 A Message from the National Golf Foundation Augusta National will only make a “limited number” of 2012 Masters tickets available to the public (for practice and tournament rounds), and the opportunity to buy them is being decided by lottery, or “prequalification drawing” as they’re calling it down there. The good news is, it doesn’t cost anything to submit your application and there’s still plenty of time to do it. You have until June 30 for tournament-round tickets (you’ll find out if you “won the lottery” in mid-July) and July 30 for practice-round tickets (you’ll be notified in mid-August). Practice-round tickets (you can buy a maximum of four per day) are $50. Tournament-round tickets (maximum of 2 per day) are $75. Seventy-five dollars to attend the final round of the 2012 Masters? That’s called a steal no matter where you are. You can apply for 2012 Masters tickets by following this link (copy paste) http://www.masters.com/en_US/tickets/index.html Add Comment April + Azelas = Augusta 04/05/2011
 April has finally arrived. The long winter will soon be a distant memory and local golfers will pop up at golf courses as a rite of spring just like the crocuses appear through the snow. One of my favorite events in April is The Masters Golf Tournament. For me this is the signal for golf to begin once again in Erie, PA. No one could imagine when amateur golfer Bob Jones won the Grand Slam in 1930 at the age of 28 that he would leave the game a comparable legacy, Augusta National Golf Club, home of The Masters. Bob had a vision to design a course that would be a National Treasure, challenging enough for the expert player, yet not so intimidating for the average player; a course that required brains over physical strength. Bob Jones and his business partner Clifford Roberts became the co-founders of Augusta National Golf Club. They discovered the property of the Fruitland’s nursery just outside of Atlanta in Augusta Georgia that would become the home for Augusta National. From the entrance that greets you with 250 yards of towering Magnolias planted before the Civil War, to the first Wisteria brought to the United States planted behind what is now the clubhouse, Augusta National is breathtaking both in physical beauty and competitive wonders. Construction of a golf course in the 1930’s was a labor of love. It took brute strength of horses, mules and man to transform the landscape of the nursery into a challenging golf course. This was accomplished under the leadership of Bob Jones and Dr. Alistair McKenzie, golf course architect. Fruitland’s Nursery was molded into one of the most beautiful golf course landscapes in the world. During WW II play was suspended from1943 – 1945 as Bob Jones and other members went to serve their country. The membership even gave the use of the land to graze sheep and turkey for the war effort. The course was almost lost due to damage from the grazing animals and lack of care. There is no official count, but thousands of trees, shrubs and plants were lost from the property during that time. After the war Augusta National was on a path of recovery. WW II POW’s held at nearby Fort Gordon were brought in to restore the property after the war and the course re-opened. The Augusta membership has been a strong force in the local military community. They gifted a driving range, putting green and 9-hole golf course to the soldiers of Camp Gordon. In fact, the legend of Arnold Palmer’s fans named “Arnie’s Army” came from the soldiers from Fort Gordon who followed and cheered Arnie around Augusta early in his career. The course and tournament we know and love today can be attributed to the combined efforts of Bob Jones vision and Clifford Robert’s eye for detail. Cliff was a perfectionist as reflected in his demands for placing 2 hooks for every picture frame in the clubhouse to ensure they hung properly, ordering that fresh bills were brought in from the bank daily to make change for the patrons, and replacing oak & maple trees with pines so there were no leaves to litter the course. Cliff was a type “A” personality, a left brainer, consistent with his profession as an accountant. In fact he was the accountant for another famous American from WWII, General Dwight Eisenhower. “IKE” first visited Augusta National in 1948 when he was in between jobs. He had just left the position of Chief of Staff for the United States Army and hadn’t yet become President of Columbia University when he became a member of Augusta National. Ike visited Augusta 5 times before becoming president in 1952. Legend has it that it was the membership of Augusta who put IKE on his path to becoming the President of the United States. Bumper stickers circulated by the opposition stated “BEN HOGAN FOR PRESIDENT – if we are going to have a golfer, let’s have a good one.” Ike, Bob Jones & Cliff Roberts enjoyed golf & playing bridge and IKE had another passion for painting. When IKE became President the membership built a cabin for him on the property with an artist studio that overlooks the PAR 3 course at Augusta. IKE’s paintings include a replica of a Bob Jones portrait that still hangs in the Jones Cabin and one of Ike’s grandson hanging in the Eisenhower cabin. The “cabins” of Augusta were built for members so they would not have to look for a place to stay when they visited Augusta National. Membership consisted of captains of industry from all over the country compared to most courses that had a local membership. It is hard to believe that the initial members had to be talked into to becoming a member and the cabins were an added benefit of membership. The cabins are more like a white brick 1 ½ story home and are distinctive neighborhood on the property separating the regulation course from the par 3 course. Roberts’ eye for detail and Jones’ passion for the game have created the most sought after ticket of all sporting events ”THE MASTERS.” Roberts went as far to make sure all trash liners and food containers were green so they would blend in to the grass and go unnoticed by the cameras televising the event. The Master’s is truly a unique sporting event, being the only “major” golf tournament played on the same course each year. The Tournament is steeped in traditions. The previous year’s winner selects the menu for the Champions dinner that only the select few who have won the “Green Jacket” can attend. A Par 3 Tournament is held each year when spectators can see the legends walk alongside the young champions of today. If a player is successful enough to win a tournament that qualifies him to compete at Augusta, their name is announced by the honorary starter, a tradition dating back to 1935 with Fred McLeod being the first of the honorary starters. Since 1935 these players have all been in search of the coveted “Green Jacket,” not a trophy. From the first winner Horton Smith to the 2010 winner Phil Mickelson with Arnold Palmer being the honorary starter, The Masters is a reflection of time honored traditions and sportsmanship reflecting the “spirit of the game of golf.” The Masters drama is a palpable. In 1935 the shot heard around the world came from the 15th Hole when Gene Sarazen had a double eagle. We all felt Ben Crenshaw’s bitter-sweet victory at the 1995 Masters as he stood on the 18th green after sinking the winning putt, depleted of strength, hands dropped to his knees and tears in his eyes, after being a pallbearer the previous Tuesday for his friend, mentor & coach Harvey Penick. Who can forget Tiger Woods in the 1997 Masters with the lowest tournament round of 270 averaging 67.5, or his famous chip in at the 2005 Masters Tournament on the Par 3, 16th hole? If you are not one of the lucky ones to attend the Masters in person you can still enjoy the tournament that is televised each year. You might want to stock up on Bob Jones lunch of choice: pimento cheese sandwiches, moon pies & Coke-a-Cola, get comfortable in your favorite recliner, and tune into The Masters Tournament held the first full week of April each year. It will not disappoint. The scenery, traditions and competition will serve as a beacon announcing the arrival of spring, and the return of the great game of golf to the Erie Community. YOUR GOLFING GOALS 03/02/2011
 Is this the year you want to learn to play golf? Join a league? Improve your game or just play more golf? If so, now is the time to set your golfing goals and create a plan to help you be successful this season. Often our time is limited and before we know it it’s mid July and we didn’t even take the first step to reach our golfing goals. Why we play the game is the most important ingredient to our success in achieving your goals. I believe it is critical for you to know yourself first and set your goals according to your golf game and not someone else’s. There are countless ways to get the ball in the hole from tee to green, a variety of ways to learn to play, many different types of equipment, thousands of golf courses to play, and the list goes on. Imagine all the possibilities of combinations from the preceding list. Golf allows you to be unique and there is room for us all. If you want to enjoy this game there are many ways to do it and it can be done in accordance with proper etiquette and playing by the rules of golf. The first step of goal setting is, knowing “WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME” and aligning your goals to that purpose. There are a variety of reasons for playing golf: spending time outdoors, being with friends, developing confidence, competition, experiencing new challenges, and exercise to name a few. No matter what your reason is, it is a good one and it is your foundation for improvement. This is what will motivate you and this is where your goal setting begins. As an example, let’s look at the goal of playing more golf. You have decided that joining a league will give you the opportunity to play more golf. All leagues are not created equal and you need to pick the league that fits your playing style. If you are competitive and join a social league, your purpose and the leagues are not in alignment and frustration can occur. Worse, you may decide to give up on leagues all together or even worse give up on golf. If we back up to our critical question of why you want to play more golf and find a venue that supports that reason you will have a much happier golf season. League’s come in all shapes and sizes: couples, learn to play, competitive, social, women’s, men’s, juniors, seniors, mixed etc. Take the time now to find out what golf league will suit your needs best. Ask your friends or call your local LPGA or PGA professional for their guidance. The second step in goal setting is finding out what it will take to achieve your goal. What are your benchmarks for attaining your goal? How much time, effort and money will you need to commit to your goal? Typically when golfers are asked what they want from their golf game most will say lower scores, more distance off the tee, or to win a specific tournament. Many feel that the image of the tour player is what they should emulate to be playing correctly. Few however, are willing to do the work to achieve these goals. Frustration occurs when what we want and what we are willing to do to reach our goals is disconnected. Be realistic here and adjust your goals so you can be successful and happy with your golf game. If your schedule only allows time for 18 holes of golf on the weekend, an occasional lesson and 30 minutes of practice a week you have to adjust your goals accordingly. Keep in mind your progress belongs to you. Do not compare yourself to others who might have more time to play, take lessons on a regular basis and practice frequently. Everything is relative. Even though you may not have the time you would like, some effort is better than none, it just might take you a longer, but you will get there. Third, make your plan and commit to following it. Give yourself specific dates and times for working on your goals. Mark these times in your calendar in INK! Many people know what they need to do, but very few actually take this very important step of committing to do the work. If you make it a priority it will happen. Other things will come up but they can get scheduled in with those things you write in with pencil. Golf is in ink. Keep in mind it isn’t how many steps you take on your journey or how fast you go, it is that you start and keep moving forward to your goals. The key to being successful in golf is knowing who you are and how you can play your best golf. It is critical that you are being realistic. Each goal requires a commitment of time and effort on your part. You must be willing to do the work. If you are not able or cannot do the work for your goal it is time to make an adjustment that creates success rather than having an unachievable goal resulting in failure. In setting your goals keep in mind they should be challenging enough for you to reach beyond your current limits but not so far beyond your reach that you cannot obtain them. Knowing your reason for playing, what it will take to pursue your goals and committing to this pursuit will make golf a rewarding part of your life for many years to come. Golf is a game for a lifetime and is ever changing just like you! Setting goals at the beginning of each season to reflect your personal needs for the season will help you enjoy the great game of golf even more. WINTER\\\\\\\'sWISDOM 02/02/2011
 I know exactly how you feel. It seems like forever since we’ve walked down our favorite fairways. Sure, there is Wii Golf and other simulated indoor golf games we can play but the reality is there is nothing like being in the great outdoors practicing or playing our favorite game at the golf course. The smell of the fresh cut grass, the warmth of the sunshine, the uneven lies, the different types of grass… absolutely nothing like it. How do we survive the winter? Here are a few words of wisdom to ponder. “Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer “Resolve never to quit, never to give up, no matter what the situation.” – Jack Nicklaus In the midst of winter how can we make a total effort? How can we resolve not to quit in spite of the snow covered fairways? The first step would be looking at what we can do now to help us with our game during the golf season. Most golfers spend the majority of their time practicing their golf swing but very little time practicing the other skills needed to improve their game. Winter is a great time to focus on these skills. James Y. Bartlett & the Professional Caddies Association authored a book last year called “THINK LIKE A CADDIE PLAY LIKE A PRO.” They talk about how important caddies are in helping the pro with the skills of focusing on the shot at hand, being present with each shot, and learning to take a vacation in between shots. These skills are critical if we want to play our best golf and we need to practice them as much as any other part of our game. How many times did something distract you on a golf course and you missed a shot? Distractions on the golf course are going to happen. The question is, what can we do about it? The ability to focus on the task at hand filters out distractions. Our brains can only process so much information at one time. If we are totally immersed in the task at hand this is like a spam filter on your computer, keeping minor distractions in the back ground. Simply learning how to pay attention can help us reduce the number of distractions that affect us on the golf course. To practice paying attention, place a golf ball in front of you. Try to simply look at the golf ball and think of nothing else but the ball. It’s difficult to do, isn’t it? Our minds tend to wander; a noise from another room, we revisit our day, thoughts about our “to-do-list” all creep in. If this happens to you, do not feel alone. Try to track the amount of time you can keep your attention focused and improve on it. Our goal would be to get to about 1-2 minutes. This is the amount of time we take to assess a golf shot, pick a target, select a club, and rehearse what we want to have happen before the actual swing, which takes less than 2 seconds. Try again. This time really pay attention. How many dimples do you see? Imagine how the golf ball would feel in your hand. How is the light reflecting on the ball? What are the shadows like? Are there any markings on the ball? What type of surface is it sitting on? If your attention begins to drift, that’s OK. Just come back to the golf ball. Over time, with practice, you will get better at this skill of observation. Think about how many strokes you can save if you just observe the conditions of where your golf ball is and where you want it to go. Being present in the shot at hand is another skill we need to practice. How many times did you have a good round going and then, suddenly, you started thinking about “this could be the day I break 100, 90, 80, 70?” You can pick the number that started playing with your head. Or how many times did you have a bad shot that upset you and from there on your round went spiraling out of control? The key here is to identify when you are upset or placing demands on yourself. Make a list of the situations on the golf course that remove you from being present. Identifying your triggers is important to resolving this problem. Once you are aware that you are doing this, simply take a step back and allow yourself to re-group. Imagine you are on the tee of the 18th hole. If you make par you will have your career low round. What are your thoughts? What is your body feeling? Is this a different feeling? How is it different? We need to learn what makes us ready mentally, emotionally and physically to take our best shot. We also need to create an awareness of how we think, feel and act when we are not ready so we can stop and re-group. Caddies also play a vital role in helping their players take a time out from intense focus. Ask anyone who just completed 18 holes that really mattered to them. Intense focus is exhausting and we need to conserve our mental & emotional energy for when we need it the most. If you cannot take this time out you will become mentally exhausted and your round will suffer from bad decision making. You can practice this by imagining you are playing a round of golf with the remote control in your hand. We want to learn how to change the channel from high intensity focus to low key entertainment. On the high intensity channel we are preparing for the shot at hand. Once the shot is taken and we evaluate the result, it is time to change the channel. Find your remote, your swing cue, this winter to learn how to change your channel. For some it would be talking with friends about sports or current events. For others it may be enjoying nature. No matter if your channel is ESPN, The Animal Planet or the Food Network, we all need to relax a little in between shots to play better golf. If you stay on the high intensity channel fretting about a bad shot, or placing demands on yourself about what score you should make, you are not giving yourself time to re-group. Before long you will burn out and not be able to give the shot at hand your full attention. Maybe Palmer and Nicklaus had these great words of wisdom for us because they shared a close proximity to our Erie winters. Arnie from Latrobe, Pennsylvania and Jack from Columbus, Ohio, overcame the northern white fairways and overcame adversity with their mindset of a champion. Use these cold winter months to develop your golf skills of focus, being present and knowing when to take time to refresh & re-group, so you too can have a winner’s mindset and enjoy the great game of golf. FUEL FOR THE FAIRWAYS 01/02/2011
Yes, I know it is cold & snowy but that is no reason to put your golf game on hold. There is plenty to do now to help your game this spring. Sometimes the best thing we can do for our golf game is NOT to focus on our swing. We up north have an advantage to work on more than our swing when Mother Nature coats the fairways with several feet of snow. During this time of “swing hibernation” we can now focus on many of the other needs we have as golfers. This month I would like to turn our attention to how we fuel our bodies. Keep in mind your body is the engine that drives your golf swing. An average golfer walking 18-holes walks approximately 5 miles in the hot sun over a four hour period of time. If you have ever experienced fatigue on the golf course, noticed you were making bad decisions because you were not thinking clearly, stopped playing 18 holes all together and only play 9-holes, or you’re riding in a golf car instead of walking, discovering your hydration, nutritional & sleeping needs can be an important step in improving & enjoying your game. Take sometime this winter to develop the HABITS of staying hydrated, eating well and getting good rest. Good habits you begin now can pay big dividends by spring. Habit Number One: Begin each day with a glass of water and drink water throughout the day, don’t wait until you’re thirsty! Thirsty golfers are tired golfers who do not perform their best and make bad decisions. Your golf machine (your body) is made up of 75% water and your brain is 85% water. Keeping your body properly hydrated will help your muscles functioning properly and your mind sharp. These are two key ingredients to a better golf game. Water helps with blood circulation, acts as a lubricant for the joints and is the main ingredient of the nucleus of the disc that supports the majority of our upper body weight. As a general rule of thumb, take your body weight, divide it by two and that is the number of ounces of water you should drink per day. As we age it may not be as easy to recognize when we are dehydrated so developing good habits can prevent dehydration from derailing your game. It is critical to re-hydrate after we sleep, since during sleep our body works on elimination and it is imperative to replace our fluids. Most of us have a cup of coffee that can actually increase dehydration because it takes water from our system to assimilate into our body. 40% – 50% of your water intake should be during peak activity and the remainder as your day settles down. Become aware of what your typical fluid intake is daily. Do you start the morning with a cup of coffee, followed by a few colas, and a few of your favorite alcoholic beverages in the evening? All of these beverages work on dehydrating your system. Pay attention to how you feel and begin to make changes that incorporate more high quality water into your system. Habit Number Two: Eat several small meals, beginning each with a glass of water, fruits & veggies BEFORE your main course. What we eat is as important as what we drink. Three main food groups will help your game: Good Carbohydrates, Protein and Heart Healthy Fats. There are volumes written on these subjects and just about every talk show will be discussing them, so take the time this winter to learn what foods will work best for you. It is not uncommon to see golfers grab a hot dog (bad fat & bad carbohydrates), a bag of chips (bad carbohydrates), a soda or beer (dehydrating) and a candy bar (bad fat) at the turn. By the 12th hole they start to feel sluggish because their body is fighting the BAD FUEL that was just put in their engine. Worse, some golfers go an entire round without any nourishment and their bodies shut down, they are tired, making bad decisions, scald a few shots. You wouldn’t put sand into an engine. Putting bad food into your system will take its toll on you until your body can’t keep up with it anymore. The great news is some of the damage can be reversed by making better choices from this day on. Habit Number Three: Get a Good Night’s Sleep. Learn to create the habit of allowing your body 7-8 hours to rest properly. TIP: If you are having trouble falling asleep, instead of counting sheep, count putts rolling into the hole from all directions and distances. This will not only help you sleep but also will boost your confidence on the putting green. Proper sleep is often overlooked. Our bodies need to rest to replenish themselves. Many of you have the habit of burning the candle at both ends. Just like with poor nutrition, with inadequate rest your body will go until it can’t. Depriving yourself of rejuvenating sleep will not allow your body to make needed repairs. A recent study showed that by depriving yourself of just ½ hour of needed sleep can reduce your alertness by as much as 32%. This decreased alertness can impair your memory and cognitive abilities. The good news is that this can all be improved by getting proper sleep. Set a sleep schedule that includes a regular time to slow down your day before going to sleep and a rising time. Many people have trouble sleeping due to napping during the day, lack of exercise in natural sunlight or drug reactions from medications. Just as not enough sleep can work against you so can too much sleep. If you sleep more than 8 hours a day set that alarm clock and make yourself get up and get going. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you are not maintaining regular sleep patterns. No matter what your reason for playing golf, trying these tips will help you with a very important part of your golf game, YOU! Understand that making changes is hard work, so it is important to keep your goal in mind. If you want to play better golf, or just play golf for more years, now is the time to start. Don’t wait until golf season is upon us. Start the work now and reap the benefits all golf season long. The better you fuel your golf engine, the more you will enjoy playing the great game of golf for many years to come. Santa, a golfer? 12/07/2010
 It is that time of the year where we see Santas everywhere doing everything, including Santa golfing! Christmas cards show Santa golfing on snow-covered fairways. There are figurines of Santa swinging golf clubs. Front lawns have decorations of Santa riding in a golf car. Santa’s face is on golf balls. Christmas villages have Santa in their clubhouses. Golfers emulate him by wearing Santa hats and placing jingle bells on their golf shoes this time of the year. There are tournaments called the Santa Golf Classic. So what could this be all about? There is no doubt that golfing greats are immortalized with statues, logo items and golf tournaments. At the Four Seasons in Texas, home of the Byron Nelson Classic, there is a bronze statue of Iron Byron who, in 1945, had 11 consecutive wins and 18 total wins. Payne Stewart’s statue of his memorable fist pump after winning the US Open is at Pinehurst. Ben Hogan’s statue is at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas. A portrait of the great Bob Jones proudly hangs in the Butler Cabin at Augusta National. The World Golf Hall of Fame has bronze plaques of the greats throughout the years: Jack, Annika, Arnie, Nancy, to name a few, all to honor the contributions these players have made to the game. So how does Santa, a golfing unknown, find his way on everything golf during the holiday season? What is his contribution to the game? Santa was never on tour but just imagine if he were. On the golf channel, Dave Phillips of the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) would analyze how Santa’s bowl full of jelly would affect his golf swing. No doubt nutritionists would try to convince Santa to turn in those cookies and milk for a power bar and sports drink. No more letting the reindeer drive him around. The USGA would get after him to walk. He might need a chiropractor trained in active release to work out the right sided imbalance from tossing his toy bag over his shoulder. From a technology standpoint how would Santa stack up? We could watch in slow motion on swing analysis software how he could get the reindeer flight more accurate by studying the movement of his wrist in relation to elbow motion while tossing the reins. There would be a lot of debate on whether the wooden clubs Santa made in his workshop were better than the latest in titanium. How about his course management? Is GPS better than Santa’s reindeers for maneuvering around the course? Would using elves as forecaddies be allowed by the PGA? The thoughts of Santa on tour are limitless. Now there is no doubt that maintaining a “jolly” mindset like Santa will help your game. Santa’s genuine smile and enthusiasm for celebrating the holiday season can help your game as well. Research in golf swing mechanics has proven that smiling helps increase range of motion. Research has also found the when we celebrate our good shots we are more likely to repeat them. An additional bonus will be the appreciation your golfing buddies will have when you are celebrating with them in the grill room after an enjoyable round of golf. No, I don’t think Santa would be on tour. Yet that twinkle in his eye, I’ve seen that before in every golfer’s eye, professional and amateur. That twinkle, as a golfer approaches the first tee full of hope and anticipation of a great round. That twinkle in a golfer’s eye when they talk in detail about a great shot. That twinkle, when they walk into a pro shop ready to make their next purchase. That twinkle, when the golf lesson they have worked on finally straightens their slice. Maybe that is it! That belief that anything is possible! Maybe that is why Santa is everything golf during the holiday season. Golfers share that common belief in the “possible”: that magical mystery of how a weekend warrior can sink a 40 ft putt just like the tour pro on TV; the magic of making a hole-in-one at any age; the magic of two strangers meeting on the first tee and becoming life-long friends after sharing a round of golf.; the magic of making that perfect swing, if only occasionally. That is the magic of golf that keeps us coming back year after year To quote a classic “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.” So this holiday season when you see Santa carrying a golf club keep in mind his spirit is alive and well, not only during the holidays on snow covered landscapes, but over green fairways everywhere all year long. If you are lucky enough to tee it up over the next few winter months maintain a “jolly” mindset and believe that anything is possible as you enjoy the great game of golf. From Golf Balls to Grapes 11/03/2010
 Golf Balls and grapes are sharing a lot more in common these days. They are both round, both found on picturesque landscapes and more and more golfers are capitalizing on them. Several professional golfers are lending their name to wine labels across the globe making the wine industry take note of more than their swing. Folklore has the beverage of choice of most golfers depicted as a bottle of scotch. In fact, legend has it that golf has 18 holes because that was the number of shots that could be found in a pint. For years the only name attached to a beverage at a golf course was Arnold Palmer. Palmer would often request an iced drink of ½ ice tea & ½ lemonade after a round. It was so popular that golf courses across the country would serve the Arnold Palmer to patrons. Today the Arizona Ice Tea Company mass produces the Arnold Palmer with Arnie’s picture prominently displayed on the can/bottle. Within the last decade wine enthusiast soon became familiar with golfers like Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Annika Sorenstam as they became partners with vineyards and began producing their own labels. I became more interested in the golfer/wine connection as more professional golfer’s names emerged. I soon learned that all wine is not created equal and that there are many ways to classify these wines; player, geographic region, vineyard, type of grape, price, etc. So the journey began. California is home to many wine labels including famous American golf legends Arnold Palmer and more recently Jack Nicklaus. Although the Arnold Palmer wine market is targeted to high end restaurants like Pebble Beach & Bay Hill, a bottle can be purchased for $15 locally. Jack Nicklaus wine emerged this year and made its public debut at the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack in Dublin, Ohio at the Muirfield Village Golf Club this June. The Nicklaus wines run between $35 - $43 a bottle. Players from other countries who have labels from California include Annika Sorenstam. She produced her first label from the Wente vineyard in the Livermore Valley of California. It was a good fit for Annika, who also has a passion for gourmet meals. Annika’s wine ranges in price from $32 o $75 a bottle, but if you want one autographed be prepared to drop $180. Recently she has started the Annika wine club that offers discounts and will feature an insider’s first look at new releases. Partnerships are also found in the golfer California Wine connection. Both Luke Donald & Jack Nicklaus have teamed up with Terlato Wines from world famous Napa Valley. Greg Norman, who also has Australian wines, has a label from California as well. Not so famous for wine is Memphis, TN, home of John Daly’s label since 2006 with his motto “Grip It & Sip It” priced from $11 - $50 a bottle. Mark O’Mera, along with golfing buddies Curtis Strange, Vijay Singh and Hunter Mahan, are in a new business venture with a new Champagne, called Beau . A look to the north and Mike Wier, Masters Champion of Canada , has had his own vineyard in the Niagara Region since 2005. Wier uses his winery, the “Mike Weir Estate Winery,” to raise money for his charity the “Mike Weir foundation,” assisting causes who support children with financial, physical or emotional needs. Since his first vintage was released in 2007 over 30,000 cases have been sold, priced from $19 - $23 a bottle. Englishman, Nick Faldo’s Australian wine label was launched in 2000 as a natural fit to his golf course company, following in the foot-steps of David Frost from South Africa & Australian, Greg Norman who were the first professional golfers to have a wine label bear their name. Faldo’s wine is priced at $15 a bottle. He admits he is no wine connoisseur but as he ages the antioxidants provided in moderate wine consumption are more beneficial than a glass of beer after a round. He is quick to point out that there isn’t much drinking for him on tour, a glass or two at dinner is the most because they have work to do. Greg Norman on the other hand had a true passion for wine. He is driven to make a quality wine that would compete with the best Australian wines. Greg offers a wide selection from vineyards both in Australia & the United States priced from $14 – 50 and displays the famous “shark” logo on each bottle. South Africans golfers with wine labels include; David Frost, Retief Goosen, Gary Player & Ernie Els. Although David Frost is known on tour for having the lowest PGA Tour Putting total of 92 putts for 72 holes at the MCI Heritage in 2005, he is no stranger to the wine industry. His family has been in the wine business for over 60 years in South Africa. David first hit golf balls on the vineyard his father owned. David & his brother purchased their own 300 acre vineyard in 1994, “The David Frost Wine Estate,” producing over 7,000 bottles annually. Using a little play on words, Reitief Goosen’s wine labels “The Goose Expression 2005” and “The 2009 Gander Shiraz” reflect the old saying “what is good for the goose is good for the gander.” The Goose is a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon while the Gander is a unique blend of black currant, ripe cherry, spice, chocolate, and subtle cigar box smoky flavors. Ernie Els has both a smooth swing and a smooth wine. His first vintage was produced over 10 years ago and today includes 6 different blends ranging in price from $39 - $99 a bottle. Els also combines his love of golf and wine with his South African heritage by offering travel excursions including golf, wine tasting at the vineyards and a safari. The game of golf definitely delivers. Throughout my life I can attribute some of the best experiences I have had to the game. There have been a variety of people, places and things that golf has introduced to me that are without a doubt exceptional. Among them is my new found appreciation for wine. Truth be told for most of my life I would have passed on a glass of wine for a milkshake for the calories any day of the week. However, once again, golf expanded my horizons by introducing a few of the wines that now bear the label of professional golfers. Golfer’s across the country are gathering their foursomes for wine tasting parties. Themed parties include wines by country, players who have won the Masters, etc. Bottles from favorite players are served along with local favorites. Of course as always, there is a pitcher or two of “Arnold Palmer” for the designated driver so that we can all continue to enjoy the great game of golf. FALL GOLF 10/11/2010
 This is my favorite time of the year to play golf. The leaves are changing color, the air is crisp and most golf courses are wide open for play. Here are a few tricks to playing fall golf: check the course maintenance schedule, take note of the radar and check your starting time. Golf Course maintenance schedules are typically busy in the off season. With fewer people playing golf it is easier and safer for the grounds crew to get out and complete needed projects that will make the golf course more beautiful and enjoyable next season. It is a good idea to check your course’s maintenance schedule or, if you are visiting a new course, ask before you make your tee time if there are any projects that will affect your play. With all the mowing, golf car and foot traffic the ground has been compressed and that makes it difficult for water and nutrients to get to the grass root system. To allow water and nutrients to reach the root system the grass is aerated. A machine with tines is rolled over the surface of the grass (tees, greens, fairways & rough), the tines penetrate the soil and as they roll out a plug of soil comes out, leaving a man-made tunnel for water and fertilizer to reach the root system of the grass. The plugs cover the area and are smoothed out with a screen-like catcher. Some plugs are collected and used to fill in low spots on the golf course. This is a labor intensive project that can disrupt the roll of the golf ball until the grass heals. Typically, the turf returns to a normal surface within a week. The cooler temperatures, a steady fall rain and narrow tines all promote faster turf healing. Other maintenance concerns might be leaf removal and renovations. Golf courses who actively remove leaves will make it easier to play fall golf. Anyone who has played golf in the fall knows the feeling of searching for a golf ball that was right in front of you simply covered by a leaf. Renovation projects such as adding drainage, bunker repair, and removing trees are also completed in the fall. Most often these projects may affect play on one or two holes at a time, but knowing before you go can let you decide if this will be an issue for you or not. Sometimes just knowing vs. being surprised when you are playing can make all the difference. Keeping in mind the project the grounds crew is working on today will make your golf experience more enjoyable in the future. They are working hard for you! So give them a nod or a wave of appreciation as you pass by. Checking the radar can also help you enjoy fall golf. You know the feeling. You want to play but it’s raining at your favorite course. What to do? Today we have the luxury of instant access to weather radar on line. Simply look at the radar; it may be raining at your course but not at another. Check the weather pattern to see if the rain is moving in or away from where you want to play. It might be a good day to play that course you always wanted to try – especially if it is dry. In the fall when we start our round in the morning it might be a little cool, but later in the round the warmth of the sun can heat things up quickly. Dress in layers to accommodate the temperature changes. Another consideration may be to pack your golf bag with an extra pair of golf socks, rain gear, gloves and hand warmers. Some golfers have even invested in plastic shields for their golf cars to protect them from cold air and rain. Heaters are also available to keep the riding area warmer. Don’t forget to stop at the snack bar for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate to take along with you. If you are like me, there is nothing like starting your day with a round of golf. The sunrise, birds in flight, wildlife wondering the fairways all make those early tee times magical. However, in the fall we often experience frost delays. This can be frustrating for some, but consider the damage that is done when we walk on frost covered grass. The frost covers the blade of grass and, when we walk we are actually breaking the grass. This break creates an opening for disease and distresses the grass. Simply waiting for the sun to melt the frost can prevent damage from occurring. Be patient. Often we see the frost melted around the first tee, but trust your golf course superintendent who is checking the entire course. Some areas of the course are heavily shaded and require additional time. The sun is also setting earlier. If you were used to leaving work a little early to get a round in, you might want to use a few of those vacation days and take a half day off so you can enjoy a round of golf before the season ends. Check the sunset time before you make your tee time. From there back up the amount of time that it normally takes you to play 9 or 18 holes and give yourself a little leeway to finish your round before the sun sets. Fall golf can be spectacular. In between golf shots try to observe the different shades of the leaves on the trees. This will allow you to not only to soak in the beauty of the golf course but this is kind of a “mental time out” in between shot. |