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2022 Golf Season Is Winding Down With red, orange, yellow and golden leaves framing Ohio golf courses, October may be the best month of the year to be outside chasing a golf ball. Cooler days and fewer golfers on the courses are also a plus. Can you tell, I love to play golf in the Fall. Michigan is also a great place for golf in October. In this issue we talk about BOYNE Resort, Treetops and the Gaylord Golf Mecca. The rolling sand hills are awash with fall colors and add to the golf experience at these great resorts. A word to the wise, now is the time to book your 2023 golf getaway to Northern Michigan. The pricing will undoubtedly be better, plus you can lock in the courses and tee times that you want for your golf group. October is also a time to reflect on this past golf season. The LIV Golf Tour has definitely made an impact on the world of professional golf. The Saudi government has poured billions of dollars into the new circuit and Greg Norman has been able to lure several of the game’s biggest names to forsake the PGA Tour with huge eight and nine number guarantees. The LIV Tour still needs a television contract with a large international network that would bring more viewers to their product and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points for the players. Recently it was reported that the LIV Tour formed a strategic alliance with the Middle Eastern and South African Tour (MENA), a minor tour that does receive OWGR recognition and points. It will be interesting to see if that tactical maneuver will bring the LIV Tour closer to legitimacy. To keep up to date with all the happenings between the LIV Tour and the PGA Tour be sure to watch, or listen to Back 9 Report every week on YouTube. We hope you enjoy this issue of the Ohio Golf Journal and look for me on the Back 9 when you get out to the course. FRED ALTVATER PUBLISHER Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Michigan Golf Journal Indiana Golf Journal Back 9 Report Ohio Golf Journal
NOW, THIS IS GOLF Go to BoyneGolf.com or cal l 855-554-0289 BRING YOUR “A” GAME. With 10 magnificent courses, and non-stop flights to TVC from 17 popular destinations, why wait? Lock in your 2022 golf plans today.
Ohio Golf Journal is Published By Back 9 Media Group Publisher: Fred Altvater, USGTF Teaching Professional Advertise with Ohio Golf Journal, Contact us for more information Be sure to take advantage of the links to social media, videos and other content provided within the articles 20 FIND INSIDE 06 13 16 33 Michigan’s BOYNE Resort, Treetops & Gaylord Golf Mecca Give Golfers Options Linda Hartough Creates Artisitc Golf Images 06 26 Toledo’s Heather Downs Country Club Has It All Coastal Alabama Has More Than Great Golf Ohio Golf News For My Daughter Golf Travel Packing Tips National Links Trust Hopes to Save Municipal Golf Courses Just for the Ladies: TaylorMade Introduces Kalea Premier Golf News and Notes 28 30 33 16 20 18 13 23 Our Contributors The Big Cleveland & Whiskers Golf Mystery 38 36 Our Favorite Videos 39 Ohio Golf Journal
Yes, the golf season in winding down in Michigan, but with the continuing resurgence in golf travel booking your 2023 golf trip now seems prudent and will guarantee you get the tee times and courses you want, plus the pricing now will probably be a little less than waiting until next year. Each of these resorts has its own benefits and will provide Michigan’s BOYNE Resort, Treetops & Gaylord Golf Mecca Give Golfers Options a wonderful golf getaway for your next buddies trip, girls golf getaway, or family vacation. BOYNE Resort BOYNE Resort is one of the best destinations in the country. With ten magnificent courses at three locations, BOYNE Mountain, The Highlands at Harbor Springs and Bay Harbor, all within 20 miles of each other, provide a variety of accommodation options and pricing. The Highlands at Harbor Springs The Highlands at Harbor Springs’ four courses, The Ross Memorial, The Moor, The Arthur Hills and the 2019 National Golf Course of the Year, The Heather, are all championship caliber and exquisitely maintained. Crooked Tree Golf Club Ohio Golf Journal
The Golf Academy at The Highlands can help improve anyone’s game. With Trackman, Gears training software, Trackman Range, plus PGA Class A Professionals on staff, they offer the best in teaching to increase the enjoyment for every golfer. In addition to the great golf at The Highlands, the accommodations have been recently renovated for the most comfortable stay possible. In the near future a new par three course will be completed to provide yet another option for golfers to enjoy. The Spa at The Highlands will soothe those achy muscles after a day on the course. It also provides a relaxing day away from the kids for mom with a variety of special services available. BOYNE Mountain Two courses at the mountain, The Alpine and the Monument, offer outstanding views over Deer Lake as each wind their way down the mountain. The first tee for both courses sits atop the mountain and requires a 1.4-mile golf cart ride to reach the pinnacle. Back 9 Report visited BOYNE Mountain earlier this year and learned more about all the happenings at the resort: Mou – insert black rectangle for video BOYNE Mountain makes the perfect choice for any family, as it includes a zip line and a large indoor water park. Avalanche Bay includes 88,000 square feet of rides and slides, Rip Zone Surf Simulator, a lazy river, Super-G Slide, four activity pools and much more fun for the entire family. PLUS, something new for this year is the 1,200 foot Skybridge. Suspended by two large timber towers it stretches between two peaks at BOYNE Mountain and hangs 118 feet above the valley floor. This is something that every visitor to BOYNE will want to experience. The Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa are first-class and can accommodate any size family or group. There are several dining options at BOYNE Mountain, Everett’s, the Trophy Room Pub and Forty Acres, but don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a tasty meal at the Beach House alongside Deer Lake. On a warm summer’s evening, while seated on the outdoor patio, you can enjoy some of the best cuisine, watch kids play in the water while their parents enjoy the relaxing beach atmosphere. There may even be a wedding party in progress, plus it is the best place to catch a Michigan sunset over Deer Lake.
Bay Harbor Inn & Golf Club The third location at BOYNE Resort includes the Bay Harbor Inn, Bay Harbor Golf Club, plus Crooked Tree Golf Course and Cottages The Cottages at Crooked Tree are ideal for golf groups and families. They are located along Crooked Tree’s 18th fairway and come with all the resort amenities of the Bay Harbor Inn. The standalone three-bedroom cottages offer a full kitchen, fireplace, dining area, and large porch. The Bay Harbor Inn is one of the finest hotels in Northern Michigan and the views across Little Traverse Bay provide amazing sunsets. From the finest dining experience to the more casual, BOYNE’s Bay Harbor Inn has you covered. The Vintage Chop House’s understated elegance is perfect for date night, or special occasions. The Sagamore Room offers fantastic views of the lake, while providing the perfect breakfast options. The Cabana Bar is located poolside with a full menu, fun atmosphere, refreshing cocktails and live entertainment. The three nine-hole configurations at the Bay Harbor Golf Club, The Preserve, The Quarry and The Links, have been recognized as some of the best courses to be found in the country. The Quarry was built in an abandoned stone quarry, with some tee boxes perched high above the fairway on the rim of the quarry. The views over Lake Michigan are jaw-dropping. The Links has several holes that border the lake and offer views looking down over Bay Harbor. The Preserve winds its way through native forest land and gives golfers a true Up North feel. The Bay Harbor Inn and Golf Course, plus Crooked Tree, give golfers 45 holes of outstanding golf, plus the very finest in accommodations, dining and service. If you are looking for the very best in a travel destination, look no further than BOYNE Resort’s Bay Harbor. Treetops Resort & Gaylord Golf Mecca Treetops and the Gaylord Golf Mecca have welcomed thousands of golfers over the past 40 years. The Gaylord Golf Mecca includes not only Treetops, but a total of 17 courses and 21 lodging options. Treetops Resort Treetops opened its first course, The Masterpiece, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1983 and later added the Smith Signature, Tom Fazio’s Premier, the Tradition and the famous par-three, Threetops to its variety of offerings. Add those 81 Bay Harbor Inn Ohio Golf Journal
holes, the Himalayas Putting Course and golfers have 81 holes of high-quality golf at affordable prices on which to test their skills. The Treetops Lodge, Inn, North Condominiums and newly renovated Jones Cottages offer a variety of lodging options for families or groups. Gaylord Golf Mecca Gaylord has become such a large vacation area for families and down staters that as the golf industry grew it became evident that it was in the best interest of all golf owners to form a mutual marketing alliance. Thus, the Gaylord Golf Mecca was born in 1985, using Myrtle Beach as a model and Paul Beachnau was hired as the Executive Director, a position he still serves in today. In addition to Treetops, the Gaylord Golf Mecca currently includes Black Lake Golf Club, Garland Lodge, Gaylord Golf Club, Indian River Golf Club, Lakes of the North, Michawye’ Pines, Otsego and The Natural. Black Lake Golf Club Every hole at the Black Lake Golf Club, designed by Rees Jones, could be featured on the cover of a major golf magazine. The natural woodlands and native areas are the perfect setting for the course that has been recognized as one of the most environmentally responsible. The course was built with every golfer in mind. Five sets of tees can accommodate any skill level and it has been satisfying golfers since it opened in 2000. Garland Lodge Michigan’s unspoiled wilderness provides the perfect setting for Garland Resort’s four championship golf courses. Rolling meadows, with lakes, streams, mature hardwoods, and towering pines provide the backdrop to challenge golfers of all abilities. Even if you aren’t a great golfer, you will see plenty of birdies and eagles at Garland as several bald eagles nest on the courses, as well as hawks and wild turkey. Garland Lodge has spacious hotel rooms, three- or four-bedroom villas, plus condominiums and cottages to satisfy and size group, or family. Gaylord Golf Club Gaylord Golf Club, founded in 1924 is one of Northern Michigan’s oldest clubs. It is a semiprivate course that will accept tee times from travelers to this part of the state. The routing goes through rolling hills and hardwoods with strategic bunkering and some of the finest green complexes to be found. If you are looking for a course maintained to country club standards, fun to play, but a challenging golf experience, this is the right course for you. Indian River Golf Club This fun to play course originally opened in 1922 but has been updated with more holes added to make it an enjoyable track. Plus, it even has a 19th hole to settle the odd wager. If you like to walk, Indian River is excellent for that, plus a variety of tees options assure the course can be enjoyed by every golfer. While you are there be sure to experience a meal at the Greenside Grille. It is a full-service
restaurant and bar which is perfect to recap the day’s round of golf among friends. Lakes of the North Open to the public in 1968 and updated in the 1980’s, Lakes of the North Golf Course has been rated by the Golf Association of Michigan as having some of the best greens in the state. This scenic par 72 can be stretched to 7,000 yards. Choose your tee option carefully, don’t bite off more than you can chew. Lake of the North also has a practice facility, driving range, fully stocked pro shop, and putting green. The rolling terrain provides outstanding colors and views in the fall. Michawye’ Pines Golf Course Michawye’ Pines just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. It was a founding member of the Gaylord Golf Mecca and has been providing excellent service to golfers since 1972. The 18-hole Pines Course is known for its impeccable conditions, classic and playable layout. The putting green, chipping green and driving range are adjacent to a well-stocked Pro Shop. The Pines Course is complemented by The Inn the Woods Restaurant with Schneider’s Pub and the Jack Pine Grill to fill every food and beverage desire. Otsego Club First opened in 1939, the Otsego Club, like Treetops, is a winter ski resort, but in the summer their two courses, theTribute and the Classic offer 36 holes of challenging golf. Treetops Indian River Golf Club Ohio Golf Journal
Their accommodations include lodges with connecting rooms including a large open common area, perfect for groups, or families. In addition, the club has more than 24,000 square feet of meeting space along with the mountain views that are perfect for weddings, corporate meetings, and family reunions. TheDuckBlindGrille serves updelicious fare and has received numerous awards for dining excellence. The Natural at Beaver Creek Resort The Natural Golf Course is located just five miles south of Gaylord on the west side of Otsego Lake. Famed Michigan Golf Course architect Jerry Matthews used the native Michigan terrain of woodland, wetlands and rolling terrain to create one of the most natural feeling courses you will play. The comfortable clubhouse sits on an elevated bluff overlooking the wetlands with the challenging ninth and 18th holes below. While you are there, be sure to enjoy a light meal, sandwich, or favorite beverage in the lounge. In addition to BOYNE, Treetops and Gaylord Golf Mecca, other Michigan golf resorts, Arcadia Bluffs, Gull Lake View Resort, Forest Dunes and Island Casino & Resort, in Michigan’s U.P. offer lodging, a variety of great golf courses, outdoor activities and fun for the entire family. Michigan has everything a golfer could ask for, plus with several direct flight options from many major cities into Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City. It has never been easier to get there. Don’t wait! Book your 2023 golf adventure to BOYNE Resort or Gaylord Golf Mecca now!
There was a point in my life when an injury had me thinking I’d never play golf again. But for seven-and-a-half years, I slapped on a back brace and continued to play the game I love. Now, as a mother, I’m still doing it. All I’ve ever wanted is to show my daughter what’s possible — to show her that she can still be great at her job and be a great mom at the same time, regardless of the obstacles she faces. Whether it’s golf or some other profession, I want her to grow up and see what strong, powerful women look like. I want her to know that no matter how hard the road gets, she can still succeed. She can always come out on top. But that road will be difficult. Just look at me, for example. Here I am as a mom while still trying to compete against the best golfers in the world. Nothing about that has been easy. It’s the things you don’t really think about: It’s finding someone to help watch the kid while you go practice and the husband For My Daughter By Stacy Lewis Cup, future LPGA stars and possible LIV partnerships with the LPGA. Watch the full interview here: Mou – please put black rectangle here for the video To get to number one in the world and accomplish all the things I did, golf had to be number one in my life. I tell people that all of the time. It has to be at the top of the list. You have to be willing to miss your friends’ weddings or miss a family vacation because you want to be the best in the world. is working. It’s dragging around car seats, strollers, and all the stuff kids need when traveling. It’s trying to eat dinner when you’ve got a child there that you have to bottle-feed. It’s teeing off in the afternoon after being up with a baby throughout the night. Just the energy that it requires, and the time is something I underestimated in the beginning. But I wouldn’t change it for the world, to be honest. I was at a point in my life where I was ready for a shift in priorities. Back 9 Report recently talked with Stacy at The Dana Open about, motherhood, Solheim Ohio Golf Journal
I got to a point in my life where I was tired of missing those things. I was tired of missing out and being gone all the time. It was a natural progression of golf shifting down the priority list. But that doesn’t mean my passion for the sport went away. I’m still as fired up now as I’ve ever been about improving my game. I’m just thankful to have such a really good support system that gives me an opportunity to do both. A big part of that support system is the Smucker’s Child Development Center. Things are much easier during tournaments because of the daycare program. Everything is consistent. The kids know who the ladies are. It’s the same setup each week. They have the same toys, and everything is very familiar. These kids get to grow up around each other. They all have little friends that they’re excited to see. When I drop my daughter off, she runs and gives them hugs every day. It’s just like one big family, really. And it isn’t just a daycare, either. I got food poisoning on a Saturday night when I was at the U.S. Open this year. So that Sunday was absolutely miserable. I was by myself with my daughter that night and called one of the daycare ladies to ask if one of them could come and stay with me at the house. I had an extra bed, and I just needed someone else there with me to help so I could sleep it off. They were at my house in 30 minutes to stay with us. So Smucker’s Child Development Center isn’t just this thing that’s promoted as, “Oh, we
offer X number of hours of daycare every day, etc.” If you really need help with something or you need extra time, they will do it in a heartbeat. They’ve made what I do possible. I’m enjoying it so much that I want to keep playing. It’s funny when I look back and remember thinking that I would be done playing at the age I’m at now. But I enjoy the game more now than I ever have. Whenever I’m out on that golf course, I just get to be me. I know my daughter is safe in daycare. So I can shut my phone off and do what I love. As long as I still love to do it, I want to keep doing it. Obviously, there’s going to be a point where my body, particularly my back, isn’t going to allow me to compete at the same level. And that’ll probably be my stopping point. But I don’t know when that’ll be. For right now, I’m just happy competing and improving. I have a little girl watching and mimicking everything I do. I want to encourage her to be confident and great. And hopefully, I can also make an impact on others that see me doing what I’m doing. Hopefully, more women are willing to balance their dream careers with motherhood. If that trend continues, you’d have a bunch of strong women in this world. Honestly, I’d love to see more of it. This article was reprinted with permission from LPGA. This is how the game should be played. Ambitious challenges. Stunning views. An old-school Donald Ross layout, and Pete Dye’s modern gem. It all comes together at the Midwest’s favorite golf destination. frenchlick.com/golf • 888-936-9360 Just the way golf intended. Management reserves the right to cancel or modify any event without notice. Must be 21 years or older to enter the casino. Gambling Problem? Call 1.800.9.WITH.IT or text INGAMB to 53342! Ohio Golf Journal
Heather Downs Country Club has been one of the best clubs in the Toledo area for almost 100 years. Whether you want to pay greens fees, become a member of an outstanding club, or are looking for the perfect venue for your next outing, Heather Downs Country Club has you covered. The course first opened in 1925 as a horse racing track and evolved into a private country club. It offers everything from wide open fairways for the bombers, to more intricate holes lined by tall trees that require a measure of caution to avoid those dreaded others on the scorecard. It is not long at just under 6,300 yards, but as a par-71, it challenges even the best golfers. In his spare time, he is the Head Coach for the St. Francis Golf Team and competes in the Northern Ohio PGA Section events. He conducts junior programs throughout the year and has also started a golf fitness program at the club. Sutton understands the connection between fitness and a sound golf swing. “To be a more consistent and injury resistant golfer, you have to first understand the connection between the golf swing and one’s physical limitations. There are an unlimited number of ways to swing; the key is to find what a golfer can and can’t physically do.” He first conducts a balance, flexibility and strength test, watches the player hit several Toledo’s Heather Downs Country Club Has It All The 30,000 square foot clubhouse offers a panoramic view of the course and can accommodate any size group with food and beverage packages tailored to your needs. The staff can help plan your next event, wedding, or family reunion with everything necessary to make it a hit. In addition to the fact that Heather Downs is an enjoyable and well-maintained golf course, Dan Sutton has been the Head Professional there since 2012. He personally oversees every outing and works with the members to keep their game top notch. Sutton was a member of the University of Toledo’s Golf team, served as the General Manager at Eagle’s Landing, and was the Director of Golf at Spuyten Duyval before he moved to Heather Downs in 2012. Ohio Golf Journal
balls and tracks their flight using V1 Technology video analysis. He can then comprise a workout regimen that helps the player improve stamina and physical ability. The maintenance staff at Heather Downs is experienced and assures the course is in tournament shape every day of the year. The fully stocked pro shop at Heather Downs can provide door prizes, awards for event winners, make sure your goody bags are stuffed and provide other unique awards for your event. Dan and his staff can work with any group to make your day on the golf course memorable. Heather Downs is a semi-private facility with memberships available. It offers a friendly staff, challenging golf course and everything you are looking for in a golf facility. If you are thinking about the right place to host your group next year, stop by and chat with Dan, or visit their website at: https://www.heatherdowns. com/
Ohio Golf News 2022 Ohio Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Video If you weren’t able to make the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Plumbrook Country Club to watch Bob Sowards and Gary Taylor join an impressive collection of golf greats, the ceremony can be viewed on Back 9 Report TV: Mou: Leave a rectangle for the video The Ohio Golf Association annually inducts golfers into the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame that have had a profound impact on the game of golf in the state, or nationally. Former Ohio University Golfer Jimmy Ellis Finishes Runner-up in Crump Cup For those that don’t know about the Crump Cup, it is one of the most elite titles in amateur golf. Held on one of the most mysterious courses, Pine Valley, it annually attracts the best amateur golfers. Pine Valley is annually ranked as one of the best courses in the world and also one of its most exclusive. It is a treasured invitation for those golfers invited to play in the George A. Crump Memorial Tournament. It is an opportunity to go behind the curtain and experience a place that most will never see, in a tournament with a set of traditions and playing conditions that make it unlike any other event on the amateur schedule. Jimmy Ellis, who played collegiately at Ohio University, made it to the final match against the eventual winner, Stephen Behr Jr. from Alpharetta, Georgia. Behr was playing in his first Crump Cup. In the semi-final match, Ellis had to go 19 holes to defeat two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad, from California, to get into Sunday afternoon’s championship match. Balcar Repeats Mi c h a e l Ba l c a r, Assistant Golf Profess ional at Brandywine Country Club in Toledo, went back-to-back last month by winning the Northern Ohio PGA Assistant Professional Championship at Mayfield Sand Ridge Club for the second consecutive year. Balcar fired two 69’s for a four-under par total and earned $1,300 for the win. Zack Ford, from Tippecanoe Country Club, finished one shot back for runner-up and Pepper Pike’s D.J. Holub was third. Ohio Golf Journal
JUST ASK OUR COURSE RECORD HOLDERS: PHIL MICKELSON, FRED COUPLES, LEE JANZEN & AN UNKNOWN AMATEUR. (We’re not kidding!) Can’t Top That. WWW.TREETOPS.COM | 81 SPECTACULAR HOLES BY GOLF’S GREAT DESIGNERS. EASY. GOLF IS Finley Bartlett on AJGA Junior All Star Team Finley Bartlett from Cincinnati was named to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) 21st annual Junior All-Star Team, which includes 20 players who were recognized as some of the top golfers ages 12-15 in the world during the 2022 season. Bartlett currently attends Wyoming High School and will graduate in 2025. He is currently ranked 37 in the Rolex AJGA Ranking, won the 2022 Justin Thomas Junior Championship and added nine top 10 finishes in AJGA events this season. The AJGA Junior All-Star Team was selected based on top 10 boys and girls from the Rolex AJGA Rankings. Eligibility for the team requires competition in at least two AJGA Junior All-Star Series tournaments, which were conducted across the country from March through August. The AJGA Junior All-Star Team has been invited to play in the Ping An Bank Junior All-Star to be held at Canyon Springs Golf Club in San Antonio, November 20-23. The 20 players on the 2022 AJGA Junior All-Star Team accounted for 19 wins in AJGA events this season. For a complete listing of the 2022 AJGA Junior AllStar team visit: https://www.ajga.org/news/2022junior-all-star-team-announced
Coastal Alabama Has More Than Great Golf With 15 beautiful golf courses in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, located between Pensacola and the eastern shores of Mobile Bay, the area offers a lot more than just great golf. “We’ve got an island that is 32 miles long in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach,’’ said Easton Colvin, public relations coordinator for Gulf ShoresOrange Beach Tourism. “In it there’s 32 miles of pretty, white sand beaches and 20 miles of By Len Ziehm University of Alabama golf team, winning the U.S. Amateur in 1974. His pro career started with a bang, too. In 1976, his rookie season on the PGA Tour, he won both the U.S. and Canadian Opens. Six years later he won The Players Championship. Kiva Dunes hosted the PGA Tour Qualifying School three times and was named the No. 1 public course in Alabama in 2017. Located on the Fort Morgan peninsula the facility has condominiums and beach golf, if you add the yardages of the courses there together. All of our courses are public. You can schedule a tee time on your own at every one of them.’’ Kiva Dunes Kiva Dunes, a links-style layout, designed by Jerry Pate and Jim Edgemon, has earned the most accolades. Pate was a hot commodity as a player before Kiva opened in 1995. He starred for the Kiva Dunes Ohio Golf Journal
houses to rent, four swimming pools, two restaurants and over a mile of waterfront. Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club opened in 1995, with Earl Stone designing its 27 holes on 800 acres. Peninsula has three nine-hole layouts, the Lakes, Cypress, and Marsh. They also have an 8,000 square foot fitness center, eight tennis courts, plus indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Golf Shores Golf Club The third course on the island is Gulf Shores Golf Club, the oldest course at the destination. It was built by the father-son team of Jay and Carter Moorish in the early 1960’s; they returned for a full-scale renovation in 2005. The course was hit by Hurricane Sally in 2020 and is still somewhat in recovery mode but its sharp doglegs and numerous water hazards make for a challenging test. Full-service golf packages for these three courses, owned and operated by Troon, can be booked at: Coastal Alabama Golf. Craft Farms The largest golf complex is a short five-minute ride across the bridge to the mainland. Craft Farms offers two 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Designs, Cotton Creek and Cypress, plus a ninehole par-3. Palmer was just starting to dabble in course design, when he developed a close friendship with Robert Craft Jr. They worked together for the 1987 opening of Cotton Creek and the 1993 debut of the Cypress course. “Gulf Shores in November is as good a place to play golf as you’ll find anywhere,’’ said Dan Dorrough, now the head superintendent at Gulf Shores Golf Club after stints as an assistant at Kiva Dunes and Craft Farms. We made our first trip to Gulf Shores in 2012, but the community has grown drastically since then, with new and expanded attractions. Dining & Attractions The 6,150-acre Gulf Shores State Park is a haven for hikers, cyclists and Segway tours. The Hugh Gulf Shores Golf Club
S. Branyon Backcountry Trail spans the park’s 28 miles and connects Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to the park. There’s also a nature center, over two miles of uninterrupted pristine beachfront and the lodge, a 350-room Hilton hotel featuring the Perch Restaurant. Though it has weathered several hurricanes over the years, FloraBama remains a must visit no matter the duration of your stop in Gulf Shores-Orange Beach area. But Wait There’s MORE! Other attractions include miniature golf indoors, at the glow-in-the-dark Jurassic Dinosaur Adventure. The unique 5,000 square-foot prehistoric setting was a nice diversion for even the most serious golfers in our group. While in Gulf Shores be sure to take the relaxing ‘Sail Wild Hearts’ two-hour sunset cruise on a 53-foot open-ocean catamaran. To learn more and plan your next getaway to Coastal Alabama visit: gulfshores.com. ropes course and children’s activities. The owner is the sister and piano player for one of my all-time favorite singers, Jimmy Buffett. Don’t overlook Sassy Bass Cookout Tiki Bar, it’s somewhat hidden between Kiva Dunes and Peninsula, but the food, served in hot iron skillets, was delicious, in addition to having a unique presentation. The sprawling Flora-Bama Yacht Club is world famous for its Package & Oyster Bar, plus open-air waterfront dining. This legendary facility appeals to all ages with live music, interesting decor and numerous bars. Other local dining options include, Big Fish, featuring seafood and sushi bar, with steak, pasta and sandwiches also available. Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s, located on the Intracoastal Waterway, also has good food along with live music, a fun arcade, a three-story climbing Ohio Golf Journal
Golf Travel Packing Tips Your airline tickets are purchased, tee times are made, and you are set to embark on your DREAM Golf Trip! Don’t forget to pack your “A” game! Plus, a few other important items that will help prevent annoyances and hassles that will quickly turn your “A” game into a “C” game or worse. Here are ten tips to make sure your trip be full of great memories. Some of these I learned the hard way by forgetting them or foolishly disregarding advice from fellow golf travelers and writers. 1. Invest in a Top-Quality Travel Bag Absolutely, positively don’t try to save money by purchasing a cheap travel cover. You can protect your golf club investment by getting a cover from a respected company like Club Glove, Sun Mountain or Bag Boy. More Tips: • Don’t select an all-black cover so you can avoid looking like everybody else. You’ll save time finding your bag on the carousel if it has a recognizable color treatment. • Use your travel cover as an additional piece of luggage by packing shoes and extra shirts on departure and dirty laundry on your return. • Make sure your nametag or business card is placed on the outside of the bag and the inside as well, just in case the outside card is displaced. 2. A lightweight carry Bag for the British Isles If you’ve ever played golf in this part of the world, you’ll notice that the most experienced caddies gravitate to the lightest bag in the group. Show up with one of those giant staff bags and you’ll be treated like someone with a contagious disease. By Ed Schmidt, The Golf Travel Guru
3. Microfiber clothing These amazing fabrics were made for golf travelers. They’re lightweight, wrinkle resistant and dry quickly. Plus, they make layering for cool mornings and hot afternoons much easier. Remember the weather can change at any time and once you are there, you’re going to play, rain, or shine. 4. Quality golf outerwear If you want to be miserable, I mean truly miserable, take a golf vacation to Scotland, Ireland, or the Monterrey Peninsula in California with low cost, ragtag, makeshift rainwear. Standing in a fairway with a thirty mile-an-hour cross wind and a heavy downpour without adequate protection is not a memory you’ll treasure. Take some advice and spend the extra dollars for a top name like, Glen Echo, Columbia, Galway Bay, or Zero Restriction. 5. Take along stain remover for mud, or other mishaps If you don’t, you might bring home a mudsplotched pair of golf slacks or khakis as a souvenir of your trip. Plus, if you have been overserved during dinner and spill sauce, beer, or red wine, you will still look good on the first tee, despite your aching head. 6. Waterproof golf shoes (with shoe trees) You must have a dry pair available in case you get caught in a downpour. Ideally, you need to take at least two pair of waterproof golf shoes, especially on trips four days or longer. Also, pack an extra dry set of socks in your golf bag each day to change with your shoes if a downpour occurs. I don’t think I have ever been on a golf trip that it didn’t rain at least one day during our journey. Ohio Golf Journal
7. Quality golf umbrella Don’t depend on the cheap logo umbrella you received as a gift at your last corporate golf tourney. Invest in a top-quality umbrella that can withstand strong winds and, more importantly, keep you dry between shots. Both Gustbuster and Haas-Jordan are two trustworthy brands that make quality umbrellas. 9. Extra items If you’re traveling in the British Isles or just about anywhere away from the continental U.S., take extra tees, pencils and divot repair tools, which aren’t as readily available at golf courses outside the U.S. 10. Healthy snacks Pack extra boxes of granola bars and peanut butter crackers, especially if you’re playing in the British Isles. The beef barley soup and fish and chips are delicious and are treasured favorites after a round, but you will need healthy snacks during play. We hope you enjoy your golf travel adventure and that these tips will make your trip go smoother. Reprinted from TheGolfTravelGuru.com with permission from Ed Schmidt. 8. Sizeable golf ball inventory In my experience, buying golf balls outside of the U.S. always involves serious sticker shock and a suddenly exploding travel budget. If you are a high handicapper, take more golf balls. Honestly evaluate your game to calculate how many golf balls will be enough.
Linda Hartough Creates Artisitc Golf Images When you walk through the halls of famous old golf clubs, look closely at the paintings of the signature hole. If it is thing of beauty, it probably bears the artist’s name, Linda Hartough. She has been painting famous golf landscapes since 1984, when she was asked by Augusta National to paint their iconic 13th hole. She has been recognized as one of golf’s leading artists and her work has gained international acclaim. She is also the only artist ever to be commissioned by both the United States Golf Association (USGA) and The Royal and Ancient (The R&A) Golf Club of St Andrews to do the annual painting and prints for both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship. By Fred Altvater Ohio Golf Journal
Her work is displayed in permanent collections at Augusta National, Laurel Valley, Pinehurst and Pine Valley. You can also find her work in the personal collections of Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd and Rees Jones, as well as, in the USGA Museum, and the Morris Museum of Art, in Augusta, Georgia. In 2017, Linda was inducted into the Lowcountry Golf Hall of Fame, plus she has received the Golf Digest Lifetime Achievement Award. Historic Oakland Hills Golf Club, in Detroit experienced a devastating clubhouse fire earlier this year and an original paintings and prints of her previous works of art on her website, Hartough.com. She is also working on adding NFT’s to her offerings to help interested fans stay in touch and add to their collections. In 2004, she co-founded the Academy of Golf Art, a nonprofit organization to promote golf art as a genre of fine art. The effort has helped other golf artists connect and become recognized for their work. Find out more at: AcademyofGolfArt.org If you would like to purchase any of her paintings, or prints be sure to visit her website: Hartough.com. Hartough rendering of their 16th hole was lost to that blaze. The club has asked her to create another original oil painting of the 16th Hole to replace it. Back 9 Report had a chance to chat with Linda Hartough about her work and the recreation of the original painting for Oakland Hills Golf Club in Detroit. Mou – leave a black rectangle here Linda primarily only engages in commission work these days, but golf fans can find various
National Links Trust Hopes to Save Municipal Golf Courses One of the things that I find unacceptable in golf is the decline of municipal golf courses in our inner cities, the areas that need golf most. These courses could offer valuable jobs for inner city children to learn about the golf industry from the ground up, plus gain work skills that can help them in their future. One program that is saving three inner city municipal courses is the National Links Trust in By Fred Altvater Washington D.C. Kids learn about golf, as well as develop work skills as caddies, shop help and maintenance assistants. In addition, never underestimate the power of networking with adults, who can provide a positive role model and help find these kids jobs, when they enter the workforce. What is the National Links Trust Program The National Links Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting accessible, affordable, and engaging municipal golf courses to positively impact local communities across the United States of America. The first project is focused on the extraordinary opportunity to improve the golf courses and enhance the facilities at the three municipal courses in our nation’s capital, East Potomac Golf Links, Langston, and Rock Creek Park. None, of which, are currently achieving their full potential. Ohio Golf Journal
Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program As part of its mission, The National Links Trust is dedicated to positively impacting the local community. The Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program does exactly that. It provides financial support for young people interested in taking an early career step in the business of golf. The goal is to give disadvantaged youth the chance to develop relevant skills and acquire tools they will need for future business success, thereby enabling them to pursue productive and prosperous careers for a lifetime. Young people at the East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, and Rock Creek Park Golf Coursehave theopportunity towork inaccounting, sales, marketing, information systems and a broad range of technical disciplines associated with golf course operations and management. They also have the opportunity to meet leaders in the golf profession and network with some of the region’s most dynamic business leaders. To learn more about the Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program and how it is helping Washington D.C. kids gain work experience watch this video: https://youtu. be/350Cs5g_S9M If you would like to help keep the program going, donations are accepted at: https://nlt.revv.co/ donate-today-copy-d69ce183e7bd4310
Just for the Ladies: TaylorMade Introduces Kalea Premier Kalea, the women-specific brand from TaylorMade, has addedupdatedmodels named Kalea Premier. These clubs, made especially for women, are being sold as an 11-piece set, including a cart bag. TaylorMade has been quick to recognize the significant growth of the female segment of the golf equipment market and recently updated their Kalea brand for women with the new Premier models. The price for the set of 10 clubs plus a cart bag is $1,699.99, placing it in the mid-range for topof-the-line clubs and $200.00 more than the previous Kalea set introduced in 2020. Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director for TaylorMade, said in the announcement, “Kalea Premier is a combination of proven TaylorMade technologies, which are tuned specifically to give women the best performance, By Ed Travis and the most visually stunning designs on the market. Our research has shown that women will no longer accept a half-hearted approach to product design in any industry. We’ve been continuously mindful of this and have created a design language that utilizes a combination of rich colors and refined textures with premium materials to create a sophisticated and elegant product line for women.” It’s refreshing to see a major company introduce quality club models into the women’s market that are not men’s clubs from two years ago with pink trim. Kalea Premier will be in stores October 14, 2022. Ohio Golf Journal
Fast Facts for TaylorMade Kalea Premier Driver C4 swing weight, 12.5° loft 44.25 inches length Carbon fiber crown & sole 22g steel rear back weight Fairway wood 20° loft 37% larger face than previous model Low center of gravity Putter Mallet style Pure Roll face 3° loft Kalea Premier Cart Bag 14-way top Seven pockets Choice of light grey, navy/ light grey, black Rescues 5 Rescue 27° loft & 6 Rescue 31° loft High launch weighting Irons 7-iron through sand wedge Cavity back--Cap Back design Lofts: 7-iron 32°, pitching wedge 45°
Kayla Kipp, the equipment manager in the Turfgrass Management Department for Nemacolin Resort’s Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock golf courses, recently became a Certified Turf Equipment Manager through the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). She is one of only 15 people in the world to hold this certification and is the first woman to do so. “To earn her certification, Kayla was required to have three years of experience as an equipment manager and to have completed the Equipment Management Certificate Program (EMCP) Level 1 and 2 to begin the Certified Turf Equipment Manager program (CTEM),” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “To then earn her certification, she passed all 197 attesting criteria focused on best practices of maintenance facility operations, safety, and the environment. She is the first woman to become a CTEM, and we congratulate her on this historical achievement.” Of the accomplishment, Nemacolin President Maggie Hardy Knox said, “This is monumental, and we are proud to have her motivation, determination, and spirit on the associate team at Nemacolin. She’s a shining example to all that nothing is impossible, and she is an encouragement to other women who are determined to achieve success in any business or industry.” Kipp has worked on the maintenance staffs atWisp Resort in Maryland, plus she spent six years in the United States Air Force as a material handling and equipment maintenance journeyman. Kipp said of her accomplishment, “I feel as though I have absolutely cleared a path for others to succeed in this industry and I’m ready for what’s next.” Golf News & Notes Nemacolin’s Kayla Kipp Becomes GCSAA’s First Female Certified Turf Equipment Manager Ohio Golf Journal
The College Golf Experience (CGX), a college golf education program with exclusive endorsement from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), announces new camp events will be held across the country this fall and winter. CGX educates junior golfers, ages 13-18 and their parents about the path to competing in collegiate golf, plus brings them together with college coaches. CGX camps give juniors and their parents experience in one-on-one engagement with college coaches, education seminars on college golf and the recruiting process along with instruction including skill assessment and challenges, plus on-course interaction with coaches during simulated college golf practice and tournament rounds. Juniors experience real-time evaluation and leave with personalized feedback from coaches, along with invaluable insights that help them on their path to finding the right collegiate program fit. Coaches bestow their knowledge and experience and build relationships with the players. This year, CGX has worked with 104 coaches and anticipates working with 325 coaches in Division I, II, III and NAIA across 75-100 camps in 25-30 states during 2023. For coaches, players, and parents the takeaways can be profound: “I always love getting a chance to see the future of college golf. It’s even better when we get the opportunity to educate them. CGX provides a great platform for juniors to learn about the next step in their golf journey,” said J.C. Deacon, Head Men’s Coach, University of Florida. Find out more about upcoming events and camps at: https://collegegolfx.com/. College Golf Experience Adds Fall and Winter Camps
Tiger Woods to Hold National Putting Championship at PopStroke From Len Ziehm Tiger Woods opened his first PopStroke location in Fort Myers, added the second in Port St. Lucie, plus two more in Orlando and Sarasota. Woods also announced a National Putting Championship that will award $100,000 to the championship team and $25,000 to the individual winner. The 72-hole finals are scheduled for October 26-28 in Sarasota, Florida and are open to both amateurs and professionals. PopStroke is an elaborate putting course much more resembling a real golf course than the normal putt-putt. Contestants pay $10 per round and can play as many times as they wish to post a qualifying score for the national tournament. The first and second-place finishers qualify to play in Sarasota where a $100,000 prize fund will be on the line. Ohio Golf Journal
The Big Cleveland & Whiskers Golf Mystery Everyone loves mysteries. Here’s one for the ages in the golf space. Let’s set the stage: Whiskers is America’s foremost designer and manufacturer of men’s and women’s premium shoelaces sold a la carte. Laces represent an accessory that adds just the right amount of color pop and patterns to wardrobes. One of the company’s largest verticals is golf. Now check this out: Cleveland ranks top 10 of all markets nationwide in sales of Whiskers’ golfspecific shoelaces. The most popular colors and patterns are navy and light blue, orange and white, By Rich Katz berry and black, green and blue, and purple and pink. It’s not like Cleveland competes with New York, Los Angeles and Milan as the fashion capital of the world. “We don’t know why the land of the Guardians, Browns and Cavs has taken to Whiskers in droves,” says Kyle Groth, Co-Founder and CEO of Whiskers. “Our order system counts golfers from Firestone Country Club, Shaker Heights Country Club and area daily-fee courses – they’re collecting dozens of Whiskers colors and patterns.” A parallel mystery is Groth himself. An entrepreneur in the spirits business, he stepped into (pun intended) the laces business as a fluke of sorts. Four years ago, while readying for a wedding, he snapped a shoelace. The only replacement he could find was the cheap, inferior variety carried in a local drugstore. Like LeBron James slashing through defenses for a thunderous dunk, Groth saw an open lane to create a business that “upscaled” the lace offering. He studied the category with a proxy to the growing popularity of premium-made, colorful socks. Teaming with Mike Gossett, a veteran product creator for Nike and Crocs was the next step and, voila, Whiskers was born. While the company is big in dress and casual shoes, sneakers and boots categories, its push in Ohio Golf Journal
golf is masterful. Anchored by a “do as the pros do” theme, Whiskers boasts more than 100 PGA and LPGA Tour players and caddies noticeably wearing its laces. This includes major winners and perennial Ryder Cup and President’s Cup stars weaving Whiskers into their FootJoy, adidas, Nike and ECCO kicks. Whiskers laces are also darling gifts for golfers in tournaments and outings in Ohio and nationally. No one expects laces when they open their swag bags. Lacing up takes approximately three minutes and the resulting splash of color injects personality to even the dullest of footwear. Match lace color with your shirt and perhaps Milan runways are in your future. Better yet, unlike buying the latest-and-greatest driver with technology likely rendered antiquated six months post-purchase, Whiskers’ fabrications mean the laces are built to last. They’re affordable, too, at $15 for one pair and $45 and $60 for three- and five-packs, respectively. “There are more than 70 colors of golf-specific Whiskers laces,” Groth says. “Therefore, the odds are Ohio golfers won’t don the same colors as their playing partners.” That’s no mystery. Check out Whiskers full line of colorful golf shoelaces at: https://whiskersgolf.com/
Our Contributors This Month Ed Travis Ed Schmidt Jr. Ed Travis is a national award winning golf journalist and has had a lifelong love affair with the game. He has competed in tournament golf both as an amateur and as a senior professional and though his competitive days are behind him, he still plays regularly and carries a handicap of 2. Golfscribe@outlook.com An intrepid traveler and storyteller, author of three books and more than 3,400 published articles, columns and blog posts, Ed Schmidt Jr., aka The Golf Travel Guru, is well versed in a variety of topics including, golf lifestyle, luxury travel, wine travel destinations, sports and health. Find him at: http://www. thegolftravelguru.com/ Len Ziehm Len Ziehm spent 41 years as a golf columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. He now free lances golf travel pieces and posts for http://lenziehmongolf.com/. Find Len on Facebook: ht tps : //www. facebook.com/ lenziehmongolf/ Ohio Golf Journal
VIDEOS Solheim Cup Captain Stacy Lewis names 4 young women she is watching as possible Team USA rookies & gives her thoughts about Mollie Marcoux upcoming meeting with the LIV and Greg Norman. The Americans won, but the International Team, although greatly overmatched put up a valiant fight and identified several young golfers that could change the outcome in 2024. Treetop’s Alex Hughes Talks about recent Upgrades and Activities at the Resort Treetops’ Assistant Director of Sales, Alex Hughes tells Back 9 Report about renovations to the Tradition, remodeling to the Lodges and the Gaylord Golf Mecca. Stacy Lewis Talks Solheim Cup & LIV Presidents Cup Winners & Losers Watch Now Watch Now Watch Now
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