Golfing Highlights Column 5-16-08

Liberty Professional Working The Sybase Classic

Liberty Golf Professional Nicholas "Nick" Yaun is wearing many hats this week as he performs various tasks at the Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, NJ where this famous course is playing host to an elite field for the Sybase Women's Professional Classic presented by ShopRite.
Some of the world's greatest female golfers are competing this week in one of the larger Ladies Professional Golf Association tournaments where Yaun works as the Club's 1st Assistant Golf Professional.
Nick noted that several of the top female golfers competing this week include Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Ai Miyazato and Morgan Pressel.
The championship round is scheduled for Sunday and the world's best female golfers are competing for a share of $2 million.
The Upper Montclair Country Club is one of only a few country clubs world-wide known to have hosted tournaments for all three Professional Golf Associations.
Nick, son of Tim and Cindy Yaun of Liberty, recently received the promotion as the 1st Assistant Golf Professional who also gives all the lessons at this famous club. He is just two months away from receiving his Professional Golf Association Class A Golf Professional designation.

Golf Is Back
Start Teeing It Up

Weather has been mixed the past several weeks, some nice 70 degree days mixed with overcast high 50's and 60 degree weather but this has not deterred the launch of the Sullivan County golf season where most golf leagues are now underway or will start in several weeks.
The grass is growing to a nice color green, the trees are budding so it time to tee it up.....hit it straight and long and enjoy our golf season.
Golfing Highlights is back for our ninth season and we will continue to provide you with a column filled with golf league statistics and standings, golf tournament information, golf trips and vacation news, new golf equipment, a tip each week from a local golf professional, Ed's Outlook, golf feature stories and a weekly review of golf courses in and around our area.
Special attention this week goes our to all golf league secretaries and club professionals and managers....remember to get your weekly golf league highlights and standings to Ed Townsend, PO Box 116, Livingston Manor, NY 12758 or e-mail them to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com. Our telephone number is 845-439-8177. Visit our Internet Web page BLOG at http://bght.blogspot.com

Welcome Back To
Pro Bob Menges

We welcome back to our Golfing Highlights Column for his seventh year, Professional Robert Menges from the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club who will again entertain and hopefully educate golfers with his writing of the weekly "Golf Tip."
Bob, 42, started his golf career as an assistant pro at the Swan lake Golf Club under then head pro Steve Eisenberg. From Swan lake he and Steve moved tot he Huff House at Tennanah Lake where Steve formed the Steve Eisenberg Golf Academy. The Academy then moved to the school's location at Eddy Farms near Sparrowbush and then to the Town of Wallkill Golf Course near Middletown.
Bob then took his first job as a Head Professional at the Tennanah Lake Golf Club and two years later became the Head Professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. He competes in local PGA tournaments, the local Pro-Am tournaments and the Metropolitan local tournaments.
Menges has been playing golf since he was 6 and remembers well starting out at the former Waldemere Golf Course at Shandelee above Livingston Manor.
Married to Kathy, who is a nurse, the Menges' live in the Jeffersonville area.
Menges noted that he will be giving private golf lessons and will conduct Junior Golf Camps during tthree different weeks this summer. The Swan Lake Golf Club presently has three leagues, Tuesday Men's, Wednesday Men's and Thursday Ladies.
Golfers may call Bob at 845-292-0323.

Golf Tip
By Bob Menges

Getting Started: Most of the avid golfers have already got a jump on the 2008 golfing season. For those of you who have not, I have a few tips to get your season going.
If your clubs have been sitting around all winter, you should check your grips to see if you might need new grips.
Grips become slick with use. Your should re-grip your clubs based on how much use they get.
If your grips become worn out or slick, you can lose control of your club. If you recently put new grips on, a good wash with warm soap and water will do the trick. I use an old toothbrush to clean both my clubs and grips.
Before you go out to play, you should try to do some stretching exercises. All the muscles you use to swing the club may need a tune up, as they have been sitting idle during the winter months. Before you go out to play, try to arrive early for your tee time and hit a bucket of practice balls. The short game, putting and chipping, tends to require more time to come back to you after the winter layoff.
Take some time to hit some practice chips and putts on the practice green before you start your round.
When you finally get to the first tee, remember to swing easy during your first round The excitement of starting to play again may lead to some fast long swings, which make it hard to control the golf ball.
Most of all remember to enjoy yourself, try to have patience during the course of your first round. I am looking forward to another great season, and I hope you are doing the same.
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 at 845-292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Outlook

The golf economy here could stand a booster shot and we believe "golf packages" would help.
We are seeing more and more the promotion of "golf packages" throughout New York State and we feel a little concerned that not enough efforts are being put forth locally to sell Sullivan County golf with motel/hotel and dining facilities all pitching in and working together to get golfers to visit and golf in our beautiful golf paradise.
Some golf packages we see in our travels around the southern states offer spring and fall rates of $70 and $80 a day for motel, breakfast and 18-holes of golf with a cart.
Several golf facilities in Sullivan and surrounding Delaware County are coming up with a breakfast (or lunch) special with 18-holes of golf and a cart so this is a good start.

Good Value With
Hudson Pass Book

One of the best bangs for your golf dollar locally is the 2008 Hudson Valley Golf Book.
Hudson Valley Golf is a golf pass that saves you more money than any other discount program.
In addition to receiving a course's lowest published discount the Pass Book saves its members hundreds of dollars more from members-only online specials and e-mail coupons.
More than 55 courses are include in Broome, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Rockland, Saratoga, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The book cost $50 and may be obtained by calling Hudson Valley Golf at 845-339-4200 or by Internet at www.hudsonvalleygolf.com

Jake Classic Set
For Sat. June 14

The 6th Annual Jake Classic Golf Outing has been scheduled for Saturday, June 14 at the Tarry Brae Golf Course in South Fallsburg.
Sponsored by the Sullivan County Probation Officers' Association, registration and a continental breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. A shotgun start scramble format tee off is at 9:30 a.m.
Beverages on the course and burgers at the turn are also part of this event. Following the competition an award luncheon will take place with raffles and prizes. A hole-in-one contest will also be held.
Golfers are reminded to respond early as the field is limited.
All proceeds benefit the Jacob E. Gunther III Criminal Justice Scholarship Fund which is awarded to a 98th Legislative District Senior pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice.
Make check payable in the amount of $75 per golfer to SCPOA-Jake Classic and mail to Box 325, Mongaup Valley, NY 12762.
Information available at 845-791-8021.

Couples League Is
Starting At SCGC

A couples league will be starting in June at the Sullivan County Golf & Country Club in Liberty.
If interested contact Dan or Hazel Yaun at 845-292-4654.

Golf Events Calendar

May 18, Tri-Valley Baseball golf outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
June 1, L.M. Booster Club Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
June 3, Highland Lions Club Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Info. at 292-0323.
June 6, Jake Hulse Memorial, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
June 7, S.D. Masons Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
June 6, Occupations, Inc. Pro-Am Tournament. The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge. Info at 692-4454.
June 7 & 8, Seniors Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-9584.
June 8, Community Unity Golf Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
June 14, Jake Classic, Tarry Brae Golf Course. Info at 791-8021.
June 14, Liberty Parks & Rec. Tourney, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-9584.
June 16, Rhomans Pub Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
June 20, TVLGA Junior Tournament, Twin Village Golf Club. Info at 607-498-5829.
June 21, Liberty Booster Club Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
June 22, WSUT & SRP Golf Event. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
July 11, B.P.W. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323
July 12, Black Bear Tournament, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-9584.
July 12, Friends Outing Golf Event, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323
July 13, Twin Village Golf Club Memorial Tournament & Dinner. Info at 607-498-5829.
July 13, Billy Moran Memorial, Villa Roma Country Club. Info at 887-4734 or 887-4174
July 18, Country Store Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
July 18, Scotch Twosome Tournament, Twin Village Golf Club. Info at 607-498-5829.
July 19, Cornell Co-Op Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
July 20, Liberty Elks Tournament, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-9584.
August 9, Art Tursi Memorial Tournament, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-9584.
August 10, Jeff Lions Club Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Info at 292-0323
August 17, St. Georges Church Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
August 24, Shady Acers Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
Sept. 6, Steak Bake Tournament, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-9584.
Sept. 13, Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-0323.
Oct. 4, The Hammer Invitational, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Info at 292-9584.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, who is a consultant to the amateur sport of golf and professional golf facilities in several states on the east coast. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league standings and tournament information, please give Ed a call at 439-8177 or send an e-mail to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com
For a much more expanded version of this golf column please visit our Web site at http://bght.blogspot.com