White Lake golfer John Bogaert, center, joins Swan Lake Golf & Country Club General Manager Todd Gallo, left, and Golf Professsional Robert Menges.Swan Lake's Junior Golf Camp
The Swan Lake Golf & Country Club is the host each golf season of the Junior Golf Camp which took place this week from Monday July 18 to and including Friday, July 22.
The camp included instruction on the full swing, putting, chipping, sand bunkers and pitching.
Rules and golf etiquette were reviewed on a daily basis.
Several years have elapsed since we toured this course but once again we find that the greens still tend to play fast and play on this course can be an enjoyable challenge. Due to the heavy rains there were some wet conditions when we played.
This course offers a spectacular setting as it is nestled on top of the Catskill Mountains overlooking rolling hills with a beautiful view.
Golf Professional Bob Menges pointed out that Swan Lake Golf & Country Club has excellent up to date golf carts on the course.
The golf course was built in the late 1960's by the Dinnerstein family, owner and operators of the former Stevensville Resort Hotel.
Architect for the course was William Mitchell.
The present owners is the Gallo family and the general manager is Todd Gallo. The family has owned this facility for some 20 plus years.
This course is located on Mt. Hope Road near the hamlet of Swan Lake. Golf course superintendent is David Irwin.
Open from April through November, this course is the home for the Tuesday and Wednesday Men's league and the Thursday Ladies league.
The course rating/slope from the blue tees is 73.5/132.
This course in 1978 hosted the Pan Am Open Tournament and in the year 2000 hosted the week-long USGTF Qualifying Tournament.
Private lessons are given at the course by Professional Bob Menges. The course plays host to many local golf tournaments. Tee times and other golf course information may be obtained by calling 845-292-0323. Their web site is http://www.golfswanlake.com/
The front nine of this golf course from the blue tees plays 3,385 yards with a par 36.
Hole No. 1 is a 412-yard par 4 with a dogleg left. Drive your tee shot to the center or right center of the fairway for a good second shot to the green. Stay away from the trees and left side of the fairway off the tee. A downhill approach to the green. A bunker is on the left side of the green.
Hole No. 2 is a 398-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg to the right. Play the center or right center of the fairway for your second shot to the green. Green can easily be reached in two and the second half of the fairway runs downhill. A trap is on the right side of the fairway and can shag any errant tee shots. A steep hill greets errant shots going over this green.
Hole No,. 3 is a 477-yard par 5 with danger lurking on the left....lots of water on the left side of the fairway. Keep your tee shot center or right center in the fairway. A hilly bank runs off the right side of the fairway. This is a long hole which takes most golfers three shots to reach the green. A trap is on the left front portion of the green..
Hole No. 4 is a 403-yard par 4 with a fairway that slopes downhill to the right. Keep your tee shot left center of the fairway. Traps are on the right and left front section of this green.
Hole No. 5 is a 385-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg as you approach the green. Play to the center or right center of the fairway.....don't go left, there is a trap on the right front portion of this green. H Hole No. 6 is a 209-yard par 3 and is reachable from the tee with the club of your choice. Stay right off the tee.....there is also a hill to the right and the green slants to the left and downhill. A challenging par 3. There is a trap on the left side of the green.
Hole No. 7 is a 512-yard par 5. Off the tee stay left as there is a slight dogleg to the left. The fairway slopes downhill to the right. Traps are on the right side of the fairway and to the left side of the green.
Hole No. 8 is a 409-yard par 4. Stay left off the tee as there are traps on the right side of the fairway. Traps are also on the left front and right side of the green.
Hole No. 9 is a 180-yard par 3, slightly uphill with a large pond on the left. Traps are to the left and right front of the green and the right rear of the green. A nice finishing hole on the front nine and a reachable par 3 with the club of your choice.
The pond has a fountain and along the pond are numerous Bon Sai style trees.
Next week we will outline the back nine at Swan Lake Golf & Country Club.
The Golf Tip
By Bob 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 about 47 to 49 degrees of loft. You have a choice to make for the other two wedges. A gap wedge comes with about 50 to 53 degrees of loft and a lob wedge is about 60 to 64 degrees of loft. I would choose between these two clubs depending on how far you hit the ball. A log wedge will save you shots around the green and a gap wedge will help you with the in between yardages in the fairway. You should always carry a sand wedge that has 54 to 57 degrees of loft. Some touring Professionals will carry 4 wedges in their bag. The next time you play a round of golf, count how many strokes you take from 100 yards in to the hole. I think you will find 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 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
TPD Putting Tip
By Joe Bermel
A special key to good consistent putting is finishing the putting stroke.
Most golfers do not finish and then they wonder why they are short of the hole.
You start the stroke....you must finish and hold the finish.
Finishing means the putter head is minimum 2 feet past the ball and this helps the momentum and the ball will roll end over end and will reach the hole.
Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization and golf-shows-tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt Well" is available by calling 631-589-1384, at his web site, http://www.theputtingdoctor.com/ or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com
Par 3 Fun Tourney
Aug. 7 At TVGC
A par 3 fun 18-hole golf tournament will be played August 7 at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club (TVGC).
The regular 9-hole course will be turned into an 18-hole par 3 course.
Any twosome combination can compete in a captain and mate format.
Cost is $18 plus a cart.
Information call the TVGC at 607-498-5829
This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that you feel would make good reading or have league scores and tournament information, Ed can be reached by phone at 845-439-8177, by email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com For a more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web page at http://bght.blogspot.com/ We are also available on Facebook.
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