Saturday, May 29, 2010

Golf & The Fanning Family

Elizabeth "Beth" Fanning, Rosemary Fanning and Phil Fanning get ready for a round of golf at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club

52-year-old Phil Fanning is completing his 30th year of teaching physical education at the Liberty Central School District.
51-year-old Rosemary Fanning is a nurse and works in the Operating Room at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris.
27-year-old Elizabeth "Beth" Fanning is a counselor with the NYS Dept. of Corrections.

21-year-old Kaitlyn Fanning graduates in May from Siena College.

23-year-old Jonathon Fanning works for the Bank of America in Charlotte, N.C.


Golf And The Fanning Family

"The camaraderie in the game of golf is priceless," Phil Fanning remarked during an interview with his golfing family held recently at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club near Swan Lake.
Athletics and athletic ability have played a large part in the lives of this Youngsville family who have made their mark not only in golf but in soccer, basketball, softball, cheer leading, baseball and football.
Fifty-two year-old Phil Fanning is a 1975 graduate of Liberty Central High School where he competed four years in baseball, football and two years of basketball. He went on to Cortland State and graduated in 1980 with a Physical Education degree and completed his Masters degree in Elementary Education from New Paltz State.
Phil is completing his 30th year teaching physical education at Liberty Central High School where he has coached varsity baseball, varsity football, varsity golf, varsity girls basketball, modified baseball and modified football. At the present time he is assisting with varsity baseball and modified football.
Amazingly enough Phil did not play any golf in high school and in his second year of college at Cortland his roommate, David Solomon, a scratch golfer on the college team, encouraged Fanning to come out on the golf course with him and learn the sport.
Solomon gave Phil many golf tips and kept encouraging him to learn more about the sport.
Fanning continued his golf education with lessons from Professional Bob Menges and in 1981 he met Andy Taggart and began playing recreation softball and golf with Andy almost on a daily basis.
Fanning and Taggart have been golf partners for the past 25-years in the Tuesday Men's league at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. This is the only league Phil plays in but enjoys recreational golf with his family.
Phil has helped with coaching several years in the Menges summer golf camps. He plays in a half dozen charity golf tournaments a year.
Fanning maintains a 13 handicap for 18 holes of golf.
Fifty-one year-old Rosemary Fanning took up the game of golf six years ago, took group lessons from the Matt Kleiner School of Golf and instructor Kevin Kurcoba and has continued lessons with Professional Bob Menges.
A 1977 graduate of Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School Rosemary did not compete in any sport but instead was a cheerleader four years. She definitely has an athletic background being raised in the sports-active Bernhardt family.
Rosemary following high school attended and graduated from Orange County Community College with a nursing degree and has been employed the past 31 years at what is now called the Catskill Regional Medical Center where she presently works in the Operating Room.
She comments about her "love of the game" and continues with lessons from Professional Bob Menges.
Rosemary competes in the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club Thursday Ladies league with partner Amie Bryztwa and plays to about a 20 plus handicap.
Twenty-seven year-old Beth Fanning graduated from Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School in 2000 and from Elmira State College in 2004 with a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice and is presently working on her Masters degree.
At Jeff-Youngsville Beth was active four years in basketball, soccer and softball. At the present time she is a member of the championship Charlie's Angels softball team.
During the summer of 2007 Beth was attracted to the game of golf and started taking lessons from Professional Bob Menges. She finds the game "challenging."
Beth is employed as a counselor the past three years with the New York State Department of Corrections at Sullivan Correctional.
She is a member of the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club Thursday Ladies league with partner Cathy Menges and maintains a 20 plus handicap.
Twenty-one year-old Kaitlyn Fanning is a 2006 graduate of Sullivan West Central School and will graduate with a teaching degree in English this month from Siena College. She will continue her education pursuing a career in law or journalism.
At Sullivan West Kaitlyn played four years of basketball, four years of soccer, one year of softball and three years of varsity golf,
She initially studied the game of golf at the Steve Eisenberg School of Golf under Professional Bob Menges and has continued lessons from Menges. "She is very athletic and took easily to the game of golf," Menges noted.
At Sullivan West Kaitlyn played first and second golfer and plays to a bogey handicap.
During the summer months she works as a Clubhouse Assistant at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club.
Twenty-five year-old Jonathon Fanning took up the game of golf during the past two years but was a three sports (soccer, basketball and baseball) athlete at Sullivan West.
Jonathon graduated from Sullivan West in 2002 and is a 2007 graduate from St. Bonaventure University at Olean majoring in Business.
He played no sports in college and presently is employed by Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A family that plays together stays together and when you get to know the Fanning family this theme is very evident.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Golfing Highlights Column 5-28-10

The beautifully remodeled Clubhouse at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club adds to your golfing experience.

Golf & Events Coordinator Shannon Bowers and Course Superintendent James Bowers at the Tennahan Lake Golf & Tennis Club.

Tennanah Lake Celebrates 100th Anniversary

The Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club, the oldest operating golf course in Sullivan County, will celebrate their 100 year anniversary (1910-2010) on Friday June 11th and Saturday June 12.
The 100th year anniversary celebration kicks off Friday evening, June 11 at Wolff's 1910 with a live broadcast by Radio Station Thunder 102.1 from 7-9 p.m.
At that time there will be free appetizers and cash bar offering drink specials.
Dancing and live music takes place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. by The Hendrickson's. Give aways will take place during the evenings events.
On Saturday, June 12 there will be give aways and raffles and a foursome can compete on the 18-hole course for $100 to celebrate 100 years.
On hole No. 9 there will be a hole-in-one contest which can win you a free membership.
From 12-1 p.m., 2-3 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. there will be free golf challenges and exhibitions along with chipping and putting contests on the practice facilities.
Free tennis lessons and exhibitions will take place from 1-2 p.m., 3-4 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.
A kid's pool party with free swimming, face painting and fun activities will be held from 1-3 p.m.
From noon to 4 p.m. there will be food and drink specials at The Grill in the clubhouse with music on the deck.
A Chicken BBQ with live music for $9 per person takes place at 6 p.m. with a $1 a cup beer special.
Capping off the 100th year anniversary celebration will be fireworks at 9 p.m.
Shannon Bowers is the Golf & Events Coordinator at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. James Bowers is the Course Superintendent and Robert Allison is the General Manager.
During the spring of 2007 Bowers and his grounds keeping staff built new greens on the fourth and ninth holes and also built new cart paths on the front nine. Several of the tee boxes were also re-sodded and improvements to the bunkers were made in the past several years.
Several years ago Tennanah Lake totally renovated the clubhouse which included 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 magnificent Catskill mountains.
On top of the world at an elevation of more than 2000 feet, the land for this facility was purchased in 1910 by Peter Wolff. In 1910 he built the Tennanah Lake House, turning his once small boarding farmhouse into a leader in tourism for Sullivan County.
Wolff needed to offer his guests fleeing the heat of the city more to do so he began construction of a 9-hole golf course. By 1935 the 400 acre resort expanded to accommodate 500 guests.
Alfred Tull did the redesign of the golf course in the 1950's and one of the highlights at the course was the exhibition play of San Snead in 1952 with Sam calling the layout one of the longest and most challenging courses he had even played.
When the course was expanded to 18-holes, six of the original nine were utilized in the design.
A practice putting green and driving range are also available as well as a the full service pro shop.
The facilities also include two tennis courts, a heated pool, stay and play packages and catering facilities at Wolf's Catering.
Tee times reservations and information can be obtained by calling 607-498-5000 or at their web site, http://www.tennanah.com/
During the summer months we will detail each hole and the best way to score on this course.

The Golf Tip By Robert Menges

Simple Drill To Improve Your Swing Tempo:
Here's a simple drill to improve your swing tempo.
Go to the driving range and alternate between hitting shots with your short irons and then your long irons.
For example, hit one shot with your wedge and the next with your 3 wood. Hit the next shot with your 8 iron then the next shot with your 3 iron.
Then the next shot with your 9 iron and then hit your driver.
And when your doing this try to make the swing with the longer club the same as your swing with the shorter clubs.
The late, great Payne Stewart used to do this all the time and if you remember his swing, it was as smooth as silk.
So do this exercise and do it often so you too can have a smooth, rhythmical swing from one club to the next.
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

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a public relations 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, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177, by
e-mail to edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For a much more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web site at http://www.bght.blogspot.com/
Golf Events

May 30--Stumpsitters Hunting Club Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845- 434-1257
May 30--Livingston Manor Baseball, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
June 2--Regional Qualifier for the IKE Championship. Grossinger Country Club. Information 845-292-9000.
June 4--Jake Hulse Memorial, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0438.
June 4--Monticello PBA Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 5--Tarry Brae 50th Anniversary. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 5--Grover Herman Aux. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-932-8596.
June 6--Special Olympics Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 11--Pars for Parkinson's Tournament to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 12--"Jake Classic" Tournament-Jake Gunther Memorial. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 12--Monticello High School Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
June 13--New City FD Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 13--Jeffersonville Lions Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-4061.
June 18--LGA Junior Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
June 19--SC Realtors Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 19--Eastrern Star Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-3357.
June 27--Callicoon Fire Dept. Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
June 28--Bull Pen Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
July 5--Claryville Open Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
July 10--Cornell Co-Op Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-5250.
July 11--Memorial Tournament & Dinner. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 11--Fallsburg Lions-Alan Steingart Memorial. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
July 16--Scotch Twosome Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 18--Liberty Booster Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-807-1996.
July 18--Catskill Cup. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
July 23-25-Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man, Better Ball Golf Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-5200.
July 24--Swan Lake Fire Dept. Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-789-4456.
July 30, Commissioners Cup, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
Aug. 1--N.A.M.I. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-754-8742.
Aug. 8--St George's Church Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-5625.
Aug. 8--Callicoon Kiwanis Club Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 13--United Way Pro-Am Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 15--Billy Moran Memorial Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-5097.
Aug. 15--Rock Hill Ambulance Corp. Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 21--EWGA Regional Golf Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 22--Mahwah Elks Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 27--Holiday Mt. Ski Patrol Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Aug. 30--Sullivan Correctional Facility Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Sept. 11--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-5034.
BILL SUPPER ANOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM
INTERNATIONAL BOWLING MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME

Bill Supper has announced his retirement as executive director of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame (IBM/HF), effective June 15, 2010.

Supper, who joined the Museum this past September, stated, “It was such an honor to be selected by the IBMHOF board of directors to assist in the final build-out and grand opening of this state-of-the art tribute to the sport of bowling,” adding, “There were so many people who were responsible for the successful opening and I sincerely appreciate their efforts. The official opening on January 25, 2010 ranks as one of my career’s greatest moments. Now that it’s up and running, it’s time for me to move on to another phase of my life.”

Supper is a 30-year veteran of the bowling business, having worked for the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA), the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructor Association and as executive director of the Hall for a total of five years.

Pat Ciniello, chairman of the IBM/HF, had kind words for Supper. “I’m thrilled for Bill in his decision,” said Ciniello. “In eight months, he gave us a lifetime of support. We recognize and appreciate his many contributions in making our dream for a world-class facility a reality,” adding, “There are no plans to immediately replace Supper while the board thoroughly evaluates future growth plans.”

Supper pointed out that although ready to move on the next chapter of his life, he was considering other opportunities within the industry. “The bowling industry has been my life for over 30 years,” said Supper, “so don’t be surprised if I end up in another position within the bowling business.” Case in point: Supper will remain executive director of the Billiard & Bowling Institute of America, an appointment confirmed by BPAA Executive Director Steve Johnson.

About the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame
The mission of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame is to collect, preserve, and research bowling’s history, provide a suitable home for bowling’s major Halls of Fame, and make the museum’s information and collection available to interested parties globally for education, promotion and entertainment.
18-Year-Old Matt Gasn Continues Trend
Of Youth Excellence in PBA Events

The youth movement in PBA competition continued last weekend when 18-year-old Matt Gasn of Laurel, Md., won the PBA East Region Non-Champions Open at Faxon Lanes. Gasn’s win is the latest in a wave of outstanding showings by youth bowlers in PBA regional events.

Bowling as a non-PBA member, he had a 7-1 match play record, averaged 233 and defeated Michael Bohner of Allenwood, Pa., 2-0 in the best-of-three championship match to win a $1,500 scholarship for his SMART account.

“I didn’t think it would happen this early,” Gasn said of his victory. “There were a lot of very good bowlers in the field and I just wanted to have a good finish.

“One of my goals in any tournament is to make the cut and if I can do that I feel I have as good a chance as anyone because I love match play. I feel that when you get to match play it’s anyone’s game.”

Gasn recently finished his freshman year at Saginaw Valley State where he was named to the all-tournament team at the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championship, but will transfer to Webber International this fall.

He bowled in first regional three years ago at age 15 finishing 12th and his previous best regional finish was fifth.

Eighteen-year-old Andrew Koff of Miami, Fla., won a PBA South regional event in Jupiter, Fla., May 16, earning $2,500 which went directly to his SMART scholarship account, and a week before 12-year-old Kamron Doyle of Brentwood, Tenn., became the youngest bowler ever to cash in a PBA event, finishing 30th in a Canton, Ga., regional earning $400 which also went into a SMART account.

The accomplishments by these bowlers are representative of the abilities of many young athletes who are successfully competing head-to-head in professional series with more experienced adults.

Last weekend 16-year-old youth golfers, U.S. Junior Amateur Champion Jordan Spieth and Grayson Murray made their mark in professional events.

According to PGA Tour.com, at 16 years, 9 months and 24 days, Spieth became the sixth youngest player to make a PGA Tour cut and eventually finished in a tie for 16th. Murray became the fifth youngest to compete in a PGA Nationwide event and the second youngest to make a cut at 16 years, 7 months and 20 days.

Among Gasn’s other accomplishments in PBA competition include a seventh-place tie and 25th-place finishes in Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour TQRs in 2007 and 2008. In April 2009, Bowlers Journal International recognized him as one of seven bowlers to watch in future PBA Tour seasons, but for now school remains the priority.

“Right now I’m going to focus on school and bowl as much as I can,” Gasn said. “We’ll see what happens as time goes on and I get more experience.”

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Here & There Column 5-25-10

To Drill Or Not To Drill

To drill or not to drill is certainly not a dental question in Sullivan County.
If one wanted controversy and staunch support for and against natural gas drilling this subject has really stirred the sometimes political pot.
What is at stake here is the Marcellus Shale which is a black shale formation extending deep underground from Ohio and West Virginia northeast into Pennsylvania and southern New York including parts of Sullivan County.
The subject about the natural gas resources of the Marcellus shale formation have been known a long time but the depth and tightness of the shale made gas exploration and extraction expensive and difficult.
The reason interest is now the topic of the day is because of recent enhancements to gas well development technology.....specifically horizontal and hydraulic fracturing.
Questions raised deal with environmental and community impacts with most concerns related to water use and management and the composition of the fluids used for fracturing the shale.
The quantity of water needed for hydraulic fracturing of the Marcellus shale is said to require large volumes of water.
It's firmly stated that the New York State DEC regulatory program oversees drilling and is responsible for protecting the environment, water resources and public water supplies.
Today, with energy prices at record highs, extracting this gas looks to be affordable and energy companies along with landowners are lining up to reap profits potentially worth billions.
Gas companies are ready to spend a billion dollars or more on infrastructure investments in upstate New York.
Environmental groups and opponents to the drilling indicate that there are hundreds of things that can go wrong when a company receives a permit to drill.
Those supporting drilling say twice as many people favor drilling as oppose it. Supporters say leasing of land and the drilling will bring millions into a state that is economically dying.
Financially strapped counties will also benefit supporters of drilling say and there would be the creation of thousands of jobs.
Could this become the biggest boom in Sullivan County history?
Can this drilling process be done safely and will our water resources be protected?
To drill or not to drill?...... maybe a county or state referendum should be put to everyone and let the folks voice their opinion at the ballet box.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Golfing Highlights Column 5-21-10

The 206-yard par 3 hole-in-one car sponsorship for the June 5 Tarry Brae 50th year in business celebration is Toyota of Monticello. Arthur Glick Truck Sales is another hole-in-one sponsor.

Tarry Brae PGA Professional Glenn Sonnenschein

Tarry Brae Celebrates 50th Anniversary

The Tarry Brae Golf Course near South Fallsburg will celebrate their 50th year in business with special events on Saturday, June 5.
A day of golf for this celebration will only cost $19.60 per golfer for 18-holes with the cart.
Each golfer on that day will also receive a free hat and a two-pack of golf balls.
Cobra will also be staging a demo day and there will be a drawing for a free membership at Tarry Brae worth between $500 and $700.
Automobiles are prizes on par 3 holes No. 7 and 17. On hole No. 7 the car is sponsored by Arthur Glick Truck Sales and on hole No. 17 the car sponsorship is by Toyota Of Monticello.
Other prizes will be offered on par 3 holes No. 4 and 11 for closest to the pin. Hole No. 16 will feature the longest drive prize and hole No. 8 the closest to the line prize.
Thunder Country Radio will be on hand for the festivities.
Golfers can also bring this days golf receipt back for a $5 reduced green fee any other day.
Town officials will participate in a cake cutting ceremony.
Tarry Brae was first developed in the early 1950's and was designed by William Mitchell. In the mid 1950's the golf course was taken over by the Town of Fallsburg.
This beautifully designed course is classified by many as a premier golf facility. The course has a well-equipped pro shop, snack bar and grill.
P.G.A. Professional Glenn Sonnenschein heads up the staff at Tarry Brae. Clark Bartholomew is the golf course superintendent.
This course features a state-of-the-art irrigation system which uses a computerized automatic watering program.
During the summer months we will detail this course layout. .

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 with about 50 to 55 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 54-57 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 green. I think you will find that this will total about 60 percent of your score.
When you are trying to improve your score, it is important to lower the number of shots you take close to the green. I think having three wedges in your bag will help you accomplish a lower score.
Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a public relations 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, Ed can be reached by telephone at 845-439-8177, by email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For a much more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web site http://bght.blogspot.com/

Golf Events

May 21--Marine Corp. GL. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
May 22--Fallsburg PBA Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
May 27--Hub Cup Challenge. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
May 30--Stumpsitters Hunting Club Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845- 434-1257
May 30--Livingston Manor Baseball, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
June 2--Regional Qualifier for the IKE Championship. Grossinger Country Club. Information 845-292-9000.
June 4--Jake Hulse Memorial, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0438.
June 4--Monticello PBA Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 5--Tarry Brae 50th Anniversary. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 5--Grover Herman Aux. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-932-8596.
June 6--Special Olympics Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 11--Pars for Parkinson's Tournament to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 12--"Jake Classic" Tournament-Jake Gunther Memorial. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 12--Monticello High School Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
June 13--New City FD Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 13--Jeffersonville Lions Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-4061.
June 18--LGA Junior Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
June 19--SC Realtors Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 19--Eastrern Star Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-3357.
June 27--Callicoon Fire Dept. Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
June 28--Bull Pen Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
July 5--Claryville Open Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
July 10--Cornell Co-Op Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-5250.
July 11--Memorial Tournament & Dinner. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 11--Fallsburg Lions-Alan Steingart Memorial. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
July 16--Scotch Twosome Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 18--Liberty Booster Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-807-1996.
July 18--Catskill Cup. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
July 23-25-Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man, Better Ball Golf Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-5200.
July 24--Swan Lake Fire Dept. Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-789-4456.
July 30, Commissioners Cup, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
Aug. 1--N.A.M.I. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-754-8742.
Aug. 8--St George's Church Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-5625.
Aug. 8--Callicoon Kiwanis Club Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 13--United Way Pro-Am Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 15--Billy Moran Memorial Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-5097.
Aug. 15--Rock Hill Ambulance Corp. Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 21--EWGA Regional Golf Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 22--Mahwah Elks Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 27--Holiday Mt. Ski Patrol Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Aug. 30--Sullivan Correctional Facility Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Sept. 11--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-5034.

Kelly Kulick’s Four Consecutive Major Titles
Ranks Among Greatest Feats in Bowling History

In a span of less than nine months, capped by her victory in the United States Bowling Congress’ U.S. Women’s Open Wednesday night, Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., has put together the most amazing string of titles in women’s professional bowling history.

By defeating top qualifier Liz Johnson, 233-203, to win the U.S. Women’s Open in Arlington, Texas, Kulick became the first woman to win two of the sport’s most prestigious titles in the same year – and the only player in professional bowling history to win four consecutive major championships.

Fifteen days earlier, she defeated Tennelle Milligan, 232-188, to win her second USBC Queens title in El Paso, Texas. On Sept. 5, 2009, Kulick won the inaugural PBA Women’s World Championship in Allen Park, Mich., and on Jan. 24, she claimed her biggest title of all, defeating 63 Professional Bowlers Association male champions to win the PBA Tournament of Champions for the first PBA Tour title ever won by a woman.

Winning three consecutive women’s major titles plus the PBA Tournament of Champions in less than a year is a “grand slam” of major championships that will probably never be equaled. The only comparable feat in PBA history is Norm Duke’s string of three consecutive major titles (Denny’s PBA World Championship, U.S. Open and PBA World Championship) over an eight-month span in 2009.

In the annals of women’s professional bowling, signature seasons included 1988 when Lisa Wagner won five titles and became the first woman bowler to earn $100,000 in a single season; 1997 when Wendy Macpherson won four titles and set the all-time women’s earnings record of $165,425, and 2001 when Carolyn Dorin-Ballard won a record seven PWBA titles. But no woman has come close to Kulick’s streak.

In addition to the majors, Kulick also won the 2009 PBA Women’s Shark Championship in Allen Park over Labor Day weekend. In her last five consecutive television appearances – against men as well as women – Kulick has a 10-0 record in head-to-head matches, and she has earned $110,000 in those five events alone.

None of the above includes a mid-summer side trip to Asia where she won the Malaysian Open, or earnings in six other PBA Women’s Series events last season.

Kulick’s most recent accomplishments aren’t the first time she has made gender-busting history. In 2006, she finished sixth in the PBA Tour Trials to become the first woman in history to earn the right to bowl full-time on male-dominated national tour. She also won a PBA East Region title that year, joining Liz Johnson as the second woman to win a PBA regional title.

Ironically, Kulick never set out to prove women can compete with men in bowling. That reality came about out of necessity. After four years as a Collegiate All-American at Morehead (Ky.) State University, and three years gaining international experience as a member of Team USA, Kulick decided it was time to test her skills on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association where she earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2001.

She was competitive on the women’s pro tour, but it took two years before she broke through and won her first title – the 2003 Women’s U.S. Open. The elation of that victory faded quickly, however, because it was the last event the PWBA ever conducted. The women’s tour ceased operations weeks later.

The only hope Kulick and other top-caliber women bowlers had at that point was to bowl wherever they could find opportunities. When the PBA opened its membership to women in 2004, Kulick and a handful of her female friends stepped up to the PBA challenge.

For Kulick, the culmination was the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions. As winner of the inaugural PBA Women’s World Championship, she earned the right to become the only woman to ever bowl in the TOC and she stunned the sports world by topped a field of 63 male PBA champions to win one of the PBA’s most prestigious titles. Kulick confided afterward that she always believed she could be the first woman to win a PBA title – but she never imagined it would be THAT title.

The TOC victory also meant Kulick has earned a two-year exemption to return to full-time competition as the only woman bowling on the PBA Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, beginning with the PBA World Series of Bowling this fall.

If anyone thought Kulick’s Tournament of Champions victory was a fluke, she has dispelled any doubts with her ongoing string of successes.

“It all started at the Queens last year when I finished second to Liz,” Kulick said. “Since then, it’s been one big snowball rolling down the hill and getting bigger and bigger. It has been magical.

“I can’t believe I now have eight titles – and six of them are majors. I’m not sure why. I think the longer formats suit me,” she continued. “But believe it or not, I think I’ve still got room to improve. I want to learn more about equipment and lane play. I’m going to continue to bowling at least four days a week to work on improving my repetition.”

Kulick isn’t sitting around, admiring her new collection of trophies. She is taking nothing for granted as she awaits her second season as the only full-time “exempt” woman on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour. Kulick remembers her first excursion as a full-time PBA Tour player bowling against the guys during the 2006-07 season. A best finish of 22nd place would have been forgettable for most people, but for Kulick, it was a year-long lesson in what she needed to do to become a better player.

When she returns to the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour as an exempt player next fall, she plans to be as ready as she can be.

Personal success is one thing, but it isn’t the only thing Kelly Kulick thinks about. In the wake of her historic Tournament of Champions victory, Kulick made a series of national television appearances, received a page of coverage in Sports Illustrated and an unprecedented endorsement from nationally-acclaimed sports writer Rick Reilly in ESPN the Magazine. She was even invited to visit the White House for a special tribute to America’s women pioneers.

All of the newfound success could have gone to Kulick’s head, but while she appreciates the attention, Kulick understands she represents a unique opportunity for women in bowling. She has initiated a strict physical conditioning regimen to improve her strength and endurance. She is accepting every media opportunity she can manage, but it isn’t just about selling herself.

“I just hope what I’ve been able to do will draw some attention to women’s bowling,” Kulick said. “If I can help make that happen, that’s what is important to me.”

While she awaits the arrival of the PBA Tour in the fall, Kulick’s calendar is filling rapidly. She is planning to attend a series of summer trade shows, including International Bowl Expo in Las Vegas, June 27-July 1, where she will spend some in the PBA exhibit as well as working for her bowling ball sponsor, Ebonite International. She’s making a late May trip to Japan; teaching at a series of Dick Ritger Bowling Camps, and conducting a clinic at Bowlero Lanes in suburban Tacoma, Wash., where she also will compete in a PBA Northwest Region tournament, June 4-6.

BPAA HELPS TO REV UP FUNDING
FOR INTERNATIONAL BOWLING MUSEUM

The Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA), the bowling industry’s premier trade organization, announced today that it is donating the “Strike Bike” to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.

The one-of-a-kind bowling-themed bike debuted on The Learning Channel’s August 7, 2008 realty show “American Chopper” and was custom designed by the legendary Teutul family. The bike will be open for public auction at the upcoming International Bowl Expo’s “Salute to Bowling” cocktail event and with 100 percent of the proceeds to be donated to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.

“Just like the thrill of rolling a perfect strike, the adrenaline rush of riding a chopper down the open highway is pure Americana. With the ‘Strike Bike,’ the BPAA and Strike Ten Entertainment teamed with Orange County Choppers to create a one-of-a-kind vehicle that bridges two of our nation’s passions. We’re so pleased and honored to be able to donate this priceless bike to contribute to such a worthy cause,” said Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA. “As the leading voice in the bowling industry, we’re dedicated to doing our part to support the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. Also, we’re excited to add to the already great festivities at this year’s International Bowl Expo and give one lucky bowling enthusiast a chance to ride home from Vegas in style on the ‘Strike Bike.’”

Bids for the “Strike Bike” can be placed at the “Salute to Bowling” fund raising event, which will be held from 5:45pm to 7:15pm on Wednesday, June 30 at the Hilton Las Vegas. Due to early interest from international parties, the Salute organizers will install phone-in lines for bidders not able to attend the event in-person. Potential bidders must be pre-qualified.

The technical data for the “Strike Bike” is as follows:
Build Date: May 30, 2008
Mileage: 11.8 miles
Engine type: S&S Super Stock
Transmission: 6-speed Baker Drivetrain

“We’re so deeply appreciative to the BPAA for its generosity and support of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. It’s only fitting that a bowling enthusiast will be provided with an opportunity to own a piece of bowling history while supporting our efforts to preserve and honor the legacy of the sport,” said Pat Ciniello, chairman of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.
“Star of Tomorrow” Andrew Koff
Wins PBA South Regional Event

Two days after graduating from Miami’s Gulliver Prep High School, 18-year-old Andrew Koff of Miami defeated David Boyd of Coconut Creek, Fla., 243-199, to win the Professional Bowlers Association South Region’s Jupiter Lanes Open Sunday.

Koff, competing as an amateur, will receive the $2,500 first prize in the form of scholarship money deposited into his United States Bowling Congress SMART account. He will not receive formal credit for winning a PBA title, nor will he become eligible for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, because of his amateur status.

Koff is not the youngest to win a PBA Regional event. That honor appears to belong to PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber who won a PBA Midwest Regional at Trails West Bowl in Ballwin, Mo., in 1979, at age 16 or 17. Preliminary research hasn’t been able to confirm the exact dates of that event in relationship to Weber’s birth date (Aug. 21, 1962) because detailed records of PBA Regional competition weren’t kept at that point in time. Weber, by the way, has since won 35 PBA Tour titles (third highest in history) and a record 44 PBA Regional titles. On the national tour, the youngest player to win a PBA title is Norm Duke, who won the 1983 Cleveland Open at the age of 18 years, 345 days.

Koff, who was honored as USBC’s Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow on May 1 during USBC’s annual meeting in Reno, Nev., is one of the nation’s brightest young bowling stars – on the lanes and off. A two-time member of Junior Team USA, Koff’s bowling resume is 15 pages long and includes feats such as finishing 25th in the U.S. Open at age 16 (he missed the cut to match play by one pin) and bowling two 300 games in one day to finish third in a PBA South Regional tournament a year ago at age 17.

Off the lanes, Koff is an honor student who has been accepted to four of the nation’s most prestigious universities, but has decided to accept a full-ride scholarship to pursue an engineering degree at Duke University starting this fall.

Koff exhibits a passion for bowling and a high level of skill as a teenager, but he also has a mature outlook about his accomplishments. He’s proud of what he has achieved, but he considers his records and titles as yardsticks to measure his progress. Every challenge is part of a learning curve, and he is highly appreciative of every opportunity he has been given to test himself.

“I knew beforehand that a bowler had to be a PBA member to qualify for the Tournament of Champions,” Koff said. “But to me, it is an honor just to be able to participate in the PBA tournaments as a guest. I think the decision by USBC and the PBA to allow junior bowlers to participate in professional tournaments is a great opportunity that every youth bowler should take advantage of. I love to bowl with and learn from bowlers I admire.

“For now, I am just so happy that I was able to make it to the finals and win the Jupiter regional tournament,” he added. ”Every match was an adventure. It was not easy. It certainly took everything I had to make it to the finals because everyone I bowled against was bowling at their very best.

“I got some breaks and this time I was able to make them work for me,” Koff said. “At this tournament, I was able to control my feelings a lot better than I have in the past and to be patient in waiting for an opportunity to turn the match in my favor.”

In Jupiter, Koff qualified third to reach the match play finals. He then defeated Shawn Naumann of Orlando, Fla., 3-1, in a five-of-five-game match; eliminated 2008 USBC Senior Masters champion Kenny Parks of Hammond, Ind., 2-1, in a best-of-three-game Round of 8 match, and then defeated former PBA Touring Player Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, Fla., 205-197, to advance to the title match.

Other top players in the Jupiter field included seven-time PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., and current PBA Touring Players Andres Gomez of Orlando and Jason Sterner of McDonough, Ga.

Regardless of whether he gets credit for a PBA title or not, Koff is more concerned about goals that are both larger and longer range. He would one day like to join the PBA, but college comes first.

“I am planning to continue practicing as I do know (there is a bowling center five miles away from the Duke campus) and to participate in as many regional tournaments as time permits,” he said. “I also hope to bowl in the U.S. Open next year; I hope that one day I will win that tournament; that is my goal.”

That, and maybe help Duke University become a national bowling powerhouse – a lofty goal considering Duke currently doesn’t even have a bowling program?

“I am certainly going to try,” Koff said. “I was thinking that I can start as a club sport and then hopefully move into their athletics program…”

The PBA conducts regional tournaments year-round, except when the national Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season is underway. Tournament dates, locations and entry information for all seven PBA Regions – East, South, Central, Southwest, Midwest, West and Northwest – are available on pba.com under the Schedules tab.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Here & There Column 5-18-10

Customer Service From Where?

It's gotten to the point that I don't even want to dial customer service anymore because you just can't get the service from anyone here in the United States.
Just in the past four months I needed customer service on three different occasions.
The first call I made was created soon after I had leased a new car and it stalled out on me the first day I drove it from the dealership and would not start. On Star and the automobile manufacturer did a diagnostic test on it and could not find anything wrong. The car had to be taken to a local automobile dealership who tested and tested the vehicle but could not find anything wrong with it.
Shortly after I suggested they move the car inside their heated garage area....bingo it started and I noted to them (and I'm not mechanically inclined) that some water or condensation had very possibly gotten into the fuel line and froze and that's why it would not start and it thawed out in the heated garage. The service manager looked at me and said "I guess your right." I asked if they had put any dry gas into my car and the answer was no. Some days you just can't win.
But, while the car sat in the parking lot of the local dealership I got a call from the automobile manufacturer customer service who noted he was the regional expert and that within several days he would get the problem figured out.
Little did he know that I had already put my non-mechanical brain to work and solved the problem. While talking to this regional expert, who at times I could not understand, I asked where he was calling me from. His reply was Argentina so I asked if he was flying into Newburgh and then renting a car to drive to Sullivan County where my vehicle was sitting and he said no that he would do the repairs over the Internet and telephone.
I ended the conversation by saying that I was going to have my car driven to me by the local dealership and thanked him for his long-distance out of the country service.
Next I had an online Internet problem and after reaching customer service I asked with whom I was talking with and where they were located. India was the location.
My third call for customer service was as a result of a problem with my Wireless Broadband Router and my call went to the Philippines where all they wanted to do was charge me $40 American bucks to get my modem to work but would not guarantee anything.
So many folks I have talked to express the same scenario and one has to wonder if these outsourcing jobs to other countries is a threat to American workers.
U.S. companies for a long time have been outsourcing jobs like the ones I mentioned above because they get much cheaper labor and these services can be performed over the Internet.
One has to wonder with the unemployment rate presently as high as it is that unemployed Americans would jump at jobs like these.
One has to say it like it is and outsourcing jobs like these are definitely hurting our economy. Some experts are saying that from 3.3 to 14 million knowledge based jobs will be at risk between 2000 and 2015 because of outsourcing.
Outsourcing American jobs to foreign countries limits the quality and availability of jobs in the American workplace.
Folks also remark that the quality of these outsourced customer service jobs at times is very questionable.
Shame on corporate greed in America.......these outsourced jobs could easily benefit some of our unemployed.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Golfing Highlights Column 5-14-10

A spectacular view awaits golfers on a new tee presently under construction on the 7th hole at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Course. The existing blue tee can be seen some 10-yard below.

One of the proposed changes in sand traps at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Course is eliminating the bunker in front of hole No. 2 and expanding the two side traps.



Twin Village GC Shows It Can Be Done

The economy, finances and making sure the budget stays in the black are more and more major management topics among owners and operators of nine-hole golf courses in the Tri-County area and intelligent fiscal management and a lot of volunteer cooperation and work is keeping the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Course out of the red.
Proposals made several years ago by Ithaca College Business Management Major Troy J. Kirchner have also helped the course develop new strategies.
Financial conditions at Twin Village this year has required the club to keep only one full time greens keeper and so Kirchner this year is taking on dual responsibilities at the course by working half time as a greens keeper and half time in the clubhouse.
Twin Village previously employed two full time green keepers but as costs for supplies kept going up and with membership declining and revenue not keep up with increased operating expenses the Board of Governors had to make difficult decisions.
The board, under the leadership of president Ron Schulte, vice president Ralph Kirchner, treasurer Chuck Husson, secretary Bill Knipscher and directors Mary Austin, Dan Baldo, Chuck Husson Jr., Frank McGreevy and Sally Shea have worked very hard to keep the course in great playing condition and financially in the black.
The board acknowledges that a lot of volunteer work by members has greatly helped this club erase deficits. Schulte in the 2010 "Dues Newsletter" remarked. "early in 2009 we found ourselves with a deficit caused mainly by a decline in membership," but, "we were able to erase this deficit through careful budget planning," and "at times volunteers worked on the course and club house and sat in the club house collecting greens fees."
A successful Party fundraiser in the fall of 2009 also helped.
Changes made out on the course include 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 installed 9 new tee signs that have the TVGC logo, hole #, par, distances to holes from red, white, and blue, and the layout of the hole so people can visually see it on the sign. Some nine local businesses have also sponsored a hole for the next 5 years, so the expenses of the signs were covered.
A new TVGC logo was put on all nine tee signs and also on the new sign on Rockland Road. The new logo was also put on 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 included adding blue tee boxes and now every hole will have its own red tee box as well. There is not one hole where there is a joint tee box with red and white, or white and blue like in the past.
The nine-hole 2,045-yard par 32 TVGC course has made several changes the past few years including adding some narrow fairways and adding rough where open fairways use to be. Cutting of the greens, fairways and rough and adding of a 90-degree cart policy also added to the beauty of the fairways and a better playing surface for all golfers.
Proposed changes to traps and bunkers at the course are on the agenda this year. Course member Terry Knickerbocker proposed the changes last year and noted he would do the work. The board of directors approved the changes as long as it did not involve additional costs to the club. The changes which most likely will not be made until the fall would include moving the trap in front of the seventh hole and making a new larger trap to the right of the hole. On the second hole the front bunker would be removed and the side bunkers extended. On the ninth hole the front bunker would be removed and a larger bunker built on the right side of the green.
The proposed traps and bunker changes has created some opposition by club members so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Another change in the making is the development of a new tee on the seventh hole. The blue tee when completed will be about 10 yards higher and further back from the present tee. This will make for a challenging and interesting seventh hole. Play from this tee might be available later this season or early in the 2011 season.
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 607-498-5829, e-mail tvgc@yahoo.com or go to their Web site at http://roscoegolf.com/

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

Several early tournament announcements we want to let you know about includes the Billy Moran Memorial Golf Outing August 15 at the Villa Roma, for information call 887-5097, the regional qualifier for the IKE Championship on June 2 at Grossingers, the 8th Annual Jake Classic Golf Outing June 12 at Tarry Brae, for information call 796-6480 and the Occupations Inc. Pro-Am Tournament June 18 at The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge, for information call 692-4454, ext. 101.

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 believe would make good reading or have league standings and tournament information, please call Ed at 845-439-8177, vie e-mail at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or by fax at 845-230-8674. For a much more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web site http://bght.blogspot.com/

Golf Events

May 14--Mamakating Lions Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620
May 15--St. Thomas Aquinas Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
May 17--Orange County Golf Championships, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
May 21--Marine Corp. GL. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
May 22--Fallsburg PBA Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
May 27--Hub Cup Challenge. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
May 30--Stumpsitters Hunting Club Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845- 434-1257
May 30--Livingston Manor Baseball, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
June 2--Regional Qualifier for the IKE Championship. Grossinger Country Club. Information 845-292-9000.
June 4--Jake Hulse Memorial, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0438.
June 4--Monticello PBA Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 5--Tarry Brae 50th Anniversary. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 5--Grover Herman Aux. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-932-8596.
June 6--Special Olympics Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 11--Pars for Parkinson's Tournament to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 12--"Jake Classic" Tournament-Jake Gunther Memorial. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 12--Monticello High School Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
June 13--New City FD Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 13--Jeffersonville Lions Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-4061.
June 18--LGA Junior Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
June 19--SC Realtors Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 19--Eastrern Star Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-3357.
June 27--Callicoon Fire Dept. Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
June 28--Bull Pen Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
July 5--Claryville Open Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
July 10--Cornell Co-Op Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-5250.
July 11--Memorial Tournament & Dinner. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 11--Fallsburg Lions-Alan Steingart Memorial. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
July 16--Scotch Twosome Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 18--Liberty Booster Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-807-1996.
July 18--Catskill Cup. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
July 23-25-Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man, Better Ball Golf Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-5200.
July 24--Swan Lake Fire Dept. Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-789-4456.
July 30, Commissioners Cup, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
Aug. 1--N.A.M.I. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-754-8742.
Aug. 8--St George's Church Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-5625.
Aug. 8--Callicoon Kiwanis Club Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 13--United Way Pro-Am Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 15--Billy Moran Memorial Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-5097.
Aug. 15--Rock Hill Ambulance Corp. Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 21--EWGA Regional Golf Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 22--Mahwah Elks Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 27--Holiday Mt. Ski Patrol Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Aug. 30--Sullivan Correctional Facility Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Sept. 11--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-5034.

KULICK TAKES ANOTHER MAJOR TITLE,
WINS U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN
The dream season continued to be a reality for Kelly Kulick as she won her second major women's title in 15 days on Wednesday, claiming the U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event.Kulick, of Union, N.J., defeated Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 233-203, in the first live event televised from the new International Training and Research Center. Kulick also won the event in 2003 and became the 11th player to win the event more than once.Just two weeks after winning the USBC Queens in El Paso, Texas, Kulick took a 32-pin lead after seven frames against Johnson and rolled to the title. In January, Kulick made sports history when she became the first woman to earn a title on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, winning the Tournament of Champions."This has just been a magical run for me," said Kulick, who also won the PBA Women's World Championship and the PBA Women's Series Shark Championship in September. "This is it. This is what I've always dreamed about. I'm so humbled right now."Kulick, who earned $20,000 for the victory, struck six times starting in the fourth frame to pull away from Johnson, who bowled a clean game but only managed one double."I felt good and got lined up in practice, but the first couple shots didn't come off my hand well," said Johnson, who won the U.S. Women's Open in 1996 and 2007. "After that, I was pretty close, but the pins just didn't fall for me. Kelly just bowled great."As the player who hooks the ball the most among the five television finalists, Kulick said that turned out to be an advantage. Kulick was able to stay left of the rest of the players and throw the ball into the part of the lane where the oil pattern had broken down."The way the lanes broke down was an advantage for me tonight," Kulick said. "Knocking out the 10 pin was challenging. I waited for the lane to come to me, and when that happened, it allowed me to strike."In the semifinal, Kulick beat Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, 201-176. Dorin-Ballard only managed two strikes in the match and suffered through a stretch of five consecutive nine counts in frames two through six. Kulick, meanwhile, threw a pair of doubles in the match and just needed a mark in the final frame to shut out the USBC Hall of Famer.Dorin-Ballard knocked off Colombian native Clara Guerrero of Pflugerville, Texas, 216-192, to advance to the semifinal. Dorin-Ballard threw four consecutive strikes from frames three through six, and Guerrero left a pocket 7-10 split in the sixth frame to fall behind by 24 pins, a deficit from which she would never recover.In the opening match, Dorin-Ballard advanced with an overtime victory against Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas. Barnes struck on her final shot in regulation to tie Dorin-Ballard at 207, but on the first extra shot Dorin-Ballard struck and Barnes left a 4 pin to be eliminated.The U.S. Women's Open featured a field of 100 of the top female bowlers in the world competing for a total prize fund of $117,100.For complete coverage of the U.S. Women's Open, including stories, results, videos and photos, visit BOWL.com.United States Bowling CongressThe United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than two million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.The interactive home of USBC is BOWL.com. Go to twitter.com/USBC for the fastest USBC headlines.Bowl with US2010 U.S. Women's Open(At the International Training and Research Center, Arlington, Texas)Wednesday's Results CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDMatch 1Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, def. Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 207-207 (10-9). (Barnes finishes fifth, earns $6,500.)Match 2Dorin-Ballard def. Clara Guerrero, Pflugerville, Texas, -192. (Guerrero finishes fourth, earns $8,000.)Match 3Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., def. Dorin-Ballard, 201-176 (Dorin-Ballard finishes third, earns $10,000.)Match 4Kulick def. Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 233-203. (Johnson finishes second, earns $13,000; Kulick finishes first, earns $20,000.)
12-Year-Old Kamron Doyle is Youngest
to Cash in a PBA Tournament

Twelve-year-old Kamron Doyle of Brentwood, Tenn., finished 30th in the Professional Bowlers Assocation Canton (Ga.) Open Regional tournament May 19 at Cherokee Lanes, becoming the youngest bowler ever to cash in a PBA event. He earned $400 which will be deposited into a scholarship account.

Bowling as a non-PBA member, Doyle had a 2,797 13-game pinfall total (215.1 average) bowling against a 94-player field which included some of the top regional and national tour professional players from the organization’s South region. The event was won by 2009-10 PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr., a 47-time PBA Tour title winner and member of the PBA Hall of Fame.

Asked about his formula for success the Brentwood Middle School sixth-grader said, “I just practice and bowl in a lot of tournaments. There’s no secret--just go out there and do it.”

Doyle is a youth bowling phenom who already holds the all-time record as the youngest bowler to roll a United States Bowling Congress-certified 800 series (he rolled games of 279, 278, and 245 for an 802 three-game series at the age of 11 years, 2 months, and 1 day) and is also the third-youngest bowler to roll a 300 game in certified competition. In all, Doyle has two 800 series (highest is 803) and two 300 games.

According to his mother Cathy, Kamron became interested in the sport when he attended a friend’s bowling birthday party at the age of seven.

“After that he was hooked,” Cathy said. “Before we knew it he was bowling three days a week and at this point I think he’s got about 60 bowling balls.”

The Doyle’s live 10 minutes from Nashville in a region of the country that has recently been hard-hit by flooding but the family has not been directly affected by the disaster.

Bowling in his second PBA regional tournament, Kamron regularly competes in youth leagues and the Southern Scratch Junior Bowling Association where he has won several tournaments and also averages about 215. In addition to youth competition, he often competes in other adult tournaments where he has a best finish of fourth.

Kamron is already thinking about his future in the sport and seems to have his priorities in order.

“When I’m ready for college I’d like to go to Wichita State or Webber State because they are two of the top bowling schools,” Kamron said. “After that I’d like to bowl on the PBA Tour.”

He was featured in a Disney Channel Get’cha Head in the Game feature in the summer of 2009.
CHUCK PEZZANO SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED

The BWAA Chuck Pezzano Scholarship application deadline has been extended to June 1, 2010. Committee chairman Joan Romeo said “BWAA has so many talented young writers who applied for the 2009 scholarship. We wanted to give the students every opportunity to submit their application in these tough economic times”.

The scholarship is named in honor of world renowned journalist Chuck Pezzano of Clifton, N.J. whose many tributes include being a member of both the USBC and PBA Halls of Fame. Up to three (3) scholarships per year may be awarded based on the applicant’s credentials. Individuals may not be awarded more than $1500 per application and yearly combined scholarships will not exceed $3,000. Any or all of the funds will be distributed at the discretion of the committee. Winners will also receive a one year paid membership in BWAA.

Qualities considered include academic achievement (minimum 2.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent), involvement in the field of communications and bowling participation, although bowling skills are not a requisite. The application must include at least one reference letter, school transcript and a short essay on bowling of not more than 350 words.
So, start thinking about your application or about who YOU would like to nominate for our 2010 awards. To apply download the application at www.bowlingwriters.com from the scholarship tab. Complete the form and return it with the supporting documents no later than June 1.For more information contact Joan Romeo at jromeo@socal.rr.com or call the BWAA office at 817.385.8472. The 2010 Pezzano Scholarship is sponsored by Roto Grip, www.VirtualTournaments.com and the Eldorado Hotel and Casino in Reno.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Here & There Column 5-11-10

Part of "The Wall That Heals"

Visit "The Wall That Heals"

A half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial "The Wall That Heals" will be on display from Thursday May 13 through Sunday, May 16 at the Museum at Bethel Woods.
On Veteran's Day 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund unveiled this replica in Washington, DC and it has traveled to communities throughout the United States.
Jan Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund explained, "in 1969, while many Americans were enjoying the music at Woodstock, I was serving in Vietnam. Those were the two big influences on our generation, reflecting the choices we made as young people coming of age in America. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was created to bring the disparate section of our population together, so it is fitting that "The Wall That Heals is coming to the site of the Woodstock festival."
This solemn exhibition will feature the dramatic replica, stretching nearly 250 feet in total length, as well as an Information Center and traveling museum, which provides a comprehensive educational component to enrich and complete visitors' experience.
The traveling museum chronicles the Vietnam War era and the unique healing power of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, while the Information Center serves as a venue for people to learn about friends and loved ones lost in the war.
The Museum at Bethel Wood director Wade Lawrence explained, "it is truly fitting that the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial comes to Bethel Woods, the site of the Woodstrock festival. " He added, "after almost four decades, there are still wounds that need to be healed, and this is the place to reconcile the differences of the past. We are proud to honor all who have served and laid their lives on the line for each of us."
There is no admission charge to visit The Wall, which will be on display on Bethel Woods' Great Lawn 24-hours per day.
Several area schools have already scheduled trips for their students to see The Wall.
The Vet Center in Middletown will also be on site to provide information on their readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone.
Bethel Woods is also offering free for this event Bethel Woods museum admission for U.S. Military Veterans who sign-in and U.S. Military Active Duty, Retired, and Reserve troops with ID.
This moving tribute to fallen Vietnam service people is something that all Americans, young and old, should see. Everyone will truly be moved by this experience.
Take some time to be part of this educational and emotional historic tribute to all American service people who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
We commend Bethel Woods for hosting this Memorial.



Thursday, May 6, 2010

Golfing Highlights Column 5-7-10

Bob Menges


Warmer Weather Brings A New Golf Season

Weather has been mixed the past several weeks, warm in the beginning of April, then cool and very cool but some nice golf days last week officially welcomes the start of the 2010 golf season in Sullivan County.
The mixed bag of weather has not deterred the launch of the Sullivan County golf season where some golf leagues have started and others are posting their summer schedules.
The grass is growing, some trees are budding so its time to tee it up....hit it straight and long and enjoy our golf season.
Golfing Highlights is back for our 12th season and we will continue to provide you with a column filled with golf league statistics and standings, golf tournament information, golf trips and vacation news, new golf equipment, a tip each week from a local golf professional Bob Menges, Ed's Outlook, golf feature stories and a weekly review of golf courses in and around our area.
Special attention this week goes out to all golf league secretaries and club professionals.....remember to get your weekly golf league highlights and standings to Ed Townsend, PO Box 116, Livingston Manor, NY 12758 or e-mail them to edwardctownsend@hotmail.com Visit out Internet Web Site at http://www.http//bght.blogspot.com

Welcome Back To
Pro Bob Menges
We welcome back to our Golfing Highlights Column for his eighth year, Professional Robert Menges from the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club who will again entertain and hopefully educate golfers with his writing of the weekly "Golf Tip."
Bob, 43, started his golf career as an assistant pro at the Swan Lake Golf Club under then head pro Steve Eisenberg. From Swan Lake he and Steve moved to the Huff House at Tennanah Lake where Steve formed the Steve Eisenberg Golf Academy. The Academy and Bob Menges then moved to the school's locations at Eddy Farms near Sparrowbush and the Town of Wallkill Golf Course near Middletown.
Bob then took his first job as a head professional at the Tennanah Lake Golf Club and two years later became the head professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. He competes in local PGA tournaments, the local Pro-Am tournaments and the Metropolitan local tournaments.
Menges has been playing golf since he was 6 and remembers well starting out at the former Waldemere Golf Course at Shandelee above Livingston Manor.
Married to Kathy, who is a nurse, the Menges' live in the Jeffersonville area.
Menges noted that he will be giving private golf lessons and will conduct Junior Golf Camps during three different weeks this summer. The Swan Lake Golf Club presently has three leagues, Tuesday Men's, Wednesday Men's, Thursday Ladies and is planning a Friday Mixed league also.
Golfers may call Bob at 845-292-0323.

Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

Play golf To Stay Young.
The tip: In today's day in age, with modern medicine and advances in science, people are living longer and healthier lives. So many senior citizens are exercising and eating right to maintain an active life. Research shows that playing golf can add years to your life and keep the mind sharp.
I believe there is no other way to enjoy nature then being out on the course. Seeing the animals, hearing the birds chirp, certainly gives a sense of appreciation of life. Most golf courses afford gorgeous views, vibrant color and good old fashioned fresh air. There is no better way to spend a few hours with a group of friends while walking, talking and laughing your way around the course.
Everyone knows what a mental game golf is. One of the best ways to keep the mind sharp is to have one use your mind for the technical side of golf. Golf is the perfect sport for this because you are getting mental stimulation, you are counting strokes and analyzing your next shot.
In your search for the fountain of youth, let golf help you find your way. By getting exercise, stimulating your mind and having social interaction, you can stay younger and live longer.
Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Outlook

We once again bring up the topic of Golf Packages that we see taking place throughout various sections of our state along with Virginia and North and South Carolina and sometimes get concerned that more efforts are not being made to being put forth and sell Sullivan County golf with hotel/motel and dining facilities all pitching in and working together to get golfers to visit and golf in our beautiful golf paradise.
Golfers can go to South Carolina in the spring and fall and find packages that offer golf, cart, two in a room motel accommodations and breakfast and dinner for between $70 and $80 a day.
We have started to see some dinner and golf and lunch and golf packages offered in Sullivan and Delaware counties but there has to be more of an effort to get motel/hotel owners, restaurants and golf courses all working on the same page for a total golf package that will attract golfers to our county courses from May through October.
The golf economy here could stand a booster shot and we believe golf packages would help.

Hudson Pass Book
Is A Great Value

One of the best bangs for your golf dollar locally is the 2010 Hudson Valley Golf Pass Book.
It offers golfers the opportunity to enjoy the lowest available rates at more than 75 golf courses in NY, NJ, PA.
Participating area courses include the Villa Roma, Tarry Brae, Kutshers, Swan Lake, Grossingers, Tennanah Lake, Lochmor, Twin Village, Woodloch Pines, College Course at Delhi College, Rondout Country 'Club and the Fallsview Golf Clue at Honors Haven Resort.
The fee is $50.
For information call 845-339-4200. Buy it on line at http://www.hudsonvalleygolf.com/

Early Tournament
Announcements Set

The 2010 Pro-Am Tournament to benefit Occupations, Inc. will be held on Friday June 18 at The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge, a Jack Nicklaus signature course in Monroe, NY.
Occupations Inc., is one of Orange County's largest human services agencies serving nearly 14,000 individuals while improving the quality of life for people with disabilities by providing critical services and employment opportunities.
Golfers play 18-holes with a local professional and have the opportunity to meet PGA Pro Mark Lye from the Golf Channel
Reserve your foursome at 845-692-4454, ext. 101.
The 8th Annual Jake Classic golf outing is set for Saturday, June 12 at the Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information at 845-796-6480.
The Billy Moran Memorial Golf outing is set for August 15 at the Villa Roma. Information call 845-887-5097, 845-887-4734 or 845-887-4174.
The Mother Teresa Cathedral Golf outing is set for May 21 at The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge. Information call 845-782-7888.

Golf Events

May 8--IBEW Tournament, Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
May 14--Mamakating Lions Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620
May 15--St. Thomas Aquinas Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
May 17--Orange County Golf Championships, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
May 21--Marine Corp. GL. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
May 22--Fallsburg PBA Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
May 27--Hub Cup Challenge. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
May 30--Stumpsitters Hunting Club Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845- 434-1257
May 30--Livingston Manor Baseball, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
June 2--Regional Qualifier for the IKE Championship. Grossinger Country Club. Information 845-292-9000.
June 4--Jake Hulse Memorial, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0438.
June 4--Monticello PBA Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 5--Tarry Brae 50th Anniversary. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 5--Grover Herman Aux. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-932-8596.
June 6--Special Olympics Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 11--Pars for Parkinson's Tournament to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 12--"Jake Classic" Tournament-Jake Gunther Memorial. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
June 12--Monticello High School Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
June 13--New City FD Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 13--Jeffersonville Lions Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-4061.
June 18--LGA Junior Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
June 19--SC Realtors Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
June 19--Eastrern Star Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-3357.
June 27--Callicoon Fire Dept. Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
June 28--Bull Pen Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
July 5--Claryville Open Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
July 10--Cornell Co-Op Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-5250.
July 11--Memorial Tournament & Dinner. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 11--Fallsburg Lions-Alan Steingart Memorial. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
July 16--Scotch Twosome Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 18--Liberty Booster Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-807-1996.
July 18--Catskill Cup. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
July 23-25-Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man, Better Ball Golf Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-5200.
July 24--Swan Lake Fire Dept. Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-789-4456.
July 30, Commissioners Cup, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
Aug. 1--N.A.M.I. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-754-8742.
Aug. 8--St George's Church Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-5625.
Aug. 8--Callicoon Kiwanis Club Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 13--United Way Pro-Am Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 15--Billy Moran Memorial Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-5097.
Aug. 15--Rock Hill Ambulance Corp. Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 21--EWGA Regional Golf Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 22--Mahwah Elks Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 27--Holiday Mt. Ski Patrol Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Aug. 30--Sullivan Correctional Facility Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Sept. 11--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-5034.


This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers association. If you have a topic that would make good reading or have league standings or tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177, by email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For a much more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com/



BOYS TRAVELING BASEBALL
TEAM TRYOUTS MAY 16

Tryouts for the new boys 15 years of age and under Sullivan County Thunderheads traveling baseball team will be held Sunday, May 16 from 2-5 p.m. at City Field in Grahamsville.
The field is located on the second left past the Tri-Valley Cenral School high school, several miles down that road on the right where the Little League Complex is.
The team will play in the ECTB Elite Championship Tournament Baseball League Hudson Valley division.
Home double-header games will be played Sunday's starting June 6 on either the Livingston Manor Central School baseball field or the City Field in Grahamsville. .
Team organizers stress that baseball players and parents must make a full commitment for team play and practice starting in late May through the middle of August.
The Sullivan County Thunderheads team will be managed and coached by Ed Townsend, Frank Exner and Paul Exner.
Boys interested in trying out for the team can contact Townsend at 439-8177, Frank Exner at 434-0424 and Paul Exner at 436-8407.