GOLFING HIGHLIGHTS COLUMN

July 18 Billy Moran Golf Outing

 

  The Billy Moran Memorial Golf Outing is scheduled for Saturday, July14 at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club.

  Registration will take place at 12 noon. Lunch is included and will take place from 12 noon to 1 p.m. only.

  The shotgun scramble tournament will start at 1 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. buffet dinner at the Rockland House in Roscoe.

  Golf and the dinner is $85 and the buffet dinner only is $25.

  For organizational purposes golfers are asked to register by July 11.

  This 17th annual golf outing was established as a fundraiser for the $3,000 Billy Moran Academic/Athletic Scholarship that will be awarded to a June graduate of the Sullivan West School District who meets the criteria as established by the scholarship committee.

  Billy Moran's memory has lived on because of people's generous contribution of time and money to his scholarship fund.

  A  standout three-sport athlete, Billy excelled both academically and athletically. He was considered an outstanding member of his community.

  Billy was killed 37 years ago, in the prime of his life, while attending spring training with his Union College baseball team in Florida. He died after being hit by a hit and run driver.

  At the time of his death Billy was a 20-year-old junior from Hortonville and a member of the Union varsity baseball team. He was also a dean's list student who pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals' farm team just prior to the fatal accident.

  The 6-foot-1, 220 pound Moran starred for three years in football, basketball and baseball at Delaware Valley High School before transferring to The Berkshire School his senior year.

  His exploits on the gridiron, court and diamond are captured only in our mind's eye. 

  This scholarship will go to a senior who maintains a 90 average and also plays in at least two varsity sports. Citizenship and leadership are also part of the criteria. 

  The $3,000 scholarship is divided into four semester awards.

  The scholarship committee will also accept donations that can be sent to The Billy Moran Scholarship Fund, 23 County Road 131, Hortonville, NY 12745.

  Businesses can also consider sponsoring one of the golf courses' 18 holes and the tournament committee ask that these donations be received by July 1. 

  Score board sponsor, driving range sponsor and putting green sponsorship's are also available. 

  Golfers can sign up by calling 845-887-4734, 845-887-4174 or 845-482-2020.

 

Ed's Outlook

 

  The progress reports are in for Grossinger's, Kutsher's and Resorts World Catskill Casino golf courses.

  The report is that Grossinger's will remain closed to the public for 2018.

  No one at the Veria Lifestyle Kutsher's golf course has returned a phone call or email but we have heard reports that the course might not be open this year. 

  Reconstruction of the former Concord Resort Hotel's famous "Monster" golf course at the Resorts World Catskill Casino is taking place and the new facility will be designed by Rees Jones. Possible opening of the course is 2019.

 

The Golf Tip

By Bob Menges

 

  We are talking this week about wet and soggy golf course conditions and if you are playing golf in these conditions here are some tips for your to consider. 

  The temperature also has an effect on how far the ball will travel. With cool damp conditions and if you hit a 7 iron 150 yards in July....it might only carry 140 yards in early May. Also, you must remember that the ball is not going to roll or bounce so the shot you hit must be all carry.

  Choose your club based on the conditions of the course. Another factor to consider is how much your feet are going to sink into the turf depending on how wet it is. I notice many golfers hitting what we call "fat" shots in early spring.

  This happens when the club contacts the ground before the ball and sod build up between the ball and club, thus making the ball travel much less than you intended. One way to correct this is to select one club more and grip down slightly.

  Your weight will make your body sink into the ground and be lower than normal conditions. This should help you make clean contact with the ball. 

  Anyone who has played golf in this area in May knows, another factor to deal with is the wind. When you are hitting shots into the wind make sure to use an extra club or two. The wind will knock the ball down and travel less than what you would normally hit that club. You may also try keeping the ball at a lower flight, cutting off your follow through, by slightly keeping your arms and hands lower.

  If you are hitting with the wind, use less club as the wind will help the ball travel further.
When playing with a cross wind, try to adjust your aim slightly to allow for the wind to curve your ball in the same direction as the wind, whether is is left to right or right to left.

  Above all try not to get frustrated during the rounds you play.

  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

  

 

The Putting Tip

By Glenn Sonnenschein

 

  Reading the greens is a skill that is critical to becoming a good putter. Some players seem to have a natural ability to see the "break" but it also can be learned by few simple observations.

  First of all most greens slope from back to front so keep that in mind when  checking your line. The general lay of land is easier to see from a distance than when standing on the green so check that out as you approach the green. Especially in our area greens positioned on side hills have breaks that are much more than meets the eye. Good examples of that would be #9 and #18 at TarryBrae.

  Another factor that has an effect on the break will be large bodies of water or even streams that putts will always break towards. Morningside lake and Echo Lake are perfect examples of that.

  Once on the green I believe reading the putt from behind the ball is the most effective way to see the break. Some players read putts from all angles which for the most part I feel can confuse and slow down play. Usually your first is your best and you need to learn to trust that.

  It seems most players miss putts on the low side of the hole because they don't trust the read of don't get the right speed.

  Speed will always determine how much a putt will break and it is mch more common to be way off on speed then it is on read.

  Practice your speed and work on some of the simple observations above and your putting will improve.

Glenn Sonnenschein is a Class A PGA Professional and is Director of Golf at the Tarry Brae and Lochmor Golf Courses. His main office is at the Tarry Brae located at 387 Pleasant Valley Road, South Fallsburg. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or a subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-434-2620 or by email at glenn@tarrybrae.com

 

  Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the sport of golf and brings over 60 years of sports journalism experience writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, shoot a hole in one or shoot you age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax to 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.