April 14, 2022 Business, News

Blueprint for Success

One of the first things new golfers hear is that they should get lessons to learn the fundamentals of the game and start with a solid foundation. When established players are struggling, they typically turn to PGA professionals to help improve their technique and get better at the game they love. While a few lessons may fix things in the short-term, the only thing that creates long-term success is practice.

The problem is that most players don’t know how to practice effectively.

When Nico Darras (left) walked off the final green of a one-day mini tour event in Scottsdale three years ago, he was on top of the world. A final hole birdie gave him a score of even par, a number he thought put him on the path to PGA TOUR stardom. He finished in 68th place, 11 strokes off the pace.

On the drive home, he heard an interview with Kevin Moore (right), a University of Georgia professor specializing in applied mathematics, analytics, education, and psychology. Darras emailed him right away, hoping to apply Moore’s theories to improving his performance on the golf course.

“I’ll admit that I didn’t read Nico’s email right away, but when I did I thought I’d be able to help him,” said Moore of his first interaction with Darras. “He had a great skill set and we got some great analytics and strategy data. After working on his driver, we figured we had to improve his wedge game.”

During that time, Darras said he was working on the assigned reading for his doctoral program and a line in one of those books hit him. “It was about criterion referenced instruction, the idea of having an end goal in mind and working backwards. I brought it up to Kevin and we started using ourselves as guinea pigs for developing practice plans.”

It may sound like things came together seamlessly, both Moore and Darras said that was hardly the case. The first player to try a practice plan was No Laying Up’s Chris “Soly” Solomon. He shared it with his podcast audience and soon more than 200 people were lining up to learn how to practice.

Moore described the response as eye-opening. “We realized it was bigger than the two of us. We spent 40 days keeping up with demand, eventually getting the website up and zooming with clients. We found they almost all wanted structure, practice plans built around data and research. So that’s what we did.”

The first plans were hand-built, with designed drills and how they should be completed. After five months, the pair had a large database of drills and plans, and an algorithm to apply to golfers. Golf Blueprint is now the largest online instruction service available with clients in 45 states.

Golf Blueprint works off a membership model, with players getting different levels of access to practice plans and Moore and Darras. Members can join on a monthly basis, but are rewarded with a free month when they commit to a six-month improvement plan.

“Month one, that algorithm is really good, it’s dialed,” said Darras when advocating for a multi-month commitment. “Month two, the algorithm learns more about the golfer. By month three it’s really good and it’s all about tightening up those practice plans.”

One of the things that sets Golf Blueprint apart from other instruction programs is that it’s easy to understand. Moore said that when a client has trouble understanding a particular drill, they re-word it to make it easier to put into practice. “It’s important that players of any ability and experience can follow our plans without having a specific golf vocabulary.”

While Golf Blueprint may sound like a fix-all for any golfer, Darras said they’re really focused on golfers between four and 20. “We really think players with handicaps lower than a four already know how to practice, but the sweet spot for improvement lies with those players between four and 20. We can help them.”

To learn more about Golf Blueprint or to purchase your membership, visit www.GolfBluePrint.com. 

April 14, 2022 News, Publisher

Women in Golf

Since entering the PGA Associates program and starting my path toward becoming a Class A PGA Professional, I’ve had the opportunity to start giving lessons. It’s not something that I ever thought I would enjoy, but helping people with their golf swings has been really rewarding.

I’ve been primarily focused on new golfers, which means that I’ve worked with several female golfers. Some have been playing for a few years, but many have just decided to pick up the game. Coming out of Women’s History Month, it seemed like a good time to think about the impact women have had in golf.

We could go all the way back to the 1500’s when Mary Queen of Scots ruled and was considered the first female golfer. We could jump forward 300 years to 1811 when the first recorded women’s only tournament took place. But I’ve chosen to move into the 20th century when women started to make a dent in the American game.

Amateur golf was great for women, with players competing in the Curtis Cup, USGA events, and then competing in men’s professional events. Helen Hicks, Babe Zahirias, and Patty Berg made names for themselves by competing at the highest levels.

The PGA of America was slow to accept women as professionals, with Hicks becoming the first in 1934. The LPGA was formed in 1950, six years after the Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA) opened the door for a women’s league.

Since then, more women have gained prominence on the LPGA TOUR. There’s still a massive pay gap between men and women, but that’s slowly closing. More women are being named top teachers and are working to additional ladies to take up the game.

Below are three books written FOR women, BY women to help them get started and overcome some of the barriers to learning how to play golf.

Golf Handbook for Women – Vivien Saunders

The Golf Handbook for Women takes you through every aspect of golf, whether you are just starting out or want to raise your game to a new level.

Movements and shots are carefully detailed, using photographs and illustrations, with helpful suggestions on how to ensure you’ll hit your best shot every time.

Power Golf for Women – Jane Horn

One of the biggest obstacles women face in their golf game is the belief that they don’t have the strength or power to achieve distance.

According to expert golfer Jane Horn, the idea that physical strength has anything to do with it is completely untrue. The problem is a misconception about how power is generated.

Feeling Naked on the First Tee – Ann Kelly

Finally a book that will boost the confidence of a new woman golfer, written by someone who knows how it feels!

Packed with helpful hints, Feeling Naked on the First Tee explains parts of the game that other golf bbooks don’t talk about, in language the beginner can understand. 

April 14, 2022 News

Spark Golf

Golf is a time consuming pursuit, and testing your skill against others in competitive play is even more so. Players at municipal courses up and down the West Coast have a new option, one that can be tailored to their schedules.

Spark Golf leagues are currently available at courses in cities across the country including Albuquerque, Bakersfield, Fresno, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Portland, Reno, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, and the Bay Area. The leagues feature 9-hole competitions designed to be casual and fun.

Co-creator Charlie Klaus said he wanted to recreate the fun and excitement of a facility like Top Golf on a green grass course. “We knew technology was a big piece of it, so we invested and now have over 1,000 leagues running nationwide.”

League rounds are played weekly on specific weekday evenings, so players know when and where they need to be each week. Players are able to play as many or as few rounds as they like. Missing one isn’t the end of the world.

The co-ed leagues are designed for golfers of any age or skill level. Each league round has two games running simultaneously: a two-person best ball game and an individual game (both games use net scores). Players always play their own ball and record their hole-by-hole scores into the Spark app. Prizes are team, individual, and skins are awarded after each round.

Additionally, prizes are awarded at the end of the season in both the team and individual competitions.

Doug Suse, head professional at Stone Creek Golf Club near Portland, Oregon, said Spark Golf has brought new players to his facility. That same sentiment has been echoed throughout the region as courses add more leagues to accommodate interest.

The app – available for both IOS and Android – makes it easy to register and find a league to play in. Players are encouraged to sign-up with a partner, but the app can help pair individuals if necessary. 

To learn more about Spark Golf, visit www.Spark.golf today.

February 1, 2022 News, Publisher

Black History Month

Over the last few years, Black History Month has taken on more importance and a deeper meaning. For golf, that means taking the time to look at the relationship between African Americans and the game we all love to play. For the most part, that relationship has been a toxic one.

Following the death of George Floyd and other African Americans at the hands of police officers – and the protests that came after – the PGA TOUR made what could be called a half-hearted attempt to celebrate the contributions of minority players. Players like Cameron Champ, Harold Varner III, Tony Finau, and (of course) Tiger Woods were lauded and celebrated. It was contemporary players who benefited from the inroads Woods had been making since 1997, low-hanging fruit.

The TOUR put out a statement about support for the African American community, but largely skimmed over the game’s ugly past in which people of color had been relegated to carrying the bags of white players and were kept off many of the country’s most exclusive courses.

But the problem isn’t just the TOUR itself. The golf media in the United States rarely scratches the surface when it comes to social justice and race relations in the game. They hit on the easy stories but fail to ask the tough, uncomfortable questions. Many reporters are happy to ask about playing tournaments in Saudi Arabia or slurs heard coming from the mouths of players on television, but few had the guts to ask players about Black Lives Matter or their thoughts on race in the United States.

This year, for Black History Month, dig a little deeper and learn more about the complicated story that is African Americans on the golf course. To get you started, I’ve found three books you should read; they’re listed below. Let us know what you think.

Kris Fay, Publisher NW Golf Adventures Magazine

Forbidden Fairways – Calvin H. Sinnette

Forbidden Fairways is not just a history of the African Americans who have been playing golf for over 200 years but a tribute to them as well. From the unnamed South Carolina enslaved young man who first dared to hit a golf ball when his master wasn’t looking . . . to another young man named Tiger who dared to win the Masters while the whole world watched. It’s a sad story in places, uplifting in others.
Game of Privilege – Lane Demas

This groundbreaking history of African Americans and golf explores the role of race, class, and public space in golf course development, the stories of individual black golfers during the age of segregation, the legal battle to integrate public golf courses, and the little-known history of the United Golfers Association (UGA)–a black golf tour that operated from 1925 to 1975.
Uneven Lies – Pete McDaniel

A fast-moving heart-warming narrative on the history of African-Americans in golf. Beginning with the 1896 U.S. Open where blacks first played in national competition, to the invention of the golf tee by an African-American dentist in 1899, to the early clubs and facilities open to people of color, to the service roles that served as an introduction to the game. And much, much more.
February 1, 2022 Course Features, News

TPC Scottsdale: Walking in the footsteps of champions

TPC Scottsdale, one of the crown jewels of the TPC Network, allows golfers the chance to play where the game’s best tee it up.

The greater Phoenix area is chock full of golf courses; some good, some great. It can be overwhelming to plan a golf trip and know which courses are worth the time and money to play. Thanks to the TPC Network of courses and a phenomenal PGA TOUR stop, there’s one facility that’s guaranteed to please.

TPC Scottsdale encompasses two championship golf courses – the Champions Course and the world-renown Stadium Course. The latter of the two plays host every February to the biggest party in professional golf, the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Every day, players are able to walk in the steps of their favorite professional players when they tee it up on the Stadium Course.

Depending on the time of year, visitors will find the Stadium Course in varying stages of tournament host preparation. Those who play immediately before or after the Waste Management may find wayward shots ricocheting off the bleachers and grandstands lining fairways and surrounding greens. At other times of the year, the course feels wide open, encouraging players to fire away off the tee. Regardless, it’s a course that will challenge players of all abilities, while simultaneously charming them with its pristine conditions.

Since opening in 1986, the Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish-designed course has undergone changes in response to play on the PGA TOUR and to make play more enjoyable to average golfers. Some of the iconic landmarks – like the boulder Tiger Woods called a ‘loose impediment’ – have been removed, while bunkers and waste areas have been added or enlarged.

“We don’t want this to be the most difficult golf course in Scottsdale,” said head professional Alex Abbruzza. “We want a golf course that will provide the professionals with the opportunity to make exciting shots for the fans and we want a course that’s fun for the public to play. Right now, that’s exactly what we have with the Stadium Course.”

The Stadium Course’s signature hole is, of course, the par-three 16th. During the Waste Management Open, the hole is completely enclosed by bleachers that seat more than 20,000 spectators. Needless to say, it looks vastly different without the bleachers but it’s still one of the most difficult short par-three shots out there.

The second course at TPC Scottsdale is the Champions Course, which was designed by Randy Heckenkemper, and completed in 2007. This course replaced the original Weiskopf and Morrish designed Desert Course.

The best part about a day at TPC Scottsdale is that the experience starts the moment guests turn off Hayden Drive and motor down the main drive. From the attendants at the bag drop to the pro shop employees to the starters, everyone is willing to bend over backward to make sure players have a complete TPC experience. It’s truly one of the biggest assets of the TPC Network that all their properties provide exquisite experiences for guests.

“We don’t live in the area full time, but every time I’m near I have to play the TPC Scottsdale, especially the Stadium Course,” said repeat guest Scott Combs. “There are a lot of options for golf, but the pros play the Stadium Course, and my son and I are always curious about how we’d play the same course the best players in the world play.”

The Stadium Course has managed to distinguish itself in another way, with its off-course offerings. The clubhouse features well-appointed locker rooms, one of the best pro shops in the country, and a fantastic dining experience at Toro Restaurant and Rum Bar. If you’re looking for fine dining after a round of golf, Toro’s South- and Central American-infused menu is guaranteed to hit the spot.

In short, no trip to the Scottsdale/Phoenix area is complete without a round at the Stadium Course. For more information or to book a tee time, visit www.tpc.com/scottsdale.

About the TPC Network

The TPC Network of Clubs gives golf fans the opportunity to experience golf at the same level the professionals play on. As part of the PGA TOUR, the TPC Network was developed to host some of golf’s biggest events on venues designed to showcase the skills of the world’s best players. It’s a chance for golfers to walk the same fairways and hit shots from historic spots.

There are currently 28 courses available through the TPC Network.

February 1, 2022 Business, News

Full Metal Markers

The company got rolling in 2018 when Brian King, an avid golfer, felt there was something missing in the ball marker market. What he found were either cheap, poorly made products or expensive custom items. Full Metal products fall squarely in the middle, providing original designs made with quality materials at an affordable price.

“All of our designs are carefully thought out,” said Brian. “I’d rather have a few great designs than many mediocre designs.”

While Full Metal Markers started out as a hobby, the Internet and social media have allowed it to grow and become a national brand that golfers all over have connected with. While all the designs are done in-house – as well as the inventory, marketing, and customer service that Katie handles – manufacturing has been outsourced to allow for lower consumer pricing.

“We personally fulfill every order and respond to every email,” added Brian. “Outside of actually making the products, we run every aspect of the business.”

So what does a small business do to grow past its online roots? Full Metal Markers will continue to partner with golf pro shops to carry the company’s direct-to-consumer products or sell their own customized items. “We saw a major uptick in 2021 and expect that trend to continue.”

To see the complete line of Full Metal Markers or to place an order, visit www.fullmetalmarkers.com.

 

Gateway Home Loans

February 1, 2022 Business, News

More is more at Quivira

Following the incredible success of its first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, Quivira has announced that the resort will expand and elevate the golf experience for guests at its Land’s End property.

Situated at the tip of the Baja Peninsula and just 10 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas – in a dramatic setting marked by windswept dunes, sheer cliffs and lush desert foothills – Jack Nicklaus, golf’s greatest champion and globally acclaimed golf course designer, crafted a world-class layout that redefined the Cabo golf experience when Quivira Golf Club opened in 2014. With the popular course having garnered nearly every design accolade the golf and travel industry has to offer, Nicklaus has returned to create a second course.

Groundbreaking for the club’s second Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is expected to take place by fourth quarter 2022. Quivira’s second course will expand the resort and residential community’s golf offering to accommodate the increased demand, resulting from the growth of the development, including ultra-exclusive, recently launched projects such as the St. Regis Resort & Residences; the exclusive new real estate community, Old Lighthouse Golf & Ocean Club; and the Alvar hillside condominiums.

“The first golf course at Quivira is a spectacular layout playing across a remarkable piece of property,” Nicklaus said. “Now, I am excited that design is well underway on the second course at Quivira, which should be stunning and equally as spectacular. I hope golfers who play the second course will enjoy the views, the quality of golf, and the challenge.”

While the routing plan for Quivira’s second course is in its final stages, it is anticipated that Nicklaus and his design team will create another world-class layout on this exceptional piece of land. Situated in the northwest area of the 1,850-acre development, several of the holes on the new course will meander through rolling desert foothills and expansive valleys, interlaced by winding arroyos.

Quivira’s second course will provide a different challenge but one that should mirror the high quality associated with the existing golf experience. The southern portion of the new layout will feature panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the westernmost point of the Sea of Cortez, which swells with breaching whales during the winter months. On the interior side, tall distant peaks will serve as dramatic backdrops for several holes.

For additional information, resort reservations, or tee times access the website at www.quiviraloscabos.com/golf or call 1-800-990-8250.

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