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My Positive Golf Scorecard

Jul 25
Posted by John in Golf

To emphasize the things in my golf game that I am doing correctly, rather than the negative, I have created my “Positive Scorecard”. I am tracking five important stats that contribute to lower golf scores and awarding myself points for my results. Before the round I make a place on my scorecard to record Birdies, Pars, Fairways Hit, Greens in Regulations and 1-Putts. After each hole I check off which positive stat I made then move on to the next tee, never trying to add up the results until the last hole is finished. After the round I track my total points on a simple graph to see my progress.

Here is the way my points are done:

Birdie: 2
Par: 1
Fairway Hit: 1
Green In Regulation: 1
1-Putt: 2

You can see that the system rewards the ordinary achievements with 1 point, and the extraordinary with 2 points, thus providing even more positive motivation for success.

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“One Moment In Time” A tribute to Payne Stewart

Jun 30
Posted by John in Pinehurst County Club

You know about the life-sized, bronze statue of Payne Stewart that stands beside the 18th green of famed Pinehurst No. 2 to commemorate his win at the 1999 US Open. Did you also know that every Sunday the hole is cut in the same location where he sank his 15-foot putt for par and a one stroke win over Phil Mickelson? A special pin flag, “One Moment In Time”, is also used only on Sundays on the 18th green.

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Pinehurst No. 8

Jan 25
Posted by John in Golf, Pinehurst County Club


View Pinehurst No. 8 in a larger map

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Pinehurst Winter Golf Rates

Dec 30
Posted by John in Golf, Pinehurst County Club
These rate are effective until March 1, 2011: Pinehurst Winter Special Rates 2010-11
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Snow In Pinehurst

Dec 28
Posted by John in Pinehurst County Club
It doesn’t snow like this in Pinehurst very often so these pictures of the Pinehurst County Club covered with a 6-inch blanket of snow are very special. They were taken on December 27, 2010- the day after our big snow storm. No worries – 65 degrees by the weekend.
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Hank Haney’s Essentials – The Short Game – DVD Review

Dec 26
Posted by John in Book/DVD Review
This DVD rates a Birdie. Easy to follow, good camera work, and graphics. Something for all golfers regardless of handicap.
Here are the major points:
Master The Basic Shots:
Chip Shots
Sand Shots
Pitch Shots
Take the easiest shot – lowest risk
Putting
Off the green
Putt on Bermuda – Your worst putt is better than your worst Chip/Pitch

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- Chip Shots

Fly the ball on the green a short distance and left it roll to the hole
Use PW (10 Iron), 8 Iron, or 6 Iron
Lie will dictate club selection
Ball sitting up – level swing
Ball sitting down – hit down
Pick a landing spot on the green – then hit your mark- let it roll to the hole
Ball back in your stance -off back foot
Narrow stance
Weight and hands forward
Stand close to the ball
Club very upright
Make a descending blow
Swing with arms and shoulders
A little bit of body
Keep wrist out of the stroke – firm wristed

- Bunker Shots

Use 58 degree, 10 degree bounce
Bottom of the club will push sand out of the way (bounce)
Play with open club face.Hold the club face open the face, then take your grip.
Slide under the ball
Dig in – Grip down on the club a little bit (to counter digging in)
Stance: feet, hips, shoulders left of target – club face toward target
Ball forward
Hit an inch or two behind the ball
Follow thru
Finish with back foot on the toe (just like a normal shot)
Speed of the swing dictates how far the ball will travel

- Pitch Shots

Use most lofted club in your bag – 58 degree (Sand Wedge)
Same club as with Sand Shots
Similar technique to chipping – Pitch shots have more wrist hinge on the back swing and the follow through
Club face slightly open
Grass under the ball – slide club face under
Body rotates (turn)
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The Match – The Day The Game Of Golf Changed Forever

Dec 21
Posted by John in Book/DVD Review, Golf

Looking for a last minute Christmas gift for the golfer in the family? Check out this book based on an actual golf match by Mark Forst.

The Match is a masterful account of a day in 1956 when the two of the best amateur golfers in the world, Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi, are pitted against two of the best professionals of any era, Ben Hogan and Bryon Nelson. What follows is a hole by hole, stroke by stroke account of what could have been the best competitive round of golf of it’s kind every played. The book reveals the lives of these men and looks at the early days of professional golf, the Great Depression, and the years of prosperity after World War II.  The back drop is the Cypress Point Golf Club on the California Monterey Peninsula along the Pacific Ocean that was designed by noted architect Alister Mackenzie

Fast forward 40 years and we find Eddie living in California riding the wave of post war car sales to become a millionaire and huge supporter of amateur golf. As part of his continued involvement in USGA Eddie recruits young amateur golfers and gives them jobs as car salesmen while they tour the country in the 1950s playing exhibition events. One of his best players is Harvie Ward, a young North Carolina phenom that as a sophomore at Wake Forest beat Arnold Palmer in Pinehurst’s North and South Amateur in 1948, then went on the win the US Amateur twice, and the British Amateur. The other player in Eddie’s stable is Ken Venturi who is now best know for his broadcast career for CBS Golf. As a amateur Ken nearly wins The Masters in 1956, later turns professional and wins the US Open in the heat at Congressional County Club in 1964. In the 4 years that Harvie and Ken play together for Eddie Lowery they incredibility never loose a match.

The story of “The Match” goes all the way back to Francis Ouimet. He was the child of a working class family, that grew up across the street from “The County Club”, the first private club in the United States and a bastion for the privileged class the still operates in Brookline, Massachusetts. In 1913 as a 20 year old amateur and former caddy Francis won the US Open when he defeated the best players in the world including Harry Vardon and Ted Ray who had come across the Atlantic with the intention of winning the US Open. His caddy was a 10 year old named Eddie Lowery who had skipped school to be on the bag and witness the first American born player to win the US Open. Mark Frost wrote the first book on this very subject in 2002, The Greatest Game Ever Played that was made into a Disney movie.

The last piece of the story is Eddie’s friend, George Coleman, another self made millionaire that counted Ben Hogan and Bing Crosby as close friends. Over a dinner cocktail Eddie boasts that his two amateurs can beat any two professionals that George can muster. The next day Hogan and Nelson are paired up with Ward and Venturi.

The Match is the best example of a golf history book I have read. Perhaps even eclipsing “Hogan: An American Life” by Jim Dodson.


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Merry Christmas

Dec 17
Posted by John in Uncategorized

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Bill Stockberger Takes Another Golf Title

Oct 13
Posted by John in Golf

Hello, Brothers and Friends

As most of you know PinehurstGolfer traveled to the great state of Indiana last weekend to attend Homecoming Weekend and his 30th college reunion. Hard to believe it has been 30 years, but it is true. The campus has undergone a lot changes. The old book store is gone, but all the other buildings on campus are there and look great.

A new student union building has been built, and Stewart Hall, Cameron, Alwood, and Platt have been replaced with new, modern dorms. Also new are the Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium and other athletic facilities. As you know old house, and the Annex (108) have been replaced with a great new house with all the modern features brothers need as they become the leaders of the 21st century.

The new house looks great. The Chapter Room has all our Buchanan Cups, scrap books, and years books. A lot of the Actives when out of there way to meet us Alumni. The Lambda House meeting was Saturday morning and was well attended with a mix of young and old alumni.

The weekend was all about mixing the old with the new. The Famous Fish Of Stroh restaurant outside of town is exactly the same as you remember it. Skip’s has changed some but not much. Mike’s sub shop is gone, so is Penguin Point. The football game was nice to watch. The Trine Thunder beat LaGrange Georgia 51-7. Their record is 5-0.

So now on to the golf. Sunday dawned clear, unusually warm, and dry. Perfect weather for a Sig Ep golf tournament held at the Zollner Golf Course. All present this day where treated to a magnificent display of golfing prowess by Bill Stocker. He shot a nice and tidy 79 to take the title of “Champion Golfer Of The Year”. Nice job Stock, but we know there are many who will be out to take the title away from you next year.

In second place was Tim Kendrick, although the rules committee later disqualified Tim for hitting other contestant’s balls not once, or even twice, three separate times!!! Ralph Sampson thus was awarded second place with a strong showing despite a bad back, and never remembering what type of ball was in play  (It was Titliest NXT Tour Ralph, haha). Sadly, Pinehurst Golfer did not bring his “A” game to Indiana and had to settle for 3rd.

The other two competitors, John Gyurek and Chewy invoked Mulligans, Gimmies and “The Leaf Rule” to proudly join the Centennial Club. Nice job guys.

Feel free to pass this link on to your friends that did not make it this year.

Watch the video here: Sig Ep Golf

Fraternally,

Pinehurst Golfer
John Patota

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2010 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen Championship

Aug 03
Posted by John in Golf, Pinehurst County Club

The Village of Pinehurst welcomes the worlds greatest junior golfers.

U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen Championship begins

PINEHURST, N.C. — When nearly 1,300 of the top young players tee it up for
the 11th Annual World Championship in Pinehurst, many will walk away from
the course with as many family memories as birdies.

For the fifth consecutive year, U.S. Kids Golf and Pinehurst will partner in
support of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen Championship, the
largest and most prestigious worldwide annual junior golf events. More than
1,800 participants will represent nearly 40 countries in the two
competitions, which highlight nearly two weeks of festivities beginning July
29.

The tournament has grown over the years, from 400 competitors in 2002 to
today, an increase of 225 percent.

For families, the days in and around Pinehurst will be as much about having
a ball as striking one, as focused on growing relationships as it is
grooving swings. Most players will have caddies, usually a parent,
grandparent or friend.

“These events show new and returning players how much fun golf is,” said Dan
Van Horn, president and founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “The memories children
experience walking the links with friends and family are invaluable. That’s
what delights us about hosting this premier junior golf event each year.
The three-day World Championship begins Aug. 5. Boys and girls are divided
into age groups ranging from 6 through age 12. Each group will tee off at
one of several courses formatted to meet age-appropriate yardage, layout and
hole quantity standards. The tournament will play out within the Village of
Pinehurst’s most scenic venues, including Pinehurst No. 3, No. 4 and No. 8, Legacy, Little River, Longleaf, Mid Pines, Midland and Talamore.

A week prior to the World Championship, U.S. Kids Golf and Pinehurst will
team up to host the fifth-annual Teen World Championship and Teen World Cup.
The event, which takes place July 29-31, mirrors the format of the World
Championship and features nearly 500 male and female golfers from across the
world between ages 13 and 18.

“I am pleased with the continual growth of the Teen World Championship and
the exposure it provides players to colleges,” Van Horn said. “We have
featured several players who began in the youngest age groups of the World
Championship and now have returned for the Teen Championship. These
championships show how far the sport of golf continues to advance around the
world.”

HITTING THE GREEN: ECONOMIC IMPACT
The events attract 5,000 visitors from all 50 states and 40 countries. That
creates a local economic impact of about $3.9 million, according to the
Moore County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which works out to spending of
about $780 per person. Three of every four attendees stay five to nine
nights – longer than the 3.3 night average for other leisure travelers to
the area.

“We’re glad to provide an economic shot in the arm,” Van Horn said.
“Pinehurst remains at the epicenter of the American and global golf
landscapes, and we are proud to once again partner with an organization that
shares our goal of preserving and expanding golf.

“This is great exposure for young golfers to play at a venue that has hosted
some of the sport’s biggest names and most prominent events. I’m sure there
are some jealous moms and dads.”

The U.S. Kids Golf World Cup concludes competition Aug. 8. Featuring the
World Championship’s top finishers in the 12-year-old group, the World Cup
pits golfers from the United States against a World team in a match-play
format.

Along with the tournament itself, World Championship week includes several
other opportunities to golf alongside friends and family. The week begins
with the first annual Parent/Child competition on Aug. 2, which pairs young
participants with their biggest fans for an 18-hole showdown.
Visit www.uskidsgolf.com for more information regarding the World
Championship, Teen Championship and U.S. Kids Golf. Fans and families can
also follow on Twitter (twitter.com/uskidsgolffnd) and Facebook
(www.facebook.com/uskidsgolf)

About the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization that was
established in 2001. The vision of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is to
provide kids and their families the opportunity to participate in the game
of golf through instruction and competition. All profits collected by the
U.S. Kids Golf Foundation are allocated towards growing the game of golf
through the expansion of competition. Currently, the U.S. Kids Golf
Foundation conducts more than 400 local, regional, national, and
international events. To learn more, please visit www.uskidsgolf.com .

Media Contact:
Christopher Carme (706) 974-9476
ccarme@uskidsgolf.com

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