Golfing Highlights Column

             

 Early Golf In March--Now Tee It Up For Leagues   

  Weather has been mixed the past several weeks, some nice golf days and then again some not too nice golf days. 

  Who would have ever believed that golfers would have been out on Sullivan County course's in the middle of March. In all the years I have been golfing in Sullivan County never have I played golf in early to mid March. 

   The mixed bag of weather has not deterred the launch of the Sullivan County golf season where  golf leagues are now posting their 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, 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  www.http://bght.blogspot.com                             

 Welcome Back To

  Pro Bob Menges  

    We welcome back to our Golfing Highlights Column for his ninth 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, 44, 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 competed 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 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         

The Putting Tip

By Joe Bermel

  We welcome back for the second year the world famous "Putting Doctor" Joe Bermel to our weekly column. Joe will entertain golfers about the importance of putting to the entire game of golf.

  Putting: A Pragmatic Approach:

  How important is putting to the entire game of  golf.? We can not understate it. On average, 43% of the total score is putting. For a golfer to tangibly raise the skill level of their putting game, they must understand, and be committed to apply, all of the Keys To Good Consistent Putting.

  Absolute Key # 1 is organization of your mind. What are we going to do and how are we going to go about doing it. A clear organized mind is paramount. Key # 2 is a specific, exacting, methodical PPR ( Pre-Putt Routine). A great PPR is always airtight. Key # 3 is that of a triangle. Your eyes see the distance between the ball and the hole. A signal is sent to your mind. Your mind sends a signal to the muscles in your fingers for the amount of acceleration for the desired distance you want the ball to travel. EYES, MIND, HAND.

  Joe is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organizations and golf shows-tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt Well" is available by calling 631-589-1384, at his web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com 

Golf Courses Note

New Improvements

  The Swan Lake Golf & Country Club has announced improvements to their bunkers for this coming season. 

  The Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club announces new cart paths and a beautiful expanded pond on hole No. 12. 

  Leagues Are

  Being Formed

  The Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club announces the forming of their Thursday 5 p.m. Men's league that will start league play on May 17. The league is a 2-man team and the handicaps will be point based just as the previous year. Nine holes played each week and league members will enjoy a  meal after the match. Price for the league is $150 per person for members and $250 per person for Non-Members. League fees will include dinner each week and year end prizes for the winners.Weekly car fee is $10 if you do not have a full golf/cart membership. 

  The club is also interested in forming a Ladies league and any interested ladies can call 607-498-5000. 

  Twin Village Golf

  Club  Half Price

  Membership Fee

  The Roscoe Twin Village  Golf Club is offering a half-price membership fee for golfers who have never been a member before. The half-price membership fee allows you full membership benefits. 

  For information call Chuck Husson at 607-498-5557.  

                                                                                              

  Ed's Outlook                

                                                                              

 We are seeing more and more the promotion of "Golf Packages" throughout various sections of  New York State and South Carolina and sometimes get concerned that no efforts are being put forth to 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  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.                                                                                                                

Golf Events 

May 12, Monticello High School Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information Dennis Browne, 774-9436.

May 18, Mamakating Lions Tournament, Terry Brae Golf Course, Information 434-2620.

May 18, Marine Corp. Golf League Outing, Lochmor Golf Club, Information 434-1257.

May 19, Fallsburg PBA Tournament 9 a.m. Shotgun. Lochmor Golf  Club. Information 434-1257.

May 20, Pars For Parkinsons Outing, Terry Brae Golf  Course, Information 434-2620.

June 1, Monticello PBA Tournament, 100 players, A.M. shotgun.Lochmor Golf Club, Information 434-1257.

June 1, Jake Hulse Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country  Club. Information Bill Hulse, 292-0438

June 3, Fallsburg Lions Tournament. Terry Brae Golf Course. Information 434-2620.

June 3, Shady Acres Hunting Club Outing. Ternnanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. Information 607-498-5000.

June 9, 10th Annual Jake Classic Golf Outing, Terry Brae Golf Course. Information call 434-2620.

June 10, New City 30P, 12 noon shotgun. Terry Brae Golf Club. Information 434-2620.

June 10, Hiriam Jones HC Tourney, Lochmor Golf  Club, Information 434-1257.

June 11, Bull Pen Outing, Terry Brae Golf Club. Information 434-2620.

June 10, Jeffersonville Lions Club Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information Doug Immoor, 482-5094.

June 16, Twinbrook Duffers Outing. Lochmor Golf Club. Information 434-1257. 

June 16, Rock Hill Ambulance Tournament. Terry Brae Golf Club, Information 434-2620.

June 22, 2012 Pro-Am Tournament to benefit Occupations, Inc. At the Golf Club at Mansion Ridge, Monroe. Information email jporter@occupations.org 

June 23, Tarfaglia Picklepuss Tournament, Terry Brae Golf Club, Information 434-2620.

June 29-30, Twin Village Golf  Club first time ever Ryder Cup  fun team event. Two consecutive evenings at 5 p.m. 9 holes each evening.Very low entry fee around $5 each evening. Call Ralph Kirchner at 607-498-5555.

July 1, Billy Moran Memorial Golf Outing, Villa Roma Golf Club, Golf & Dinner $85. Information call 887-4734 or 87-4174

July 3, Claryville Open, 11 a.m., Lochmore Golf Club, Information 434-1257.

July 7, Cornell Co-Op Tournamment, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information Sean Welsh, 292-2420.

July 8, Annual Twin Village Golf Club Memorial Tournament. Twin Village GC, 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. start times. Information 607-498-5557

July 14, Friends Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 292-0323.

July 14, Carlson 1:30 Shotgun Outing, Lochmor Golf Club, Information 434-1257.

July 14, Liberty Elks 11th Annual Golf Tournament, Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. Early Bird Special, call Harry or Peggy Fox at 482-5331.

July 15, Liberty Booster Club Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Inforamation Deb Simpson, 292-0323.

July 20, D.O.C.C.S. Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 292-0323.

July 20, Country Store Youth Foundation Tournament, Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. Information 607-498-5000.

July 22, Swan Lake Fire Company Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Information 292-0323

July 22, Lazy Beagle Golf Tournament, Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. Information 607-498-5000.

July 27, 28, 29, Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man-Better Ball Golf  Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club. Entries must be postmarked no later than July 11. Information Fred Stabbert III, 887-5200.

July 28, Monticello Fire Dept. Tournament. Lochmor Golf Club. Information 434-1257. 

July 28, Twinbrook Duffers 9 a.m. shotgun Outing, Terry Brae Golf Club, Information 434-2620.

July 29, N.A.M.I. Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information Al Beatini, 754-8752.

July 29, Roscoe Kiwanis Club Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. Information 607-498-5000.

August 5, St. George's Church Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information Bill Moloney, 482-5625.

August 10, Sheriff's Outing, Lochmor Golf Club. Information  434-1257.

August 10, St. Joseph's Church Outing 9 a.m., Terry Brae Golf Club, Information 434-2620.

August 19, Town of Callicoon Republican Party Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information Bonnie Hubert, 482-5390.

August 23, Ralph Behar Tournament, Terry Brae Golf Club, Information 434-2620.

August 24, Mahwah Elks Tournament 8:30 shotgun. Terry Brae Golf Club. Information 434-2620.

August 25, O.B. Outing. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 292-0323.

August 26, Roscoe/Rockland Fire Department Tournament, Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. Information 607-498-5000.

Sept. 1, Pull & Putt Tournament presented by Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club  and Catskill Pheasantry $400 entry fee for 4 person team. Dinner and drinks, a special event. Information call 607-498-5000 or 887-4487. 

Sept. 2, Dave Curreri Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information Joe Cirreri, 292-0323.

Sept. 15, Warwick GL Outing 8 a.m. shotgun. Terry Brae Golf Club. Information 434-2620.

Sept. 16, Rock Hill FD Tournament. 12 noon shotgun. Terry Brae Golf Club. Information 434-2620.

Sept. 15, Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information Bob Simpson, 439-5034.

Sept. 16, Methol Hunting Club Tournament. Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. Information 607-498-5000.

Oct. 1, Putnam Fire 11 a.m. lunch, 12 noon shotgun. Terry Brae Golf Club, Information 434-2620.

    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 or by fax at 845-205-4474.  For a much more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com  We are also on Facebook. 

                          

                                                                                   

                                                     Swan Lake Golf Pro Bob Menges         

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