THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S HIDDEN GEM

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF AND BREATHTAKING VIEWS AWAIT AT MONTESORO COUNTRY CLUB PLUS ONE PGA PROFESSIONAL’S AMBITIOUS QUEST TO PLAY THE TOP 100 COURSES IN THE U.S.

VOLUME 36, ISSUE 6 JULY 2009

UP TO THE CHALLENGE. WE HONOR THE GAME WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU. A commitment that has made Club Car the global leader in golf and utility vehicles. It drives our passion to deliver the products and services you need to achieve success. Our innovative fleet and mobile merchandising solutions provide the advantage you demand – while our new Guardian SVC system protects your investment for years to come. Reliable and responsible solutions to meet today’s challenges. www.clubcar.com 1.800.CLUBCAR.

HONOR THE GAME

Club Car, Inc. ○ 2220 Railroad St ○ Corona, CA 92880-5412 ○ (951) 735-4675 ○ www.ClubCar.com

F R O M

T H E

P R E S I D E N T

SUMMER BRINGS FULL SLATE OF EVENTS

BIG EVENTS AND MEETINGS FILL UPCOMING SECTION CALENDAR BY SCOTT STUBBS, PGA | PRESIDENT, SCPGA VISTA VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB Our Section is coming off our Summer Meeting, which was held at the Country Club at Soboba Springs. The turnout was tremendous, with well over 200 members attending, and the meeting went very well. One of our many objectives is to create a healthy dialog through open discussion with the membership, and the Open Forum during the Summer Meeting was a great example of the kind of interaction that is so important for the growth and future of our Section. Thank you again to Bryan Addis, PGA General Manager and Head Golf Professional Tyler Miller, PGA for the wonderful event. I have seen over the past year and a half, since we have made a concerted effort to streamline our General meetings and providing more time for open forum discussions, that you have become more comfortable speaking up and asking questions. That dialog certainly has been something that I have tried to promote, and will continue to do. I truly believe that our Members and our Apprentices are the Section’s number one asset; not the dollars we have in the bank, or the programs we run, or the Board and Chapters. The 1,700 men and women who make up our great Section truly make this a special place to be. I hope the fact that you are speaking up and asking questions means you feel more informed than ever before. This dialog is going to help each of us grow the game of golf, which will in turn help promote jobs and job security for many years to come. I’ve said it many times; if there is something you want to know, or you have a question, all you need to do is ask. You have every right to know everything that the Officers are doing and every right to know what the Board does, and your comments are what fuel us to make improvements with our programs. The SCPGA Investment Committee met on June 22 and has partnered with Canwww.scpga.com

terbury Consultants of Newport Beach to manage our investments, especially the proceeds from the sale of the Golf Club. The investment committee oversees our investment and the policies and procedures that are approved by the Board. Bob Cluck and Tim Dubost of Canterbury discussed with the committee our endowment desires for our programs, and our expectations of returns, as well as the investment timetable, distribution of dollars into the investment and our risk tolerance for the investment, and our cash requirements for the next two years and our reserve requirements. I wish to thank the members of the Investment Committee; including independents Bob Kummer and Chris Myers, SCPGA past president Greg Frederick, SCPGA Director Paul Levy, SCPGA Vice President Jason Taylor, SCPGA Secretary Jeff Johnson and Honorary President Patrick Casey. The Section continues to host Cracker Barrel meetings, another opportunity to spend some time with you and for each of you to ask questions or make comments and suggestions. We also hope these events prove to be a learning experience for you as well. We would like to remind you that the surveys each of you receives following events and meetings are very beneficial and we appreciate your candid feedback. Upcoming Section events include our Section Championship at Barona Creek Golf Club at the end of this month. PGA Director of Golf Don King and the staff at Barona have been outstanding to work with and we anticipate a great event.

The same week, Annandale Golf Club and host PGA professional Wade Berzas host the Junior America’s Cup Matches. The preceding week is our McGladrey Section Championship at TPC Valencia, thanks to PGA professionals Mike Van der Goes and Mike Messner, and the first week of August we have another Cracker Barrel meeting at Marbella Country Club, hosted by Robin Shelton, PGA. Don’t forget our August 20th Town Hall and Open Forum Meeting at Tustin Ranch, another opportunity to share your thoughts with your Section officers. That meeting will be a no charge event and we have a special guest, PGA of America Vice President Allen Wronowski. Other events in August include our SCPGA Senior Section Championship and the Senior North-South Cup Matches along with the Professional-Assistant Championship at the end of the month at Mission Hills Country Club. Don’t forget the PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas on September 1st and 2nd and the new $25,000 PGA Fall Expo Professional Challenge Cup tournament at the Pauite Resort on Monday August 31. Finally, congratulations to our Section PGA Professionals Chris Starkjohann, Jon Fiedler, Gary Sowinski and Butch Sheehan for their stellar play in the recent Senior PGA Championship held at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio. Chris finished in a tie for 5th position at the Championship, the low PGA golf professional.

Barona Creek Golf Club will host the 2009 SCPGA Section Professional Championship. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

03

UPCOMINGEVENTS SENIOR FOUR-BALL STROKE PLAY JULY 15-16 EAST VALLEY GOLF CLUB NEIGHBORHOOD GOLF JULY 16 THE SCGA GOLF COURSE DC STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 20 ANDALUSIA COUNTRY CLUB MCGLADREY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 22 TPC AT VALENCIA SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 27-29 BARONA CREEK GOLF CLUB IE CHAPTER CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 3-4 GOOSE CREEK GOLF CLUB MC TRIPLE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 3 ROBINSON RANCH NC CHAPTER CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 3 NORTH RANCH COUNTRY CLUB AAA SWEEP 3 AUGUST 10 THE LINKS AT SUMMERLY DC PRO-PRO SCRAMBLE AUGUST 10 TAMARISK COUNTRY CLUB

THE SCPGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS: Scott Stubbs, President - Vista Valley Country Club Jason Taylor, Vice-President Jeff Johnson, Secretary - Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Club Patrick Casey, Honorary President - Brentwood Country Club INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS Andy Thuney • Ken Ferrell, Professional Golfers Career College AT-LARGE DIRECTORS Ed Winiecki, Shandin Hills Golf Club • Ric Moore, ProShop Golf Paul Levy, Toscana Country Club • Ron O’Connor, PGA Life Member • Greg Prudham, Warner Springs Ranch Resort Paula Olsen, Tregnan Golf Academy CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES Desert: Tony Letendre, Toscana Country Club • Inland Empire: Scott Wilson, Vellano Country Club • Metro: Paul Devine, The Golf Academy at Pacific Palms Resort • Northern: Mark Wilson, North Ranch Country Club • San Diego: John Mason, Encinitas Ranch Golf Course DISTRICT 11 DIRECTOR Matt Hall, Turtle Bay Resort - Aloha Section SCPGA SECTION STAFF Tom Addis III, PGA, Executive Director/CEO Ext 726 • [email protected] Nikki Gatch, Assistant Executive Director Ext 732 • [email protected] Gerald Wong, Director of Tournaments Ext 719 • [email protected] Chris Austin, Communications Manager Ext 722 • [email protected] Janelle Kotzin, Office Manager/Accounting Ext 734 • [email protected] Sharon Curfman, Membership Manager Ext 720 • [email protected] David Myrdahl, Junior Tour Director Ext 733 • [email protected] Rob Keller, Junior Golf Director/Assistant Director of Rules Ext 721 • [email protected]

SENIOR CUP MATCHES AUGUST 10-11 SANTA MARIA COUNTRY CLUB

Mike Meka, PGA, Junior Golf Manager Ext 730 • [email protected]

SD APPRENTICE CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 17 COUNTRY CLUB OF RANCHO BERNARDO

Kristine Lorencz, Section Administration Ext 710 • [email protected]

SENIOR SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 17-18 EAST VALLEY GOLF CLUB PRO-ASSISTANT CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 24-25 MISSION HILLS COUNTRY CLUB WESTIN MISSION HILLS

04

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA 36201 Champions Drive • Beaumont, CA 92223 951.845.4653 ph • 951.769.6733 fax

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

Anthony Valverde, Tournament Manager/Sponsor Relations Ext 735 • [email protected]

PGA CAREER CONSULTANT Jeff Beaudry, PGA 801.568.3980 • [email protected] THE PROGRAM VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 6 2009 JULY EDITION The Program is produced by the Southern California PGA. The Program is distributed free to members and affiliates of the SCPGA. The articles and other information contained within this publication are informational and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the SCPGA. The SCPGA assumes no responsibility or liability for claims made for or by any product in this publication whether reported or advertised. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the SCPGA is prohibited.

www.scpga.com

F R O M

T H E

S E C T I O N

O F F I C E

TECHNOLOGY TAKES LEAD SCPGA UTILIZING NEW WAYS TO PROMOTE TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS

BY TOM ADDIS III, PGA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO, SCPGA Today’s world is highlighted by the many concerned about security, the Section contools we have available to stay in touch with trols all access to your phone numbers and each other, converse with each other and do all communication through these text mesbusiness with each other. sages originates exclusively from the Section The SCPGA recently finished our new Office. If you would like to participate in scpga.com web site and we have added mes- this valuable service, please text “SCPGA” to sage board capability. We encourage you to 53203 and you will be added. visit the site and post on the message board Our PROgram magazine continues to and begin conversations with your fellow be our #1 communication tool. We now pubPGA professional lish the magazine ten about best business times per year and we practices, golf game encourage you to read tips and other info it and review it from you can pass back and cover to cover. If you forth. have anything you We also have a would like to see in Facebook account, the PROgram, let us Southern California know. We are always PGA, for everyone to looking for submisuse. Utilize services sions of Best Busilike Facebook to add ness Practices, as well to your conversations as noteworthy items and open lines of that other SCPGA communication. Professionals would Be sure to view be interested in hearour e-newsletter ing. every Friday to see The meeting all of the upcoming schedule for the Secevents, reports on tion is a great means activities and infor- The SCPGA is at the forefront of technology, to communicate and mation you can use to including the Section’s new Facebook page. learn. We have had enhance your personal or professional life. open forum sessions at both the Summer We also include links to scpga.com and the Meeting and the Annual Meeting, and last various programs we support and use every year initiated our first meeting dedicated day. Of course, e-mail continues to be the solely to open discussion last August. Presimost popular communication tool of choice. dent Stubbs also opened our Spring Board Whether it is for meetings, education, tour- Meeting to PGA professionals to attend. It naments, sponsors, day-to-day chores or is a great way for you to learn how your Secpersonal business, e-mail is a strong tool that tion is governed, and gives you an opportuyou can take advantage of. nity to voice your concerns, questions and Our new cell phone texting service, ideas directly to the Board. In addition, our through BizMobile, will allow the Section to cracker barrel meetings and education fonotify you of events and activities directly to rums are designed to promote open dialog in your cell phone. For example, when we post- order to enhance the learning experience. poned our Annual Meeting back in NovemAll-in-all, the communication and conber, we were forced to call everyone to notify versation tools available to you are both efthem of the last minute changes. If the Biz ficient and numerous. We encourage you to Mobile texting service was available then, use each one and become involved with helpwe would have used that service to notify ing our Section survive and grow through you; saving a huge amount of time and a di- conversation, your input and ideas. rect means to get you the message. If you’re www.scpga.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

05

BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES

GET CREATIVE WITH GOLF SALES

TRY NEW WAYS TO BOOST REVENUES IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES

bad Golf Center.

BY SUSAN ROLL Susan Roll, the Southern California PGA Section 2005 and 2008 Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities and 2007 Southern California PGA Section Clubfitter of the Year, is the owner of the Carls-

on the importance of getting creative with sales: Greatly discounted sales merchandise is a time-honored method of boosting revenue and moving older products; however, it’s important to create a positive spin on these displays, rather than just use a somewhat generic description like “closeouts.” When people see a sign for “closeouts” or

“clearance,” they often assume there must be something wrong with the products, or else why the need to sell them at such a discount? I find it useful to advertise my discounts, particularly for apparel and shoes, with a large “Get Lucky” sign as a way to pique interest. In truth it’s the same thing as a closeout, but it sets a positive tone that invites everyone over to see what they can find. Customers think this

is fun and are likely to see if they can “Get Lucky” and find their style and size at a low price. Even if they don’t find anything in the “Get Lucky” section, it creates an opportunity for our team members to open a conversation with customers about “regular” items. Or, it might get the customers to purchase full-price items now that they’re already thinking about apparel or shoes. On the business impact of getting creative with sales: In setting a more upbeat tone when it comes to closeout sales, you set the stage for more sales and a quicker

PGAPROFESSIONALS ONTHEMOVE Ralph Bernhisel Michael Feeney Tad K. Han Anthony Holder Travis Inchcliff Robert Oosterhuis Gary Gentile John Cummings Rich Carter Resort

A-4 A-1 A-14 A-1 A-1 A-13 A-13 A-13 A-13

Rancho Santa Fe Stoneridge CC JR South Bay Golf Academy Westin Mission Hills Resort Pala Mesa Resort Montecito Country Club East Valley Golf Club Andalusia Counrty Club The Indian Wells Golf

NEWLYELECTEDMEMBERS Jordan Bridges Cypress Ridge Michael Feeney Stoneridge CC Anthony Holder Westin Mission Hills Resort Brett Kennedy Thunderbird CC Tristan Taylor Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort NEWLYREGISTEREDAPPRENTICES David Beal Twin Oaks GC Todd Matthews Green Tree Golf Course Taylor Moreno Rancho Santa Fe GC Sean Paul Sunset Hills CC Kevin Wilson Country Club of Soboba Springs

sell-through of the merchandise you want to move. After all, you’re essentially challenging your customers to find something good among your “Get Lucky” discounts, rather than directing them to dig through “closeouts” to buy something that nobody wanted to buy at full price. The only real difference is a matter of tone, sure, but setting the right tone from the get-go goes a long way in this competitive market and economy.

APPRENTICEORIENTATION The following new apprentices have recently attended New Apprentice Orientations.

Andrea Cordova Doug Strickland Ryan Minor Kevin Wilson Matt Balesteri Craig Welker James Rocco Tim Newbolt

Northern Chapter Northern Chapter Inland Empire Chapter Inland Empire Chapter Desert Chapter Desert Chapter Desert Chapter Desert Chapter

WELCOMEWAGON Brad Graff, PGA Scott Bridges, PGA Rich Carter, PGA tion

Colorado Section Aloha Section No. Florida Sec-

QUARTERCENTURYMEMBERS Stephen Friedlander, PGA NEWLYCERTIFIEDMEMBERS Brian Miano, PGA General Management Dale Abraham, PGA Golf Instruction Ed Winiecki, PGA Golf Instruction, Retail

Promote your sale items in a way that attracts potential buyers, and you will see revenues rise

06

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

www.scpga.com

M E M B E R

S E R V I C E S

LIFE MEMBER ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS LIFE MEMBER RETIRED/LIFE MEMBER ACTIVE/RETIRED MEMBER

I

n order to clear up any confusion in regard to Life Member eligibility, please read below. Life Member Retired and Life Member Active are both “retired” classifications. If a Member is working in a capacity that would make him/her eligible to retain an “Active” (Class A) status, that Member is not eligible to transfer to either Life Member Retired or Life Member Active. Retired Member is for Members who have not achieved 20 years in an Active Classification, but have 65 years of combined age and years of active classification. Life Member Retired is for Members who have held a minimum of 20 years in an

Active Classification. They are not working in a capacity to retain an “Active” status and are essentially retired from the Association. They pay lower dues, do not have the right to vote or hold office, are not required to earn MSR credits and are not eligible to play in the Professional National Championship. They are eligible to play in the Senior Professional National Championship. Life Member Active is for Members who have held a minimum of 20 years in an Active Classification. They are not working in a capacity to retain an “Active” status, but are still active within the Association. They pay higher dues than Life Member Retired,

do have the right to vote or hold office, are required to earn MSR credits and are eligible to play in the Professional National Championship and the Senior Professional National Championship. Retired Member is for Members who are not working in a capacity to retain an “Active” status and are fully retired (cannot be working in either a golf or non-golf position). They must have 65 years of combined age and years of active classification. They pay lower dues, do not have the right to vote or hold office, are not required to earn MSR credits and are not eligible to play in any National tournaments.

TO ALL SCPGA MEMBERS - TOYOTA WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU A MILLION WITH A SPECIAL LOYALTY EVENT!

Hurry, these limited-time offers won’t last. www.scpga.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

07

C O U R S E

P R E V I E W

Diamond in t he

DESERT The twisting and turning two-lane road leads you away from civilization; away from stop lights, fast food joints, and traffic. Rush hour out here means passing one other car on your two hour drive. Life slows down as you get closer. You leave the glaring neon of the city behind, and the brilliant white light of billions of distant stars awaits. This is where people come to get away, and when you finally arrive in the town of Borrego Springs, and you see the Borrego Ranch Resort and Montesoro Country Club, you are reminded exactly why you made this trek to nowhere.

S

ituated in the heart of Anza Borrego State Park, the largest in California at over 600,000 acres (nearly the size of the entire state of Rhode Island), these two beautiful properties have been reborn just in the last few years, and are well worth the drive. “It’s beautiful out here,” says PGA Director of Golf and General Manager David Hunter, a Callaway Master Professional who has been with the facility since it opened in 2008. “The peace and quiet are perfect for those coming from San Diego and Los Angeles. This area reminds people of what the Palm Springs area used to be 30 years ago.” Coming to a place like this was a big change for the Scottish-born PGA Professional. For more than a decade, he worked as the Head Golf Professional for the New Albany Country Club in Ohio, just outside

08

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

of Columbus. He had started there in 1988 as designs were being put into place for a new Jack Nicklaus-designed course in the small community of New Albany. The vision for the development was a very successful businessman, the founder and owner of Victoria’s Secret. “He wanted to find a place where he could build a home out in the country, but have easy access to his downtown offices in Columbus,” said Hunter. “As he was driving through the farms in that area, he came across this little village called New Albany, which had a population of about 1,500 people at the time. He found the perfect spot to build his home, and as he started that process, he had this vision of other people also wanting to experience life in the countryside, so he started buying up huge swaths of land. He began developing www.scpga.com

C O U R S E

P R E V I E W

Nestled amid the unspoiled terrain of Anza-Borrego State Park, Montesoro Country Club offers incredible vistas from each hole all year round

the land, and hired Nicklaus to design the golf course. It was a huge success.” During the construction phase, David became good friends with Jack Nicklaus Jr., who eventually told him about the new project they were bidding on out in the Southern California desert. “He told me I should really look into it, but at the time I was very happy with where I was. I had built up a strong program there, was Section Teacher of the Year in 2003 and 2005 and nominated for national Teacher of the Year in 2005. I was in no position to want to leave.” He was contacted anyway to come out and take a look at the project, so he flew in to San Diego and was informed it was a quick two hour drive to the site. “Five hours later, I was lost. Finally, I came across it, and I thought to myself, ‘you’ve got to be kidding me.’” During his trip, he studied the reports and projections that the development company had put together, and decided that most of the predictions were much too overstated, so he compiled and submitted his own report to the developer. Later that same year, the owner gave him a call and flew him back out to their headquarters in Sherman Oaks. There, they informed him that they were going to move in a new direction with a new team of players to oversee the construction of the course as well as the development of the community around the course. “He knew my background and wanted to hire me on the spot, not only as the Director of Golf but also as General Manager.” As he returned to Ohio, the off season was coming up, so he worked out a deal with the club to allow him to return to California www.scpga.com

during the winter and assist with this mammoth project. “I came out once or twice a month, and each time I came, I started to see more and more what they were trying to do. I flew in and out of Los Angeles and got to experience the traffic that everyone here endured every day. So I began to realize the need to get away.” In February of 2006, nearly a year after his first visit to the project, David agreed to come on full time as the new Director of Golf and General Manager. His past experience with starting New Albany Country Club really helped him design and build a successful team of employees as well as a successful golf program. “Luckily, with the seasons being split between here and the Midwest, I was able to pull a lot of the staff from my old club, and many of them are still here working today. That has really made it an easy transition.” In order to entice investors and property owners to come buy homes in the community, one of David’s biggest jobs was to create programs that appealed to both golfers and non-golfers. Some of that work has resulted in the club having a full-time naturalist on hand, as well as a full-time concierge service for the 60 golf members and 47 social members the club currently has. It also doesn’t hurt to have the golf course itself attracting awards and praise from throughout the golf industry. Golf Digest named it one of 2008’s Best New Courses. Deane Beman, past commissioner of the PGA Tour, played the course and said “I’ve been coming to the desert for 45 years and this is the best desert golf course I’ve ever played.” SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

It’s a truly unique design and location. Surrounded on all sides by the 650,000 acre Anza-Borrego State Park, the largest in California, the landscape will remain as pristine as it does today. The course has over 600 feet of elevation change, a rarity among desert courses in Southern California. “What you see when you are out on the golf course is all protected,” says Hunter. “Those vistas will never change, and that is something that really draws people in to this place. We want people to experience it for themselves, to come out and play the course early in the morning and see the sun come up. It’s really breathtaking.” Golfers of all levels will enjoy the remarkably diverse combination of holes that include unique and bountiful water features, as well as Fazio’s trademark mounding and bunker complexes. Playing over 7,000 yards with more than 40 acres of maintained desert flowers, along with tall fescue grasses that frame the corridors of several holes, Fazio masterfully highlights the natural terrain of the untouched state park. Current plans for the course include a brand new driving range with a Callaway Performance Center, which will house not only the club-fitting component but also an indoor teaching facility to allow for yearround use. “That by itself is another value added amenity to offer our members as well as guests at the Resort. It will allow us to create golf schools and tie them into the hotel, something we currently cannot do fully due to the lack of amenities we have here.” “Our ultimate goal is to create some CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

09

COURSE PREVIEW PGA Director of Golf David Hunter has been in charge of Montesoro Country Club since its opening. He also was Head PGA Professional at New Albany Country Club in Ohio.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

programs for women and couples and tie those in with the health and wellness programs that the resort offers. Programs like Yoga Golf will be able to expand once our new facilities are in place, and I’m very excited about what’s ahead.” “We really do have everything here. When you look at the property, you’ve got the hotel component, you have the spa facilities there, and all of our members have access to those programs. But then we have the golf course and all the programs we have put into place here, we’re adding the teaching component, and we have the homes.” Even though the course is not open to the public, guests of the Borrego Ranch Resort do have access to tee times on the golf course. Especially during the summer months, when so many members and residents move back to their primary residences, the golf course sees very little play, so giving access to hotel guests is a great way to fill those unused times.

Even as Montesoro is just beginning to write its own history, the story of David Hunter goes many decades back. Born in Scotland, David picked up a love for golf at an early age. He turned pro at age 18, and three years later earned his European Tour card, where he played from 1981 to 1983. An opportunity arose in the United States, so David came across the pond to play on what is now known as the Nationwide Tour. He unfortunately never reached his ultimate goal of playing on the PGA Tour, so in 1988 he decided to change gears and pursue a career as a PGA Professional. His home course was Columbus Country Club, an old Donald Ross course with a rich history. “One of the biggest influences of my life was the PGA Professional there, Don Shock. I learned so much from him in my three years there, the fact that he was the Head Professional at a private equity club for over 40 years. I knew he must have been doing something right.” “He was very much into customer service and always went out of his way for his members.” David certainly brings that customer service experience to Montesoro. He prides

himself, and the club as a whole, for taking care of each and every golfer, whether they are a member or a one-time resort guest. His entire staff strives to provide a high level of service, and the results have paid off. His days in Columbus were numbered, however, when he was approached by a member of the club, who happened to be good friends with the gentleman who was building this golf course in New Albany, and was asked if he would be interested in coming on board with the project. “Here I was, a player struggling to make money, and now I was an assistant Professional making $20,000 a year, which at the time I thought was great. But he took me to meet the builder anyway, and it ended up being an interview. I said to him how totally unprepared I was, and that I didn’t know if I was really interested, thinking that I already had it made.” He was offered the Head Golf Professional position in 1990, even though he was not yet a Class A member. During the two years before the club opened, he learned the business aspect of the industry; from construction to budgets and member sales. In his time at New Albany, he grew membership to over 1,200, with 450 golf members. The club also hosted an LPGA event from 1999 through 2002. “I believe that you always have to look

The clubhouse at Montesoro Country Club glows as the evening sun sets. The Tom Fazio-designed course was ranked as one of Golf Digest’s Best New Courses for 2008-09.

10

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

www.scpga.com

C O U R S E

P R E V I E W ®

PGA Members enjoy 25% discounts on purchases of shelters. Junior Tour members enjoy 15% off.

Four-diamond service awaits you at the Borrego Ranch Resort and Spa, located less than a mile from Montesoro Country Club. The resort features just 44 deluxe rooms and 19 private Casitas.

outside of the box, to make your club different from all other clubs, especially with the economy we’re in today.” Montesoro Country Club definitely offers something different. The location itself is incredibly unique, a true destination resort unlike anything in the Southern California area. Being a part of the project from the ground floor was one of the big factors that convinced David to make the cross-country trek to the middle of the desert. “I had the opportunity to make decisions from the very beginning; not just decisions that encompassed the operation of the club but also the construction of the golf course itself. It was both challenging and exciting at the same time.” “When you see a piece of dirt transformed into a piece of art, which is what Fazio did, you feel like you are a part of something very special.” The course and development have attracted people from all over the country, but most interestingly, a lot of interest has come from residents in the Palm Springs area. “A lot of those people want to get back into the real desert,” he explains. “Palm Springs is becoming more and more like every other place in Southern California. The building, the traffic, it’s not what it used to be. This is what Palm Springs used to be like 30 years ago.” Some are literally drawn to the area specifically for the lack of amenities. The town of Borrego Springs has no traffic lights, no www.scpga.com

fast food restaurants, no grocery stores. It’s a very slow pace of life, and many people are starting to appreciate it more and more. “You can say that these are inconveniences, but at the same time, it’s nice not to have to deal with all the hustle and bustle of city life.” One of the attractive aspects of the club, in addition to having access to a fourdiamond resort just a block away, is the close social aspect that has developed among the members. “That’s one of the things we sell here; the family atmosphere. We’re all a big family here. When anyone becomes a member, we make sure we go out of our way to help them build friendships both on and off the golf course. We have a membership base that knows each other, enjoys being with each other, and we are very proactive in fostering those relationships.” Montesoro Country Club and the Borrego Ranch Resort are not your typical desert oasis. Surrounded by permanently protected lands, the pristine environment you see today is what you will see in 100 years. The sense of isolation from the rest of the world allows visitors to escape completely from the rigors of everyday life. To play a round of championship golf in the morning and enjoy one of the most spectacular, unspoiled view of the heavens that same evening will take your breath away. And it’s the one place where a trip to nowhere could be so unforgettable. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

FOUR EASY LOCATIONS IN ORANGE COUNTY LOS ANGELES INLAND EMPIRE TEMECULA

TWO EASY WAYS TO ORDER CALL DIRECT ONE OF THE FOUR STORE LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (REQUIRES IN-STORE PICKUP) CALL E-Z UP AT 1-800-SHADE-ME AND ORDER WILL BE SHIPPED TO YOU. PROVIDE YOUR PGA MEMBER # OR JUNIOR TOUR ID FOR THE DISCOUNT.

EZUPDIRECT.COM 11

95 96 97 98 99 100 M E M B E R

P R O F I L E

One man’s quest to reach into

GOLF HISTORY

Bethpage. Oakmont. Augusta. Pebble Beach. The names alone evoke images of greatness, moments in history that will live on in the golf universe. Each year, Golf Digest ranks these giants into the 100 Greatest Courses in America. Some names are staples, remaining year after year as the best of the best. Others emerge into the spotlight one year, only to be overshadowed the next.

T

o play just one of these magnificent played four of these in a matter of five days, Courses. The list fluctuates much less than courses would be a treat for any and that’s when I really started to get roll- the Golf Digest rankings, which lump all golfer. If you play ten, you might courses together, old and new. So Scott have the beginnings of a pretty cool stohad to pick a list from one year, and stick ry to tell your grandchildren. But what to that list, even though the current if you were able to play every single Top rankings may not look the same. 100 course in America? Imagine what it “It’s very difficult to compare some would be like, and you’ll start to appreciof these old and new courses,” said Wilate where Scott Wilson, PGA of Vellano son. “Modern courses have been shaped Country Club is headed. with the help of bulldozers and earthScott has now played 95 of the 100 movers, whereas the old courses utilized Greatest Courses in America on Golf the terrain as it was during construction. Digest’s list from 2003-04. His feat has The methods are so different that you only been made possible thanks to his really cannot compare a Pine Valley to job, his connections, and most imporsomething built in the 21st century.” tantly, the support of his wife and family. Throughout his trek towards #100, His journey really started in 1994, Scott has been able to see the amazing when he first noticed the Golf Digest variety of course architecture, landscape, list. and the overall feel of courses through“I was working at Spyglass at the out the country. time, had just gotten married, and was “When you stay in California, you getting ready to move to Florida. I are pretty much going to see the same picked up a copy of Golf Digest and saw stuff. You’ve got the desert, the housing their Top 100 list, and I thought to mytract courses, the traditional style like self, ‘I wonder how many of these I have Los Angeles Country Club and Riviera, played.’ It was probably nine or ten at and a lot of cookie-cutter style courses. the time,” Scott recalls. “But when I got back to the East After moving to the East Coast and Coast, you start seeing something togetting a job at a small equity-only club tally different. You’ve got courses with in Florida, some of his members invited trees, plains, places like Chicago Golf Scott and a cart attendant up to their Club with the grass that looks like wheat “summer clubs,” as he put it, to play the Scott Wilson shows off some of the hundreds of scorefields. It’s a really cool look and you don’t cards and yardage books he has collected over the years courses. see it out here unless you travel.” “These guys were members at Oakmont, ing.” Most often during his conquest, he ran Merion, Pine Valley, all the old clubs. So we Once Scott realized he might have a into little opposition. PGA Professionals jumped in his truck, drove up to Pinehurst, chance to complete the list, he had to make were very accommodating and he made sure Merion, then over to Shinnecock. We played a decision with the list itself. GolfWeek also to do everything the right way, including Shinnecock in the morning and Maidstone creates a list of the top courses in the Unit- sending hand-written letters to request a tee in the afternoon. Then we drove over to the ed States, however their list is split into the time. Pittsburgh area and played Oakmont. So we Best Modern Courses and the Best Classic “The hardest part is coordinating your

08 12

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

www.scpga.com

M E M B E R

P R O F I L E

travel and the dates you’re allowed to play to “Time away from the family has been coincide. I’ve got a job and a family to get the toughest part. The only reason I’m able back to, so we had to make the most of our to do this is because of my wife and our relatime out on the road.” tionship. She doesn’t mind that I take these His most interesting experience came trips; in fact she encourages it because she in 2001 when he attempted to play Bethpage knows I enjoy it. Sometimes she’ll even go Black. He was talking to a member and ask- with me for a little weekend getaway.” ing him how to get on the course, and was Soon, he’ll have his list checked off comtold to just head up to the course, stand in pletely, all 100 of the Top Courses in Amerline, and get your name on the list as a sin- ica. He’ll have teed it up with the ghosts of gle. Byron Nelson, played from the same lies as “It was like being at a movie theater, Jack and Arnold, and recreated some of Tithere were big screen televisions and the ger’s most famous shots. He has traveled people sat inside little ticket booths selling the country playing the most incredible and the green fees. The sign said there was no memorable golf courses in the country, fillspace available on the Black course, and the ing an office with scorecards, yardage books, girl behind the window said she couldn’t do and other mementos of his decades-long anything to help me.” journey. “Well she went on a break and a new girl came in. I went back up there and told her that I was only there for one day, and was there anything she could do. She looks in the computer and finds a starter time, opens it up and puts my name in. All of a sudden, these two guys next to me who were waiting on the red and green course overhear me, and they run over, whispering ‘hey, the Black course is open.’ So they get in line, she puts their names in with mine and we go off to the first tee. We walk up and the starter just goes ballistic. He’s saying there’s no way Venerable Augusta National will hopefully be Scott Wilson’s 100th and we got that time, but I showed final in his quest to play the Golf Digest Top 100 Courses in America. him the receipt and he reluctantly let us tee “Each person has their own list of great off.” courses in their own mind and is entitled “So just by coincidence, and a girl doing to their opinion. The most exciting thing something she wasn’t supposed to do, I got about spending time at these courses is that to play Bethpage.” they all are great courses. The architecture, With only five courses left, and four ten- strategy, beauty, history and weather always tatively scheduled for July of this year, Scott vary, but all the courses deserve accolades on only has the granddaddy of them all left to their own merit.” conquer, Augusta National. It has definitely “There are even hundreds more deservproved to be the most difficult course to get ing, but not listed. I have failed to find a poor a tee time, but he is working a few different course among the 460 courses I have played angles to hopefully get that coveted invita- and enjoy the course no matter the condition. tion or the location. All courses are great “With that six degrees of separation, because they are just that, golf courses - and somebody’s gotta know somebody,” he pro- this is the game I love.” claims. He can soon rest, relax, and stop the His wife will certainly be happy to see traveling. He can be home again. Of course, him finish this seemingly neverending trek until his wife finds the list of Top 100 Greataround the country. est Spas in America. www.scpga.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

Golf Digest Top 100 Courses in America                                                                                                    

Pine Valley Golf Club Augusta National Golf Club Cypress Point Club Oakmont Country Club Pebble Beach Golf Links Shinnecock Hills Golf Club Merion Golf Club-East Oakland Hills CC-South Winged Foot Golf Club-West Oak Hill Country Club (East) The Country Club-Clyde/Squirrel Pinehurst-No. 2 Medinah Country Club No. 3 Seminole Golf Club Southern Hills Country Club Olympic Club-Lake Inverness Club Muirfield Village GC National Golf Links Quaker Ridge Golf Club Cherry Hills Country Club Baltusrol Golf Club-Lower Crystal Downs Country Club Olympia Fields CC-North Prairie Dunes Country Club Riviera Country Club Los Angeles Country Club-North San Francisco Golf Club Garden City Golf Club Bethpage Golf Course-Black Scioto Country Club Winged Foot Golf Club-East Chicago Golf Club Fishers Island Club Colonial Country Club Interlachen Country Club Wade Hampton Golf Club Sand Hills Golf Club The Homestead, Cascades Milwaukee Country Club Somerset Hills Country Club Butler National Golf Club Spyglass Hill Golf Course Wannamoisett Country Club Plainfield CC Canterbury Golf Club Pacific Dunes Shadow Creek Golf Club Victoria National Golf Club Kittansett Club Peachtree Golf Club Aronimink Golf Club Hazeltine National Golf Club Crooked Stick Golf Club Baltimore Country Club-East Maidstone Club The Golf Club The Honors Club Laurel Valley Golf Club Cog Hill GC-No. 4 Bellerive Country Club Bandon Dunes Congressional Country Club-Blue Shoal Creek Golf Course Harbour Town Golf Links Camargo Club TPC at Sawgrass-Stadium Castle Pines Golf Club Salem CC The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Whistling Straits-Straits Forest Highlands Golf Club-Canyon Prince Course East Lake Golf Club Jupiter Hills Club-Hills Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club Long Cove Club The Dunes Golf & Beach Club Blackwolf Run Golf Club-River Desert Forest Golf Club Pine Tree Golf Club Shoreacres Club Eugene CC Mauna Kea Golf Course Double Eagle Club Atlanta Country Club Valhalla Golf Club The Quarry at La Quinta Stanwich Club Old Warson Country Club Pasatiempo GC Grandfather Golf & Country Club NCR Country Club-South Greenville Country Club-Chanticleer Black Diamond Ranch-Quarry Ocean Forest Golf Club The Estancia Club Sahalee Country Club-South/North Rich Harvest Links Sycamore Hills Golf Club

13

159 145

170

154 138

139

pinpoint photography. pinpoint accuracy. Introducing the all-new Callaway uPro , the only golf GPS with actual high-res aerial imagery*. See exact distances and layouts of every hole on every course in our database so you can accurately plan your attack. Seeing is believing. Watch the demo at callawaygolf.com/uprogps ®

*Available in ProMode only. ProMode downloads require an additional fee. Image on device has been enhanced. Photo: © Joann Dost. © 2009 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway, the Chevron Device, uPro, the uPro device, and ProMode are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company.

168

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

CALLAWAY GOLF UPRO

A

TECHNOLOGY GIVES EDGE TO GOLFERS

s you approach the 18th green you are three stokes away from playing the best golf game of your life. You can’t see the pin and you know bunkers surround the green. This is not the time to take chances or to play it safe. You need accurate distance… actual images. Fortunately, you brought along your Callaway uPro®. You take stock. Nail down the distance. You address the ball. Swing smoothly. Spot on. When Callaway acquired uPlay Technologies at the beginning of 2009, one of the leading golf brands effectively captured the leading technology in a golf GPS. The Callaway uPro, a compact, lightweight device offers stunning aerial imagery of thousands of golf courses and provides golfers with the tools they need to plan their games. R.J. Smith, Callaway uPro Brand Manager, raves about the tour-style aerial flyover views. “These are not renderings of the holes,” says Smith. “The Callaway uPro shows you actual aerial images of the fairways, hazards, and greens, including all of the surrounding detail around the greens.” With high-resolution imagery, custom views and AnyPoint™ technology, the Callaway uPro offers golfers the most advanced solution for their GPS needs. AnyPoint allows golfers to measure any point from anywhere on the hole, not limiting them to predetermined points but enabling them to pick and place their location, measuring distance and determining hazards all at once. “The Callaway uPro is a hybrid of a laser rangefinder and a GPS,” Smith says. “It takes guessing out of the equation. You know the distance so you can focus on executing your shot.”

www.scpga.com

And with every course professionally mapped by Callaway employees using proprietary mapping techniques, golfers are able to view the most comprehensive and up-todate imagery that can’t be found on any other golf GPS device. Combined with superior GPS performance, the uPro remains locked in even the most adverse conditions—visibility-limiting fog, shirt-soaking rain, treebending wind or blinding sun. Featuring a transflective screen that utilizes the sun’s light to illuminate the large 2.2” LCD display; the Callaway uPro produces crisp images at any time. Coupled with a thin, lightweight design, the device conveniently fits in your pocket so it won’t hinder your golf swing and can be stored in your golf bag with ease. Additionally, there’s some good news for golfers out there who would welcome the opportunity to take the guesswork out of their games without taking a monthly hit to the wallet. The Callaway uPro offers a “pay as you go” service with a one-time download fee and unlimited use, unlike the annual fee requirements of many competitive brands. “It’s similar to the iTunes model in the sense that, if you want a course, you pay for it once and download it and it’s yours forever,” Smith says. “You have the power to manage your course playlist by determining exactly how many and which courses you choose to download.” So go ahead, take control of your golf game. Revel in superior photography. Pinpoint accuracy. Customized views. Put the most powerful golf GPS in the world in your hands. And hit your shots, spot on. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

Get ready for the launch of a new collection:

WORTH

TOLL FREE 877-685-4655 WWW.MULHOLLANDBROTHERS.COM

15

A P P R E N T I C E

C O R N E R

A RISING STAR IN THE SCPGA

APPRENTICE SEIKO ONOUE STRIVING TO BRING THE GAME OF GOLF TO MORE WOMEN Meet Seiko Onoue. Seiko has a degree in Seiko could not have been more gratepsychology from the University of Southern ful to Jerry for taking a chance on a young California, where she was a 3 year collegiate golfer. She had already grown up loving the golfer, playing her freshman year at Pep- game, and now she was given an opportunity perdine University. She is currently a Level to learn the business, and she hasn’t looked 1 Apprentice working for Arroyo Trabuco back since. Golf Club and Head PGA Golf Professional Seiko is currently serving on the SouthMichael Block. ern California PGA Women’s Committee, Her golfing life began in the SCPGA noting that Jerry’s passion for growing the Junior Tour ranks, where she played for sev- game of golf has certainly rubbed off. Her eral years honing her passion is strong in skills. her pursuit to find “The Junior proways to introduce gram really helped the game of golf to me as both a player new women. and a person. I Soon, she will learned a lot about have her PGA memsportsmanship, and bership, and one day even to this day, the she hopes to start members in the Secher own golf acadtion really influence emy. me with their pro“I’m at Level 1 fessionalism.” right now, so I hope Getting onto to be finished and a college team was get my PGA Memthe true highlight, bership pretty soon. and Seiko admits she My focus has always probably would not been on helping kids have had the same and junior players, so opportunity if she opening my own golf had not started out academy would be a on the SCPGA Judream come true.” nior Tour. Seiko attributes “Playing on the her work ethic to Tour really helped her parents, as they get me in front of Seiko Onoue got her start on the SCPGA Junior have inspired her to the college coaches, Tour and now works at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club be successful. and it led me to USC.” “My parents were always hard workers, Seiko’s career was jumpstarted by her and I grew up wanting to be as disciplined former employer, PGA Professional Jerry and successful as they were.” Wisz of Alhambra Golf Club. But, at the same time, she is grounded, “I played at the University of Southern knowing that in order to fully enjoy the California, and one day after graduation my game, you cannot take it too seriously. That’s former coach came to me and told me that a big reason why she loves working at Arroyo Jerry Wisz had contacted her, and he want- Trabuco, where the balance between worked to talk to me. He was trying to get more ing hard and having fun really suits her. women involved in the golf industry and was “Just enjoy life. You only get one chance looking to hire me at Alhambra.” at it, enjoy every moment of it, appreciate It was not until a year after graduation, everything, and have a good time”. and a short stint playing overseas in Japan, Her spirits have always been high and that she got her break in the local golf busi- her passion for the game is even higher. ness.

16

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

www.scpga.com

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

YAMAHA

FOUR DECADES OF GOLF CAR INNOVATION

Y

amaha began making golf cars in 1979. In the early days the cars were manufactured in Japan put into crates, placed onto container ships and floated to the United States where they were loaded onto trucks and delivered to local Distributors for assembly and eventual sale to end users, primarily golf courses. Yamaha’s first offering was the G1-A gasoline golf car. The G1-A was the first two stroke powered golf car to include oil injection as standard equipment. The G1-E followed a year later. Yamaha had an immediate impact on the golf car scene in the United States, always know as an innovator; Yamaha continued to produce dependable, quality vehicles and have been recognized as the most durable golf cars on the planet. Starting with the G1, Yamaha quickly became the most popular gasoline golf car in the Country and have maintained its market share lead in this area until this day. In 1985 Yamaha introduced the G2 which was the first golf car to feature a four stroke, overhead valve engine. In 1986, Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation was formed and Yamaha began building its golf cars in a new state of the art manufacturing facility in Newnan, Georgia. Yamaha Golf-Car Company was formed in 1996 and through the decade continued to produce cars with innovative improvements like fully independent front suspension, 360 degree wrap around body protection, and 5 mph impact resistant front and rear bumpers.

www.scpga.com

2003 was a big year for YGC, they introduced the G-Max model that was built to provide maximum comfort, performance and reliability. This car sported a new Ergo Shade Canopy Top and Tru-Trak rack and pinion steering. 2003 also marked the year they embarked on a four year project to a design a car that would appeal to a segment of the market that Yamaha had not focused on previously, the upscale public and private equity owned clubs that preferred electric cars. During this four year project, YGC’s Product Development team listened to end users and course owners to find out what they were looking for in a golf car. In 2007, The DRIVE was introduced to the market and had an immediate impact. Doors that were previously locked, suddenly swung open and embraced this new car. The DRIVE proved to be a product that totally revolutionized the golf car industry. Sporting features like the automotive style dash, EnduraDrive Transaxle, ClimaGuard Top, and the largest and most comfortable contoured seat in the industry; this car is not only stylish but embodies the legendary Yamaha reliability and dependability. Although Yamaha still is the leader in the gasoline marketplace, in overall market share they remain third. Why you ask? Not enough people give the car a try. And, that’s all they are asking. Whether you feel The DRIVE is the best car for your course or not, just try it. In fact, Yamaha wants you to try all three and then… May The Best Car Win! They’ve even created a website to assist you, visit www.maythebestcarwin.com SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

A

GOLF CAR IS A GOLF CAR IS A GOLF CAR.

We’ve heard it before. You’ve likely said it before. But doing things the old way won’t cut it, not today. Put the three golf cars to the test. Your test. Will Yamaha win every challenge? Doesn’t matter. It’s not about us. It’s about you and, in the end, getting the golf car that best suits your course and is the most enjoyable for your customers.

maythebestcarwin.com © 2009 Yamaha Golf-Car Company 1.866.747.4027

17

Thank you to all the companies

Get ready for that support the golf professionals the launch of a new ofcollection: the Southern California PGA

WORTH

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA

POINT STANDINGS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2009 STANDINGS

®

NIKE GOLF LOGO FINAL - 1.1.2007

Insurance

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

470.50 446.25 437.00 396.25 394.00 387.25 357.25 348.75 339.25 333.25 328.00 310.50 301.50 300.50 297.25 288.00 266.50 263.00 262.50 259.00

BRIDGESTONE GOLF SENIOR DIVISION PLAYER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

TOLL FREE 877-685-4655 WWW.MULHOLLANDBROTHERS.COM

6 Michael T. Block 7 Scott A. Miller 8 Jon J. Fiedler Timothy M. Parun 10 9 Paul C. Dietsche 9 Brad R. Stormon 10 Chris D. Gilley 9 Jim Gormley 7 Scott J. Heyn Alan G. Sorensen 5 8 Daniel K. Hornig 4 Scott B. Mallory 6 Jerry J. Crowell 5 Jim E. Schaeffer 8 Scott Mahlberg 5 Matt M. Viguerie Greg Casagranda 6 6 Grant P. Strobel 7 Paul M. Holtby 4 Ryan B. Kennedy

Chris Starkjohann Jon Fiedler Jerry Wisz Bob E. Smith Tim Skophammer Gerry Goss Jim Ruhland John Shelden Andy Gaither Dan Hornig Bruce Burroughs Brad Stormon Bob Dacey Phil Soulanille Jim Barkhurst Bill Feil Fred Wood Tom Wischmeyer Butch Sheehan Dan Yenny

532.25 366.75 260.75 246.50 241.00 223.50 212.50 204.00 203.00 197.75 189.00 173.50 169.25 168.25 167.50 152.00 149.75 149.25 147.75 127.00

MONEY LEADERS 2009 STANDINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Michael T. Block 6 5 Scott B. Mallory 8 Scott Mahlberg Chris L. Starkjohann 6 10 Brad R. Stormon Jon J. Fiedler 10 8 Jim Gormley 9 Timothy M. Parun 8 Scott J. Heyn Jeffrey K. Cranford 9 7 Paul M. Holtby Michael W. Mitchell 6 7 Greg Casagranda 9 Paul C. Dietsche 5 Michael J. Diette 7 Dean D. Cameron Jeffrey L. Templeton 3 6 Francis G. Dagg 3 Barry D. Mahlberg 6 Scott A. Miller

$4,730.00 $3,047.50 $2,960.41 $2,905.00 $2,767.62 $2,734.63 $2,624.00 $2,504.29 $2,305.83 $2,259.17 $2,110.18 $2,096.90 $2,050.00 $1,953.33 $1,932.73 $1,752.25 $1,743.33 $1,736.05 $1,728.75 $1,528.93

AAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2009 STANDINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 T14 T14 16 17 T18 T18 T18

Steve M. Holmes Trevor W. James Gregory Puga Kevin S. Erdman Dave M. Magdziasz Michael T. Block Donny V. Lee Grant P. Strobel Richard Johnson Edward K. Delima William R. Keller Billy R. Spratt Jeffrey Getman Jeffrey T. Barber Michael J. Diette Jim G. Kelly John A. Ortega Gerry J. Goss Paul Duarte Scott Shiroma

3 186.00 3 114.00 3 104.00 3 96.50 2 89.00 2 87.00 2 70.50 2 61.00 3 60.50 2 55.50 1 54.50 3 39.50 3 39.00 1 37.50 1 37.50 3 32.50 2 29.50 1 29.00 2 29.00 2 29.00

ALL STANDINGS AS OF JUNE 29, 2009

®

The Premier Junior Golf Program

Chris Starkjohann, PGA defeated Bob E. Smith, PGA for the 2009 Senior Match Play Championship

18

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

www.scpga.com

ALL RESULTS AS OF JUNE 29, 2009

T O U R N A M E N T

R E S U LT S

DESERT PRO-ASSISTANT INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT JUNE 4, 2009 1

Kirby Pert, Jeffrey Cranford The Palms Golf Club

-8

64

$610

-4

68

$65

-8

60

$750

-6

138

-7

137

$900

Chris Starkjohann, Torrey Pines GC & Outings -3 Mark Summerville, Fairbanks Ranch Country Club -3 Jason Edmiston, Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club -3

69 69 69

$216.67 $216.67 $216.67

6&5

$850

71 71

$1,420 $1,420

WOMEN’S PRO-PRO CHAMPIONSHIP THE RANCH AT MORENO VALLEY JUNE 4, 2009 1

Alison Curdt, Sherwood Country Club Natalie Wong, Industry Hills Golf Club

SUMMER MEETING PRO-PRO SCRAMBLE THE COUNTRY CLUB AT SOBOBA SPRINGS JUNE 8, 2009 1

Eric Lohman, Oak Creek Golf Club Scott Heyn, Black Gold Golf Course

DESERT CHAPTER CHAMPIONSHIP SILVER ROCK RESORT JUNE 15-16, 2009 1

Dave Magdziasz, La Quinta Resort & Club

METRO CHAPTER CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH HILLS COUNTRY CLUB JUNE 15, 2009 1

Mike Fergin, San Joaquin Country Club

SAN DIEGO SUMMER MEETING SAN VICENTE INN & GOLF CLUB JUNE 15, 2009 T1 T1 T1

SENIOR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP EAST VALLEY GOLF CLUB JUNE 17-19, 2009 Chris Starkjohann, Torrey Pines Gold Club & Outings def Bob E. Smith

SAN DIEGO MCALISTER INSTITUTE PRO-AM MADERAS GOLF CLUB JUNE 22, 2009 T1 T1

Gary Sowinski, Morgan Run Resort & Club Steve Vaughan, Riverwalk Golf Club

-1 -1

IE VELLANO SHARK SHOOTOUT PRO-AM VELLANO COUNTRY CLUB JUNE 24, 2009 1

Alan Briggs, Canyon Crest Country Club

-5

67

$500

-5

65

$500

Ed Budz Cutter & Buck Sales Representative Southern CA (San Diego and Desert) (413) 441-9996 [email protected]

AAA SWEEPS 2 ROLLING HILLS CLUB JUNE 29, 2009 1

Michael Block, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club

www.scpga.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

19

R U L E S

&

E T I Q U E T T E

ASKTHERONS Dear RO, During a suspension of play, a player marks and lifts his ball. The next morning he can no longer find his marker and the area where his ball lies is now casual water. How should the player proceed? Rick Dear Rick, The player should put on his rain pants so he doesn’t get his pants wet when he plays his next stroke. All kidding aside, USGA Rule 6-8d(iii) states “if the player’s ball or ball-marker is moved (including by wind or water) while play is discontinued, a ball or ball-marker must be placed on the spot from which the original ball or ball-marker was moved.” Since the spot in this case is in casual water, the player would be entitled to relief in accordance with USGA Rule 25-1b(i), without penalty.

Dear RO, In regards to water hazards, bunkers, ground under repair, and out of bounds, is there an easy way to remember the margins? For example, a water hazard extends vertically upward and downward whereas a bunker is downward only. Also, what are the margins for out of bounds and ground under repair? Fred Dear Fred, Just do what I do to remember things, tie a string around your finger. It appears that you have water hazards and bunkers already under control, so to complete your mastery of margins, the easiest thing to do is relate out of bounds margins to water hazards as both are penalty situations and relate ground under repair margins and bunkers with each other because their margins extend downward only. Another way to help you remem-

www.scpga.com

ber is that both out of bounds and water hazards are typically identified by stakes and thus the stakes point up and down. Dear RR, In stroke play, after the competition closes, the Committee discovers that the winner of the event added several strips of lead tape to his driver during the stipulated round and subsequently made a stroke with the driver. What is the ruling? Tim Dear Tim, Rule 4-2 states, “During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means.” The penalty for this serious violation is DISQUALIFICATION. Note from RR: see definition of Stipulated Round in USGA Rules of Golf page 16. However, your question is a little more complicated because the Committee became aware of this problem after the competition was closed. This involves a new set of circumstances and the rule dealing with this specific occurrence is Rule 34, Disputes and Decisions. The Committee is responsible for determining if the player knew he was breaking the Rule. This is a very difficult task for the Committee who now must interview the other players in the group, and of course the player himself. Rule 34b-(iv) states that, “If the player knew before the competition closed that he had been in breach of any other Rule for which the penalty is disqualification,” he would be disqualified. Otherwise the competition results would stand, and the winner would be able to keep his title, even though a rule was breached. Read Decision 34-1b/4 which clearly explains this situation. Dear RR, In stroke play my friend, on every put-

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

ting green, marks the position of his ball, lifts the ball and places it nearer the hole than the spot from which it was lifted and plays the ball. What is the ruling? Bill Dear Bill, Find a new friend to play golf with! Your friend is a cheater or has a major depth perception problem. Just kidding, but he truly might be ignorant of the rule and an explanation is important. He needs to properly replace his ball on its original position in order to comply with Rule 20. Rule 20-3a, “If a ball to be replaced is placed other than on the spot from which it was lifted or moved and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs the general penalty, loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play,”. In a competition the Committee should disqualify the individual. See Decision 337/6. He receives the maximum penalty for multiple violations, and he must conform to the first Rule of Golf, 1-1 General: “The Game of Golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules.” Try to do your friend a favor before he is truly embarrassed later. Explain to him his obligation to play by the Rules of Golf. He may, in fact, not be aware of the correct procedure in marking a ball, and you should inform him. Special note: The two Ron’s strongly suggest you open up your Decisions of the Rules of Golf to the specific Decisions that are referenced in our articles. If your golf shop or office does not have a Decisions book available to your staff and members, you may have difficulty answering many rules questions accurately. If you have any questions for the Rons, you can contact Ron Robinson at [email protected] or Ron O’Connor at [email protected]

21

J U N I O R

BEWARE OF THE

MONSTER.

G O L F

SCPGA JUNIOR TOUR REPORT DID YOU KNOW? Between February 1 and June 20, nearly 5,000 rounds of golf have been played by SCPGA Junior Tour members SCPGA Junior Tour events have equated to nearly $200,000 back to Section facilities in the form of green fees and food and beverage revenues during the same period.

L

THE ULTIMATE IN GEOMETRIC PERFORMANCE

ZC YC

izette Salas, a 2007 SCPGA Junior Tour Grad, was recently announced as a First Team AllAmerican for USC. Rickie Fowler, a 2007 SCPGA Junior Tour Grad, recently qualified in Columbus Ohio for another US Open. Rickie was also once again a First Team All-American in his sophomore year at Oklahoma State, and is currently ranked as the #1 Amateur golfer Mitchell Fedorka, 2006 SCPGA Junior Tour Grad and current Field Rep for the Junior Tour, was awarded the Jack Nicklaus Award as the NCAA Player of the Year for

XC

OUR LARGEST DRIVER EVER The Monster is designed to the USGA limit dimensions with a 16% larger face than that of the original XLS.

Division III. Mitchell finished the year as the #1 ranked player in Division III golf and finished second in a playoff at this years Division III National Championship. Kevin Dougherty of Murrieta, 2009 Graduate, capped his High School golf career with an impressive victory in the CIF State Boys Championship at Poppy Hills. Kevin will be heading off to Oklahoma State this Fall. The SCPGA Junior Match Play Championship was recently hosted at Los Serranos Golf and Country Club, with Chen-Lin Liu winning the Boys Division, and Arinda Bhanaraksa winning the Girls Division. Thanks to Alhambra Golf Course and PGA Director of Golf Jerry Wisz for hosting the recent Parent-Junior event on Father’s Day. Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont once again will host the 2009 Oak Valley Cup Matches, July 2-4, with boys and girls teams from China and Southern California competing for the championship.

MAX MOI 24 grams of weight is placed in 3 optimized perimeter locations, allowing the MOI to approach the USGA limit of 5,900.

Chen-Lin Liu tees off on the first hole during the final round of the 2009 SCPGA Junior Match Play Championship.

clevelandgolf.com

22

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

www.scpga.com

S E C T I O N

N E W S

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA MOST

NOTEWORTHY

A COMPILATION OF INTERESTING STORIES, NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE LOCAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF COMMUNITY.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR DISABLED CLINICS Joe Grohman, PGA at the Navy Golf Course in Seal Beach is once again looking for PGA volunteers for upcoming disabled clinics. Upcoming events include a disabled veterans golf clinic on July 22 from 9:30am12:30pm at Heartwell GC in Long Beach. The 9th annual golf clinic for the junior blind is August 4th from 9:00am-1:00pm at the Navy Golf Course. Please contact Joe at [email protected] if you are interested.

SCPGA MARKETING SEMINAR PROVIDES VALUABLE INFO FOR PGA PROFESSIONALS The SCPGA hosted its inaugural Marketing Seminar on June 25th at Friendly Hills Country Club. Experts in the golf industry were on hand to discuss issues relating to marketing, sales, new technology, and staying afloat in the difficult economy. The entire seminar video has been posted online at scpga.com for you to view.

Imperial Headwear, a proud supporter of the Southern California PGA Section

WORDS OF WISDOM • • • • • •

We help ourselves only as we help others. Do your work with your whole heart and you will succeed – there is so little competition. Give me the man who, instead of always telling you what should be done, goes ahead and does it. Initiative is doing the right thing without being told. Folks who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for any more than they do. Do unto others as though you were the others - - Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)

PGA Professionals gather during the 2009 Marketing Seminar to discuss the golf business and how Professionals can improve themselves and their facilities

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Recycled or Naturally Organic Fibers Environmentally Conscious Ultra-Lightweight Breathable Best Fit

Eco-Friendly Green Collection Contact your Southern California Imperial Representative or Imperial Headwear direct to place your order today

Michael Bustamante 760.458.8056 cell Palm Springs & Desert

Jay Clancy 805.383.1625 office 805.405.9130 cell

Los Angeles & Central California

John Suveges 949.661.8080 office 949.300.3224 cell

Orange County & San Diego Proud Partner of

PGA Golf Retirement Plus & AGM Vendor Partner

17101 E. Ohio Drive Aurora, Colorado 80017 800.950.1916 imperialheadwear.com www.scpga.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROGRAM

23

PRSRT STD US Postage

PAID

Permit #1 Ontario, CA