Saturday, June 2, 2007

Golfing Highlights Column 6-1-07

This crafty big crow enjoys our chips (one in his mouth and other
chips to his left) which he removed (bag and all) from inside
our golf cart.

Golfers who recently enjoyed the southern hospitality of the Swamp Fox Country Golf package of Florence, SC and Tommy Wallace, far right, the professional and developer at The Players Course At Wyboo in South Carolina, are from the left, Ed Guthrie of Narrowsburg, Josh Jennings of Port Jervis, George Korth (formerly of Livingston Manor) and now a resident of Peducah, Ky. and Golfing Highlights Columnist Ed Townsend of Livingston Manor.



Swamp Fox Country Golf Director Lisa Haynes
1-800-845-3538 www.swampfoxgolf.com

The Crow & Sullivan County Golfers

Sullivan County golfers traveling to and from the southern states have a real treat in store for them at The Players Course At Wyboo which is offered as part of the Swamp Fox Country golf package at Florence South Carolina.
Not only is the golf great in this part of the state but the sightings of a big crow that decided to steal our potato chips added a little something special to a round of golf while we were trying to get our game in shape after a long winter layoff.
A March golf trip by two Sullivan County men, one Port Jervis golfer and a former Sullivan County golfer from Peducah, Ky. found this big crow following them after they had stopped in the clubhouse for lunch before going out on the second nine and several of them brought snacks with them and put them safely in the golf cart compartments where many golfers put extra golf balls, tees, hats and sunglasses.
As we started play on the back nine we snacked away on chips and soda and the one crow had picked up a couple of buddies and followed us from the 10th hole to the 12th hole where he made the bold move to steal our chips.
We had parked the two golf carts some 25 yards from the green and were studying our putts and that crow knew he had us where he wanted us and flew into our golf cart and took the bag of chips which were quickly devoured by the crow crew.
We all had quite a chuckle about this incident and the one big crow just hung around and actually posed for a photograph so as to give our readers a little evidence as to what we would eventually write about.
The folks back in the club house when told about our crow incident indicated this happens quite frequently and said some of the crows have gotten real good at what they do and golfers are just not aware that the crows can easily spot the chips in the plastic bags inside the golf carts. .
Besides the great golf facility here at The Players Course these intelligent crows added an interesting topic for discussion.
Marking the March Swamp Fox Country South Carolina golf trip were Narrowsburg golfer Ed Guthrie, Port Jervis golfer Josh Jennings, Peducah, Ky golfer (formerly from Livingston Manor) George Korth and Golfing Highlights Columnist Ed Townsend from Livingston Manor.
The Swamp Fox Country Golf package is managed by Golf Director Lisa Haynes who puts together golf course tee times and accommodations at very reasonable rates. For information call 1-800-845-3538. Their web site is http://www.swampfoxgolf.com/
The par-72, 18-hole Players Course is golfer-friendly and accommodates varying proficiency of play. Big, forgiving titfwarf greens and wide Bermuda fairways make playing the golf course a joy for all golfers, however, positioning of the tees and the choice of tee box can significantly increase the challenge of play and appeal for the serious player.
Designed in 1992 by Ernest Wallace and kept to PGA standards, the course features fairways of rolling terrain, with undulating greens, large bunkers, heavy wooded borders and water hazards prominent on almost every hole. The golf course winds around the shores of Lake Marion, Lake Arbu and several small lakes and ponds within the property. Golf on The Players Course at Wyboo is a combination of wonderful play and incredible scenery. The putting green and driving range will help you hone your game and the clubhouse has a full-service pro shop and a snack bar. The course plays 7,007 yard course has four sets of tees. The course plays open on the front nine while the back nine plunges deep into the woods. .
Tommy Wallace is the Pro and developer of this golf facility and indeed is one of the finest southern gentlemen we have ever met and he admits with a friendly smile on his face that he has being managing this course for some 40 years.
Wallace noted very strongly that "Golf Packages" like the one offered by Swamp Fox Country are very important to the economy of his golf course during the months of February through May and September through November. Some 65 percent of his total income comes from golf packages. Wallace says that this course was built so that the golfer could have a good time. Wallace said he has a lot of repeat customers which is very important to him.
This course has a fully automated fairway, green and tees watering system which indeed helps the Course Superintendent Richard Peters to keep the course in the excellent condition we found it to be. In almost the center of this golf course is located the 35-acre Lake Arba which make plays on this course that much more interesting.
The Course was built in by the Goodson Brothers. The private developer of homes around the golf course is Bill Gregory. The course plays host to local tournaments, two men's leagues, two ladies leagues and a Sunday Mixed league.
This course rating/slope: blue tees 68.8/123; white tees 67.2/115.
Having been around the game most of his life, Wallace grew up in Hartsville, SC but spent a lot of his adult life in Myrtle Beach.
Next week we will take you through this 18-hole course at Wyboo, located in Manning, South Carolina.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

Playing Lesson: If you are an experienced golfer who has been playing for a number of years, and you find that your scores are not getting better, you may want to explore the option of a playing lesson.
After you have learned how to hit all the different types of golf shots, you may find that a playing lesson with your local Golf Professional will give you a better advantage at a better score.
Once you are on the course, the golf professional will look at how you hit different shots and what your mental thought process is around the golf course. He, or she, may be able to help you see things differently or point out how to plan your shot better to give you an advantage at making a better score on a certain hole. Believe me, there is definitely more than one way to skin a cat. You could learn more about your game and fix some things you are doing on the course to give you a better score.
I would not suggest a playing lesson for beginning golfers. It is more for someone who plans regularly, but is not seeing any improvement from week to week. Contact your local Golf Professional to see if they can improve your game.
Robert Menges is the head Golf Professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by phone at 845-292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@localnet.com

Ed's Outlook

Just a reminder to our many readers that our Golfing Highlights Column is also available on our Web BLOG page at http://bght.blogspot.com/ Check it out.
A new Junior Golf Tournament is taking place on June 29 at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Course.
The event will be a nine-hole tournament for youth ages 13 through high school.
The event will be held from 3-8 p.m. and handicaps are required.
Refreshments and prizes will be a part if this fun tournament.
For information call 845-439-3988.
The World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine is quickly approaching its 10-year anniversary.Not long ago, the grand facility was built to honor golf's greatest players and contributors and almost 10-years later, the Hall is doing just that and much more.
With 114 members holding prestigious membership in the Hall of Fame, and new members being inducted each year, the museum takes care to tell their stories through accounts, personal and career memorabilia and more. In keeping with its mission, the World Golf Hall of Fame unveils special featured exhibits each year focusing on one of its members and telling an even more intricate story of their life on and off the course.
A special exhibit will open on November 12 of this year in conjunction with the 2007 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; "Jack Nicklaus Golf's Golden Champion."
For those of you who have never been here the Hall is a real special place.
You can visit the Hall for more information online at http://www.wgv.com/ When in the area stop in. The Hall's phone number is 904-940-4123
Ed's Outlook is provided by Golfing Highlights Columnist Ed Townsend.If you have a topic that would make good reading, or have golf scores, standings or tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177 or via e-mail at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com Look us up on our Web BLOG at http://bght.blogspot.com/

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