Professionalism At Swan Lake
Swan Lake Golf Pro Bob Menges brings professionalism to the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club where he is available for private lessons and works hard with the youth golfers at a youth camp during the summer.
One of the attractions at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club is its beautifully designed club house which offers lunch and snacks and there is also available an outside gazebo and barbecue pits for any golf outings.
Their circular bar which overlooks the 18th green is always an enjoyable stop before or after a round of golf.
Golf Professional Bob Menges started his golf career as an assistant pro at Swan Lake under then head pro Steve Eisenberg. From Swan Lake he and Steve moved to the Huff House at Tennanah Lake where Steve formed the Steve Eisenberg Golf Academy. The Academy and Bob Menges then moved to the school's locations at Eddy Farms near Sparrowbush and the Town of Wallkill Golf Course near Middletown.
Menges took his first job as a head professional at the Tennanah Lake Golf Club and two years later became the head professional at Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. He competes in local PGA tournaments, the local Pro-Am events and the Metropolitan local tournaments.
Bob has been playing golf since he was 6 and remembers well starting out at the former Waldemere Golf Course at Shandelee above Livingston Manor.
The Swan Lake Golf & Country Club head professional is married to Kathy, who is a nurse, and the Menges' live in the Jeffersonville area.
Last week we described some background on this course along with the first nine holes. Today we will describe the majestic scenery.....and the occasional wildlife.....on the back nine holes 10-18. The back nine definitely gives golfers the opportunity to use every club in their bag. It plays from the blue tees, 3,385 yards with a par of 36.
Hole No. 10 is a 418-yard par 4 with a dogleg to the left. From the tee you are looking at a 225-yard tee shot that should be played just opposite a trap on the left side of the fairway . Fairway runs slightly downhill so club selection is important here. Don't over drive the fairway where it bends to the left Green traps on the front left and right side.
Hole No. 11 is a 182-yard par 3 with the fairway running uphill. Three traps are in the front and left and right sides of this green. The hole appears to play longer than 182 yards so club selection here is important for your par.
Hole No. 12 is a 516-yard par 5 with a slight dogleg to the left. Keeping your tee shot in the center of the fairway is important here. Traps are to the right and left of this green. Don't go over the green as hill slopes sharply down.
Hole No. 13 is a 400-yard par 4 uphill with the fairway sloping to the right and has a dogleg to the left......this makes for an interesting combination. Appears to play longer than 400 yards and requires a long tee shot and a good fairway hit for your par. Traps on the left and right side of the green.
Hole No. 14 is a 375-yard par 4 with the fairway sloping downhill with a dogleg left. This is a hole where I say let it all hang out and go for it with a tee shot over the tree line to your left....a successful shot over the trees into the fairway in front of the green leads to a birdie score. The green has traps to the left and right sides.
Hole No. 15 is a 399-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg to the left. Keep your shots down the center of the fairway. Traps on the left and right side of the green. A good par 4-hole and there are opportunities for a birdie also.
Hole No. 16 is a 196-yard par 3 with the fairway sloping sharply uphill so this hole actually plays longer than the 196-yards. There is also a trap some 40-yards in front of the green on the left side and traps on the left and right sides of the green. Club selection here can lead to a birdie or par. Go for the pin on this hole.
Hole No. 17 is a 537-yard par 5 and is the longest hole on this 18-hole course. Fairway traps are on both the left and right sides and a trap on the right rear side of the green. Keeps you shots in the center of the fairway. Don't go over the back of this green. Short hitters will find this hole a challenge.
Hole No. 18 is a 412-yard par 4. with a slight dogleg to the left. Your tee shot should go to the right center portion of this fairway to stay away from a fairway trap on the left. Traps are to the left and right front sections of the green. A real nice finishing hole and a very make able par.
Tee times and information are available from Club Professional Bob Menges at 845-292-0323. Web site is http://www.golfswanlake.com/
The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges
Preventing The Flying Right Elbow: The flying right elbow is one of the game's best known negative touchstones. It occurs in the back swing when the elbow juts out behind the player so the right arm forms the letter V or L, depending on the angle from which you view it.
What's wrong with a flying right elbow? It restricts the width or arc of the back swing. It also makes it difficult to get the shaft parallel at the top of the swing with the longer clubs, a restriction that reduced power. Finally, you don't want the elbow jutting out in the downswing because this also limits power and adds inaccuracy to the mix. So, you must drop it down and in toward your right side. This connection is an extra move that must be made in less than a second of real time. However, trying to keep the elbow in close to the body is too restrictive. It prevents a free-flowing overall swing motion and narrows the width of the back swing, both of which costs power.
The right elbow can move away from the right side in the back swing so long as it remains pointed down toward the ground and in a viable, effective position. This will generate fluidity in the swing and allow the elbow to easily and readily return to or near the right side in the downswing. You do want the elbow close to the body in the downswing because it keeps the club moving from the inside.
To put it another, more meaningful way, it prevents the club from going "over the top" and cutting across the ball from outside to inside the target line at impact. Which is to say, with the right elbow in close to your side at impact, you are much less likely to hit a slice. Indeed there is a very good chance you will get a nice little draw on the ball.
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 by calling 292-0323 or by sending an e-mail to menges@hughes.net
The Putting Doctor
Putting Tip Of The Week
By Joe Bermel Jr.
"Keys to good consistent putting"
1. Organization of your mind
2. Use the successful Putting Doctor System, GAP (Grip, Alignment, Ball Position, PPR (Pre Putt Routine) 100% of the time.
3. Always stay focused.
4. Use Correct Strategy for every putt.
A. Realistic 1 Putt attempt, or
B. Putt closest to the hole for 2 putt result.
5. Visualize shape of the putt when reading and at address.
6. Feel the speed with your eyes, mind and hands.
7. Look 5X (five times) at the distance between the ball and the hole before putting.
8. Always remain confident in your ability.
9. Finish every putting stroke.
10. Practice putting sessions-30 minute sessions 5-6 times every week.
11. Remain patient always..your 1 putt opportunities will happen.
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
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 at 845-439-8177 or 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 on Facebook.
