indyianpolis national

LET’S PLAY ALREADY! by Dan Witt

ADJUST YOUR SETUP FOR BETTER BUNKER PLAY

by Matt Cardarelli

THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING FIT!

by Michael Bembenick

JACK BARBER: ALWAYS GETTING BETTER

HOW MANY BARRELS ARE IN YOUR GOLF GAME?

by John Dal Corrobo

A GOOD FIT by Patrick White

GIVE YOUR CHILDREN THE START THEY NEED...THEY WILL THANK YOU LATER.

by Chip Essig

HICKORY STICK’S TRACKMAN

by Colby Huffman

Q&A

WHAT THE PROS HAVE TO SAY with Tony Day, Dan Witt, Matt Cardarelli & Chip Essig

TENNIS ANYONE?

2012 GOLF SCHEDULE

Vol. 12, Issue 5

2 THE TURN GOLF MAGAZINE | theturngolf.com

FOUNDER Terrence Reed Smith

EDITOR Will Garcia

DIRECTOR OF SALES David C. Madrid

ART DIRECTOR Edward White

GOLF PRODUCT EDITOR Jim Collinge

ONLINE CONTENT COORDINATORPeter Rado

PGA MEMBER ADVISORY BOARDAdam Smith, Jack Barber, Jason Sutton,

PHONE (304) THE-TURN

FAX (206) 984-9667

EMAIL [email protected] www.theturngolf.com

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission in writing is strictly prohibited. Publisher is not responsible for any errors in advertising and editorial.

Printed in the USA

12 Player News Mr. Consistency: Luke Donald’s Banner Year The player to watch in 2012.

20 Q & A What the pros have to say. with Tony Day, Dan Witt, Matt Cardarelli & Chip Essig

26 Golf Travel Championships at Pebble Beach Resorts by Brittany Cooley Pebble Beach Tournament Office

30 What’s New The Latest & Greatest In Golf This season’s new toys.

34 Games

36 Tennis Anyone? The Forehand Drive

37 2012 Golf Schedules PGA, LPGA, & Champion

40 Pro Shop Every Golfers Favorite Section; Look for these products in your Pro Shop!

30

8 Let’s Play Already! by Dan Witt

Head Golf Professional, The Sagamore Club

10 Adjust Your Setup For Better Bunker Play by Matt Cardarelli

Teaching Professional, The Fort Golf Resort

13 The Importance of Getting FIT! by Michael Bembenick Assistant Golf Professional, Meridian Hills Country Club

14 Jack Barber: Always Getting Better by Will Garcia speaks with Jack Barber, Head Golf Professional at Meridian Hills Country Club. 16 How Many Barrels are in YOUR GOLF GAME? by John Dal Corobbo Director of Golf Instruction, The Golf Training Academy at Prairie View Golf Club

18 A Good Fit by Patrick White Head Golf Professional, Crooked Stick Golf Club

23 Give Your Children the Start They Need... They will thank you later. by Chip Essig Master Professional, Essig Golf Management & Director of Golf, Hickory Stick Golf Club

24 Hickory Stick’s Trackman by Colby Huffman

Director of Instruction, Essig Golf Performance Academy & Hickory Stick Golf Club

16

12

FE

AT

UR

E A

RT

ICL

ES

BY

TH

E P

RO

S

cont

ents

ARTICLES BY THE PROS


actually playing. For example think: I have good lie, I’m 150 yards away,

there’s a 10 mph wind into me and zero elevation change; so it will

probably play 160 yards.

A key factor in setting up the shot is to determine how the wind will

affect the shot. The higher the shot, the greater the wind will affect the

flight of the ball. Also, the harder the swing, the more the ball will spin,

increasing the wind’s affect.

Once you’ve decided on the “playing” yardage and club selection, aim

for the biggest part of the green. If the pin is on the right side of the

green, aim for the center or left-center of the green. If the pin is set on

the front of the green, play a yardage for the center. Try to put your ball

on the part of the green that has the biggest distance between the hole

and the edge of the green. This will help prevent a “short-sided” result.

Short Game

If you missed the green with your approach, but played towards the

largest section of green, you should have a decent amount of green

between you and the hole. If this is the case, try to use the least lofted

club for your chip or pitch.

I see too many people that use their lob or sand wedge for every shot

around the green. The problem with using a lot of loft is that the bigger

swing needed brings a greater chance for error and makes you land the

ball further from you. This requires more skill and precision. Using a

less lofted gap wedge, pitching wedge, or even a 9-iron to chip makes

for a smaller stroke, a closer landing spot and better accuracy.

On the Green

You have two basic questions to answer when putting: “is the putt

uphill or downhill?” and “will this curve to the right or left?”. Always

determine the slope first, since it will affect how hard or soft you

have to hit the ball.

Speed is the most important part of putting- and the cause of most

three putts. If you cannot figure out which way the ball is going to

curve, remember that most greens slope from a higher back to a lower

front. Gravity will pull your ball to the lowest spot, so figure that the

ball will curve toward the front.

If you have not been on the course with your instructor, I encourage

you to schedule a playing lesson soon. In the meantime, these basic

but effective tips will help you manage your game better and lower

your scores.

Dan Witt is the Head Golf Professional

at The Sagamore Club in Noblesville. For

any questions, comments or to schedule

a lesson, you can reach Dan via email at

[email protected] or via phone

at 317.776.2000 ext 108.

Usually when I ask my students what they want to work on, they

immediately want to go to the range. Now I’m not saying that there

shouldn’t be ample time on the range, because it’s helpful; but the

driving range should not be the only place where lessons happen.

My students want to lower their scores but often overlook the fact that

golf is played on the course. I try to simulate on-course circumstances

as much as possible in my range lessons, but there is no substitute for

the real thing.

Lessons conducted on the course are valuable for both me and the

student to gauge the student’s ability to make decisions. As we play,

I can improve the student’s course management, and give practical

advice in different situations. I can also see how the student reacts

to these real situations and apply that performance to future lessons.

Here are some of the basic things I teach while on the course with a

student:

Teeing Ground

When you step on the tee box, the first thing you want to do is play the

hole in your head. Visualize your tee shot, your approach shot, and

finally your one putt on the green. The key is identifying where and how

you want to hit your ball to attack the hole. I’ve never met a golfer who

stands on the tee box and says “I’d like to hit the ball in the woods, lay

up in the bunker, and finally, when I get on the green, I want 3 putts.”

By visualizing what you want to do, you put a positive picture in your

mind of how you will play the hole.

Your next step is to decide where to tee up your ball to stay out of

trouble. As a rule, you generally want to tee up your ball up on the

same side of any trouble you want to avoid. For example, if there is a

creek running down the left side of the fairway, you should tee your ball

on the left side of the tee box. You do this to open up the angle to the

safe side of the fairway.

And finally, focus in on where you want to hit the ball exactly. Pick out

a tree in the distance, a window on a house, or something similar to

target. And keep this tip in mind - the smaller you make your target in

the distance, the more room you have for error. It also helps to find a

spot a couple of feet out in line with the target to help aim correctly.

Approach Shot

The first thing that you need to evaluate in hitting an approach shot

is the lie of the ball. Your lie dictates what kind of shot you can hit.

Assuming you are in the fairway with a good lie, get an accurate

distance by factoring in yardage, wind direction, and elevation change.

Get all of these factors into a baseline reading and calculate what club

to select. I usually tell my students to figure out how long the shot is

Let’s Play ALREADY!

Dan Witt, Head Golf Professional, The Sagamore Club


What is the right way to set up for a greenside bunker shot?

That is a common question asked by my students. Figure 1 shows an

improper setup for a bunker shot: a narrow stance with the player’s weight

favoring their rear foot. Figure 2 shows a typical setup for players we watch

on T.V.- a wider stance open to the target line. It’s more of a sitting rather

than a standing position, with the weight distributed on the front foot.

When your weight is on the forward leg it ensures a downward strike,

and allows the loft of the club to lift the ball.

Adjust Your Setup For Better Bunker Play

Matt Cardarelli, Teaching Professional, The Fort Golf Resort

(fig. 1) (fig. 2)

theturngolf.com | THE TURN GOLF MAGAZINE 5

Long gone are the days of buying a club straight off the rack. For the

longest time, golf clubs were designed for the average golfer, and

almost everyone bought the same “stock” set of clubs. No matter

your height, weight, strength, wrist to floor length, tempo, or swing

characteristics, the options were limited. With the advancement of

fitting technology, golfers are now able to be fit like a tour player, with

their clubs catered to size, speed, strength, swing type, and ball flight

characteristics.

Advanced Technology: What it Means

There are many different fitting systems to help relay data on ball flight,

however, Trackman and Flightscope are the crème de la crème. Each is

used on the PGA and European tours to track data and statistics. These

two operate on a Doppler radar system similar to the satellite systems

that track weather. A traditional launch monitor takes a picture of the

ball at impact, tracking a foot forward to make a mathematical estimate

at what the ball will do. These two systems each track the ball flight

downrange, in 3D motion, to over 300 yards. Measurements include

clubhead speed, ball speed, launch angle, down range spin rate, side

spin, landing angle, carry distance, attack angle and total distance.

Another key advance has been the production of component

fitting carts, where different driver, fairway, and iron heads are

interchangeable with different shafts. This allows professionals to

better service their members, and offer thousands of combinations,

just like a tour van would traditionally offer their tour players. These

combinations are helpful in fitting sessions, as your professional can

seamlessly make changes to the shaft, loft, head style, and flex to

better tailor your fit.

Getting FIT: Will it Help Me?

Of course it will! There is a common misconception that custom fitting

will only help the accomplished, low handicapped player. In truth, it

helps all levels of skill, and may even help the higher handicapped

player more, as they aren’t as capable manipulating improperly fit

equipment.

Most golfers need one of three things: more distance, better

consistency, or straighter ball flight. Fitting your clubs is the first step

to helping ALL OF THESE.

The Price Tag: Getting the Most For Your $

Contrary to common belief, custom fit clubs do not cost more.

The industry’s leaders have been forced to compete for your business,

as customization is growing at a very high rate and will one day become

commonplace. Most companies offer at least 3 or 4 custom iron or

wood shafts at their stock price, and this list will continue to grow.

With the exception of exotic shafts or grips, you should be able to be

completely fit and expect to pay the same price. Don’t be afraid to ask

for your professional to match prices either. They want your business

and are there to support you and your family.

Just Bought New Clubs? You Should Still Get FIT

Even if you are happy with your current set of irons, asking your

professional to check the length, grip size, and lie angle of your clubs

can make a world of difference. Bending your clubs a degree or two

from the standard lie angle can change your shot shape, flight, and

improve direction by 4 or 5 yards, straightening out that fade or draw.

A change in grip size can help ease your grip pressure, presenting a

better opportunity for you to set and release the club. A lighter grip

could increase the height of your ball flight by 20% or more. All of

these are examples of inexpensive options that could help improve

your game!

How Do I get FIT?

As soon as you are ready to get FIT, reach out to one of the experts

in golf: the PGA professionals at your club! Even if your facility does

not offer a fitting system like Flightscope or Trackman, ask your

professional for help. At worst, he or she will refer you to someone

they trust, who they know will fit you properly and not attempt

to oversell you. It is customary to have a fitting charge for the

professional’s service, expertise, and the use of technology.

Remember, the fitting is probably going to include a few swing

tips: teaching and fitting constantly compliment each other.

Remember, golf serves as a leisure activity for most of us. It serves

as an opportunity to catch a breath of fresh air away from the daily

stresses of life. Getting FIT and having your equipment tailored to

you will only make your golf game more enjoyable. See your PGA

Professional today.

The Importance of Getting FIT!

Michael Bembenick, Assistant Golf Professional, Meridian Hills Country Club 2012 Indiana Assistant Golf Professional of the Year

Michael Bembenick with Club President Chris Seger.


JACK BARBER: ALWAYS GETTING BETTER

How did Jack Barber get good at golf?

By playing every day from six in the morning to dark as a teenager.

His original sport of choice was baseball, but as the pitching got faster

in little league, he wasn’t hitting the ball as well as the other kids. His

Dad and Grandfather helped him gain an interest in golf at age 14, but

his first 18 hole round resulted in a miserable 124. He continued to

work on his game and began shooting close to par. At the age of 16

he and a friend would refine their skills by teaching each other and

practicing all day, every day. Playing for his high school team, he was

good enough to earn a golf scholarship for Eastern Kentucky University

in Richmond, KY.

In Jack’s last college summer, he qualified for the Western and US

Amateur Championships, but did not qualify for either. He recalls: “I

remember standing around on Saturday watching Ben Crenshaw and

Tom Kite, and where they hit their ball and where I had hit it - there was

a huge difference – and I realized that it was going to be impossible for

me to be a touring professional.”

Returning from college and marrying his wife Becky in Ashland, KY,

Jack begged his way into his first job as a golf professional. After being

named the “non-member head golf professional” at Ironton Country

Club in Ironton, OH, he knew he had met his calling. A year later, he

accepted an invitation to serve as an Assistant Golf Professional at

Highland Golf and Country Club in his future home of Indianapolis.

From there he landed a dream gig as Head PGA Professional at

Lexington Country Club in Lexington, KY, serving for 9 years. When the

head professional position opened up at Meridian Hills in 1986, Jack

jumped at the opportunity and found his home for the next 27 years.

Service to the game and his membership is Jack’s priority. His sunny

attitude and irrepressible energy keep him going. Complacency is

always the enemy for Jack, saying “I’m always challenging myself to

recharge the batteries and give a good effort everyday I am here.” If

Meridian Hills is his orchestra, Jack is the tireless conductor. He is

constantly checking on his members and their games, making sure the

service of the club is being provided. He sees himself as not only top

golf expert, but also chief entertainer. He wants people to have fun at

by WILL GARCIA, EDITOR


Indiana PGA. The call to him from PGA President Jim Remy informing

him of this award brought him to tears, humbly remembering the years

of hard work that resulted in his being recognized at a national level.

As a result of this award, Jack was inducted into the National PGA Golf

Professional Hall of Fame in Port St. Lucie, FL, as well as the Indiana

Golf Hall of Fame in Franklin, IN.

These honors haven’t changed Jack much – he sees himself only as

good as his last day at Meridian Hills.

As for the state of the PGA Tour, Jack is hopeful for the future. All the

young talent mixing with the likes of a resurgent Tiger and Phil make for

competitive tournaments, to the betterment and popularity of golf. A

regular fixture at the PGA Merchandise Show, Jack remarked that this

year’s show had a buzz that told him this was going to be a great year

in golf.

Jack’s legacy has built itself in his unbridled enthusiasm and service

to the game and profession he loves. His legacy at Meridian Hills and

among his peers in the PGA will be a reminder to always bring your

“A” game, in whatever you do, to always get better.

Jack Barber is the Head PGA Golf Professional at Meridian Hills

Country Club.

the club, where golf is a respite from the stresses of everyday life. His

enthusiasm is infectious, his life and career having taken him to a place

of grateful satisfaction. Always counting the blessings his profession

provides, he remembers: “I’m still in a sport…I have fun while I work.”

As a teacher, his goal is to make his members be able to play the

game better. Jack focuses on building the golfer’s swing over time, not

providing quick fixes. He points out that all great athletes have great

fundamentals, and as his students know, he will be drilling these same

fundamentals into them lesson after lesson.

Jack has been a mentor to other golf professionals, the model of

service to the game and business savvy. He is focusing his assistant

professionals on playing and teaching, as those qualities as a good

player are what can give a professional job security.

In 2009, Jack was awarded the highest honor one can receive in his

profession: the National PGA Golf Professional of the Year. This is the

Oscars for an actor or a Grammy for a singer. He sees it as an incredible

honor - a reward he accepted for his peers, staff, membership, and the



During this process at the practice facility or course, learn to have a

wider margin of error built into your aim. If you have an unpredictable

outcome in your ball flight, why would you aim directly at the target?

Adjust your aim to a more conservative part of the fairway or green to

give yourself the opportunity to find success on the next shot. Work on

the core skills of the game and the concepts of path and clubface when

you make contact with the ball. This will rid you of excessive barrels in

your game.

Call or visit the Golf Training Academy at Prairie View online to learn

more how you enjoy the game and have more fun. Call 317-816-3111-

or go to www.prairieviewgc.com.

HOW MANY BARRELS ARE IN YOUR GOLF GAME? IT WOULD BE

incredible to look down a single barrel and shoot it the same way every

time. But does this realistically happen? Of course not. How many

of you have 4 or 5 even 6 different ball flights that come out during a

round of golf? A great question to ask is how do I start to eliminate

these excessive barrels and get it down to a 2-barrel game.

The first thing to understand is what flight you would like to play with.

The formula for directional control is the position of the clubface when

you make contact with the ball, and the path on which the club comes

into the ball. If you desire a straight flight or any flight, there is a path

and face position that makes this possible.

Once you understand your formula, do you have the correct grip,

stance, aim and alignment? This helps cut down excessive barrels

or direction in your game.

If you hold the club, stand to the ball, aim the face and align the body,

understanding the factors for directional control (face and path), you

can start to work on eliminating these errant barrels. This means that

when you practice or play it is important to learn what your predictable

margin of error will be. Focus on the feelings in your body when you hit

different shots. This will help you discern what you feel when a shot

goes a certain direction. Once you assimilate to the correct mechanics,

the feeling of your body will make ball flight z more predictable.

John Dal Corobbo, Director of Golf Instruction

The Golf Training Academy at Prairie View Golf Club

2011 Indiana PGA Player of the Year

2009 Indiana PGA Teacher of the Year

How Many Barrels are in YOUR GOLF GAME?

During this process at the practice facility or course, learn to have a

wider margin of error built into your aim. If you have an unpredictable

outcome in your ball flight, why would you aim directly at the target?

Adjust your aim to a more conservative part of the fairway or green to

give yourself the opportunity to find success on the next shot. Work on

the core skills of the game and the concepts of path and clubface when

you make contact with the ball. This will rid you of excessive barrels in

your game.

Call or visit the Golf Training Academy at Prairie View online to learn

more how you enjoy the game and have more fun. Call 317-816-3111-

or go to www.prairieviewgc.com.

HOW MANY BARRELS ARE IN YOUR GOLF GAME? IT WOULD BE

incredible to look down a single barrel and shoot it the same way every

time. But does this realistically happen? Of course not. How many

of you have 4 or 5 even 6 different ball flights that come out during a

round of golf? A great question to ask is how do I start to eliminate

these excessive barrels and get it down to a 2-barrel game.

The first thing to understand is what flight you would like to play with.

The formula for directional control is the position of the clubface when

you make contact with the ball, and the path on which the club comes

into the ball. If you desire a straight flight or any flight, there is a path

and face position that makes this possible.

Once you understand your formula, do you have the correct grip,

stance, aim and alignment? This helps cut down excessive barrels

or direction in your game.

If you hold the club, stand to the ball, aim the face and align the body,

understanding the factors for directional control (face and path), you

can start to work on eliminating these errant barrels. This means that

when you practice or play it is important to learn what your predictable

margin of error will be. Focus on the feelings in your body when you hit

different shots. This will help you discern what you feel when a shot

goes a certain direction. Once you assimilate to the correct mechanics,

the feeling of your body will make ball flight more predictable.

John Dal Corobbo, Director of Golf Instruction, The Golf Training Academy at Prairie View Golf Club

From the:

2011 Indiana PGA Player of the Year

2009 Indiana PGA Teacher of the Year

How Many Barrels are in YOUR GOLF GAME?


When I checked his clubs, all of his club lofts were weak a degree.

If the member would have been a higher handicapper and looking to

get some yardage, I would have considered making them stronger but

this particular member already hit his 9 iron 150 yards. The next thing

I looked at was filling his gaps with his irons. As previously stated,

his 4 and 5 irons went similar distances, so I weakened his 5 iron to

28 degrees to help give him some distance variations with his long

clubs. Next I looked at other gaps that we could fill. The gap between

his 9 iron and PW was 3 degrees and PW to GW was 5.5 degrees. As

you can see above, I weakened his PW to 48 degrees to give him more

consistency throughout the set. Lastly, the member liked that his LW

was weaker than the standard 60 degree and really felt comfortable

with his distance with that club. Instead of changing his LW, I weakened

his SW to 57 degrees to better fill the gap.

Now that we have filled the gap with his lofts, we need to make sure

his lies were consistent with his “standard” setting. Most of the

bag looked good, until we got to the wedges which were extremely

upright. A general rule of thumb is that you have your long irons

upright, mid irons standard, and short irons flatter compared to

whatever degree you got fit to whether it is 2 degrees flat, standard

or 2 degrees upright. I changed his wedges to be a little flatter which

would promote more backspin and give him the ability to hit different

shots with the clubs.

During my time in the Club Repair room, I made sure I communicated

with my member the cause and effect of his lofts or lies being a

particular way. Most of the time if I suggested a change he would

agree, but I always left it in the hands of the member.

This is not a surprise to me as Golf Professional as I have seen it

before and I understand how lofts and lies can change over time.

However, for this particular member, it was extremely beneficial as he

know I was making the extra effort to enhance his game.

This experience has taught me many things. First, take time to show

your member that you care about their game. As golf professionals,

we are very busy but take the extra minute to ask your member about

his game and make the necessary steps to help him get better. Next,

I perform loft and lie checks with all my members to make sure they

are playing with the right equipment. Sometimes the members you

are teaching are playing with equipment that does not fit them or their

swing. One thing I am cautious of is telling the member they need

new clubs. Most of the time I work with what they currently play with

and make the loft and lie adjustments to the clubs. Yes, sometimes

that will cost some money, but it is minimal compared to a new set of

irons. Lastly, I check each set of irons as they come in from the factory

to make sure the loft and lies are consistent with what we ordered.

This gives the members a connection to the Golf Shop and also shows

them we care which will in turn produce loyal customers.

My job as a Golf Professional started much earlier this year due to an

unseasonably warm weather pattern that swept through the Midwest.

Normally, our season does not start until the first week of April but

this year we experienced temperatures in the mid 70s by March 1st.

Along with the early start, I have been able to earn some additional

lesson revenue. One member in particular approached me at the

beginning of the season explaining how he really wanted to work

on his game and begin to take a series of lessons during the current

year. I was very pleased to receive a new member and also looked

forward to improving this talented, four handicap, player into

a scratch golfer.

During our first lesson, I asked him some common

questions about his swing:

• What is your typical shot pattern?

• Is your typical trajectory high or low?

• What are your common misses with irons?

• What are your common misses with woods?

• What are your goals for our lesson series?

This particular member was very detailed in his answers. I had him perform his typical warm up and then we started the lesson. I recorded his swing on video and we worked on some swing flaws noted through my review. Towards the end of the lesson he was beginning to feel comfortable with the changes. To close out the lesson, I asked him a series of questions about his equipment and the clubs he had played with for the past three years. Again, the member was very detailed and we discovered some interesting facts. His 4 iron and 5 irons went similar distances and his wedge play was subpar for his ability level. The only thing I could think would be the answer is the loft and lies of his current clubs.

Therefore, I brought out the lie board to check to make sure his clubs had the proper lie angles. He hit multiple balls with his 5, 7, 9 iron along with some wedges with lie and face tape on the clubs. From the evaluation, we confirm his lies were standard. At this point I went into our Club Repair room and performed loft and lie checks on his clubs.

Below is what I found….

4 Iron 25 24 60 605 Iron 27 27 60.5 60.56 Iron 32 31 61.5 61.57 Iron 36 35 61 618 Iron 40 39 62 629 Iron 44 43 62.5 62.5PW 47 47 64 63GW 52.5 52 64.5 63.5SW 56 56 63.5 64LW 61.5 60 66 64

IRON ACTUAL STANDARD ACTUAL STANDARD LOFT LOFT LIE ANGLE LIE ANGLE

Patrick White, Head Golf Professional, Crooked Stick Golf ClubA Good Fit


Professionally, Harvey Penick was always someone that I admired.

The way he influenced his students and left such a lasting impression

on them was incredible. His teachings are timeless and apply to real

life, not just golf.

TT: What is your most memorable golf moment? DW: Winning a golf state championship in high school as a senior -

the first for a boys sport at my high school. A close second is playing

the Old Course at St. Andrews with my dad.

TT: Tiger or Phil? DW: Phil.

TT: Belly or standard putter? DW Standard.

TT: How far can you drive the ball in perfect conditions? DW: 270 yards.

TT: What is your favorite part of having a career in golf? DW: My job revolves around a game that I love! It has taken me

places that I would have not been able to go to otherwise. Being able

The Turn: How did you get into golf? Tony Day: 1. My father, Bill Day, introduced me to the game at a

young age. 2. Tony Krebs and Jon Olson were my local PGA pros when I

grew up at my local course.

TT: Who is your golf hero and why? TD: Every PGA Member and their wives who give tirelessly

to grow the game of a lifetime.

TT: What is your most memorable golf moment? TD: 1. My first day of work for my mentor, PGA of America Past

President, Mickey Powell. 2. Receiving my 20 years of service pin

in the PGA of America.

TT: How far can you drive the ball in perfect conditions? TD: 250 yards.

TT: What is your favorite part of having a career in golf? TD: My daughter is able to enjoy the game along my side every day.

TT: Advice for golf enthusiasts: TD: 1. Set realistic goals each year for your upcoming season.

2. Practice correctly! 3. ENJOY :)!

The Turn: How did you get into golf? Dan Witt: I grew up on a course and started playing at a young age

(3 years old). My older brothers and dad were always out playing and

I wanted to be with them. It carried me into a golf scholarship at Ball

State University and into a summer job working at a golf facility in my

hometown. It was there that I figured out that I wanted to make golf

my career.

TT: Who is your golf hero and why? DW: I looked up to Fred Couples growing up. I liked his seemingly

effortless swing and his calm, cool demeanor on the golf course.

With TONY DAY DAN WITT MATT CARDARELLI & CHIP ESSIG

TONY DAY

DAN WITT

Director of Instruction, Golf Pro-Formance Academy, Golf Club of Indiana

Head Golf Professional, The Sagamore Club


to interact with such great people - members, guests, fellow co-workers

- on a daily basis is one of the great parts. Watching a person’s reaction

when they hit a really good shot after helping them with their game is

also rewarding.

TT: Advice for golf enthusiasts: DW: As golf professionals, we love the golf fanatic! Don’t change....

The Turn: How did you get into golf? Matt Cardarelli: My dad introduced me to golf at age 3.

He’s a great player, so it was natural to try to mimic his swing early

on. A few years later I was competing in junior tournaments and

was hooked for life!

TT: Who is your golf hero and why? MC: Harvey Penick, because he revolutionized the way golf pros

analyze swings. His simplistic fundamentals of the game will transcend

throughout time, no matter how illegal golf balls and drivers get.

TT: What is your most memorable golf moment? MC: Playing collegiate golf at Methodist University in North Carolina.

TT: Tiger or Phil? MC: Sean Foley or Butch Harmon? That was easy, I’ll take Phil.

Tigers’ current swing and inaccuracy make me sick at times.

TT: Belly or standard putter? MC: Standard.

TT: How far can you drive the ball in perfect conditions? MC: 290 into the junk, 280 in the fairway.

TT: What is your favorite part of having a career in golf? MC: Helping others play better golf.

TT: Advice for golf enthusiasts: MC: My students who improve the most go to the COURSE and play

the game. Steer away from the driving range, find an accessible

course in your area and learn how to get the ball in the hole. Golf isn’t

a beauty contest to see who can get a so-called picture perfect swing.

MATT CARDARELLI Teaching Professional, The Fort Golf Resort

The Turn: How did you get into golf? Chip Essig: My father is a PGA Professional and I grew up at his golf

course. I would spend all day fishing or playing golf. As I got older I did

a little bit of work at the course also.

TT: Who is your golf hero and why? CE: My father has always been my golf hero. I went to my first major

golf championship when I was six. It was the PGA Championship and

my father was playing in it. Beside being a great golfer he is also a

great role model.

TT: What is your most memorable golf moment? CE: Making a double eagle on the seventh hole at

South Grove Golf Course.

TT: Tiger or Phil? CE: Both have helped introduced the game to millions of people.

TT: Belly or standard putter? CE: I currently use a standard putter, but have used long putters in the

past. I have tried belly putters, but have not liked them.

TT: What is your favorite part of having a career in golf? CE: My favorite part of being a golf professional is in the variety

of things I get to do each day. I may teach in the morning and then

run a large event in the afternoon. Each day is different and I never

get bored.

TT: Advice for golf enthusiasts: CEt: Practice, get lessons and remember to have fun.

CHIP ESSIG Master Professional, Essig Golf Management & Director of Golf,

Hickory Stick Golf Club


There are many reasons why every child should play golf. Golf teaches

important life lessons. It offers the chance at a reduced cost of higher

education, and it gives people an advantage in the business world.

Perhaps most importantly, it also allows the family to have an activity

they can all do together.

They don’t have to become a competitive junior golfer, but get them

out on the course, get them some instruction, and make sure they

know the etiquette of the game. Why? I cannot count the number

of times I have heard someone in their 20s or 30s tell me they wish

they had learned earlier in life; they feel like they are missing out on

opportunities now. Don’t let this happen to your children. Golf is

easier to learn when you are young and have the time.

One of the things about golf that makes it different than any other

sport is found in the Rules of Golf. Rule 6 tells us that we are

responsible for knowing and obeying the rules, and we must keep our

score correctly. What a valuable lesson for a youngster. Junior golfers

will be faced with the decision to report a breach of the rules that

only they know they have committed. Most will report the breach and

feel good about doing the right thing. A few will not report it and feel

guilty. I have had many of these golfers come to me a day or two later

to tell on themselves instead of living with the guilt! One of the worst

things in golf is to get labeled a cheater.

Golf also teaches people how to act towards others. Being quiet when others are making a stroke, or not walking in another player’s line, shows us respect for others. I am a big sports fan and love watching sports, but I have grown concerned with the way most sports are encouraging disrespect between athletes. How are children going to react to this behavior? Are they going to think this behavior is normal? They may be in for a rude awakening the first time they run into their first boss.

Golf is not perfect. Just recently there was a high profile player on

television kicking his club and acting like a spoiled brat after a bad

shot. The big difference between golf and other sports is that the golf

media quickly reported that this was not acceptable behavior. Of all

the sports I have enjoyed playing and watching I believe golf teaches

you how to act as an adult the most.

For juniors that enjoy the competitive side of golf, there are

many college scholarship opportunities out there. To get a full

scholarship at one of the major golf universities they would have to

be an outstanding player. But there are also many full and partial

scholarships available to both boys and girls to attend college. You

may not even have to shoot under par to get these scholarships. If

a junior golfer wants a good education and to save some money, a

golf scholarship can be a great route. To be eligible to receive these

scholarships they will need to play on their high school golf team and

participate in their state’s junior golf events.

When your child reaches the business world, do you want them

left back at the office when the boss takes their co-workers out to

play golf? It might not be fair, but a lot of business relationships

get formed at the golf course. I have had many young adults, both

male and female, come to me for lessons because they want to be

able to play with business associates. So many universities see how

important it is to play golf that they are now offering classes teaching

both how to play and how to use golf to succeed in the business world.

The last reason I think you should get your child involved in golf is

also the most important: you will have an activity you can do with your

kid for the rest of your life. When your children reach their teenage

years I have heard stories about how difficult it can be to get to

spend much time with them. At our facilities we have many families

that come out regularly to play golf together. I always wonder how

many other parents would love to have the opportunity to spend

four uninterrupted hours with their teenager or young adult children.

Making golf a regular family activity now will allow you the quality time

with them when they are older.

So don’t delay, call your local PGA golf professional and get your child started playing golf.

Give Your Children the Start They Need… they will thank you later.

I encourage all parents to get their children involved in golf at an early age.

Chip Essig, Master Professional, Essig Golf Management & Director of Golf, Hickory Stick Golf Club

Chip Essig Cami Essig (Age 6) Travis Essig (Age 4)


DON’T WHINE. DON’T COMPLAIN. DON’T MAKE EXCUSES.

Ah, the great words of wisdom from legendary Coach John Wooden.

If you find you are doing one of the aforementioned with regards to

your equipment, it is time to utilize modern technology. Today’s ball

flight tracking devices like TrackMan employ Doppler radar to analyze

your swing and your shots to precisely calculate what clubs or what

adjustments would be best for you. For example, at Hickory Stick Golf

Club where I give lessons, we have found that individuals can pick up

as much as 20 yards and improve their dispersion pattern twofold with

simple changes in equipment or setup. TrackMan numbers don’t lie.

TrackMan’s state-of-the-art technology has redefined the conventional

ball flight laws that have been around for over a century. It has

exposed hidden dynamics of ball flight and impact conditions.

Not only can it help you determine which clubs are the best, it also has

video analysis capabilities which enable you to compare your swing

to the world’s best. The right equipment plays a vital role in creating

the correct technique and feel for improving one’s game. For example,

if your clubs have too flat a lie angle, the ball will go more to the right

than is desired. This will cause you to make unnatural manipulations

by COLBY HUFFMAN

Director of Instruction, Essig Golf Performance Academy

&Hickory Stick Golf Club

HICKORYSTICK’S

TRACKMAN

of your swing for the ball to go straight. Also, if your clubs are too

heavy, your arms will generally work too far out toward the ball in the

downswing, and you will have to make cumbersome compensations

to hit the ball in the center of the club face.

Finally, you ability to control distance and consistency are also easily

measured and can be improved through use of TrackMan’s skills tests

features. Once you determine the proper equipment to be use, you

can practice your skills on TrackMan like the best golfers in the world

do. Numerous PGA Tour members practice with TrackMan on a bi-

weekly basis just to dial in their distances and to improve their impact

conditions. Bottom line, if you are not thrilled with the distance,

direction or curve of your shots, simply look at your TrackMan

data. It is easy to see what is wrong and fix it.

To schedule lessons or TrackMan sessions with Colby, you can click on

the time that works best for you at www.hickorystickgolf.com.



Pebble Beach ResortsAT Written by BRITTANY COOLEY

THE STORIES OF PEBBLE BEACH CHAMPIONS ARE WRITTEN INTO

the lore of golf history. They are marked by the memories of five U.S.

Championships, including Jack Nicklaus’ 1-iron in 1972, Tom Watson’s

1982 chip-in and Tiger Woods’ dominant 12-stoke victory in 2000.

They began with Sam Snead’s consecutive victories to initiate the

Crosby Clambake and are stapled by Mark O’Meara’s five titles at the

AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Even Lanny Wadkins staked

his claim on the hallowed ground, with an epic sudden-death playoff

victory over Gene Littler in the 1977 PGA Championship. Many have

traversed what Golf Digest has repeatedly called the greatest public

golf courses in America, but few have the hardware to prove their

titled worth. But what if there was a way for you to become one of

those cherished few? What if you could win your own championship

at Pebble Beach? You can. Every year, Pebble Beach Resorts hosts

numerous tournaments in which anyone can participate. With more

than fifteen slated through 2012, each tournament is held on at least

two of the resort’s four courses—Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass

Hill Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay and Del Monte Golf

Course—and feature different formats and themes. From celebrity

tournaments that let you play alongside world-famous athletes and

ChampionshipsGolf Travel


Photo by: Randy Tunnell

entertainers to the annual Pebble Beach New Year’s Championship,

each event is entirely unique with different course lineups and

scoring arrangements. But because most are net format, you can

enjoy the thrill of competition no matter your handicap. Whether as

an individual or on a team, in a large tournament or a small one, the

Tournament Office at Pebble Beach Resorts can meet all your needs.

Each course at Pebble Beach Resorts has its own distinct environment,

style and character, and is designed to challenge and thrill every

tournament participant. Since 1919, the exquisite beauty and

unmatched history of Pebble Beach Golf Links has made the site a

pinnacle for all tournaments at the Resorts. Ranked the No. 1 public

course in the United States by Golf Digest, this storied tract boasts

stunning ocean views, wide-open vistas and cliff-side fairways along

the Pacific’s rugged coastline. Spyglass Hill Golf Course, rated as one

the toughest courses in the world, features two distinctly different

kinds of terrain that influence the way the holes look and play, with

the first five holes rolling through sandy, seaside dunes and the

following 13 cutting through majestic pines with elevated greens and

strategically placed bunkers. The Links at Spanish Bay, designed after

the historical European courses, are so authentic that

Photo by JOANN DOST

Photo by RANDY TUNNELL

Photo by JOANN DOST

even the Monterey coastline mirrors the rugged, natural beauty of

Scotland. Here, the golf course provides you with the choice of using

your regular shot or a low, running shot to play the firm turf while

keeping the ball under the steady ocean breezes. Finally, Del Monte

Golf Course boasts a meandering layout that has challenged golfers

for more than a century. A favorite among Monterey Peninsula locals,

this old-style course rewards tournament players for risky shots and

punishes those with errant placements.

Playing in a tournament on courses that have provided some of the

game’s most dramatic moments is enough to make any golfer feel

special. That feeling is only enhanced with the way the tournament

office takes care of every detail—welcome receptions featuring gift

packages, post-round catered functions and award ceremonies.

They can even set up personalized events for you across Pebble Beach

Resorts, whether it’s cigars overlooking the 18th green behind The

Lodge at Pebble Beach or special tastings by the fire pits at

The Inn at Spanish Bay.


Photo by JOANN DOST

Your options are just beginning, as the highly acclaimed instructors

at Pebble Beach Golf Academy provide wholly personalized learning

experiences in which you can hone your skills inside world-class

facilities. Led by Laird Small, one of Golf Digest’s “50 Greatest

Teachers,” the Academy offers individualized or group lessons for

those looking to work on their game before, during and even after

the tournament.

Take the experience to the next level and coordinate a custom Pebble

Beach championship just for you. For friends, family or even business

partners, the tournament office will create your ideal tournament from

top to bottom, from the moment you step foot onto this amazing corner of

the world to the last winning putt on No. 18. The options for building your

ideal championship moment at Pebble Beach Resorts are truly endless.

Walk in the footsteps of those immortalized legends, and make plans to

hoist your trophy today.

For more information, visit www.PebbleBeach.com or contact Brittany Cooley at the Pebble Beach Resorts Tournament Office at 877-853-5864 or [email protected].



latestTHE

INgreatest

GOLF&

SWIFTWICK These high-quality compression socks can greatly reduce the greatest distraction in golf- tired, sore feet. Compression improves blood flow and circulation, and extends your endurance and peak performance. You can concentrate on your game; not your feet! That competitive edge is why tour professionals wear them. These American-made socks are thin enough to feel the grass, and are so comfortable you don’t know you are wearing them.

www.swiftwick.com

NANOSWING The Nanoswing provides a golfer instant, accurate, real time information about unwanted head movement during the golf swing. The Nanoswing is a small, lightweight device that attaches to the brim of any cap. While the user is making a full swing, the Nanoswing provides instantaneous feedback via three non-obtrusive LED lights.

This groundbreaking innovation will allow golfers to acquire the feel of proper position while actually making a golf swing. It gives golf teaching professionals instant feedback that enables them to say to students, “You are improving and you can see it and feel it.” It also allows the “do-it-yourselfers,” to improve their swing themselves.

List Price $139 www.nanoswing.com


ROCKET TOUR Join the 100+ PGA Tour players & top PGA Professionals who sport Rocket Tour’s signature knit head covers! Mix & Match between newtheir Retro-inspired styles -Knit Pom Pom & Tassels Covers, Putter & Hybrid Covers in scores of colors!

Want your Golf Shop to carry Rocket Tour? Ask your Pro to call them at (303)-415-1199 or email: [email protected] for information or order online at www.RocketTour.com.

List Price: $28-$35 each

www.rockettour.com

J STEWART GOLF Have you ever spent time searching for your golf bag at the club, because it is like everyone else’s? Stand out from the crowd by creating your own unique bag!

The ordering process is simple and easy to follow with no additional set up costs! Once they have your design, they send you detailed drawings for approval before you confirm your order.

www.jstewartgolf.com

SWING SPEED RADAR The Swing Speed Radar® is a small, inexpensive microwave Doppler radar velocity sensor that measures the swing speed of golfers. It assists players in developing/optimizing their swing by providing a convenient measure of their swing velocity as they strive to improve their performance. The new Swing Speed Radar® with Tempo Timer compliments tempo training by measuring a golfer’s ACTUAL Tempo Time consistency, from club takeaway to ball contact, to one hundreth of a second, as well as Clubhead Swing Speed within 1 mph up to 100 mph, and 1% over 100 mph.

The Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer is fast becoming a hit with serious golfers trying to improve their game, and with instructors and professional clubmakers assisting in accomplishing their objectives.

(888) 542-9246 www.sportssensors.com


THE ORIGINAL JONES BAG It’s time you reintroduced yourself to an old friend: The Original Jones carry bag. Everything you loved about the original has been remade using the toughest modern-day ballistic nylon and vinyl. It has a single strap and no stand. It has all of two zippered pouches–room for everything but distractions. It combines old-world values with new-world technology. Simplify with the Original Jones.

www.jonesgolfbags.com

SPOTLESS SWING The Revolution in Golf Towels that keep your hands, face, gloves and grips clean and dry. Traps debris from dirty, muddy and wet clubs. With MicroBrush™ Fabric, you can clean club grooves effortlessly.

www.spotlessswing.com


NICKEL PUTTER BALL PICK-UP The Nickel Putter Ball Pick-up is highly engineered to retrieve your golf ball after a putt has been made. The Nickel Putter Ball Pick-up is a far superior alternative to the suction cup pick up.

Retrieve the ball quickly and securely out of the cup without bending over.

List Price: $19.95 www.nickelputter-usa.com

LET IT WHIP The Orange Whip is the ultimate golf swing trainer and fitness tool for today’s golfer and athlete. It is versatile, dynamic and the most effective swing aid on the market. Consistent use of the Orange Whip will improve your golf swing and provide an essential core-muscle workout.

List Price: $109 www.OrangeWhipTrainer.com

SWINKEY Nicknamed the Swiss Army Knife of Golf Training Aids and Voted Hot Product of the Day at the 2011 PGA Show. The Swinkey is the ultimate game improvement tool helping the golfer with alignment, ball position, stance, swing plane, putting plane, fitness, stretching, video work, balance, club protection, and tempo. All in one, fundamental, and used by over 90 players on the PGA Tour– it’s the Golfer’s Toolbox.

List Price: $79.99 www.swinkey.com

Answer to Crossword

R H P

F R E E

D I N E D

A G A S

P I T A S A R M A T U R E

F R E T S H A D A N N

C E D E H O S E N E E

O R A T E D

A N T E

E V A N E S C E

S E B S

E P E E

C R O C S A L A D

D I A T R I B E

A B B E

V A A LH A E

L A M V E R D E N B E

O V E R R I D E A S T I

S E A M

R E T ES E R I E S

Answer to Sudoko

Rules of SudokoThe object of game is to fill the other empty cells with numbers between 1 and 9 (1 number only in each cell). The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid (also called “boxes”, “blocks”, “regions”, or “sub-squares”) contains all of the digits from 1 to 9

The Forehand DriveTennis Anyone?

THE FOREHAND DRIVE IS THE OPENING OF EVERY OFFENSIVE IN

tennis, and, as such, should be most carefully studied. There are

certain rules of footwork that apply to all shots. To reach a ball that

is a short distance away, advance the foot that is away from the

shot and thus swing into position to hit. If a ball is too close to the

body, retreat the foot closest to the shot and drop the weight back

on it, thus, again, being in position for the stroke. When hurried,

and it is not possible to change the foot position, throw the weight

on the foot closest to the ball.

The receiver should always await the service facing the net, but

once the serve is started on the way to court, the receiver should

at once attain the position to receive it with the body at right

angles to the net.

The forehand drive is made up of one continuous swing of the

racquet that, for the purpose of analysis, may be divided into

three parts:

1. The portion of the swing behind the body, which determines

the speed of the stroke.

2. That portion immediately in front of the body which determines

the direction and, in conjunction with weight shift from one foot

to the other, the pace of the shot.

3. The portion beyond the body, comparable to the golfer’s “follow

through,” determines spin, top or slice, imparted to the ball.

All drives should be topped. The slice shot is a totally different stroke.

Never allow your opponent to play a shot he likes if you can

possibly force him to one he dislikes.

I urge that you play your drive:

1. With the body sideways to the net.

2. The swing flat, with long follow through.

3. The weight shifting just

as the ball is hit.

ww

w.t

enni

s-si

mpl

e.co

m/t

enni

s-ar

ticle

s-fr

ee-.h

tml

5 1 9 6 7 3 8 2 4

2 9 8 3 6 1 7 4 5

4 6 5 9 8 7 3 1 2

1 3 7 2 5 4 6 9 8

9 7 2 5 3 6 4 8 1

8 5 1 7 4 9 2 6 3

3 4 6 1 2 8 9 5 7

6 8 3 4 1 2 5 7 9

7 2 4 8 9 5 1 3 6


WWW.THEFIRSTTEE.ORG/CAMPAIGN

“The Nanoswing allows golfers to develop a consistent spine angle and maintain proper head position while making a golf swing.”

Golfers will improve their ability to strike the ball properly using this technological golf instruction innovation, which provides real-time responsive feedback during a golf swing.

GREAT TECHNOLOGICAL GOLF INNOVATIONS


The PRO SHOP

CARNAHANGOLF.COM

804-733-4458

Kenny Clark, PGA Head ProfessionalCountry Club of Petersburg866-402-8888

www.SWINKEY.com

R5 Remote Control Golf Trolley with Distance Timer

Golf trolley gives you the freedom to walk

the course without the burden of carrying your

heavy golf bag!

www.spitzerproducts.com

Ask your pro for these products…

(888) 542-9246 www.sportssensors.com

Swing Speed Radar® with Tempo Timer NEW unique affordable, portable golf training device.

Golf is an endurance sport and that’s why Tour Professionals wear Swiftwick for a competitive advantage. Blood flow is important to any athlete, and concentration is the mental edge you need in golf. Feed the body, still the mind, with a sock that is connected to the foot, thin enough to feel the grass, so comfortable you don’t know you’re wearing it.

(800) 895-5858 • www.swiftwick.com

List Price $139 www.nanoswing.com

Documents

indyianpolis national