Let’s PLAY Golf!! Golf is in Full Swing in the Buckeye State. U.S. Open Qualifiers, collegiate seasons wrap up and with the school year over, junior golfers will compete in summer golf leagues. Speaking of golf leagues, if you want to play a little more golf, but can never find the time, maybe you should commit to a golf league that forces you to get in one round every week. You can make some new friends, plus enjoy a cold one, or two after your round. Playing in a golf league is good exercise, gets you away from the stress of work. It is also a respite from home duties and can be good for you mentally, as well as physically. Nearly every course hosts golf leagues and will be happy to help you find one that is right for you. In this issue we feature Ohio colleges and how they fared in the NCAA Golf Championships. We should be very proud of our collegiate golfers around the state as several schools performed well in the NCAA Tournament. The U.S. Open will be held at historic L.A. Country Club and Ed Schmidt gives us some background. If you are thinking about a golf trip this summer, Len Ziehm writes about three resorts in the Poconos that would be just right for your next golf adventure. Mike May also tells us about a few courses in the Georgia Mountains that offer cooler temperatures and beautiful scenery. If you are heading up I-75 through Michigan, stop by The Dream and The Nightmare near West Branch. We love both courses and their greens fees won’t break your piggy bank. I hope you are able to participate in a couple of golf outings this summer. Every year golf outings generate over $4 billion for charities across the country. Do your part, grab your favorite foursome and enter an outing, or two this summer. Maybe I will see you on the Back 9 at the Aurora House, or Maumee Chamber Outings this month. FRED ALTVATER PUBLISHER Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Michigan Golf Journal Indiana Golf Journal Back 9 Report Ohio Golf Journal
Award-winning dining, a booming craft beer scene, luxurious resorts, and exceptional year-round golf on courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail await you in Alabama. Plus, with Jerry Pate’s Kiva Dunes and Arnold Palmer’s Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, from the mountain lakes to the Gulf Coast, you can take it all in. Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Birmingham www.GolfAlabama.org Back 9-Golf Journals.qxp_Layout 1 1/25/22 3:54 PM Page 1
Ohio Golf Journal 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 28 FIND INSIDE 06 18 21 34 Ohio Colleges Compete in NCAA National Championship Experience Mountain Golf In The Poconos 06 21 Clemente & Zweig Win USGA’s Women’s 4-Ball Championship 5 Things To Know About L.A. Country Club & 2023 U.S. Open Ohio Golf News Winners & Losers In New LIV, DP World Tour & PGA Tour agreement Shot Scope Pro L2: What Else Do You Need Need New Wedges? Cobra’s Snakebite May Be Your Answer Magnificent Mountain Golf in Northern Georgia What Is A Sports Medicine Specialist? The Dream & The Nightmare: Best Kept Secrets In Michigan 26 27 28 31 34 12 18 14 10 Our Contributors 38 Our Favorite Golf Videos 39
Ohio State & the University of Cincinnati Men’s Teams Make it to Regionals Ohio State Men’s Golf Team made it through the Auburn Regional to qualify for the National Championship, but their season came to an end when they failed to make into the top Colleges across the country ended their golf seasons in May with the NCAA Championships. Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona hosted both the Division I Men’s and Women’s tournaments. The University of Florida captured the Men’s title beating Georgia Tech 4-1 in the final match. UF also double dipped as Fred Biondi won the NCAA individual title a couple days prior to match play. In the Women’s Division I Championship, Wake Forest finished third in the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championship to qualify for the match play segment. The Demon Deacons then outplayed No. 6 Florida State and No. 7 Texas A&M to reach the final match and beat USC 3-1-0 to claim the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Championship. eight after stroke play in Scottsdale, to qualify for the team match play segment of the tournament. A grad transfer from James Madison, Neal Shipley posted the best individual scores for the Buckeyes with a T-29. Max Moldovan finished T-55. JonErik Alford (T-74), Adam Wallin (81) and Jackson Chandler (82) rounded out the Buckeye squad’s scoring in the National Championship. The University of Cincinnati (UC) competed in the Las Vegas Regional, but they finished eighth and failed to qualify for the National Championship in Arizona. This was UC’s first-ever appearance in a Men’s Division I Regional and they finished 14 shots behind East Tennessee State, who grabbed the last spot into the finals. Ohio Colleges Compete in NCAA National Championship Ohio Golf Journal
A highlight for the Bearcats was that Sam Jean tied for ninth in the individual segment and came up just two strokes shy of reaching the finals. Head Coach Doug Martin said of his team’s efforts, “It was an unbelievable experience for our young players. I was really happy for Sam to go out on a great note as one of the program’s best players. I’m proud of the guys. Five got NCAA Regional experience, and those five all return next year. The future is bright for our program, and we have to stay hungry.” Both Ohio State and Kent State Women’s Teams Make It to Regionals Both Ohio State and Kent State’s Women’s Golf Teams competed in the Athens, Georgia NCAA Regional Championship. The Lady Buckeyes placed sixth at the NCAA Athens Regional and just missed qualifying for the finals by two strokes. Kary Hollenbaugh led the team tying for 16th place. Lauren Peter (20th), Aneka Seumanutafa (27th ) and Caley McGinty (37th) also played all three rounds in Athens. Jillian Bourdage competed in the first two rounds and Kailie Vongsaga substituted for her in the final round. Men’s NCAA Division III Wittenberg University made it through regional play and finished 13th in the Men’s NCAA Division III Championship. Matthew Mattioli led Wittenberg with four rounds of +2 over par to finish T-21.
UF Women Finish High In NCAA Division II Championship University of Findlay Women’s Golf Team finished 3rd in NCAA Women’s Division II National Championship. With scores of 70-74-70 for a combined -2 under par, the Lady Oilers’ Gabby Woods finished runner-up in the Individual portion. Her teammates Jill Schmitmeyer was T-8 and Mary Kelly Mulcahy was T-14. Tiffin University also made it out of the regionals and finished T-17 in the National Championship. Men’s Division II Avalon Lakes Golf Club in Warren, Ohio hosted the Men’s NCAA Division II Championship. Oklahoma Christian took the title by 15 shots over Barry University. Ohio colleges were very involved in the NCAA Championships and proves once again that golf at every level is very strong in the Buckeye State. Takagi Earned Trip to NCAA Finals The Kent State Women’s Golf Team is always loaded with talented women golfers and 2023 was no exception. This season they won their 23rd consecutive MAC Championship and qualified for the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regionals. Mid-American Conference (MAC) Freshman of the Year, Leon Takagi finished fifth at the Athens, Georgia Regional to qualify for the NCAA Women’s Championship. The team failed to finish strong enough to make it to the finals and Takagi competed in Scottsdale as an individual. With scores of 71-72-76, Takagi finished T-47 in Scottsdale, but the freshman proved that she is someone to watch in the coming seasons. Ohio Golf Journal
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June 6th is best remembered for the 1941 D-Day Invasion that began the arduous task of pushing the German army out of Western Europe. This year, however, golfers will always remember it as the day the PGA and European Tours merged with the rival LIV Golf League. The LIV led by Greg Norman lured several big-name players to their upstart tour by offering huge guaranteed bonuses, plus $20 million purses with no-cut 54-hole tournaments. Winners & Losers In New LIV, DP World Tour & PGA Tour agreement By Fred Altvater Ohio Golf Journal
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) sunk nearly a billion dollars into getting the new league off the ground and it became a huge thorn in the side of both the PGA and European Tours. PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan tried to ignore the rival league, but with the billions of dollars available to the Saudis via Aramco Oil profits, the American Tour never had a chance. After three years of highly public legal maneuvering and social media attacks the three tours have agreed to drop all the lawsuits and create a new world entity that would preside over all three tours. If you can’t beat’em…..Join’em. The PGA Tour was faced with justifying their tax-exempt status in the court system and that simply could not happen. Given the billions of dollars the PGA Tour generates every year, the tax bill would have been enormous if they were to lose their 501(c)(6) exemptions. The Saudis made their point. Greg Norman knew what buttons to push and he did it masterfully. Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, as well as several other stars defected to the new league for the guaranteed money, larger purses and fewer events. The PIF’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan will become the Chairman of the Board, for the yet-to-benamed entity and PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan will be its CEO. The key points in all of this are that the lawsuits will come to an end, LIV players, who were suspended by both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour will be allowed to return to both after the 2023 season. The PIF will pump millions of dollars into the new entity and the PGA Tour will continue to run their schedule as they have in the past. In a poll of golfers and golf media conducted by Scott Michaux for Power Poll responders were not shy about expressing their feelings with opinions varying widely. The majority (58 percent) were disappointed in the deal, while only 13 percent were pleased, 15 percent relieved and 13 percent don’t know yet how to feel about it. Despite those initial reactions, roughly twothirds of poll voters believe the peace agreement between the rival tours will either be good for the game (37 percent) or neither good nor bad (28 percent), with 35 percent feeling that it will turn out to be bad for the professional game. Even hard-core golf fans have become disenchanted with professional golf and declining television ratings numbers prove that point. Hopefully this new merger will be a positive for both golf fans and professional golfers, but only time will tell.
time 16-year-old Zweig has teamed up with the 15-year-old Clemente, who just finished her sophomore year in high school. In the last three Women’s Four-Ball championships, the pair reached the semifinals in 2021 and the Round of 16 last year. Back 9 Report talked with Gianna in January after her win at The Sally and prior to her appearance in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/ zanWNqTCNXU. Insert ANWA invitation Gianna Clemente pic here Originally from Warren, Ohio, Gianna Clemente and her partner, Avery Zweig, from Texas, became the youngest duo to win the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball Championship last month at the Home Course in DuPont, Washington. Clemente started off the year with a win at the South Atlantic Amateur (The Sally), one of the most prestigious women’s amateur tournaments in the country, plus she competed in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April. Clemente and Zweig are no strangers to USGA National Championships. This was the fifth Gianna Clemente & Avery Zweig Win USGA’s Women’s 4-Ball Championship Ohio Golf Journal
When just 11-years-old, Clemente qualified for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur. Last year she Monday qualified for three LPGA Tour events, plus finished runner-up in the 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. With prior victories at the College Prep Series held at Kent State and the PING Invitational, Gianna has risen to No. 40 on the Women’s Amateur Golf Rankings. The victory earns Clemente and Zweig exemptions into the U.S. Women’s Amateur in August at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, as well as berths in the U.S. Girls’ Junior in July at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Eisenhower Golf Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Zweig said of her playing partner, “Gianna has been playing some phenomenal golf. I don’t think I’ve seen better ball-striking out of anyone. When you have a partner that’s hitting it down the middle every time, that’s extremely helpful.” Gianna said of the week, “It’s amazing. It’s been such a long and grueling week with a lot of really tense moments and a lot of really fun ones in there, too. I can’t even explain it.” As the Champions both Zweig and Clemente Receive: • A gold medal for each player • Custody of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Trophy for one year • 10-year U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball exemption, provided the side remains intact • Exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif. • Exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Eisenhower Golf Course in Colorado Springs, Colo. • Names engraved on the 2023 champions’ plaque that will reside in the USGA Museum’s Hall of Champions “This has been one of the best weeks of my life, and to spend it with somebody that I’m so close with, it’s been amazing,” Gianna Clemente on winning the title with close friend Avery Zweig.
After ‘Golf’s Longest Day,’ Monday June 5th, the field for the 123rd U.S. Open to be held at L.A. Country Club is nearly set. With 9,693 hopefuls and 86 exempt players already in the field, only 70 spots remained in the 156-man field for qualifiers. Former Buckeye and longtime PGA Tour professional Ryan Armour carded 66-67, sevenunder par at the Lambton Golf OhioGolf News U.S. Open Qualifiers From Ohio U.S. Women’s Open July 6-9, the 78th U.S. Women’s Open will be held at Pebble Beach for the first time. The USGA has been making a conscious effort to hold their women’s championships at iconic venues and there certainly is no course that fits that designation like Pebble Beach. A record 2,107 women registered to qualify at one of the 26 qualifiers. The Ohio State University Golf Course hosted one of the qualifiers on June 9. Logan Lagodich, from Canton were not able to make it through to the U.S. Open. The Toledo Local Qualifier saw Brandon Pluchinsky, from Lima, PGA Tour winner, Jason Kokrak, Barberton’s Chase Johnson, T.T. Couch, from Mt. Vernon and Toledo’s Michael Balcar make it through, but none of those players were able to continue farther and their U.S. Open journey ended. In Springfield Jordan Gilkison, an amateur from Springboro and Tom Ballinger, who qualified locally in Toledo were not able to snag one of the five spots available into the U.S. Open field from the 75 players. Club in Toronto, to qualify for the U.S. Open that will be held at L.A. Country Club June 15-18. Current Buckeye, Maxwell Moldovan finished T-4 with his 36-hole total of seven-under par at the Springfield Country Club qualifier on Monday, June 5. The only problem was that three players were tied at that number and only two spots were available. On the eighth playoff hole Moldovan made a par, but his competitor rolled in a birdie to make Moldovan the 1st alternate out of the Springfield Qualifier. In Columbus, Zach Mandry from Solon, Youngstown’s Ken Keller, Bryce Reed from Sunbury and Ohio Golf Journal
Sowards Wins AGAIN!! Bob Sowards captured his fifth consecutive Michelob Ultra Ohio Senior Open title for the fifth consecutive year with a final-round two-under 68. His 36-hole total of 5-under 135 at Firestone Country Club, gave him the two-shot victory over Loveland’s Mike Thomas. Sowards will soon turn 55 and has won this event every year since he has been eligible. Several players quipped that Sowards has won this event so often, they should just name the trophy after him. The Senior Plus Division (60 & Over) was won by first-time entrant, Cal Wood, an amateur from Athens, Ohio. Wood shot a score of 69-67-136. a 3 shot victory over Richard Marlowe from Youngstown, Ohio. Teresa Toscano, from Spain and Charlotte Thomas, from England grabbed the two exemptions in Columbus, while Molly Skapic from Miamisburg, Ohio and amateur Amy Frye from Kentucky were alternates. Of interest, Rose Zhang who won the NCAA Individual Championship and followed up by winning her first professional event on the LPGA in New Jersey was given a special exemption into the U.S. Women’s Open by the USGA.
Gladsby Wins Women’s Ohio State Golf Association Mid-Am The Women’s Ohio State Golf Association held the 7th Annual Mid-Amateur at Zanesville Country Club. Susan Glasby, from Chesapeake, played steady one-over par golf through 54 holes to win the title. Former Mid-Am Champion, Suzi Spotleson finished second, seven strokes behind Glasby. The 32-year-old Gladsby was born in Australia, but has resided in Ohio for the past 10 years. She and her husband have a six-year-old daughter. She was a top amateur in Australia, but gave up the game for nearly 10 years, before picking up the stick again in 2019. Cosmopolitan Stroke Play Four Ball Alliance Country Club June 26 - 27 47th Ohio Junior Girls Marion Country Club July 10 - 11 100th Women’s Ohio State Amateur Scioto Country Club July 24 – July 27 Club Mixer on July 23 25th Women’s Ohio State Senior O’Bannon Creek Golf Club, Loveland August 21 - 22 Tournament registration and more information is available at: https://www.wosga.org/. Upcoming Women’s Ohio State Golf Association Events Ohio Golf Journal
1. North Course Overview While this superb parkland course debuted in the late 1920’s, it was adroitly renovated and updated in 2010 by Gil Hanse, his associate Jim Wagner and writer/golf history expert Geoff Shackelford in a five-year project. The front nine skirts up and down a shallow canyon and the back nine is laid out on a more open piece of property. The 2023 U.S. Open course set up will play 7,421 yards, Five Things To Know About L.A. Country Club & 2023 U.S. Open par 70 for the 123rd U.S. Open. It has a great mix of uphill and downhill, as well as long and short holes surrounded in the distance by the urban landscape of downtown Los Angeles and the high rises of Century City across the street. 2. Most Notable Holes Players can’t really ease into the course as the 2 through 7 hole stretch is magnificent and By Ed Schmidt Jr. Ohio Golf Journal
challenging. The short downhill par-4 sixth is easily reachable at 330 yards followed by the longish par-3 seventh at 284 yards. Both are wonderfully designed gems that can make or break a round. Gil Hanse had this to say about the sixth hole. “Someone could play ‘bombs away’ and just deal with wherever they end up, while others will play to the fairway and try to give themselves a better angle with a short club in their hands.” The par-3 9th hole measures 171-yards and is generally regarded as the signature hole. The 11th is another par-3 at 290-yards and features the downtown Los Angeles skyline as a backdrop. The three closing par-4’s are long and difficult. No. 16 maxes out at 542 yards, The 17th is 520 yards and the 18th is 492 yards. All three closing holes require pinpoint accuracy off the tee and have defensive bunkering fronting the greens. They will provide a stern test for any player trying to hold on to a one-shot lead at the end of the tournament. 3. Tournament History The Los Angeles Country Club North Course has previously hosted three USGA championships, the 1930 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 1954 U.S. Junior Amateur and 2017 Walker Cup. 4. Location Los Angeles Country Club is located between downtown L.A. and the Pacific Ocean. Situated near Beverly Hills on Wilshire Boulevard it is in close proximity to Century City, UCLA and Rodeo Drive. 5. Club History In 1897, Joseph Sartori and Edward Tufts organized an association to address the increasing popularity of golf in California. After outgrowing three locations and years of planning, the club adjacent to posh Beverly Hills officially opened on May 30, 1911. With Its beautiful clubhouse, tennis courts and challenging golf courses, it has served as the club’s home ever since. The original 18-hole golf course was laid out by Sartori, Tufts, Norman Macbeth and Charles Orr. In 1921. British golf architect W. Herbert Fowler created two new 18-hole courses at the existing location. In the late 1920s, legendary golf course architect and club member George C. Thomas Jr. redesigned the North Course. The clubhouse was restored to its original grandeur with a 16-month renovation in 2015. The grand reopening in 2016 included the rededication of the Reagan Terrace in honor of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States and member of The Los Angeles Country Club. The USGA likes to host the U.S. Open on courses rich with history, plus provide a severe challenge for the golfers. L.A. Country Club will fill the bill on both accounts.
When the opportunity arose to experience golf in the Pocono Mountains, Joy and I immediately said accepted the invitation and we’re glad we did. We were going to be near the Poconos at Valley Forge for the Spring Forum of the International Network of Golf (ING). With the Poconos barely an hour away, we were on our way as soon as the Forum ended. Experience Mountain Golf In The Poconos Written by Len Ziehm, with Pictures by Joy Sarver The Lehigh Valley Poconos Golf Trail includes a good mix of golf. We experienced three very different types of courses with rounds at Jack Frost National, in Blakeslee; Woodloch Springs, in Hawley; and Shawnee, in Shawnee on the Delaware. The drive to these three locations traversed winding roads with beautiful views. The small towns we drove through provided pleasant glimpses into
the history of the quaint communities, but you definitely need to allow sufficient travel time to navigate the curvy roads and enjoy the scenery. Jack Frost National was the most interesting of the three courses, Woodloch the most challenging and Shawnee the most historical. JACK FROST NATIONAL This layout, measuring 7,256 yards from the tips and spread over 200 acres, is a championship caliber course, but few big events have been hosted there. “It’s hard to schedule large tournaments because we’re a busy place,’’ said director of instruction Ryan Kearn. “We do 218 rounds a day.’’ Most striking about the course are the changes in elevation, most evident between the par-5 ninth hole, which plays uphill, and the sevely downhill par-3 eleventh. The area also has a ski hill that is in operation during winter months, but Kearn says there’s no overlap between the sports, as the golf and ski facilities have different owners. “In each of the last three years closing day (for skiers) came the day before our opening day,’’ said Kearn. “Our course is interesting, fun, wide open with big greens and fairways and only one water hole.’’ The bar/dining area is covered but open air on the sides, a nice friendly place for socializing before and after play. Architect for Jack Frost National was Terry LaGree, who holds a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Wisconsin, but is best known as the CEO of Florida’s Black Diamond Ranch. WOODLOCH SPRINGS Rocky Roquemore designed this toughie in 1992. It’s only 6,579 yards from the back tees but there’s some demanding shots that can’t be avoided. Its imperative to keep your ball in the landing areas on holes number 3 and 7, the two Ohio Golf Journal
par 5’s on the front nine, if you want to avoid a double bogey, or worse. Roquemore has created courses in Portugal, France, Venezuela, Colombia and the Caribbean, as well as across the United States. His bestknown courses are probably the Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista and Palm at Walt Disney World. Woodloch Springs is challenging, while offering excellent views, plus the native deer population provide an ever-watchful gallery. Woodloch Springs semi-private facility with two restaurants in the clubhouse that assured we would be well fed during our visit. SHAWNEE There are 27 holes of golf at this historic inn and golf resort. The initial 18 holes opened in 1910 and were designed by the legendary A.W. Tillinghast, who went on to design such famous layouts as Winged Foot, Bethpage Black and Baltusrol. All of which have which hosted U.S. Opens. In the early days Shawnee hosted big events, which drew the top names of the day. Fred McLeod and John McDermott, a two-time U.S. Open champion, won the Shawnee Open in 1912 and 1913. Alexa Stirling captured the U.S. Women’s Amateur there in 1919 and Paul Runyan won a title match against Sam Snead in the 1938 PGA Championship. Celebrities found Shawnee welcoming, as well. In 1943 the resort was sold to singer/entertainer Fred Waring. Jackie Gleason learned to play golf there and Hale Irwin won the 1967 NCAA Division I Individual Championship at Shawnee, before he turned professional and captured three U.S. Open titles. The ski side of the resort featured three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Jean-Claude Killy, as its head of operations in the early 70’s. Arnold Palmer met his first wife, Winnie, on the porch of the Shawnee Inn and golfers, who waked the fairways over the years include, Lucille Ball, Art Carney, Perry Como, President Dwight D.
Eisenhower, Eddie Fisher, George Gobel and Ed Sullivan. Indiana architect Bill Diddel added a third nine in 1963 and more recently Tom Doak created a nine-hole practice facility at the resort. A major bridge construction was underway when we visited, because the course is divided by, what Shawnee Director of Marketing Jeromy Wo describes as “international waters.’’ The par-3 second hole on the Red nine plays over the Delaware River to an island where Twentyfour of the 27 holes at Shawnee are located. “The island isn’t part of either Pennsylvania or New Jersey,’’ said Wo. There is much more than just golf at Shawnee. The 80-room Inn is charming, plus there are vacation cottages, as well as the Delaware Lodge available for guests. When you are ready for apres’ golf, the resort has two pubs and a brewery. Spa Shawnee and Salon is a place to get pampered, unwind and soothe achy muscles. Other off-course activities include, boating and rafting on the river, an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, a beach along the Delaware River, biking and hiking trails, plus a playhouse. Shawnee, Woodloch Springs and Jack Frost National are all worth the trip. If you are tired of fighting the summer heat at your home, these three provide a respite from it and will create memories that will last a lifetime. Ohio Golf Journal
Shot Scope Pro L2— What Else Could You Need?By Ed Travis Shot Scope, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, has made a great reputation for their golf technology and the latest release, the Pro L2 laser rangefinder, has most all the bells and whistles a golfer needs at a wallet-friendly price. Shot Scope CEO David Hunter says, “Our mission remains to provide the best in performance and accuracy at an affordable price point, and we believe PRO L2 meets that objective.” Shot Scope’s Pro L2 laser rangefinder does all of that and more. It does lack the ability to track game performance on the course, plus it doesn’t use satellites for GPS distances. The Pro L2 does have on/off slope, vibrates when the target is acquired and has the same accuracy as other brands that cost considerably more. Fast Facts Shot Scope Pro L2 Laser Rangefinder Slope adjustment (tournament on/off switch) 6x magnification 700-yard range Target lock vibration Scan mode Adjustable eyepiece Water resistant Case, cleaning cloth, carry clip, cart magnet CR2-3V battery 2-year warranty Blue or Grey accent $149.99 The choice should be obvious. At less than $150.00 retail, Shot Scope is a very attractive range finder choice and is sure to build a loyal following. Ohio Golf Journal
Need New Wedges? Cobra’s Snakebite Line Might Be In Your Future By Ed Travis Three new Cobra Snakebite wedges hit retail stores recently with the groove configuration maximized for spin, adding bite on the greens, plus there is even a new game-improvement model, the Snakebite-X. Cobra had a real hit with the original Snakebit wedges introduced two years ago. At the time they earned kudos for a great name in a club category not known for original monikers. For the latest 2023 models the grooves have been redesigned to provide more spin and the milling is 11% deeper with 40% sharper edges. The big news for this year is the addition to the lineup of regular and One Length models of the Snakebite-X, specifically designed for those needing help with their wedge play. These clubs have a hollow cavity back with a TPU insert. Cobra touts improved feel, plus forgiveness for off-center hits has been ratcheted up a notch. The teardrop design makes hitting shots from a variety of lies and the most difficult turf condition much easier. Fast Facts Cobra Snakebite Wedges Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline $159 Snakebite Three grind options Stock shaft: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 Stock lofts: 48° to 60° in 2° increments Snakebite One Length Stock shaft: 37.5” KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 Stock lofts: 48° to 60°, except 58° Snakebite-X Hollow cavity back TPU insert Stock lofts: 48°, 52°, 56°, 60° Stock Shaft: KBS MAX 85
Magnificent Mountain Golf in Northern Georgia By Mike May As summer approaches and temperatures near the boiling point in various parts of the country, the mountains of Northern Georgia stay cool all summer, with long lazy days to enjoy golf. The best mountain golf along the Eastern Seaboard is not restricted to North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Georgia is often overlooked and golfers are pleasantly surprised to know that three courses, Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa, Valhalla Golf Club and Sky Valley Country Club are three of the best mountain courses to be found. All three courses are also members of the Georgia Golf Trail. “There isn’t a better golf getaway, especially in the late spring, summer, and early fall, than North Georgia,” said Doug Hollandsworth, Founder, Georgia Golf Trail. “Georgia’s mountain golf courses are terrific.” Nestled in the mountains of North Georgia, Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa is the quintessential mountain golf getaway. Even though Brasstown Valley is located in a mountainous terrain, the golf course was built in a valley. Just a two-hour drive from both Atlanta and Chattanooga, it is easily accessible for golfers in the Southeast. At Brasstown Valley, the mountain air is clearer, cleaner, and crisper, plus the atmosphere is refreshing and re-energizing. The golf course winds its way through wildlife preserves, ponds, and streams, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. FYI: Brasstown Bald, elevation: 4,784 feet is the highest peak in Georgia and a beautiful sight from the golf course. The Valhalla Golf Club, nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, has been referred to by several golf pundits as “Alpine mountain golf at its finest.” It is truly “affordable golf in priceless Ohio Golf Journal
FYI: An ideal place to spend the night in Helen is at the luxurious Valhalla Resort, which is adjacent to the Valhalla GC. Sky Valley Country Club has an average elevation of 3,500 feet which makes it one of the highest elevation golf courses in Georgia. Sky Valley is surrounded by the Nantahala surroundings.” The most memorable shot at Valhalla is the downhill tee shot on the par-three 15th with a significant 150-foot drop from tee to green. The nearby town of Helen has a strong German theme to its architecture and atmosphere. You will feel an Octoberfestlike celebration every day. National Forest. Several elevated tees add an element of excitement, intrigue, and strategy to the Sky Valley golf experience. FYI: Sky Valley is always well maintained and the tee-togreen course conditions are exemplary. While at Sky Valley don’t miss the opportunity to eat at The Dillard House. The food is homemade and is served “family-style.” It is Southern cooking at its finest, 365 days
a year. Each menu item is a family recipe and from the dining room, you can see the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. FYI: Famous patrons at The Dillard House include former President Jimmy Carter and the late, great country & western singer Waylon Jennings. If your travels to Georgia begin or end in Atlanta, play golf at Stonemont, a par-70 layout, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. It features gently rolling fairways flanked by Georgia pines with many dramatic views of Stone Mountain. Tip to the wise, putts at Stonemont tend to break away from Stone Mountain. FYI: Comfortable accommodations with views of Stone Mountain Lake are available at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort. After visiting the Georgia Golf Trail, it won’t be easy leaving Georgia, but it will be easy to plan a return visit. the Stone Mountain Golf Club, just east of Atlanta. Located within Stone Mountain State Park, the golf club features “One Lake, One Mountain, and two Incredible Courses,” Lakemont and Stonemont. Water is present on eight of the first 13 holes on the Lakemont course. It is not heavily bunkered, but its biggest defense mechanisms are the pine tree-lined fairways and Stone Mountain Lake. FYI: Wonderful views of Stone Mountain are present throughout the course. ‘Peaceful’ is the one word to describe the setting at Ohio Golf Journal
What Is A Sports Medicine Specialist? By Henry O. Akinbobuyi Sports medicine specialists are medical professionals who have received specialized training in sports medicine. They are equipped to handle various types of sports-related injuries, from sprains and strains to concussions and fractures. They can identify, treat, and prevent injuries related to physical activity, exercise, and sports. Theywork with professional athletes, amateur sports enthusiasts, as well as active individuals of all ages to help them maintain their physical fitness and avoid injuries. “I tend to use the analogy that we’re like the primary care of orthopedics,” said Blake Averill, MD, sports medicine specialist with Franciscan Health. “We’re not surgeons, but we should be the first person you see for any sports-related injuries or concerns.” Dr. Averill emphasizes that athletes should visit a sports medicine specialist for even the slightest ache, pain, or injury experienced during or immediately after playing a sport to avoid worsening. There are patients with several conditions that sports medicine physicians like Dr. Averill may see, such as teenagers with twisted ankles, middle-aged patients attempting to get physically active, while dealing with hamstring
issues, or even the elderly playing light sports with sore shoulders. Is A Sports Medicine Specialist Different From A Primary Care Physician? “The majority of sports medicine specialists do complete a residency in family medicine, but then go on to do an additional fellowship in sports medicine,” said Dr. Averill. “Still, it’s not just family medicine, you could go on to do that sports med training if you did a residency in pediatrics, emergency medicine, internal medicine, and physiatry.” Dr. Averill explained that most sports medicine specialists come from different medical backgrounds, but have chosen to get that additional training to focus on musculoskeletal medicine. Who Can Benefit By Seeing A Sports Medicine Specialist? A sports medicine physician offers several benefits for athletes. Their roles in helping prevent and treat sports-related injuries include: • Examining and diagnosing injuries such as sprains, strains, fractures, and concussions. • Developing and supervising rehabilitation programs to help patients recover from injuries. • Monitoring patients’ progress and making any necessary adjustments to their treatment plans. • Advising athletes and other active individuals on ways to prevent future injuries and maintain their physical fitness. • Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists and trainers, to provide comprehensive medical care. Young Athletes And Parents Children and their parents can also significantly benefit from the help of sports medicine specialists. Some children can be very excited and energetic while competing in their favorite sports. Understandably, immersion in a sport can distract a child from proper form and movement, which can lead to injuries over time. “We see a lot of kids after the fact, so if they have any type of pain or curiosity at all, they can come in and we can do a full assessment in my office where I can look at their dynamics, arches, how Ohio Golf Journal
they walk and run, and how their shoulders are moving,” Dr. Averill said. Dr. Averill explained that all the assessment methods used, along with sports medicinetrained physical therapists, can help children avoid injuries and even improve their overall performance by correcting their form and helping them use the correct muscles as a runner or thrower, for example. Injured Athletes and AthletesIn-Training “I think the majority of people we see is going to be after acute injuries like falls, shoulder dislocations, or calf muscle sprains, but I’d like to see people sport they have in mind for preparation. “We can get you connected with dieticians, physician therapists, occupation therapists, and even our athletic training staff,” said Dr. Averill. “I can also talk to our orthopedic surgeons if there’s an issue, so we do a really good job of making sure we bring everyone to the table and give you the best information you can have.” Sports Medicine Specialists diagnose injuries and develop rehab plans to help injured athletes get back into the game. They also provide guidance on injury prevention to help athletes perform at their optimal levels in their chosen sport. more before the fact,” Dr. Averill said. “Still, we do have a good amount of people who will come and see us before they start training.” Dr. Averill mentioned how people may visit him while preparing for extensive running, such as training for a 5K or a half marathon, to receive suggestions for performing at their best while avoiding injuries. “The uniqueness and what I enjoy about sports medicine is how well we collaborate with other people,” said Dr. Averill. Sports medicine specialists can assist patients by referring them to other specialists depending on their injury or the specific
Two of the best kept secrets in Michigan are The Nightmare and The Dream golf courses near West Branch, owned and operated by the Courtemanche family. The Dream opened for play in 1997 and The Nightmare came six years later in 2003. Both The Dream & The Nightmare: Best Kept Secrets In Michigan By Fred Altvater courses feature wide forgiving fairways with beautifully designed and well maintained greens. In the late 1960’s Art Courtemanche owned a trucking business, but was looking for other business opportunities. While listening to his friends talk about their golf experiences, he Ohio Golf Journal
decided it would be a good idea to build a golf course. North of Bay City, near Pinconning, he found a suitable property. Armed with a bulldozer, front end loader and excavator, Art and his sons, Tom and Dan spent their evenings building and shaping the Green Hills Golf Course, which opened in 1971. Art put his family to work operating the new endeavor and it became successful. As they grew older Tom and Dan dreamed of owning their own course. In 1994 the acreage that is now, The Dream, near West Branch became available and the brothers bought it. The course was a hit with local golfers, plus the prime location along I-75 drew in golfers heading farther north. Their new course was a hit and five years after opening The Dream, they purchased a piece of property near their first course on which they constructed The Nightmare. Be advised, the name, Nightmare has nothing to do with the difficulty of the course. It is simply a play off the name of their sister course, The Dream. Both courses are a joy to play and are always maintained to tournament quality. The courses offer multiple tee options for every skill level. Women and juniors will like the forgiveness and appreciate the rolling terrain with subtle breaks on the greens. From the back tees The Dream can play up to 7,000 yards and The Nightmare maxes out at 7,019 yards. Both will provide a true test for the avid golfer. You will not play any course, that charges double the green fee, in better condition than these two beauties. I have played both courses on numerous occasions and have found them to be in excellent condition on every visit. In addition, the naturally rolling sand hills of the area provide an aesthetically pleasing round for every golfer. For over fifty years the Courtemanche family has persevered in the golf business, plus added a fourth course in nearby Gladwin, owned and
operated by their sister and her husband, Jann and John Schumacher. One note, neither The Nightmare, nor The Dream have a liquor license. These may be the only golf courses, you will ever play, that allows golfers to bring their own adult refreshments to the course. If you have a golf group heading farther north to play at Gaylord, Garland, Forest Dunes, or Boyne, why not add The Nightmare and The Dream to your golf junket? They are two of the best courses you can play, plus they won’t deplete your wallet. Weekday green fees are as low as $60.00, including cart and range balls. With ‘stay & play’ packages available, you might want to consider making The Dream and The Nightmare your final destination. Learn more, or reserve a tee time at: http://www.thedream.golf/. Ohio Golf Journal
Our Contributors This Month Ed Travis 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: https://www.facebook.com/ lenziehmongolf/ Ed Schmidt Jr. 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/ 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. https://www.facebook.com/ ed.travis.98 Ohio Golf Journal
VIDEOS Back 9 Report visited North Berwick, the fourth oldest course in the world, an Old Tom Morris design. https://youtu.be/gog_1MK0OUo Brooks Koepka’s huge win at the PGA Championship puts him squarely on track to be on the U.S. Ryder Cup Team. Will his association with the LIV Tour keep him off the team? https://youtu.be/xgzocehTNj8 Back 9 Report talked with Beau Welling, one of the designers for Fields Ranch, about the new PGA facility in Frisco, Texas. https://youtu.be/wAeFtfsxunw Playing the 4th Oldest Course in the World, North Berwick Koepka’s PGA Win Creates Ryder Cup Controversy Designer Beau Welling Talks About The PGA’s New Mega Facility Fields Ranch Watch Now Watch Now Watch Now
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