Sullivan County golfers are the same as their counterparts in the Northeast who just can't wait for the winter snows to melt and area golf courses to open so the best alternative they have is to travel south in late March and early April.
A large number of county golfers choose South Carolina as their spring golf destination and their warm-up rounds to get them ready for spring and summer golf leagues throughout the county.
For the past 18-years we've joined in this now regular ritual of planning early April golf trips where we can stretch our unused golf muscles and try to remember what to do with a golf club that we packed away in our golf bags sometime in late September or early October.
A vast number of golfing friends and myself fortunately have been greatly blessed in handling all of our golfing, motel and breakfast requests over to the "Princess" of South Carolina golf Lisa Suggs, coordinator/owner of Southern Greens of SC located in Hartsville, South Carolina.
Lisa was born into the game of golf, her father was a golf pro, she started playing golf at the age of 5, scored her first hole-in-one at age 6, stayed close to the game through her high school and college years, worked for several "Golf Package" companies and several years ago started her own company, Southern Greens of SC.
Myself and others quickly learned why Southern Greens of SC has been labeled "Golf's Super Bargain" because when it comes to thinking golf in South Carolina you hear a lot about Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head....but in the eastern part of the state you find the best bang for your buck with economical golf packages in one of the most beautiful and unhurried areas of our country.
Southern hospitality is a big draw for Northeast golfers who get to play spring and fall golf for rates around $75 per day in April and during the fall October and November for about $72 per day and these rates include lodging (2 in a room) deluxe continental breakfast, green fees and cart for 18 holes.
One of the golf courses Lisa offers in her package plan is the Country Club of S.C. which has previously hosted PGA and LPGA championships......and what a course this is...wow.....look into it if you take your spring or late fall golf trip to this part of South Carolina.
I've gotten to know Lisa and her family and she as a golf package coordinator knows what has to be done for golfers and she reaches out to provide true southern hospitality and a golf package at reasonable rates.
Sullivan County golfers planning spring and late fall southern golf trips can obtain additional information from Southern Greens of SC at info@southerngreensgolf.com or at 843-393-3904.
Ed's Outlook
We continued our golf journey looking for the toughest holes to score a par on and our selection this week is the 14th hole at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club.
This par 5 hole is the longest hole on the Tennanah course producing 548-yards from the blue tees to a green which is fronted with stone and two ponds that front both sides of the green.
Golfers from the tee see a fairway that runs downhill with a pond on the left so it is best to direct your drive to the center of the fairway which narrows as it approaches the green.
Watch out for the ditch which runs across the fairway some 300 yards off the tee.
A center fairway long drive is very helpful on this hole but the second shot is important and should be placed in a position on the course that allows a good look at the green for a pitch shot over the stones and two ponds fronting the green.
Long ball hitters definitely have an advantage on this hole which has been tabbed the "signature hole."
The definition of this type of hole at a golf course is the one hole that the course has decided is most aesthetically pleasing and photogenic and that the beauty adds to the challenge of the hole in a way that kicks your butt....but you have fun while it is happening.
This 18-hole golf facility has a total yardage of 6,769 yards and plays to a par 72. The course rating is 73.7, has a slope rating of 132 and was originally designed by Alfred H. Tull. Mary Wagner is the general manager and tee times can be obtained by calling 607-498-5502.
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, 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 also on Facebook and Twitter.
The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges
This week we will talk a little about the Flop shot.
With today's golf greens becoming faster and faster, a shot that has become very popular is the lop or flop shot.
Golfers are trying to get the ball close to the hole, out of thicker rough, by lobbing it up in the air.
The 60-degree wedge is allowing the golfer to throw the ball up in the air higher and land it softer to prevent the ball from rolling too far from the hole.
When you are deciding to use the lop shot, make sure you have exhausted all your other options. Jack Nicklaus had a good theory to use. He always said, "putt the ball whenever possible, chip it when you can't put it and pitch it when you have to."
If you have to.....try to hit the ball high and land it soft.....here are some guidelines to help you.
1. Check to see first if you have a good lie to be able to make contact.
2. When you set up to hit the shot you must open the club face and have a very relaxed grip.
3. How much you open the club will determine how high the ball will go and how much spin you create to land it softly.
4. Because you have opened the club face, you must open your stance to compensate for your aim.
5. You have to make sure you take a good swing and have a good follow through.
6. The biggest mistake golfers make is decelerating on the way down...you must keep your head still and accelerate through the shot.
A good golfer to watch hit the flop shot is Phil Mickelson as he lets his shoulders control the swing...not his hands.
Make sure this is the shot to use because you want this shot to help you cut down strokes in your round....not add strokes to your 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 845-292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net
Putting Tip
By Joe Bermel Jr.
The speed of the putt is so important in good scoring.
You "feel" the speed with your eyes, mind and hands.
It is imperative that you look at the distance between the ball and the hole 9 times during the Pre-Putt Routine.
It's a triangle..... your eyes see the distance, a signal is sent to your mind, and your mind sends a signal to the muscles in your right fingers for the amount of acceleration needed for the distance you want the ball to travel.
Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization abd 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 email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com
Golf package coordinator Lisa Suggs
The Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club 14th hole is the most difficult par hole on this course. The hole is a par 5 and is 548-yards long. Adding to the difficulty of this hole is the green which is fronted with stone and two ponds.
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