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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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August 2-Balls
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| By JAY NOMAKEO
Bloom and Zanetto repeat winners at The Orchards
The 19th Annual Orchard‘s Women's Invitational took place on August 6-7 with 100 players at The Orchard's GC in South Hadley.
The tournament was started in 1983 by Roz Nozik and Nancy O'Connell. They felt that women should have their own tournament at the private club. The first tournament was sold out in 2 weeks. Marge Riley has been the tournament director for the past nine years. The trophies for the winners are made of Waterford Crystal, ordered in advance. “One year there were two holes-in-one on the 10th hole and we had to scramble to buy a piece of crystal," said Nozik.
The Championship Division winners in 2001 are Pam Zanetto and Deb Bloom. They also won in 2000 and in 1995 as partners. Pam Zanetto partnered with Joyce Martin and took the Championship in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991.
Roberta Bolduc and Ann Southworth took the inaugural title back in 1983.
Each year the tournament honors an individual for their commitment to bettering the game of golf. This year's recipient is Tracy Mehr.
Gordon brothers win Walt Martowski at Ludlow CC
Peter Gordon knows that a back injury is not good if you are trying to win a golf tournament. Twice he has had to overcome his playing partner backing out at the last minute because of an injury. In 1999 Pete's brother Mike called him the night before the four ball at The Orchards GC to tell him he could not play because of his back injury. Mike's replacement was Chris Burke. The result was Burke and Gordon won the tournament. This year Peter Gordon was teamed up with Alistair Catto in the annual Walt Martowski Open 2-Ball. Catto was still nursing a back injury suffered earlier this year. Pete turned to his brother Mike for his replacement. The Gordons opening round 62 put them on track for the first "Marty" win. Each player scored 5 birdies for the day and they took a commanding lead heading to day two. Their second round 71 was enough to secure the win. “We won the tournament on Saturday and as good as we played Saturday we played badly today. We just hung in there,“ said Pete. This was their first time playing together in this tournament. They teamed up earlier this year to win the 2nd Div. at the Cronin Cup at The Halifax CC.
Ruschionis win the Miller at Oak Ridge GC
The Miller Eastern Amateur ended with an unfamiliar name in a familiar place. Unfamiliar to the Miller Eastern Amateur that is. Jim and Jason Ruschioni captured their first Miller title with a dramtatic playoff win over John Molta and Chris Rousseau. The father/son duo also captured the State 4-Ball title in 1996 as well as the MGA father Son Tournament in the same year. They were looking forward to this year's Father Son now that Jim Salinetti has turned pro.“They (Salinettis) always beat us by a shot." said Jim Ruschioni. The Ruschionis made it to the playoff with some clutch shots down the stretch. Jim's 10 footer for par on 17 and Jason's up and down from off the green on 18 propelled them to the playoff.
Chris Rousseau, playing behind the Ruschionis, had his second shot on the par 5 16th go over the green. Needing birdie, Rousseau chipped it close and made birdie to momentarily tie for first. Rousseau and Molta parred 17 and 18 to force the playoff. On the 1st playoff hole only Jim Ruschioni managed to hit the green in regulation, leaving his approach 30 feet from the cup. With darkness looming Jim rolled in his 30 footer to claim the title. “We made 16 birdies and only 4 bogeys,“ added Jim, forgetting their 17th birdie that clinched the win.
Two teams tie in Rucki's
There was plenty of lights out shooting but in the end lack of daylight prevented a playoff and ended the annual Rucki's Tri-State two-ball at Wyckoff CC with two teams sharing the title.
The Connecticut team of Jerry Courville Jr. and Joe Sommers (65-67) and the Worcester team of BernieDiPasqualie and Ed Kukkula (66-66) tied for the top spot at 132, 6-under par.
There were three holes-in-one during the tournament. John Dyer of Worcester aced the 4th during Friday's individual play and Dick Johnson (9th) and Todd Therrien (7th), both of Bristol, Conn., did the trick on Sunday. |
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Garcia, Parnevik Europe's Ryder Picks
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The odd man out is Jose Maria Olazabal.
Even though he is a veteran of six Ryder Cup matches he will not play this year for Europe.
Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik were the wild card selections to play for the European team that will meet the United States at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England.
European captain Sam Torrance announced the picks on Sept. 2 after Phillip Price hung on to take the 10th automatic berth based on tour standings. Joining Garcia (Spain), Parnevik (Sweden) and Price (Wales) for the matches Sept. 28-30 in England are Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland), Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland), Pierre Fulke (Sweden), Lee Westwood (England), Niclas Fasth (Sweden), Paul McGinley (Ireland) and Bernhard Langer (Germany).
"Sergio is No. 6-No. 7 in the world, obviously world class, tremendous asset to the team," Torrance said. "Jesper is No. 21 in the world, a great asset to the team. They've both been there before and done it and have a lot of experience."
Torrance had said that the 21-year-old Garcia would be a wild-card pick. But he acknowledged having a tough time choosing among Parnevik, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul Casey.
"It wasn't the right time to pick a rookie," he said of Casey, a 24-year-old former U.S. collegiate star who won the Scottish PGA in August for his first pro title.
"With Olazabal and Parnevik, it was very difficult," Torrance said. "There is no one with a bigger heart than Jose Maria. He's not on top of his game.
"It was very tough to leave out someone of his stature, no one tries harder, no one is better in the team room. It was tough to leave him out," Torrance said. "He understood I had to make a decision."
Parnevik and Garcia combined for three wins and a half in four matches together in 1999 at The Country Club in Brookline where the USA regained the Cup.
Garcia is ranked seventh in the world and has won twice on the PGA
Tour this year, at the Colonial and the Buick Classic, and he was second to Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship.
Parnevik, ranked 21st, won this year's Honda Classic in Florida.
Torrance said the two would probably be partners in the foursomes and fourball matches again.
U.S. captain Curtis Strange, who announced his wild card selections last month (Paul Azinger and rookie Scott Verplank, said he wasn't surprised by Torrance's choices.
"Sam's decision makes a lot of sense, especially after their (Garcia and Parnevik's) performance in 1999," he said. "In Sergio, Sam's got one of the most exciting young players in the world of golf today, not to mention an individual with a 3-1-1 cup record. In Jesper, he's got a cup veteran who is very familiar with the matches."
WMG staff and wire reports
U.S. Ryder Cup roster
The U.S. team, previously announced, is Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Mark Calcavecchia, David Toms, Davis Love, Scott Hoch, Jim Furyk, Hal Sutton, Stewart Cink, Scott Verplank and Paul Azinger.
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The Case for Length
| By JIM CLINE
It will be the second new, upscale public course to open in Western Massachusetts this summer.
The Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley is set to open on Aug. 13 with invited guests and then "officially" on Aug. 15. The Ranch GC in Southwick opened in July.
Mickey Sanchez, the general manager and current head pro at the Ledges, is confident those who play his new course won't look at it as a "number two" kind of venue. The nearest course, The Orchards Golf Club a few miles away in South Hadley, has become very private and is not a true rival for "public" dollars.
While the Ranch hopes to attract public play with it's sweeping and difficult holes despite originally announced green fees of $100, the Ledges thinks its moderate fees and sporty layout will keep the players coming back.
Sanchez, who works for Environmental Golf (which operates courses on both coasts and in the south) says customer service will be a main ingredient.
Green fees (Monday through Thursday) will be $28 ($22 for town residents) and golf carts will priced by the seat at $12 a player.
"The course is brand new, not yet in the condition we want, but in playability it's ready. The tees, fairways and greens are ready," Sanchez said.
Architects Howard Maurer, who formerly worked with Amherst-based Geoffrey Cornish, has designed a par 72 layout that Sanchez says will force many longer hitters to abandon their drivers.
"It's really tight with a lot of doglegs," Sanchez said.
While calling it a "links-style course", Sanchez said the nearest link to the sea - the nearby Connecticut River - does not come into play and may be barely in view
The Massachusetts Golf Association has already visited and is due back in early August to rate the Ledges.
One MGA official told Sanchez that the course rating is likely to fall at about 127 to 128. The Ranch is about 140.
When Ledges GC opens there will be a modular building that will serve as the pro shop and clubhouse. Eventually, as revenue comes in, the modular structure will vanish and a new clubhouse and pro shop will appear.
Now the offices are in trailers near the course's entrance off of Alvord Street but with phone hookups expected by the beginning of August there will be a move to the modular building for Sanchez.
"It better happen by July 31. We're stepping on each other's toes right now," Sanchez said.
He is sharing office space with food and beverage director Kenny Langlois. They both transferred from an Environmental Golf facility in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Michael Jordan is the superintendent and he left (no joke) Chicago for his new role. "He can't jump but he's getting things done," Sanchez said with a laugh.
There is still lots of work to do to get the course "more aesthetically pleasing" according to Sanchez.
There is no driving range now but Environmental Golf is also in the driving range building business and plans for consturction of a practice
facility have been submitted to the town. Sanchez said he envisions a driving range sometime in the 2002 season.
While Sanchez will hold the dual role of general manger and head pro this season, Wayne Leal of Chicopee Country Club has been hired and should take the head pro role by next year.
"I was given a list of names by the golf commitee and Wayne was on the list. I've become friendly with Tom DiRico (Chicopee CC pro) and he made a pitch for Wayne," Sanchez said.
`"Most of our positions were filled by people from outside so it was nice to get someone from the area," Sanchez said of Leal, an Agawam native and longtime area pro at several facilities. Leal will begin his new job at Ledges GC on August 6. |
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Work resumes at Cold Spring
By Steve Kelly |
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For a time there was a three course race to see which would be the newest 18-hole, upscale layout to open for play in Western Massachusetts.
The Ranch was the winner. The expansive Southwick course opened in
July.
The Ledges GC in South Hadley also crossed the finish line. It opened on August 15.
So what happened to the Golf Course at Cold Spring in Belchertown?
Instead of workers moving earth, members of the federal Securities and Exchange Commission were moving papers.
In Sept. of 2000 the SEC filed a civil complaint against Robert C. Sears, once a Northampton-based investment adviser and an investor in the Cold Spring golf course and the planned condominium project. Sears was accused by the SEC of defrauding clients and pumping more than $2 million of that money into the Cold Spring operation.
The assets of the golf course and condo companies were frozen in U.S.
District Court in Springfield at the urging of the SEC, along with those of Sears since there was a move to recover the stolen cash.
Construction at Cold Spring was stopped cold.
But in August of this year work resumed with potential new owner Robert Grenier saying that he was close to an agreement with the SEC to pay off all liens.
Grenier, owner of Four-B Construction company in Rochdale, was doing construction work at Cold Spring until stopped by the SEC's move.
Grenier said he has been trying to become the new owner since August of 2000 but the complicated legal dealings were difficult.
The project was started by original owners, Jim Casagrande of Pelham, and Edwin Waszkelewicz of Ludlow. Casagrande is the former head pro at Westover GC.
The course was planned as a par 71 of about 6,500 yards and was designed by Armstrong Associates of Francistown, N.H. It is located on both sides of Route 21, also known as Chauncey Walker Street.
Sears said it is possible that nine of the 18 holes will open for play in 2002.
That could please those golfers who accepted an offer of a reduced rate and paid as much as $1,200 in advance last year thinking they would be playing this year.
Attempts by Western Mass Golf to contact the former owners have been unsuccessful and the fate of those who prepaid is yet to be determined. two.
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Ledges GC has a couple of openings, one not so “official”
By STEVE KELLY
The newest course in Western Massachusetts - Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley -had it's "official" opening on Aug. 15.
Prior to that there were a couple of openings - one for VIPs and one not so welcomed.
The VIPs were to go around the 18-hole layout in a scramble format but they got in less than nine holes before heavy rain and lightning forced a halt.
Comments by those who saw the layout up close were generally favorable, though there was obviously much more work to be done.
More than 200 players toured the course on opening day.
Fees at The Ledges are $28 for non-residents of South Hadley and $22 for residents. Carts are $12 per player.
There is a twilight rate starting at 3 p.m. six days a week. The twilight fee is $18 for non-residents and $16 for residents. The course is closed on Mondays.
The clubhouse was closed the night of August 9 but that didn't stop the first uninvited guest(s) from prying open a lock to enter a door and leave with a set of Ben Hogan clubs, a Hogan golf bag, clothing and several Titleist items.
A final dollar amount is being determined as invoices are being checked but one estimate put the theft's total at $6,000.
A South Hadley police report listed the value of the Hogan clubs at $1,000 and the Hogan bag at $150.
THE RANCH GC in Southwick opened in July with announced fees of $100.
That was reduced to $75 for that month. Now the fee is $100 Friday through Sunday, $85 Monday through Thursday, and $60 after 3 p.m. seven days a week. The fee includes a golf cart. |
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2001 MGA Father & Son Championship
Fall River CC
August 28
Par 70 (35-35)
Final Results - Selected Drive/Alternate Shot |
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Michael Oleksak and Andrew Oleksak, Crestview CC 33-34--67
Jim Kokernak and Scott Kokernak, Webster-Dudley GC 34-34--68
Michael McCarthy and Mike McCarthy, Rockport GC 37-34--71
Charles Lane and Chuck Lane,
Sterling CC 38-33--71
Jim Ruschioni, and Jason Ruschioni,
Oak Hill CC 37-34--71
Ken Anderson, and Cato Anderson, Concord CC 36-36--72
Jon Hunt, and Scott Cote,
CC of Greenfield 36-36--72
Bob Johnson and Jeff Johnson,
Pleasant Valley CC 36-36--72
Mark Lamond and Tom Lamond,
Mount Pleasant GC 35-37--72
Scott St. Clair and David St. Clair,
Brae Burn CC 38-34--72
Thomas Keenan and Thomas Keenan, Jr., Greenock CC 36-37--73
James Irving and Bryan Irving, Segregansett CC 38-35--73
Joseph Monahan III and Jay Monahan, Winchester CC 39-34--73
Thomas Martin and Greg Martin, Woodland GC 36-37--73
Tony Messina and Frank Messina, Cohasset GC 36-37--73
James O'Reilly and James O'Reilly,
Oakley CC 38-36--74
Ted Rubin and Brad Rubin,
Spring Valley CC 37-37--74
Fordie Pitts,Wollaston GC
and Fordie Pitts, III,Hyannis GC
37-37--74
Gary Scarafoni and Matthew Scarafoni, CC of Pittsfield 36-38--74
Marty Galner and Jeffrey Galner,
Mount Pleasant CC 38-36--74
Paul Evans and Peter Evans,
Duxbury YC 37-37--74
Dan Flanagan and Dan Flanagan, Jr., Gardner Municipal GC 40-34--74
Jeffrey Magee and Jeffrey Magee Jr., Framingham CC 34-40--74
Ralph Yohe and Matthew Yohe,Wampatuck CC 39-36--75
Barry Bird and Garrett Bird,
Cape Cod CC 38-37--75
Ben Machado and Dave Machado,
Fall River CC 38-37--75
Tom McIsaac and Kevin McIsaac, Franklin CC 38-37--75
Colie Derosier and Adam Derosier,
Olde Scotland Links 38-37--75
Tom Kinne and Chris Kinne, Wyantenuck CC 38-37--75
OTHER WMASS TEAMS
John Morawiec and John M. Morawiec, Stockbridge GC 40-37--77
Jonathan Nuger and Steve Nuger, Crestview CC 41-37--78
Joseph Kulig and Anthony Kulig, Chicopee CC 39-39--78
Paul Skowyra and Arlo Skowyra, Quaboag CC 40-40--80
Jim Connolly and Matt Connolly, Springfield CC 39-41--80
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OUT OF BOUNDS
There's plenty of TALK about the Ledges GC
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By Steve Kelly
When the Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley opened for public play on August 15 no fireworks were set off.
They came two weeks later.
Norm Cloutier, chairman of the town's Ledges Golf Commission, was among those who played on opening day.
He took some friendly (I think) jests about the project on which the town took a big financial risk.
"Norm's Folly," is what some said.
The layout is actually a very clever design by architect Howard Maurer. It was the first solo offering by the man who formerly worked with Amherst-based architect Geoffrey Cornish and his partner Brian Silva. Maurer's work in South Hadley has been well-received (though even he has wondered aloud about the wisdom of placing a sand trap right in front of the green on the par-3 third hole that plays from 159 to 230 yards).
Cloutier was the main man behind the project. The retired former town employee was front and center in pushing for the $5.6 million bond floated to cover construction and other costs for the first two years.
He's also the fellow who set off the fireworks.
Cloutier said at a town meeting in late August that some of the greens were at the "point of being disgraceful" and, since there was a reporter present, those words made it into print. You know how that goes.
And, a saying goes that if you build it they'll come.
But, evidently, if you bad mouth it they'll stop coming.
Mickey Sanchez, general manager at the Ledges, said an average of 172 players arrived daily for two weeks.
In the week following Cloutier's remark the daily average slipped to 116, Sanchez said.
Sanchez didn't think the falling stock market caused the drop.
And, while he thinks Cloutier knew what he was saying, he doesn't think Cloutier knew what he was talking about.
Because the town is paying the company Environmental Golf some $600,000 yearly to operate the course there was HEAVY pressure to get it up and running this summer to reap some revenue. That was even though things were well behind schedule after the contractor was late with seeding last fall.
July was the original target date for opening. That didn't happen.
Finally, on August 13, a VIP scramble event took place.
Two days later the Ledges was opened to the public.
The greens weren't ready.
There was so much thatch that they putted like they were covered with glue.
Most of the players accepted that, saying things like "give it time and they'll be fine" while enjoying some truly strategic play and some pretty nice views of the Mount Tom range.
The paperwork snafu that delayed the club's liquor license was solved fairly quickly after the opening. But as the days passed nobody was drinking a toast to superintendent Michael Jordan about the condition of the greens.
"That was our number one complaint. The condition of the greens." Sanchez said. He and Jordan tried to fix the problem.
The greens were top-dressed and brushed. "That stretched out the grass and they were improving," Sanchez said.
But at the 12th, 14th and 16th holes the dam was bursting with another problem.
Sanchez said because those greens are surrounded by large trees there wasn't enough air circulating and algae and fungus appeared.
To tackle that problem Jordan basically let the three greens burn out in the summer heat. "He dried the hell out ot them and they looked terrible," Sanchez admitted.
But that was the plan. The fungus had to be killed.
Then came Cloutier's killer comment. Sanchez didn't think Cloutier knew the reason the "greens" had become "browns".
Then came more talk by more commissioners about closing certain holes or closing them all part of the week until conditions improved.
Sanchez said only the town's selectmen could close the course and in his opinion there was no reason to do that.
He wished the commissioners would stop talking.
And, he thinks golfers will return.
"There had to be a dropoff once the honeymoon was over. But I think part of it was because of what was said and then printed. Right now we've got fifteen greens looking good and three greens coming back," he said.
Cloutier said it was the commission's job to ask questions and had
either Sanchez or Jordan been at the meeting he could have been given
clarification on the attempts to deal with the problems on the trio of
diseased greens.
He has since soken to Sanchez. "We're happy that things are improving.
There were a lot of positive things said about the golf course at that
meeting but only the negatives were reported," Cloutier said.
MORE THAN 200 players arrived on opening day and most rode in golf carts. Those who walked on the hot day were either huffing and puffing when they were done and too tired to talk, or they were saying something about riding the next time.
If you're walking there are a few l-o-n-g walks from greens to tees. There is a walk of some 300 yards to the 14th tee after finishing 13 and then it's about 300 yards to the 18th tee from the 17th green. Holes 14-17 are quite apart from the rest of the course.
Then the par-5 18th hole confronts you with an uphill tee shot. There's a steep hike up the fairway until it levels out and the 560-yarder turns sharply to the left.
Whew!
It's the kind of hole that might require four good shots to get home in three.
A look at the scorecard might make you think the Ledges is lacking something on many holes. Like distance.
Holes 6 and 7 are pars fours of less than 300 yards from the back tees.
The 13th is a par four of 305 from the back. The 15th is 315.
Doesn't sound like much.
Listen to Larry Pruner, an Amherst book dealer, who played them.
"They're not rinky dink. They're tough little holes. Stay out of that high grass," he said. (He actually called it gorse a couple of times).
They're short and you'd better be straight.
Here's what Alistair Catto (a man who has seen many of the world's best golf courses) of South Hadley had to say about the short holes, the long holes and the bang he got for his sixteen bucks (resident's rate) when he arrived shortly after opening day.
"I loved it from the first shot to the end. It's a beautiful site. It's the best sixteen dollars I've ever spent in golf.
"There are doglegs left (majority) and there a doglegs right. Every hole is different and you have to drive the ball well or you can't play it. We found a lot of balls so you could tell people were having trouble. If I knew I could get around in four hours I'd play it a lot," he said.
He liked the risk/reward options presented on the sixth (287 yards down to 220 from four sets of tees) and 13th (305 to 235).
"The ground was hard and the ball was running but you can lose your ball if you try to drive six. On thirteen the water was in my mind the whole time," he said. Catto, like Pruner on a different day, walked and lived to talk about it.
"Obviously the greens were not in perfect shape. But I played it down in the fairways and had no bad lies," Catto said.
The Ledges isn't all of what Maurer had hoped. But he's holding out hope that wetland restrictions can be worked around so that that tiny par-3 12th (106 yards down to 74 from the front tee) can be lengthened 30 or so yards.
The course that can stretch to 6,507 yards presents other problems for the first-time players other than hiking and searching. There are quite a few blind tee shots. You might have to aim for a cloud, or fire one off into the wild blue yonder.
But there is often an elevated, sweeping majesty to the holes on the area's newest course.
And, there has been plenty of talk.
Some of that blind, too.
Previous Out of Bounds articles by Steve Kelly can be found at:
www.westernmassgolf.com |
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Could you fit another club in your bag?
By JIM CLINE
Some time ago Spalding's Mike Ferris and I got into a discussion about the number of clubs one carries in his or her golf bag. If you are playing by the rules of golf, you are limited to 14 clubs. This is a rule that came about back in the 1930's when players were showing up at tournaments with 25 to 30 clubs in their bag. I do hope they tipped their caddie well. I'm betting they didn't carry those clubs themselves. Mike thinks we shouldn't be limited to 14 clubs. Of course Mike works for an equipment manufacturer.
Not everyone adheres to this rule. I recently played with a friend who carried 17 clubs. We won't mention any names, and for what it's worth I'm not sure it helped him a bit, but it would be an advantage to have an extra club every now and then. With that in mind, I have asked some of the better players in the area what club they would add to their set if they could have 15 clubs in their bag. I think the answers are interesting because it might behoove all of us to change a club or two to improve our game. Better players should have better ideas about which clubs can help their game. Professionals might even have better access to these clubs.
Chris Rousseau, who just got through playing in the U.S Amateur in Atlanta, says he would add a one iron. He hits his 2-iron 240 yards. The one would give him even better distance in a tight situation. Roberta Bolduc, who is playing in the Senior Women's Amateur for the 8th year in a row, says she hates to admit it, but she would add an eleven wood. She hates to admit it because it means she's having more trouble hitting her longer irons but she is only joining a club that is growing by leaps and bounds. Tony Kelley, the pro at Wyckoff Country Club, has one of the best games in the area. He's removed the 2 and 3 irons from his bag and has added a utility club. Wayne Leal, the pro at The Ledges, carries a 7-wood now. If he could add a club he would put the 3-iron back in his bag. A 21-degree 7 wood replaces the 3 from a distance standpoint, but the 3 can be a better club in the wind, assuming you can hit it.
You're probably seeing a pattern here. The long irons are coming out and being replaced by woods. Woods are easier to hit because in most instances, the center of gravity is lower than in an iron of comparable loft. . It gets up in the air better, particularly out of the rough. The trajectory is higher so there might be less roll on the green. The downside is playing in the wind, which has less effect on a ball that is lower to the ground. Nothing is perfect. Compromise always has a few drawbacks.
But let's move to the other end of the spectrum. Elmcrest pro Steve Cotela doesn't carry a 2-iron anymore. And if he could add a 15th club it would be a gap wedge. Chicopee Country Club's Tom DiRico would add a gap wedge. Wilbraham's Anne Marie Hamilton doesn't worry about a 15th club. She only carries twelve as it is. She might add a 7 wood. She currently has a driver, 3-wood and 9-wood. She has the 6 thru 9 iron and 4 wedges: pitching, gap, sand and lob. And she definitely recommends adding wedges to the bag. There must be something in the water in the pro shop at Wilbraham. Daril Pacinella carries a grand total of 5 wedges. He has a 60 and a 64 degree lob wedge, in addition to a pitching, gap and sand wedge. He can take each wedge back to a 7, 9 or 10 o'clock position and hit a set distance consistently. He has those distances taped just below his grip. Let's see, I'm 34 yards from the pin, I want to hit my 64 degree with the 9 o'clock stroke. That's called a finesse game. And that's where the guys on tour have it all over the rest of us. They miss more greens than you might think, perhaps one of three on the average. But they're able to get up and down to save par consistently. Tom Kite was one of the first proponents of the 3-wedge system. Greg Norman was a holdout until he played with some guys who made great recoveries with lob wedges. And where the gap wedge is concerned, there is a very obvious reason to add it to the arsenal. The 5-iron used to be about 29 or 30 degrees. Most sets now have it at about
26 or 27. If your 5-iron is longer than it used to be it may be because it's more like your 4-iron. And your 4 is like the 3. Down at the other end, the pitching wedge was around 50 degrees. Now it's more like 46 or 47. The sand wedge has stayed the same at about 56 degrees. So there might be a 10 degree gap between your pitching and sand wedges. No other irons are more than 4 degrees apart. You've probably had that shot. The pitching wedge is too much and the sand wedge won't get there. That's where the 50 or 52 degree gap wedge comes in.
So now we're back to picking 14 clubs. What's in your bag and what could be replaced to make you a better player? Wedges are big because the finesse
game is in. I'll leave you with this thought. The pros on tour might use different putters on a weekly basis. They might change drivers frequently too. A set of irons should last at least a year. But the wedges are the babies. They grind the soles to get just the right amount of bounce. They add lead tape. They take care and hang onto their wedges because those are the scoring clubs. Have a nice game.
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DOWN THE FAIRWAYS
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| By STEVE KELLY
Salinetti proves
he's a winner
Jim Salinetti, a former standout at Lee High School and the University of Rhode Island, could handle the competition in amateur golf. He proved that with three Massachusetts Amateur and two New England Amateur titles.
Now he's trying to prove something in his second year as a pro.
He missed last year in his attempt to qualify for the PGA Tour and this year he's been a regular on the New England Pro Tour as he gets ready for another shot at PGA Tour Q-School in late October at Pinehurst, N.C..
Salinetti proved something to himself in late August when he claimed his first win on the NEPT with a closing 67, 5-under par, that included a chip-in eagle on the 18th hole in the final round of the 54-hole Exter Open at Exeter (R.I.) CC. He won by two shots at 203 and earned $8,000.
"It helps my confidence that I can go out and shoot thirteen under," Salinetti said."That's what you have to do on the PGA Tour."
It also showed he can close the deal.
He had a good shot at winning the Massachusetts Open in June at Mount Pleasant but a string of four straight back nine bogeys took him out of the lead and, despite birdies on the final two holes, produced a runnerup finish.
Then on July 28 Salinetti broke through with a big win in the Greater Bangor (Maine) Open with a 7-under total of 200. That was worth $10,000 and it was his second win as a pro. His first came in 2000 in the Red Lion pro-am at Stockbridge, where he was a member as an amateur.
The win at Exeter boosted Salinetti into second on the NEPT money list with $20,953.33 in eight events. There were two tournaments left on the schedule as this issue of Western Mass Golf went to the printer and Joe Cioe, now of Crystal River, Fla., was way out in front with $38,300 in winnings.
Salinetti had his first taste of Q-School last year and this summer he got his first inside the ropes experience on the PGA Tour when he made it through a qualifier to gain a berth in the Greater Hartford Open, where he missed the cut. He followed that the next week by qualifying for a Buy.com
Tour event at Hershey, Pa., but he missed the cut there, too.
But the win at Exeter is his freshest memory and he did it by coming from two shots behind entering the final round.
MGA SENIOR FOUR-BALL: Jack Maher of Hyannisport and Ed Fletcher of Quashnet Valley shot 67-68, 135 to win the title at Sterling CC. Fletcher twice won the event with Fordie Pitts of Hyannis GC as his partner. Roland "Fan" Gaudette of The Orchards GC and Don MacLeod of Cherry Hill GC tied for second at 137.
JUNIOR TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: Juli Wightman, 15, of Chicopee shot 79 from the green tees to successfully defend her girls title at Great River GC in Milford, Conn. She won by five shots. Linda Economu of East Longmeadow shot 93. Hisaaki Kobayashi of Newington won the boys title with a 72. Matt Scytkowski of South Hadley had 78 to tie for fifth and Adam Rainaud of South Hadley tied for eighth at 80.
ON TOUR: An eagle and five birdies helped MICHELLE DOBEK of Chicopee post a 3-under par 69, her best round of the year on the LPGA Tour, in the first round of the State Farm Classic at The Rail GC in Springfield, Illinois at the end of August. Dobek, 35, started on the 10th tee in round one and was 3-over until recording an eagle on the par-5 15th hole. After turning in 38, she played the next nine in 31 strokes and had the five birdies in a seven-hole stretch. She began round two with a birdie at the first hole but three subsequent front nine bogies left her at 1-under for the tournament and she then took bogies at 14, 15 and 18, with a birdie at 17, to post 76 and at 1-over 145 missed the cut in her fifth start of the season . . . . BILLY DOWNES of Hampden, the second round leader, closed with a 73 for 207 in the NEPT event at Exeter and he earned $2,100. MATT DONOVAN of Pittsfield missed the money with 79-216 and JOSH HILLMAN of Greenfield had 74-219 . . . . Donovan had a hole-in-one using an 8-iron on the 154-yard sixth hole in an earlier NEPT event at New England CC in Bellingham. He finished at 216 in that event and earned $1,100 . . . . BOB MUCHA JR. of Westover GC had rounds of 73-71 for an even par total of 144 at Hampden CC to win the Western Mass Chapter PGA Championship by four shots. He earned $900. KEVIN PIECUCH of CC of Greenfield was second with 77-71, 148, worth $750. TOM DIRICO of Chicopee CC was third at 152 , earning $600, and MIKE GRIGELY of Edgewood GC was fourth at 153, receiving $475 . . . . In the 101ST U.S. AMATEUR at Atlanta, Georgia, LARRY NUGER of Crestview CC and CHRIS ROUSSEAU of Oak Ridge GC tied for 221st at 153 in on-site stroke play and STEVE ALMINAS of Elmcrest CC shot 155 to tie for 252nd. The low 64 scorers of the 312 who reached Atlanta entered match play at historic East Lake. Nuger and Rousseau both shot 79 in the second round at East Lake while Alminas shot 82 at Druid Hills, the other course used for stroke play . . . . In the Conn. PGA Section Club Pro Championship at Great River GC, JOHN PAESANI of Norwich GC shot his second straight 74 for 148 and a one shot win over JON COTE Cote of Willimantic CC (74-75, 149). MIKE GRIGELY of Edgewood GC shot 76-77, to share seventh at 153 with two players, including former Springfield resident MIKE MARTIN of Oak Lane CC. That earned Grigely a trip to the Eastern Club Professional Championship at South Harbor GC in Cape May Court House, N. J., Sept. 26-29 as the top 10 advanced. THE RANCH GC in Southwick opened in July with announced fees of $100. That was reduced to $75 for that month. Now the fee is $100 Friday through Sunday, $85 Monday through Thursday, and $60 after 3 p.m. seven days a week. The fee includes use of a golf cart. DAN LAPIERRE, Springfield CC assistant pro, shot a pair of 70s to win a North Atlantic Tour event at Blissful Meadows in Uxbridge in mid August. His 140 total was two shots better than Eric Egloff of Rockville, Md., and Rhode Islander Tom Johnson, who shared second at 142. Lapierre won $1,000. The North Atlantic Tour seems to be on its last legs with declining fields and purses as the rival New England Pro Tour, in its first year, has proved to be a class operation. But Lapierre is still on a mission on the NAT. Even though he can't make every event because of his pro shop duties, he was the NAT's leading money winner with $4,500 about halfway through the season. Lapierre, 24, plans to enter the first stage of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament and the NAT promises to reimburse the $4,000 entry fee to its leading money winner. It was Lapierre's third win of the season on the NAT and he also has a second and two third place finishes. MGA PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP: At Chicopee CC, Eric McPhail of New Sandy Burr nailed a four-foot par putt on the final hole for a 70, a 5-under a 137 total, and a one-shot win over Michael Carbone of Dennis Pines GC, who closed with a back nine 30 to shoot 64 after an opening 74. It was the second Public Links title for the 27-year-old McPhail. He also won in 1998. In 1991 he won the MGA Junior. Dan Engstrom, the 40-year-old manager of Cherry Hill GC in Amherst, was right on McPhail's tail with three holes to play as the first-round co-leaders (at 67) were paired in the final threesome. But he finished with three straight bogeys to fall back to a tie for fourth with 73-140. Engstrom said he had his chances. He drove the 305-yard par 4 ninth but three putted for a par. At the 10th he hit his second shot to within five feet but missed the birdie putt. "I was five-under going to the ninth and I should have been seven-under after the tenth. I was five-under with three to go and (gave) away my chances," he said. It was his best showing in his fifth Public Links appearance. Chris Rousseau of Oak Ridge shot a pair of 72s for 144 and tied for ninth. Tele Wightman of Holyoke CC had 73 twice for 146 to tie for 14th. ...BILLY DOWNES of Hampden will go to PGA Tour Q-School, likely at Pinehurst, NC. Downes has had a solid year in New England events.
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Women's Senior Tour coming to Pleasant Valley CC
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| By STEVE KELLY |
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The Women's Senior Golf Tour, now in its second season, will make its first New England visit Sept. 22-23 with the 36-hole Fidelity Investments Classic at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton.
It wasn't easy to get the tour for players aged 43 and over going and there is no hint of televised coverage, but there is momentum now.
The event at PVCC will be the third and final tournament this year.
Last year there were two tournaments.
There will be at least five tournaments in 2002.
WSGT commissioner Jane Blalock, the former LPGA Tour star who also competes with the seniors, said that she is in final negotiations with the LPGA Tour to obtain approval for dates for two new events next season.
The long-range plan is to top of the circuit with 10 to 12 events by 2004.
There was some good news recently when Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, 44, committed to play at Pleasant Valley.
Though Lopez is not playing well these days, she is the Arnold Palmer of the WSGT. Her presence will certainly boost ticket sales for the Fidelity Classic.
A spot in the 36-player field has been saved for Pat Bradley, another LPGA Tour Hall of Fame member, but the 50-year-old Westford native who hasn't played this year has not yet said yes.
Among the well-known players entered are Amy Alcott, Laura Baugh, Blalock, Joanne Carner, Sally Little, Sandra Palmer, Patty Sheehan, Hollis Stacy, and Jan Stephenson.
They will be playing for some nice paychecks in the $350,000 event.
The arrival of the WSGT has caused many retired former LPGA Tour players to clean their clubs and learn how to pack again as they hit the road.
Among them are Barbara Moxness and Alice Ritzman.
Moxness, 48, was on the edge of become a standout LPGA Tour player. In 1982 she had a best finish of tied for second and was 18th on the money list at the end of the year with $75,368.
But the Montevideo, Minnesota native had son number one in 1984 and number two in 1988.
That changed things, big time.
"The birth of my first son was a turning point in my life. When I had my second son I was too busy being a mother to play tournament golf," she said.
So, if you've heard of Moxness in the past few years you are either a friend or a member at Wayzata (Minn.) CC, where she'd been giving lessons and playing sparingly for the previous five years. This year she's been striking the ball again and looking forward to competing on the WSGT.
"It's like going back in time. Everyone is in a different stage of life since when we were in our twenties and thirties. But everyone has been wonderful and the galleries absolutely love us," Moxness said. "In the last tournament I had a fan come up and thank me for coming. That had never happened to me before."
Moxness said there are a couple of reasons other than cash why she looks forward to playing these days.
"I'm playing better than I ever have. I've been working on my game and I've studied the game. I've learned some things and I'm a little bit smarter.
"You just wonder if you can translate it into competition, especially after so many years of laying off the game. I'd been playing with my sons and
my husband," Moxness said.
She also likes the moderate course setups. "We're playing at about 6,000 yards. It's accessible to every player," she said.
Moxness tied for third with rounds of 67-72-69, 208 in the last event, at Johnston, Iowa. She missed a playoff for the top spot by a shot and earned $23,500. Stacy beat Sheehan for the title and $75,000 after they had posted 207.
Moxness and Ritzman tied for 19th at 8-over in the opening event at Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Ritzman shot 74-78-80 to tie for 33rd in the last tournament, earning $4,650.
Ritzman, 49, was a fiery member of the LPGA Tour for 20 years and despite never winning a tournament, earned $1,490,546. She finished second eight times. Three times she lost in a playoff. In 1992 she won more than $200,000
She is now an aspiring writer and currently works on golf telecasts for ESPN.
Ritzman further tested her game when she entered the LPGA Tour's Betsy King Classic last month. After missing the cut with two rounds of 76, Ritzman took three days off and went to visit one of her former teachers.
She said she was looking to rediscover her game.
If she does that would give her something to write about.
The schedule of events at PVCC lists qualifying and practice rounds on Thursday, Sept. 20, a pro-am on Friday, and the tournament players take over on Saturday and Sunday.
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One spot open in WSGT qualifier
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Were you a female at birth?
Are you at least 43 years of age?
Are you a pro, or an amateur with a handicap of 6 or less?
Do you have $150 (the entry fee) to spend on a game of golf?
Can you get out of work?
If your answer to most of the questions above is in the affirmative
you can attempt to qualify on Sept. 20 for the first Fidelity Investments
Classic, the third and final event of the season on the two-year-old Women's
Senior Golf Tour.
But, you'll certainly have to play well to gain entrance to the
36-hole tournament Sept. 22-23 since there is just one spot up for grabs at
Pleasant Valley CC.
Tournament official Chris Wallace said he expects "six or seven"
players to enter the qualifier.
For additional information call 617-242-0361.
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Hanefeld wins gamble and NEPGA title
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SUTTON - Kirk Hanefeld held on to win the 81st New England PGA
Championship at Pleasant Valley Country Club in dramatic style in the last week of August.
He gambled and played his third shot out of a hazard, while standing on a rock, at the par-4 17th hole and knocked it up within a few feet, close enough to easily make the putt for a par to preserve a one-shot lead.
He shot a closing 68 and finished at 209, 7-under par, and two shots in the clear to take the title and $12,000.
Hanefeld, 40, was the defending champion. He is the director of golf at The International in Bolton.
Host pro Gary Young and Bob Darling of Martindale in Auburn, Maine, finished at 211. Young shot 69 in the final round and Darling posted 72.
Mike Baker (212) of Bangor (Maine) CC, Ron Philo (213) of the CC of Vermont and Mike San Filippo (213) of Nashawtuc CC, rounded out the top five.
The tournament also served as a qualifier for the Eastern Regional Club Pro Championship and the top five along with several other finishers will advance to the next stage, Sept. 26-29 at Stone Harbor in Cape May Courthouse, N.J. Those who qualify there will play in the 2002 Club Pro Championship.
Next year's CPC has been moved from the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island,
S.C., to the PGA-owned Valhalla GC in Louisville, Kentucky. The Ocean Course is changing the grass on its greens and will now host the CPC qualifier in 2005.
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Bolduc answers the call in Women's Senior Amateur
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| BY STEVE KELLY
LONGMEADOW - After Belmont Country Club decided it couldn't hold a qualifier for the USGA Women's Senior Amateur a letter was sent to Roberta Bolduc.
The question was posed: the USGA schedule was just about ready to go to the printer. Could Longmeadow Country Club help out in an emergency?
Bolduc said the club's board was meeting in a few days and she'd get an answer then. The answer was yes, bring on your qualifier.
The USGA gave Bolduc a hearty "atta girl" and nothing more.
A special exemption from qualifying would have been nice.
But, Bolduc, a dozen times the ladies' club champion at Longmeadow, could easily enough take care of things by herself.
Well, not exactly alone.
Qualifying day was Aug. 13 and Bolduc was still breathing on the hot and humid day after she made back-to-back double bogies at the 12th and 13th holes.
But she needed a serious breathing tip from her daughter/caddie Kathleen Schuster of Simsbury, Conn. Like the weather, Bolduc was steamy.
"She told me to take a deep breath. I took a breath. Then she told me to take a DEEP BREATH," Bolduc said. "That brought me back. She was a great help to me."
Bolduc played her final five holes in even par and came in with a 76, 4-over, to share the medal with Mary Gale of Worcester. They also played together.
"I played well on the front (37) then I had my usual nap," Bolduc said, referring to holes 12 and 13.
But she was wide awake for the stretch run to make the Senior Women's Amateur field for the eighth time in eight tries. Bolduc is 57 and eligibility for the event begins at 50. There was no qualifying until last year but chances are she would have made it the previous six tries under any circumstances.
Her best showing in the tournament proper was reaching the second round of match play last year at Sea Island GC in St. Simons Island, Ga.
This year's championship will be played Sept. 8-13 at Allegheny CC in Sewickley, Pa. Since Kathleen is not able to make the trip, Bolduc will have to remember to take a deep breath from time to time.
Bolduc's strong front nine (even par) included an eagle at the 401-yard par 5 second hole. She had birdies at 5 and 14 and a had shot at the medal on the layout playing at 5,720 yards but took a bogey on the 18th.
Gale, 50, is a senior rookie but a USGA tourney veteran.
She has qualified for two U.S. Amateurs, two Mid Amateurs and the U.S. Open in 1984 (when it was at Salem CC).
Gale had trouble with her driver in the middle of the round, switched to a 3-wood for a few holes, then came back strong with the driver.
Gale also won the WGAM Championship in 1996 and twice won the New Hampshire Amateur.
The starting field of 27 was reduced by two WDs and that meant 25 players had eight places to shoot for.
Also making it: 78 - Karen Richardson of Georgetown; 80 - Muffy Marlio of Marion; 81 - Ann Moran of High Bridge, N.J.; 84 - Rachel Halgarth of Bedford, N.H. and Susan DeLuca of Slatersville, R.I.; 85 - Nancy Chafee of Warren, R.I.
Bonnie Catto of The Orchards GC shot 87 and became the fourth alternate after a playoff. Tammy White of Ipswich shot 86 and is first alternate
USGA MID-AMATEUR: Natalie Galligan (73) of Wellesley and Dana Harrity (77) and Laura Shanahan (77) of New Hampshire earned the three available spots in qualifying Aug. 28 at Kernwood for the Mid-Amateur, to be played Oct. 6-11 at Fox Run in Eureka, Mo.
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Chicopee CC will host WMass Senior Amateur
By STEVE KELLY
The Western Massachusetts Senior Amateur Open is the newest event on
this year's schedule.
The 36-hole tournament for players 50 and over will be played at
Chicopee Country Club Oct. 3-4.
The event, which will have four divisions, was recently announced by
Tom DiRico, director of golf at Chicopee CC.
The four divisions are: 50-55; 56-60; 61-65; 66 and up.
The entry fee of $75 includes green fees and lunch both days. Entry
deadline is Sept. 26. Play will start at 8 a.m. Call 594-9295 to enter or for
information.
DiRico said he had been considering the event for a few months.
"Now that I'm a senior I realize there's a need in Western Mass. for
a tournament where seniors can compete against their peers," DiRico said.
"This fall is a good time of year to have the tournament because the
courses are always in good shape," he said.
He said that for next year he plans to add a division for senior pros.
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Senior Tour has local flavor
Algozino works US Senior Open
By JAY NOMAKEO |
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Vinny Algozino of East Longmeadow always wanted to be associated with professional golf. He did not play much golf and when the opportunity came he jumped on it.
Algozino was asked to help out at the former Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open. The tournament was moving from Wheathersfield to the new Tournament Players Club in Cromwell, Conn. His job was to be a marshall at the 7th hole. He saw some of the best golfers in the world. Algozino wanted more. Beside being a marshall Algozino caddied for Franconia pro Dan DiRico when DiRico would enter some pro tournaments. Algozino started to play more golf and in 1996 attended the VIP Golf Academy on Orlando, Fla. to improve his game. He spent 3 days talking, playing and learning the game of golf by PGA Tour veteran Rod Curl Sr. In their conversations Algozino told Curl Sr. of his caddying experience. Curl Sr. in turn told Algozino he would give him a call when he needed him. Then Connecticut native Dennis Coscina was given 14 partial exemptions to play the senior tour. Algonzio hopped on his bag for several tournaments. When Curl Sr. called and Algozino could fit in in his work schedule (Hamilton Standard), Algozino would be off. Algozino has caddied for Curl Sr. for the last 3 years. He has also caddied for Rod Curl Jr. who plays the Golden Bear Tour. Curl Sr. has another son, Jeff Curl, all three are sponsored by Foxwoods Casino.
In March of this year Algozino was in Mexico for the Audi Sr. Classic in Puebla. Since Curl, Sr. is not exempt, he has to attend Monday qualifyiers to get in the tournament.
In June Curl Sr.. was at the New England CC, with Algozino on the bag, in hopes of getting into the US Senior Open at Salem CC. There were 4 spots available. 120 golfing the first day teed it up for 3 spots. Curl Sr. was in the group of 50 golfers the second day fighting for one spot. Curl Sr shot 1 under par to claim his ticket for Salem with Algozino on the bag. Little did Algozino know he had to actually carry the bag since no carts are allowed in USGA events. The Senior Open was the highlight for Algozino. He was amazed at the crowds that Arnold Palmer drew. He also noted the difficulty of the course at Salem, and how many players did not make the cut because they bogeyed the difficult 18th hole. (Former Chicopee CC pro Paul Ryiz was one of them).
Algozino was called to caddie for Rod in the 4th Annual Native American Classic at the Foxwood's Resort and Casino. When he arrived he found out he was not working but playing in the Pro Am. Algozino ended up on the winning team. |
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THE PRACTICE TEE
With Tom DiRico
“Weight distribution”
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By STEVE KELLY
Chicopee Country Club fifth-year head pro Tom DiRico turned pro in 1975. He was the head pro at Quaboag CC, director of golf at Cohasse CC and director of golf at Shaker Farms CC prior to taking his position at Chicopee.
He is a member of the well-known family of golfers from Chicopee and is a three-time winner of the Western Mass. PGA Chapter Championship. Here are some of his thoughts on making a proper golf swing.
" At the address position, with your feet set at about shoulder width, keep your weight slightly forward (on the balls of your feet) and use a slight bend at the knees. Your upper torso should be slightly bent over the ball so the club can swing like a pendulum.
It's important that your weight is on the balls of your feet so that you can make the correct turn with your lower body (hips and legs).
You need to make only two turns - your lower body and your shoulders - to create the pendulum motion."
(To take a lesson from Tom DiRico call 413-594-9295). |
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Back to top
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Letter from the editor
The Ranch GC and the Ledges GC have joined us this summer. With work resuming at The Golf Course At Cold Spring there could be another new venue to play by next year, or in 2003.
This growth is good for golfers in Western Mass. We're growing too.
And we think that's good for golfers i n Western Mass.
In this issue you'll read about the Ledges GC which opened last month, in an authoritative opinion piece on page 12.
The best reporting on the new Women's Senior Golf Tour has been found in our magazine. WMG readers can take advantage of our buy 1 get 1 free ticket offer for that event which will be at Pleasant Valley CC, in Sutton later this month (see page 16).
The WMG surveys found on the inside back cover last month were mailed in fast and furiously. Thank you for taking the time. Although the winners of The Ranch round of golf giveaway have been selected we're running the survey again this issue and will have the results in our final issue next month. The entries of Margie Riley of South Hadley, and John MacKay of Westfield, were drawn as the winners of the survey. The winner of the Fran Johnson's Ranch golf giveaway was Brenda Marti.
Jay |
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