New 2003 | Spring Issue |June Issue | July Issue | Aug Issue | Fall Issue		LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

June Invitational remains popular
During the Reagan Administration, the entrance to Ridge Road and the Worthington Golf Club appeared more like a state police outpost than a country club. The locals all knew this meant George Schultz was playing the scenic 9 hole layout, while visitors were stalled as the troopers blocked both ends of Ridge Road and asked everyone for name, rank and serial number! Worthington's most famous member was also Secretary of the Treasury under Nixon. It was during that tenure he gave the club a dollar bill with the serial number of 1904, the founding year of the Worthington Golf Club. GeorgSpringfield Country Club. And, the June Invitational. You almost couldn't conceive of one without the other. The venerable club which sits high on a hill in West Springfield has been a desired place for membership for the area's movers and shakers since it was founded in 1897. The June Invitational has been one of the premiere golf tournaments in the region for, well, seemingly forever. The invitational began in 1903 as a singles competition and at the time was one of the major tournaments in the region. The winner of that one was W. F. Gowdy. Some of the winners who followed were among the more storied players of the past. Solid players like Milton Reach, Sr. (1913, 1920), Milton Reach, Jr. (1935, 1946, 1947, 1950), seven-time champ Holly Mandley (1938, 1940-44, 1951) and Frank Comfort (1953) won individual titles. Comfort, the clever shotmaker from Ludlow CC, was the last individual winner. In 1940 the club established its annual four-ball tournament to involve more members in challenging competition and so that they could invite guests. For several years the club ran both events, one in June and one, the four-ball, in September. The four-ball soon became more popular than the singles and in 1953 the decision was made to end the individual competition and give its June dates to the member-guest event. The winners of the first four-ball event were Dick Peverly and Holly Mandly. Later strong partnerships like Gardner Thompson and John Kline (the Air Force officer from Westover AFB) won in 1959 and 1960 when Thompson was a charismatic member. From 1964 to 1966 Thompson was the guest, winning the titles with George Abdow. Other strong teams to capture the June Invitational were Jack Corcoran and Dick Vitali (1971), John Ciborowski, Sr. and John Sutter (1973 and 1974), Mike Burke and Steve Magargal (1979), and from 1992 through 1994 Chris Burke and Franconia's Dick Murphy. The storied June Invitational Four-Ball will celebrate its centennial this year with Brian Foley and James Ryan attempting to defend their 2002 title. The tournament can accommodate 120 teams and there were 167 applications submitted this year. It's popularity continues.

Wagner has designs for the future Former Springfield CC member working for Jack Nicklaus By Jay Nomakeo
Jim Wagner knew at an early age that he wanted a career in the golf industry. He loved geometry and golf and decided to combine the two and become a golf architect. “With the right job you can see the world,” added Jim. He quickly realized that the odds of making the PGA Tour were slim so he concentrated on course design. With a little bit of luck Jim has landed a career job with the most famous name in golf, Jack Nicklaus and his company Nicklaus Design. A graduate of West Springfield High School in 95 and UMass in 99 with a degree in landscape architecture, Jim's dream was quickly becoming a reality. While in college Jim worked at Crestview CC under Gary Mondor. As a junior he gained hands on experience when he was directly involved in the project to build the Tournament Players Club of Myrtle Beach. “I got my hands dirty,” said Jim of his work on one of the greens at the TPC. “Drainage is the key in design.” He said. “Anyone can design a hole but if it does not drain properly problems will occur.” After college Jim landed a job with Bob Cupp of Cupp Design Inc. Cupp was a senior designer for Nicklaus in the late 70's. Bob's work includes Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Oregon host of this years U.S. Women's Open. Jim also collaborated with Bob on The Woodyard in Savanna, Georgia and Grey Oaks in Naples, Florida in the two and one half years with Cupp Design. Then the call came. One of Jim's buddies in college who works for Nicklaus Design told Jim of an opening with the company. He applied right away and landed the job. Jim is one of three designers. The company also has nine design associates and 12 design coordinators working on projects throughout the world. The company has just opened up two new offices in Hong Kong and New Zealand. The Hong Kong market has seen a recent rise in course construction after a slowdown in recent years. “I love being in the office,” exclaimed Jim of his last four years with the two companies. With Nicklaus Design the company has a program to keep people moving up. Jim anticipates working in the field in the near future. For now he has his hands full as his company currently has 82 projects in the works, 25 are under construction, 40 are in the design stage and 6 are ready to open. Jack Nicklaus began his design work in the early 70's and has 262 courses to his credit. His duties are shared with his four sons Steve, Jack, Mike and Gary. Jack's latest project to open is the Ritz-Carlton Club in Jupiter, Florida. The company works on projects ranging from daily fee courses to high end signature courses. Jack has courses in 35 states, 27 countries, and boasts 35 courses in the top 100 in the country. Jim gets to play some of the nicest courses and usually gets to play on the weekend. Jack sometimes visits his office and they get a chance to talk. “The knowledge pours out of him. He says things that you can take home with you. He still has new ideas,” an excited Jim proclaims of his boss. Jim has not yet had the chance to play with Jack but because of his work on projects with Ian Baker Finch he has played with a British Open champ. Jim believes, “no one can do what we do when it comes to technology. We do things quickly which is another reason people come to us.” Jim has also worked with Ernie Els's company on a couple of projects. Jim says he misses playing up north so much and can't wait to play with his dad who is Bill Wagner, President of Chicopee Savings Bank, and a member of Springfield Country Club.
BERKSHIRES ALLIED 2-BALL By Jay Nomakeo
Jerry Laplaca and Lyn Allen captured the Allied Two Ball Championship with a nine under par 62 at Pittsfield Country Club on Saturday May 10th. Their combined seven birdies and an eagle lapped the strong field. Fourteen year old Jason Lemrise calmed his nerves and produced good drives on the final two holes to help his team win the opening scramble at Worthington Golf Club. Teammates Diane and Steve Magargal and Cork Donovan combined for a seven under 65.
Berkshire's Allied Celebrates Centennial By Steve Magargal With the 100th annual Allied Individual Championships coming up, WMASS golf takes a look at this unique golf association and its long history of good golf on great courses. Formed in the early 1900's, the allied was seen as a way to get the best golfers together at the best courses, to determine the individual best played in the Berkshires. The event soon became a must on the social scene as well. All the top players in the area wanted to own the allied singles title and with it came the unofficial crown of the Best of the West. The list of winners is impressive. Dix Daniels to Jim Salinetti, John Zakian to John Dawley.; Mix in some Andy Congdon, Jim Pease, Cutts Benedict and Bobby Jones III and you have a pretty select group. In Berkshire County we are all so fortunate to have such a wonderful organization. The guys in the Pioneer Valley are not so lucky. Except for rare MGA qualifiers and member guest invites they don't get to play their jewels on any consistent basis. For us, membership in the allied gets you an open invitation to a rotation of our gems in the west. Taconic, Stockbridge, Wahconah, Berkshire Hills, Wyantenuck and Pittsfield Country Club can make many lists of top courses in the entire state. Taconic gets national recognition in many top 100 lists and is definitely a must play. Saturday May 10th the allied two ball was held at Pittsfield CC. This Donald Ross gem tests you with small sloping greens and very few flat lies. With a full field on a sunny Saturday only Jerry Laplaca and Lyn Allen had much success. The winners posted a smooth 62 with 1 eagle (Allen eagled their first hole, in shotgun format #14) to jump start them and 7 birdies to blow the field away. Only 5 teams broke par on this 71 layout on the south side of the city. As stated earlier the 100th Singles is coming up at Wyantenuck in August. The hideaway layout that tucks down old Sheffield Road is an excellent blend of short and long, up and down and, of course, all around. Watch for the WMass golf story, in the upcoming Berkshire's issue, on this track and its course changes over the past few years.

Home Again By Jim Cline
Doug Harper grew up in South Hadley and was an avid golfer. He was Bob Bontempo's assistant at The Orchards for three years in the early 70's. Bob remembers him as a very energetic young man who helped him with the teaching. He says he won't admit to it, but he's a good player. Doug says he's a 5 handicap but that might be pushing it right now. He's been living in Florida for some time, at the TPC Sawgrass. Living at a golf course, (and a very good course at that,) it figures you spend some time working on your game. But Doug now lives in Massachusetts and he's trying to get use to the Western Mass springtime weather which has been a bit trying this year. Doug says it's been discouraging but it appears to be breaking. And that's a good thing because he'll have more opportunities to place and his course will get more customers. Doug still lives at the golf course, to the tune of sixty or seventy hours a week because he owns it. Doug and his wife Cathy bought the Hickory Ridge Country Club and that is their new business. He left The Orchards and moved to the cape where he worked at New Seabury for two years. He loved the golf business. It was in his blood, but he had a son on the way and decided it was time to get more serious about a career. He founded his own company, a medical distributorship, sold it, and became president of the company that bought it. That company was based in Jacksonville, Florida, so he moved his family to the Sunshine State. His son moved back the Cape not too long ago, and the grandparents wanted to be close so they started pursing a dream they had nurtured for some time. Oh, it was a pipe dream, “a major pipe dream,” according to Douglas. “Even today we're pinching ourselves that it actually happened, but I think if you spoke to my friends, they would know this was always a dream of ours, so it's a real kick for us to be here.” It was always a goal of theirs. They talked frequently about some day, later in their careers, finding a golf course to buy. They started searching in New England. They found a couple of courses on Cape Cod and in Eastern Mass and a couple of courses in New Hampshire and two courses in Western Mass. “If you had asked me six months ago, (when I was living in Jacksonville,) if I was ever going to end up in Western Mass again, I would have said no, that&Mac226;s history,” Doug says, But here he is, ten miles away from where he grew up on a golf course that he played quite a bit when he was a kid. At 51, he is not retired. This may be a hobby of sorts, but it's also a business. He says it&Mac226;s a labor of love and it's where he wants to retire. It's something he can do well into his retirement years. They didn't buy Hickory Ridge just to invest in it or just to own it. They bought it to operate it. It's a business, not a toy. There is a big difference between this and his old job. In his old job, he had to travel 120 nights a year . Now he can sleep in his own bed every night. The Harper's will maintain residences here in Western Mass and on the Cape. Doug says they're fortunate to have a wonderful staff already in place at Hickory Ridge. They do have some immediate and some long term plans, he says, “But we're not going to change the complexion of the golf course as far as the type of facility. It's a semi-private facility. We have 400 very active members, but we also welcome public play every day of the week and we're not going to change our thinking along those lines. We have plans to improve the practice facility and we're building a new practice bunker. The golf course is perfect as it is today but we do have some esthetics that we&Mac226;d like to improve on a couple of holes, 13 in particular and 15.” (the par 3), “and we have some minor renovations we'd like to make to the clubhouse .” Doug and Cathy have a goal of playing early in the morning to get a little exercise and Doug says he wants to participate in a lot of member&Mac226;s events. He says he's been encouraged to do that. They've been gone for thirty years but a lot of friends and old acquaintances have come by to say hi, and they like that. They're close to their family on the Cape. Both of their moms still live in this area. He says you can absolutely feel comfortable going into the old haunts you used to frequent as a kid. You can go home again.
DOWN THE FAIRWAYS/Catto and Kelley are on target By Steve Kelly
ALISTAIR CATTO of The Orchards GC debated with his caddie, BOB LEITCH of West Springfield, on what club to hit for his second shot at the par-5 fourth hole at Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville during a practice round for the MGA State Four Ball on May 13. He picked a 5-wood. It was the right club and he produced a double eagle on the 520-yard hole. "It was three-wood yardage, but downwind. The ball faded slightly, landed one or two yards short of the pin (front left) and went in," Catto said. DEAN GODEK of Agawam Municipal was to be Catto's partner in the Four-Ball but in the practice round he was playing with Dick Barber, Ralph Strolis and Bobby Kelly . . . . HOPE KELLEY, a native of West Hartford and now a resident of Middletown, Conn., and winner of the 2001 Massachusetts Women's Open, has joined the staff at Fran Johnson's in West Springfield. Kelley was out of the golf business much of last year as she caddied on the LPGA Tour for Canadian lefty Angela Buzminski (then a rookie) for 11 weeks. She took another job out of golf last winter. She fielded a call from Cindy Johnson in April and in early May took her latest role in golf sales and instruction. Kelley, 37, once had aspirations of playing golf for a living, and after a strong amateur season in 1990 she turned pro. She won the Endicott Cup, and the Connecticut Women's Golf Association Championship (state amateur) in 1990 and turned pro in the fall of that year. In 1991 she made it to the final qualifying tournament but missed by a couple of shots in her bid to make the LPGA Tour. In 1992 she got into the golf business and from 1997 to 2000 she was the head pro at Blue Fox Run in Avon, Conn. She has held PGA Class A status since 1995. Kelley said she enjoyed her stint as a caddie for Buzminski. "I think we made five of 11 cuts and it was enjoyable watching her make progress," Kelley said. But she realized that being away from her family and New England roots wasn't for her. She wants to resume playing as much as possible and was entered in the first stage of U.S. Women's Open qualifying at The Orchards on May 19. Kelley will also teach customers of Fran Johnson's at The Ranch GC . . . . ROBERTA BOLDUC of Longmeadow can laugh about it now but it wasn't funny in early May when, as the USGA official in charge, she slipped on wet grass while walking The Orchards GC to determine yardage in preparation for the Women's Open qualifier. She suffered a fractured ankle (in three places) and in mid-May was wearing a splint which was to be exchanged for a cast and it was to cost her nearly two months of golf. "I'm sitting here now, with my foot up in the air," she said from home a few days prior to the qualifier. "But, I'll be there." Luckily for Bolduc a group playing the second hole came to her rescue and a cart ride to the pro shop preceded a trip to a hospital emergency room . . . . When Wyckoff CC head pro TONY KELLEY played a practice round at Shaker Hills in Harvard in preparation for the first stage of U.S. Open qualifying the par-4 12th hole played at about 380 yards. "I hit five wood, wedge," he said. When he returned to the hole on May 13th the tee boxes were set so that the hole played at about 280 yards. Kelley, who shot 65 to win the qualifying medal, was three-under at the time and decided to gamble. "There were some tough holes coming up so I figured I'd try for another birdie," Kelley said. From an elevated tee, with a following wind, he drilled a driver tee shot. "I hit it high and long," Kelley said. "And straight. The ball hit the pin on the fly. It hit about one foot up on the pin and the ball made a mark about one inch from the hole. It bounced to the back fringe of the green and I had a putt of about 30 feet," he said. He two-putted for a birdie and then went on the post his 6-under return. That earned him a trip to Purchase, N.Y., for the sectionals (36-hole final stage) of Open qualifying at Century CC and Old Oaks CC. Later Kelley will enter the Massachusetts Open, the Western Mass. Open and the Greater Hartford Open qualifier in June. The bogey-free 65 also tied the course record established by Dave Barr, the Canadian who played the PGA Tour and is now competing on the Champions Tour. Kelley, 44, has twice before made it to the sectionals but has yet to make it into a U.S. Open field . . . .We'll have to give a bogey, no lets make it a double, to Boston Globe golf writer Jim McCabe. He chronicled Kelley's play at the the 12th in fine fashion but then called TK the longtime head pro at Holyoke Country Club. Ouch! But, at least he spelled Kelley correctly . . . . JOSH HILLMAN of Greenfield, now an assistant pro at Kittansett Club, was co-medalist on May 12 in the first stage of Open qualifying with a 70 at Carnegie Abbey Club in Portsmouth, R.I., and TELE WIGHTMAN of Chicopee took the medal with a 71 at Pinehaven in Guilderland, N.Y. . . . . On May 13, Hillman teamed with MIKE WALKER (of Stockbridge) to shoot 67, 5-under, to win the Cape Cod Chapter (NEPGA) pro-pro stroke play title at Cape Cod National. Walker is an assistant pro at Oyster Harbors . . . . LPGA Tour players BETH BADER and ASHLI BUNCH will participate in a clinic for the Berkshire Red Cross Classic at CC of Pittsfield on Aug. 25. Call 413-442-1506 for info . . . . Chicopee Country Club pro TOM DIRICO and JIM LOW combined for a 66 to finish second last month in the Mass. Golf Associations President/Pro event held at Vesper CC in Tyngsboro . . . . You can now buy tickets for the 2004 US Women's Open, to be played July 1-4 at The Orchards GC in South Hadley. There are three packages: season pass is $80, daily ticket is $12 (practice rounds) or $25 (tournament). A flex book (10 tickets) is $170. Tickets can be purchased at 2004uswomensopen.com or by calling 1-800-513-OPEN from 9-5 on weekdays. The 2,300 Women's Open volunteer positions were about half filled as of mid-May. The volunteer package costs $95 and for that you get a uniform (two logo shirts and a hat or visor) and a credential valid for all seven days of championship week. Call 413-538-7964 for info. There are about two dozen volunteer committees (like gallery control, golf carts, parking, standard JIM SALINETTI of Lee has found his game in Mexico as he toils on the Canadian Tour (which had events in the USA and Mexico to start its season with the first event actually to be played in Canada not scheduled until late June). Salinetti finished tied for 25th in the Guadalajara Classic in early May with scores of 72-68-72-70, 282 and cashed his first check, for $1,474, in his third start on the tour. The former three-time Massachusetts Amateur champ moved into a tie for 62nd on the Canadian Tour money list. And then he followed that with a second place finish at the Ixtapa Classic to move into 6th with a total of $15,874 through four starts MATT DONOVAN of Pittsfield was tied for 76th through four events with $994 in earning and TELE WIGHTMAN of Chicopee, who had played only two events, making the cut in both, was tied for 79th with $808 in earnings.bearers, transportation, walking scorers, etc.) JARLATH HAMROCK, who despite earning a degree at Cornell University, has spent much of his adult life as a caddie on the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour, has (after years of stops and starts) produced a very readable book titled "Finger Lakes Golf Guide." The book covers some 200 courses and 15 counties in Central New York. Hamrock, who studied golf design under Geoffrey Cornish of Amherst, among others, is a native of Ithaca, N.Y. While the eccentric Hamrock admitted to your agent that much of the book is "fluff, designed to get you to play the courses" it also contains some interesting and valuable historical vignettes. For example, the Mark Twain Community Golf Course in Elmira, N.Y., is chronicled on page 46. Legendary architect Donald Ross was hired to do the design in 1937, during the Depression, using 240 acres of Elmira Heights hillside. The course was opened in 1939 and Walter Hagen played an exhibition round on opening day. The book can be found on the web at "www.FingerLakesGolfGuide.com" with sample pages offered. The 230-page book has a cover price of $19.95. The forward was authored by Finger Lakes native Sally Dee, a former LPGA Tour player.

David R. Mastorakis FITNESS AND GOLF
Ask any golfer if they are happy with their game and most will say NO! Yet most will not add nor do they understand the benefits of incorporating a balanced fitness regimen to improve their game. They will purchase the newest (most expensive) club('s), wear or stop wearing gloves, or hire a Pro. It could be that most golfers feel that they do not have the time. In reality, a fitness program (in-season) would take less time per week than it does to play the front nine! Golf, unfortunately, is considered by many to be a leisure sport. To me leisure and SPORT do not belong together. Especially when your desires are to WIN or at best play better. The fact is all else being equal the stronger, more fit player will always win. While golf may be a captivating and sometimes satisfying activity it has no value in terms of fitness enhancement. From the Pros down through beginners (even pre-teens) can and SHOULD add a balanced year round fitness program. Yes, even here in New England where the golf season is shorter and time on the greens is considered very precious. Yet with a few exceptions it appears that golfers ARE NOT exercise enthusiasts! Golfers need to have a HIGH DEGREE of strength/endurance. This is needed to maintain a high level of skill in drives and fairway shots even after two or three dozen drives and shots have already taxed your stamina to the limit. Playing in a fatigued state will not only reduce your skills it can cause your muscle skill memory to adjust to a fatigued memory skill. Which means that the next time you start to play even though you are not tired your last skill memory was the tired one. You will have a difficult time adjusting your fresh skills back, costing you precious strokes. Ever watch and wonder what is happening to your favorite Pros during the final round in a Major? After three fierce days the pressure mentally and physically can exhaust even the fittest players. This is reflected in their inability to keep their skill levels sharp and precise. On top of strength and endurance golfers need to be very flexible to achieve perfect form in their drives. Exercise can prevent costly injuries. A few hours of golf involve only a few minutes of demanding exercise, namely the forceful swinging action of the drives. Although brief, this explosive force places considerable stress on the hip, back and shoulder joints which can lead to a variety of injuries. PROPER EXERCISE is capable of producing steady and rapid increases in functional ability ….greater strength, increased flexibility, improved cardiovascular condition, faster speed of movement, and other worth-while benefits. Contrary to popular opinions it does not require a lot of time to produce such benefits. In the next installment I will elaborate on the exact fitness program that I have incorporated with many local players. In the early ‘80’s I had the privilege of meeting and working with the great Al Geiberger/ Mr. 59. At that time I am embarrassed to say I had no idea who he was. It was a bit later when I read an interview in the Nautilus Magazine that I became aware of who he was. I was told that he had just had colon surgery and had lost about 30 pounds. So I put him on a strength program to regain some of his weight and muscle back. I worked off and on with him for several months. In the article he states that he never worked out before but that he felt it was great for his golf game. He also stated that he learned that several other successful Pros worked out. He names Dave Stockton, Jim Colbert and Gary Player. That was 1982. Today the commitment to exercise has become a standard among golf professionals. Some now have their own fitness books. David Duval, Ernie Els and yes even Gary Player. We can not eliminate Tiger Woods from this list. The PGA tour has large well equipped trucks available for the Pros to use on site. In addition, well known golf magazines such as Golf Digest, Golf for Women and Golf frequently discuss the importance of conditioning for golf. The only difference between the professionals and non-professionals SHOULD BE THE SCORES! It is time to add the missing link in your golf game. Next time I will discuss the GOLF CONDITIONING program for you.
WARREN-BARKER FINAL MELO AT HOME, WITH PARTNER By Jay Nomakeo
Three years ago Jay Lane needed a partner to fill in for an injured Spero Phillips. Jay decided on fellow Shaker Farms CC member Bill Melo. Although not long off the tee, (240 on average) Bill's short game complimented Jay's all out style of play. Nowhere was that more evident than Sunday in the finals of the Warren Barker Four Ball at Oak Ridge Golf Club. Playing against long hitting Mike Sirois and Al Germano the Shaker Farms duo went one down after a Germano first hole birdie. Bogeys at three and five and a Sirois birdie at six left the match even heading to seven. "Bill made a great putt on seven, a ten foot slider for par," said Jay after the match, reflecting on the turning point of the match. That kept the match even and Jay chipped in for birdie on eight for their first lead of the day. "Mike had me by over 50 yards," exclaimed Bill, of his opponents tee shot on the ninth hole, but they both ended up with pars. Bill only hit three greens in regulation on the front but made eight pars. When asked if he was nervous about playing in the finals Bill replied " why should I be nervous. I'm not supposed to be here" referring to the fact that they had beat some very good teams with some great players. A Melo par on the long par 3, 11th hole upped their lead to two holes. A great fairway bunker shot by Melo to the middle of the fairway on the par 5 12th set up a 30 foot birdie and a three up lead. Jay Lane lipped out from seven feet on 13 but more than made up for it with a 15 foot birdie on 14. The match ended on 15 with Jay inside ten feet for birdie and their opponents unable to get close on their third shots. To make the finals team Shaker beat Chris and Mike Burke in the opening round, Mike Duquette and Hershel McDunnah in round two, and disposed of medalists Pete Longhi and Walt Niedjalik (67) in 20 holes to make the finals. "We were two down with two to play in our match with Pete and Walt," said Jay "and Bill made a great putt for par on 17 to keep the match alive. We won 18 with a par and won with a par on the second playoff hole." added Jay. Both Jay and Bill played last year in the finals of the Shaker Farms Four Ball but on opposite teams. Jay ended up winning his first four ball title with Spero Phillips. Bill and partner Mark Consolini finished second.

Getting Down to Business By Jim Cline
In 1892, A.G. Spalding got into the golf business. The company had been making baseballs for 16 years. It made footballs and tennis balls and basketballs and volleyballs would be added over the next couple of years, as those sports were invented. The first Spalding golf ball came out in 1895, same year as the volleyball. The golf balls would soon have dimpled covers, compression ratings, liquid centers, polyurethane paint, and in 1971, a surlyn cover. That ball was called the Top-Flite. And Top-Flite is now the name of the golf company based in Chicopee. The sporting goods division has been sold to Russell Corporation for $65 million. Russell has been a clothing brand and is expanding by buying the Spalding name, which is recognized around the world. The sign on Meadow Street in Chicopee now says Top-Flite Golf Company. Thesale, according to Chief Executive Officer Jim Craigie, will help strengthenthe company's balance sheet, reduce debt and consolidate operations. The brand names are what's important and Craigie has three big ones: Top-Flite, Strata and Ben Hogan. The Strata golf balls were introduced in 1996 as the Top-Flite Strata. Those balls will be folded back into the Top-Flite brand. The Ben Hogan Company, which was founded in 1953, was acquired by Spalding in 1997. The Ben Hogan brand represents a premium line of equipment. Hogan balls were very popular at one time. A new Hogan ball came out last year. Golfers tend to be aware of what the pros are playing and the Ben Hogan line has a pretty good following. There are at least 19 PGA Tour pros playing the Hogan irons, according to the Hogan website. For the record, 10 of those pros hit the Apex and another 9 play with the Apex Plus. Of the 22 staff pros listed by the company, 11 play a Strata ball and 7 play the Hogan Tour. Players who use blades tend to lean toward the Hogan ball. Lee Trevino is one exception. He plays the XL 3000. With names like Jim Furyk, Bernhard Langer, Justin Leonard, Hal Sutton and Trevino, the Hogan brand in very much on the map. As we've reported in earlier editions, there are no woods available, yet. (Stay tuned) But Hogan has added a very classy line of putters. Bob Bettinardi is now marketing his putters thru Hogan, and considering the philosophy that Mr. Hogan had when founding his company, this would appear to be a near-perfect match. Bob Bettinardi has been milling putters since 1990. He produced putters for a number of companies including the original Scotty Camerons. He developed his own line in 1998. Matt Kuchar was the first player to win a PGA Tour event with a Bettinardi putter when he took the Honda Classic in 2002. Bettinardi's have won 11 pro events in the last 22 months. Bernhard Langer has had one in his bag. So have Mark Brooks, Luke Donald and Shigeki Maruyama. With this new association he can tap into the Ben Hogan staff pros. The putters are all milled from one solid piece. The most expensive in the line are carbon steel with a 24kt golf plated copper insert. Other models are made from a proprietary “X” material with and without an aluminum insert. There is a fourth line called Big Ben. These are made from blocks of aluminum. They resemble the Calloway 2-ball and a new Scotty Cameron which are designed to get a lot of weight well back of the ball. These designs have proven to be quite popular. There are 16 putters in all. The original classic Bettinardi putters produced over the past five years have been sold out. They are no longer produced, but some are still available thru retailers and collectors. TKS putters bought up the remaining inventory and is asking $750 for many of the models and as much as $3500 for some of the rare ones. The Japanese certainly like them. Bettinardi has a number 2 market share in that country. The new Ben Hogan by Bettinardi putters retail for $270 to $400. Not everyone would want to spend that much on a putter. They're pricey. But they're also drop-dead gorgeous and definitely on the wish list for the golfer who wants to play the very best .
Golf Tip: Rick Fleury Hickory Ridge C.C. One of the most common complaints by players of all abilities is that they find it difficult to bring their games, which seemingly are great on the practice tee, to the golf course. The best way to help cure this is to practice like you play. Most players on the range get into a good pattern of golf shots by hitting hundreds of balls in a short period of time. I’ve noticed players pulling ball after ball to them from their pile faster and faster after they hit a shot. This will allow any player to eventually hit shots somewhat consistently no matter how well or bad they are swinging. I recommend that you take thirty minutes to hit thirty balls. On the course you don’t have the ability to hit shots over and over again within seconds. When on the practice tee allow for a “regrouping” time after every shot; hit your shot, watch it fly and land, then back off and take one minute to set up your next ball and go through a pre-shot routine finally hitting the ball again after around one minute. This process is more like the one you go through on the golf course. It would also be beneficial to change clubs after every shot to once again mirror what you do on the course. This will take some time and patience but it will help you with your ability to move from the practice tee to the golf course without drastic changes. Good Luck!

The Blue Rock Resort   18 Par-Threes Make For One Great Weekend!
Blue Rock is one of New England's top par 3 facilities. Situated on the highly acclaimed Blue Rock Golf Course in South Yarmouth, Blue Rock Golf Resort is a unique golfing resort located right in the heart of Cape Cod. The seasonal resort features 44 beautifully decorated guest rooms overlooking colorful gardens and the scenic greens. Located in a quiet and peaceful setting, Blue Rock Resort offers several on-site amenities to guarantee its guests a memorable stay, including the highly-acclaimed Blue Rock Golf Course, a championship 18-hole par three golf course. Over the years, Blue Rock Golf Course has gained both local and national acclaim, including being rated "The Country’s Finest Par Three" by Sports Illustrated, and listed among Golf Digest’s "Top Four Short Courses in the Nation" and Top Places to Play in 2001." Another highlight of Blue Rock Resort is the Blue Rock Golf School. The school is designed to make golfing more fun for all golfers: beginner's to advanced; men and women; juniors to seniors. Since its inception, Blue Rock’s golf schools have taught thousands of men, women and juniors to enjoy golf and their individual potential. While Blue Rock’s championship golf course is a draw to many, guests don’t have to excel at golfing to enjoy the peaceful ambience of this tucked-away oasis. Savor the day in Blue Rock’s heated outdoor pool, overlooking the sprawling golf course and providing spectacular views of the delightful flower gardens. Play a match of tennis on the hotel’s private court, or practice your swing on the putting green. Unwind at a private ocean beach or enjoy an array of water sports, located just minutes away at Blue Rock’s oceanfront sister resorts and open to all Blue Rock guests. Offering comfort and fun, Blue Rock is a must stay anytime of the year. Nothing works better to break up a long day of golf than a delicious meal in The Grill Room, Blue Rock’s on-site restaurant and lounge. The Grill Room features hearty breakfast and lunch menus that are just right for a golfer’s appetite. And when you are ready to compare handicaps or toast the winner of your tournament, the relaxing club atmosphere of Blue Rock’s lounge provides the perfect setting. Cape Cod, one of New England's most treasured locales, provides the scenic backdrop for the Blue Rock Resort. The centralized location of our golf resort offers guests a chance to experience a variety of nearby recreational activities and popular area attractions, including whale-watching excursions, charter fishing, miniature golf, ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, shopping, sightseeing, museums and theaters.
MYGO (Massachusetts Youth Golf Organization)
What is MYGO: MYGO or Massachusetts Youth Golf Organization is a non-profit youth golf business which was started in order to give all the youth golfers of Massachusetts the ability to play in youth only golf tournament. When was MYGO started: MYGO was officially started last summer when the first MYGO was held at Cherry Hill Golf Course in Amherst Mass. MYGO will be running its second tournament this year at the Crumpin-Fox Club. How MYGO tournaments are run: Grouping- When as player signs up and plays in a MYGO tournament they are sorted into four different age categories, these are 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18. Awards- This age grouping allows for more of a fair field in each age group. All of the four age groupings have 1st- 3rd place winners, and then there are three overall tournament winners (the three players with the best scores). Scoring- the players are scored based upon their 18 hole scores, and ranked from that. Each age grouping is given a standard handicap, for example the first age group 7-10 will receive a set handicap of 4. This will be taken off of the players score in deciding the three top finisher's. Tee Off- the players will be playing from red and white or blue tees. The younger players have the option of playing off red tees. Girls will also be allowed to chose if they would like to play off the red tee or the white and blue tees. Everyone who does not play off the red tee will have to play in the order of white front 9 and blue back 9. If a player has any special request for teeing off they should not hesitate.              Lunch- For the Crumpin-Fox tournament players will be receiving lunch form the Zeke's Grill at the clubhouse. Lunch will be served to players as they finish their rounds. Starter pack- each player who will be playing in the Crumpin-Fox tournament will receive a starter pack upon arriving at the course. This is made up of balls, tees, and ball markers.   Contact information or for application: Tomas Black 53 Cave Hill Road, Leverett, MA 01054 night phone # 413-548-9878 (x4) day phone # 413-262-8988 Email- MYGOgolf@hotmail.com
Tee Party kick off to the W. Mass 2003 golf season Connecticut Section PGA dignitaries honor Via Wightman at Wyckoff CC on April 24. From left: executive director Tom Hantke, Tee Party honoree Via Wightman, PGA Golf Professional at Holyoke Country Club. Tim Quirk, president Western Mass Chapter and PGA Golf Professional at Tower Ridge Country Club in Simsbury, Conn. and Jim Bedus, the president of the Connecticut Section PGA and the PGA Golf Professional at Indian Hill Country Club, Newington, Conn.
Over 250 players took part in the Pro-Am event that honored the Holyoke CC golf professional. Over 350 attended the banquet that followed to show appreciation to the man who has contributed so much to the local golf community. Tee Party Tournament Results Pro-Am Division Gross:Mike Zaranek, Bill Young, Bob Lively, Keith Burch,Merle Kingsley Net: Frank Leja, Mark Consolini, Bill Majan,Alan Runshaw, Bill Skiba All Am Division Gross: Bruce Mackechnie,Dave Rafferty-Ed Polchlopek,Joe Trotsky, Gary Barcher Net: Doug Alii, Lou Pau, Matini Kaio, Jack Ng Ladies Division Shirley Moriarty,Joan Descant, Laurie Wohlers, Jeannie Lafrennie, Mary Haradan		Family photo: Lynn, Juli, Tele and Via Wightman.
Guiding the future of America's women golfers
When I was in Phoenix to do the ESPN broadcast for the Safeway PING presented by Yoplait golf tournament, I spoke briefly with Pia Nilsson. She is the former head coach of the Swedish National Golf Team, and now co-owner of the company Coaching for the Future. When I asked if she wouldn't "coach" more American players as the LPGA has had a distinctly foreign flavor in the past few years, she responded "the future of American golf is very bright." I hope she is right, because while Americans do appreciate good golf no matter who is playing it, they REALLY like it when an American golfer is doing it best. Two words - Tiger Woods. That's why when Ernie Els of South Africa won the first two tournaments of the year on the PGA Tour, no one panicked. Then Vijay Singh of Fiji won in Phoenix, and Mike Weir of Canada won the Bob Hope Chrysler and still no one panicked. And, sure enough, Davis Love III broke the ice for the U.S. at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and all was well. Woods followed him up as the winner in San Diego, and now 9 other Americans have won PGA events. Of the top-20 money winners on the PGA Tour, 17 are American born. The LPGA Tour is a different story. The year started out much the same as the PGA, with Wendy Doolan of Australia winning the first domestic event, followed by Se Ri Pak of Korea in Phoenix. Patricia Meunier-Lebouc from France came next, followed by Annika Sorenstam of Sweden. Only it didn't stop. Candie Kung who was born in Taiwan won next, and then Pak won again. Grace Park from Korea came next, and then finally American Rosie Jones prevailed at, ironically, the foreign-sponsored Asahi Ryokuken International Championship at Mount Vintage May 11. It had been a long dry spell for American women. While Sorenstam had won 5 other times, Pak 3, and Grace Park and Meunier-Lebouc once each in the meantime, the previous American winner was Meg Mallon. She won, again ironically, the Bank of Montreal event in Quebec, Canada on August 18, 2002. The top-20 money list of the LPGA Tour lists 14 foreigners, including the first 5 spots. I looked at the list of rookies for 2003 and wasn't encouraged. Of the 24 women, 17 were born in 11 different foreign countries. Noticing that nearly half of them had experience at American colleges or universities, I started looking closer at the college programs to see if I could come up with a reason for the foreign domination of the LPGA. The top programs are chock full of International players. At the time of this writing, Duke was the #1 rated women's team, with 1 player each from Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, and Thailand, and two from the U.S. Pepperdine at #2 consisted of two players from Australia, 1 each from Guatemala and Columbia, and 3 Americans. Even Southern California at #4, and the home of the largest number of American women on the top golf teams, was 50% foreign. Individually, only #1 Erica Blasberg(Arizona) was born in the U.S. Katherine Hull and Lindsey Wright of Pepperdine at #2 and #4 are from Australia, #3 Mikaela Parmlid (USC) is from Sweden, and Virada Nirapathpongporn(Duke) was born in Thailand. Logically, I assumed there was some loophole in the legalese that was making it easier for our college programs to recruit foreign players. Not so! According to Pepperdine Coach Laurie Gibbs, "the process of getting International players into school is quite complicated." Then why are the programs full? Gibbs believes part of the reason lies with the different commitment and focus that foreign junior players bring to the college program. And with the women's programs, it's also about the numbers. With the men's NCAA teams, I had to go down to #4 Augusta State to find my first foreign player, Oliver Wilson of England. There are 2 foreigners on Florida's #5 rated team. Clemson at #1 had all 10 teammates from South Carolina, and individually, #1 Hunter Mahan(Oklahoma State), #2 D.J. Trahan(Clemson), and #4 Bill Haas(Wake Forest) all hail from South Carolina. The top 5 individuals was rounded out by Wilson at #3, and Nick Watney(Fresno State) at #5. Obviously, South Carolina was doing something pretty good, at least as far as junior boys were concerned. The South Carolina Junior Golf Association is an impressive one. A $25 membership fee will give any resident of South Carolina, between the ages of 8-17 who desire to play golf, access to courses, driving ranges, and pro shops at complimentary or discounted rates. The SCJGA receives proceeds from a designer license plate titled "First in Golf." They are building sites like the Spartanburg Junior Golf Facility. The public will have access to this 9-hole, par 3 golf course complete with practice range, short game complex with 2 putting greens, and an indoor teaching facility. It's a perfect place for young people to learn the game, and a perfect way to funnel money back into junior golf. Hootie and the Blowfish have hosted a "Monday after the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am" for 9 years, and have donated more than $1.5 million to the SCJGA through their foundation. All of these things have helped make South Carolina a mecca for junior golf. But even here, junior golf is still is dominated by boys, which brings us back to the numbers game. While the number of college women's programs is nearly the same as men's, at the high school and junior golf level there are not as many girls participating as there are boys, so there aren't as many teams or tournaments available. Even where teams do exist, very often the coaches are male, and they spend most of their time with the boys team and leave the girls pretty much on their own. I know this, because I took over the high school program in the town I grew up in, Kalispell, MT, as head golf coach last year. I am very careful to give time equally to both teams. I'm also trying to learn the different reasons why girls play golf, as opposed to why boys play. Just like other programs, I have plenty of boys coming out for golf, but not nearly enough girls. Nilsson has had so much success with the Swedish team, and with anyone else she works with, because she thinks "outside the box." A person with physical, mental, and emotional balance will make a golfer with the same balance, and can't help but be a better golfer. She also teaches that "every great breakthrough in history began with someone believing it was possible." These are the basic elements of Nilsson's teaching, and if we can start getting these messages out to younger girls, I think she'll be right about the future of American golf. Pretty soon the rosters of the women's college programs might be full of Americans, and it can't come too soon for the LPGA Tour. The last time an American sat atop the money list at the end of the season was when Betsy King did in 1993.		Alice Ritzman, a twenty year member of the LPGA Tour and now a WSGT player and ESPN commentator, has joined WMG Magazine to add valuable insights for our readers.

Whaley gets ready for GHO appearance By Steve Kelly
Suzy Whaley had just three-putted the 18th hole in the Michelob Light Open at Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Va., for another bogey in an LPGA Tour event in early May. She got into the tournament on a sponsor exemption and her 77-37, 150 wasn't good enough to make the cut. But a few minutes later the head pro at Blue Fox Run in Avon, Conn., was willing to talk about her mishaps as she completed the early stages of her preparation to tee it up with the big boys on the PGA Tour in the Greater Hartford Open from July 24-27. But, in her case, she'll likely only tee it up until July 25. "That's if I can get a tee in the ground," she joked. "I'm going to be nervous." Whaley got the GHO spot by winning the Connecticut Section PGA Championship last year. She took that title playing tees that were well in front of her male competitors. At the GHO she'll play the same tees and there aren't many people who know how the game is played who think she has any chance of making the cut. If she can't make a cut on the LPGA Tour, what is she doing trying to make one on the PGA Tour? "Well, the good news is that I have more time to get ready," she said after finishing at Williamsburg. Whaley, who is a full-time mother in addition to being a full-time club pro, didn't have much time to get her game into shape. Before the GHO she planned to play some Conn. Section events, the McDonald's LPGA Championship, the LPGA Giant Eagle event in Vienna, Ohio, the U.S. Women's Open qualifier (in Ohio in mid-June), a Futures Tour event at Blue Fox Run in July and the LPGA's Big Apple Classic at Wykagyl CC in New Rochelle. Then it's the big test at the GHO. At GHO media day on May 12th Whaley joked about Phil Mickelson's final-hole birdie to win the 2002 title. Mickelson hit a sand wedge into the 444-yard 18th to set up his birdie. Whaley said that when she played the back tees last fall she hit a 5-iron second shot into the 18th. Whaley said that in addition to distance problems she'll likely have problems with the PGA Tour's rough. In her preparations for what was going to be a historic event (until Annika Sorenstam decided to beat Whaley to the punch by playing in the Colonial in May) with the men Whaley had been on a strengthening program and has switched equipment. "I'm getting stronger and my equipment was pretty outdated," she said. Whaley switched to a new driver (Titleist 983 K) and to the next Titleist Pro V1 X ball. "I'm killing my new driver and the ball is very beneficial off the tee with more distance. But it comes off my putter faster than I'm used to and I can't play the same line for the break I see," Whaley said. On the 18th hole at Williamsburg she powered a birdie putt six feet or so past the hole then lipped out the par try on the high side. "I missed ten six-footers in two days," she said. "But, I hit the ball great." Whaley, a gracious and unselfish person, is going to have a tough time at the GHO, and she knows that. But, when it's done, for better or worse, she will be more than willing to talk about it all. That's because she's a standup gal.
IMG Founder McCormack dies
Mark McCormack, the sports marketing pioneer whose company IMG represents Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, Derek Jeter and numerous other stars, died May 16 at age 72. McCormack died in New York four months after a heart attack left him in a coma, the Cleveland-based company said. McCormack made the management of athletes' careers a big business, turning success in sports into commercial marketability. The concept began in 1960 on a handshake deal with Arnold Palmer. At the time, McCormack was a lawyer with the Cleveland firm Arter & Hadden. The representation deal with Palmer allowed McCormack to combine his expertise in law and business with a passion - golf. McCormack, as chairman and chief executive officer, transformed International Management Group into a sports and entertainment complex of businesses simply known as IMG. It now has 80 offices in 32 countries and employs almost 3,000 people. IMG's client list includes other well-known names and trademarks, including the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the Nobel Foundation, the Kennedy Space Center and the Smithsonian Institution. McCormack even handled special projects for global leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev and the Pope. An Army veteran with a law degree from Yale, McCormack also wrote several business advice books. McCormack had said he would never retire, and he was working when he was stricken in January. As a golfer, McCormack played on the College of William and Mary team and qualified for the U.S. Open and several U.S. and British amateur tournaments. McCormack was selected as one of the top 10 most powerful people in sports last December by The Sporting News. In May 1990, Sports Illustrated described McCormack as "the most powerful man in sports.'' A native of Chicago, McCormack married Betsy Nagelsen in 1986. Nagelsen is a two-time Australian Open doubles champion and a Wimbledon doubles finalist. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Cronin Memorial Championship BYS-FERRITER TOPS STATES BEST By Jay Nomakeo They came from all around, many of the regions best golfers looking to lay claim to the 25th Annual Cronin Memorial Four Ball played at the Country Club of Halifax. The 36 hole tournament played over two days actually took eight days and 57 holes to decide the winner. Two teams tied for first after two days at seven under par. Brian Higgins and Brad Stewart shot 70-67-137 tying Steve Bys (Orchards) and Chris Ferriter (Holyoke C.C.) 69-68-137. The two teams played in darkness to try and decide a winner and quit after a pair of birdies halved the second playoff hole. Both teams decided on an eighteen hole playoff six days later because of the distance both teams would have to travel. On Thursday May 8th the playoff resumed. Steve Bys continuing his hot play from the week before, birdieing holes 4,5, and 9 only to watch his opponents birdie 2,7,8, and 9 and take a one stroke lead. Chis Ferriter evened the score with a birdie of his own on 11. Bys-Ferriter took the lead when their opponents bogeyed 13. The lead changed hands on 15 when a birdie by Higgins-Stewart overshadowed a costly Bys-Ferriter bogey. The lone Western Mass tandem in the top 30 headed to 18 a stroke behind. Bys-Ferriter managed a par on 18 and watched as Higgins-Stewart bogeyed setting up a sudden death playoff, their second of the tournament. Bys Ferriter won the playoff with a par on the first hole claiming their first Cronin Championship. There were over 80 teams vying for the title with only a couple of teams from Western Mass. The tournament features many of the top amateurs from around New England. Jerry Courville and partner Sean Matthews from Connecticut were in second place after an opening round 67. Brian Higgins 233 yd 3-wood to the 440 yard 18th hole set up a 10 foot birdie to advance to the playoff. Brad Stewart nearly holed out a 40 yard bunker shot on the second hole of the playoff when his shot rang off the flagstick and ended up inches away.

Ryiz returns to WMass as head pro at Blandford Club By Steve Kelly
In April, during the interview process, Paul Ryiz of Agawam called to express his interest in the position of head pro at the Blandford Club. But the job went to Fran Marrello of Waterbury, Conn. For a few days. Marrello decided he couldn't handle the role and on Sunday, April 27 - two days after he opened his new pro shop - he told club president Steve Delnickas that he had changed his mind. A couple of days later Ryiz phoned again, said he'd heard what had transpired, and said he was still interested in the job. Now, it's his. "I've been here since Sunday (May 11) and I'm a little behind in getting a staff together and stocking the pro shop," Ryiz said. Friend Mike Grigely of Edgewood GC helped Ryiz with some golf equipment and Ryiz said by about June 1 his golf equipment orders should be filled and he'll be ready to offer items for sale. And, he hopes he'll be ready to compete in Conn. Section PGA, Western Mass. Chapter and national events. Ryiz, now 53, was once one of the best players in the area when he served as head pro at Chicopee CC for 11 years, ending in 1990. The New Britain, Conn., native then headed to Boca Raton, Fla., and was head pro at Royal Palm Yacht Club for 12 years. "A new general manager was hired and he thought I was making too much money," Ryiz said with a laugh. "I was looking to come back to New England anyway." So since he wasn't going to be royally treated by the new GM, Ryiz left Royal Palm and spent part of last season teaching at Elmcrest CC. Last year Ryiz was a medalist with a 65 in Wisconsin, in a qualifier for the U.S. Senior Open, and later missed the cut by one in the tournament at Salem Country Club. "Paul has been very well received by the members, some of whom ran the pro shop on a volunteer basis until he was hired," Delnickas said.
Chip Shots by Jay Nomakeo
U.S. Womens Open tickets go on sale Joe Butz, tournament director for the U.S.Womens Open to be played at The Orchards Golf Club in 2004, has announces that tickets for the Championship are now available by phone, on the web and in August at the Open store on the commons in South Hadley. Practice round tickets are $12 and championship round tickets are $25. A special season pass can be had for $80 and entitles the bearer to all tournament days. To order tickets by phone call 1-800-513-OPEN or visit the web at www.2004uswomensopen.com Volunteers needed Anne McCarthy, volunteer coordinator, reports that she is half way to securing the 2300 volunteers needed to run the championship. Anne can be reached at 538-7964. Open facts There has never been a sellout for any day in US Womens Open history. 51 USGA championships held in Massachusetts on 17 different courses. 22 of those events have been womens events. 3 US Womens Opens have been held in the state. 2 at Salem CC, one at Worcester CC. The Orchards last hosted a USGA event in 87 when Michelle McGann won the Girls Junior. 1st US Womens Open winner, Patti Berg. Junior clinic Jim Mitus head professional at Skyline CC in Lanesboro has announced a junior clinic on Wednesday June 25th at Skyline CC. Parents can sign up by calling the pro shop ASAP as there are openings for 150 kids. Dennis Walters, a well known trick shot artist will perform at the club. Demo Day A demo day has been planned for June 15th at Waubeeka GL in Williamstown. Come test out the newest equipment on the market. PGA Tour and Tiger come to Mass. The Deutche Bank Championship will be held at the new TPC of Norton over Labor Day weekend. Tiger Woods will be on hand as the Tiger Woods Foundation has been chosen as the beneficiary of the proceeds. Hickory Ridge Open 2-Ball Dick Barber and Dave Oldershaw shot a four under 68 to win the Hickory Ridge Open Two Ball Saturday, May 10. Paul Quatrano and Dave Smith won the net division with a 66. Crumpin- Fox Club Member Guest Kevin Parsons and Gary Woods combined for a three under par 69 to win the Crumpin- Fox Member Guest May 10. Dick Degray and Tim Rice finished two strokes back with a 71. Bill Lively and Al Dean won net division honors with a 62. 2nd Annual Father-Son or Daughter At the Ledges GC in South Hadley on Sunday, June 15, 2003. $80.00 per team includes: greens fee, cart, lunch and prizes. Call 532-2307 or e-mail Wayne Leal at hwpiwm@pga.com. Western Mass Pro-Am Bob Mucha and Mike Slyne won the Western mass Pro-Am at the Crumpin-Fox Club in a playoff on May 22. They beat the teams of Mike Zerenek and Tim Rice, Tom DiRico and Dean Godek. Tom DiRico won the individual Pro honors with a 73.
BALANCE Dr. Jeffrey Soley Looking for consistency in your game? Clinical studies have demonstrated that most golfers have poor balance and consequently contact the ball inconsistently. Maintaining balance while swinging a golf club is a skill which can be both practiced and learned. The simplest method to get a sense of stability and balance throughout the swing is to take a golf stance with a mid iron without a ball, close your eyes, and make a swing at half speed. It is important while performing this drill to internalize the feelings of proper balance and spatial relations throughout the swing so as to replicate them when it counts. Once you are comfortable with this drill progress to hitting a ball on a tee alternating between eyes open and closed. Most golfers who perform this drill are surprised by their improvement in their sense of tempo and quality of impact. Only increase swing speed once comfortable with practice and do so gradually. Training aids such as balance balls and boards are frequently used in the physical medicine disciplines to improve patients proprioception/balance and are easily integrated into a golfers practice regimen. Many of these aids can be used as stand alone devices or be incorporated for use at the driving range Additionally, custom orthotic shoe inserts are of particular benefit for the golfer. Clinical research has demonstrated that the improved foundation custom orthotics provide translates to an average club head speed increase of 3-5 mph ( 9-15 yards of increased distance) for the experienced golfer. Custom orthotics are particularly important for those who tend to wear the soles of their shoes unevenly. Dr. Soley can be reached at his office 413-562-3615 or @ jeff.soley@verizon.net

Letter from the editor

The weather has kept many golfers at home as many courses have reported slower than normal play to begin the season. There is no better time to get out and play as the courses have been competing for players.

I will have to skip the June special at The Ledges where they are offering an all you can eat and play for a special price. I have enlisted the help of personal trainer David Mastoikas so I can again beat the little guys at The Tournament of Giants Long Drive Contest at the CC of Greenfield in August. Last year I was beaten by Kevin Piecuch's 362 yard 2 foot blast.

I would also like to extend a thanks to all sponsors who make our magazine possible. Many of our sponsors are golfers who own businesses in the community. Please support our sponsors.

The 2004 Western Mass Golf Calendar is now in the planning stages and there are limited advertising opportunities left. The calendar sales will help grow our magazine so if you buy calendars for your customers consider a golf calendar for 2004. There are special rates for charities and we have a low bulk rate minimum. Also consider a subscription to our magazine to help us add more features each month.

I would also like to thank Paul Daly of Golf Boston Travel and Leisure Magazine for allowing us to spread the word of Western Mass Golf. For those of you who have not heard of Golf Boston visit www.golfboston.com. You can sign up for a limited time for their free magazine. They cover the New England golf scene better than anybody.

Annika Sorenstam is recognized as the best female golfer in the world. Now that she has proven she can beat some of the men where does that put her in the world rankings?

Have a great season and remember your favorite charity.
Jay

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