GOLFING HIGHLIGHTS COLUMN

  4 Called To "Hammer" Tee Box

  At a recent "Ting" the Hammer decreed that the following "Past Friends of the Links" be called to the tee box, Louise Butler, David Cohen, Arthur "Ike" Friend and Arthur "Art" Tursi.

  This journey along with much tradition continues Saturday, September 17 when the 10th Annual Hammer outing takes place at the Liberty Sullivan County Golf & Country Club.

  This tradition will keep intact the late Keith Hamlin's expressed desire to hold an outing (now called the Hammer Outing) to share the many pleasant memories of past "Friends of the Links."

  The invitation only event in its printed invitation to golfers states that "the Journey Continues.....Keith "Hammer" Hamlin is in the Clubhouse at Asgard....with him are several "Past Friends of the Links" that were honored and inducted in the fabled links of Asgard in Valhalla at the Hammer Outings.

  Hammer tradition declares that the four noted in the first paragraph will now be playing on that beautiful course in heaven with the mystical name Valhalla Course in the land of Asgard (the highest heaven obtainable and reserved for only the most noble men and women.

  Family members and friends will attend

  The lore and traditions of the annual Hammer Outing brings tournament golf to what could easily be called a look at a mystical golf course in Heaven where there is reality and faith combined for past "Friends of the Links."

  A realization of the thoughts and words of the late Keith "Hammer" Hamlin this event takes place through the combined efforts of his family and many friends.

  Keith was a well known and highly respected contractor doing business as the Hamlin Construction Co. and loved the game of golf where he achieved the nick name of "Hammer" for the way he drove the ball down the fairway.

  The Hammer Outing is truly fulfilling Keith's desire as described in the Lore and Traditions of the Outing as an outing that takes place in the fields of play "that so many of us have walked, talked and played upon together," and "shall be an outing of joy, not remorse, an outing of brother and sisterhood, an outing to renew old friendships."

  The Lore and Traditions point out that it has been left to The Hammer" to find that beautiful course in Heaven an that the mystical course is called the Valhalla Course. 

  Keith, as would be expected, has a high seat on the governing board (Ting) at Valhalla and has let it be known that he has made arrangements for the past "Friends of the Links" to be admitted, as members, at this enchanted Links course.

  The use of the word "Ting" comes from the fact that leaders of the villages in ancient times in the Celtic lands, The Isles, and parts of Europe held meetings to resolve issues of the day and these meetings were called (Tings) or things.

  At each future Hammer Outing an additional foursome will be called to the Tee Box and honored as such and these players will be drawn from the roster of "Friends of the Links" that was established at the 1st Annual Hammer Outing held October 8, 2007.

  There are no pre-established teams in this outing and tournament directors make up the foursomes consisting of an A, B, C and D player based on current handicaps. Players are accepted in the order their RSVP's are received.

  Tournament information may be obtained by calling Susan Hamlin at 845-292-2420 or email at thehammer@thehammerouting.com 

TVGC Cash 

Raffle Underway

  The annual Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club cash raffle  with a top prize of $1,000 is now underway.

  Tickets are $25 and only 150 tickets will be sold. .

  Second prize is $500 and the third prize is $250.

   The drawing will be held on Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the Annual Meeting of Twin Village Golf Club shareholders.
  Need not  be present to win.
  Tickets are  available by calling Chuck Husson at 607-498-5557.

                                                               

Ed's Outlook

  The Twin Village Golf Club Monday Night Men's league annual banquet was held August 29 at the Rockland House with league champions announced and special awards presented.
  League champions are the team of Kevin Green and Tyler "Rulebook" Schmidt. Second place resulted in a tie between Tim Clark and Lance Brookins and Frank McGreevy and Dan Baldo. Green and Schmidt won with a total of 228.50 points while the second place teams totaled 219.50. The three teams will receive embroidered shirts with the club logo and noted as league champions 2016.
  The third place team with 213 points was Ken Knudsen and Elton Harris.
  League president Chuck Husson announced that the league ended up the year with a financial surplus of $1,726 and the league approved a $1,000 donation to the golf club.
  Special awards made included most birdies and pars by Brian Thomas, Kevin Green for most individual points scored (105.50), and Kevin Green, Tyler Schmidt, Terry France and Dan Baldo for a scoring eagles.
  Twin Village board member Dan Baldo announced that head greens keeper Jim Rosiecki submitted his retirement this year and that the club would be looking for a replacement.
  Additional photos of league awards can be seen at http://bght.blogspot.com

 

Golf Tip

By Robert Menges

  The Golf Grip

  One of the first things a golfer does is grip the golf club.

  Your grip should be in the fingers of both hands not the palms.

  Most of the grip pressure should be felt in the last three fingers of  your left hand (for right handed golfers). There is much less pressure in the right hand and there should be  no pressure at all in the thumb and forefingers of the right hand.

  Keep your overall grip pressure light and don't, as they say, squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube."

  Make sure your grip is strong enough, with both V's pointing over your right shoulder and remember that a strong left hand grip produces  solid shots.

  Additional help should include keeping hands close together and for low ball flight keep grip pressure firm throughout swing.

  Several additional tips with the grip include keeping the left grip firm and the right grip light to promote a fade.

  Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club on Mt. Hope Road in 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

  Push The Ball Forward

  Many players take the putter back too far and then decelerate through impact without even realizing it.

  Here is a drill to ensure you are accelerating through impact.

  Standing a few feet from the hole, set up to the ball as you would a regular putt.

  Instead of taking the putter back, limit your stroke to just the follow-through motion.

  You are basically just "pushing" or "rolling" the ball to the hole. This forces you to accelerate into your follow through.

  There are additional benefits to this drill as well. You will notice that the ball has more forward roll, which keeps it on line much better.

  This drill also encourages the left wrist to remain firm instead of breaking down.

  You will not only enjoy keeping the ball on line better, but improve distance control as well. 

  Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization and golf shows-tournaments. His two special edition DVD's "How To Putt Well" is available by calling 631-589-1384, at his web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com

  Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the sport of Golf and brings over 60-years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, shoot a hold-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 Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.                  

                                                              

                                                                           

                                                           

The famous "Hammer" trophy, kept on display in the pro-shop at the Sullivan County Golf & Country Club, will be awarded to a new foursome September 17.

                                                                                                                                                        

                                                              

 

Champions of the Monday Night Men's league at the Roscoe based Twin Village Golf Club are, from the left, first place Kevin Green and Tyler Schmidt, and tied for second place Lance Brookins (his partner Tim Clark was not available for this photo) and Frank McGreevy and Dan Baldo. 

     Additional Photos From Twin Village Monday Men's League Banquet