Saturday, September 12, 2009

Golfing Highlights Column 9-11-09

Pictured above are the members of the first place team from the recent Sheriff Mike Schiff Golf Tournament. Left to right are, Henry Montanez, Aaron Trembley, Candido Perez and Colvin Grant.

The Sheriff climbs into the helicopter in preparation for the ball drop.

Winner of the ball drop at Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff's August 23 Golf Tournament was Lauren Edwards shown here with Mike Schiff.

Hole No. 18 at the French Woods Golf Course is 180-yard par 3 and takes your tee shot over water. Club selection here is important to score that birdie or par.
French Woods Has Grown Into A Beautiful Golf Course

Ten years of a maturing golf course along with excellent upkeep and maintenance by Superintendent Dan Wormuth has made the French Woods Golf Course a must play for all golfers.
In addition to a well kept and challenging golf course there are also discount golf packages including a private 1,500 square foot rustic charm lodge along with the ever-popular breakfast or lunch golfing specials have made the French Woods Golf & Country Club near Hancock a popular golfing location.
Brochures and guest information available at the French Woods golf facility suggest to golfers that "after a hard days work on the course you deserve more than a cramped hotel room."
Making accommodations available to their golfers is nothing new in the vacation-golfing industry and Russ and Lynn Bass have added an extra touch for their guests with the construction of 7 private lodges situated throughout the golf course.
And these are not your regular Abe Lincoln log cabins but offer golfers and guests some 1,500 square feed of living space that included all the amenities of a fine home and comfortably sleeps four people in two separate bedrooms. A common area upstairs in these lodges has two twin beds so additional vacationers can also be housed in these cabins that offer a full kitchen, a large dining area, one and one-half baths and a back porch complete withe barbecue grill.
Discount golf packages offer a private lodge overlooking the fairway or the Delaware River for up to four people, a free breakfast in the Clubhouse each day, unlimited free golf (carts not included) for four people and different rates apply to the length of stay and additional fees apply for more than four people.
An attractive clubhouse is also available serving guests breakfast and lunch.
The club special of $30 Monday through Thursday included golf and cart for 18-holes and breakfast or lunch.
The Bass family and their staff are always available to customize golf packages to suit every golfers special needs.
Russ and Lynn know the importance of comfortable vacation living and they go out of their way to offer every modern convenience.
Linda Ferris is the general manager at this golf facility.
The first nine holes of this course opened in 1999 and in 2001 the back nine opened.
The course plays from the blue tees 6,018 yards and is a par 72. The front nine and back nine play to par 36.
Last week we detailed the club history and the front nine.
This week we will describe the back nine which has a total yardage of 3,059 yards from the blue tees.
For tee reservations call 607-637-1800. Their web site is http://www.golfandxski.com/
Hole No. 10 is a 533-yard par 5. There is water to the right, stay center of the fairway and try to keep your putt below the hole on this slanting green. There are no traps on this green.
Hole No. 11 is a 166-yard par 3 with an elevated green and uphill fairway. This hole plays longer than it looks. The flat green and a well placed tee shot can get you your birdie or par.
Hole No. 12 is a 315-yard par 4 is an uphill dogleg to the left. Try to stay in the center of this fairway for best scoring results. Trap is on the right side of the green.
Hole No. 13 is a 500-yard par 5 with the fairway slanting to the right. Keeps your shots to the left.
Hole No. 14 is a 370-yard par 4 with a dogleg left. Try to stay in the middle of the fairway. There are no traps on this green.
Hole No. 15 is a 335-yard par 4 with a pond left. Take your tee shot to the right of the pond.
Hole No. 16 is a 300-yard par 4 with water to the left. Challenge the tee shot and slam a good drive over the water for a good birdie chance, Playing right center is suggested. There are no traps on this green. There is a new pond behind this green.
Hole No. 17 is a 360-yard par 4 with a dogleg right. His center left here and choose a three wood on your tee shot. No traps on this green.
Hole No. 18 is a 180-yard par 3 with the tee shot having to carry over a pond. Proper club selection and a good tee shot gets you another birdie. A real attractive finishing hole on a back nine that still needs time to mature.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

The Importance of Wedges:

In today's ever-changing golf game, most players are under the influence that if they hit the ball longer they will play better.
Even though technology has increased how far the ball will travel, the scores are about the same. There is no doubt that if you hit the ball longer you should have less club to the green and be able to get the ball closer to the hole and make more putts.
I believe this to be true, but you better be able to hit the shots on the green close to the pin. In order to hit the ball close, I feel it is important to carry three wedges in your golf bag. Most people have a pitching wedge that comes with their set. This club has 47 to 49 degrees of loft. You have a choice to make for the other two wedges. A gap wedge comes with about 50 to 53 degrees of loft and a lob wedge is about 60 to 64 degrees of loft. I would choose between these two clubs depending on how far you hit the ball.
A lob wedge will save you shots around the green and a gap wedge will help you with the in between yardages in the fairway.
You should always carry a sand wedge that has 54 to 57 degrees of loft.
Some touring Professionals will carry 4 wedges in their bag.
The next time you play a round of golf, count how many shots you take from 100 yards in to the hole. I think you will find that this will total about 60 percent of your score.
When you are trying to improve your score, it is important to lower the number of shots you take close to the green. I think having three wedges in your bag will help you accomplish a lower score.
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 292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@hughes.net ;

Schiff Tournament
Went To Higher Level

Wow....Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff literally took his August 23 Golf Tournament at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club to another level.
Instead of just having a plain old raffle organizers of the event sold golf balls and participants put their name on the golf balls then Mike jumped into a helicopter and dropped the balls out of the ski and the ball that make its way into the hole was the winner.
A great idea that added something different for what sometimes become routine golf tournaments.
In the first picture above Sheriff Mike Schiff is shown with the winner of the sky ball dropping event, Lauren Edwards. In the second photo the first place team includes, from the left, Henry Montanez, Aaron Trembley, Candido Perez and Colvin Grant.
Second place winners included Rich Mulvany, Larry Eisenburg, Jen Eisenburg and Tom Mungeer. Third place was won by Jim Peebody, Jeff Lounsbury, Bill Dougherty and Rich Memmelaar.
Long drive winner on hole No. 8 was Rich Morgan and closest to the pin on hole No. 9 was Matt Egan.
Tournament organizers poined out that the most honest score of 89 went to Team Skiff consisting of Lila Schiff, Austin Zweck, Cindy Conklin and Kevin Mitchell.



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



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