Golfing Highlights Column 6-29-12

                                            Wild Life & Professional Staff At Woodloch

  Bambi and some of her running mates joined us recently at the beautiful Woodloch SpringS Country Club for 18-holes of challenging golf.

  The wildlife and particularly the many deer that roam this facility are seemingly never bothered by the golfing activity and this one deer we called "Bambi" watched us tee off and let us walk up fairly close to her. We encountered many deer throughout the course.

  The Country Club golf facilities at Woodloch Springs near Hawley. Pa. offers an outstanding staff to meet golfers needs.

  John E. Pillar Sr. is the PGA Professional and Director of Golf at this award-winning resort and championship golf course. The Head Golf Professional is PGA Professional Jared Cottell. Eileen Pillar is the Golf Retail Associate and handles most of the tee-time and golf lesson appointments and is in charge of the golf retail and pro shop sales. Keeping this beautiful golf course in top notch condition is Golf Course Superintendent Jeff Hugaboom.

  Woodloch's traditional warm hospitality extends from their famous resort and definitely includes their Country Club at Woodloch Springs.

  Owned, operated and managed by the Kiesendahl family since 1958, the Woodloch resort is world famous for their immaculate accommodations, abundant and delicious meals and endless activities which of course includes the Woodloch Springs golf facility that has received national acclaim in man of today's leading golf magazines and publications.

  In 1988, an ambitious project was unveiled to add an exclusive golf community as the perfect complement to the resort. Four years in planning and 438 acres later, the community and golf course were completed and now more than 400 exquisitely details homes surround the par 72 eighteen-hole course which winds over 6,579 yards of lush wetlands, fern-carpeted forests and broad upland  meadows.

  With four sets of tees on every hole, all levels of plan can be accommodated. Sculptured bunkers and water holes, bridges and miles of cart paths reflect the strict attention to detail which Woodloch is famous.

  A beautiful clubhouse overlooks the rolling greens of the course and provides the perfect setting for leisurely dining along with special events.

  Rocky Roquemore of Atlanta. Ga. designed this beautiful golf facility and for first time golfers you will find a challenge.. Make sure you take a copy of the Woodloch Springs Yardage Book with me on the course......it proved to be a valuable tool.

  Tee times for outside guests are available on limited-play based on availability four days in advance..

  Golf course tee times can be reserved by calling (570) 685-8102. The official web site is www.woodloch.com and Pillar's e-mail is john.pillar@woodloch.com 

   Playing what Golf Magazine and Golf Digest both called "one of America's best courses" along with this columnist were Liberty golfers Dean Winters, Charles Winters and George Labouseur.

  Last week we detailed the front nine and this week from the gold tees this is the way the back nine is played.

  Hole No. 10 is a 524-yard par-5 which requires a good tee shot of approximately 200 yards and this drive should be taken to the right of a fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway. Putting your drive here will leave you with a good second fairway shot. This fairway slopes right to left. There is water across the fairway some 260 plus yards from the tee and on your third shot its recommended to use one more club as the fairway runs uphill. Sand traps to the left and right sides of the green.

  Hole No. 11 is a 354-yard par-4 with a dogleg left and requires a tee shot left of the fairway bunker some 257-yards from the tee. Small pond located short left of the green will come into play. Bunker to the right side of the green.

  Hole No. 12 is a 346-yard par-4. Put your tee shot left of a fairway bunker some 242-yards from the tee. From the tee there is pond to the right. Your second shot is uphill to a sloped two tiered green. Club selection on second shot is important. Try to stay below the pin. Traps to the left, right and right rear of this green.

  Hole No. 13 is a 357-yard par 4 with trees on both sides of the fairway. Straight down hill requires an accurate tee shot. Drop one club on your second downhill shot to a green with traps front left and right side.

  Hole No. 14 is a 577-yard par-5 and is Woodloch's "Signature" hole. This difficult hole will test your every skill. From the gold tee it a 220-yard carry over Hells Gates Gorge. This will leave you a long second shot which you should keep right. If you've managed to hit it far enough there a clear third shot to a flat green .If not a lay up third shot is the smart play. An outstanding golf adventure on this hole and we certainly understand why it is the "Signature" hole.

  Hole No. 15 is a 160-yard par-3 and this hole requires a tee shot that will carry to avoid wetlands that surround the green. The green slopes from back to front. Club selection is important here and take enough club to carry the hazard.

  Hole No. 16 is a 386-yard par-4 and it requires a long tee shot to a small fairway. The ideal shot is left of the cart path. Your second shot is to an elevated 4 tiered green and here again club selection is important for good scoring. It's suggested to add one club to the second shot. There is a trap left rear of this green.

  Hole No. 17 is a 154-yard  par-3. This short hole is best played toward the opening in the front right of the green. Traps right, left and left rear of this green. A real large green if you are left and above the hole.

  Hole No. 18  is a 435-yard par-4 and again gives golfers one more long tee shot to reach the fairway 220-yards over a ravine. Trees on left are lateral water hazard. Your uphill second shot can reach this green with proper club selection and remember its uphill. Try to stay below the pin on this two-tiered green. Traps surround this green.   

  Additional photos of this great facility are at http://bght.blogspot.com   

                                                                  Tips & Outlook

                                                                Return Next Week  

  Due to the length of our lead story and added pictures, The Golf Tip, Putting Tip and Ed's Outlook are  not included in this week's column but will return next week.                                                  

                                                     

Ed's Outlook & this column are written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur-professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that would make good reading, or have golf scores, standings or tournament information, Ed can be reached by phone at 845-439-8177,  via e-mail at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-205-4474. Visit us on our web site at http://bght.blogspot.com. We are also on Facebook.   

     

                                                                            

IDENTIFICATION OF ABOVE PHOTOS

She didn't give us driving or putting instructions but "Bambi" was very friendly as we teed off on the fifth tee at Woodoch Springs. 

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Woodloch Springs Head PGA Golf Professional Jared Cottell shared this photo opportunity with Sullivan County Golfers, from the left, Golfing Highlights Columnist Ed Townsend, Cottell, Dean Winters, Charles Winters and George Labouseur. 

                                                                             

Woodloch's "Signature Hole" No. 14 features this Hells Gates Gorge and requires some accurate shots to the green.

Beverage-cart girl at Woodloch Springs is Alicia Manzione.

The Woodloch Springs Pro-Shop-Golf Retail Associate Eileen Pillar and Head Golf Professional Jared Cottell.  A very attractive pro-shop with lots of choices.