GOLFING HIGHLIGHTS

 North-South Carolina Golf

   There is no doubt in this golf columnist's mind that Myrle Beach fits the terminology as being the Golf Capital of the World but just three miles north of the South-North Carolina state line lies the beautiful community of Calabash, North Carolina and within its borders sits the Brunswick Plantation & Golf Resort.
  The Brunswick Golf Resort stood out in this writers mind as one of the most attractive and  professionally run golf facilities in the entire coastal area of these two states.
  Willard Byrd is the designer of this course composed  of  Champion Bermuda grass and the course's architecture requires adept shot placement and strategy.
  The pristine Carolina woodlands are the backdrop of this classic layout with hazards which range from heavy bunkers flanking the landing areas to strategically placed water hazards.
  The scenery is lush with sights and sounds of nature along the way.
  A theatrical flair is seen throughout the course but especially noted on the 15th green which is encircled by oyster shells and accessible by a bridge.
  Play at Brunswick Plantation transcends an average round and the three nine-hole courses are exciting for those of all skill levels.
  The course length of the three nines include 3,395 for Magnolia, 3,450 for Dogwood and 3,322 for Azalea. 
  Following a great round of golf the Brunswick Plantation 19th Hole Entertainment offers a delicious dining and delightful musical  entertainment.
  A beautiful clubhouse and pro-shop offers many opportunities for golfers.
  The outstanding golf and the Calabash, NC, Little River, SC, and North Myrtle Beach, SC areas offer a two state solution for fun in the coastal Carolina section of this country.
  We highly recommend this coastal Carolina area as a perfect location for recreation and relaxation and what many call "a better way of life."

 Ed's Outlook

    Argentine golfer Andres Romero while competing at the Barracuda Championship recently punched a sign and was forced to tee off with his putter.
    It all started when Romero made consecutive bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes at Montreux Golf and Country Club, dropping to just 3 points on the day in the modified Stableford scoring system format.
  At this point in his game  frustration set in and he punched a sign on the 15th tee box which resulted in an injury to his hand.
  Tournament officials checked his injury allowing a group to play through and Romero decided to play on, taking advantage of the scoring format whereby  a player could lose no more than 3 points on a hole...which was the score assigned to a double bogey or worst.
  With the injury Romero then had to putt his ball off of each of the final four tees and then picked up the ball on each hole to take a double bogey.
  In punching the sign Romero went from gaining 3 points to losing 9 points on the day and after the match he withdrew.
  Proves that if the your game leads to frustration its better to walk it off and leave the punching to athletes in the squared ring.

  Ed Townsend is a PR consultant to the sport of golf. Ed writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, shoot a hole-in-one or even shoot your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, 845-866-0333,  email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and all of Ed's Pictures at http://bght.blogspot.com We are on Facebook and Twitter.

 Golf Tip
 By Robert Menges

  Golf is a great game but it's not the easiest one to learn.
  It's important to remember that everyone started out as a beginner, but some of us pick up on the game faster than others.
  I think a big reason why some people struggle is they get bad advise.
  Our goal is to make sure that someone who is just starting out and wanting to learn the game can do so with the professional information we can provide you with.
  A lot of players get nervous to play with other golfers because they don't want to appear stupid for not knowing everything about the game
  We encourage our golfers to get better and to do so quickly.
  In getting there more quickly first time golfers should learn the basic parts of a golf course....if you aren't familiar with golf at all sit down to study the basic parts of a golf course.
  Another area of importance is to become familiar with common golf terms. This is very beneficial to learning the great game of golf.
  Next it's important to talk with a golf professional about what type of golf equipment you'll need and what is best suited for starting out.
  A golf professional should be able to provide what clubs a beginner should have, can introduce new golfers to golf training aids, can educate golfers about common golf injuries, can teach how to grip a golf club, how to address a golf ball, how to clean your golf clubs, can teach proper golf swings and will be able to teach the etiquette of this game.
  Getting help from a professional includes golf lessons and information as to what to expect from a golf lesson.
  Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club on Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private golf lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net

 Putting Tip
 By Joseph Bermel Jr.

  Learning how to putt is one of the most important skills to have when trying to improve your scores.
  It looks so simple, but any mistake you make on the green does not leave you any chance to recover.
  A tap-in adds one stroke to your score just like a 300+ yard drive does.
  Every hole you play, except for a hole-in-one, will end with you putting the ball into the hole.
  One of the most difficult things about improving your putting is that you have to practice the right technique using the proper drills if you want to make strides in this part of your game.
  We encourage getting a professional who will teach you proper fundamentals like grip, stance and alignment before moving on to the actual stroke, distance control and reading greens so you know the direction and speed in which to putt your ball towards the hole.
  Follow our weekly tips or call us for a private lessons and you will learn how to putt and do it well.
  Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization and golf shows/tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt Well" and his 2015 Golf Tips Calendar are available at his web site, www.ThePuttingDoctor.com