Golfing Highlights Column 7-31-09

The Buckley family are the leased operators of the Hancock Golf Course. Members of the family are, from the left, Charles Buckley Sr., Alice "Cookie" Buckley and Julie Buckley
Weyrauch.

The 140-yard par 3 at the Robert Trent Jones designed Hancock Golf Course.

The Robert Trent Jones Hancock Course

When Robert Trent Jones designed the nine-hole Hancock Golf Course he described the land as "sufficiently rolling to provide interest, yet not difficult or tiresome and admirably adapted to a nine-hole golf course."
Jones when he completed diagrams and surveys assured the sponsors that the new course would be "one of the finest nine-hole courses in the Southern Tier unsurpassed for beauty and scenery and one not too hard on the middle-aged."
Play at the present course will be greatly enhanced with the construction of nine additional holes.
Clearing for the new 126-acre course which will also house 1.7 to 8 acre home sites started this year and the additional nine holes are anticipated being open for play in two years.
A Rochester architect has designed the new layout which is presently planned to be completed in about a years time but owners say they expect to let the course set for one year before opening it for play.
The present nine-hole course is leased (since 1971) and operated by the Buckley family, Alice "Cookie" Buckley is the Director of Operations, Julie Buckley Weyrauch is the General Manager, Eric Buckley is the Course Superintendent (GCSAA), Charles Buckley Sr. (GCSAA) is the retired Course Superintendent and Charles Buckley Jr. is the PGA Professional.
The new 9-hole addition to the Hancock Golf Course and the home sites is owned by the Buckley family.
The golf course lease changed hands several time since 1959 and in 1971 Lucille Howel leased the course to Charles Buckley who brought in equipment and proceeded to make substantial improvements to the course.
In 2001 Buckley constructed a new clubhouse which now houses locker rooms and Cookies On The Green restaurant which is open only during the golf season and offers a nice outdoor deck.
The course is open 7 days a week from April to November 1.
The course plays host to a weekly men's, women's and mixed league.
Tee times and any questions can be answered by calling 607-637-2480.
The nine hole layout looks like this.
Hole # 1 is a 535-yard par 5 with a slight dogleg left and a big dip in the fairway. Most of this fairway offers a straight shot to the green with again a slight dogleg left and downhill to the green which has a trap on the left site. Be careful with that approach shot as there is a slope in the back of the green.
Hole No. 2 is a 398-yard par 4 so pretty much keep it down the middle. Fairway slopes downhill and there is a ditch across the fairway approximately 100 yards from the green which has no traps. Again there is a slope behind the green.
Hole No. 3 is a 335-yard par 4 with the fairway running uphill and a slight dogleg right. Take your drive straight up the middle to a slightly elevated small green. The approach shot is key here for a par or birdie.
Hole No. 4 is a 385-yard par 4 with a straight fairway bounded with trees right and left sides. Play your tee shot left center as there is a slight dogleg right.
Hole No. 5 is a 467-yard par 5 with a dogleg left. Better to come a club or two off the tee. After the dogleg there is a pond on the right side of a narrow fairway....watch out for the big rock in the fairway. A real nice golf hole.
Hole No. 6 is a 140-yard par 3 and proper club selection can get you your birdie or par. Take your tee shot right to left on this narrow tree-lined fairway.
Hole No. 7 is a 345-yard par 4 slightly downhill. Best to play the right side of the fairway. There is a ditch across this fairway and the green with a sand trap on the left front slopes left to right. The correct approach iron will keep you away from the trap.
Hole No. 8 is a 402-yard par 4 with the fairway running uphill. Stay in the center of the fairway for your approach shot to this narrow long green.
Hole No. 9 is a 158-yard par 3 with an open fairway to the left and then trees to the left and right of the green. Club selection is important here.
A real nice golfing experience and we and many other golfers await the opening of the second nine.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

The Half Wedge Shot.
One of the shots most golfers fear is the dreaded half wedge shot. This means you are to close to the hole for a full swing, but to far away to chip or pitch the ball. When you are faced with one of these shots, it is important to have confidence before you make your swing.
To get set up for this shot, you should open your stance slightly, keep the ball in the center of your stance, and aim the club-face at the target. On your back swing it is important to limit your arm swing, the longer you swing your arms the more it will effect your distance and there is more of a chance for things to go wrong. Try to keep your lead arm from going beyond horizontal on the back swing. Make sure to cock your wrists fully and swing down and through the ball aggressively keeping your eyes on the ball and your head still.
When you finish, your hands should not be above your waist.....it is an abbreviated follow through.
This is a shot that requires some patience and practice to be good at. Keep practicing this shot and it will help you improve your scores.
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 email at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Outlook

For the first time in three years and just the second time in a major championship as a pro, Tiger Woods was not around to compete on the weekend at the British Open.
The game's No 1 player shockingly missed the cut, shooting a 74 at Turnberry that had him headed back home to Florida on the same day that 59-year-old Tom Watson tied for the tournament lead.
Golfing fans can only wonder now what a playoff match between Watson and Woods could have done for this great game.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that you feel would make good reading or have league scores and tournament information, Ed can be reached at 439-8177 or by email at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our web page at http://bght.blogspot.com/

Ricoh Women’s British Open.

Dates and TV Times
First round: Thursday, July 30
TNT 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EST
Second round: Friday, July 31
TNT 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. EST
Third round: Saturday, Aug. 1
ABC 1:30- 3:00 p.m. EST
Final round: Sunday, Aug. 2
ABC 1-3 p.m. EST

Purse
US$2.2 million
£1.5 million

Top 10 Players by Country
Country # of Players
1. United States 32
2. South Korea 29
3. England 10
4. Sweden 10
5. Japan 9
6. Australia 8
7. Spain 8
8. Scotland 5
9. France 4
10. Taiwan 4

Ricoh Women’s British Open Field
All winners from this season’s Ladies European Tour (LET) and LPGA events.
47 of top 50 on Rolex Women’s World Rankings
32 of top 35 on the LET Money List
48 of top 50 on the LPGA Money List
5 of top 6 from LPGA of Japan

Kerr leads multiple stats categories.
Cristie Kerr leads the LPGA Official Money List, the Rolex Player of the Year points, Vare Trophy with lowest scoring average, rounds under par, top-10 finishes and has most birdies for the season (241).

Ochoa begins 4th week with new caddie.
Lorena Ochoa has been with caddie Greg Johnson for three tournaments and she’s enjoying the change. Ochoa said, “With Greg, he gets me a bit more…my thoughts and he is able to help me a bit more. I think it's somebody that is going to help me in a positive way, and that's what I'm looking for out there. We've only played together three tournaments; this will be the fourth. It's been good so far. I'm happy and I think we are both still learning from each other, but I think it's going to be something good.”

Ai Miyazato fans show support for her first win at the Evian Masters.
Miyazato said “My family probably be very happy for me. They cried in excitement. On my Web site, I had over 2000 comments, so I can tell from that that everyone was happy.”

About Royal Lytham
Learn more about the course -- www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com/Course.aspx

RICOH Women’s British Open Yardage at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.
Hole Yards Meters Par
1 199 182 3
2 401 367 4
3 419 383 4
4 371 339 4
5 170 155 3
6 492 450 5
7 542 495 5
8 389 356 4
9 156 143 3
OUT 3139 2870 35
Hole Yards Meters Par
10 334 306 4
11 487 445 5
12 160 146 3
13 340 311 4
14 420 384 4
15 464 424 5
16 343 314 4
17 419 383 4
18 386 353 4
IN 3353 3066 37
TOTAL 6492 5936 72

New “Lumber Leader” Award to Reward
Top World Series of Bowling Qualifier

The Professional Bowlers Association has added another special event to the World Series of Bowling lineup, rewarding the “best qualifier” in all seven Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events with a $10,000 bonus.

The “WSOB Lumber Leader” will be decided by the total pins knocked down in the qualifying rounds for all seven events, excluding Tour Qualifying Rounds. A “WSOB Gold Pin” will sit with the current leader after each qualifying round throughout the World Series, and the WSOB Lumber Leader after a total of 109 qualifying games will receive the $10,000 bonus.

The competition will involve 15 qualifying games in the Motor City Open, 14 in each of the five “animal pattern” championships, and 24 in the PBA World Championship. The winner will be announced on Sept. 3. The Lumber Leader contest will not include match play pinfall.

“The World Series of Bowling is a tremendous test of versatility for the players and that’s why we want to recognize the player who scores the highest throughout the qualifying rounds,” said Tom Clark, PBA Deputy Commissioner. “Fans online tracking the World Series will have this added race to follow throughout the seven Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events. Fans on site will know who the current leader is when they see the gold pin on his pair of lanes.”

The Lumber Leader contest starts on Aug. 4 with the first event of the PBA World Series of Bowling, the Motor City Open at Taylor Lanes in Taylor, Mich.

Sands Regency PBA Regional Players
Invitational Returns to Reno

The dream of bowling as a full-time competitor on the Professional Bowlers Association’s national tour will be realized in mid-December when the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational returns to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.

The 41st annual RPI, open to the 25 points leaders in each of the PBA’s East, South, Central, Southwest, Midwest, West and Northwest Regions, offers a $7,500 first prize plus a berth in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas. Based upon anticipated entries, the tournament will pay 90 places, but most important, in addition to prize money the top seven players will earn exemptions to bowl full-time on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour for the 2010-11 season.

Last year, John Nolen of Waterford, Mich., won the 40th anniversary RPI and then captured the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Masters in Las Vegas.

The tournament gets underway with a players reception hosted by the Sands Regency Hotel and Casino on Monday, Dec. 14. Following a practice session Tuesday morning, the entire field will bowl six-game rounds on the PBA’s Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark lane conditioning patterns over a span of three days. Final standings will be based upon 30 games of actual pinfall.

The 2009 Regional Players Invitational will follow the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s Red, White and Blue Open presented by USBC, which takes place Dec. 7-13 in Wichita, Kan. The inaugural Red, White and Blue Open – a tournament open to non-exempt and amateur bowlers as well as exempt tour players – will be unveil the United States Bowling Congress’ new “varying degree of difficulty” lane conditions for grassroots league bowlers, and it will provide a tune-up event for regional players headed to Reno.

The inaugural RPI was won by hall of famer Tom Hennessey, a member of the fabled Budweiser’s of St. Louis team, in Cincinnati in 1969. The tournament has served as a launching pad for a number of players who went on to careers as national touring players. Among the past champions who are still active as PBA Tour exempt players are reigning Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open champion Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas (1999); Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C. (2004); Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash. (2005), and Nolen.

In addition to Nolen, the 2009 RPI qualifiers who will compete on the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour are: P.J. Haggerty, Clovis, Calif.; brothers Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., and Brian Waliczek, Birch run, Mich.; Dave Arnold, Reno, Nev.; John May, Lincolnton, N.C.; Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa, and Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif.

World Series of Bowling Kicks off
PBA’s ESPN Telecast Schedule

Sunday afternoon telecasts of the championship finals from the inaugural Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling will kick off ESPN’s 2009-10 coverage of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour.

During the coming season, ESPN will air 23 events resulting in 35 hours of original programming. Reruns and re-broadcasts of selected programs on ESPN Classic will expand the visibility for professional bowling on national television.

The PBA-ESPN season begins Oct. 25 when the finals of the PBA Women’s World Championship, PBA Senior World Championship and PBA Trick Shot Invitational air in a 90-minute show beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern. The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour regular season ends with live coverage of the Lumber Liquidators Marathon Open from Baltimore on April 4 at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Two special events – the PBA Experience Showdown and the PBA Women’s Series Showdown – both presented by the United States Bowling Congress’ official web site, BOWL.COM, are scheduled to immediately follow the end of the regular season.

2009-10 ESPN LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR TELECAST SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern, all regular-season shows are 90 minutes, times are subject to change)
Oct. 25 – PBA Women’s World Championship, PBA Senior World Championship and PBA Trick Shot Invitational, 1 p.m. (taped Sept. 5 at Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.)
Nov. 1 – Motor City Open, Taylor Lanes, Taylor, Mich., 1 p.m. (taped Sept. 5 at Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.)
Nov. 8 – PBA Cheetah Championship, 1 p.m. (taped Aug. 12 and 13 at Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.)
Nov. 15 – *PBA Viper Championship, 1 p.m. (taped Sept. 5 at Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.)
Nov. 22 – *PBA Chameleon Championship, 1 p.m. (taped Sept. 6 at Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.)
Nov. 29 – *PBA Scorpion Championship, 1 p.m. (taped Sept. 6 at Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.)
Dec. 6 – *PBA Shark Championship, 1 p.m. (taped Sept. 6 at Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.)
Dec. 13 – PBA World Championship, Northrock Lanes, 1 p.m., Wichita, Kan.
Jan. 3 – Red, White and Blue Open presented by USBC, 1 p.m. (taped Dec. 13 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.)
Jan. 10 – Don & Paula Carter Mixed Doubles, Lava Lanes, Medford, Ore. , 1 p.m.,
Jan. 17 – Earl Anthony Memorial Classic, Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl Dublin, Calif., 1 p.m.,
Jan. 24 – PBA Tournament of Champions, Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, 1 p.m.
Jan. 31 – Dick Weber Open, Fountain Bowl, Fountain Valley, Calif., noon
Feb. 7 – Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational, 2 p.m. (taped Sept. 25 at AMF Winston-Salem Lanes, Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Feb. 14 – USBC Masters, National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev., 3 p.m.
Feb. 21 – Gemini Championship, Brunswick Zone Wheat Ridge, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 1 p.m.
Feb. 28 – 67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open, Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, 12:30 p.m.
March 7 – Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator, Sequoia Pro Bowl, Columbus, Ohio, 3 p.m.
March 14 – No telecast
March 21 – PBA Match Play Championship, Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center, Norwich, Conn., 1 p.m.
March 28 – Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, AMF Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, N.Y., 2 p.m.
April 4 – Lumber Liquidators Marathon Open, AMF Country Club Lanes, Baltimore, 1 p.m.
April 11 – PBA Experience Showdown presented by BOWL.COM, USBC International Training Center, Arlington, Texas, 1 p.m. (two hours)
April 18 – PBA Women’s Series Showdown presented by BOWL.COM, USBC International Training Center, Arlington, Texas, 1 p.m. (two hours)
* Includes PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM championship match

USBC TO PROVIDE LIVE VIDEO OF
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON BOWL.COM

Bowling fans around the world will be able to watch the finals
and select semifinals of the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's
Championships on bowl.com. The United States Bowling Congress plans to live stream
from Las Vegas, Nev., portions of the event that will feature bowlers from 45 countries.

"We believe there is tremendous interest in watching this event both here in the United
States and internationally," said USBC Vice President of Media Pete Tredwell.
"Presenting the highest levels of bowling competition online can be a great way to gain
additional exposure for the sport."

The live stream will be distributed using Ustream.TV, a service that will insert
advertisements over the video at times. USBC does not control the content or frequency
of the advertisements.

"At this time, the ad-supported video stream is the financially responsible way for USBC
to provide this content for free," Tredwell said. "I am confident fans would rather see a
few pop-up ads than not see the action at all."

To view the live competition from the WTBA World Women's Championships, click on
the link on the home page of bowl.com.


WTBA World Women's Championships live stream schedule

Thursday, July 30
8:30 p.m. EDT Singles semifinals and finals
10 p.m. EDT Doubles semifinals and finals

Friday, July 31
9:30 p.m. EDT Trios semifinals and finals

Saturday, Aug. 1
9:30 p.m. EDT Team semifinals and finals

Sunday, Aug. 2
3 p.m. EDT Masters semifinals and finals

MENTAL TIP by
MICHAEL ANTHONY

"Anger or Instant Amnesia?"

While in his prime, Seve Ballesteros was asked during an interview how he keeps from getting angry when he misses a putt or shot. He replied, "Instant amnesia." Instead of getting and remaining angry, Seve merely forgot about it, and went right back to the business of playing golf.
Unfortunately, most golfers get upset or angry when things don't go as they wish while playing a round of golf. To compound matters, golfers tend to carry their anger for several holes or even the entire round after they have made a mistake or missed a putt or shot. Does this happen to you?
It is important to understand that your anger adversely affects your brain's chemistry and performance. If you allow anger to be a part of your emotional make-up, your stroke mechanics and mental clarity will suffer as a result. Your anger will cost you extra strokes.
Here is a game plan for reducing and hopefully eliminating anger. First, as soon as you become aware that you are angry, stop and acknowledge that you are upset. Do not suppress your anger or rationalize that you have a right to be upset because your anger will build and fester. Your performance will continue to suffer as a result.
After acknowledging you are angry, realize that you are merely reacting to a fact and have a choice how to respond emotionally. You can continue to be upset or you can decide to release your anger. The obvious choice is to regain control of your composure so you can play better.
Here is an excellent method for releasing anger. While taking ten deep breaths and exhaling slowly after each breath, talk to yourself. Tell yourself that you refuse to let a fact upset you no matter how unfair or unjust the fact may be. Realize that facts are merely facts!
You may not be able to control the facts, but you can control your emotional response to them. Once you are calm and have a smile on your face, get back into the present and focus on your next shot.
If you train yourself to have instant amnesia, you will become a better golfer and shoot lower scores.

BARNES FINISHES FOURTH
IN SINGLES AT WORLD GAMES

KAOHSIUNG, Chinese Taipei - Team USA's Chris Barnes finished fourth in singles recently at the World Games, narrowly missing an opportunity to bring home a medal.

A costly 4-7-10 split in the final frame of the last game kept Barnes on the outside of the top-three stepladder finals by 13 pins. He finished the 10-game round-robin match play with 2,221, including 60 bonus pins for a 6-4 match-play record.

Colombia's Manuel Otalora went on to win the men's title by defeating top seed Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, 445-367, in the two-game championship. Otalora advanced from the semifinal with a 184-181 one-game win over Malaysia's Adrian Ang, who defeated Barnes 245-187 in the final game of match play.

"I'm really disappointed because there are so many of the guys on Team USA who could have come here and won this event," Barnes said. "I was really honored to be selected to compete here and to not finish the deal makes me feel like I've let my team down."

Heading into the position round game against Ang, there was a brief break to tabulate scores. Barnes said during that break he lost some of the momentum from the 257 he had in Game 9.

"During that little break I sort of lost my feel for what I was doing," Barnes said. "I threw it a lot better after the sixth frame to get back into the hunt, but it just wasn't enough. The last shot where I split, the ball was just about one board left of target and needed some help. It just wasn't my best effort."

On the women's side, Finland's Krista Pollanen, the No. 3 seed, defeated top seed Zara Glover of England, 407-378, to win the gold medal Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines lost to Pollanen in the semifinal, 215-210, and earned the bronze.

Bowling is one of more than 30 sports not currently included in the Olympics that are being showcased in the World Games until July 26. Bowling, along with archery, billiards and bocce, is classified as a precision sport.

For more information on the World Games, visit the official Web site of the event at www.worldgames2009.tw.

Here & There Column 7-28-09

Horton Brook Free Methodist Church part-time Associate Pastor Bob Landau, left, with Pastor Faustin Soneka of Ndola, Zambia

85 Percent Unemployment Is A Challenge

Economic stability and nine to 10 percent unemployment still remains a major problem in the United States but when told about 85 percent unemployment in the Ndola, Zambia area of Africa it would tend to make a lot of us Americans think we're living on the top of the world.
Pastor Faustin Soneka of the Christian Celebration Church in Ndola, Zambia, speaking before the congregation of the Horton Brook Free Methodist Church on July 22 noted that his area in Zambia is faced with 85 percent unemployment.
Pastor Soneka spoke about pastors from different denominations who meet together with a common goal to further the gospel and to meet the needs of the people they serve.
The difficult economic climate presently in Zambia has these clergy members working in small churches that have very limited resources and the pastors receive little or no money for their work and most of the time assistance provides pastors with only one meal a day.
Economic survival in Zambia is very simply stated, "it is one of the poorest countries in Africa" where 80 percent of the people live on less than one dollar per day and one out of every five Zambians is infected with HIV-AIDS. A little over 15 percent of all Zambian children aged 14 and below are orphaned and there are over 100,000 street children.
As citizens of Sullivan County, New York State and the United States we all know of the economic struggles facing us now, but, it is so difficult to comprehend how a nation like Zambia survives. It all comes down to the fact that its men and religious leaders like Pastor Soneka who with $25 monthly donations ensure that a pastor in Ndola can receive at least one meal a day. This meals consists of corn meal, cooking oil and or a small amount of sugar which are the basic parts of the Zambian diet.
We acquired great admiration for Pastor Soneka in his efforts to give care and support of children in his area with donated foot, water, clothing, housing, education, health care to HIV-AIDS infected children and facilitating training for live skills to children who no longer have parents to guide them through life.
We have tough economic times facing us but help can be provided to the Zambian Pastors Support Foundation at 110 Fuller Hill Road, Roscoe, NY 12776 or by calling 607-498-4539.

Golfing Highlights Column 7-24-09

One of the new holes under construction at the Hancock Golf Course.

The layout for the new 9 holes of golf at the Hancock Golf Course along with building lots.

Hancock Will Be 18-Holes In Two Years

Nine additional holes are being added to the present nine-hole Robert Trent Jones designed Hancock Golf Course which indeed has a very interesting history.
Clearing for the new 126-acre course which will also house 1.7 to 8 acre home sites started this year and the additional nine holes are anticipated being open for play in two years.
A Rochester architect has designed the new layout which is presently planned to be completed in about a years time but owners say they expect to let the course set for one year before opening it for play.
The present nine-hole course is leased (since 1971) and operated by the Buckley family, Alice "Cookie" Buckley is the Director of Operations, Julie Buckley Weyrauch is the General Manager, Eric Buckley is the Course Superintendent (GCSAA), Charles Buckley Sr. (GCSAA) is the retired Course Superintendent and Charles Buckley Jr. is the PGA Professional.
The new 9-hole addition to the Hancock Golf Course and the home sites is owned by the Buckley family.
The dream of every community to have it's own golf course started for Hancock in 1936 when resident Howard Merwin offered to donate a piece of land near Somerset Lake to the Town of Hancock for the purpose of developing a municipal golf course. Due to complications the project did not develop.
In 1940 another attempt to build a golf course came when the Town Board of Trade voted to solicit the services of Robert T. Jones of Thompson and Jones, architects of New York, as to the best location of a golf course.
A site north of the village was chosen for the eventual completion of a course of approximately 3,400 yards with a par 36. Robert Trent Jones described the land as "sufficiently rolling to provide interest, yet not difficult or tiresome and admirably adapted to a nine-hole course."
At that time, the Works Project Administration (WPA) had 65 men in the Town of Hancock on the government payroll and Delaware County WPA Construction Superintendent Olney Borden of Liberty, NY was working with the Board of Trade members regarding the possibility of the WPA becoming involved in a golf course project.
The Board of Trade voted to petition the Town Board to sponsor a municipal golf course in conjunction with the WPA and in June 1940 the board agreed to sponsor construction of a golf course with WPA aid. In December of 1940 the Federal Works Agency in Washington announced approval to construct a municipal golf course in the Town of Hancock.
The town was awarded a WPA allotment of $47,742 as sponsor of the golf course and the towns share was estimated at $10,000. It is interesting to note that the $10,000 contribution from the town took the form of the town providing machinery, other equipment and furnishing labor from the unemployment rolls of the town.
A local committee set a goal of $3,500 to purchase the land for the course and with surveys completed and deeds taken work was scheduled to begin in January 1941.
Architect Robert Trent Jones completed diagrams and surveys and assured the sponsors that the new course would be "one of the finest nine-hole courses in the Southern Tier unsurpassed for beauty and scenery and one not too hard on the middle-aged."
In March of 1941 ground was broken and in May of 1941 papers were filed in Albany for a Membership Corporation to be known as the Hancock Golf and Country Club which then elected officers and continued to solicit funds for the golf course.
Somewhere around the year 1942 about 50 percent of the course was completed under the WPA project when it was abandoned due to floods and the war. Sprinkler pipes which had been laid to the locations of the greens and certain areas of the fairways were all dug up with the medal to be used in the war effort. The land lay dormant and went back to nature.
In the late summer of 1945 work on the course produced new drainage and finishing of the greens and in June 1946 five holes were ready to play despite unfavorable wet, cold weather but with funds running low as a result of new machinery and equipment interest again waned and it is reported that the course again returned to grass, weeds, trees and abandonment.
The town again got involved in 1957 and the Hancock Golf and Country Club formed a committee to sell charter memberships and in 1959 Hancock finally had it public golf course.
The golf course lease changed hands several time since 1959 and in 1971 Lucille Howel leased the course to Charles Buckley who brought in equipment and proceeded to make substantial improvements to the course.
In 2001 Buckley constructed a new clubhouse which now houses locker rooms and Cookies On The Green restaurant which is open only during the golf season.
The course is open 7 days a week from April to November 1.
Tee times and any questions can be answered by calling 607-637-2480.
Next week will outline how to play this nine-hole Robert Trent Jones designed golf course.

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 by phone at 292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Oulook

The LPGA Golf Channel deal starting in 2010 can not come soon enough. There were 35 LPGA Tour events in 2008 and this year five are gone and the Tour is down to 29 events. Almost two-thirds of this years events (19) are in renewal discussions and the LPGA risks further shrinkage in 2010.....let's hope they can figure out a solution and that the golf channel deal will help.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that you feel would make good reading or have league scores and tournament information, Ed can be reached at 439-8177 or by email at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our web page at http://bght.blogspot.com/

SERGIO GARCIA ACCEPTS INVITATION
TO PLAY OMEGA MISSION HILLS WORLD CUP

All 18 Exempt Nations Have Now Been Confirmed for the 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup to be Played at Mission Hills Golf Club, China, from November 26-29
Thursday 23 July 2009 (Bienne, Switzerland) - The field, selected through each nation’s leading player on the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday, June 22, is headed by Sergio Garcia – Number Four on the Official World Golf Ranking at the cut-off date – who will represent his country, Spain, for the first time at Mission Hills.

The five-time Ryder Cup player can now select his team-mate to compete over the course designed by his countryman, José Maria Olazábal, provided that the player nominated is inside the top 100 on the World Ranking as of June 22 or the second deadline of August 17.
This will be Garcia’s fourth attempt to win the World Cup. He played in 2001, 2004 and 2005, with his best finish coming in his native Spain five years ago when he and Miguel Angel Jiménez finished just one shot behind champions England over another Olazábal-designed course, the Real Club de Golf Sevilla in Seville. Jiménez and Pablo Larrazabal led after three rounds at Mission Hills in 2008 but were overhauled on the final day by Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson’s brilliant closing foursomes round of 63 to the Spanish pair’s 70. Garcia is hoping he can drive Spain to victory this year, but knows the competition will be fierce.
“There are always a lot of good teams at the World Cup. I think that the Swedish team, the defending champions, will be very good,” said Garcia. “The Americans always seem to bring a good solid team into the tournament. Australia, of course, is going to have a good one coming in. One of the Asian teams could be solid.” “The next time I see José María I’ll probably ask him about the course. I’ve seen a little bit of it on TV and I’ve heard good things about it. I’m looking forward to seeing it. It’s going to be a great test like it’s been every year. I’m just hoping that my partner and I can do well and bring the victory to Spanish soil.”Stenson, one half of the dynamic Swedish duo who secured the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for their country, will defend the trophy at Mission Hills, where he and partner Robert Karlsson recorded a three shot victory.It was Sweden’s second victory in the event, Anders Forsbrand and Per-Ulrik Johansson having captured the trophy for the first time in 1991.Rory McIlroy, who broke into the world’s top 20 this season, has confirmed he will make his debut at Mission Hills and he has selected Ryder Cup player and fellow Northern Irishman, Graeme McDowell, to be his partner under the united Ireland banner.For the third successive year, Ian Poulter will represent England in China, having finished fourth in tandem with Justin Rose in 2007 and sixth with Ross Fisher last year, who will partner Poulter once again this time around.Rory Sabbatini will fly the flag for South Africa alongside Richard Sterne, Nick Watney will play under the Stars and Stripes of the USA, while Open de France ALSTOM and Barclays Scottish Open winner Martin Kaymer spearheads the German challenge in China. Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby have accepted the opportunity to represent Australia while the other confirmed nations are Denmark (Søren Kjeldsen), India (Jeev Milkha Singh), Thailand (Thongchai Jaidee), Argentina (Andres Romero), Italy (Francesco Molinari), Japan (Ryuji Imada), France (Thomas Levet), Chinese Taipei (Lin Wen-tang), New Zealand (David Smail) and Korea (Charlie Wi). China qualify automatically as host nations of the World Cup and will be represented by Liang Wen Chong who makes his fourth World Cup appearance.The leading player may select any player of his choosing from the same country provided such player was ranked within the top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking as of either 22 June 2009 or August 17, 2009. If there was no other available player from that country within the top 100 on the OWGR on either of the dates, the exempt player’s partner shall be the next highest ranked available player from the same country outside of the top 100 as of August 17. If there is no other available player from that country within the top 500 on the OWGR as at August 17, the exempt player may select a professional of his choosing from the same country, without regard to the chosen player’s World Ranking. The deadline for the leading player to select his partner is August 28, 2009.The final field of 28 nations will be completed following three Qualifying Tournaments to be played in Asia (Kuala Lumpur), Europe (Estonia) and South America (Venezuela), with three countries going through from each regional qualifier to join the 18 exempt nations and hosts, China, at Mission Hills.ABOUT OMEGAThe prestige watch manufacturer OMEGA was founded in Switzerland in 1848 and since then has continually set the pace in many fields of watchmaking, from sports timekeeping and design awards to watches for professional use in space or underwater. OMEGA is closely associated with a world of achievements including the conquest of space, timekeeping at 23 Olympic Games and numerous precision records as well as the launch in 1999 of the revolutionary Co-Axial calibre, one of the 20th century’s major innovations in mechanical watchmaking designed with the English master watchmaker George Daniels. OMEGA was Official Timekeeper for the 23rd time at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, to be followed by Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.ABOUT MISSION HILLS GOLF CLUB, CHINAStretching across the lush, rolling hills of Shenzhen and Dongguan in southern China, Mission Hills is China’s highest rated golf club, and the largest golf club in the world according to the Guinness World Records. The property is home to 12 resort and championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, David Leadbetter, David Duval, Jumbo Ozaki and Zhang Lian Wei.Mission Hills is a full-service, luxury resort, featuring four clubhouses, three spas, a five-star hotel, three golf academies (including schools from world renowned instructors David Leadbetter and Cindy Reid), 51 tennis courts with a professional tennis academy, and numerous fine dining establishments serving cuisine from around the world. It has hosted more than 50 international tournaments, including the 1995 World Cup of Golf and the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001. In 2007, Mission Hills began its role as host of 12 editions of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL GOLF ASSOCIATIONEstablished by Canadian industrialist John Jay Hopkins in 1953, the International Golf Association’s mission is the pursuit of ’international goodwill through golf’. As owner of the World Cup name, the IGA has sanctioned the world's most prestigious international team golf competition for more than 50 years. The IGA is governed by its Board of Directors, which includes Chairman Jonathan S. Linen (past Vice-Chairman, American Express), Deane R. Beman (former PGA TOUR Commissioner), J. B. McCoy (past CEO, Bank One Corporation), Bill Souders (former Executive Vice-President and Director, Xerox Corporation) and Tim Finchem (current PGA TOUR commissioner). ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PGA TOURSThe International Federation of PGA Tours, formed in 1996, was created to enhance the competitive structure of professional golf worldwide while preserving the traditions and strengths of the six member Tours. The member Tours are the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and the Sunshine Tour. The Canadian Tour and the Tour de las Americas are Associate Members of the Federation. At the time of its founding, three major initiatives were outlined: the formation of the International Federation of PGA Tours; joint sanctioning by the members of the International Federation of PGA Tours of significant competitions for the game's top players; and a structure for a generally accepted worldwide ranking system.

PBA WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING Q & A
From Tournament Director Kirk von Krueger

PBA Vice President and Tour Director Kirk von Krueger is a former PBA Tour player and has served as the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour Director since 1996. Kirk returns to his Tournament Director duties for the PBA World Series of Bowling and answers some frequently asked questions regarding the bowling extravaganza.



What are the dates for WSOB events and where are they conducted?
The PBA World Series of Bowling will take place in two locations between Aug. 2 and Sept. 6. PBA will be at Taylor Lanes in Taylor, Mich. from Aug. 2 – 6 for the Motor City Open. The remainder of the events will be conducted at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park beginning Aug. 8. The WSOB consists of seven Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events (including the PBA World Championship), the first five of seven PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM events (including the PBA Women’s World Championship) and the PBA Senior World Championship.

The basic schedule looks like this:

Aug. 2-6 - Motor City Open, Taylor Lanes, Taylor, Mich.

Aug. 8-13 - PBA Cheetah Championship, Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.

Aug. 14-16 - PBA Viper Championship and PBA Women’s Series Viper Championship, Thunderbowl Lanes

Aug. 18-20 - PBA Chameleon Championship and PBA Women’s Series Chameleon Championship, Thunderbowl Lanes

Aug. 23-25 - PBA Viper Championship and PBA Women’s Series Viper Championship, Thunderbowl Lanes

Aug. 27-29 - PBA Shark Championship and PBA Women’s Series Shark Championship, Thunderbowl Lanes

Aug. 30-Sept. 4 - PBA World Championship, PBA Women’s World Championship and PBA Senior World Championship, Thunderbowl Lanes

Sept. 5-6 - ESPN taping of final rounds for all events except the PBA Cheetah Championship and the PBA World Championship will take place in Thunderbowl’s arena. The televised finals for the PBA World Championship will be telecast live from Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan., on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern Dec. 13.



A detailed schedule which also features sweepers and side events can be found by visiting http://www.pba.com/worldseries/schedule2.html



Q. Who is eligible to compete in WSOB events?



A. All events are open to professionals as well as amateurs. Amateurs may enter directly into the open event fields (Motor City Open, PBA World Championship, PBA Women’s World Championship and PBA Senior World Championship). Amateurs can also enter Lumber Liquidators PBA Exempt Tour events but must qualify through Tour Qualifying Rounds. Under a new rule for 2009-10, all amateurs who finish among the top 10 in TQRs will advance to the field of 72.



If an amateur makes the field in a PBA Exempt Tour event and cashes, he/she will be required to become a PBA member to compete in future exempt events. However, an amateur who cashes in a TQR but does not advance to the field of 72 is not required to become a PBA member.



Also, keep in mind that women are eligible to enter any PBA Tour event to bowl against the men if they choose to do so. Obviously, male bowlers are not allowed to enter PBA Women’s Series events.



Q. Who makes up a Lumber Liquidators PBA Exempt Tour field?



A. Exempt Tour events during the WSOB will feature expanded fields of 72 players (standard Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events during the rest of the season feature 64 players with five players coming through Tour Qualifying Rounds). PBA Women’s Series events will consist of 18 exempt players (up from 16 last season) with at least two additional players making the field through TQRs.



WSOB exempt events will consist of 41 players from the 2008-09 PBA Tour points list, eight players from the PBA Tour Trials, seven players from PBA Regional Players Invitational, three international player exemptions, one Golden Parachute qualifier, one player returning from a medical deferment in 2008-09, the 2008-09 TQR points list leader and 10 players (including one amateur) advance from TQRs. If any of the exempt players can’t bowl, his spot will be added to the TQR for that particular tournament.



WSOB Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM events consist of 12 players from U.S. Women’s Tour Trials, six champions from 2008 and at least two players qualifying through TQRs. If an exempt woman can’t bowl, her spot will be added to the TQR.



Q. What is the entry fee for WSOB events?



A. For PBA members, the open field event entry fee is $500 (Motor City Open, PBA World Championship, PBA Women’s and Senior World Championship): Non-member open field entry is $600.



Lumber Liquidator PBA Tour and PBA Women Series presented by BOWL.COM TQR entry fees for the TQRs are $300 for PBA members if paid in advance, or $325 if paid on the day of the TQR. The non-member (amateur) entry fee is $325 in advance or $350 if paid on the day of the TQR.



It is strongly recommended that members and non-members enter by visiting

http://www.pba.com/worldseries/tournamententries.html. PBA members also may use the

special entry hotline, (206) 654-6025. Onsite entries must be paid to the Tournament Director.



Q. What is the size of the fields for the open events?



A. Capacity for the Motor City Open is 196. For the PBA World Championship it is 200 entries and PBA Senior World Championship, the maximum is 140. The maximum for the PBA Women’s World Championship is 100.



Q. What is the prize fund for Lumber Liquidators PBA Exempt Tour events?



A. Each will pay a $192,600 total purse with a $25,000 first prize. PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM events will pay a $50,800 total purse with a $10,000 first prize.



Q. What is the prize fund for open events?



A. Prize funds vary depending on the event. For example, the Motor City Open prize fund payout ratio will be 1 in 3 based on the number of entries with a guaranteed first prize of $25,000 and last to cash of $1,400. For the PBA World Championship the prize fund payout ratio is 1 in 4 with a minimum of 53 checks based on 160 entries. A 54th place check would be paid when entries reach 216. First place pays $50,000; last to cash $1,400. For the PBA Senior World Championship, the prize fund payout ratio is 1 in 3 based on the number of entries; first place will be $15,000, last cash $1,000 with an additional 10 Super Senior checks (ages 60 and over out of the regular prize list) that pay $700 each. The Women’s World Championship also sports a $15,000 first prize with a payout ratio of 1 in 3 based on entries; first place will be $15,000 and last cash $1,100.



Q. I heard there will be side events and sweepers as well?



A. For those who just can’t get enough there will be eight side events and sweepers, all scheduled for the bowler’s convenience. Entries for those will be taken onsite. Three special side tournaments with a $250 entry fee are restricted to amateurs and non-exempt PBA members. Five sweepers with entry fees of $100 and $80 are open to all players, exempt or not. Check out www.pbaworldseriesofbowling.com< href="">">http://www.pbaworldseriesofbowling.com/> for side event schedule. The prize fund payout ratio for sweepers is 1 in 5.



All side action entry fees go directly into the prize fund; no lineage or administrative fees will be deducted. In order to participate in any side event, a bowler must enter at least one of the main tournaments or any of the TQRs. Each of the five sweepers will be contested on a different PBA lane pattern: Earl Anthony, Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open, Dick Weber and Shark.



Q. What is the PBA World Championship format?



A. It is open to exempt and non-exempt professionals as well as amateurs. It will consist of 18 qualifying games on three different lane patterns followed by a six-game semifinal round. The top 40 will advance to best-seven-game, single-elimination match. The top eight will earn first and second-round byes, advancing directly to the Round of Super 16. The four survivors will advance to the live ESPN final on Dec. 13 in Wichita, Kan.



Q. What is the format for the PBA Women’s and PBA Senior World Championships?



A. Both are open to exempt and non-exempt professionals as well as amateurs. Each will consists of 18 qualifying games followed by a six-game semifinal round with the top 20 advancing to best-of-seven-game, single-elimination match play. The top four in each division earn first and second round byes advancing directly to the Round of Super 8. The two surviving senior players and two surviving women will advance to the finals Sept. 5 at Thunderbowl Lanes.



Q. What is the format for the five WSOB PBA Exempt Tour events?



A. The Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark Championships will consist of 14 qualifying games leading to a cut to the top 28 for best-of-seven-game, single-elimination match play. The top four will earn byes to the Round of 16. Elimination matches will continue until four remain for the finals, except for the Cheetah Championship. The Cheetah Championship will continue with best-of-seven matches all the way to its conclusion.



Q. What is the format for WSOB PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM Exempt Tour events?



A. The Women’s Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark Championships will consist of 14 qualifying games leading to a cut to the top eight for best-of-seven-game, single-elimination match play. The top eight will bowl matches until two remain for the finals. There will not be a Women’s Cheetah Championship.



Q. What lane conditions will be used for WSOB events?



A. PBA World Championship events will be conducted on a PBA World Championship pattern. The Motor City Open will be conducted on last season’s Shark pattern. The other WSOB events will be conducted on the PBA lane conditions that each is named after: Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark.



Q. If I enter WSOB events, what equipment am I allowed to use?



A. For a complete list of PBA-approved equipment, visit http://www.pba.com/resources/equipmentSponsors.asp?Type=1



Q. Where and how do my friends and family get tickets?



A. Tickets are available for TQRs, practice days, qualifying rounds, match play rounds and ESPN telecasts. PBA is offering a wide variety of ticket options and packages. They may be purchased by visiting www.pbaworldseriesofbowling.com< href="">">http://www.pbaworldseriesofbowling.com/> or onsite at Taylor Lanes and Thunderbowl Lanes.



Q. When will ESPN telecasts of WSOB events air?



A. WSOB taped events air in their usual Sunday 1 p.m. Eastern timeslot on ESPN beginning Oct. 25. WSOB events will essentially make up the first half of the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season.



The second half of the 2009-2010 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season will be more traditional, with live television and stops across the country between January and April, including three major championships – the Tournament of Champions, USBC Masters and U.S. Open.



As always, you are encouraged to check your local listings.



Q. What’s the best way to follow WSOB action?



A. PBA.com, of course. Bowling fans throughout the world will be able to follow WSOB action through pba.com and its new subscription-based bowling channel feature called Xtra Frame. More than 100 hours of programming is planned that will also feature an ESPN Sports Center-style program called PBA: 39x60.



Q. Are there going to be PBA Pro-Ams?



A. Absolutely. Pro-Ams give bowling fans a unique opportunity to bowl with PBA pros. They are fun events for all ages and skill levels.



Q. When are the PBA World Series of Bowling Pro-Ams?



A. Taylor Lanes Pro-Ams are on Aug. 2 at 4 and 7 p.m. and on Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. Thunderbowl Pro-Ams are on Aug. 14 at 3 and 6 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.



Q. How do I enter a Pro-Am?



A. Go to http://www.pba.com/worldseries/tickets.html to enter a Thunderbowl Lanes Pro-Am. Packages start at $65 and include options for enhancements like the latest Brunswick bowling balls at significant discounts.


About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) features the best bowlers in the world competing in National, Regional and Senior Tour events and awarded more than $4.3 million in prize money during the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA National Tour. The organization has more than 4,000 members spanning 13 countries, and nearly one million viewers tune-in to watch the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour every Sunday on ESPN throughout the season. PBA sponsors include Bayer, Brunswick, CLR, Denny's, Etonic, Flomax, GEICO, Go RVing, H&R Block, Lumber Liquidators, Pepsi-Cola and the USBC, among others. For more information on the PBA, log on to www.pba.com< href="">.">http://www.pba.com/>.

USBC TO PROVIDE LIVE VIDEO OF
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON BOWL.COM

Bowling fans around the world will be able to watch the finals
and select semifinals of the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's
Championships on bowl.com. The United States Bowling Congress plans to live stream
from Las Vegas, Nev., portions of the event that will feature bowlers from 45 countries.

"We believe there is tremendous interest in watching this event both here in the United
States and internationally," said USBC Vice President of Media Pete Tredwell.
"Presenting the highest levels of bowling competition online can be a great way to gain
additional exposure for the sport."

The live stream will be distributed using Ustream.TV, a service that will insert
advertisements over the video at times. USBC does not control the content or frequency
of the advertisements.

"At this time, the ad-supported video stream is the financially responsible way for USBC
to provide this content for free," Tredwell said. "I am confident fans would rather see a
few pop-up ads than not see the action at all."

To view the live competition from the WTBA World Women's Championships, click on
the link on the home page of bowl.com.


WTBA World Women's Championships live stream schedule

Thursday, July 30
8:30 p.m. EDT Singles semifinals and finals
10 p.m. EDT Doubles semifinals and finals

Friday, July 31
9:30 p.m. EDT Trios semifinals and finals

Saturday, Aug. 1
9:30 p.m. EDT Team semifinals and finals

Sunday, Aug. 2
3 p.m. EDT Masters semifinals and finals

-- United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the
integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to nearly 2.5
million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

After Nearly 50 Years,
Detroit’s Historic Thunderbowl
Lanes Returns to Glory

Nearly 50 years after it was built to showcase the best in bowling, “The Arena” inside historic Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit is about to come full circle.

During the month of August and into early September, the arena bay inside Thunderbowl Lanes will be abuzz with 27 days of action as the centerpiece of the Professional Bowlers Association’s World Series of Bowling, a unique festival of competitive bowling that will include seven championship tournaments and pay out more than $2 million in prize money.

“The arena is one of the reasons the PBA selected Detroit for the inaugural World Series of Bowling,” said Thunderbowl Lanes proprietor Tom Strobl, who purchased the Thunderbowl complex in 1997. “There isn’t another facility like it. Bowling fans who attend the World Series are going to love it.”

George Prybla and his partners built Thunderbowl Lanes with 54 lanes in 1960, but a year later they added an amazing 2,000-seat, multi-level stadium with four lanes to house competition for Detroit’s entry into the fledgling National Bowling League.

“The original layout included a restaurant with a view of the lanes from the upper area,” Strobl said. “It was almost a forerunner to sky boxes used in all major sports stadiums these days. It was a spacious area with ceilings two or three stories high.

“But when the National Bowling League folded shortly after the facility was built, the owners were stuck with it. So over a period of years, they built a 20-lane bowling arena over the top of the original seating area. The levels for the original seating are still there; we just built around them. The area where the restaurant used to be is now a poker room.

“But the seating behind the lanes was retained and it was still a showcase for years. The Detroit All-Stars bowled there. The arena hosted a PBA tournament run by Earl Anthony in 1978. It hosted a local “Bowling for Dollars” TV show that aired in Detroit, Monday through Friday, for years.

“The arena has gradually changed,” Strobl continued. “We added more lighting and changed the seating in 2003. There is a huge pull-down video screen in the arena. On Fridays and Saturdays, we play music and have great fun. The place is packed.

“The World Series of Bowling is bringing the original purpose of the arena full circle,” he added. “It’s going to provide what the original owners had in mind. It might not seat 2,000 people, but there is comfortably room in there for 700 or 800 people.”

The first World Series event in the arena will be a special “PBA Survivor Challenge” side event on Friday, Aug. 7. Next, preliminary competition in the PBA Cheetah Championship will take place in the arena on Wednesday, Aug. 12. From that day forward, the showcase arena will host Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM or PBA World Championship action on an almost daily basis. The grand finale will involve the production of six championship television shows for delayed broadcast on ESPN on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6.

It’s going to be a “can’t miss” opportunity for bowling fans not only in the Detroit area, but throughout the Midwest. There is a wide variety of ticket options for spectators, including single-day tickets for Tour Qualifying Rounds and practice sessions ($5), qualifying rounds ($15 all day) or match play rounds ($25 all day). A $100 “VIP Pass” is available through July 31, which is good for the entire World Series except for the TV shows. TV show tickets range from $15 for Level D, single-show seats to $260 for an all-day VIP package in Level A for either Sept. 5 or Sept. 6.

For more information on ticket packages and prices, and to order tickets in advance, go to: http://www.pba.com/worldseries/tickets.html. For a complete schedule of events that will take place in the Thunderbowl Lanes arena bay, go to: http://www.pba.com/worldseries/schedule2.html.

About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) features the best bowlers in the world competing in National, Regional and Senior Tour events and awarded over $4.3 million in prize money during the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA National Tour. The organization has more than 4,000 members spanning 13 countries, and nearly one million viewers tune-in to watch the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour every Sunday on ESPN throughout the season. PBA sponsors include Bayer, Brunswick, CLR, Denny's, Etonic, Flomax, GEICO, Go RVing, H&R Block, Lumber Liquidators, Pepsi-Cola and the USBC, among others. For more information on the PBA, log on to www.pba.com.

BARNES FINISHES FOURTH IN
SINGLES AT WORLD GAMES

KAOHSIUNG, Chinese Taipei - Team USA's Chris Barnes finished fourth in singles recently at the World Games, narrowly missing an opportunity to bring home a medal.

A costly 4-7-10 split in the final frame of the last game kept Barnes on the outside of the top-three stepladder finals by 13 pins. He finished the 10-game round-robin match play with 2,221, including 60 bonus pins for a 6-4 match-play record.

Colombia's Manuel Otalora went on to win the men's title by defeating top seed Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, 445-367, in the two-game championship. Otalora advanced from the semifinal with a 184-181 one-game win over Malaysia's Adrian Ang, who defeated Barnes 245-187 in the final game of match play.

"I'm really disappointed because there are so many of the guys on Team USA who could have come here and won this event," Barnes said. "I was really honored to be selected to compete here and to not finish the deal makes me feel like I've let my team down."

Heading into the position round game against Ang, there was a brief break to tabulate scores. Barnes said during that break he lost some of the momentum from the 257 he had in Game 9.

"During that little break I sort of lost my feel for what I was doing," Barnes said. "I threw it a lot better after the sixth frame to get back into the hunt, but it just wasn't enough. The last shot where I split, the ball was just about one board left of target and needed some help. It just wasn't my best effort."

On the women's side, Finland's Krista Pollanen, the No. 3 seed, defeated top seed Zara Glover of England, 407-378, to win the gold medal Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines lost to Pollanen in the semifinal, 215-210, and earned the bronze.

Bowling is one of more than 30 sports not currently included in the Olympics that are being showcased in the World Games until July 26. Bowling, along with archery, billiards and bocce, is classified as a precision sport.

For more information on the World Games, visit the official Web site of the event at www.worldgames2009.tw.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to nearly 2.5 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

Duke Wins Third Straight
ESPY in “Best Bowler” Category

Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., won the 2008-09 “Best Bowler” ESPY Award for his third consecutive ESPY win and fourth overall.

The ESPY Awards, presented by ESPN, represent the best in sports in a variety of categories. The annual ESPY Awards ceremonies were held on July 15 in Los Angeles and aired on ESPN Sunday night.

Duke was the winner in fan voting over Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, and Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas. Duke was a three-time Lumber Liquidators PBA title winner and the Tour’s earnings leader during the 2008-09 season. Winning the 2008 PBA World Championship gave him a record three straight PBA major titles. Malott also was a three-time winner and edged Duke in the 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year points race. Barnes, a two-time title winner, was third in Player of the Year points.

“The ESPYs is a chance for bowling to reside alongside all of the other sports,” Duke said. “Whether you believe baseball, basketball and football are the top tier sports, for a week we’re all the same. The ESPYs is a celebration of the greatest seasons in all sports. To be mentioned along with all of those great athletes is really special. It’s a terrific experience. I have a lot of wonderful memories from being a part of the ESPYs.”

About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) features the best bowlers in the world competing in National, Regional and Senior Tour events and awarded over $4.3 million in prize money during the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA National Tour. The organization has more than 4,000 members spanning 13 countries, and nearly one million viewers tune-in to watch the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour every Sunday on ESPN throughout the season. PBA sponsors include Bayer, Brunswick, CLR, Denny's, Etonic, Flomax, GEICO, Go RVing, H&R Block, Lumber Liquidators, Pepsi-Cola and the USBC, among others. For more information on the PBA, log on to www.pba.com.

BARNES, NATION FINISH
SEVENTH IN WORLD
GAMES MIXED DOUBLES

KAOHSIUNG, Chinese Taipei - After getting off to a slow start, Team USA's Chris Barnes and Stefanie Nation settled for a seventh-place finish recently in mixed doubles at the 2009 World Games.

The pair shot combined totals of 353 and 370 the first two games to fall behind the field in the six-game format. They finished with 2,454, missing the cut to the three-team stepladder finals by 122 pins.

Korea's Kong Byoung-Hee and Gye Min-Young went on to win the gold medal by defeating Colombia's Anggie Rodriguez and Manuel Otalora in two games, 840-710. Malaysia's Adrian Ang and Zatil Iman lost to the Koreans in the semifinal, 421-391, in one game to take the bronze medal.

"You really had to get out of the gate with a strong start and we didn't do that," said Nation, who shot 1,206. "You had to make moves quickly, and we just didn't do it early enough."

Barnes, who shot 1,248, said the decision to play the outside part of the lane early cost them a shot at making the stepladder finals.

"It was a very disappointing day," Barnes said. "We made a strategic error by deciding to play out and it turns out it was a bad decision. The lane conditions were tough and we didn't have any room to make mistakes out there."

Although mixed doubles is now concluded, the players' individual scores from Monday carry forward and are combined with 12 additional qualifying games of singles on Tuesday. The top 10 men and top 10 women after the 18 games advance to round robin match play Wednesday morning. The top three men and top three women then advance to the stepladder finals to determine the singles medalists.

Both Team USA players sit among the top 10 individuals after Monday's round. Barnes is seventh, while Nation is eighth.

Bowling is one of more than 30 sports not currently included in the Olympics that are being showcased in the World Games until July 26. Bowling, along with archery, billiards and bocce, is classified as a precision sport.

For more information on the World Games, visit the official Web site of the event at www.worldgames2009.tw.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to nearly 2.5 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

PAULA CREAMER
Teleconference

DANA GORDON: I'd like to welcome everyone to today's RICOH Women's British Open teleconference with Paula Creamer. It will be played July 30th through August 2nd at the Royal Lytham and St. Anne's Golf Club. South Korea's Jiyai Shin is the defending champion and Jiyai Shin is currently No. 1 on the Money List. The tournament is coming up in two weeks.
To welcome Paula, she joined the LPGA in 2005 and is the winner of eight LPGA titles. She's currently ranked No. 5 in the Rolex World Rankings, and Paula's best finish at the RICOH Women's British Open was a tie for seventh at the 2007 event at St. Andrews.
Paula, we are two weeks away from this year's RICOH Women's British Open. If you could start by telling us how you feel you're preparing for the final major championship of the season.
PAULA CREAMER: Yeah, I'm looking really forward to going to this event. I've played this golf course before. I feel good about it. I've been working hard on my game, being able to actually get back into playing golf now, with my thumb injury. But it's nice to be able to have a week off, play in the Evian, being able to go to the Open rested and ready to go.

DANA GORDON: If you could tell us a bit more about your thumb, if you're feeling good, your health overall.
PAULA CREAMER: I'm feeling much better. My thumb is just something that I guess I'm going to have to kind of deal with over time. But it feels a lot better. Four days at the Open, it was no pain, just a lot of ice. Rest is the most important thing for it. But at the same time I still need to practice and work on things for the rest of the season.

DANA GORDON: This year the RICOH Women's British Open has gone green with the GIFT initiative, GIFT stands for Green Initiatives For Tomorrow, an initiative hosted by the championship on the championship website, and it encourages people to make changes in their everyday lives to reduce their carbon footprints. Paula, you are the RICOH global ambassador and are involved with this program. RICOH has pledged to plant a tree for every 10 visitors that take part in the initiative on the website, plus everyone who participates on the website will enter a drawing where the winner will plant a tree at Royal Lytham together with you. If you wouldn't mind talking about this program and what it means to be involved.
PAULA CREAMER: No, I think it's great that RICOH is doing this. It's wonderful that I joined the RICOH team, first of all. I'm excited to be an ambassador for them. They're a wonderful company, especially showing what they're going to be able to do on Wednesday just shows how great they truly are. Like I said, I'm going to be excited planting the tree. I've never really done anything like this before. It's wonderful to be a part of. I think it's a great initiative for a lot of companies to start doing and looking at.

DANA GORDON: How do you prepare differently each time you play the RICOH Women's British Open?
PAULA CREAMER: Well, it's a totally different type of golf. You definitely have to be able to hit different golf shots than what we do over here in the States. Definitely the wind is a huge factor over there. The balls run out a lot. Basically you kind of have to work on everything.
But I think the biggest difference is the type of grass that's over there. It's much tighter. You have to be able to hit your iron shots very precise over there. Your misses can't be like they are over here in the States just because of the conditions. But the golf course is a great test of golf. There's some really good holes out there that you just have to take your pars. I've been working on controlling my ball flight because of the wind.

DANA GORDON: We'll now open it up to questions.

Q. I played the course yesterday. You mentioned the wind. There are also 203 bunkers on the course and the rough is pretty fierce. How different is it to your week in, week out courses that you play on the U.S. tour coming over here, and what challenges does that present?
PAULA CREAMER: Just like what you said. I mean, we don't play golf courses with that many bunkers. However, I felt like I was living in the sand last week at the Open. I think I've had my fair share of practice for bunkers.
Most of the time when you get those golf courses over in England, whatnot, Europe, you have to be very accurate off the tee. If you find a bunker in the fairway, there's no other choice. You have to just try to kind of hit it out and save your par. However, being accurate off the tee, you need to be pretty long so you can be able to hit wedge, low irons into greens.

Q. Last week I did a story on Mariko Tumangan, a 15‑year‑old here in San Jose. She got to play a practice round with you before the Open.
PAULA CREAMER: Who did you say?

Q. Mariko Tumangan. I was wondering if you could give me your impressions of her specifically. And generally there are 25 girls out there in their teens playing at the U.S. Open, what it's like to have that much of an infusion at a major championship of young talent.
PAULA CREAMER: Yeah, it was nice playing a practice round with her. She's a very nice girl. Has a lot of talent. I think everybody has seen that women's golf is getting younger and younger. There are more teenagers out there. There were a lot of amateurs that were in the field. I think, what was it, 30 odd. It just shows there's so many opportunities for girls golf right now to getting involved. I think it's pretty neat that women's golf is going that way.
However, it is the U.S. Open. I mean, I don't remember ever playing in the U.S. Open when I was 14, 15. I know I played with Cindy Feng, also, who is the youngest one at the Open. I was just really getting into golf, and here she is playing in the U.S. Open. I think it's quite a big step for women's golf, though.

Q. Obviously it's a bit different for you coming over to the northwest. You travel widely across the world. This being a major tournament, how is the week going to play out for you? Are you going to hire a house? Are you going to get a chance to have a look around the local area?
PAULA CREAMER: No, I will rent a house out that week. I always like to sightsee and try and do as much as I can. It is a very busy week. You want to get your rest, things like that. But at the same time it's a pretty cool area. I had a lot of fun last time I went there, so I'm looking forward to going back, kind of just revisiting new things.

Q. Which players do you think will be up there competing at the Open?
PAULA CREAMER: Which players?

Q. Yes.
PAULA CREAMER: That's the greatest thing about the British Open, you know, you just never know. Conditions suit different people's games over there. If it's firm and fast or if it's very windy and raining, it's a totally different game. I don't think you can just say one person. It really depends on what's going to happen and how the course plays.
DANA GORDON: Paula, about last year's RICOH Women's British Open, you tied for ninth. Is there one thing that stands out the most from last year's championship?
PAULA CREAMER: It was a great golf course. You know, I wish one of the days I would have played a little bit better to have been more in contention. But I had a great week. The golf course was wonderful. The people there were great. We played in different kinds of weather, that's for sure. I didn't hit the ball as well as I would have liked to last year, so I'm hoping going into this one I can really just give myself a chance to win.
I think it's kind of nice that we just got out of the Open so you're still I guess in that major mindset mode of being patient, and that's what the British Open is all about. Who knows what weather's gonna happen. You just have to be very patient with your bounces that you get, things like that on the golf course.
So for me, I just really want to go out and play four good days of golf and hopefully I can be right in contention.

Q. At the U.S. Open, I know you were asked about trying to win majors, that being a focus, not having won one yet. You went out and had a really good week at the Open. You had one round that was kind of higher. Was it just that one day? Is that all that's keeping you from breaking through and winning that first major? What is your take on that one rough round you had?
PAULA CREAMER: Well, yes, I mean, if you look back at the last two U.S. Opens specifically, I did have one day. This year was Saturday. Last year it was Sunday. It just wasn't my day.
I really feel, though, this Open was much different than last year's. Last year's I just felt like I got in my own way on Sunday. I put a little bit too much pressure on myself. My expectations obviously were to win on Sunday, but I kind of went astray from my game plan.
This year on Saturday, it was not my day. I can't tell you the last time I hit five greens in regulation, especially when you're leading the tour in greens in regulation. But that's just golf. I learned a lot from that.
I came back on Sunday with a great round of 2‑under‑par, gave myself a top 10, tied for sixth. That's something I'm proud of, that I could come back, be positive, and move up high on the leaderboard. That's just the thing, is just putting four good rounds of golf together. You can see the difference between this year's and last year's.
Going into the British, I'm going to be aware of being patient and scoring four good rounds of golf.

Q. Having that one round in there, obviously now you're moving forward, does that just frustrate you? Does it give you motivation? How do you spin that into something positive moving forward?
PAULA CREAMER: You know, I had that horrible day. I think I lost the Open by four. If you think about it that way, it's amazing how close I really am. It might not quite look that way at times, but I really do feel I'm getting closer and closer.
You know, majors are all about experience. Yeah, it's got to be your week. The time will come. I can tell you when I'm out there practicing, I'm working hard for those majors, but it's still the mindset of every week is a tournament.
Obviously the U.S. Open is going to be the hardest one because it's the hardest golf course, it's the hardest venue, the emotions, the pressure that you put on yourself, things like that, it's much different. That's just a learning process.

Q. Until a few years ago, the British Open wasn't a major on the women's tour. Now you're playing all the great golf courses that the men do. What has that been like to have the British Open rise in stature on your tour?
PAULA CREAMER: It's very important. I think it's great that women's golf, I guess you could say we're getting the respect to be able to play the golf courses. No one is ever going to say men's golf and women's golf is the same. We all know that. It's very different. But it's still a great challenge. The golf courses are wonderful.
The great thing for me is going over to places where the fans truly enjoy watching golf. I felt every time I've gone to the British Open or majors or whatnot, the fans just truly enjoy it. And that's what you want. You want to be able to play in front of people who respect golf, and that's what you get when you go to a British Open.

Q. What is the stature of the Women's British Open in the States? Players here, it's the big one. I was just going to ask you on that.
PAULA CREAMER: The women playing in the same venues as the men?

Q. I was speaking to a player earlier, and she said it was the biggest event of her year. Would you say that or would you say the U.S. Open is your biggest event?
PAULA CREAMER: We don't have one. You can't specifically say. Solheim Cup in my eyes is a very big event. But the British Open is just pure tradition. I think that's the neatest thing about being able to go over there. With the men and their titles, for us to have a British Open, I think was one of the best things in women's golf.

DANA GORDON: I think we've covered quite a bit, so we can wrap it up.
PAULA CREAMER: All right. Thank you.
DANA GORDON: Thank you for your time today, Paula.
PAULA CREAMER: No worries. Thank you very much.

GOLF EVENTS 2009

July 24--Country Store Youth Foundation Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
July 26--Billy Moran Memorial Golf Outing. Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-4734.
July 26--Roscoe Kiwanis Club Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
July 31--Commissioners Cup Championship Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Aug. 2--Prasad Golf Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information call 845-434-2620
Aug. 7-9 Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man Better Ball Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club
Aug. 9--Art Tursi Memorial Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Aug. 16--Roscoe Firemen Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
Aug. 15--Night Golf. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Aug. 16--Jeff Lions Club Tournament. Swan lake Golf & Coutry Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Aug. 23--Sheriff Mike Schiff Golf Tournament. Swan Lake Golf Club. Information please call 845-292-0323
Aug. 30--Kutchers Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country /Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Sept. 6--Steak Bake Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Sept. 12--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Sept. 20--Methol Hunting Club Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
Sept. 20--Community Unity Golf Event. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Oct. 4--The Hammer Invitational--Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584

Here & There Column 7-21-09

Neversink Reservoir And Hydro Power

At full capacity the Neversink Reservoir holds 34.9 billion gallons and now in addition to supplying water to New York City there is a proposal to have a hydroelectric plant built at this location.
United States Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) last week asked the New York City Department of Environmental Protection agency to speed up talks with Delaware County Electric Cooperative regarding that group's efforts to build hydroelectric plants at the Cannonsville, Pepacton, Schoharie and Neversink reservoirs.
The plants would use water from the reservoirs' regular releases to generate electricity.
The electricity could be used for economic development or sold to provide revenues to the cooperatives members in Sullivan, Delaware, Otsego, Chenango and Schoharie counties.
Of the renewable energy sources that generate electricity, hydro power is the most often used and its accounting for 6 percent of total U.S. electricity generation. It is one of the oldest sources of energy.
We look at hydro power as the ideal fuel for electricity generation, because, unlike the nonrenewable fuels used to generate electricity, it is almost free, there are no waste products and hydro power does not pollute the water or the air.
There is some criticism of hydro power because it does change the environment by affecting natural habitats but this does not appear to be the case in regard to Neversink and the other three reservoirs.
The Neversink Reservoir was constructed solely to provide water for New York City but this new hydro power proposal brings to the table some interesting topics.
This project could have merits but we would like to see more benefits from the Neversink Reservoir hydro power project coming to electric customers in Sullivan County.
Inquiries should be made to see if this proposed project could benefit Sullivan County and its residents.

Golfing Highlights Column 7-17-09

Ron Schulte, left, is the new president of the Twin Village Golf Club Board of Governors. Board officers to his right include Vice President Ralph Kirchner, Secretary Bill Knipscher and Treasurer Chuck Husson III.

Dan Baldo, retiring president of the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club.

New President Takes Over At TVGC

The Twin Village Golf Club (TVGC) at Roscoe has a new Board President with Ron Schulte taking over for retiring president Dan Baldo.
Baldo chose not to continue as president after 15 faithful years but he will continue to head the clubs Greens Committee.
Baldo took over the Presidency of the TVGC Board of Governors from Monteen Elliot in 1995. Dan credits the late Fran "Rooster" Temple and his brother, the late Paul Temple for encouraging him to take an active part with the club.
Dan noted that "Rooster" had a long and dynamic relationship with the greens keepers and wanted that relationship continued. He also credits "Rooster" with putting him in contact with people who could help with questions concerning course maintenance.
Baldo noted that what made all those years so meaningful were the other eight Board Members with whom he served. "It's been an experience I have enjoyed and now look forward to seeing you all out here on the course.," Dan noted.
Sixth-year-old Ron Schulte has been a member of the Board of Governors at Twin Village since 2004 and just this year retired from 37-years of teaching at Liberty Central High School where he also coached six sports including football, wrestling, track, cross country, baseball and skiing.
Ron noted that he has a special interest in the club "because this is my hometown course and I even caddied here as a boy."
Schulte has been playing golf since a teenager and golf, hunting and fishing are his hobbies. "Golf is a common interest that I share with my two sons, Ron and Brian and whenever we get together golf is on the agenda.
The new Twin Village President currently plays in the Twin Village Monday Men's league, the Tuesday Night Swan Lake Country Club league and is a sub in the Thursday Men's league at Tennanah Lake.
Ron is also a member of the Liberty Elks Club.
Troy J. Kirchner is the club house at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Course.
The recent changes to the course includes starting their fairways about 50 yards in front of the tee boxes instead of having them go right up to the tee box.
The course has 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.
Golfers will also notice that TVGC has designed a new logo that will be on all nine tee signs and 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.
The concessions is completely operated by TVGC.
A weekday special, excepting holidays, offered by the club this year is 18-holes of golf for 2 with cart for $35 but you must call the club for cart availability.
The nine-hole 2,045-yard par 32 TVGC has added several changes including 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 the clubhouse at 607-498-5829 .

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

President Obama was in Moscow recently and was asked what he disliked about himself. The first Lefty replied that he didn't care for his golf swing.
"I have been playing golf lately, and I don't like my golf swing," he said.
"You probably don't have that much golf weather in Russia, but it's a game that I keep on thinking I should be good at, and somehow the ball goes this way and that way and never goes straight," he noted.
It's good to know the President is frustrated by some of the same things as the rest of us.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, who is a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. 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 our Web site at http://bght.blogspot.com/

Regular Division Champions of the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club Memorial Tournament include, from the left, Ladies Champions Kim Delbecq and Jean Knickerbocker, Men's Champions Justin Bowers and Dusty Sullivan and Mixed Couple Champions Anna May and Chuck Husson III.

Senior Division Champions of the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club Memorial Tournament, include, from the left, Women's champions Mary Day and Sally Shea, Men's Champions John Hoffmann and Ed Townsend and Mixed Couple Champions Barbara and Tom Trask.

Special awards at the TVGC Memorial Tournament went to the following. From the left, Shannon Bowers, closest to the pin for women, Chuck Husson III closest to the pin for men, Barbara Trask for closest to the line, Chuck Husson IV for men's longest drive and Kim Delbecq for the women's longest drive.

ROSCOE MEMORIAL GOLF

TOURNEY CHAMPIONS

Golfers competed Sunday, June 12, in the annual Twin Village Golf Club (TVGC) Memorial Tournament which was played to benefit the TVGC scholarship fund.
The tournament is past years has assisted flood victims, sick children and the Roscoe Ambulance Corps and the Roscoe Fire Department.
Tournament golfers were reminded in prayer and remarks by Tournament Chairman Chuck Husson III that Kenneth Boufford, former field representative for Promotion and Services for the Automotive Division of the Jubilee Group (Daimler Chrysler) could not be in attendance this year due to his continued battle with ALS (the Lou Gehrig disease).
Golfers signed a card that was to be mailed to Mr. Boufford.
The money raised this year goes directly into the Twin Village Golf Club Youth Golfer Scholarship fund.
Husson also thanked sponsors who donated prizes, Wolf's 1910 Restaurant, Buffalo Zacks, Raimondo's Restaurant, Roscoe Diner, Fairway Inn, Spiro's Country Side Restaurant, The Rockland House, Live Bait Bar & Grill Verona's Country Store, Twin Village Golf Club, Grossinger's Golf Course, Terry Brae Golf Course, Lochmor Golf Course, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, French Woods Golf & Country Club, Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club and the Sullivan County Golf & Country Club.
The tournament featured 8:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. shotgun starts and used the Captain and mate format.
A one-hour bar and dinner was enjoyed by all at The Rockland House.
Champions of this years tournament included in the Regular Division, Justin Bowers and Dusty Sullivan in the Men's division, Jean Knickerbocker and Kim Delbecq Women's division and Anna May and Chuck Husson III in the Mixed Couples division.
Champions in the Seniors Division included Ed Townsend and John Hoffmann in the Men's division, Mary Day and Sally Shea in the Ladies division and Tom and Barbara Trask in the Mixed Couples division.
Special awards for closest to the pin went to Chuck Husson III for men, Shannon Bowers for women, longest drive to Churck Husson IV for men and Kim Delbecq for women and closest to the line to Barbara Trask.
Additional sponsors and events will be added to the tournament next year.

-

USBC BOARD ADDS NEW OFFICERS; DARLENE
BAKER NAMED PRESIDENT-ELECT

The United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors voted during a meeting last month to change its structure to include five officer positions. The new board structure and positions are effective immediately.

"We want to get more board members greater experience dealing with the key details and responsibilities involved in being an officer for our organization," USBC President Jeff Boje said. "This change will make for better mentoring and greater consistency on the Board, but will not create any new authority or power."

As part of the new structure, the USBC Board of Directors will have a President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 3rd Vice President and Secretary. All will serve one-year terms selected by elections of the Board as a whole every year. For terms preceding a year in which the USBC President will change due to a term limit, rather than select a 1st Vice President, the Board will select a President-Elect. The President-Elect will then take over as USBC President the following year.

Darlene Baker, Mahomet, Ill., was voted USBC President-Elect and will become USBC President. Baker will be the first female USBC president in the history of the organization on Aug. 1, 2010.

"I am honored and appreciative of the Board having confidence in me to assume this great responsibility," Baker said. "I intend to spend the coming months continuing to build strong relationships on behalf of USBC both inside and outside the bowling industry. Being President-Elect will allow me to learn all the key elements needed to hit the ground running with a seamless transition next year."

Tommy Gann, Sand Springs, Okla., was elected 2nd Vice President. Andrew Cain, Scottsdale, Ariz., will serve as 3rd Vice President. Tamoria Adams, Charlotte, N.C., was elected Secretary. There is no automatic succession with the new board positions other than President-Elect.

RICOH BRITISH OPEN
NEWSLETTER RELEASED

Dates and TV Times
First round: Thursday, July 30 TNT 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EST
Second round: Friday, July 31 TNT 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. EST
Third round: Saturday, Aug. 1 ABC 1:30- 3:00 p.m. EST
Final round: Sunday, Aug. 2 ABC 1-3 p.m. EST

Purse
US$2.2 million
£1.5 million

Tee-Time Minus: 17 Days
There are 17 days remaining until the start of the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open when it returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club for the fourth time and the first time since 2006.

Sherri Steinhauer captured that 2006 Ricoh Women’s British Open crown, her third title in the event and second at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Chatting with Creamer
Paula Creamer, the No. 5-ranked LPGA player, will discuss the Ricoh Women’s British Open on a conference call Tuesday, July 14 at 11 a.m. ET.

The winner of eight LPGA titles and more than $6 million in career earnings, the popular and talented Creamer owns four top-five finishes in 2009. Her best finish in the Ricoh Women’s British Open is a T7 in 2007. Last year at Sunningdale, Creamer tied for ninth.

To join the call, please dial 800-230-1766 (U.S.) or 612-332-1017 (international).

GIFT (Green Initiatives For Tomorrow) initiative and Website Launched
The GIFT initiative will run on the Championship website www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com and will offer visitors the opportunity to pledge their support by offering to reduce their own Carbon Footprint. Ricoh have pledged to plant a tree for every ten visitors that take part in the initiative, plus everyone will enter a free prize draw where the winner will plant a fully grown tree at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, together with Paula Creamer during the Championship.

Ricoh will again plant a tree for every birdie, five trees for every eagle and one thousand trees for every albatross during this year’s Championship in their support of the Plant a Tree for Africa campaign. Last year over 1,800 trees were planted and the players will be looking to better that total this year.

More About Your Defending Champion
The winner of three LPGA events as a non-member last year, Shin wasted little time proving her dominating performance at last year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open was no fluke. Already, she cracked the $1 million mark in season earnings ($1,077,451) and leads the Official LPGA money list. She’s won twice at the HSBC Women’s Championship and the Wegmans LPGA.

Those were two of Shin’s four top-three finishes this year. She also has a runner-up at the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International and a third at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship.

Shin’s success has come largely from her command of ball-striking. She ranks second in fairways hit (82.8%) and ranks third in greens-in-regulation (72.4%). She is second in Rolex Player of the Year points (90) and leads Rolex Rookie of the Year points (922). Her 922 points are nearly twice that of her closest pursuer – Michelle Wie.

History
The Ricoh Women’s British Open was established by the Ladies’ Golf Union in 1976 with the intention of becoming the women’s equivalent of The Open Championship.

The growth in prestige resulted in an increase in the quality of courses willing to host the event. Sunningdale Golf Club joined the rotation for the first time in 1997, with Karrie Webb capturing the second of her three titles. The following year, Steinhauer won the first of her three at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club.

Until 1994, the Ricoh Women’s British Open was an official tour event only on the Ladies European Tour. That year, it became an official LPGA event, which boosted the quality of the field and the prestige of the event. In 2001, it became an official LPGA major, replacing the du Maurier Classic.

Last year, the Ricoh Women’s British Open was held at the Sunningdale Golf Club, where Jiyai Shin jump-started a remarkable summer and fall season by carding an 18-under-par 270 en route to her first professional major championship.

Winners before the tournament became an LPGA sanctioned event
Year Winner Course Score
1976 Jenny Lee-Smith Fulford 299
1977 Vivien Saunders Lindrick 306
1978 Janet Melville Foxhills 310
1979 Alison Sheard Southport & Ainsdale 301
1980 Debbie Massey Wentworth 294
1981 Debbie Massey Northumberland 295
1982 Marta Figueras-Dotti Royal Birkdale 296
1983 No Championship
1984 Ayako Okamoto Woburn 289
1985 Betsy King Moor Park 300
1986 Laura Davies Royal Birkdale 283
1987 Alison Nicholas St. Mellion 296
1988 Corinne Dibnah Lindrick 295
1989 Jane Geddes Ferndown 274
1990 Helen Alfredsson Woburn 288
1991 Penny Grice-Whittaker Woburn 284
1992 Patty Sheehan Woburn (3 rounds) 207
1993 Karen Lunn Woburn 275

Winners after the tournament became an LPGA sanctioned event
1994 Liselotte Neumann Woburn 280
1995 Karrie Webb Woburn 278
1996 Emilee Klein Woburn 277
1997 Karrie Webb Sunningdale 269
1998 Sherri Steinhauer Royal Lytham 292
1999 Sherri Steinhauer Woburn 283
2000 Sophie Gustafson Royal Birkdale 282

Winners after the tournament became an LPGA major
2001 Se Ri Pak Sunningdale 277
2002 Karrie Webb Turnberry 273
2003 Annika Sorenstam Royal Lytham 278
2004 Karen Stupples Sunningdale 269
2005 Jeong Jang Royal Birkdale 272
2006 Sherri Steinhauer Royal Lytham 281
2007 Lorena Ochoa St. Andrews 287
2008 Jiyai Shin Sunningdale 270

CAA SPORTS SIGNS INTERNATIONAL
GOLF ICON GREG NORMAN

Legendary golf champion Greg Norman has signed with CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading full-service entertainment and sports agency. CAA will create new opportunities for the global sports icon across a variety of platforms, including television, broadcasting, marketing/endorsements, licensing, speaking, and digital media.

“CAA is clearly the preeminent entertainment and sports agency and I am pleased that I will have the opportunity to work with them to continue to build the equity in my brand and further develop my various business interests,” said Norman.

“Beyond being one of the greatest golfers of all time, Greg is an extremely accomplished entrepreneur who has built an extensive portfolio of successful global businesses,” said Andy Pierce of CAA Sports. “We are thrilled to work closely with Greg to develop new opportunities that complement his accomplishments and draw upon his vast interests and expertise.”

While he continues to compete internationally, Norman also serves as Chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises, a multinational corporation that administrates a variety of businesses including Greg Norman Golf Course Design, Greg Norman Collection (apparel), Greg Norman Estates (wine), Greg Norman Production Company (event management), Medallist Developments and Southern Cross Developments (real estate development), and numerous other merchandising and licensing arrangements.

Labeled the "Great White Shark" during the 1981 Masters Tournament, Norman spent 331 weeks as the world’s #1-ranked golfer throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Norman has won 86 professional events around the world, including 20 U.S. PGA Tour titles and two Open Championships in 1986 at Turnberry and 1993 at Royal St. George’s Golf Club. He is the recipient of three Arnold Palmer Awards, honoring the PGA Tour's leading money winner, and the European Tour’s Order of Merit, and is a six-time winner of the PGA Tour of Australia’s Order of Merit. Additionally, Norman won three Vardon Trophies, awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average. In recognition of his accomplishments both on and off the golf course, Norman was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.

CAA Sports represents more than 500 of the world's best athletes in such sports as baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer, and tennis, in addition to icons in individual sports, coaches, on-air broadcasters, and other sports personalities. Beyond traditional athlete representation, CAA Sports provides unique opportunities for clients off the field, in areas including licensing, endorsements, speaking, philanthropy, and video games. CAA Sports also works in the areas of broadcast rights, corporate marketing initiatives, and sports properties for sales/sponsorship opportunities. CAA Sports is a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading full service agency that represents the most creative and successful artists working in film, television, music, theatre, and video games, and provides a range of strategic marketing services to corporate clients. For more information about CAA Sports, visit www.sports.caa.com.

BPAA APPOINTS STEVEN D. JOHNSON
AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America
(BPAA) announced today that it has appointed Steven D. Johnson to serve as
its Executive Director, effective August 3, 2009. In this role, Johnson
will lead association efforts to help the $10 billion bowling industry
build upon its resurgence in popularity and maintain continued increases in
consumer participation through a strategic vision that includes further
domestic and international growth, as well as expanded partnership
marketing and nonprofit initiatives.

"Steven is joining BPAA at an exciting time and a critical juncture in
bowling's history. In recent years, bowling has enjoyed a tremendous
resurgence in popularity fueled by the emergence of 'entertainment' bowling
centers and increased participation across all age levels, particularly
among youth bowlers," said Jim Sturm, BPAA President and United States
Bowling Congress Director. "We now have a unique opportunity to channel
this momentum to take bowling to greater heights than ever before and I'm
confident that Steven is the man to help us get there.”

Johnson, who brings 20 years of senior-level management experience, joins
bowling after a decade in the racing industry. He has been instrumental in
leading the growth of some of racing's largest brands, serving as President
and CEO for such entities as Heartland Park, CHAMP Car World Series (CART)
and Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).

"I feel very fortunate to join BPAA during this time of growth and
opportunity, and to be part of such an incredible team," said Johnson.
"Bowling has proven to be one of the few recession-resistant industries and
an activity that transcends boundaries of age, race and geography. We can
also offer a platform that is unique in any industry, access to more than
68 million bowlers and 3,400 centers across virtually every U.S. market.
This industry is primed for even further growth and I'm proud and excited
to play a role in helping to lead the next chapter."

Johnson joins BPAA after serving for more than a year as President and CEO
of Heartland Park, an internationally recognized multi-use entertainment
complex. Previously, he spent three years as President and CEO of CHAMP
Car World Series (CART), a leading global brand in sports and entertainment
and the longest running global racing series in the world. Prior to CART,
Johnson acted for four years as President and CEO of Sports Car Club of
America (SCCA), the leading automotive nonprofit membership organization in
the world, consisting of 110 regions, 64,000 members and two for-profit
subsidiaries. He previously held senior-level management positions at
National Hot Rod Association, Honeywell and Master Lock Company.

"Steven's appointment follows an exhaustive search that began more than six
months ago. Our goal was to find a sports industry leader who brings
vision, a proven track record for success and a passion for bowling. We
found all of these qualities in Steven and are confident that he is the
perfect person to usher bowling into a yet another phase of growth," said
Cathy DeSocio, Secretary of the BPAA Board.

Johnson will relocate to Texas along with his wife Cheryl and son Alex. He
succeeds John Berglund who is retiring at the end of 2009 after having
served for eight years as the organization's Executive Director. Added
Sturm, "We would like to thank John for his leadership, years of service,
support during this transition and tremendous contributions to our great
sport."

Here & There Column 7-14-09

Sullivan County youth enjoying their first visit to the new Yankee Stadium include, from the left, Ashley Exner, Rodney Taylor Jester and Andrew Exner.

Enjoying The $1.5 Billion Yankee Stadium

"Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd, buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks" ...........goes the favorite summertime baseball tune and it all came true to reality recently when Sullivan County youth Andrew Exner, Rodney Taylor Jester and Ashley Exner got their first look at the new Bronx home for the New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium).
All three are ardent Yankee fans and the look on their faces as they stepped into this new $1.5 billion ballpark on East 161st Street & River Avenue was a look any parent or grandparent will remember the rest of our lives.
The new Yankee Stadium is beautiful and replaces the previous stadium that was built in 1923 and became world famous as "The House That Ruth Built." It was easy to see that much of the new stadium incorporates design elements from the previous Yankee Stadium which still stands across the street.
The total cost of the new Yankee Stadium makes is the second most expensive stadium in the world and these youth and their accompanying parents and grand parents enjoyed the new ballpark but unfortunately for Yankee fans C.C. Sabathia got hit around pretty hard that night and Seattle beat the Yankees 8-4.
Writing in our first paragraph about peanuts and cracker jacks the vendors continuously walked up and down the isles hawking their goods which were listed as $5 for a hot dog, $9 for a beer, $5 for soda, $6 for cracker jacks, $4.50 for cotton candy and $5 for peanuts......gotta pay for these new digs anyway you can. The least expensive seat in the house goes for about $22 in the bleachers. Parking across the street is $19.
The three youth enjoying their first trip to the new stadium are all Tri-Valley Central School students, Andrew, 14, and Rodney 14, will be entering ninth grade this fall and have both played soccer, Little League baseball, modified football, basketball and baseball. Ashley, 13, will be entering eighth grade and she has played modified soccer, basketball and softball.
Accompanying the youth were parents Paul and Leah Exner and grandparents Ed and Shirley Townsend.
A little reminder here .....if you intend to take in a ball game .....and want to take anything into the stadium with you,,,,,,make sure its in an open bag as no bags with zippers on them are allowed through the gates.
Our so-called poor economy and major league baseball just don't mix as the stadium was close to being filled and folks were buying food and drink with no questions asked.

Golfing Highlights Column 7-10-09

Management at Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club include, from the left, Pro Shop Manager Shannon Bowers, General Manager and Course Superintendent James Bowers and Director of Golf Frank Godleski.

The small pond to the left of the 12th green at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club atracts errant shots. A dogleg right, this pond and a trap on the left front and right side of this green makes this a real good golf hole.

Golf Specials At Tennanah Lake

The Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club is offering several different packages during the week days Monday through Friday.
On Monday there is the $30 Breakfast and Golf package with offers 18 holes of golf with a cart and breakfast and is available till 11 a.m.
Tuesday is the twosome special for $40 where two can play with a cart.
Wednesday is Ladies Day for $35 where ladies can enjoy 18-holes of golf with cart as well as a bucket of balls and lunch..
Thursday is "Thirsty Thursday" where you can play golf all day and enjoy drink specials at the bar with a cart fee of $5 after 27 holes.
Friday is Dinner and Golf for $40 where you can play 18-holes of golf with cart and enjoy dinner at The Grill after 1 p.m.
Tennanah Lake also offers stay and play packages where guests at the Inn have complimentary use of the outdoor pool and tennis courts.
Wolff's 1910 Restaurant serves dinner Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5-9 p.m.
Management at Tennnanah Lake includes General Manager James Bowers who is also the Golf Course Superintendent, Pro Shop Manager Shannon Bowers and Frank Godlewski is the Director of Golf. The clubhouse includes an enlarged pro shop, an expanded dining area and grill and the addition of new outside dining decks which offers golfers a 60-mile panoramic view of the Catskill Mountains.
The land for the golf course was purchased in 1910 by the Wolf Brothers and opened in 1928. Alfred Tull did the redesign of the golf course in the 1950's.
When the course was expanded to 18-holes, six of the original nine were utilized in the design.
Tennanah Lake is the oldest golf course operating in Sullivan County and is presently owned by Love Realty of New York and Florida.
A practice putting green and driving range are also available.
Tee times, reservations and information can be obtained by calling 607-498-5000 or email at tennanahlake@aol.com. Their web site is http://www.tennanah.com/
Last week we took you through the first nine holes. This week we detail the back nine 10-18.
Playing the blue course the back nine holes can definitely be labeled as offering golfers some long uphill fairways.
Hole No. 10 is a 373-yard par 4 with a dogleg to the right. Take your tee shot to the center of the fairway. Don't go right or the trees will block your second show to the green. Sand traps on the left and right front of the green and in the right rear. Your second shot makes or breaks your par score.
Hole No. 11 is a 188-yard par 3 which tends to play shorter than the yardage posted. Sand traps are on the right and left. If you overshoot this green there is a downhill slope in the back of the green.
Hole No. 12 is a 491-yard par 5 with a dogleg right some 100 plus yards off the tee. Keep the driver in the bag on this tee shot. There is water left of the green and traps on the left front and right side of the green. We classify this hole a "real good" golf hole and your par 5 can be a challenge here.
Hole No. 13 is a 329-yard par 4 with an uphill open fairway with a slight dogleg to the left. Sand traps are in front of the green on both sides.
Hole No. 14 is a 548-yard par 5 and is the longest hole at Tennanah Lake. The fairway runs downhill, there is a pond on the left, keep your ball in the center of the fairway as it narrows going into the green. Stay out of the ditch which runs across the fairway. Traps on the green are front right and left.
Hole No. 15 is a 419-yard par 4, uphill and a straight open fairway. There is a unique covered bridge here which connects the15th and 16th fairways and this tends to be a conversation piece for all golfers. There is a sand trap on the left and right of this green.
Hole No. 16 is a 413-yard par 4 with the fairway running downhill and immediate trees on the left. Stay in the middle of the fairway to keep out of trouble. There is a sand trap on the left and right of this green.
Hole No. 17 is a 197-yard par 3 with an elevated green. Tends to play longer then it looks and it takes a good tee shot with the club of your choice to this green and score your par. Sand traps are on the left and right front of this green.
Hole No. 18 is a 408-yard par 4 with an open fairway running uphill. Keep the teen shot down the middle. Traps right and left sides of this green.
The back nine runs a total of 3,365 yards and records a par 36.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

We definitely have been experiencing a lot of rain which tends to make our game play a lot different.
Some advise for playing in the rain is important because playing in the rain is full of distractions. It can become a distinct advantage for players gifted with powers of concentration stronger than their physical abilities.
With the assumption that you at least have your rain suit handy, here are a few extra arrows for your wet quiver:
* Have your tried Latex gloves? Rubber on rubber doesn't slip. Pulling them out at just the right time can be fun too. I like the yellow-colored ones the best. Naturally, it take a plomp, but you can do it. The "rain gloves" made by several manufactures are another option if you lack some chutzpah.
* Wear your contact lenses, if you have them. It's tough to hit the ball when you're seeing three of them because of the raindrops on your glasses.
* Bring several towels. They'll come in handy for a variety of reasons.
* Bring several hats, may golfers can hack the drips.
* Re-read the casual water rule.
* Always dry your ball and your putter blade before making a stroke.
* Remember, shots out of wet sand always go farther.
* Bring a baggie for your scorecard. It's nice to show your opponents how badly you "out-mudded" them once you return to the 19th hole.
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 at 292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Outlook

The Roscoe Twin Village Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the high school scholarship fund will be held this Sunday (July 12) with a limit of 80 golfers.
The tournament format is Captain and Mate best ball with two shotgun starts at 8:30 a.m. and 12:45.
Two person categories include men's, ladies and mixed and senior (65 plus) men's ladies and mixed. There is also a closest to the pin for men and ladies, longest drive contest for men and ladies and straightest drive contest for men's and ladies.
Entree fee is $45 which includes golf and dinner and a one-hour open bar at the Rockland House. Cart fee is $7.50 per person.
There are still a few openings in this fun-filled tournament and those interested should call Chuck Husson at 607-498-5557.

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

GOLF EVENTS 2009

July 17--Scotch Twosome Tourament. Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5557.
July 18--Friends Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
July 18--Night Golf. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584 or 482-5331.
July 18--Liberty Elks Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
July 22--Rally For The Cure Golf Tourney. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
July 24--Country Store Youth Foundation Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
July 26--Billy Moran Memorial Golf Outing. Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-4734.
July 26--Roscoe Kiwanis Club Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
July 31--Commissioners Cup Championship Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Aug. 2--Prasad Golf Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information call 845-434-2620
Aug. 7-9 Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man Better Ball Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club
Aug. 9--Art Tursi Memorial Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Aug. 16--Roscoe Firemen Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
Aug. 15--Night Golf. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Aug. 16--Jeff Lions Club Tournament. Swan lake Golf & Coutry Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Aug. 23--Sheriff Mike Schiff Golf Tournament. Swan Lake Golf Club. Information please call 845-292-0323
Aug. 30--Kutchers Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country /Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Sept. 6--Steak Bake Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Sept. 12--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Sept. 20--Methol Hunting Club Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
Sept. 20--Community Unity Golf Event. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Oct. 4--The Hammer Invitational--Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584

BARNES SPARKS TEAM GEICO TO
VICTORY IN GEICO PBA TEAM SHOOTOUT

Team GEICO with Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association stars Patrick Allen, Mika Koivuniemi, Mike Wolfe, Brad Angelo, reigning Player of the Year Wes Malott and 2007-08 Player of the Year Chris Barnes took home the $108,000 first prize by winning the GEICO PBA Team Shootout Hosted by Six Flags.

Team GEICO, which advanced to the championship round with a 6-2 match play record, swept the three-match championship round which consisted of singles, Baker format doubles and Baker team matches. The singles and doubles contests were worth one point and the team event two points.

In the opening singles round, Barnes defeated Team Bayer’s Rhino Page, 224-189, after Team Bayer (Page, Tommy Jones, Michael Fagan, Bill O’Neill, Sean Rash and Jason Belmonte) earned its way into the championship round when Team GEICO defeated Team Lumber Liquidators (Parker Bohn III, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Pete Weber, Norm Duke, Steve Jaros and Mike Scroggins) in the final round-robin match, 206-205.

Bayer and Lumber Liquidators finished match play with 3-5 records, but Team Bayer won the total pinfall tie-breaker.

In the one-game doubles round where players alternated frames, Wolfe and Koivuniemi defeated Jones and Australian two-handed phenom Belmonte, 210-194.

Team Bayer’s only hope was to win the team match to force a 2-2 tie and a roll-off, but the future stars team fell short, 221-207. Barnes sealed the win for Team GEICO by striking on the first ball in the 10th frame.

“From early on in the tournament we worked well together,” said Barnes, GEICO’s captain. “With this team it was tough to make any bad calls in regard to determining a lineup that would match up with various (lane conditioning) patterns. Patrick (Allen) not only bowled well, but was very helpful in making some of those decisions.

“We all knew it was very important to get off to a quick start and get as big a lead as possible in each game with the ‘Endless 10th Frame,’” Barnes continued. “If the other team earned that bonus you wanted to make it very hard for them to catch up.”

The novel “Endless 10th Frame” gave teams that were behind in matches a chance to catch up with bonus strikes. While the bonus system came into play in a few matches, it didn’t impact the eventual outcome.

The GEICO PBA Team Shootout consisted of 12 round-robin, Baker-format matches leading to the championship round. The third annual made-for-TV event televised by ESPN was conducted outdoors on specially-constructed lanes at the Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J.


GEICO PBA TEAM SHOOTOUT
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J.

Final Standings
Team GEICO (Chris Barnes, Wes Malott, Patrick Allen, Mika Koivuniemi, Mike Wolfe and Brad Angelo), $108,000 def. Team Bayer (Tommy Jones, Rhino Page, Michael Fagan, Bill O’Neill, Sean Rash and Jason Belmonte), 4-0

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Singles
Chris Barnes (Team Geico) def. Rhino Page (Team Bayer), 224-189 (one point)

Doubles
Mike Wolfe/Mika Koivuniemi (Team GEICO) def. Tommy Jones/Jason Belmonte (Team Bayer), 210-194 (one point)

Team (Baker format)
Team GEICO def. Team Bayer, 221-207 (two points)

FINAL MATCH PLAY STANDINGS
(Top two teams advanced to championship round)
Team GEICO, 6-2
Team Bayer, 3-5 (won total pinfall tie-breaker)
Team Lumber Liquidators, 3-5

JASON BELMONTE NAMED THE BOWLING

FOUNDATION'S FIRST GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

Australia's Jason Belmonte, the only two-handed style bowler to win a Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour event and among the most popular players in the world, has been signed as the first goodwill ambassador of The Bowling Foundation.

As goodwill ambassador, the 25-year-old from Orange, Australia, will promote The Bowling Foundation and its charities while competing as an exempt player on the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour.

"This support will be significant for The Bowling Foundation," The Bowling Foundation Executive Director Troy Greisen said. "Jason Belmonte's phenomenal success and popularity will bring much-needed awareness to our youth programs and charity partners. Jason understands the importance of helping those in need."

The 2008-09 Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year won The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic, earning him his 2009-10 exemption. Belmonte made the match-play field six times and cashed in eight of the nine events he entered during the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season.

"I am proud to serve as The Bowling Foundation's first goodwill ambassador," Belmonte said. "The sport of bowling does a lot of good work for youth and charity through the foundation, and I want to support these efforts any way I can."

Belmonte and his unique bowling style earned plenty of media attention during the 2008-09 season. Among his appearances were ESPN's E:60, ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show and The Fox Network's Fox & Friends. He also was featured in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, ESPN The Magazine, Denver Post, Boston Globe and ESPN.com among many other media outlets.

For more information, visit bowlingfoundation.org, or contact us at info@bowlingfoundation.org or (888) 302-8122.

About The Bowling Foundation
The mission of the foundation is to enhance the lives of others through the sport of bowling, particularly reaching out toward youth, those less fortunate, underprivileged or in need, giving them increased chance for success, health, fitness and the joy of sport; while fostering bowling across all sectors of society and the world.

As the "charitable arm of bowling," the foundation is fully supported by the leading entities for the sport including the United States Bowling Congress, The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, the Bowling Proprietors Association International, Strike Ten Entertainment and the Professional Bowlers Association.

Program Partners include Special Olympics, Susan G Komen for the Cure, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Bowlers to Veterans Link, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The Bowling Foundation also supports the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame and Bowlers Education Youth programs.

Here & There Column 7-7-09

Chad, played by KJ Hippensteel, is the hip-swinging guitar-playing roustabout in the "All Shook Up" musical at the Forestburgh Playhouse.

Hip-Swiveling Guitar Playing Roustabout

The little barn at the Forestburgh Playhouse was rock-in and a roll-in last week with the music of the classic rock star Elvis Presley in the musical "All Shook Up."
Playhouse producer Norman Duttweiler continues to bring the best in entertainment to what has become the oldest professional summer theater in New York State and "All Shook Up" had the audience tapping their feet along with many who were swaying in their seats to the classic rock star music of Elvis Presley.
Although we are long time Elvis Presley fans we were thrilled to hear his songs sung by the very talented Forestburgh Playhouse cast.
The setting for this presentation was a small "you never heard of it town" in the Midwest.
Natalie Haller (Ed), played by Georgia Tapp, is a young mechanic, dreaming of love and adventure. She yearns for one true love to take her away, but she doesn't realize that her best friend, Dennis, played by Jim Bray, has a secret crush on her.
While the town folks are sitting in the local honky tonk they are interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle as Chad (the hip-swiveling guitar-playing roustabout, played by KJ Hippensteel, rides into town and asks about any excitement in town but is told that excitement is outlawed under the Mayor's strict rules.
Chad is also in need of a mechanic and is introduced to Natalie who is instantly smitten.
The theme of this play produces many different potential love hookups but in the last scene Chad accepts Natalie and a triple wedding takes place between Jim and Sylvia, Matilda and Earl and Dennis and Sandra.
Outstanding acting, dancing and singing by this entire staff. We give the show five stars.
Next up is the Musical Sensation Les Miserables from July 7-19 with Showboat taking the stage July 21-August 2.
Tickets and information are available at 794-1194

Golfing Highlights Column 7-3-09

Managers at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club include from the left, Pro Shop Manager Shannon Bowers, new General Manager James Bowers, who is also the Golf Course Superintendent and Director of Golf Frank Godlewski

The large tree on the left makes an approach shot to the eighth green at the Tennanah Lake Golf Course very interesting.

James Bowers New GM At Tennanah Lake

Twenty-nine year-old James Bowers of Roscoe is the new General Manager at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club.
Named to that position this year Bowers is also the Golf Course Superintendent. He previously also served as assistant greens superintendent.
Being born into a golfing family James has been around the game of golf for many years, introduced to the game at an early age by his father well known Roscoe golfer Jim Bowers.
A graduate of Roscoe Central High School in 1999, James has received golf course maintenance (greens superintendent) training from Cobleskill College and Cornell University. He also completed studies from Penn State through Internet studies to become a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Bowers was individual champion of the former Western Sullivan League in 1996 and 1998 and was Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1999.
James sister, 23-year-old Shannon Bowers continues management of the Pro Shop.
Shannon was introduced to the game of golf when she was seven years old by her mother and father, Cheryl and Jim Bowers and she made a name for herself on the Roscoe Central School boys and girls golf teams.
Prior to the state of a girls team Shannon played two years on the boys team and then two years on the girls team which went undefeated in her Junior year and gave her a third place finish in the regional sectionals.
Her dad coached the golf teams for a number of years and was instrumental in getting a girls varsity golf team started. Her mother is now the golf coach at Roscoe Central.
Shannon graduated from Roscoe Central in 2004 and is a 2008 graduate from Oneonta State where she majored in Fashion Merchandising and Business.
Frank Godlewski is the Director of Golf at Tennanah Lake and works mainly with the leagues and helps on weekends.
Some four years ago Tennanah Lake totally renovated the clubhouse which now includes an enlarged pro shop, an expanded dining area and grill and the addition of new outside dining decks which offers golfers a 60-mile panoramic view of the Catskill Mountains.
The land for the golf course was purchased in 1910 by the Wolf Brothers and opened in 1928. Alfred Tull did the redesign of the golf course in the 1950's and one of the highlights of the course was the exhibition play of Sam Snead in 1952 with Sam calling the layout one of the longest and most challenging courses he has ever played.
When the course was expanded to 18-holes, six of the original nine were utilized in the design.
Tennanah Lake is the oldest golf course operating in Sullivan County and is presently owned by Love Realty of New York and Florida.
A practice putting green and driving range are also available as well as the full service pro shop.
The facilities also include two tennis courts, a heated pool and the recently opened Wolf's 1910 Restaurant which serves dinner only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wolf's also does catering for weddings and special events.
The grill at the golf course, under new management, offers breakfast and lunch specials on selected days. There are also special stay and play packages
Tee times, reservations and information can be obtained by calling 607-498-5000 or email at tennanahlake@aol.com. Their web site is http://www.tennanah.com/
This week we will outline the front nine, holes 1-9.
Hole No. 1 is a 355-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg to the left. Take your tee shot to the left center. A trap is on the right front section of the green.
Hole No. 2 is a 547-yard par 5 featuring a narrow opening in front of the tee but the fairway then opens up some 75 to 100 yards from the tee. A straight tee shot is a must here or a lot of trouble will greet you on the left and right. A sand trap is on the left side of the green. A long straight tee shot and a solid second shot slightly down hill make this green reachable in two and a good par or birdie possibility.
Hole No. 3 is a 379-yard par 4 slightly uphill with a dogleg left. Best tee shot is right center on top of the hill. Some 50 to 60 yards from the green there is a small deep ditch and it runs all the way across the fairway.
Hole No. 4 is a 192-yard par 3. Drive it left center and there is a trap on the left side of the green. Takes an accurate tee shot to make the green and your birdie or par.
Hole No. 5 is a 358-yard par 4 with a dogleg left. Some trees will come into play if you hit left.
Hole No. 6 is a 413-yard par 4 which presents one of the smallest openings from the tee to the fairway we have ever seen. Best keep is down the middle and straight . The fairway does open up to the left but there are trees to the right. Some 100 yards from the tee there is another ditch which runs across the fairway. A trap on the left and right side of the green also is a challenge. A real good golf hole.
Hole No. 7 is a 435-yard par 5 with the fairway running straight uphill. Best to let it all out here with a long tee shot. A trap is on the right side of the green. Long balls hitters can go for the birdie on this hole.
Hole No. 8 is a 312-yard par 4 . Sand traps are on the left and right sides of the green and a large tree stands almost in front of the green which makes for an interesting approach shot.
Hole No. 9 is a 190-yard par 3 and is slightly uphill and appears to play longer then it looks. A tough par 3 with sand traps at the front and back of this green. A good tee shot and proper club selection results in a birdie or par.
Next week we will review the back nine.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

How to start your Downswing to become more consistent.
To start your downswing you want to feel as though your hands stay at the top of the back swing and your front leg starts the downswing. Of course this won't happen but that's the feeling you should have.
You should also experiment with different parts of your front leg to start your downswing. I recommend using either your front knee or your front hip.So simply swing back as normal and then feel as though your hands do nothing because is should be your front knee or hip that pulls your downswing into action.
A good drill to get this feeling is to swing back as normal but pull your front foot in so it touches your back foot at the top of the back swing. And then to start your downswing simply move your front foot into it's normal position and swing through.
This will help to teach you the correct chain of events for the downswing.
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 email at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Outlook

Liberty Golf Professional Nicholas "Nick" Yaun, 1st Assistant Golf Professional who gives all the lessons at the Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, NJ has qualified for the New Jersey State Open.
At his qualifier he tied for second on June 24 and will play in the Open on July 14-15, then the top 50 will play on July 16.
Nick did quality last year and did play on the third day.
The Upper Montclair Country Club is one of only a few country clubs world-wide known to have hosted tournaments fro all three Professional Golf Associations.
Nick, son of Tim and Cindy Yaun of Liberty, also has the Professional Golf Association Class A Golf Professional designation.
Bob Menges at the Swan Lake Golf and Country Club is holding his Junior Golf Camps from July 13-17 and July20-24. The camps run Monday through Friday and golfers will play on the course daily and receive on course instruction. For information call Bob at 292-0323 or 482-3772.
Lot of golf club specials at area golf courses this summer. If you have a special let us know at our email address or call us with the info. The Twin Village Golf Club in Roscoe is offering a weekday special, excepting holidays, with 18-holes for two with a cart for $35 but call for cart availability at 606-498-5829. The Mansion Ridge Jack Nicklaus Signature Course has afternoon rates starting at 4 p.m. of $39 weekdays.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that you feel would make good reading or have league scores and tournament information, Ed can be reached by phone at 439-8177 or by email at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com/

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GOLF EVENTS 2009

July 11--Corness C o-Op Golf Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
July 12--Memorial Tournament & Dinner. Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5557.
July 12--Fallsburg Lions Club Alan Steingart Memorial Tournament, Tarry Brae Golf Course, South Fallsburg. For information call Cindy Perlmutter at 845-434-4321.
July 12--Black Bear Tournament, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-9584
July 17--Scotch Twosome Tourament. Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5557.
July 18--Friends Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
July 18--Night Golf. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584 or 482-5331.
July 18--Liberty Elks Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
July 22--Rally For The Cure Golf Tourney. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
July 24--Country Store Youth Foundation Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
July 26--Billy Moran Memorial Golf Outing. Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-4734.
July 26--Roscoe Kiwanis Club Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
July 31--Commissioners Cup Championship Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Aug. 2--Prasad Golf Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information call 845-434-2620
Aug. 7-9 Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man Better Ball Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club
Aug. 9--Art Tursi Memorial Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Aug. 16--Roscoe Firemen Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
Aug. 15--Night Golf. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Aug. 16--Jeff Lions Club Tournament. Swan lake Golf & Coutry Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Aug. 23--Sheriff Mike Schiff Golf Tournament. Swan Lake Golf Club. Information please call 845-292-0323
Aug. 30--Kutchers Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country /Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Sept. 6--Steak Bake Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584
Sept. 12--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Sept. 20--Methol Hunting Club Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf Club. Information call 607-498-5000.
Sept. 20--Community Unity Golf Event. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information call 845-292-0323.
Oct. 4--The Hammer Invitational--Sullivan County Golf & CC. Information call 845-292-9584

TELEVISED PERFECT GAMES TO PAY
UP TO $100,000 AT U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

The 12 players who advance to the television finals of the 2009
U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event, will have the opportunity
to earn a significant cash bonus if they shoot a perfect game on television.

Any of the 12 bowlers who shoot a 300 game during the five television shows will earn a
cash bonus. Perfect games during the championship round (final show) will be worth
$100,000 each while 300 games during the first four shows will pay $25,000 each.
Participants can earn the bonus prize more than once.

"This adds another layer of excitement to the televised portion of the U.S. Women's
Open," USBC Vice President of Media Pete Tredwell said. "And a perfect game is a real
possibility given the level of talent we see in the U.S. Women's Open each year."

The event, which will be held Aug. 3-9 at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone
Bowling Center in Henderson, Nev., will have a limited field of 288 entries so players are
encouraged to enter early to avoid being shut out.

The U.S. Women's Open, which featured nearly 200 bowlers last year, is expected to
have an expanded field this year including many international players. The event
immediately follows the 2009 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's
Championships in Las Vegas.

Players can save $50 by entering prior to the initial entry deadline of July 10. Prior to
July 10, the entry fee is $300; following that date, the fee increases to $350. Entry forms
are available on BOWL.com or by contacting tournament director Tom Boedecker at
(800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3415.

The U.S. Women's Open is open to any USBC female member and features an estimated
prize fund of $150,000 with $25,000 going to the winner.

PBA Offers Convenient Entry
Process for World Series of Bowling

The inaugural Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling (WSOB) is just about a month away and bowlers can take advantage of a convenient entry process to get into the tournament field.

Non-members are invited to download the non-member entry form which lists all of the event options, and fax, e-mail or mail the form to PBA Headquarters. PBA members can enter online, or by telephone.

The WSOB gets underway with the PBA Motor City Open which will take place at longtime PBA host center Taylor Lanes in Taylor, Mich., from Aug. 2-6. The remaining six World Series of Bowling events, including the return of the PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM, and a revamped PBA Senior World Championship will be held at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. The revolutionary festival of competitive bowling boasts a $2 million prize fund and seven ESPN telecasts.


Bowlers can compete in seven Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events, including two open events which are open to any bowler. All tournaments will culminate with ESPN-televised finals. There also will be five PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM events and a PBA Senior World Championship.



The Tournament Qualifying Round entry fee is $300 for members and $325 for non-members. Open

tournament entry fee is $500 for members and $600 for non-members. Members and non-members may

enter through http://www.pba.com/worldseries/tournamententries.html while members may also use the

special entry hotline, (206) 654-6025.



The PBA World Series of Bowling is an excellent destination tournament with TQRs bundled on the weekends to allow non-exempt players and non-members alike the chance to participate in several tournaments, side events and sweepers in a single weekend.



By entering all PBA World Series of Bowling TQRs prior to July 23, players will receive a 20 percent discount on seven sweepers and side events. All entries will be handled on-site for sweepers and side events.



The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour field features an expanded field of 72 players for the World Series of Bowling with at least 10 spots to be awarded through TQRs. All bowlers who qualify through the TQRs will cash.



The PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM has expanded its fields to 20 spots, allowing a minimum of two spots to come from each TQR.



There will not be a limit to the number of bowlers who can enter the Motor City Open, or the PBA, PBA Senior or Women’s World Championships.


To make reservations at PBA’s headquarters hotel—the Hyatt Regency Dearborn--call (313) 593-1234 or (800) 233-1234 and mention the PBA World Series of Bowling. Guest arrivals prior to Aug. 15 should visit http://dearborn.hyatt.com/groupbooking/dttrdpba12009 and for guest arrivals after Aug. 16 visit http://dearborn.hyatt.com/groupbooking/dttrdpba22009.


Additional information and a complete schedule for the World Series of Bowling may be found by visiting www.pbaworldseriesofbowling.com< href="">.">http://www.pbaworldseriesofbowling.com/>.

PBA Launches New and
Improved Xtra Frame

The Professional Bowlers Association will launch an upgraded online video service on pba.com that provides subscribers with improved video streaming and navigable capabilities.

Bowling fans can visit www.pba.com/xtraframe< href="">">http://www.pba.com/xtraframe> to sign up and take advantage of a free seven-day trial beginning the week of July 7 (must sign up by July 21). As part of programming during the free trial, Xtra Frame will broadcast the 2009 Japan Cup won by Patrick Allen and featuring a 300 game by Rhino Page in the semifinal match. Bowling fans will also be able to view new profiles of the 18 players who competed in the GEICO PBA Team Shootout during this free trial.

The new and improved Xtra Frame will provide subscribers with hundreds of hours of bowling programming during the 2009-10 PBA Tour season. During the upcoming PBA World Series of Bowling, bowling fans will be treated to more than 100 hours of exclusive live video alone, including the premier of a daily recap program called “PBA 39x60.”

The inaugural World Series of Bowling, which begins Aug. 2 and runs through Sept. 6, is a festival of competitive bowling, featuring Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM and Senior Tour events boasting a $2 million overall prize fund and seven ESPN telecasts.

“There will be more live bowling competition than ever before for true fans to enjoy,” said PBA COO and Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark. “Live streaming from all the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour match play rounds at the World Series of Bowling plus coverage of Women’s Series events and even side events and sweepers featuring some of the top players in the world not exempt on Tour make this an incredible opportunity.

“During the World Series there will be more bowling tips and information about new bowling balls and all this information will come from the stars of the PBA Tour – the greatest players in the world.”

Xtra Frame will also debut a new look and an upgraded content delivery network that was used to stream the 2008 Summer Olympics. The new technology will provide easier use with an embedded player and navigable menus to increase reliability.

An annual subscription of $64.99, or a special World Series of Bowling Pass for $39.99 (good through Nov. 30) are currently available. Current Xtra Frame subscribers will be able to maintain their subscriptions at the $5.95 rate.

ESPN to Air Seven GEICO PBA Team
Shootout Matches This Sunday

Bowling fans will be treated to three and half hours of televised bowling this Sunday (July 5) when seven matches of the GEICO PBA Team Shootout Hosted by Six Flags will be aired on ESPN beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Team GEICO, with Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour stars Chris Barnes, Patrick Allen, Mike Wolfe, Mika Koivuniemi, reigning Player of the Year Wes Malott and Brad Angelo, has taken a 2-1 lead after four round-robin matches in the made-for-TV team tournament.

Conducted outdoors on specially-constructed lanes at New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure theme park, three of the best teams ever assembled compete in a Baker Scoring System format which requires five members of the team to roll two frames in one game combining for one score.

Trailing Team GEICO, is Team Bayer (Tommy Jones, Jason Belmonte, Sean Rash, Rhino Page, Michael Fagan and Bill O’Neill) with a 1-1 record and Team Lumber Liquidators (Norm Duke, Mike Scroggins, Pete Weber, Steve Jaros, Parker Bohn III and Walter Ray Williams Jr.) at 1-2.

All three teams bowl in round-robin match play on a variety of lane conditioning patterns leading up to a championship round. The top two teams based on match play record will advance to a championship contest that includes singles, doubles and Baker-style team matches. The championship round will air on ESPN on Sunday, July 12.

GEICO PBA Team Shootout standings (as of June 28)
Team GEICO 2-1
Team Bayer 1-1
Team Lumber Liquidators 1-2

ESPN GEICO PBA Team Shootout Schedule (all times Eastern)

Sunday, July 5
1-1:30 p.m. - Show 5
1:30-2 p.m. - Show 6
2-2:30 p.m. - Show 7
2:30-3 p.m. - Show 8
3-3:30 p.m. - Show 9
3:30-4 p.m. - Show 10
4-4:30 p.m. - Show 11

Sunday, July 12
1-1:30 p.m. - Show 12
1:30-2 p.m. - Show 13
2-2:30 p.m. - Show 14
2:30-3 p.m. - Show 15

KEEPING YOU UP TO
DATE ON MARK ROTH

This is an advisory for all Mark Roth fans: Mark's wife Denise has advised that Mark was transferred today to St. Luke Health Services, 299 E. River Rd., Oswego, NY 13126 where he will continue his battle to regain body functions in the wake of his recent stroke.

Denise Roth noted St. Luke is a "sub-acute" rehab center. During Mark's three-week stay in the "acute" center in Syracuse, his treatment was focused on regaining as much function as possible. Denise said that as of Monday, Mark had regained a little movement in the fingers on his left hand, and a little movement in his left arm, where there had been none. He also has been able to walk up to 100 feet with the assistance of walking devices.

She noted there is no long-term prognosis at this time about the level of function Mark will regain, but his doctors are hopeful because he is relatively young and athletic. But, she said, "It's going to be a long, slow process."

Duke, Barnes, Malott Nominated
For “Best Bowler” ESPY

Chris Barnes, Norm Duke and Wes Malott are the finalists in ESPN’s annual ESPYs sports awards competition which will conclude with the annual black-tie ESPYs Awards Show telecast Sunday, July 19, from Los Angeles.

Duke, from Clermont, Fla., won three titles – all majors and all in a row – on his way to a Tour-best $229,350 over the same 12-month span. Barnes, from Double Oak, Texas, won a pair of Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titles during calendar year 2008 and ranked second in Tour earnings with $163,330. Malott won twice and banked $125,200 in 2008.

Fan voting is currently underway on ESPN.com (look for the ESPYS link at the bottom of the home page) and ends July 11. In addition to ESPN’s “Best Bowler” category, voting is available in 36 other categories.

The ESPYs finale will take place at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 15, and will be taped to air on ESPN on Sunday, July 19, at 9 p.m. Eastern.

PBA Reaches Agreement to Expand
Television Coverage into Europe

More than 116.5 million European households from the North Pole to the Mediterranean, from the Atlantic Ocean to Asia, will have an opportunity to watch the world’s greatest bowlers in action thanks to a landmark television agreement announced today by the Professional Bowlers Association, KPTV in England and the German Bowling Proprietors Association.

In response to an initiative by the German proprietors’ honorary president, Ferdi Janka, the three groups have finalized plans to air 20 Lumbers Liquidators PBA Tour events from the 2008-09 season plus another 20 from the upcoming 2009-10 season.

“The result of this agreement,” said KPTV founder and owner Phil Mison, “is that millions of European bowling fans will have their first opportunity in 10 years to watch a bowling series on TV.”

“For the PBA, it’s another giant step forward in giving our growing international fan base a chance to watch the best players in the world in action over an extended period of time,” said PBA Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark. “It will be especially exciting for European bowling fans because there are more and more world-class international players who are a part of our tour. It’ll be great that fans in Finland can watch Mika Koivuniemi, and British fans can cheer for Stuart Williams as well as the superstars of our American tour.”

“For nearly 10 years, the German Bowling Proprietors Association has been working to place bowling on television on a regular basis,” noted Volker Klien, GBPA Vice President. “Our organization’s 250 members were very happy to provide our support to make this PBA series happen in Europe. It is a very happy and exciting time for bowlers throughout Europe.”

The expansive package will result in PBA Tour telecasts will be aired in 20 languages to 59 nations on Eurosport Television beginning July 9. A minimum of 10 PBA events from the 2008-09 season will air Fridays in prime time on Eurosport 1, the broadcast system’s largest and most popular channel. Another 10 will air weekday evenings on Eurosport 2, which is Eurosport’s equivalent of ESPN2 in the United States.

“This process began two years ago when Eurosport agreed to air the finals of the Bowling World Cup,” Mison said. “The success of World Cup telecasts two years in a row led Eurosport to ask for more bowling events. Their leap of faith, thanks to the cooperation of the PBA and the funding support of the German Bowling Proprietors Association, made it all possible. European bowling fans will now go from no bowling on television two years ago to 120 hours of bowling coverage between July and Christmas, and more after the start of the new year.”

“This is one of the most important landmarks in our organization’s history,” Klien said. “We will open the appeal of bowling to a huge new audience, and it is all possible because people who love bowling got their heads together and made it happen.”

“Bowling fans around the world have heard of Walter Ray Williams Jr., Norm Duke, Pete Weber and the other great stars of the PBA,” Clark added. “Now, for the first time, millions of bowling enthusiasts in Europe will be able to put faces with the names. And don’t forget, the PBA Women’s Series will also be a part of this package, so we haven’t forgotten that side of the sport.”

STU UPSON NAMED USBC
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Stu Upson has been named executive director for the United
States Bowling Congress by the USBC Board of Directors. Upson brings to USBC
20 years of sports and entertainment business management experience and a proven track
record of success in a variety of organizations.

Since 2002, Upson has served as senior vice president for Skip Barber Racing, the
world's largest automotive education and entertainment company. Based in Lakeville,
Conn., Skip Barber Racing operates more than 1,000 events annually at more than two
dozen venues across North America offering driving training, amateur and professional
race series and corporate programs.

"Stu Upson is a uniquely talented sports business executive," USBC President Jeff Boje
said. "The Board conducted an exhaustive nationwide search, and Stu emerged as the
clear choice to lead USBC. He brings tremendous experience growing the financial
strength and visibility of sports organizations to USBC."

While at Skip Barber Racing, Upson was instrumental in a corporate turnaround from
bankruptcy in 2001. His leadership helped generate double-digit annual revenue growth,
create new customer service quality guidelines and return the company to profitability.

"I am extremely excited about joining USBC," Upson said. "The sport of bowling has
tremendous potential for growth, and I look forward to working with the Board of
Directors and the staff in Arlington to serve USBC membership and lead the sport to
future success."

Prior to his position at Skip Barber Racing, Upson served as senior vice president for
Venue3D, a joint venture between the William Morris Agency and Mills Corporation to
provide marketing consulting services for retail developers and properties.

Upson also spent four years as senior vice president of sports and entertainment
marketing for First USA Bank. At First USA Bank, Upson established a sports affinity
credit card program, signing agreements with more than 200 sports and entertainment
properties. Earlier in his career, Upson served as vice president of business development
for Major League Baseball Properties.

A graduate of Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif., Upson currently lives in
New Canaan, Conn. Upson will begin his duties at USBC headquarters in Arlington,
Texas on July 13.

USBC Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger will remain with the organization in a
senior executive role with a title to be determined.

PBA Names Hyatt Regency Dearborn
As “Official Headquarter Hotel”
For PBA World Series of Bowling

The Professional Bowlers Association has announced an agreement with the Hyatt Regency Dearborn to be the official headquarter hotel for the PBA World Series of Bowling which kicks off this August in suburban Detroit.
The agreement enables PBA fans and bowlers to take advantage of a $99 room rate at the AAA Four-Diamond hotel throughout the entire run of the event, which begins Aug. 2 and runs through Sept. 6

The World Series of Bowling opens with the PBA Motor City Open which will take place at longtime PBA host center Taylor Lanes in Taylor, Mich., from Aug. 2-6. The remainder of the World Series of Bowling, including six exempt PBA Tour events, the return of the PBA Women’s Series presented by USBC and a revamped PBA Senior Tour World Championship will be held at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., The revolutionary festival of competitive bowling boasts a $2 million prize fund and seven ESPN telecasts.

The Hyatt is conveniently located to the tournament sites and includes complimentary parking privileges. Additional hotel accommodations include the Guilio & Sons Italian restaurant, Archimedes bar and Perks Coffee Shop.

The hotel is within walking distance of eight full-service restaurants and approximately one mile west of Dearborn which features more than 30 restaurants and shopping attractions. Also less than a mile away is the historic Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Reservations may be made by calling (313) 593-1234 or (800) 233-1234 and mentioning the PBA World Series of Bowling. Guest arrivals prior to Aug. 16 should visit http://dearborn.hyatt.com/groupbooking/dttrdpba12009 and for guest arrivals after Aug. 15 visit http://dearborn.hyatt.com/groupbooking/dttrdpba22009.

Information about the World Series of Bowling may be found by visiting www.pbaworldseriesofbowling.com< href="">.">http://www.pbaworldseriesofbowling.com/>.

RICOH Women’s British Open
Launches Social Media Sites


The Ricoh Women’s British Open has joined the Social Media frenzy with a presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Those who become a fan of the Ricoh Women’s British Open Facebook Fan page and follow on Twitter will be able to view exclusive tournament photos, videos, learn tournament information as soon as it’s announced and participate in contests.

The 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open will be played at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, July 30-August 2.

The first contest will be held on the Ricoh Women’s British Open Facebook page, found at http://www.facebook.com/RicohWomensBritishOpen. Fans will submit captions for a ‘Caption This Photo” contest and the Ricoh Women’s British Open will choose the most creative caption. The winner will receive a Ricoh R10 digital camera. The contest will begin Friday, July 3 and run through Friday, July 10.

The Ricoh R10 digital camera has multiple features including 7.1x Optical wide-angle zoom and in-camera image editing after the picture is taken. Additional camera details can be seen at http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/r/r10/.

Fans can follow the Ricoh Women’s British Open on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RICOHWomensBrit and can view tournament videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/ricohwomensbritish.
This year’s Championship will take place at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in the North West of England. Its credentials as a Championship venue are impressive. As well as holding three Women’s British Opens - in 1998, 2003 and 2006 - Royal Lytham has hosted an impressive 10 men’s Open Championships and two Ryder Cups.
With Annika Sorenstam, the winner at Royal Lytham in 2003, recently retired from the LPGA and Sherri Steinhauer, the 1998 and 2006 Champion, having played no events in over 6 months, the North West golf fans look set to witness a new winner crowned at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club in August.
Steeped in history and the only Major to take place outside of the USA, the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open is set to be one of the highlights on this year’s golfing calendar. It is the most international of all the Majors with millions tuning into the 2008 Championship coverage as it was televised around the world, including on the BBC in the UK, ABC network television in the USA and on TV Asahi in Japan.
The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies’ Golf Union in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.
For more information, including the latest news and advance ticket offers, please visit www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com or call our ticket line on +448719459421.
About the Ladies’ Golf Union (“LGU”)
Founded in 1893, the LGU is the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland. The LGU Executive Council includes representatives of the National Organisations (English Women’s Golf Association Ltd, Irish Ladies’ Golf Union Ltd, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association Ltd and the Golf Union of Wales Ltd). The primary objective of the LGU is to uphold the rules of the game and to advance and safeguard the interests of ladies’ golf. In particular, the LGU owns the Ricoh Women’s British Open (one of the four Major Tournaments for Professional Women golfers), and has responsibility for running other British Championships and Home International events, and preparing the Great Britain and Ireland teams for representative matches, such as the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy.
Further information about the Ladies’ Golf Union is available on www.lgu.org
About Ricoh A global leader in digital office solutions, Ricoh (www.ricoh.com) creates new value at the interface of people and information, offering a broad range of digital, networked products, including MFPs, printers, fax machines, semiconductor related products, and digital cameras. With 110,000 consolidated employees worldwide and $22 billion in revenue (as of March 31, 2008), Ricoh is also one of the world's leading environmentalist companies, committed to sustainable business everywhere.

Here & There Column 6-30-09

KJ Hippensteel, left, playing Chick Miller and Lauren Jelencovich, playing Teddy Stern in the Forestburgh Playhouse production of "Wish You Were Here."

Forestburgh Playhouse Catskill Memories

If you were one of the lucky ones to see "Wish You Were Here" June 16-21 at the Forestburgh Playhouse it truly took you back to the "Golden Era" of our Sullivan County Catskills.
Having been there and done that during some of that "Golden Era" I remember well working as a caddy at the Big G and playing drums in a dance band at bungalow colonies and so the skits in this presentation by the very talented Forestburgh Playhouse actors and actresses rang very true and gave their audience the real picture of what some of the "Golden Era" looked like.
This musical comedy gem set among the young singles at Camp Karefree recreated those many magic summer-times enjoyed by so many in that great Golden Era of the Catskills.
The basic theme of Wish You Were Here is about a young lady (Teddy Stern) who is sent by her doctor to an adult summer camp in the Catskills called Camp Karefree "where friendships are formed to last a whole lifetime through." She hopes to relax enough to clear her head for her upcoming wedding, but ends up becoming one of the most sought-after female prizes for the oversexed wait staff of eager college men....among them the aggressive, womanizing Pinky Harris and the charming law student Chick Miller, who eventually makes her realize she doesn't want to be married after all.
Outstanding acting and vocals by KJ Hippensteel playing Chick Miller and Lauren Jelencovich playing Teddy Stern. KJ was recently seen in Altar Boyz as Matthew in Vero Beach and the National Tour of The Wedding Singer as Glen Guglia. Lauren has appeared in the Off Broadway world premiere of The Music Teacher and has appeared in concert at Carnegie Hall and at the MGM Grand and Hard Rock Live in Las Vegas.
It was nice to see local actor Harold Tighe in the role of Herman Fabricant....another great job Harold.
Directed and choreographed by Richard Amelius and musical direction by David Jenkins Jr. we give this performance five stars for outstanding acting and musical talents by the entire cast.
Next up is Elvis-All Shook Up June 23-July 5 and Disney High School Musical July 2-August 15 only on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Tickets and reservation are available by calling 794-1194.