Friday, June 29, 2007

Golfing Highlights Column 6-29-07

Swan Lake Golf & County Club Professional Bob Menges, left, and Monticello golfer John Hoffmann, stand next to one of the new Club Car golf carts available at the course this year.

The approach to the 18th green at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club warns golfers to hit it straight with traps on the left and right. Part of the club house can be seen at the right side of this green.


Back Nine At Swan Lake Is Skillfully Designed

The Swan Lake Golf & Country Club beautifully designed club house offers lunch and snacks and if your planning a tournament the facility seats over 100 ..... there is also available an outside gazebo and barbecue pits for any golf outings.
Before or after a round you can enjoy your favorite cocktail in their circular bar which overlooks the 18th hole.
Professional Golf Pro Bob Menges is available for private lessons and conducts several youth camps during the summer.
Bob started his golf career as an assistant pro at Swan Lake under then head pro Steve Eisenberg. From Swan Lake he and Steve moved to the Huff House at Tennanah Lake where Steve formed the Steve Eisenberg Golf Academy. The Academy and Bob Menges then moved to the school's locations at Eddy Farms near Sparrowbush and the Town of Wallkill Golf Course near Middletown.
Menges took his first job as a head professional at the Tennanah Lake Golf Club and two years later became the head professional at Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. He competes in local PGA tournaments, the local Pro-Am events and the Metropolitan local tournaments.
Bob has been playing golf since he was 6 and remembers well starting out at the former Waldemere Golf Course at Shandelee above Livingston Manor.
The Swan Lake Golf & Country Club head professional is married to Kathy, who is a nurse, and the Menges' live in the Jeffersonville area.
Last week we described some background on this course along with the first nine holes.
Today we will describe the majestic scenery.....and the occasional wildlife.....on the back nine holes 10-18.
The back nine definitely gives golfers the opportunity to use every club in their bag. It plays from the blue tees, 3,385 yards with a par of 36.
Hole No. 10 is a 418-yard par 4 with a dogleg to the left. From the tee you are looking at a 225-yard tee shot that should be played just opposite a trap on the left side of the fairway . Fairway runs slightly downhill so club selection is important here. Don't over drive the fairway where it bends to the left Green traps on the front left and right side.
Hole No. 11 is a 182-yard par 3 with the fairway running uphill. Three traps are in the front and left and right sides of this green. The hole appears to play longer than 182 yards so club selection here is important for your par.
Hole No. 12 is a 516-yard par 5 with a slight dogleg to the left. Keeping your tee shot in the center of the fairway is important here. Traps are to the right and left of this green. Don't go over the green as hill slopes sharply down.
Hole No. 13 is a 400-yard par 4 uphill with the fairway sloping to the right and has a dogleg to the left......this makes for an interesting combination. Appears to play longer than 400 yards and requires a long tee shot and a good fairway hit for your par. Traps on the left and right side of the green.
Hole No. 14 is a 375-yard par 4 with the fairway sloping downhill with a dogleg left. This is a hole where I say let it all hang out and go for it with a tee shot over the tree line to your left....a successful shot over the trees into the fairway in front of the green leads to a birdie score. The green has traps to the left and right sides.
Hole No. 15 is a 399-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg to the left. Keep your shots down the center of the fairway. Traps on the left and right side of the green. A good par 4-hole and there are opportunities for a birdie also.
Hole No. 16 is a 196-yard par 3 with the fairway sloping sharply uphill so this hole actually plays longer than the 196-yards. There is also a trap some 40-yards in front of the green on the left side and traps on the left and right sides of the green. Club selection here can lead to a birdie or par. Go for the pin on this hole.
Hole No. 17 is a 537-yard par 5 and is the longest hole on this 18-hole course. Fairway traps are on both the left and right sides and a trap on the right rear side of the green. Keeps you shots in the center of the fairway. Don't go over the back of this green. Short hitters will find this hole a challenge.
Hole No. 18 is a 412-yard par 4. with a slight dogleg to the left. Your tee shot should go to the right center portion of this fairway to stay away from a fairway trap on the left. Traps are to the left and right front sections of the green. A real nice finishing hole and a very make able par.
Tee times and information are available from Club Professional Bob Menges at 845-292-0323. Web site is http://www.golfswanlake.com/

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

Preventing The Flying Right Elbow: The flying right elbow is one of the game's best known negative touchstones. It occurs in the back swing when the elbow juts out behind the player so the right arm forms the letter V or L, depending on the angle from which you view it.
What's wrong with a flying right elbow? It restricts the width or arc of the back swing. It also makes it difficult to get the shaft parallel at the top of the swing with the longer clubs, a restriction that reduced power. Finally, you don't want the elbow jutting out in the downswing because this also limits power and adds inaccuracy to the mix. So, you must drop it down and in toward your right side.Thios connection is an extra move that must be made in less than a second of real time.
However, trying to keep the elbow in close to the body is too restrictive. It prevents a free-flowing overall swing motion and narrows the width of the back swing, both of which costs power.
The right elbow can move away from the right side in the back swing so long as it remains pointed down toward the ground and in a viable, effective position. This will generate fluidity in the swing and allow the elbow to easily and readily return to or near the right side in the downswing. You do want the elbow close to the body in the downswing because it keeps the club moving from the inside.
To put it another, more meaningful way, it prevents the club from going "over the top" and cutting across the ball from outside to inside the target line at impact. Which is to say, with the right elbow in close to your side at impact, you are much less likely to hit a slice. Indeed there is a very good chance you will get a nice little draw on the ball.
Robert Menges is the 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 calling 292-0323 or by sending an e-mail to menges@localnet.com

Ed's Outlook

The Liberty School Alumni 18-hole Golf Tournament will be held on Thursday, July 5 at the Sullivan County Golf & Country Club in Liberty. Local golfers are welcome to join golfers coming in from other areas to attend the week-long Alumni and July 4th activities..
The tournament will feature a scramble format with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
The cost is $40 which includes the cart and lunch.
Joan Laskey Elder of the Class of 1958, who now lives in Tucson, AZ is the tournament chairman.
Golfers wanting to participate in the tournament activities can send a check for $40 to Roberta Zalkin Yagerman at P.O. Box 256, White Sulphur Springs, NY 12787. Roberta can be called at 845-292-6510.
This promises to be a fun time for all and the chance to meet and greet Liberty High School alumni from many classes.
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 by calling 439-8177 or by e-mail at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com Please visit our BLOG at http://bght.blogspot.com/

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