2012 Fall Edition SFG

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VOL 10!

IS RORY MCILROY MOVING IN ON TIGER WOODS' GOLF TURF?

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INDEX

Editorial 06

Diplomat Golf Course 08

Rori moving in on Tiger’s turf 12

Stacy Lewis 15

Understand The Slice 18

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PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Thornton grabs Oregon Open

PGA Professional Brian Thornton(Meridian Valley C.C.) shot a final-

round 7-under-par 65 en route to claimingchampionship honors at the 2012OregonOpen Invitational, held at Broken Top Club.

Thornton fashioned a clean final round,carding seven birdies and no bogeys to finishtwo shots ahead of 2008Oregon Openchampion Corey Prugh (Manito G. & C.C.).

When asked how he felt after his final-round triumph, Thornton replied, “I felt verygood. There were so many great players. Tobe mentioned as a winner alongside some ofthe other tournament winners is a real honor.There have been some legends of the gamewho have won this tournament and it feelsgood to be a part of that history.”

Scoring conditions were evident early inthe final round. After just sneaking by thecut, and playing in the first group of theday, PGA Professional Chris Van der Velde(Tetherow G.C.) carded a 9-under-par 63 topropel himself up to a T-11 finish. With theround, Van der Velde set a new Broken Topscoring record, and posted the lowestOregon Open tournament round sincePGA Professional Mike Gove finishedwith a final-round 62 in 1992.

Seven-under for the day and two shotsup coming down the stretch, all Thorntonneeded to do was finish it off. “I did peekat the scoreboard after 16 and saw that Ihad a two shot lead. I played some great

course management after that and also hitsome quality shots to make par knowingPrugh needed to make something happento catch me.”

With the victory, Thornton is just onewin away from the career grand slam atPNW PGA major events. To this,Thornton remarked, “It really never hit methat I was going to have a chance at thatuntil I got this win. I am excited for theopportunity. Golf is very humbling; youjust never know when it may be your turn.”Look for Thornton to be in contention atthe upcoming Rosauers Open Invitational,where he’ll try to complete the slam. —Kyle Neilan

PHILADELPHIA

Kogelman tops HyndmanClassic field

Each year the Philadelphia PGA returnsto Huntingdon Valley (Pa.) C.C. for the

William Hyndman III Memorial Classic.This event is played to honor one of the

greatest amateur golfers in Philadelphiahistory. Hyndman was twice a U.S. SeniorAmateur Champion, a runner-up in theU.S. and British Amateurs, a playingmember of five Walker Cups, and aparticipant in seven Masters. Hyndmanalso holds a distinction of being one of onlythree players to record a hole-in-one on thepar-3 12th at Augusta.

In the 2012 edition of the William

Hyndman III Memorial Classic, 125Professionals teed it up to compete for thetop prize. The tournament took on specialmeaning as less than a week before theevent, William “Buck” Hyndman, the sonof William Hyndman III, passed away aftera long battle with multiple myeloma. Tohonor Bucky, all participants wore blackribbons in remembrance.

As play got underway, no one was able tomatch the great round posted by championJoe Kogelman (Indian Valley C.C.).Kogelman added one birdie on the backnine to go along with his eight pars tofinish his round at 4-under-par 66.

Kogelman had to wait nearly six hoursbefore his victory became official. As thelast card was entered, Kogelman finally hadearned his first Philadelphia PGA pointstournament victory.

• • • • •

P G A S E C T I O N N E W S

Joe Kogelman was victorious at the 2012

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EDITORIAL E

Fernando Solorzano @SOFLAGOLF

During our Saturday’s round here in Miami the discussion finally broke and our guest from the Midwest asked the great quesOon; who’s the best golfer of all Ome? Although Jack and Tiger took highest honors the conversaOon quickly turned around the newest rivalry and future events. Tiger vs Rory… A singles final round in the final match of the Ryder Cup, last pairings on Sunday to decide the Fedex Cup at the TOUR Championship presented by Coca Cola, youth versus old… yes folks we have a brand new rivalry. This new rivalry will sure ignite controversy as to who was the greatest golfer of all Ome. As unfair as it may sound it’s hard for some fans to decide the right answer. Especially younger fans who never saw the charge of Greg Norman on a Saturday abernoon, the stare of Raymond Floyd or the rivalry between Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. To millions of golf fans Tiger Woods is the only name on the list, no one else. Jack Nicklaus is right there with him in terms of more Major Tournaments, Sam Snead had more PGA Tournaments won but that was a long Ome ago and as unfair as this sounds people forget. But that’s about to change, in fact is changing in front of our eyes. We have a real contender emerging from the crowd, Rory has shown the world his talent and his will at a young age. He has ignited a great rivalry between him and Tiger and we got a taste of it this past weekend in the first two rounds of the BMW Championship and the two didn't disappoint. Both players barbeque the golf course and finished with 12-‐under par scores. There is enough energy and game to compare these two players with Jack and Arnold’s rivalry in the 60’s. I am talking about Tiger Woods playing well against a younger guy named Rory McIlroy playing even beger. McIlroy is the hogest player on the planet, winning three of the last four tournaments that he has entered. SOll, Woods has also captured three wins this year and has begun to show signs of his old form. For now, Tiger has the advantage in terms of wins, but that’s about to change To be conOnue…

couple of pars coming in and I was able to two-puttand make them.”

Carson Schaake, the Nebraska Class A StateChampion, pulled out all the stops but was unable tomatch Reinertson. He was 1-under par after 10holes but couldn’t manage any more birdies to finishat 71, and a 217 total.

Zac Dittmer of Kansas City, Mo., shot threeconsecutive 73s and finished in third place overall.

Despite shooting her highest round of the 54-hole tournament, Cha Cha Willhoite of PalmDesert, Calif., maintained her lead and won thegirls’ 16–18 division by four strokes, shooting a 9-over-par total of 225.

“My round was very sketch, but I held in there andgot my first win,” said Willhoite. “My putting wasvery good. I never have a problem with my driver sothat helps.”

Brooke Ferrell of Edgerton, Wis., and JordanChael of Overland Park, Kan., both shot 75 to tie forsecond but Ferrell won a scorecard playoff, makingher the runner-up.

Sean Song of Omaha, Neb., racked up fourbirdies to counter four bogeys to win the boys’ 13–15 division. His final-round 75 was enough tohold off a surge by Jake Goldman of Leawood, Kan.,who finished two strokes back of Song.

“I was playing really steady throughout thewhole entire round,” said Song. “I hit a lot of greensagain and I was making more putts today.”

Alex Schaake of Omaha, Neb., finished in third

place with a 1-under-par round of 71 for a three-daytotal of 232.

Canadian Grace Chua shot the lowest final-round score in the girls’ 13–15 division with a 78 fora three-day total score of 233 to finish in first place.

“I was hitting the ball great but wish I could havemade a few more putts,” said Chua. “Overall, I washappy. I stuck to my strategy today playing the par 5swith three shots to the green, and when the pins werein tough positions, I played to make the right miss.”

Amy Ding of Lexington, Mass., finished in secondplace with a three-day-total of 247. Taylor Black ofWarrensburg, Mo., finished two shots back of Dingto come in third. n

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EVENT 2 TOP FINISHERS

Boys’ 16–18 Division1st Rylee Reinertson, Gibbon, Neb. 75-70-70—215

2nd Carson Schaake, Omaha, Neb. 76-70-71—217

3rd Zac Dittmer, Kansas City, Mo. 73-73-73—219

4th Jeff Swegle, West Des Moines, Iowa 74-71-78—223

5th Grant Campbell, Waukee, Iowa 79-75-71—225

Boys’ 13–15 Division1st Sean Song, Omaha, Neb. 75-77-75—227

2nd Jake Goldman, Leawood, Kan. 84-75-71—230

3rd Alex Schaake, Omaha, Neb. 80-81-71—232

T4th Alex Aulerich, Valentine, Neb. 84-79-77—240

T4th Drew Engelking, Edina, Minn. 86-77-77—240

T4th Ben Parisi, Omaha, Neb. 81-73-86—240

Girls’ Division1st Cha Cha Willhoite, Palm Desert, Calif. 75-73-77—225

T2nd Jordan Chael, Overland Park, Kan. 81-73-75—229

T2nd Brooke Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis. 77-77-75—229

4th Audrey Judd, Olathe, Kan. 76-75-79—230

5th Grace Chua, White Rock, Wash. 75-80-78—233

Golf Course Review

Westin Diplomat Golf Course Recognized as one of South Florida’s most iconic buildings, The WesOn Diplomat stands out from the crowd just north of Hallandale Beach Boulevard. Inside, one great travel desOnaOon with two unique experiences. Travelers can choose beachfront surf and sand or a more inOmate stay surrounded by manicured golf course greens and an indulgent full-‐service spa. The Diplomat Golf Course, just 2 blocks ways from the main resort, has an ideal balance of mature Banyans and Royal Palm trees with fast Tif Eagle greens and rolling Bermuda 419 fairways. It is a welcome treat for novice players and a great challenge for the experts. The nearly 7,000-‐yards of championship golf course is managed by internaOonally renowned Troon Golf®. Every cart is equipped with Prolink GPS to offer game assistance and the layout of the course and also allows for food and beverage service delivered during play.

Key playing holes Hole #2 (Par 4 – 385 yards) The second hole of the golf course will give you a taste of what the golf course is all about. Length is not as important as placement. A narrow and short fairway will force you to keep your driver in the bag. The perfect shot will be 220 – 250 yards just to the right of the fairway bunkers. Avoid at all cost the right side of the fairway as you may encoun te r heavy rough and many obstrucOons. A medium to long iron will be needed for the second shot which must carry over water to an undulaOng island green. This is the signature hole… just gorgeous! Hole #11 (Par 5 – 555 yards) This hole faces south so most of the Ome the ocean breeze will push fades into the out-‐of-‐bounds right (tee to green). Aim center leb of the wide fairway and you will be ok. Your second shot should be short and right of the fairway bunkers (leb) This will leave you a confortable 3rd shot to the flat green. Do not overpower this hole, play smart and you will end up with a great score. Hole #17 (par 3 – 162 yards) This is a difficult hole that appears to be easy on paper. Lots of distracOons and a slippery green are just the right ingredients for disaster. Long and demanding, this Par-‐3 requires a cut tee shot to a narrow green. Shorter higers may lay up to the leb side and this will leave them a chip to the open side of the green. Club selecOon is essenOal as the right side of the green and short is a water hazard. The buildings across the street will block some of the wind but sOll this is a hole were you have to keep your eyes wide open. Aim in between the bunkers and take enough club, do not expect any miracles here as I seen many bogies and double bogies in a fibeen minute span.

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Diplomat Golf Course (ConQnued from page 8) Summary This is just a gorgeous golf course just seconds away from the beach. Jamie West, PGA Director of Golf and Valeria Ochoa, Sales Manager and Former Big Break III contestant have teamed up and are doing an outstanding job while catering to a loyal and upscale clientele. Standards and luxury are kept very high inside this facility, The Diplomat Golf Course is a must play! Pros Courteous and knowledgeable staff Great pace of play Well maintained course manicured to perfecOon World class faciliOes, driving range, clubhouse, etc. Great 19th Hole Great summer rates Cons Fun Factor Expensive during the season

Overall RaQng 9.5/10

working together on transportation

plans since the PGA Championship was

awarded to Kiawah Island in 2005. It’s

no small feat getting thousands of spec-

tators, volunteers, staffers and competi-

tors on and off an island each day, but

plans are in place to make the process

smooth for all parties.

A general parking area at the front of

Kiawah Island will accommodate more

than 10,000 cars at a time, and there will

be two bus systems in place for specta-

tors – one internally on the island, and

another to bring spectators in from off

the island.

“We will have a very effective method

to direct people where they should go to

get them in and get them out,” Warren

says. “We have gone through a lot of

planning, we have a great plan and we’ll

execute it. We want the story of this

event to be the great play of the players

and nothing else.”

“The challenges at Kiawah Island will

be the same challenges we face at any

course – moving 30,000-plus people

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With five golf courses and a standalonegolf retail shop, Kiawah Island Golf

Resort counts on the expertise of its 15 PGAProfessionals. Fortunately for golfers andguests at the South Carolina resort, KiawahIsland’s PGA Professionals aren’t justqualified – they’re certified.

Each of the PGA members on staff atKiawah Island are Certified PGAProfessionals, having completed at least oneof the six certification paths: GeneralManagement, Golf Operations, Instruction,Retail, Executive Management andOwnership/Leasing. In all, the Kiawah Islandstaff holds 34 certifications.

“I think the PGA Certified ProfessionalProgram is a great way to expand your skillsas a PGA Professional, and I request that allthe PGA members on staff complete at leastone certification path,” says Kiawah IslandGolf Resort President Roger Warren, himselfa PGA Certified Professional in GeneralManagement and PGA Past President(2005–06). “They were all outstanding PGAProfessionals to begin with. Becomingcertified in one or more areas gives them theconfidence in knowing they have expandedskill sets and expertise.”

Two of Kiawah Island’s PGA Professionals— Osprey Point Head Professional JimKelechi and Ocean Course First AssistantJosh Wagaman — are certified in all sixpossible areas, while Warren and Director ofGolf Brian Gerard are both PGA CertifiedMaster Professionals.

“I think it’s a great learning experience togo through the PGA Certified ProfessionalProgram, and then go out and apply whatyou’ve learned on a day-to-day, operational

basis,” says Gerard, who is certified inGeneral Management. “I think the level ofexpertise we have here at Kiawah Island hasa tremendous impact on the quality ofservice we provide to every golfer who setsfoot on our property.”

Kiawah Island’s PGA Professionals arestationed across the property, from Gerardand Warren overseeing the entire operationto professionals staffing each area of thefacility. Steven Youngner is the PGA headprofessional at The Ocean Course, whereWagaman is the first assistant. At OspreyPoint, Kelechi’s first assistant is Jeremy Colie.Mark Schaffer is the head professional atTurtle Point, where Tim McArthur serves asfirst assistant. Scott Ammon is the headprofessional at Oak Point, with Ryan Rushtieat first assistant. Ric Ferguson is the headprofessional at Cougar Point, while BenjiBoynter runs the golf retail shop in theresort’s hotel.

There are also three PGA CertifiedProfessionals teaching at the resort’s TommyCuthbert Golf Learning Center at the TurtlePoint course, named for the longtimedirector of golf at Kiawah Island: RonnieMiller is the director of instruction, whileBlake Cathey and Abby Welch are leadinstructors.

“Kiawah Island is fortunate to have a largeset of outstanding PGA Professionals,”Warren says. “They’re all involved in the PGAChampionship in some way, but their biggestimpact is the difference they make in thelives of the golfers who visit the resortthroughout the year. You can tell peoplereally enjoy their time here, and that’s a directreflection on our golf staff.”

Extra education:

Kiawah Island’s PGA Professionals are all certified

Left to right: Brian Gerard, PGA Director of Golf; Steve Miller, Osprey Point Superintendent; Jeff Stone, Ocean Course

Superintendent; Bill Daly, Oak Point Superintendent; Ric Ferguson, Cougar Point PGA Head Professional; Brad French,

Cougar Point Superintendent; Stephen Youngner, Ocean Course PGA Head Professional; Steve Agazzi, Turtle Point

Superintendent; Mark Schaffer, Turtle Point PGA Head Professional; Jim Kelechi, Osprey Point PGA Head Professional;

Scott Ammon, Oak Point PGA Head Professional; and Ronnie Miller, PGA Director of Instruction.

Valeria Ochoa, Sales Manager WesOn Diplomat

Is Rory McIlroy moving in on Tiger Woods' golf turf? By Stacy Solomon – Golf 4 Beginners golf-‐for-‐beginners.blogspot.com

Woods, on the other hand, has backed off of his more aggressive style more calmly staOng that he sOll wants to taste victory. "I'm just going to try and get a 'W' this week," Tiger said about Crooked SOck. "That's the goal. That's why I'm here. That's why I entered." Yes, Tiger Woods may have entered the BMW Championship to win but his comment aber the first round that "The game of golf is in great hands with him (McIlroy), and he's here to stay," could be taken as a sign that Woods may be lesng go of the struggle to stay on top. Lesng go may be the first sign that Woods is ready to come back. Although Woods has three wins on the PGA Tour this season; the Memorial in which Tiger surpassed Jack Nicklaus' record, a win at Bay Hill that marked his seventh at that golf course and the AT&T which was won with a bit of a struggle at Congressional, there is a definite weakness in his game which now shows up during the final stages of tournaments, a flaw in his pusng, in my opinion, caused by a lack of focus.

OPINION

Smiling faces, hand-‐shaking and a bit of revelry surrounded Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods as the BMW Championship paired the two golfers for a two-‐round start to the final legs of the FedExCup Playoffs. With Rory McIlroy moving stealthily into the winners' circle and Tiger Woods struggling to maintain form, could this compeOOve pairing be what Woods needs to revitalize his game or does this signal a passing of the torch? could this competitive pairing

be what Woods needs to revitalize his game or does this signal a passing of the torch?

Huff Post Sports "wondered if there was something compellingly symbolic in this passing, if McIlroy, in a larger sense, is ready to take Woods' place on the game’s grand stages." Rory, a twenty-‐three year old with three wins under his belt this season is young and aggressive like the Tiger Woods from ten years ago. A joking McIlroy who is growing muscles on Tour recently stated he would like to "kick his (Woods) behind" at the Ryder Cup.

In 2009, right before his woes began, Tiger won the same tournaments and also included three more wins including the

BMW Championship.

Although money may be a motivator for many golfers struggling to stay in position, the "$100 million dollar man" needs a different type of stimulus in order to return to his former greatness and Rory McIlroy may be just what the doctor ordered to wake up a sleeping Tiger.

Stacy Solomon

Westin Diplomat Golf & Spa

An ideal balance of mature Banyans and Royal Palm trees with manicured Tif Eagle greens and rolling Bermuda 419 awaits the seasoned player and welcomes the novice. The nearly 7,000-yards of championship golf course is

managed by internationally renowned Troon Golf®

Westin Diplomat Golf & Spa 501 Diplomat Pkwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 Phone 954-883-4444

5 $ Present this coupon & receive $5 off your next round of golf at The Diplomat Golf & Spa. Limit of one per person, per visit. Expires 12/31/2012 ReservaOon Required

UPCOMING EVENTS

TGF Golf Starting Oct 5 Every Friday after work 9 holes stroke play $20 Gift Cert. to the winner Tuesday October 23rd – Complementary Seminar Learn how to make money for your organization

November 9th Happy Hour Night Golf sponsored by Tag Heuer cigars and drinks included Every Saturday open to public 8:00 shotgun, Chicago system, closest to the pin and more $79 + tax

Lessons and Annual Golf Memberships are now on sale please call Pro Shop

15

Q&A with Palm Beach Sensation and LPGA player

Stacy is the newest addiOon to the group of stars who are trading other areas of the naOon for our 365 days of golf. The 27 year old golf star was born in Toledo, Ohio, but grew up in Texas at The Woodlands (outside of Houston), she graduated from The Woodlands High School in 2003. Her life was a struggle as she was diagnosed with scoliosis at the tender age of 11 . She had spinal fusion surgery when she was in high school and Lewis missed her first collegiate golf season recovering from the surgery. Despite the many obstacles scoliosis presented, perhaps the most disheartening was being told she would never play golf again, a passion which she picked up at age eight. Fast forward 15 years to the 2011 Krab Nabisco Championship, when the then-‐26-‐year-‐old Lewis defeated world No. 1 Yani Tseng by three strokes to win her first major championship and in her own way defying against all odds. Stacy brings awareness to her work with the Scoliosis Research Society (www.SRS.org).

She had spinal fusion surgery when she was in high school and Lewis missed her first collegiate golf season Now Lewis is using her high-‐profile as a top pro golfer to give back to the largest organizaOon devoted to supporOng and funding research in spinal deformiOes. She has starred in a SRS PSA, in addiOon to meeOng with young paOents to provide encouragement and connecOng with kids and parents through email and legers. Q Last year you won the Krab Nabisco, that really propelled you the rest of the season. What are you doing to keep that going this season? A I’ve just been trying to ride the momentum. I’ve been playing well, working a lot on my swing and focusing on my pusng. Q What stands out to you about playing in the Krab Nabisco? What do you like about the desert? A I wasn’t always a fan of desert golf, but I’m starOng to like it more and more. I do really enjoy Mission Hills, it just fits my eye. I like that it’s always hard and you’ll get wind at least one day. Then there’s walking up the 18th at the Krab, it’s the best memory I have and it’s one the best experiences we have as a finishing hole. Q Last year, aber you won, your whole family jumped in the pond at the 18th hole and your mom got hurt. Do you think that jump will change the way Krab Nabisco winners celebrate? A I actually heard they’ve dug the pond out and made it deeper and there’s a celebraOon to announce it. I think the winner will conOnue to jump in the pond, but they’ll probably do more of a cannonball! Q You spend a lot Ome away from the golf course giving back. How rewarding is that for you? What it is like to be able to go to travel the world, and give hope to others? A I’m in a very unique posiOon to give back to a lot of people and feel very lucky to be where I am. So giving back in just kind second nature to me and something I try to do every week. To meet people from all over the world and knowing that me playing golf is inspiring them to get through a surgery, to recover or get beger makes what I do really worth it.

the

Michael Berenger, PGA One morning I am out at the pracOce range with one of my students and next to us there was this guy pracOcing his slice. What? SomeOmes it is difficult to understand human behavior and to make magers worse, I’m not a shrink. When I see a person hit the same poor shot over and over I just imagine they are pracOcing and engraving that flaw into their swing. Ouch!

A slice is nothing more than the result of a swinging flaw and it will be cured with a couple of

adjustments It is important to understand that just like we go to the doctor to find a cure for our sickness, we must also consult a golf professional when we face a golf problem. A Golf Professional will be able to determine what is causing the flaw and make the necessary recommendaOons to fix it. A slice is nothing more than the result of a swinging flaw and it will be cured with a couple of adjustments; however, in order to cure it we must first understand what is causing it. Complicated?

Axial Rotation V

Open Face

Ball Direction

Swing path

SLICE

The IniQal InteracQon When we hit a golf ball we are transferring energy from our swing to the ball. The slice occurs when we have an open face in relaOonship to our swing path (face needs to be perpendicular to swing path). Having just a couple of degrees open will apply tremendous spinning (axial rotaOon) to the ball together with some linear direcOon. Everyone who has a slice ailment has an idenOfiable problem with his swing. Isolate and correct that problem, and you'll likely stop the uncontrolled slice. The culprits I have narrowed them down to the main 3 but in reality there are more; again, only a Golf Professional will be able to determine and correct your parOcular flaw… Swing path outside in: Almost 80% of the players have the tendency of veering from the swing plane. Taking your golf club to far in on your back swing will inevitable result in a body compensaOon called “casOng” where all the power is generated half way thru the swing. The result is a slap on the face of the ball and tremendous sidespin to the right. AnQdote: Maintain the same plane back and forth and thru the swing, pracOce by pusng a bright neon tape on the hosel of a long iron and take pracOce swings without hisng balls. You will be able to see the visual

Correct Swing path

16 GOLF TIPS

path that the neon tape leaves, once you have a one line path back and forth you will feel what being on a plane is all about. Extremely verQcal swing plane: Most amateurs slice their tee shots with their drivers because they tend to swing with descending angle of agack (the same as wedges). But when they hit their wedges the slice seems to disappear? The backspin generated by the lob of a wedge offsets the sidespin generated by the poor swing. Good players hit their drivers swinging inside out and with ascending angle of agack so they can hit the ball with an ascending blow. Beger players typically have (2) swings, one for wedges and irons (more verOcal) and one for driver with a flager angle of agack. AnQdote: put a towel or a glove under your leb armpit (right handed player), this will keep you from coming over the top to start your downswing. Slicers try to do what is natural

and logical and if they are missing often to the right, then

before too long they are going to aim more and more to the left to

compensate Weak Grip: Correct hand posiOon is crucial to obtain the desired result in golf. A weak grip is determined when your leb thumb is aimed to your leb shoulder. This grip will unravel just prior to contact and will leave that face open. AnQdote: You beger see at least 3 knuckles of your leb hand as you grip your club. Hit balls with your front hand only by gripping the club with both hands and just before impact lose the backhand. Be sure to keep the connecOon of your front arm even aber impact.

Slicers try to do what is natural and logical and if they are missing oben to the right, then before too long they are going to aim more and more to the leb to compensate. But aiming to the leb will only cause the swing's circle to be too far to the leb, worsening the slicing moOon. Body posiOoning does not cause slices but aggravates it. Use your shoulders as a guide and double check that you are aiming to the target. If you are at the range lay a club on the ground, parallel to your target line, and check your aim. Or you can have a friend check your alignment too. Just make sure that your feet, knees, hips and shoulders are parallel to that club on the ground and to your target line. Checking your stance, correcOng your swing path, agacking the ball with the correct swing plane and gripping the club correctly is what beger players and professionals do naturally every Ome they hit a ball. Good professional counseling and lots of pracOce can eradicate your slice in no Ome.

strong grip

One plane swing path

18

Summer is finally leaving us and with it the scorching temperatures and high humidity. Some of our fall picks were causing a sQr during the Fall PGA Show in Las Vegas. South Florida Golf brings you a review of the new tools and equipment in the golf industry.

Salty Pufer Grips These are going to catch on! Do you like fishing? Do you like golf? Well you can get that feeling of holding a fishing pole in your hand with the new Salty cork puger grip. They are based right here in Florida made with cork from Portugal. They are fresh to the market and will be offering two sizes; standard and oversized. The Salty cork grip has a unique feel; it is firm yet velvety smooth. The lightweight cork will feel slightly lighter than a standard grip, which allows you to feel the moOon of the puger head during your stroke. Salty cork puger grips offer a cool natural look, great feel in your hands, and a fisherman’s dream come true.

59 Belts Golf Belt Buckle Art Belt buckle art has been around for a long Ome. But if you are like me, you have stayed as far away from those as possible. You don’t want to look like you are wearing the WWE Championship belt, or some reject cowboy buckle; You want something custom, arOsOc, yet wearable in public. Trevor Derrheim of 59 belts has hit that elusive look on the head. (59 is that elusive score golfers dream of shooOng someday, but 99.9% of us will never even get close.) 59 belts knows you might never get close to that number, but you can sOll wear a buckle that makes you feel like a pro capable of shooOng that low of a score. 59 belts/buckles are becoming more and more popular on Tour. If you watch any given event; PGA, LPGA or Champions Tour, you will see a good Number of 59 buckles being used. www.59belts.com

Alial Fital Apparel Unexpectedly Awesome When I first heard a former NFL quarterback (Gibram Hamdan) was the designer of golf polos I didn't really take noOce. When I heard that Bo Van Pelt was wearing this new brand, I didn’t really pay any agenOon to it. UnOl one day I saw a picture of one of the nicest golf shirts I had ever seen, but didn’t know who had made it. While I didn’t give them much credit iniOally, I think Alial Fital makes the best golf Shirts of any company right now. I only have one other shirt even to the style. The pagerned outer collar, oben with a different inner collar, in contrast to the main shirt pagern really sets these shirts apart. You can instantly tell if someone is wearing an Alial Fital dress polo. While the actually materials come from different parts of the world, the shirts are designed and made here in the US. www.alialfital.com

Club Glove Travel Last Bag XL Keep everything safe while traveling If you have ever had the chance to watch how the airlines handle your bags, you might have been less than happy with how roughly they are tossed around. Maybe you’ve seen them dropped, crunched, kicked or squished. They don’t handle your clubs any gentler. I’ve seen golf bags fall off the top of the cart right onto the tarmac. Maybe you’ve even had the horror of opening up your travel bag to find damage to your driver, irons or your bag. I hate having to worry if my clubs will make it safely to my vacaOon desOnaOon. There is nothing worse than playing a new, oben expensive course without your favorite clubs. Take the worry out of traveling with you clubs by using the Club Glove Last Bag Travel XL. There is reason the guys that make a living with their clubs use Club Glove travel bags. They are unsurpassed at gesng them to their desOnaOon safe and sound. While there are cheaper bags out there, why take the chance with your expensive clubs. I have more value in my golf bag than any other bag I travel with. You get all of this protecOon made in the USA. My clubs will only be traveling in a Club Glove Last Bag XL!! www.clubglove.com

G FORE Golf Gloves Add Color to your game G FORE Golf gloves are designed to bring color and style to our modern asre. A wide array of colors delivers on comfort and style. With premium AA Cabrega leather in a precision cut and embroidered patch detail, the G FORE golf glove is unparalleled in construcOon, quality and fit. The gloves, which conform with USGA rules, are worn by Ricky Barnes (PGA Tour), Robert Rock (European Tour), Alex Cejka (European Tour), Shingo Katayama (Japan Golf Tour), Tommy Armour III (Champions Tour), Kathleen Ekey (LPGA Tour) & world-‐renowned golf instructor Rick Smith. Add color to your game with G FORE. www.g-‐fore.com

Adidas Crossflex Golf Shoes Comfort and golf performance I've seen a number of golfers that don't wear tradiOonal golf shoes. Their feet are just too uncomfortable in leather saddle golf shoes. Many of the golfers I have seen not wearing golf shoes, most oben are wearing running shoes. Those golfers feel they offer beger support, are more flexible and overall offer more comfort for walking 18 holes. If you are one of those golfers that needs a shoe more like your running shoes to play golf in, these are your shoes. They are lightweight, flexible, supporOve, comfortable right out of the box, and offer golf specific funcOons like tracOon and full waterproof. Since they are spikeless, they might just become even more than your golf shoes. www.adidasgolf.com Fall picks were selected in cooperaOon with our partners Independent Golf Reviews independentgolfreviews.com

Over the last couple years Cobra has had 2 main lines of driver heads, their Composite head and their regular Titanium head. While they both had their benefits and different golfers liked one or the other, I think the AMP is the compromise between the two. It has a nice metallic sound like a Otanium head, yet has a muted feel like the composite heads. So the head is said to have Advanced Material Placement. I’m not exactly sure where they moved things around, but I can say that I really like what they did. It seems they mixed some composite materials in with a Otanium head. The AMP head has the E9 ellipOcal face which offers incredible forgiveness and consistent distance even on slightly off-‐center hits. The sole has a slight rudder design to help reduce drag. The AMP head has the E9 elliptical

face which offers incredible forgiveness and consistent

distance even on slightly off-center hits.

The head color is eye catching with the nice metallic silver. I actually kind of like it, I had a driver the exact same color when I was growing up. It was my first driver aber persimmon and had the exact same silver color. It was only ¼ of the size, but sOll I like the looks of the AMP driver. The black face looks great too, it even allow you to see where you are hisng the ball on the face. The sole is a mixture of orange, black and silver which I like the looks of. IT also comes with a nice stock headcover with some cut-‐outs for easy removal and a Lamkin 3gen orange grip. While the combo is bright, I like how it looks.

20 REVIEW

Cobra AMP Driver By Ryan Heiman Independent Golf Reviews

On the course, I found it fairly high launching in the neutral posiOon so I opened it up and it was pregy close then to a good launch angle. It really comes off the face with a pop, but seemed to spin more than I would like, especially into the wind. I found many fairways with this driver, I just wasn't quite maximizing distance with this shab. In just the right condiOons I did hit a couple of huge bombs with this driver So the only downfall of this driver is the stock shab. The 55gram Aldila RIP is just not enough shab. It feels very loose, it spins too much and is just too light. I think that a 65 gram low spin, mid-‐launch/low launch shab would be perfect. I didn’t have access to addiOonal Ops with this club, but I think that there are some that might find this stock shab perfect, but I think that if could just tweak the shab, this would be my favorite driver of 2012.

I like this head so much I am going to track down a tip so I can drop in a lower

launching, lower spinning shaft.

I think this club has real potenOal. If you are going to buy one off the rack, check to see how your numbers are, the head is amazing, but just make sure the shab is fit for you, otherwise check into custom ordering one with the right fisng shab. If you read a number of my other reviews, you will see a similar thought, stock shabs just don’t cut it for me most of the Ome. I just wish it was easier to get Ops or custom shabs. The all-‐orange version of this club might be a perfect fit for me since it has the Diamana Whiteboard in it. (low launch/low spin at 65 grams) I think I will either need to track one of those down or find some Ops because I really love this driver head. I think you will too, just figure out which shab is best for your swing. For more informaOon: www.cobragolf.com

+ Awesome combinaOon of Otanium and composite Forgiving face Bright looks Adjustable enough

-‐ High-‐spin/lightweight stock shab Access to shab Ops

FASHION

Don’t hide from the fairways this fall when this heritage brand has you covered Summer is almost over and as temperatures start to cool off there’s no need to let that stop you from hisng up the links. Fila Golf offers fashionable styles that are perfect for on and off the course. The bright hues and color blocking designs stay right on trend without being too crazy for the course. And for this fall, choose from a full-‐range of outerwear, including light weight jackets for all seasons, vests, long-‐sleeve polos and layering pieces. Fila Golf’s outerwear pieces are great for

all-season play Fila Golf’s outerwear pieces are great for all-‐season play. Everything is available for both men and women with fits that complement all body types. Every detail has been given thought, whether the extra fleece lining right on the inside of the sleeves or the neckline to ensure that skin never touches cold Layering pieces are ridiculously comfortable made from Single Jersey Knit Moss and are great for slipping on under your polo or wearing to bed when it’s chilly outside. The Textured Fleece Jacket is made from a longer fleece and has a textured design that gives the simple look a fun, funky feel – also been reported to have a very slimming effect. F i la Golf wi l l keep you warm, comfortable and nothing short of stylish, this season.

The age of the dimple is over. HEX Aerodynamics

®

—

proprietary to Callaway — provides 100% surface area

coverage while dimples typically provide up to 88%.

The result is a golf ball that virtually eliminates smooth

spots and seams that can cause unnecessary drag and

inconsistent �ight characteristics.

TRADITIONAL DIMPLE PATTERNS

Dimples had their day. When the circles of traditional

dimples meet, a portion of the ball’s surface goes

unutilized. This unused surface area can lead to higher

drag forces acting on the ball during �ight, which can

compromise trajectory and distance.

NO DIMPLES. ALL PERFORMANCE.

WEVE IMPROVED ON THE DIMPLE BY ELIMINATING IT COMPLETELY.

PERFORMANCE

“In all the right ways [it’s] a Tour ball. In one

way, though, it thankfully isn’t: price.”

–Golf Digest

TOUR PERFORMANCE FOR MODERATE HEAD SPEEDS.

©2012 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway, the Chevron Device, HEX Chrome and HEX Aerodynamics are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Golf Digest and the Hot List logos are the property of Conde Nast.

24

Taylormade RocketBallz Driver Is this club legal? By Fernando Solorzano

First introduced back in March of this year the RocketBallz (RBZ) Driver has given its counter part R11S a run for its money. The very popular RBZ driver comes in two different performing shapes, one for the average golfer and one for the low handicap and golf professional. The RocketBallz used by average golfers has a larger face that translates into more forgiveness, while the RocketBallz Tour driver has a smaller face and it is designed for the more accomplished golfer. The RocketBallz used by average golfers has a larger face that

translates into more forgiveness For this review we will concentrate on the RocketBallz used by the average golfer (10 handicap and up) TaylorMade has incorporated everything they have learned from the past into this new driver. Designing a simpler driver that even the average golfer can adjust to diminish swinging flaws. There are two main improvements in these woods vs. any predecessors. The main one being the increase in ball speeds due to the higher COR face design which should increase distance immensely. The other being the improved CG which results in less spin from being moved forward and higher launch as well. More ball speed, higher launch, and less spin just equals more distance. And yes folks… this monster is completely legal and available at retailers and pro-‐shops naOonwide.

Indoor Test: We brought our test Rocketballz driver to Doral Golf Warehouse for some indoor tesOng. The specs for our driver are as follows: •  Rocketballz 460 CC 9.5* Degrees •  All sesngs at neutral lob and lie •  Shab: MATRIX HD6 S Flex •  Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip I was very impressed by the overall weight of the club. Being used to a heavier club myself I could see that TaylorMade was making it very possible for an average player to obtain faster swing speeds. The club came factory adjusted to standards and for the purpose of the test we had to manually open the face of the club just a couple of degrees. Aber just a few swings I became accustomed to the smooth rhythm of the club, the ball seems to explode of the face effortlessly. One of the things I was impressed the most was how high the ball was being launched off the face, the final averages were great and this club was just a demo out of the rack.

Without getting too caught up with the numbers I can tell you that the club is extremely easy to hit, it has great distance and great control

Without gesng too caught up with the numbers I can tell you that the club is extremely easy to hit, it has great distance and great control. There were a couple of customers inside the shop and I let one of them (a 17 handicap) hit some balls. His immediate reacOon was the same.. how high the ball comes out of the face, the customer's swing speed was in the neighborhood of 92-‐96 mph and his launch angle was just perfect at 12* degrees. Outdoor Test: Our test conOnued to our nearby driving range in Pembroke Pines. The outside temperature was in the low 90's and there was a mild easterly wind blowing constantly from right to leb. We teed up the driver in different posiOons, high, mid and very low and we noOced that the driver performed best when is teed up high. Also, for the purpose of the test we moved our ball forward and backwards in our

•  swing speed 104.9 mph •  14.5* degrees launch angle (between 12-‐14* recommended) •  3,200 rpm (between 3k and 4k recommended).

+ Long and straight of the tee Adjustable opOons (2) Models to cater all players Affordable price

-‐ White color can be distracOng Not recommended for low handicappers (try Tour version)

stance. The club performed up to and above our standards, even when hit off the toe and heel the ball conOnued to carry a long ways, just um-‐believable! The next morning we suited up and played the driver friendly Doral Great White Course. The condiOons were similar as the day before but without all the help and alignments that a driving range provides. Our foursome tested the club against our own drivers as we hit 2 balls on every tee shot. The results were just amazing and all of us fell in love with the club. At a price point just below its cousin (TaylorMade R11S) it’s a great bargain and a great buy. Summary The RBZ driver came to life as a replacement of the Burner Superfast 2.0 driver. This new driver by Taylormade is much more compact, sleeker, tradiOonal shape design and that appeals to my eye. TaylorMade's RBZ crown is painted white mage and does not reflect the sunlight as many of the standard black heads on the market. In performance the RBZ must be one of the longest and most forgiving drivers on the market. The Flight Control Technology of the RBZ allows players to alter face angle, lob and lie angle for increased accuracy and distance. The club can also be custom made with several shab opOons and at the $299.00 retail price (standard version) it will conOnue to lead in sales around the world.

2012 Fall Edition SFG

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