Golf Tour News http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:25:38 +0000 1440 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=11229
“It’s exciting to work with partners who share a common vision on how eco-friendly makes a difference,” said Dixon Golf CEO William Carey. “Dixon Golf tries to be authentic in everything we do. Since coming on board with the Desert Junior Tour, we have made it our mission to make it the first eco-friendly, carbon neutral junior tour in the United States.”

4 Green Golf and EcoAid will help make the Tour eco-friendly by recycling waste and providing carbon offsets. For the Dixon Golf Desert Junior Tour, EcoAid will supply carbon offsets to balance all carbon emissions from the operation of the tour to make it the first junior golf tour in the United States to be carbon neutral. The carbon offsets support certified clear air projects such as reforestation and wind farms. High-performance golf balls made from 100% recyclable material and biodegradable tees will also help reduce the carbon footprint of the Tour.

“As this green movement continues to evolve and grow, our younger generation has a responsibility and an opportunity to drive the concept of sustainability and truly steer it in the right direction,” said Dr. Ken Pollock, CEO of EcoAid. “These Desert Junior golfers will see eco-friendly and carbon neutral in action.”

The Tour caters to junior golfers ages 10-19 who are looking to gain exposure for college scholarships and earn AJGA exemptions. Those exemptions help the players qualify for larger national tournaments, increasing their visibility. The DJT teaches junior golfers the importance of golf etiquette, sportsmanship and charity while sharpening junior’s golf skills.
The first event is September 18, 2010 at Longbow Golf Club. For more information on the tour, please visit www.desertjrtour.com.
About Dixon Golf

Dixon Golf, a Tempe, AZ based company, is the world’s only manufacturer of a high performance, eco-friendly family of golf balls. Borne from a desire to limit its impact on the environment, Dixon also offers a golf ball recycling program through its retail locations that gives golfers credit for returning their old golf balls. Even the packaging is made from 100% recycled material. From core to cover, from packaging to production, Dixon Golf is setting a new standard in environmental consciousness. Dixon Earth golf balls are distributed internationally and conform to USGA standards, with a PGA Tour Partner's 92% approval rating. For more information about Dixon Golf, please visit www.dixongolf.com. Dixon Golf – play the future.

About 4 Green Golf
4 Green Golf LLC is based in Phoenix Arizona, and is the only Eco-Friendly golf tournament planning and consulting service on the West Coast. Their mission is to help corporations, non-profits or private individuals run a charity, marketing or customer appreciation golf tournament utilizing “earth friendly” products, practices and services. We want to make the event fun, profitable and ecologically responsible. For more information please visit our website – www.4greengolf.com

About EcoAid
EcoAid is Arizona’s first full-service, carbon consulting and man agement company that specializes in: measuring and tracking carbon emissions; developing sustainability plans that positively impact the bottom line; educating on carbon-related issues through online and in-person training; and carbon offsetting for a myriad of purposes. 
From environmental scientists to restaurateurs, PhD's to student activists, EcoAid’s diverse expertise in the climate change and carbon market field has elicited a wide range of consulting opportunities with companies such as BarS Foods, Fusion Formulations, the PGA and AMC Entertainment.

Headquartered in Phoenix and founded by individuals with varied backgrounds sharing a common purpose to remain steadfast in improving the environment, EcoAid’s mission is to manage greenhouse gas emissions in a methodical and sustainable manner. For more information on carbon management and carbon reduction strategies visit www.ecoaidnow.com.]]> Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:53:01 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=11229 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=10986
The 20-year-old junior from Auburn leads by a stroke over two-time Canadian Amateur champion Cam Burke of Eastern Michigan University, incoming USC freshman Jeffrey Kang, and Sweden’s Henrik Norlander, a member of Augusta State’s 2010 NCAA championship team.

Barber is ranked 25th in the world in the Scratch Players rankings and 15th according to Golfweek.

Seven players at 2-under include Illinois senior Chris DeForest, Sihwan Kim and David Chung of Stanford, reigning NAIA champion Justin Lower of Ohio, and 2009 Western Amateur medalist Cheng-Tsung Pan of Taiwan.

Defending champion John Hahn shot an even par 71 despite missing several of what he called make-able birdie putts on the front nine. Meanwhile, the world’s No. 1 amateur, Jin Jeong of Korea, opened with a 4-over 75.

“It was a good, solid day,” Barber said. “I feel like I handled the course well. I love it. It’s a great course, tough but fair. It’s always nice to be in the lead.”

Playing in the afternoon wave, Barber started on the back nine and opened his round with birdies on Nos. 11 and 15 and an eagle on No. 13 to go 4-under par through his first six holes. He bogeyed the difficult 17th and 18th and made the turn 2-under 34 before adding birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 for a 33 on the front.

Included among a group of seven players at 1-under par are 1995 Northwestern graduate Scott Rowe, Illinois senior Luke Guthrie, 2010 U.S. Public Links champion Lion Kim from the University of Michigan, and former three-time U.S. Junior champion Philip Francis.

The morning wave of players teed off in a light but steady rain that lasted a little over an hour, drizzling just over an eighth of an inch of rain on the 7,091-yard Donald Ross layout. The moisture combined with high humidity and virtually no wind created ideal scoring conditions all day. Nevertheless only 17 of the 156 starters broke par.

“The first two holes it was raining but it wasn’t a big disadvantage,” said DeForest, one of seven Illini players competing in this year’s championship. “I just tried to keep a good attitude and keep going.”

Chris Morris, a senior at Division III Centre College in Kentucky who also shot 2-under, said the greens were receptive but the difficult rough made it crucial to hit fairways off the tee. “There are really a lot of tough golf shots out there,” said Morris, whose father caddied for him.

Players representing 20 nations are represented in the elite field, which features 80 of the world’s top 300 amateurs.

This is Barber’s first Western Amateur. He said other players had spoken highly of the championship and recommended he play.

“This is one of the best amateur events in the world,” Barber said. “I’m honored to play.”

Barber recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, home of the PGA TOUR’s Players Championship. He recently finished third in both the 2010 Southern Amateur and Jones Cup. He won the 2009 Florida State Amateur.

Following is the 2010 Western Amateur daily schedule:

Wednesday, Aug. 4 Second Round, Stroke Play (18 Holes, cut to low 44 and ties)
Thursday, Aug. 5 Third Round and Final Round of Stroke Play (36 Holes, cut to low 16)
Friday, Aug. 6 First Two Rounds of Match Play
Saturday, Aug. 7 Semifinal and Championship Rounds of Match Play]]> Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:53:56 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=10986 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=10835
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC July 29, 2010 – The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) has launched a new website that features enhanced membership interaction, a social media platform and state of the art technology, all to provide IJGT members and visitors with easier methods when signing up for tournaments and tracking of IJGT results as well as player statistics.

“We are enhancing our online presence for IJGT members, partners and the golf community, all in an effort to give visitors more reasons to explore our junior golf training capabilities,” stated Peter Orrell, CEO of Junior Golf Corporation, which operates the IJGT. “By providing easier navigation, rich content and ease of registering for events we are improving the online experience for our visitors. At the same time, we realize the importance of communicating more proficiently with our stakeholders, including current members, prospective members, and our valued partners.”

IJGT’s recently announced partnership with BlueGolf, a technology provider, has improved membership interface via the website from the moment a player registers for a tournament through the completion and analysis of their tournament performance. In addition, IJGT schedule information and results are more readily available online. Members now have access to in-depth results for each tournament participated in and will be able to use interactive tools to analyze their performance.

The new website’s streamlined system also gives the IJGT capabilities to maintain statistics and analytics for all junior golfers throughout the season. One of the most exciting new sections of the website is the “Point Leaders” webpage. In this section, IJGT participants will be able to more easily track their “merit points”, which determines their selection to the All-IJGT teams at the end of the season. If an IJGT member is selected to the All-IJGT team, the can earn exclusive amateur exemptions into events such as The Player Amateur, Rice Planters Amateur, Dogwood Invitational, the Verizon Junior Heritage, Callaway Junior World Championship, and the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship.

Another exciting addition to the IJGT website is the “IJGT Blog”. Content for this blog will include recent college signings, news directly from IJGT events, updates on past IJGT Alumni, and so on. The IJGT’s new website also provides regularly updated content on venues, IJGT Invitational’s, IJGT Honors and Awards, College Placement services, and Current Partners.]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:38:45 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=10835 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=10297
“I went to the golf course to practice this morning and caught part of the report on ESPN Radio when I was pulling out of the parking lot. At first, I wasn’t sure what had happened until they mentioned Paul Goydos’ accomplishment today. My 59 had 11 birdies and an eagle and his round today was similar to mine. It really got going in the middle of the round and neither one of us had any tap-in birdies. I think my shortest putt was six feet and I chipped in for an eagle on my 10th hole that day in 1977. Like Paul, I remember knowing where I stood with three holes to play but if you are playing that well, you can handle it. I started off my round hitting the ball good and it got progressively better as the day went on. I felt like I was never going to hit another bad shot. When its going like that, you have an inner strength that carries you through the pressure. I remember being so nervous near the end of the round but there was a inner feeling of “so good”. I’d like to welcome Paul to the 59 Club. It’s starting to get a little crowded now. It just shows  you don’t have to be a long-ball hitter to shoot 59. Like me 23 years ago, it was the putter that got him over the line today.”]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:32:05 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=10297 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=10296
MARK STEVENS: Okay. I'd like to welcome Paul Goydos to the interview room. Paul just shot one of four 59s in TOUR history. Paul, if you'd kind of take us through your thoughts out there and your thoughts on being part of history, and then we'll take some questions.
PAUL GOYDOS: Yeah. Well, obviously I wasn't thinking. If I was thinking I think I would shoot 74 or 5. You know, it was just a good day. First you gotta -- you have to commend the grounds crew here. I mean I was in the drugstore picking up a prescription yesterday. I didn't think -- I thought I was going to drown coming out of that place, it rained so hard, and then it rained again last night, and the golf course is just in outstanding condition, obviously, from that point of view. And they did a wonderful job to get us starting on time. I'll just start with the fact of giving credit where credit is due.

You know, good day. I would say that the key start to the round was probably on 5. I missed my only fairway and really caught a good break. Hit it in the right trees and the right trees are dead. I'm walking off the tee thinking I gotta chip out, and I get down there and my ball had actually gotten crooked enough to where I got into an opening where I could go over this one tree and get it on the green and I actually got on the green and ended up making about an 8-footer for two-putt to stay 2-under after 5; and that was a pretty good catalyst to the round.

And then I birdied 6 and 7 after that to get to shoot 4-under on that nine. And then the craziness just blurted out of me. I played 10 very well, and I made a bomb on 11 for birdie. I mean dead center. I made a really good putt from about 20 feet on the next hole for birdie, dead center. I made 125 foot on the next hole, dead center. These putts were going in those little holes you see on the greens.

It was like the one on -- after I made the one on 13 to get to 8-under, about 10 feet from the hole I'm watching it and I'm going, oh, no. Jonathan Byrd and Cliff Kresge are playing really well and they're not making anything. I got Laker warmup. I am making it from everywhere, and this putt's eight feet from the hole, and I go, oh, no. Right into the center.
And then the next hole I made a good birdie, and then I made a really good par on 15, and I think I was, what, 9-under at that point. You lose track.

And I kind of realized walking to the next tee if I birdied the last three holes, I could shoot 59. And they talk about you don't talk to the pitcher when he's got a no-hitter going, blah, blah, blah, but the reality is in that situation three holes to go, that's a pretty good challenge to yourself, and that's what I did, see if you can birdie three holes, see if you can make good swings and make good strokes and see what happens.

If you're playing this well, let's enjoy it. Let's try to make the most of it and have a good time. I think trying to ignore what you're shooting and just try and one shot at a time or whatever is your only shot, you kind of lose sense of the fun of what we're trying to do in that particular situation, in my opinion. And I kind of decided let's have a good time and see what happens.
I made a good swing on 16 and made birdie; played 17 very well and made birdie. And 18, I hit really as good a tee shot as I hit all day on 18. I hit 175, and there's no way I can hit a 7-iron 175, not gonna happen, no matter how hard the wind's blowing. Maybe at the British where the ball lands at 140 and bounces into 170. And I hit 7-iron as good as I could hit it, and I'm not hitting a little 6 to a front-lined pin. And hit 7 as good as I could hit it and got it up there I think it was 7' 3", according to ShotLink.
And I was pretty nervous standing there looking around. I was probably as nervous as I've been over a putt in my life was on that putt. And again, the putt would have gone in a thimble. Don't know why. That's just the way it went today.
MARK STEVENS: Okay. Please, if you'd raise your hands, and we'll call on you.

Q. Had you been playing that well? Was there any indication that you were going to roll the ball that well this week or today?
PAUL GOYDOS: I know I'm getting better. I've been scuffling quite severely for the last four months or so with my game, finding ways to play poorly. I've been very good at playing poorly now for the last 10 tournaments or so.
Really since the 9. There's two things that are going to stand out right now this year. That's the 9 and the 59. And really since that 9 at Pebble I have not played well.
But I thought my putting was getting a little bit better. Last week I putted pretty good, especially on the short putts, inside eight feet a lot of good putts. I thought my game was getting a little bit better also. But today was, you know -- well, today was a nuclear bomb. I don't know where it came from. If I knew that, I wouldn't be able to touch it. I don't know. I don't know where it came from.
But I was getting better, but we've gone from, you know, I mean it's gone from climbing a hill in your backyard to being on the moon.

Q. Paul, that first shot was the best ground shot all day, wasn't it?
PAUL GOYDOS: Good question, isn't it? Yeah. I really drove the ball well, maybe hit one bad tee shot. I basically hit most of my irons solid where I was looking. And I don't know what the number's going to be; the feet made in putts has gotta be really scary. I mean it's probably a good week. And then I made two putts on the fringe that are not going to count in that total either.
But yeah, it wasn't like I did -- I did every part of the game pretty good, even had a sand save.

Q. Talk about that number, 59.
PAUL GOYDOS: Yeah, that's just a mythical number in our game. There's been four I want to say. Two of them now have been when the ball is played up, myself and Mr. Geiberger. I don't really know the circumstances of Chip Beck's 59 in Las Vegas. To me, David Duval's 59 stands out so far from every other one. He shot 59 the last day to win by one. That's just an unbelievable feat that really isn't talked about at the level it probably should be talked about.
The irony of that is I had the second best score that day. Shot 64 that day. You'd have to look. I may be mistaken.
Obviously it's a very -- it's a low number in our sport that just stands out, and I've had a couple opportunities -- I've had one good opportunity at home this year to shoot 59 with my friends, and did the same thing. Actually needed one birdie on the last four holes and couldn't do it. But it's an iconic number in our game, I don't think there's any question. I'm tickled -- shot 58.

Q. 58 --
PAUL GOYDOS: I don't remember. That's a pretty impressive one, too. I think the same day Rory McIlroy shot 61 in Charlotte. I think that's the same thing. I think he won by -- my understanding, I don't know much about the Ishikawa one. He might have actually been over par for the tournament starting the round. And I want to say 6 or 7-under is leading the tournament after three rounds and the guy shoots 12-under in one round. That's pretty nuts. So I think that one probably deserves a little higher up on the pedestal. I tend to ignore other countries. Probably deserves the same pedestal that Mr. Duval's does, too.

Q. How many now on the PGA TOUR?
PAUL GOYDOS: There's been four of them. And again, it's an honor, and I'm thrilled.

Q. Paul, you mentioned having a chance playing with your friends to go 59. Do you think had you come in here with maybe higher expectations from other people perceiving to expect from you, would the way you finished up maybe have been different if there were higher expectations say from people outside focused on you in terms of numbers?
PAUL GOYDOS: I mean hypotheticals. Do two hypotheticals maybe a thetical? (Laughs).

Q. If you were expected to come in as a favorite, could you have finished do you think the way you did?
PAUL GOYDOS: I wouldn't know. I've never come to a tournament as the favorite. (Laughs). I definitely knew I was getting better.
I think, again, last week I shot 70, 76, and I didn't play Saturday. I didn't play Sunday. I traveled on Monday. I hit two bags of balls on Tuesday and a couple of putts, maybe an hour and a half of practice. I played the Pro Am yesterday, and I'm not kidding, we putted out, they blew the horn and the arc building began, so I really haven't done much.
But I thought my game was getting better. Again, the quantum leap from where I thought it was getting better to to where it went today, I can't explain, but I did think I was trending in the right direction. Hopefully the trend will continue. But that's a tough one.

Q. Is there a shell shock in that today or were you just kind of --
PAUL GOYDOS: Yeah, I think there is. I don't think it's four and a half months of shell shock, no. But I think it's 24 hours of shell shock, yes.

Q. (Indiscernible)?
PAUL GOYDOS: Hopefully the opposite. Hopefully it'll spur good play for a while.
You know, I would say that, you know, I've always struggled in the spring for whatever reason. I did win at Bay Hill, and that's usually -- Florida I've had some successes, but for some reason April and May, even June have been struggles for me for the most part. In the summer is when I tend to start playing, if I do start playing, it's this time of year.
But hopefully I will. I don't know. There's not -- I've won twice on TOUR, in '96 at Bay Hill, and the next three or four months I couldn't find a flag. I played horrible.
And then in '07 I won at Sony, the first of the year. And thinking I'm a lot smarter now and I'm going to deal with winning a lot better, and I couldn't have played worse. And then I didn't get in the Top-25 the rest of the year after that. Hopefully I'll learn and this will be a catalyst.
If you shoot 59, you're playing good. Hopefully I can use that again to maybe get back on a better run of good golf, without having the expectations completely blown out of the river. I think that's part of the problem you have with winning, and again, I can't answer to how a 59 is going to affect me. I can't tell the future, but winning is definitely a struggle with expectations after that. That's the only explanation I can come up with for such poor play for the month after that.

Q. What do you think the rest of the day will be like for you, probably signing some autographs?
PAUL GOYDOS: You know, I don't know. Again, there's only three people that can answer that question. I imagine it's going to be a lot of fun. That's why you play. These are the things that I think are kind of cool.

Q. Did the arc building last night help make the course what you needed?
PAUL GOYDOS: Definitely. Obviously -- I don't think -- I didn't play on Tuesday. I'm hearing the golf course was very firm and very fast, which would make the golf course play shorter, but not necessarily easier.
I think, you know, without a question I got my ball in hand was a big benefit. I don't shoot 59 without ball-in-hand, I don't think. But the golf course was -- the base of the golf course was excellent. And I think that -- again, I don't know even that I shoot to score if I'm playing in the afternoon today because the greens are going to get a little beat up from the dampness. Being the second group off had to have been a bit of an advantage, too.
I think it was obviously a big part of it, because what we make of golfers as a perfect shape easier in a sense because of softness. And again, I have to thank, again, the grounds crew here. There's some puddles out there, which there's no way there couldn't be. But you really wouldn't have known that it rained as much. I think it rained again last night, too, I want to say until around 1 or 2 in the morning. I heard it at some point in time. But it played perfectly obviously, I thought so.

Q. Going out in the second group helped you as well?
PAUL GOYDOS: I think maybe playing in the 2nd group, I would think so, because the greens are going to be that much better. I think putting has always been a momentum. I make one, I make two, I make three, I make four, I make five. And that's kind of the way it went today. I think all those are contributing factors.

Q. First off, what do you work on on the range this afternoon?
PAUL GOYDOS: (Indiscernible).

Q. You mentioned earlier that you got nervous on 18. Was that the first time that --
PAUL GOYDOS: I'm nervous over every shot. I'm nervous at home playing. So if you're not nervous, then there's something wrong with you. So it's just the level of nervousness, you know.
It wasn't too bad on 16 and 17, but 18, the tee shot was trying to make sure you slow down and stay with what you're doing, and then I hit a good tee shot, same with the 7-iron.
Those shots are -- your expectation with a tee shot is you've gotta basically -- with a left, there's a 40-yard right fairway there. Nothing easier probably than hitting a 7-iron onto a green that made an area there that's 15 yards wide I gotta hit on. And over a putt you've got four and a quarter inches.
To me your level of expectations. Hitting the fairway off the tee wasn't going to be -- no matter how nervous you are, isn't going to be that difficult. Hitting an iron shot on the green and having a putt at it, wasn't going to be hard. Making the putt, that's what's difficult. It kind of built, for lack of a better way of putting it.
And I'm kind of pacing around there and watching how those guys putt out. Cliff had about a 15-footer for birdie, and I'm reading my putt, I'm looking at it and I want it to break a little bit right, which is actually semi towards the back of the green. And I got a little bit of help in the sense that he hit his putt about six feet by. And I didn't think he hit that bad of a putt. It was just quick. And it kind of reinforced the fact that that's the way the slope is going. So that little thing really helps out a lot sometimes when you're putting.
The guy who I work with at home, Jamie Mulligan, talks about what I do when I putt my best. That's kind of how he looks at things. And he goes, when you're putting your best, you're not practicing your stroke. You're usually standing around watching. And I did a good job of watching, especially on the last hole, watching Cliff's putt and the way it reacted to the slope kind of reinforced that I'd read it pretty good. Those little things can add up.

Q. Talk about the last putt, Paul. (Indiscernible).
PAUL GOYDOS: You know, I hit the putt. Again, obviously things are going well. Right way, but I was doing everything really well, my rhythm and tempo, and my routine was good.
I noticed I hit the putt and I noticed it was six, seven feet three inches. I bet I saw it about halfway there, maybe a little past halfway there and just about when it broke it was going dead in the center.
When you're putting poorly, you pick that putt up about six feet from the hole. And the fact that I didn't do that, again, that's the most nervous I've been over a putt, probably. And since I was on auto pilot that's the only thing I could do. I really didn't feel like I was on auto pilot. It felt like when I brought the putter back and made a pretty good stroke, couldn't hit the putt any more solid and the ball couldn't have gone more in the center of the hole with a laser on it.
You know, again, it was kind of nothing. It went in and it was like, wow. Maybe I was more stunned that I actually accomplished shooting 59, and I'm sure it will be a bigger deal, like I said, this afternoon, the question about this afternoon and this evening when you start talking to people and your friends and whatnot, it's probably going to sink in more so this afternoon, this evening and tomorrow maybe in the future.

Q. A couple of the players came out to watch you play that last hole.
PAUL GOYDOS: I didn't see them.

Q. Well, obviously, but did that kind of put into perspective what you accomplished?
PAUL GOYDOS: Yes. Absolutely. Again, it's an iconic number. You know, I would have done the same thing if I would have had the opportunity. If I was in there eating lunch and I had an hour and 15 minutes and the guy on the last hole's going to putt for 59, I'm probably going to do the same thing.
I think that's one of the great things about golf, too, is we've got 155 guys in the field that are almost excited -- Jay is doing -- Jay Byrd and Cliff were as excited as I was when we made it. And I think that says a lot about the people that play our game.

Q. As a player do you think about shooting 59? You know, you've got a list of goals.
PAUL GOYDOS: I think that is a goal in your career to break 60. If you get to that level, and there's not that many people that get a chance to set that goal, and I've had some close calls, or close call really, but yeah, I would think that would be -- at the end when I look back and I'm not playing anymore, winning on the PGA TOUR is a big deal, but individual, I've got 10 hole-in-ones. I've got three double eagles. 59 is one of those things I'm going to look at and say that's pretty cool.

Q. Is that top of the list?
PAUL GOYDOS: Winning is top of the list.

Q. Could you give some clubs and yardages?
MARK STEVENS: Actually for historical purposes I need it on every single shot.
PAUL GOYDOS: Do you want yardages?
MARK STEVENS: As close as you can. Obviously we tracked the yardages.
PAUL GOYDOS: Yeah. First off I hit driver and the 9-iron. We had 135 yards, and I hit it about -- I hit a good shot, about 10, 12 feet left of the hole and hit an okay putt, but I didn't read it well and missed it left and made par.
2, I hit driver down the left side of the fairway; I hit 3-wood in the front bunker, and it really wasn't a bad spot. It wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. Hit a pretty good bunker shot out about five feet past the hole, maybe a six and made that right in the center of the hole; good putt, good speed. Again, those are times where early in the round good things happen. That's exactly how I envisioned the putt going in.
3, I probably made my worst swing, I hit a 4-iron and kind of whiffed it over to the right, but I hit so much club and I got up there, birdie short of the hole and two-putted with a tap-in. 4, I hit a really good tee shot up the right side, hit 9-iron to about, I'd say, 15, 18 feet and hit it dead center. Perfect speed.
5 was probably the hole that kind of kept things going. I drove it bad. I drove it right. It was really dumb to drive it right. If you hit it in the left bunker, you can play. You cannot play from the right -- right side of the fairway you can get blocked up and it's really dumb. I lost it right and hit a tree for sure; I heard the bang. We get down there, and I had a pretty good lie in the rough and it had gotten far enough right where I could actually go right of the tree line and knock it up on the middle of the green, which is getting very lucky, and I hit 7-iron from about 160.
That's the other thing. Last year with square grooves I don't know that I could have gotten 7-iron to the green. The flyer helps you. And I couldn't get 8-iron there no matter what. But with the square groove I don't know that I could have gotten 7-iron to the green either. But with the V-grooves I caught a flyer and knocked it on the back part of the green, had a pretty tough putt, knocked it about eight feet behind and made it. Really hit a very poor tee shot, didn't hit a great lag putt, but I think making that putt really kind of kept things going in the right direction.
Next hole, I hit 3-wood, 8-iron to about 25 feet on the fringe and made it. Didn't think I made that putt. I actually started walking and I misread it a little bit, and it broke pretty good left the last two feet and went in the right side of the hole.
7, I hit a good 3-iron, two -- front playing right around 220. I hit 3-iron to about 15 feet left of the hole and hit a really good putt there, again, right in the center.
8, hit driver, 4-iron to 30 feet, two-putted, pretty easy two-putt and tap-in. 9, I hit driver, 4-iron to about 25 feet, hit a good putt, just kind of missed it on the left side of the hole and tapped in for par. 4-under 31 is a good score.
To be honest with you, I was standing at the 8th fairway right before the British at 29. I think 59 is obviously iconic, but for nine holes 29 is good, too. And I've done that 10 or 15 times in my life.
10 is on a downwind par-5, and on the best day you can actually get there in two. I hit driver, 3-wood and had 107 yards to the hole, and the pin was kind of in the back of the green with the slope there, and that's really pitching wedge, but if I hit pitching wedge, I'm going to fly 110 yards and suck it back 25 feet, so I decided 9-iron, chippy little 9-iron. And I flew that about, I'd say, 15 feet past the hole and came back to about four feet and I made that.
11, I hit a good drive and an 8-iron, had it between clubs and pin's in the back and I landed on the green. I don't want to hit it off the green. You gotta be somewhat smart about things. And I hit probably 20 feet short of the hole, but probably spun back 20 feet, and I made it. Again, I hit this putt, I'm kind of watching. It's up the hill, straight up the hill and I'm like, this is really uphill, and that's really not my strength in my putting in my opinion. But this ball went dead center. Again, just like, wow, 10 feet from the hole I'm kind of going, wow, which was nice.
12, I hit a 4-iron probably about 200 yards to about 15, 18 feet straight down the hill. I couldn't have hit the putt harder than maybe a 2-footer which was just kind of weird because it stayed there. How did the ball stop here if I had to hit it two feet to make it go 15. And that putt went right in the middle.
13, I hit driver, 6-iron to about 25 feet, and that's when I hit that putt, and I didn't really think I hit a great putt. I hit it solid, but I didn't started -- just didn't feel like a great putt. I looked up and I'm watching it, and I'm going, oh, no. This putt went dead center. I thought, this is getting ridiculous.
There was a piece of me at that time kind of obviously feels a tad guilty. I mean I am making everything. And again, they're not playing -- Jay Byrd and Cliff aren't playing any worse than me tee to green. I'm taking all the -- every good thing that could possibly happen I was just stealing from them.
14, I hit 3-wood, sand wedge to about six feet, and finally missed that one, but I made that one, too, hit a pretty good putt there. 15, I hit a good driver and a 5-iron and missed the green left, but I hit 5-iron was probably a little too much club. I thought I had to just murder the 6-iron to get there and I thought short's not good here. If you hit the ball 25 feet past the hole here, it's not that bad, that's really where your penalty is, a little bit left and a little bit long and I missed it a little bit left and a little bit long and it stayed up and rolled down the hill and I chipped it to about five feet and made that. I hit a good putt there, and it was like, okay, now we get a little bit of a walk.
One of the things I mentioned is that Cliff Kresge birdied 15. So he gets the tee on the par-3. So I get to see a shot on the par-3, which helps a little bit, too. His birdie there helped me in a sense. I knew what I was going to hit. I didn't think it was a big deal, but again, a little bit of reinforcement is not going to hurt.
And I told myself, I need to birdie the last two holes, you shoot 59. You don't get many opportunities. This is not the time to not think about it. This is the time to go do it. Let's see what you can do, at least see if you can -- see what your game kind of responds.
I hit an 8-iron, pulled a little bit on the left fringe, but it wasn't at the worst spot. It was probably only 15 feet up the hill. And I thought it was a pretty straight putt. I was kind of aiming maybe left edge, and I pulled it maybe a ball out and it broke more, right in the middle.
17 was -- can be reachable, but I hit a good drive and couldn't get anywhere near it. Hit 4-iron and then a pitching wedge from about 108 yards, and that's the opposite of No. 10. 10 the pin was in the back and I didn't want to spin it. Here the pin was closer to the bunker. Hitting it in the air 15 feet past the hole you can use it to spin and get the ball close or take the bunker out of play, hit the pitching wedge there and spun it back to about 12 feet.
And Cliff had hit his ball, again, he had 12' 6". I didn't have to move my coin, but just about. And he hit his putt, and I was just kind of watching. I wasn't really necessarily worrying about it. I want to see how balls are rolling around the holes and watch his ball roll down. When I say that, I'm not one of those guys who looks behind. I'm actually looking for about 90 degrees perpendicular to the line. He's got his back to me, and I'm standing back here, and I can kind of tell by the way it's rolling. And they're both going to go to the right, and I'm like, okay, I went down and looked at it, and I was like, that broke a lot more than it looked. I had just seen what it was doing and I think I hit a very similar putt to what he hit. It looked like it had a chance to miss low, but it had enough speed to hang in there.
And then driver, 7-iron from 175 or 74 on 18 and made, like I say, 7' 3" inches, if ShotLink is to be trusted. And again, that putt I couldn't have hit a better putt. Couldn't have gone more in the center.
MARK STEVENS: Let's do one follow-up.

Q. (Indiscernible)?
PAUL GOYDOS: I would say 7-iron. In these type of conditions where it's pretty steamy, maybe a little bit. I had 67 to the front edge. That is absolutely stretching it to the max, in my opinion. It's one of those situations where I had the exact same yardage again. If the pin were in the back of the green, I probably would have hit a 6-iron.

Q. (Indiscernible)?
PAUL GOYDOS: It's a great event. I mean John Deere is a great sponsor. They've become a pretty big piece of Americana. This is one of those community type events. We have a lot of corporate events now on TOUR, and this one is Moline is a great -- Quad City is a great community. Everyone comes here. You go to Whitey's Ice Cream and there's five players in there. It just has a good, solid hometown feel to this event, and I think that's what makes this place very special.

Q. The putter, is that a putter that you'd used for a long time or is it new in the bag?
PAUL GOYDOS: I've used the model now for over two years. I've had a couple of different ones, but for the most part that's the same putter.

Q. What is it?
PAUL GOYDOS: It's a TaylorMade Spider. It's the funky one with all the craziness going on.

Q. (Indiscernible)?
PAUL GOYDOS: I shot 29.

Q. I know that.
MARK STEVENS: Actually, Paul has been talking long enough.
PAUL GOYDOS: What was the question?

Q. What was the key for you today?
PAUL GOYDOS: You know, I putted real well. Good momentum. I think saving the par on 5 really as I look back was probably the key to keeping the round going. I made a great par on 5 after hitting some different shots and making the full five starting the Back 9. But now I was going nuts at that point. But if I don't make the putt on 5 for par, I probably don't shoot anywhere near 59.
MARK STEVENS: Thanks a lot, Paul. Good luck tomorrow.

End of FastScripts]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:30:40 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=10296 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9774
Arriving on Tuesday, June 1st, several of The First Tee students were able to play 9 holes before attending an opening dinner at Pinecrest Golf Club that evening. Hank Haney IJGA and The First Tee made introductions of their golf instruction and life skill team members followed by speeches from Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., CEO of The First Tee, and Hank Haney, Director of Instruction, IJGA.

Over the course of the next three days, each student received individualized golf training and instruction from Hank Haney certified instructors including Hank Haney, Director of Instruction, and Peter Krause, Hank Haney IJGA Director of Golf and 2005 PGA National Teacher of the Year.

“Hank Haney has improved my swing and I feel more confident with my irons than ever before. It was an awesome experience and I hope one day others will be able to get this type of opportunity,” said Emily Mathews, a participant from The First Tee of Fort Worth (Texas).

“Working with Hank Haney and his staff has been an incredible experience. They have taught me a lot on how to improve my short game and also how to hit different trajectory shots. More importantly, they have helped me to focus on the process and not the immediate result,” stated Tony Liu, a participant from The First Tee of Charlottesville (Virginia).

Of the 29 students, The First Tee Chapters from 12 different states were represented including California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:54:07 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9774 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9346
Former PGA Championship winners Davis Love III and Shaun Micheel and former British Open champion David Duval will join 2008 U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate and 50-year-old 2010 British Open qualifier Tom Pernice, Jr. in the Quad Cities this summer.

“The John Deere Classic is very excited to welcome five of the PGA TOUR’s finest veterans to help us and our loyal fans celebrate the 40-year anniversary of this great community event,” said tournament director Clair Peterson. “Not only are all five players well known for their past accomplishments, they’re having terrific seasons and competing hard against a talented group of up-and-coming young players.”

So far, two of the five players are exempt for the British Open and plan to board the John Deere Classic charter direct to St. Andrews immediately following the conclusion of the tournament, Peterson said. The highest John Deere Classic finisher not otherwise exempt also qualifies for the British Open.

Love, 46, has played solidly this year, his best finish a tie for fourth at the prestigious Players Championship, which features one of the most formidable fields of any event. He has finished in the top 20 in four of his 10 events and currently is 51st on the PGA TOUR money list. Over the course of his career Love has earned just under $40 million in official tournament winnings. In 1997 he won both the PGA Championship and The Players.

Duval’s best finish in 11 tournaments so far this year was a tie for second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. As of today, he is 69th on the money list with $630,971 in official tournament earnings. The 2001 British Open champion was the runner up to Lucas Glover at last year’s U.S. Open, his best finish of the season. The former World No. 1 also won the 1999 Players Championship.

Micheel, 41, has battled injuries since winning the 2003 PGA Championship. The Orlando native’s best finish this year was a tie for fifth at the Shell Houston Open, where a 10-under par 65 in the final round got him to 10-under par. He also tied for 26th at the Byron Nelson Championship, starting off with two rounds in the 60s and finishing at 2-under par.

Mediate, 47, has won five times during his 24-year PGA TOUR career but perhaps his greatest fame came as a result of losing a dramatic sudden death playoff to Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines GC in La Jolla, California. Then 45 and trying to become the oldest U.S. Open champion ever, Mediate tied Woods with an even par 71 in the 18-hole Monday playoff. On the first hole of sudden death, Woods won with a birdie to Mediate’s bogey.

Pernice tied for seventh last week at the Byron Nelson Championship, his best finish of the season on the regular PGA TOUR. Two days later, he shot 7-under par over 36 holes at Gleneagles in Plano, Texas to qualify for one of eight spots available at the event for this year’s British Open. As a 50-year-old, Pernice has played four Champions Tour events this year and has three top 10 finishes; however he has said he still feels he can compete with younger players on the regular tour.

Steve Stricker will defend his title at this year’s John Deere Classic. Other previously announced players in the field include 2009 JDC runner-up Zach Johnson, the Cedar Rapids native and 2007 Masters champion and 2008 JDC champion Kenny Perry.

Tickets for the John Deere Classic are available at www.johndeereclassic.com or by calling 309-762-4653.

The PGA Tour began its run in the Quad Cities in 1971. John Deere, whose world headquarters is in Moline, Ill., assumed title sponsorship of the tournament in 1998. The tournament moved to TPC Deere Run in 2000.

The tournament helped raise $4.6 million for 500 charities in 2009, ranking it first on the PGA TOUR overall in per capita contributions at $12.26 for each of the 375,000 residents of the Quad City area and fifth overall on the PGA TOUR.

The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501©3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinios. Since its founding in 1971, the tournament has helped raise $33.6 million for charity.]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 23:34:21 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9346 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9342
There are five age divisions at the event including the Boys 16-19 Division, Boys 13-15 Division, Boys U-12 Division, Girls 15-19 Division, and Girls U-14 Division.

In the Boys 16-19 Division, much will be made from the battle between two competitors at the top of the points race for this division’s Player of the Year award. Michael Werenski of South Hadley, MA and Andrew Gai of Westport, CT are currently one and two in rankings for the divisions “Player of the Year” race, which will be announced at the banquet dinner on Sunday night. These two consistent players have amassed a total of 10 wins over the course of the season, both with streaks of at least two consecutive wins in events played. Not far behind Werenski and Gai is a string of past champions on the IJGT, including the likes of Johannesburg, South Africa native Matthew Rushton and Kyle Nakazaki of Manhattan Beach, CA. The largest of the divisions, the Boys 16-19 Division has proved to be a launching point for many successful collegiate and professional golfers, including current PGA Tour professionals Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan.

As the latest crop of older players takes their final bow at this year’s event, lying in wait is a talented group of up-and-comers competing against the best in the Boys 13-15 Division. Point’s race leader, J.J. Qualkenbush of La Quinta, CA, looks to take his game to the next level as he competes against 35 of the best 13, 14, and 15 year olds in the world. Some of the top juniors giving chase to this year’s title are season winners Renato Bordes of Xalapa, Mexico and Emilio Maurer Lorente of Howey-in-the-Hills, FL, among many other talented players.

The Boys U-12 Division has long been known as an introductory experience for many juniors into the world of competitive golf. However, over the past few years, an incredibly talented crop of players have made their way into the age division, adding a competitive edge usually reserved for the older boys divisions. Headlining this division is points leader Michael Phan of Newport Coast, CA. Following close behind Phan are Willis Huynh of Syosset, NY (8 wins), Noah Edmondson of Davidson, NC (10 wins), and Derrick Villarreal of Hartland, WI (10 wins).

Just as the Boys 16-19 Division has served as a launching point for many successful golfers, the Girls 15-19 Division has also produced numerous collegiate and professional stars including the likes of LPGA professionals Morgan Pressel and In-Kyung Kim. The current crop of future stars competing in the 2010 Bridgestone Golf Tournament of Champions presented by BMW will ensure that legacy continues. Some of the top players with high hopes of a championship victory include multiple winners Yuri Otsuka of Chiba, Japan, Yang Yue Hill of Palm Desert, CA and Monifa Sealy of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Girls U-14 Division will host the future stars of the Girls 15-19 Division during the event. With a tight point’s race coming down the stretch, Sammi Lee and Julie Luo will look to continue their one-on-one battle for overall bragging rights to come at the end of May. Not far behind Lee and Luo, Gabrielle Weiss of Macungie, PA looks to bring the confidence that comes along with a multiple win season and give the two points race leaders a run for their money.]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 23:29:55 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9342 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9120
5/14/10/Dana Point, CA – The National Professional Golf Tour is pleased to announce the addition of Choice Hotels International to its family of sponsors. This exciting new partnership offers a unique opportunity for members and their families to enjoy substantial savings at Choice-brand hotels across the country.

“Choice Hotels International is excited to host members of the National Professional Golf Tour presented by Arnold Palmer at our hotels across the nation,” said Victoria Porter, Regional Vice President, Global Sales USA. We look forward to working closely with the organization and to supporting the athletes in this new endeavor. Ranging from limited-service to full-service hotels in the economy, mid-scale and upscale segments, Choice-brand properties provide business and leisure travelers with a range of high-value lodging options at over 6,000 hotels throughout the world.”

NPGT members and their families may take advantage of special VIP rates when staying at any Choice Hotels International participating hotel simply by booking their reservation through the National Professional Golf Tour website. Members may take advantage of the discounted rates when playing in tournament events across the country or when booking personal travel arrangements for themselves or family members.

Participating Choice Hotels International chains include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, MainStay Suites, Cambria Suites and Clarion hotels.

For more details or to book your room, visit www.nationalprotour.com or email questions to protourcorp@me.]]> Fri, 14 May 2010 16:53:30 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9120 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9074
Orrell joins Junior Golf Corporation after serving in a number of executive and strategic roles for American Express Company. He brings deep international, general management and brand expertise to JGC and has an exceptional track record of building business alliances and driving teams to new levels of success. Orrell served on the Board of Directors of Amex Bank of Canada and was a member of Amex’s International Leadership Team. Most recently, he was a Principal of Summit Consulting Solutions, where he provided consulting services to mid-cap companies in the service industry, with a focus on leadership, strategy and process reengineering.

“Junior Golf Corporation has enormous potential and I look forward to leading our team to unprecedented levels of global success. The opportunities for growth within the United States and key international markets are an exciting challenge,” stated Orrell. “I am very excited and enthusiastic about our brand and our association with Hank Haney. We are well positioned for exceptional success.”

Hank Haney joined the International Junior Golf Academy in 2007 as Director of Instruction. In 2008, his name was added to the organization's brand due to his increased involvement with the students and instructional practices. Haney’s students have gone on to win every major championship in professional, collegiate, amateur, and junior golf. In 2009, 94% of Hank Haney IJGA graduating students received a college golf scholarship. Currently, Hank Haney IJGA has students from 28 countries around the world.

“I am very pleased to welcome Peter as CEO of Junior Golf Corporation. I know he has a strong passion to help our students reach their full potential. His wealth of experience with Fortune 500 and other top corporations will help to elevate our organization as the #1 brand in junior golf. I am confident his leadership will result in the finest in junior golf training, competition, and academics to our students,” said Haney.

Junior Golf Corporation is owned by The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm which has $2.7 billion in capital under management and counts some of the world’s leading pension funds, insurance companies, banks, endowments and funds of funds as its investors. The Riverside Company acquired Junior Golf Corporation in 2007. Riverside’s investment in the Company is led by Jeff Tobin, Operating Partner.

“We tasked our recruiting company to find a top caliber executive with extensive experience leading a service business and delighting customers. Peter’s accomplishments at American Express are nothing short of extraordinary,” stated Tobin. “We are excited to have Peter join the Junior Golf Corporation and are confident that he will bring leadership, enthusiasm, and passion to a great business.”

Orrell will assume his position with Junior Golf Corporation on May 17th.

About Junior Golf Corporation
Junior Golf Corporation is the operating entity for Hank Haney IJGA, the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT), and Heritage Academy. Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (Hank Haney IJGA) is a full-time junior golf boarding school and offers a variety of other golf training programs. Hank Haney IJGA is the only academy in the world to combine training, academics, and competition for serious junior golfers. Hank Haney and his elite teaching and coaching team train junior golfers from 28 countries and 28 states. The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) is the only junior golf tour to offer events every weekend throughout the school year, from September until May, totaling in 65 tournaments a year. Heritage Academy is one of the country’s leading private middle and high schools for students pursuing both academic and athletic excellence.

To obtain more information about the Hank Haney IJGA (www.IJGA.com), IJGT (www.IJGT.com), or Heritage Academy (www.HeritageHHI.com), please e-mail info@IJGA.com or call (800) 791-8229.

About The Riverside Company
The Riverside Company is the largest global private equity firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market and is one of the industry’s most experienced leveraged buyout investors. Riverside invests in premier companies valued up to $150 million and partners with strong management teams to build companies through acquisitions and value-added growth. Since its founding in 1988, the firm has invested in 213 transactions with a total enterprise value of $4.7 billion. Riverside’s current portfolio in North America, Europe and Asia consists of 69 companies with combined annual sales of $3.2 billion, EBITDA of $524 million and more than 14,000 employees. Riverside offers certainty to close and can complete acquisitions in as little as 45 days, thanks to its $2.7 billion of capital under management, over 180 professionals in 18 offices and long-standing relationships with partner lenders.]]> Wed, 12 May 2010 17:13:14 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=9074 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8732
"Over the last decade, The First Tee, using golf as the platform, has proven its ability to teach life skills and impart core values associated with the game to young people throughout the country from varied backgrounds and experiences," said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., CEO of The First Tee. "We look forward to adding the world-renowned expertise and reputation of Hank Haney IJGA to The First Tee Life Skills Experience. This will be an incredible learning opportunity for our participants."

"We are very excited to partner with The First Tee and implement their Life Skills Education Programs into our daily curriculum at Hank Haney IJGA. Each year, their organization has a positive effect on thousands of junior golfers around the world and we are excited to elevate their golf instruction needs," said Hank Haney, Director of Instruction for Hank Haney IJGA and instructor of the #1 player in the world. "I look forward to working with the participants of The First Tee during their visit to Hilton Head Island in June."

The following initial measures will occur as a result of the partnership:

* The First Tee will include Hank Haney IJGA-certified instructors in The First Tee coach training sessions for further exposure to the Life Skills Experience curriculum; and The First Tee will host clinics specifically for Hank Haney IJGA students.
* Select staff and participants of The First Tee will take part in a dedicated academy experience June 1-5 at Hank Haney IJGA on Hilton Head Island, S.C.
* From the academy experience in June moving forward, The First Tee participants will be eligible for scholarships and reduced rate opportunities at Hank Haney IJGA.
* Haney will join The First Tee PLAYer Advanced Academy in Monterey, Calif. July 27-August 3, offering instruction to The First Tee coaches as well as a participant clinic.

Hank Haney IJGA also will work with The First Tee Coaches through clinics in an effort to introduce aspects of Haney's teachings into The First Tee coach training and participant programs.

These initial activities will open dialogue between Hank Haney IJGA and The First Tee about coaching philosophy, golf training techniques, and the integration of performance enhancement and character education into golf instruction.

For more information about The First Tee, visit www.thefirsttee.org. For more information about the Hank Haney IJGA, visit www.ijga.com or call (800) 791-8229.

About The First Tee

The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501©(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, Fla. at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 3.5 million participants in 50 states, 3,400 elementary schools and four international locations - Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman. The First Tee Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA.

About Hank Haney IJGA

Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is the only golf academy in the world to combine training, competition, and academics for serious junior golfers. Hank Haney IJGA has students from 28 countries and 28 states. Hank Haney, instructor for the #1 player in the world, serves as Director of Instruction and his students have gone on to win every major professional, collegiate, and amateur golf championship.

To obtain more information about the Hank Haney IJGA, please visit www.IJGA.com or call (800) 791-8229.]]> Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:01:51 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8732 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8517
EAST MOLINE, Ilinois (April 15, 2010) - The John Deere Classic today awarded a sponsor exemption to Rockford amateur Brad Benjamin, who competed in last week’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Benjamin, 23, who was invited to play in the Masters by virtue of his 2009 victory at the U.S. Public Links championship, said he is excited for the opportunity to play against the pros at the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run.

“I’ve gone to the tournament quite a few times and have played Deere Run double digits,” Benjamin said. “To be able to play in the tournament means a lot. The John Deere is going to be the highlight of my summer.”

John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson said inviting Benjamin was consistent with the tournament’s philosophy of identifying up-and-coming young players and giving them an opportunity to measure their games against the best.

“The John Deere Classic is thrilled that Brad Benjamin will be playing in the tournament this year,” Peterson said. “He’s an inspiration to every young golfer who dreams of playing the game at the highest level.”

A 5-foot-9-inch, 160-pound lefthander, Benjamin was the first Rockford native ever to play in the Masters, where he shot 73-77—150 to miss the cut by three. The former University of Memphis golfer was among six amateurs to play at this year’s Masters, only one of whom made it to the weekend. His Memphis teammate Jeff Hall caddied for him at Augusta.

“It was a dream come true,” he said of his Masters experience. “I was so excited after Monday that I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t wait for Tuesday to come.”

Benjamin won last year’s U.S. Publinx by shocking Washington All-American and Canadian player of the year Nick Taylor, whom he trounced 7-and-6 in a match play showdown at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla.

Later last summer, Benjamin defeated Illinois golf coach and former PGA Tour player Mike Small in a three-hole playoff to win the Illinois Open at Hawthorn Woods Country Club in northwest suburban Chicago. Benjamin forced his way into the playoff by making birdies on the 17th and 18th holes in regulation.

Eventually, Benjamin said, he plans to turn pro but this summer will play major amateur events with an eye toward earning a place on the Walker Cup team. Among the amateur events he’s planning to play are the Western Amateur, Porter Cup, Northeast Amateur, and Southern Amateur. He said he will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Amateur.

Benjamin began his golf career playing local courses in Rockford. He played competitively in the Illinois Junior Golf Association and was named Player of the Year in 2003. He went on to play on the American Junior Golf Association circuit and at Guilford High School in Rockford.

The PGA Tour began its run in the Quad Cities in 1971. John Deere, whose world headquarters is in Moline, Ill., assumed title sponsorship of the tournament in 1998. The tournament moved to TPC Deere Run in 2000.
The tournament helped raise $4.6 million for 500 charities in 2009, ranking it first on the PGA Tour overall in per capita contributions at $12.26 for each of the 375,000 residents of the Quad City area.

The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501©3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic touranment offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinios. Since its founding in 1971, the tournament has helped raise $33.6 million for charity.]]> Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:27:35 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8517 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8466
In all, Hank Haney IJGA has a total of 23 college signings which include top collegiate golf programs for NCAA Division I, II, and III as well NAIA and international institutions. Select college signings include Greg Schmaus (University of Houston), Stephanie Eybers (St. John’s University), Brian Goff (Hofstra University), Frank Kao (IUPUI), Michael Balzer (IUPUI), and Andy Jimenez (George Washington University).

For the students, it has been an exciting time leading up to the April 1st signing date.

"We have all worked so hard to improve our golf games and play at the next level. It feels great to be recognized for this accomplishment and I look forward to the next chapter in my golf career," stated Schmaus. He will try to follow in the footsteps of University of Houston golf team alumni such as Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, and Bruce Lietze. The University of Houston has won a total of 16 NCAA Division I national championships.

"We are very proud of all of our seniors and post graduates for their work in the classroom and on the course. Their hard work and dedication has helped them to reach the next level and we wish them the best of luck next season," said Katy Heher, Hank Haney IJGA Director of College Placement.

"I know these young men and women will represent Hank Haney IJGA and Heritage Academy with great success next year. We look forward to following their careers in the future." Heher has worked closely with each student over the past ten months to develop a resume, tournament schedule,

"When I first came to Hank Haney IJGA a few years ago, I was shooting in the mid-80’s. Now, I am consistently shooting in the mid to low 70’s. Hank Haney IJGA has provided me the finest in golf instruction and helped to improve my game to get noticed by college coaches. The Heritage Academy has properly prepared me for rigorous collegiate academics," said Eybers. She will be receiving a full golf scholarship to Big East powerhouse, St. John’s University, located in New York.

On Thursday, April 8th, Hank Haney IJGA recognized all 23 signings at a ceremony held at Pinecrest Golf Club in Bluffton, SC. In the fall, Hank Haney IJGA recognized two signings during the early period including Stephanie Meadow (University of Alabama) and Richard Werenski (Georgia Tech University). Werenski enrolled at Georgia Tech in January and Meadow will begin her career with the Crimson Tide in the fall.

For more information on Hank Haney IJGA alumni, please visit www.IJGA.com/alumni.]]> Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:10:52 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8466 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8309
Hank Haney IJGA College Prep Program will create a customized approach to each student so they effectively develop a swing video, tournament schedule, resume, and cover letter to send to college coaches. More importantly, Hank Haney IJGA’s College Placement Department will assist junior golfers in determining their “best fit” academically and athletically at the next level. Members of the College Prep Program will learn about the NCAA rules and regulations as well as registering for the NCAA Clearinghouse. As a College Prep Program participant, students will receive unlimited access to Hank Haney IJGA College Prep webinars, conducted by Katy Heher, Hank Haney IJGA Director of College Placement. To find out more, visit www.IJGA.com/collegeprep.

Hank Haney IJGA has a proven record in college placement. In 2009, 94% of Hank Haney IJGA students received a college golf scholarship. Currently, Hank Haney IJGA has alumni playing collegiate golf at some of the most prestigious NCAA Division 1 programs including Oklahoma State University, University of Virginia, University of Georgia, University of Southern California, and so on.

In the early college signing period last November, Hank Haney IJGA had two signings including Richard Werenski (South Hadley, MA) signing with Georgia Tech and Stephanie Meadow (Antrim, Ireland) signing with the University of Alabama.

On Thursday, April 8th, Hank Haney IJGA will be holding their official spring college signing ceremony at Pinecrest Golf Club in Bluffton, SC. For more information about this event, please contact Glenn Gray at glenng@ijga.com.]]> Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:22:06 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8309 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8256
"We are pleased to once again partner with Penske and to have them as our transportation service provider," said Nancy Henderson, Chief Operating Officer for the Duramed FUTURES Tour. "Their commitment to customers, dedication to excellence and innovative thinking match perfectly with the core values of our tour."

The Penske Driving Accuracy Advantage will be presented at the conclusion of the 2010 season to the Duramed FUTURES Tour professional with the highest average number of fairways hit during tournament competition. The Penske Driving Distance Challenge will be presented to the Tour player with the highest average driving distance during tournament competition. The winner of each award will take home the $500 cash prize in addition to a trophy.

Penske will have its logo displayed on tournament signage and on the Duramed FUTURES Tour Mobile Office trailer that travels to every tournament as well as a direct link between www.PenskeTruckRental.com and www.DuramedFUTURESTour.com.

"We are very pleased to serve as an official Duramed FUTURES Tour sponsor for a fifth season of play," said Don Mikes, Vice President - Consumer Rental, Penske Truck Leasing. "We look forward to providing the Tour with rental trucks for equipment transport to a total of 16 U.S. events this season."

The Duramed FUTURES Tour will bring the world's top young women golfers to 17 events in 2010. The 30th anniversary season of the Tour will feature a purse of nearly $2 million as well as its first full-field international event, to be held in Mexico. The schedule includes 16 returning tournaments, to be held in 13 states, in addition to Mexico. For the first time in the Tour's history, all stops on the Tour will boost purse amounts of $100,000 and over.

About Penske Truck Rental
Penske Truck Rental is a service of Penske Truck Leasing. With one of the newest fleets, Penske provides do-it-yourself moves with clean, safe and reliable trucks as well as moving equipment, packing supplies and accessories.
Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pa., is a joint venture of Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and General Electric. A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Product lines include full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, used truck sales, commercial and consumer truck rentals, transportation and warehousing management, and supply chain management solutions. Visit www.GoPenske.com to learn more.

About the Duramed FUTURES Tour
The LPGA's developmental tour, the Duramed FUTURES Tour, enters its 30th competitive season in 2010. The Tour's mission is to prepare the world's best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. The top 10 money winners each season earn automatic memberships on the LPGA Tour for the following season. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Duramed FUTURES Tour players have won a total of 353 LPGA titles, including 37 major championships. The Tour is playing for a record season purse of nearly $2 million in 2010. Duramed FUTURES Tour events have contributed more than $4.65 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. Follow the Duramed FUTURES Tour on the web at DuramedFUTURESTour.com, Facebook.com/DuramedFUTURESTour, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:57:08 +0000 http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=8256