did you get your start in golf?I grew up in Austin, a few years older

than Ben Crenshaw, who went to my same high school, and Tom Kite, who was across town at McCallum High School. I watched Cren-shaw play and he was something else.

In 1961 they had the only LPGA event they’ve ever held in Austin. It was called the Austin Civitan Open. About a month before the event, I wrote a letter to Mickey Wright, who had the best Sam Snead-type swing on the ladies’ tour. I asked her if she needed a caddie and to my surprise she wrote back and said yes.

The tournament was supposed to be at Austin Municipal Course, which I played all the time, but at the last minute they switched it to Austin Country Club, which I had never played. But she said all you have to do is carry the bag and keep up. She finished second to Sandra Haynie that week and it was just a wonderful time. She paid me $80 for four rounds and that was all the money in the world back then.

Once you started volunteering, you’ve accu-mulated quite an impressive list of events just here in the state.

The 1988 PGA Championship at Oak Tree National, 1994 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, 1995 and 1996 PGA Tour Championships at Southern Hills, 2000 Club Professional Championship at Oak Tree National, 2001 U.S. Open at South-ern Hills, 2001 and 2002 PGA Senior Tour Championships at Gaillardia Country Club, 2006 PGA Senior Championship at Oak Tree National and 2007 PGA Champi-onship at Southern Hills.

What is one of the most memorable rounds you’ve witnessed while walking as a scorer?

In the U.S. Open in 2001, there was a young guy I didn’t know who shot 30 on the front nine including a couple of putts he missed under 10 feet. I found out his name was Retief Goosen and he made everything he drew back on. He went on to win and I was very impressed with him.

What are some of the top courses you’ve had an opportunity to play?

I’ve been very fortunate to play Augusta National twice and that was certainly one of the most memorable golf experiences of my life. I went with a member who is now deceased, so my ticket there has likely been

punched. I’ve also been fortunate enough to play Pine Valley. It is certainly a harder course. I shot an 82 at Augusta National, but I don’t know how many strokes it took me to get around Pine Valley. It’s a long, hard course, but it’s also a great course. You can see why it’s consis-tently ranked No. 1.

If I had a bucket list, I’d want to add Cy-press Point.

How about your top five courses in Oklahoma?

Oak Tree National would be at the top of my list, with Southern Hills second, then Karsten Creek, Twin Hills and Dornick Hills. Those would be my top five, though we have a lot of great courses in the state.

You listed Oak Tree first. Since the recent renovation, has it gotten harder?

Yes, but that’s why they make senior tees. I’ll tell you though, I have a twin brother who belongs to a nice club in South Caro-lina where he shoots in the 70s and 80s and keeps a low handicap. He can’t break 100 at Oak Tree. It’s just in his head and I think that’s what it does to a lot of people.

We understand you’re a big Willie Wood fan.Yes, I’ve been blessed to know and fol-

low all the Oak Tree professionals but I’ve known Willie since he was a freshman at OSU. I was thrilled to see him win those tournaments last year and have the success that he did.

QUAIL CREEK BANK’S LOOK WHO’S PLAYING

Court Justice Joseph WattDedicated to making a difference

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Joseph Watt

A 14-year-old Watt caddies for Mickey Wright.


QUAIL CREEK BANK’S LOOK WHO’S PLAYING

but if you can repeat it and get the clubhead square on the ball, that’s what you need to do and stop trying to swing like Tiger Woods.

How important is to you to play in the 2014 U.S. Senior Open at Oak Tree National?

That’s my main goal right now. It’s why I’m in a workout room five days a week. It’s one of my last main goals in life as far as golf goes. I really want to play Oak Tree. On the other hand, it’s a little scary because I know how hard this golf course is.

What’s the key to your game at 55?

I didn’t give it enough credit coming up, but I’ve always had real good tempo and balance. As long as I have good tempo and balance, I can hit both a fade and a draw. These days I just try to keep it as far away from trouble

as I can.And yet, you’ve always had a gift for es-

caping trouble when you found it.Mike Holder once said I have the most

God-given talent of any golfer he’d ever seen. I’m not that, but I was very creative and instinctive. When I was a kid, I’d walk 36 holes a day at Quail Creek, and I learned how to make it curve, go left, right, up and down.

What’s the Woody philosophy of golf and life?

I want to play this game until I die. It chal-lenges you so much. Every day you go to the golf course and you never know what’s coming. I never would

have been good in an 8-to-5 job. I want to ride that

roller coaster. A merry-go-round is safe, but it’s no fun. It just goes around. I want to see how well I can handle those lows and how much I can appreciate the highs.

bers for our 100th birthday.We’ve come a long way but there’s a lot

more that we can do.

The Women’s Public Links is at Jimmie Austin this spring and the Senior was re-cently at TCC. With you and Lew on the committee, do you see any chance that the Amateur or Open could be held in Okla-homa?

The big thing with the site selections is the clubs have to send a letter indicating their interest in hosting a championship. Neither of us is on the Site Selection Com-mittee, but if some of the prominent clubs in Oklahoma were interested in those events, we certainly would support them and en-courage them to make that interest known through the proper channels.

Woody, life on a roller coaster.

Pro Profile, from 44 Amateur, from 45

Great Golf Giveaways!listen to the SwingfitGolf Oklahoma hour

Every Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.On The Sports Animal Tulsa

1550 Am • 97.1 fm


Brendon JelleyJenks senior Brendon Jelley will

accomplish a lifelong goal next fall by joining the golf program at Oklahoma State University. A more immediate goal is to win the Class 6A state championship in his final season, a goal that eluded him by a single shot in his sophomore year on his home course at Cedar Ridge. He finished sixth as a junior at Karsten Creek and the tournament returns

there this spring.

You were obviously thrilled to sign with Oklahoma State, but there’s more to it than join-ing one of the nation’s top golf programs?

I’ve always wanted to be a Cowboy. That’s where my mom and dad went and it was always No. 1 on my list. I was fortunate enough to have good enough grades to have the opportu-nity to go to schools like Duke, Northwestern and Stanford. But playing at OSU has always been my dream.

When did you take up the game?

They tell me it was as soon as I could walk. What I first re-member is when I was about 4 we were members of the Golf Club of Oklahoma and we would go out and play football, play catch, go fishing and then hit a few golf shots.

I enjoyed soccer, baseball and basketball, but really began focusing my energies on golf at about age 10 or 11. It really caught my attention with the amount of effort and determina-tion it took.

You’ve experienced top-flight junior competition all over the country, particularly on the AJGA circuit. And you’ve also seen how Oklahoma junior golf has improved with the Oklaho-ma Junior Golf Tour. Oklaho-mans Talor Gooch, Ian Davis and Karsten Majors are on the OSU team. You’re going there and Nick Heinen and Hayden Woods are commits for 2014. What does that say about the current strength of junior golf in Oklahoma?

I’ve played on the East Coast, West Coast and all around the country and you’re not going to find any better competi-tion than what you do here in

Oklahoma. It’s crazy. A lot of this is due to Morri Rose, who runs the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour. The number of kids who are going on to play college golf is amazing. When you look at guys like Nick Heinen, Hayden Wood, Max McGreevy (current 6A champion heading for the University of Oklahoma), those guys are just as good as anyone in the country.

When you think of OSU stars of the recent past like Rickie Fowler, Peter Uihlein, Bo Van Pelt, Hunter Mahan, Johnathan Moore, Charles Howell, only Kevin Tway was an Oklaho-man. Does the recruiting of so many in-state players represent a change of philosophy at OSU under coach Mike McGraw?

I believe it does. Coach Mc-Graw really believes in local kids and wants to get the best player out of Oklahoma every year. I really wanted to be the

HUDIBURG AUTO GROUP JUNIOR AMATEUR PROFILE


best player in Oklahoma so I could get the chance to play for OSU.

What are you working on now to take your game to the next level?

I’ve always had a good short game and wedge game. I’ve been working on becom-ing a better driver of the ball. I’m working with Tracy Phillips on some key things on my setup. I’m going to work on those throughout the spring and hopefully be ready for a really good year.

You’ve been with Tracy a long time?Since I was about 9. He’s always made the

golf swing simple and understandable. A lot of my success is due to him.

What’s your biggest win to date?My first AJGA win was in June at The

AJGA Junior at Steelwood in Alabama and it was strange. I shot 76 the first day, 4-over, and deep down was thinking it probably was not my tournament. But then I played well the second day (69) and on the final day, with five holes to play, I knew where I stood and what I had to do. I birdied four of the last five holes (to shoot 68). I was wait-

ing around anxiously to see how the leaders finished, but was told I was in third place and they took the leaders out for a playoff.

Just as they were about to hit their tee shots in the playoff, the AJGA administra-tors realized they had made a mistake and they were tied for second. They had added it up wrong. I was a stroke ahead. It was insane. A crazy way to get your first AJGA victory.

Which professional golfers do you ad-mire?

“The main guy is Bo Van Pelt. He plays out at Cedar Ridge where I play. He’s an out-standing golfer but an even better person. He would always come up and talk to me, encourage me, see how I was doing. He’s just very, very nice and he’s playing awe-some. He’s had a great couple of years and hopefully he’ll keep it going.

There are so many talented golfers at every level. What do you think separates them?

A lot of it is just believing in what you can do and expecting good things to hap-pen. A lot of players are always expecting

the worst. I always expect something good to happen. Whether it’s making a five-foot putt to save par or getting that up-and-down when you really need it.

Favorite course you’ve played thus far?Have to be TPC Sawgrass. We played in

an AJGA event there with the tees, green speeds and pins set up just like the tour event. I birdied No. 17 with the famous back right pin position, so that was really memo-rable.

How about a favorite moment not in a tournament?

My family goes to Scottsdale on spring break and we have a great time. My father, Steve, was an excellent golfer at Stillwater High School and could have played colle-giately at Arizona State and other places but wanted to go to OSU. My brother Garrett has a ton of talent and is a freshman on the team at Jenks. We play for the Jelley Jug. The last day we were all really close and I was grinding as hard as at an AJGA event. I made a putt on the last hole to win it and I was just as excited as any tournament I’ve won. It was just really fun and enjoyable.

HUDIBURG AUTO GROUP JUNIOR AMATEUR PROFILE

Sandia Resort & Casino features an award winning golf experience that offers a visually stunning and strategic 18 hole golf course designed by Scott Miller. Sandia Golf Club has garnered a number of national awards including “Top 10 Best Courses You Can Play in New Mexico” by Golfweek. The golf club at Sandia is a key amenity to the Sandia Resort & Casino that is already a popular gaming and entertainment venue. Every guest room and suite are highlighted by awe-inspiring views of the Albuquerque skyline or the rugged wildness of the Sandia Mountains.

*Price is per person/per night based on double occupancy. Valid Sun–Thurs. Rate does not include tax. Price is subject to availability and/or blackout dates. Not applicable to groups (17 or more), conventions, or special discount offers.

Enjoy complimentary airport pickup when you stay and play at Sandia Resort & Casino.

ALBUQUERQUE’S

AWARD-WINNINGGOLF CLUB

505.798.3990sandiagolf.com/divot

30 Rainbow Road NE • Albuquerque, New Mexico

$129*

PACKAGES STARTING AT

STAY&PLAY


had ability. I saw this happen and then we got pictures. But there was a game where she was leading the football team through the “A” and she did a series of back flips. There is a picture of her in the last flip, she’s horizontal and her complete body was above the top helmet of the football players. It’s pretty neat to see, incredible actually.”

McMakin has heard stories about Taylor’s basketball exploits.

“You go to Edmond, and folks tell you about him with great awe,” McMakin said. “I’ve heard that twice he got called for goal-tending. He’s 5-8. So he can really get up. He can dunk.”

Okay, time to check out that rumor.“Not with a basketball,” Taylor said. “I

can get up high enough to dunk a basket-ball, but my hands are little. I can’t grip a basketball. I do dunk a volleyball. I think if my hands were bigger, I’d dunk with a bas-ketball, too.”

Basketball was fun until an injury two years ago. Already the nation’s top junior player in his class, it was clear that golf was going to be his college sport.

“I dislocated the knuckle in my index finger,” Moore said. “It looked pretty bad. Looking at it, I wondered if I was going to

be able to grip a golf club again. They fixed it and I was playing again in a few weeks. But that told me I better stop this before I really get hurt.”

Despite his skill at the sport, Moore had already decided baseball was not his long-term future as he did not want to be at the mercy of bad calls by umpires. Golfers prob-ably have more control over their fate than most athletes, though learning to control their emotions is critical.

“You ask me where Taylor gets his ath-letic ability,” McMakin said. “Like Taylor said, from both parents. But I can tell you this: Taylor gets the temper from Rod. He’s still got that and we are working to get it out of him. He had some instances where it cost him in the fall. But he’s learning.”

There was a tournament at Olympia Fields where Moore was 6-under early in the round, but fell apart because of his temper.

“He shot a couple of 80s because of that temper and not being patient,” McMakin said. “I’m not sure he’d ever shot 80 before in a big tournament. He had some hiccups this fall, but most of it stemmed from course management. It’s hard for him to back off a tough pin. He doesn’t think he’s going to birdie some of the holes. He thinks he’s go-ing to birdie all of them.

“College golf is more like PGA Tour golf. They hide every pin. They don’t make it easy. And Taylor had to learn that there were some you just leave alone. I’m telling you, that was tough for him. He thinks he should be able to go after all of them. I think we’ve gotten through to him on that. He’s smart and he learns. But there isn’t much ‘back off’ in Taylor. He is the ultimate competitor.”

McMakin said it’s only a matter of time before Moore breaks through. He won 14 high-school tournaments and was two-time state champion at Edmond Memorial. Mc-Makin is generally not into predictions, but he made a big one for Moore.

“The sky is the limit,” McMakin said. “He’s a hard worker, he’s dedicated and I think the adjustments and things he’s learned in the fall are going to be huge for him in the spring.

““What I know is that he comes to prac-tice every day trying to get better. He’s like Tiger Woods and Tom Kite. Every day they try to get better. I think he’ll be the same way when he’s 30, just special and trying to get better. I’m telling you, the world better watch out because he’s trying to light it on fire.”

Clay Henry is the editor of Hawgs Illustrated, which ran a version of this story.

GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Southwest Oklahoma’s Premier Golf Facility

CLUB SELECTIONIS EVERYTHING

or visit WWW.TERRITORYGOLF.COMPO Box 1228 Duncan, Oklahoma 73534

For membership information Call Jeff Tyrrell at 580.475.0075

Moore, from 42


by katy treadwell

Coming off a banner year in 2012 that earned the women of WOGA a record set-ting eighth Fore State Championship, the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association is gearing up for what it believes will be the best season to date. WOGA aims to make girls junior golf a top priority in 2013 and beyond, while continuing to provide Cham-pionship opportunities for women golfers of all ages just as it has over the past 98 years.

One of the newest additions to the WOGA schedule in 2013 is the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Fundraiser. In recent years WOGA has seen an increase in the number of young, high school and college aged women members, and as a result, the overall level of competition has improved and WOGA board members have taken notice. The Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Fundraiser is designed to help continue the trend and better fund WOGA Junior Golf programs.

“The younger players are the future of

WOGA and their involvement is integral to our overall success,” said President Cherie Rich.

The first Annual Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Fundraiser is an open event and WOGA invites men, women, boys and girls to participate. The 18 hole “Shamble” will be held at Meadowbrook Country Club in Tulsa on July 8.

In addition to the fundraiser, and thanks to the help of Tricia Everest, as well as the Dunk ‘n Divot Golf Committee of Dun-can, that generously donated $8,200 to the WOGA scholarship fund in memory of Ja-rita Askins, WOGA will also award two, $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors. WOGA board members encourage all high school seniors with a passion for the game to apply. The candidates will be announced at the State Junior Girls Tournament, and the deadline for applications is May 1st.

WOGA will be holding an online auction to benefit the Junior Grants program. “We urge everyone to ask their courses to do-nate rounds of golf or local businesses and

friends to donate and help to support junior girls golf in Oklahoma,” said Vice President, Sheila Dills. The deadline to apply for the grant is August 15t and award recipients will be announced and distributed by Sept. 15.

WOGA will also introduce another Championship to its calendar in 2013. The Mixed Couples Championship will be an event for guys and gals to participate in to-gether. It will be Oct. 26-27 at Cherokee Hills Golf Course at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa.

The WOGA season will officially be-gin on May 13 when the ladies tee it up at the Third Annual WOGA Cup Club Team Championship at Stillwater Country Club. Club Team. Muskogee took home the 2012 trophy and looks to defend its title. To join WOGA or get more information about the upcoming season and tournament dates, visit WOGA on the web at www.WOGA.us.

Junior Grants and WOGA Junior Fund-raiser Info: Contact: Sheila Dills.

Email: [email protected] Info: Contact: Tricia EverestEmail: [email protected]

ONLINE: Get local, national, equipment, and travel

stories online at golfoklahoma.orgWOGA NEWS AND NOTES

eventful summer for WOga


Tiger Woods helped lead Team Albany to playoff win in the Tavistock Cup, snapping Team Lake Nona’s four-year hold on the tro-phy. Oak Tree National, competing for the first time, finished fifth out of six teams, fin-ishing five shots out of the playoff.

Long-time Oak Tree member Bob Tway, who played for his club, said the main thing was the positive exposure for Oak Tree Na-tional. The event was televised nationally by Golf Channel.

“People recognize Oak Tree as a great course and great facility,” Tway said. “With the U.S. Senior Open coming next year, this was a great event to put the club back out there.”

Woods’ Team Albany and Team Lake Nona headed for a playoff after they both finished 7-over-par. Woods and Ian Poul-ter represented Albany in the playoff, while Graeme McDowell and Henrik Stenson rep-resented Lake Nona. Woods set up Poulter for a clutch putt that won the playoff.

Team Primland and Team Isleworth tied for second place at 8-over-par.

Team Isleworth was represented by Bubba Watson, Tulsan Bo Van Pelt, D.A. Points and Brian Davis. The Isleworth group

jumped out to an early lead at 2-under-par before stumbling.

Woods finished 18 holes at 1-over-73, four shots behind individual top finisher Webb Simpson (Team Primland). Simpson fin-ished 3-under-73 after completing 18 holes. Graeme McDowell (Team Lake Nona) and Scott Verplank (Team Oak Tree National)

tied for second place at 1-under-73.The Tavistock Cup format was shortened

to 18 holes on one day using the better ball stroke play format due to weather issues Sunday that bumped the Arnold Palmer Invi-tational into Monday, the day Tavistock play was supposed to begin. Each Tavistock team counted four, 18-hole individual scores.

albany wins tavistock Cup, Oak tree national fifth

ARKANSAS

Golfweek’s annual Top 100 course list-ings are out in both The Classics, before 1960, and Modern, 1960 forward. There are no changes at the top, with Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Shinnecock Hills and Na-tional Golf Links of America still 1-4 in the Classic category and Sand Hills Golf Club and Pacific Dunes remaining 1-2 on the Modern list. Whistling Straits did move up from 4 to 3 and Friar’s Head from 5 to 4, bouncing Old Macdonald in Bandon, Ore., from 3 to 5.

As for Oklahoma courses, Oak Tree National moved up from 44 to 40 on the Modern list in advance of hosting the 2014 U.S. Senior Open. The course invited Golf-week raters in last summer for a fresh look

at the updates made in the recent renova-tion by Tripp Davis and they apparently liked what they saw.

The Patriot in Owasso fell from 42 to 45, while Karsten Creek in Stillwater had a precipitous drop from 50 to 68.

In the Classics list, Southern Hills in Tulsa remains our only entry and this year took a slight drop from 26 to 28 as it was jumped by Plainfield Country Club, a 1921 Donald Ross design, and Somerset Hills Country Club, a 1918 A.W. Tillinghast course.

Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchin-son, Kan., stayed at No. 13. Both Southern Hills and nine holes at Prairie Dunes were designed by Perry Maxwell.

Oak Tree National moves up in Golfweek Top 100 Modern list


2O122O13

PLAY WITHTHE PROSin Oklah�a



Play in the Pro-Am, $2,500 per team, or come watchthe professionals. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

June 17-22, 2013at Belmar Golf Club • Pro-Am June 18Play in the Pro-Am, $2,500 per team, or come watchthe professionals. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

June 17-22, 2013at Belmar Golf Club • Pro-Am June 18

Visit www.tobykeithfoundation.org (News & Events)or call (405) 217-8629 for more details.

405.364.0111 www.belmargolfclub.net

1025 E. Indian Hills RoadNorman, OK 73071

THE PERFECTCLUB SELECTION

MEMBERSHIPSGOLF TOURNAMENTS

BANQUETSPARTIES

CALL FOR

CONTACT CHARLES CANDLERFOR MORE INFORMATION

OR A CLUB TOUR

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Belmar Full Page Ad.pdf 1 1/14/13 12:57 PM

INSTRUCTION

I’m always entertained when I go to teaching seminars these days. They are usu-ally indoors with somebody hitting into a net off a mat with a camera and TrackMan telling them everything they could ever want to know. Well, I don’t want to sound like an old fuddy-duddy, but there is a lot more to the game then that.

Let me say this to anyone out there who plays the game or wants to learn to play the game: it’s just that, a game. What I mean is the prettiest swing doesn’t always get the best results. I hear people say all the time, “Man, so and so really has a great looking swing, but . . .” What they always say next is he doesn’t shoot very good scores, or his or her handicap is not very good..

We all have a buddy like that. We also have the friend whose swing is kind of ugly and he plays with clubs that are way past their prime; you know who he is. That will be the person that always shoots a pretty

good score and usually wins all the money.Ernie Vossler, God rest his soul, was my

first teacher and he would tell me all the time to work on your balance and tempo. I harp to my students constantly to work on their balance and tempo. The next time you go to practice do me a favor; try to swing the club slow enough that you always keep your balance. Then figure out your tempo to match your balance. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it. Well you go and try it and see if you don’t hit the ball more solidly and on line. The trick is to be able to swing the club with power but not be falling down when you do it. Think of Fred Couples or Ernie Ells, two beautiful golf swings. Why do we like them? It’s because of their great tempo and timing. These swings look effortless, don’t they?

Video instruction has its place, but do me a favor. Go to the range and hit off the grass, watch your ball flight and try to get the

balance in check so you can hit a solid and straight ball. Don’t worry how you look and if all your angles are just right; worry about hitting it where you can find it and shooting a good score.

I truly believe every student can be taught to square the club to the ball. When we cut golf to its simplest form, is that not what we want to do? I hear it said every day: I just want to hit it straight. OK, then I’m telling you go to the range to work on that balance and tempo. As you get the balance, then try to get the club to the ball square. Start with your wedge; try to hit it 50 yards straight. Then move up to 75 yards, and then work to the 9-iron and do the same. Work all the way to the driver doing just that. You will be surprised how solid you will strike the ball.

I tell people all the time to keep it sim-ple. They will look at me like I’m crazy. “Woody,” they will say, “this game is hard!” I say yes, it is the hardest game I have ever played, and that’s why we should keep it simple.

Jim Woodward is a director of instruction at Oak Tree National

get out there and hit itTempo and balance is all you needby jim woodward


INSTRUCTION

There is no perfect lower-body motion that fits every player. Some instructors say maintain right knee flex and load into the right side. Some say rotate in a barrel. Oth-ers, like Stack and Tilt, say straighten the right leg and rotate around the left leg.

Which of these is correct? All of them, but which one is best for you? I will show you a way to screen yourself to determine which lower-body action is best suited for you.

1) While on the driving range with a 6-iron get set up as if you were going to hit a golf shot.

2) While staying in a golf posture, take your 6-iron and place it parallel to the ground through the middle of your thighs. Place your hands flat against the shaft, press-ing firmly on your thighs so the shaft is se-cure.

3) Now, while keeping the shaft pressed against your thighs, go ahead and move your lower body as if you were going to hit

a golf ball. Do not allow the shaft to sepa-rate during the rotation.

The results will be as follows:1) Your right leg will straighten slightly

and you might feel increased pressure on the left foot. Your belt buckle will stay forward (toward the target) as you turn in the back-swing. I refer to this action as a front-post pivot. Player rotates around left leg. There is still a majority of downward pressure on the right leg. Your pedestal will point to the target. This is the method of Fred Couples and Justin Leonard.

2) Your right knee will maintain flex and your belt buckle will remain, for the most part, in the middle of your feet. You might have the image of turning in a barrel, so no real lateral motion to the right or left. I refer to this as turning around your pelvis. Your pedestal will be centered. Players who do this are Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Phil Michel-son and Tiger Woods.

3) Your right leg maintains its flex, the belt buckle rotates and moves to the right

Which style is best?by ej pfister

lower body action

LPGA Tour player Karin Sjodin stays centered over the ball.

34o


INSTRUCTION

in a lateral motion away from target. Your pedestal will be pointing to the right. I refer to this as a two-post pivot because of the lateral motion into the back post (leg) and a shift to the front leg. John Daley, Rich Beem.

As an instructor my thoughts are why guess at something that can be measured, so I use many screenings to determine what’s best for my students. I would encourage you to perform this screening to let your body tell you what the best lower-body action is for you.

I need to thank Mike Adams and EA Tischler for their willingness to share information and ideas that ultimately help our students improve.

EJ Pfister, Director of Instruction, Oak Tree National. Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructors [email protected] ejpfistergolf.com

At right, Sydnee Michaels shows a forward leaning setup, while Pfister

sets up to the left. All methods work.

33o32o

Residential & Commercial

www.superiorfenceok.com • (405) 616-92033313 South Byers Avenue • Oklahoma City, 73129

• Wood• Chain Link• Vinyl• Masonry• Pre-Cast Concrete• Electric Gates• Ornamental Iron• Access Control #1964

Oak Tree Country Club


It’s that time of year again. Warmer weather, growing greens, and a strong de-sire to get back on the golf course. Maybe you had a banner 2012 and hope to pick up where you left off. Or perhaps you are look-ing for a fresh start this year. Either way, it is important to make good decisions when getting back into the game after the off-sea-son. Follow these three rules and you will likely avoid injury, improve your score, and enjoy the game more in 2013.schedule a session With Your golf instructor

This is one is obvious, but so many of us go to the range or course first to see what the state of our game is. We start tinkering, try-ing something we learned on TV, or change equipment. In golf, as in business and life, it is always better to have a plan. Spend the money and have a session with your golf instructor. Discuss what your goals are for the coming year, review changes made to your swing last year, and let your pro take a look at you and your game. Your teacher will help you decide what steps you need to take for the upcoming year to improve your game. Often what you think you need, like a new driver, is often something completely different, like short game lessons. And by all means, if you don’t have a golf instructor, get one. It is the best money you will ever spend to improve your game.Be reasonable With Your practice

Your brain says you are 18. Your body says otherwise. The most common mistake we see with golfers (particularly men) is an aggressive return to golf schedule. Hitting 100 or more balls multiple days per week. Lots of time bent over the putter on the practice green. Playing multiple rounds and often walking since the weather is cooler.

Let’s be real. You aren’t a teenager any-more. Your body likely doesn’t respond to activity like it used to. Winter months of working, sitting, and relaxing lead to a body

that needs some time to get acclimated to the golf swing. Ease your way back into the game. Limit your practice sessions to no more than 45 minutes three days per week for the first several weeks. See how your body responds. Does your back get tight? Are your muscles sore? Do you feel tired after practicing? If so, don’t increase your golf schedule until your body gets into golf shape. Once you get back on the course, take it easy the first several rounds. Avoid a pressure-playing group, take an extra club, and ride if you have not been exercising.Double Your Warm up time

We find most golfers do not take the time to prepare their body for golf. We step up onto the practice range, putting green or first tee and start swinging. Sooner or later this is going to catch up with you in the form of injury. Golf is a sport that requires signifi-cant body control and coordination. It also puts a large amount of stress on your spine, shoulders, hips and knees. As a result, it is important that you prepare by warming up your body.

We recommend during the season for players to spend at least five full minutes tak-ing their body through several specific move-ments to prepare their neuromuscular sys-tem for the sport of golf. At the start of the season double this to ten minutes for the first month. Your warm-up should be dynamic,

total body, golf specific, and range appropri-ate. At a minimum we recommend the fol-lowing three drills from Jason Glass at TPI to prepare your body for practice and playing:1. leg swings - linear and sideways

A Stand on your right leg and place your driver in your left hand. Use the driver as a balance aid.

B From this position, engage your core and swing your left leg back and forth 10 times. You should feel work in your stance leg hip and a stretch in your swing leg.

C Then swing your left leg side to side keeping your toes pointed to the sky 10 times.

D Switch your driver into your right hand and perform the same with your right leg.2. separation swings

A Hold your driver out in front of you, parallel to the ground. Keep a light grip pres-sure.

B Stabilize your hips and turn your upper body side to side. You should feel a stretch through your abdomen while keeping your lower body still.

C Perform 10 times each direction.3. load and Fire

A This drill builds on Separation Swings and gets your body ready to fire through the ball.

B Turn to the right away from the ball by keeping your lower body stable and then fire your whole body through and finish on your left side.

• Make sure and perform 10 times both di-rections. This helps symmetry in your body.

SwingFit specializes in golf specific fitness, performance, and training services for golfers of all ages. Founded by Titleist Performance Institute Certified Medical Professionals, Ryan Smith, PT and Sean Riley, DC, SwingFit gives players access to the same proprietary testing and training systems used the by the best players in the world. The SwingFit system identifies the

least amount of physical changes required in your body to produce the greatest results in your golf swing. Th e result is better prac-tice with your swing coach and more enjoyment on the course. To schedule your SwingFit Golf Assessment and receive a com-prehensive physical training program designed to unlock your full potential, contact SwingFit at (918) 743-3737 or visit us on the web at www.swingfittulsa.com.

get fit for a fresh start this golf season

GOLF FITNESS

ryan SmithSwingFit

Sean rileySwingFit

2a1C1a 1B


by art stricklin

DALLAS -- If the saying holds true that everything is bigger in Texas, then the latest golf project in North Texas has the ability to shape golf in the region for decades to come.

The Trinity Forest Golf Course, first an-nounced over the 2012 holiday season, would certainly have a lasting impact, be-ginning with its unlikely location south of downtown Dallas on a former city-owned garbage dump.

Politically connected and well-funded Dallas corporate citizen AT&T has part-nered with the City of Dallas and a local developer and foundation to build a cham-pionship 18-hole, semi-private golf course.

Golf architectural legends Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore have already been announced as the designers of the 400-acre project, which will include lavish on-site facilities for the junior golf First Tee of Dallas pro-gram along with the headquarters of the SMU golf teams.

“This will be a major recreational com-plex,” Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings said, adding that the golf course will run along

one of the largest urban forests in the coun-try.

AT&T Executive Vice-President Ron Spears, who is helping spearhead the proj-ect for the corporation, said the opening of the new course will allow huge professional tournaments, charity and public-play events along with college and First Tee opportuni-ties for the entire region.

While any new course, set to begin con-struction in late April and open in late 2015, in these economically challenging times is good news, what makes the Trinity Forest course truly special is the lofty goals organizers have set for the layout and surrounding area.

The City of Dallas has already publicly stated they hope to draw the local PGA Tour event, the Byron Nelson Championship, to the new course, a goal seemingly very at-tainable with AT&T taking over as title sponsor from HP beginning in 2015, about the time the new course will open.

PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem, who took part in the opening press conference via phone, said the possibility or likelihood of the Nelson moving from its 30-year home at the TPC-Las Colinas in Irving to the new

Trinity Forest course was, “quite high.” But the founders’ vision is much grander

than that. Organizers, banking on the archi-tectural skills of Crenshaw and Coore and the political connections of AT&T, whose CEO Randall Stephenson is on the PGA Tour policy board, hope to possibly host a FedEx Cup event in the fall, maybe even a U.S. Open and Ryder Cup.

“When is the last time anything in Dallas golf had the label, ‘world class,’ attached to it,” said Dallas golf legend Lee Trevino, who took part in the opening press conference. “This is very exciting for everyone involved in Dallas golf.”

Only final Dallas City Council approval in late April is needed to start construction on the site, which has already been toured and staked by Crenshaw and Coore and visited by PGA Tour and Salesmanship Club officials.

The City of Dallas has committed $12 million to clean up the former garage dump, which was unsuitable for any future devel-opment. AT&T has committed to fund near-by trails along with the millions it’s putting into its new Byron Nelson title sponsorship, and SMU has pledged a multi-million sum.

trinity Forest may be new nelson site

With breathtaking views...all the golf you could dream of on 14 beautiful and challenging courses...and comfortable and

convenient accommodations set against the background of our shimmering Lake and rolling Ozark hills... don’t you think it’s time YOU hit the TRAIL?

Central Missouri’s

LF TRAILGlake of the ozarks

to book your golf trail getawayvisit GolfingAtFunLake.com

find us on facebook.

just play it!

just play it!


SUPERINTENDENT’S PERSPECTIVE presented by

Southern Hills Country Club superinten-dent K.D. Davis, like his boss general man-ager Nick Sidorakis, was disappointed when the USGA announced recently that the 2020 U.S. Open was awarded for a sixth time to Winged Foot instead of for a fourth time to Southern Hills.

“To have an opportunity like that would be a dream come true for me,” Davis said. “Anytime you get an opportunity to host the world’s best players on your course, you would be thrilled.”

While Southern Hills waits to see if it lands the event in 2021 or beyond, Davis has plenty to do to keep busy.

The course is in the midst of completing a bunker renovation project that began three years ago and has lowered many of the steepest bunker walls.

“A few of them had just become too deep,” Davis said. “We’re not changing the floor to face ratio, we’re just basically low-ering the entrance. The bunkers look bigger when we’re done, but it’s an optical illusion.

Some fairway bunkers, such as on the fa-

mous dogleg left par-4 12th hole, have been moved out of the tree line and more into the fairways. The bunker on 12 shifted six feet right, pinching the fairway a bit for those who try to drive past it.

In addition to the bunker work, there has been extensive work done around the first and 10th tee areas. New tee boxes have been added to slightly lengthen holes 1 and 10, while cart paths have been reworked and simplified and moved away from the clubhouse. Now one can virtually step out-side the pro shop and be on the back tee of No. 1.

Interestingly, Davis now has a practice green planted with Champion Bermuda. He is keeping an eye on how other Bermuda greens fare this far north, including those at Page Belcher and the planned conversion of 18 holes this summer at the Club at Indian Springs. He would like the club to consider Champion when it comes time to redo the greens on the West Nine, which opened in 1992 and now has 21-year-old Penn Links greens.

Davis was known for maintaining great bent grass greens far south in his previous position as superintendent at Cordillera Ranch in San Antonio. He was one of the few that far south that had not converted to a hybrid Bermuda.

“I was the blueberry in the bowl of milk down there,” said the Ohio State graduate. “They were good, but most places had gone to the Bermuda.”

Another project for Davis has been raising the canopy on the tree lines up to 15 to 18 feet. The purpose is two-fold, to allow play-ers a better chance to make a play instead of pitching out, and to scale back on the shade-thriving fescue in favor of more extensive Bermuda rough.

“I’m just tired of the fescue to be hon-est with you,” Davis said. “There are times when you have to mow it three times a week and other times it’s burning out. If we can grow more Bermuda, it’s just better and more consistent for the golf experience. I’m hoping we can reduce the fescue by 40 to 50 percent. The higher canopies also give us a great look. You can see through the course more easily.“

raising the canopy at s-hills

WWW.LUBER.COM

O

FFIC

IAL S UPPLIER


SChEDUlES

OklAhOmA GOlf ASSOCiATiONMay 20-21: Spring Four-Ball and Senior Spring Four-Ball, Cedar Ridge CC, Broken ArrowJune 3-6: Junior Boys and Girls, Kickingbird GC, EdmondJune 17-18: Mid-Amateur, Stillwater CCJune 24-27: Senior State Amateur, GC of Okla-homa, Broken ArrowJuly 15-16: Senior Stroke Play, Dornick Hills G&CC, ArdmoreJuly 22-24: State Amateur, Okla. City G&CCAug. 5-7: Stroke Play, The Trails GC, NormanAug. 15: Oklahoma Open amateur qualifying, Lin-coln Park GC, Okla. CityAug. 23-25: Oklahoma Open, Oak Tree CC, Ed-mondSept. 9: State Club, Oak Tree CC, Edmond

wOmEN’S OklA. GOlf ASSOCiATiONMay 13-14: WOGA Cup, Stillwater CCJune 24-25: Mid-Amateur Stroke Play, Indian Springs CC, Broken ArrowJuly 9-10: Girls Junior State, Meadowbrook CC, TulsaJune 15-18: State Amateur, The Greens CC, Okla. CityAug. 1-2: Fore State, Twin Hills G&CC, Joplin, Mo.Aug. 20-21: Partnership, Shangri-La GC, Monkey IslandSept. 17-19: USGA State Team, NCR CC, Ketter-ing, OhioSept. 30-Oct. 1: Senior Championship, The Trails GC, NormanOct. 26-27: Mixed Couples, Cherokee Hills GC, Catoosa

GOlf iNC (OklAhOmA CiTy)April 13-14, 20-21: Spring Four-BallMay 18-19: Two-Man ScrambleJune 1-2, 8-9: City AmateurJune TBA: Senior City AmateurJune 23-24: Eric Bergquist Memorial ClassicJuly 14-15, 21-22, 28-29, Aug. 4-5: Club Champi-onshipsAug. TBA: Wally WallisAug. TBA: InterclubAug, TBA: Senior Interclub

TUlSA GOlf ASSOCiATiONApril 13-14: Two-Man Challenge, South Lakes GCMay 18-19: Spring Four-Ball Match, Page Belcher GC (Stone Creek)June 22-23: Stroke Play, LaFortune Park GCJuly 27-28: Four-Ball Stroke Play and Senior Stroke Play, Forest Ridge GCAug. 24-25: Two-Man Challenge II, Page Belcher GC

GOlf ChANNEl (OklAhOmA) TOUrMarch 30: Forest Ridge Classic, Broken ArrowApril 13: Cowboys Classic, Lakeside GC, Stillwa-terApril 27-28: Missouri Valley Championship, Bran-son Creek and Murder Rock G&CC Holister, Mo.May 11: Valley View Invitational, GC Valley View, Farmington, Ark.May 18-19: Midwest Classic at Blackwolf Run, Kohler, Wisc.May 25: Broken Arrow Open, Battle Creek GCJune 2: Stillwater Championship, Stillwater CCJune 15: Edmond Summer Classic, Fairfax GCJune 29-30: Red River Shootout, WinStar GC, ThackervilleJuly 13: Grand Lake Showdown, Patricia Island GC, GroveJuly 22: Oklahoma Open, Oak Tree CC (East), EdmondJuly 27-28: Texas Masters, Barton Creek, AustinAug. 10: Coffee Creek Championship, EdmondAug. 26: Oklahoma Tour Çhampionship, River Oaks GC, EdmondSept. 22-25: National Championship, PGA West, LaQuinta, Calif.Sept. 28-Oct. 1: Senior National, PGA West, La-Quinta, Calif.

mUlliGAN TOUr (OklAhOmA CiTy)April 12: At Silverhorn GCApril 26: At Surrey Hills GC

May 10: At Rose Creek GCMay 24: At Lake Hefner GC (North)June 14-15: Major, Trosper Park GCJune 28: At Cowan Creek, Austin, TexasJuly 12: At John Conrad GCJuly 26: At Mustang Creek, Taylor, TexasAug. 9: At Westwood ParkAug. 23: At James E. Stewart GCSept. 6-7: Chapter Finals, Earlywine GCOct. 5-6: Legends on the Niagara National Tour ChampionshipsNov. 11-17: Myrtle Beach Open

O-TOUrApril 13: At Cimarron Trails GC, PerkinsApril 27: At Emerald Falls GC, Broken ArrowMay 18: West Major, Winter Creek GC, BlanchardJune 1: At Battle Creek GC, Broken ArrowJune 22: At Kickingbird GC, EdmondJuly 13: East Major, Forest Ridge GC, Broken Ar-rowJuly 27: At Cherokee Hills GC, CatoosaAug. 10: At Lincoln Park GC (West), Oklahoma CityAug. 24: At Cherry Springs GC, TahlequahSept. 21: Southern Major, Silverado GC, DurantOct. 5: Match Play Invitational, Fairfax GC, Ed-mondOct. 19: Oklahoma Cup, Emerald Falls GC, Broken Arrow

TATTOO TOUrMarch 30: At Coffee Creek GC, EdmondApril 14: At Bailey Ranch GC, OwassoApril 28: At Fairfax GC, EdmondMay 11: At White Hawk GC, BixbyMay 26: At Fianna Hills CC, Fort Smith, Ark.June 9: At LaFortune Park GC, TulsaJune 22: At Lake Hefner GC (North), Oklahoma CityJuly 6: At Forest Ridge GC, Broken ArrowJuly 7: At Emerald Falls GC, Broken ArrowJuly 21: At Lincoln Park GC (West), Oklahoma

CityAug. 4: At Battle Creek GC, Broken ArrowAug. 18: At Kickingbird GC, EdmondSept. 8: At Stonebridge Meadows GC, Fayette-ville, Ark.Sept. 22: At Cherokee Hills GC, CatoosaOct. 6: Tour Championship, TBA

SOUTh CENTrAlApril 2: Assistant Match Play Final, Okla. City G&CCApril 22: Cutter & Buck Senior-Junior, Shadow Valley CC, Rogers, Ark.April 29: Assistant Cup Matches, Fayetteville (Ark.) CCMay 6: Three-Man Scramble, Bailey Ranch GC, OwassoMay 20-21: Pro-Scratch, Lakeside GC, StillwaterJune 3: Senior Pro-Am, Lake Hefner GC (North), Okla. CityJune 10: Team Championship, Reflection Ridge GC, WichitaJune 10: Web.com Monday Qualifier, Sand Creek Station GC, Newton, Kan; and Auburn Hills Mu-nicipal, WichitaJune 17: Pro-President, CC of Little RockJune 23-25: Senior Match Play, LaFortune Park GC, TulsaJuly 1: Assistant Association Championship, Bel-mar GC, NormanJuly 8-10: Match Play, Terradyne GC, Andover, Kan.July 16: Senior Pro-Senior Amateur, Earlywine GC, Okla. CityAug. 4-6: Senior Cup Matches-SCS Senior PNC, Oakwood CC, EnidAug. 5-6: Senior Association Hall of Fame Cham-pionship, Oakwood CC, EnidAug. 12: South Central PGA Assistant Champion-ship, Forest Ridge GC, Broken ArrowAug. 19-20: South Central PGA Pro Champion-ship, Quail Creek G&CC, Okla. CitySept. 3: Pro-Assistant, WinSar GC, Thackerville

SCHEDULES & RESULTS


SCHEDULES & RESULTS

ONLINE: Get the latest schedules and results at

golfoklahoma.org

Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Section Championship and Fall Meeting, Hillcrest GC, BartlesvilleOct. 21: Senior Team, Stillwater CCOct. 28-29: Las Vegas Pro-Am

SOUTh CENTrAl JUNiOrSJune 3: Meadowlake Junior, EnidJune 3-4: Players Tour No. 1, Shadow Valley CC, Rogers, Ark.June 6: Parent Child, LaFortune Park GC, TulsaJune 7: Pryor Junior, Pryor CreekJune 10: Broken Arrow Junior, Broken Arrow G&ACJune 11: Westwood Junior, Westwood Park, Nor-manJune 12: Players Tour No. 2, Shangri-La GC, Mon-key IslandJune 17: McAlester JuniorJune 18: Hearts of Okla. Junior, Brent Bruehl Me-morial GC, PurcellJune 19: Bill Nicklas Junior, Kickingbird GC, Ed-mondJune 19: Lake Hefner Junior, Lake Hefner GC (North), Okla. CityJune 20: Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Junior, Sand SpringsJune 21: Riverside Junior, ClintonJune 24: Ponca City CC JuniorJune 24-25: Players Tour No. 3, Gaillardia CC, Okla. CityJune 25: L.W. Clapp Junior, WichitaJune 25: Lew Wentz Junior, Ponca CityJune 26: Hidden Lakes Junior, Derby, Kan.June 27: Junior PGA Section Championship, Lakeside Memorial GC, StillwaterJune 27: Shawnee Junior, Shawnee CCJuly 1: Coffee Creek Junior, EdmondJuly 1-2: Players Tour No. 4, Hardscrabble CC, Fort Smith, Ark.July 8: The Trails Junior, NormanJuly 8-9: Players Tour No. 5, Crestview CC, Wich-

itaJuly 9: LaFortune Junior, TulsaJuly 10: Reflection Ridge Junior, WichitaJuly 11: Shelby Rross/Lakeview, Lakeview GC, Ar-dmoreJuly 11: Trosper Park Junior, Okla. CityJuly 12: Owasso Junior, Owasso G&ACJuly 12: Adams Junior, BartlesvilleJuly 15: Jay Myers Junior, Meadowbrook GC, TulsaJuly 15-16: Players Tour No. 6, Terradyne GC, An-dover, Kan.July 16: Fairfax Junior, EdmondJuly 17: Battle Creek Junior, Broken ArrowJuly 17-18: Players Tour No. 7, Hillcrest GC, BartlesvilleJuly 18: John Conrad Junior, Midwest CityJuly 22-23: Players Tour No. 8, Stillwater CCJuly 22: Bailey Ranch Junior, OwassoJuly 23-24: Hoedebeck Junior, Duncan G&TC, DuncanJuly 23: Windy Trails Junior, Altus AFB GCJuly 25: Lincoln Park Junior, Lincoln Park GC (West), Okla. CityJuly 27: South Lakes Parent Child, JenksJuly 29: Stillwater Championship, Lakeside GCJuly 31: Lake Murray Junior, ArdmoreAug. 1: Clary Fields Junior, SapulpaAug. 5-6: Junior Tour Championship, Indian Springs CC, Broken ArrowAug. 13-14: Players Tour Championship, Twin Hills G&CC, Okla. City

COllEGESmen

April 2-3: Broncho Invitational, Gaillardia CC, Okla. CityApril 8-9: SW Christian Spring Classic, Lake Hef-ner GC, Okla. CityApril 15: Sooner Athletic Conference, TBAMay 12-17: NJCAA Championship, Sand Creek

Station GC, Newton, Kan.May 14-17: NAIA Championship, Creekside GC, Salem, Ore.May 16-18, 2013: University Club, Baton Rouge, LouisianaGolden Eagle Country Club, Tallahassee, FloridaScarlet Course, Columbus, OhioThe Blessings Golf Club, Fayetteville, ArkansasPalouse Ridge Golf Club, Pullman, WashingtonKarsten Golf Course - Tempe, Arizona

finalsMay 28- Jun 2, 2013: Capital City Club - Crabap-ple Course, Atlanta, Georgia

womenApril 1-2: OBU Spring Invitational, Shawnee CCApril 8-9: SW Christian Spring Classic, Lake Hef-ner GC, Okla. CityApril 22: Sooner Athletic Conference, Lincoln Park GC (West), Okla. CityMay 9-11: NCAA Central Regional, Jimme Austin GC, NormanMay 9-11: NCAA East Regional, Auburn (Ala.) GCMay 9-11: NCAA West Regional, Stanford GCMay 14-17: NJCAA Championship, LPGA Interna-tional GC, Daytona Beach, Fla.May 15-18: NCAA Division II Championship, Day-tona Beach, Fla.May 21-24: NAIA Championship, Link Hills G&CC, Greenville, Tenn.May 21-24: NCAA Championship, University of Georgia GC, Athens

USGA(Area Events)June 17-22: U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, Jimmie Austin GC, Norman

lpGA(Area Events)April 25-28: North Texas Shootout, Las Colinas GC, Irving, TexasJune 21-23: Walmart Northwest Arkansas Cham-pionship Presented by P&G, Pinnacle CC, Rogers, Ark.

wEB.COm(Area Events)June 13-16: Air Capital Classic, Crestview CC, Wichita

OklAhOmA hiGh SChOOlBoys

regionals (April 29)State (may 6-7)

Class 6ARegionals: Emerald Falls, Broken Arrow; Lakeside GC, StillwaterState: Karsten Creek GC, StillwaterClass 5ARegionals: Shawnee CC; Duncan G&TCState: Tulsa CCClass 4ARegionals: Wolf Ridge GC, Poteau; Jimmie Austin GC, Seminole; Cushing CC; Elk City G&CC, Okl.a CityState: Lake Hefner GC (North), Okla. CityClass 3ARegionals: Scissortail GC, Verdigris; Brent Bruehl GC, PurcellState: Duncan G&TCClass 2ARegionals: Clary Fields GC, Sapulpa; Sugar Creek Canyon, HintonState: Emerald Falls, Broken Arrow

Girlsregionals (April 23)

State (may 1-2)Class 6ARegionals: Owasso G&AC; Westwood Park GC, NormanState: River Oaks GC, EdmondClass 5ARegionals: Pryor Creek GC; Crimson Creek CC (El Reno)State: Dornick Hills, ArdmoreClass 4A

(580)234-3080

• The Course Conditions• Golf Shop• Food & Beverage• Practice Facility• Renovated Irrigation System• All 4 Bridges rebuilt

Our unparalleled

customer service

enhances every guest’s experience.

An experience unlike Anything in our region

Located one mile West of HWY 81 on Rupe Ave.Just minutes from all the Shopping, Restaurants and Motels in Enid, Okla.

w w w. m e a d o w l a k e c o u r s e . c o m

for your convenience we accept Call us today!

Visit us onFacebook


Regionals: Cobblestone GC, Muskogee; Jimmie Austin GC, Seminole; Cushing CC; Elk City G&CC, Okla. CityState: Lake Hefner GC (South), Okla. CityClass 3ARegionals: Scissortail GC, Verdigris; Lake Murray GC, ArdmoreState: Duncan G&TCClass 2ARegionals: Fountainhead Creek GC, Checotah; Prairie West GC, WeatherfordState: Trosper Park GC, Del City

COllEGEmEN

DON pUCkETTE N.i.T.At Omni Tucson National (par-72)

march 16-17Team scores: 1, New Mexico 277-288-279 – 844; 2, TCU 279-281-285 – 845; 3, Oklahoma State 276-283-293 – 852; 4, Arkansas 282-287-286 – 855; 5, Texas A&M 285-290-284 – 859; 6, SMU 288-282-290 – 860; 7, Arizona 277-297-290 – 864; 8, San Diego State 279-287-301 – 867; 9, UNLV 287-289-293 – 869; 10, New Mexico State 283-292-298 – 873; 11, Long Beach State 297-290-298 – 885; 12, San Diego 298-298-297 – 893; 13, UTEP 295-300-303 – 898; 14 (tie), Ha-waii 302-302-299 – 903 and Nevada 305-302-296 – 903; 16, Wyoming 305-309-305 – 919.Individual leaders: 1, Julien Brun (TCU) 68-65-75 – 208; 2, Ben Crancer (Texas A&M) 67-70-72 – 209; 3 (tie), Thomas Sorensen (Ark.) 70-67-73 – 210, Victor Perez (NM) 72-69-69 – 210, Daniel Jennevret (TCU) 68-72-70 – 210 and Bryson Dechambreau (SMU) 71-69-70 – 210; 7 (tie), Jor-dan Niebrugge (OSU) 65-75-71 – 211 and John Catlin (NM) 64-76-71 – 211..Other OSU scores: Ian Davis 69-67-78 – 214, Patrick Winther 73-68-73 – 214, Kevin Dough-erty 72-73-74 – 219, Talor Gooch 70-75-75 – 220.

BOrDEr OlympiCSAt laredo (Texas) CC (par-72)

march 15-16Team scores: 1, Houston 292-289-278 – 859; 2, Oklahoma 294-288-285 – 867; 3, Central Arkansas 297-282-290 – 869; 4, Lamar 294-290-292 – 876; 5, Baylor 291-288-299 – 878; 6, Texas-San Antonio 292-292-296 – 880; 7, Texas State 290-298-297 – 885; 8, Sam Houston State 302-302-286 – 890; 9, Stephen F. Austin State 298-299-297 – 894; 10, Washington State 293-300-304 – 897; 11, Rice 299-290-311 – 900; 12, Texas-Arlington 291-304-309 – 904; 13, Northern Colorado 301-309-309 – 919; 14, McNeese State 312-310-305 – 927.Individual leaders: 1, James Newton (C. Ark.) 70-65-74 – 209; 2, Wesley McClain (Houston) 70-73-68 – 211; 3, Kyle Pilgrim (Houston) 74-70-69 – 213; 4, Abraham Ancer (OU) 70-71-74 – 215; 5 (tie), Michael Schoolcraft (OU) 72-71-73 – 216, Justin Newby (Texas St.) 71-72-73 – 216, Bryn Flanagan (Houston) 74-75-67 – 216 and Mikkel Bjerch-Andresen (Baylor) 68-74-74 – 216.Other OU scores: Will Kropp 76-73-69 – 218, Beau Titsworth 76-73-69 – 218, Eduardo Casti-ello 72-74-76 – 222, Eloy Gonzalez 76-74-74 – 224, Michael Gellerman 77-76-74 – 227.

wOmENSUNTrUST GATOr iNViTATiONAl

At Mark Bostick GC, Gainesville, Fla. (par-70)March 16-17Team scores: 1, Alabama 286-293-286 – 865; 2, Oklahoma 285-297-286 – 868; 3, Florida 289-293-288 – 870; 4 (tie), Oklahoma State 293-292-292 – 877 and Virginia 297-289-291 – 877; 6, Miami (Fla.) 290-300-298 – 868; 7, Florida State 294-303-293 – 890; 8 (tie), North Carolina 301-294-297 – 892 and Mississippi State 293-304-295 – 892; 10, Baylor 296-300-301 – 897; 11, Chattanooga 302-307-292 – 901; 12, Fla. Interna-

tional 303-302-300 – 905; 13, San Diego State 312-302-301 – 915; 14, South Florida 309-311-300 – 920; 15, Kent State 305-313-306 – 924.Individual leaders: 1, Chirapat Jao-Javanil (OU) 69-68-69 – 206; 2, Portland Rosen (Va.) 68-72-71 – 211; 3, Brittany Altomare (Va.) 73-69-71 – 213; 4 (tie), Stephanie Meadow (Ala.) 68-74-72 – 214 and Ally McDonald (Miss. St.) 71-74-69 – 214.Other scores: AC Tanguay (OU) 69-74-73 – 216, Kelsey Vines (OSU) 75-70-72 – 217, Josephine Janson (OSU) 69-80-73 – 222, Jayde Panos (OSU) 75-76-71 – 222, Julie Yang (OSU) 74-74-76 – 224, Jade Staggs (OU) 78-77-70 – 225, Emily Collins (OU) 72-78-76 – 226, Lauren Falley (OSU) 77-72-79 – 228, Taylor Schmidt (OU) 75-81-74 – 230.

ClOVEr CUpAt longbow GC, mesa, Ariz. (par-72)

march 9-10Team scores: 1, Oklahoma 281-289-292 – 962; 2, SMU 299-284-297 – 880; 3, Texas Tech 296-293-293 – 882; 4, Tulsa 303-295-293 – 891; 5, Notre Dame 298-298-296 – 892; 6, Northwestern 285-303-305 – 893; 7, Fla. International 305-290-301 – 896; 8, Minnesota 296-304-304 – 904; 9, Mississippi 303-307-296 – 906; 10, Colorado 301-308-304 – 913; 11, Kansas 312-301-304 – 917; 12, Michigan 303-307-311 – 921; 13 (tie), Cincin-nati 322-310-305 – 937 and Nebraska 312-312-313 – 937; 15, Georgetown 315-310-315 – 940; 16, Illinois 321-321-324 – 966.Individual leaders: 1, Kristina Merkle (Tulsa) 72-72-66 – 210; 2, Chirapat Jao-Javanil (OU) 71-70-71 – 212; 3 (tie), Emily Collins (OU) 71-71-72 – 214 and Jenny Haglund (SMU) 71-67-76 – 214; 5 (tie), Taylor Schmidt (OU) 70-72-73 – 215, Hana Lee (Northwestern) and Kimberly Kaufman (TT) 74-69-72 – 215.Other scores: Jade Staggs (OU) 68-72-80 – 220, AC Tanguay (OU) 72-75-74 – 221, Shu-Yin Liu

800-321-7774


SCHEDULES & RESULTS(TU) 77-72-75 – 224, Kaitlyn Rohrback (OU) 74-76-74 – 224, Antonio VanWnuck (TU) 77-74-75 – 226, Karson Bizzell (TU) 77-79-77 – 233, Heather Smith (TU) 84-77-77 – 238.

DiffEE fOrD liNCOlN iNViTATiONAlAt kickingbird GC, Edmond (par-72)

march 4-5Team scores: 1, Rogers State 324-340 – 664; 2, Harding 321-352 – 673; 3, Lindenwood 337-351 – 688; 4, East Central 327-363 – 690; 5, Southern Nazarene 347-370 – 717; 6, SW Baptist 451-442 – 893.Individual leaders: 1, Morgan Dockery (Okla. Chr.) 72-84 – 156; 2, Catherine Odgers (Okla. Chr.) 80-78 – 158; 3, Sarah Harper (Okla. Chr.) 76-85 – 161; 4 (tie), Raquel Trevino (RSU) 83-79 – 162 and Jordan Leibold (SNU) 78-84 – 162; 6, Soyun Kim (Harding) 79-85 – 164; 7, Kelsey Steuver (RSU) 82-83 – 165.

O-TOUrlAkE TEXhOmA ClASSiC

At Chickasaw pointe GC, kingston (par-72)march 16

1, Justin Brown 72 ($600); 2, Corey Gilbert 73 ($400); 3 (tie), Greg Foster and Jeremy Bran-don 74 ($200); 5, Scott Hancock 75 ($95).

2013 OJGT Turnpike Challengefairfax Golf Club

BOyS6,568 yards-par 70

iNDiViDUAlNick Heinen, Edmond - 35-33--68, Max Mc-greevy, Edmond - 39-31--70; Tate Williamson, Tulsa - 34-36--70; Eli Armstrong, Edmond - 35-36--71; Griffin Pierce, Edmond - 38-33--71;

Justin Strathe, Owasso - 38-35--73; Wesley Jackson, Fort Gibson - 39-34--73; Arjun Reddy, Tulsa - 38-36--74; John Ryan Bonaobra, Broken Arrow - 38-36--74; Mason Overstreet, Laverne - 39-36--75; Garrison Mendoza, Clinton - 37-39--76; Sam Humphreys, Edmond - 41-37--78; Brady Richardson, Tulsa - 44-35--79; Clayton Keck, Tulsa - 40-40--80; Trent Evans, Edmond - 39-41--80; Casey Paul, Owasso - 40-41--81

TEAm-BEST BAllWest 1--34-29--63; Nick Heinen; Max Mcgreevy; West 3--34-32--66; Griffin Pierce; Eli ArmstrongEast 1--34-33--67; Tate Williamson; Brady Richardson; East 3--34-33--67; Justin Strathe; John Ryan Bonaobra; East 4--36-33--69; Wesley Jackson; Arjun Reddy; West 4--34-35--69; Gar-rison Mendoza; Trent Evans; West 2--37-33--70; Mason Overstreet; Sam Humphreys; East 2--37-36--73; Clayton Keck; Casey Paul

GirlS5,550 yards-par 70

iNDiViDUAlSydney Youngblood, Durant - 35-35--70; Maci Arrington, Hinton - 39-34--73; Yujeong Son, Norman - 36-37--73; Alexis Sadeghy, Edmond - 37-39--76; Hannah Ward, Poteau - 42-35--77; Anna Kim, Broken Arrow - 41-38--79; Nadia Ma-jidi, Tulsa - 44-38--82; Kaitlin Milligan, Norman - 42-41--83

TEAm-BEST BAllEast 6--33-31--64; Sydney Youngblood; Hannah Ward; West 6--33-34--67; Yujeong Son; Kaitlin Milligan; West 5--35-34--69; Maci Arrington; Alexis Sadeghy; East 5--38-35--73; Anna Kim; Nadia Majidi

2328 E. 13th St.Tulsa, OK 74104

t 918.832.5544; 918.832.7721 [email protected]

Recent Projects

Southern Hills Country ClubTulsa • Cart Path Improvements

Battle Creek Golf ClubBroken Arrow • Bunker RenovationHardscrabble Country Club

Fort Smith, AR • Tee Improvements Karsten Creek Golf Club

Stillwater • Practice Green ConstructionGolf Club of Oklahoma

Broken Arrow • Emergency 10” Main Line RepairsSapulpa Golf CourseSapulpa • Green Repairs

South Lakes Golf CourseJenks • Practice Green Construction

Cedar Ridge Country ClubBroken Arrow • Cart Path Improvements

The Patriot Golf ClubOwasso • Cart Path Improvements

Recent Projects

Builder Member

Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow, OK • Cart Path Improvements

The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart Path Improvements

Silverhorn Golf Club • Edmond, OK • Creek Crossing Repairs and Gabion Wall

Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Hole Irrigation Installation

Forest Ridge Golf Club • Broken Arrow, OK • 18 Hole Bunker and Green Renovation

Bailey Ranch Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing of 3 Greens

The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements

Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements

Golf Course Construction

JONESPLAN2328 E. 13th StreetTulsa, OK 74104t 918.832.5544

[email protected]

Contact Us

Builder Member

Contact Us

5501 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, Okla.

918-496-6200www.LaFortuneParkGolf.com

South Lakes9253 S. ElwoodJenks, America

918-746-3760www.SouthLakesGolf.com

Where Tulsa plays golf!

Follow us on Facebook!

Visit WinStar Golf Academy to redeem this

benefit and receive your meal voucher to the

Palladium Sports Lounge, which opens at 4pm

in the WinStar World Casino. Coupon valid for

one visit per person from 04/01/2013 until

06/30/2013

To book your Day Pass, visit www.winstargolfacademy.com

and book through our online booking service or call us at 580-276-1754.

For an event at WinStar, call Mark Reasoner at 800-622-6317.

WinstarWorldCasino.com • WinstarGolfClub.com

Exit 1 • I-35 • OK/TX Border


Visit WinStar Golf Academy to redeem this

benefit and receive your meal voucher to the

Palladium Sports Lounge, which opens at 4pm

in the WinStar World Casino. Coupon valid for

one visit per person from 04/01/2013 until

06/30/2013

To book your Day Pass, visit www.winstargolfacademy.com

and book through our online booking service or call us at 580-276-1754.

For an event at WinStar, call Mark Reasoner at 800-622-6317.

WinstarWorldCasino.com • WinstarGolfClub.com

Exit 1 • I-35 • OK/TX Border


19TH HOLEO F F I C I A L S P O N S O R

BRING YOUR

SCORE CARD TO ANY LOUIE’S

AND RECEIVE

AN ICE COLD

COORS LIGHT FOR OUR HAPPY HOUR PRICE

W W W . L O U I E S G R I L L A N D B A R . C O M

Date post:	06-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	golf-oklahoma-magazine
View:	219 times
Download:	3 times

2013 Golf Oklahoma Apr | May issue

Documents