Friday, May 30, 2008

Golfing Highlights Column 5-30-08


New Twin Village Golf Club Manager Troy Kirchner

Troy Kirchner Brings New Ideas To Twin Village

Golf course insecurity is a major topic of discussion among owners and operators of nine-hole golf courses in the Tri-County area but a 2006 graduate of Roscoe Central High School and now a Business Management Major at Ithaca College has plans and ideas he feels will help his hometown Twin Village Golf Course.
Troy J. Kirchner, 21, a Junior Business Management Major at Ithaca College and a member of the club since 1993 is the new manager at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Course.
In March of this year Troy presented a 15-page TVGC Golf Management Position presentation to the Twin Village board of directors consisting of President Dan Baldo, Secretary Bill Knipscher, Treasurer Chuck Husson and directors Mary Austin, Chuck Husson Jr., Ralph Kirchner, Joe Schulte, Ron Schulte and Sally Shea.
The 15-page report covered topics from Management Position and Money to What I Can bring to TVGC.
Kirchner noted in his report that he has "acquired some of the best tactics and techniques of running a successful business and have acquired knowledge of strengths and weaknesses of managers within the business world."
He added, "when preparing this presentation and looking ahead to the future of Twin Village Golf Club (TVGC), I don't just look at it as a summer job like some employees may, I look at this as an opportunity to get my foot through the door for a passion I have and the future of my career."
Kirchner after obtaining his B.A. degree plans on furthering the future of his career by obtaining an Associates In Golf Management degree. Troy pointed out that this is the first year the clubhouse is going to be run "within itself". And by this he means that instead of paying a subcontractor to come in and operate the clubhouse for a monhly fee, they are now paying by the hour and making all profits.
The new changes to the clubhouse and course this year include starting ther fairways about 50 yards in front of the tee boxes instead of having them go right up to the tee box.
The course has ordered 9 new tee signs that have the TVGC logo, hole #, par, distances to holes fromred, white, and blue, and the layout of the hole so people can visually see it on the sign. Some nine local businesses have also sponsored a hole for the next 5 years, so the expenses of the signs were covered.
Golfers will also notice that TVGC has designed a new logo that will be on all nine tee signs and also , on the new sign on Rockland Road. the new logo will also be on all of the shirts in the "pro shop", on all the golf carts, on all letter heads, on all nine flags and other random places throughout the course.
Another improvement includes adding blue tee boxes and every hole will have its own red tee box as well. There will not be one hole where there is a joint tee box with red and white, or white and blue like in the past.
The concessions this year will be completely ran by TVGC and will feature a large menu that will be available from 8a.m.to 5p.m. with both eat in and take outs.
Kirchner also announced the addition of different inexpensive tournaments and events.
The new events include on June 7 a Pancake breakfast/family outing, on June 22 the Greensome/Bloodsome event. for teams of two, on June 28 a Par 3 Tournament, on July 11 the Travel to Flag Tournament, on July 24 the Glow Owl Night Golf, on July 30 a Chicken BBQ/Family Outing, on August 3 there will be a Callaway Tournament, on August 16 the Battle of the Ages Tournament, on August 22 the Vegas Style Tournament.
The nine-hole 2,045-yard par 32 TVGC has added several changes including adding some narrow fairways and adding rough where open fairways use to be. Cutting of the greens, fairways and rough and adding of a 90-degree cart policy also added to the beauty of the fairways and a better playing surface for all golfers.
The course features five par fours and four par threes. The longest hole on this course is the 349-yard par 4 ninth hole, where golfers have to remain accurate and stay away from hooking shots into a brook on the left side of the fairway. If the tees are set way back on the ninth, this also presents a very narrow entrance and tee-shot onto the fairway. A pond on the right and the small brook with soft wet marsh on the left presents a "don't make a mistake and you better hit a straight shot" from the fairway to the green.
A trap in front of the ninth green prevents the chip, bump and run shot. The need for accurate wedge shots to the green can help when going for the par 4.
One of the more difficult par 3 holes on the course is the 210-yard third hole. Again, the golfer must keep center or right to avoid going left out-of-bounds into the cornfield. There is a long trap in front of the green and if you shoot for the green on any shot, you better not go over the green or you will have a wet ball since it will lane in the small brook immediately behind the green.
In fact, this brook also runs in back of the 168-yard par 3 sixth hole and the 180-yard par 3 eighth hole, making the smart golfer lay up in front of the front edge of these greens.
The smaller size greens and pin placements add to difficult chip shots and the need for an accurate short game to score well on this course.
For all tournament or TVGC information or tee times call Troy at 607-498-5829 or e-mail him at tkirchn1@ithaca.edu

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

Use your putter. When deciding to put or not from just off the green, the first thing to remember is that anytime you can putt, do it.
Keeping the ball on the ground and using the most reliable club in your bag---the putter--is a logical and smart choice. A good putt will always get you closer to the hole than a good running shot with one of your irons.
The biggest factor is determining whether to putt or not is what lies between you and the hole. Most important is the grass surface. If the path is clear, the ground relatively smooth and the grass is short, choosing your putter is an easy choice.
Another factor to look closely at is how the ball is sitting. Remember, if the conditions are good, we want to putt the ball.
When making these putts from off the green, it is very important to keep our concentration and use good putting fundamentals.
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 292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Outlook

The Sullivan County Golf & Country Club in Liberty is adding some fun to the game of golf with two "Night Golf" tournaments.
The dates for the tournament are July 18 and August 15,
It's a best ball shot-gun format and only 9 foursomes can play.
The fee is $35 per person for nine holes of golf and cart and $25 for members of the club.
These events will feature a pre-golf appetizer party at the 52 Steakhouse, glow in the dark balls and equipment and prizes and a raffle.
Golfers participating are urged to bring a flash light.
Sign up today and reserve your spot by calling 292-9584.

GOLF CALENDAR

June 7, Pancake Breakfast-Family Outing, Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

June 22, Greensome/Bloodsome Tourney, Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

June 28, Par 3 Tournament, Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

July 11, Travel To Flag Tournament. Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

July 18, Night Golf, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information call 292-9584

July 24, Glow Owl Night Golf, Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

July 30, Chicken BBQ/Family Outing, Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

August 3, Callaway Tournament, Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

August 15, Night Golf, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club.. Information call 292-9584

August 16, Battle Of The Ages Tournament. Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

August 22, Vegas Style Tournament. Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5829

August 24, Callicoon Kiwanis Golf Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 932-8436

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



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