GOLFING HIGHLIGHTS COLUMN

 Golf Travels Bring Us To Coastal Carolina

   In our vast travel experiences over the years we have played golf courses in California, Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana and Maryland and there is no doubt in this golf columnist's mind that the area of Coastal Carolina between Calabash, NC and Myrtle Beach fits the terminology as being the "Golf Capital of the World."
  Just three miles north of the South-North Carolina state line lies the beautiful community of Calabash, North Carolina (known as the Seafood Capital Of The World) and within its borders sits the outstanding 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

  The Town of Fallsburg Municipal Tarry Brae Golf Course is indeed a pleasant golfing experience.
  Tarry Brae was first developed in the early 1950's and was designed by William Mitchell. In the mid 1950's the golf course was taken over by the town.
  This beautifully designed course is classified by many as a premier golf facility and is rated by Golf Digest with three and one-half stars.
  P.G.A. Professsional Glenn Sonenschein heads up the staff at Tarry Brae where each hole has four sets of tees which gives golfers the opportunity to choose the right tees to match their ability.
  While playing this golf course one can certainly consider this facility as very picturesque with enjoyable rolling greens and contoured fairways set in wooded surroundings. The view of Echo Lake on the fairway approaching the sixth green will leave you breathless.
  Continuing with descriptions of the most difficult golf holes on area golf courses we addressed this subject to Professional Glenn Sonnenschein who indicated that the challenging holes at Tarry Brae would be No. 2 and No. 13.
  Sonnenschein noted, "No. 2 is a par 4 and is 360 yards in length."
  "This hole plays very narrow because of the steeply sloped fairway that forces any drive without draw to end up down in the rough. From the right rough the approach is to a very elevated green over a bunker that is very hard to get up and down from," Sonnenschein said.
  Glenn pointed out that "the ideal tee shot is a draw of 200-210 yards to the left side of the fairway which is the only level lie on the hole," and "from there it is 135-160 yards to an elevated firm green."
  "The shot must favor the left side of the green as any shot to the right goes down a steep bank into the woods......putting is no easy matter either as there is good amount of slope to deal with especially on the back 1/3 of the green, Sonnenschein said.
  As to the second most difficult hole No. 13 is a 410-yard par 4 and Glenn said, "a long straight tee shot favoring the right side of the fairway is needed to give you any chance of a good score."
  "The approach also has to be straight with a mid to long iron or hybrid to this long narrow green," and "missing left or right makes for a tough up and down from the bunker on the left or trees and side-hill lie on the right," Glenn pointed out.
   The P.G.A. professional with many years of experience at this course also noted that this hole features "a long green with a lot of break if the pin is right and also has a good amount of slope."
  For golf course information and tee times call 845-434-2620.
    
  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 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" is available at his web site, www.ThePuttingDoctor.com