Mesa, AZ – Our friend at All Sports Arizona will host their 2011 Fall Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at Red Mountain Ranch Country Club.
Participants will not only experience a beautiful golf course, but they will help All Sports Arizona continue their quest to provide affordable, educational recreational activities in a safe and inviting environment.
Here is what your entry fee includes:
• 18-hole round Saturday, 9/24 at Red Mountain Ranch Country Club
• 1pm shotgun start
• Putting, long drive and closest to the pin contests
• Lunch buffet
• Tee bag of goodies
There will also be a silent auction for sports memorabilia and other items as well as a raffle.
As an added incentive, if you bring a playing partner, and sign-up prior to August 15th, you will receive a free round of golf at Red Mountain Ranch to be used later in the year.
Entries fee are $65/player; $260/foursome if paid prior to September 4th. If you wait until the last minute, it will cost $10 per player more. Entry deadline is September 14, 2011.
If this sounds like a good plan for you, click on www.allsportsaz.com for more details and to register for the tournament.
It’s the dog days of summer in Arizona right now. Temperatures and humidity are at that uncomfortable stage, meaning you do all your chores early and hibernate in the afternoon. It’s hard to think about wearing long sleeves and jackets, but for Sean Gregg, Antigua’s head designer, that’s exactly what’s been on his mind for the past several months as he and his team developed the Antigua Fall Collection.
Sean, Antigua’s head designer, was kind enough to share the inside skinny on what we’ll see in golf shops very soon. So, we thought we’d share that information with you.
AZGA: What’s the latest inside info on golf apparel these days?
Gregg: Golf apparel has reached the status of fashion, meaning color as a trend evolves seasonally. Traditional color palettes are perceived as almost “conformist,” thus fashion palettes are now often styled into most of the golf brand collections, tending to focus on the hot colors of the season.
But there are a couple of current trends in men’s golf apparel that seem to be holding ground and are probably more specific to golf apparel. One hot trend is layering. Gone are the days when you consider an outerwear piece for the start of the round and remove it at the turn.
The focus now is on developing product from the base layer up. Lightweight base layers such as the Antigua style Hero developed as a micro-fleeced back jersey mock can stand alone or can be worn under a performance polo such as Exceed, or with a mid-weight pull-over performance fleece style such as Succeed, or under a water and wind resistant wind shirt found in our Resilient and Highland lines.
The new mentality from the tour player to the weekend golfer is that they want to be comfortable at any point during play and they look for layering options that correspond with the fluctuations in weather that occur especially during golf ’season’.
AZGA: Is layering just a trend or here to stay?
Gregg: We believe layering, for both men and women, is less a passing fad and more a staple in golf apparel as a function of the sport and a necessity of its competition.
We see fit and function as synonymous and our development focuses on each individual layer. As an analogy, the introduction of performance synthetics in competitive swimming donned by athletes performed so effectively that the full body suit has been banned from professional swimming competition dramatizing the genuine effects of focused performance product development. And though we’d like to think that our fabrics can be that effective, we appreciate the dissimilarity in functionality, but equally appreciate the importance of taking the direction of development seriously to improve a golfers performance through the right garment choice.
AZGA: So, color palettes and layering are important, what other trends will we see in the coming year?
Gregg: The second biggest and more current trend is in apparel fabrics and specs. Like the evolutions in technology on the hard goods side, apparel companies are focusing on improving playing performance. We’ve developed lighter and lighter fabrics to perform faster with regard to wicking speed, while being less restrictive during release. The Desert Dry Xtra-Lite (D2XL) fabrics are a prime example of this new trend.
Another trend – narrowing specs – is based on the same dynamic. The need to pull your shirt sleeve up before set up has been eliminated from our performance collections by focusing on minor adjustments to specific core fit anatomy. We haven’t made smaller garments, we’ve made better performing garments while leaving areas like the torso spec intact. And as we grade up in size, we cease the “taper in” fit. This fit can be comfortably modified for medium and large sizes, but has disadvantages in the XL and larger sizes. As the population has grown in stature, we’ve look to be accommodating in our offering to cater to that evolution.
AZGA: What are the new colors for the Antigua Fall 2011 line?
Gregg: As the performance apparel category took hold in golf, it was inundated with derivatives of the activewear market with regard to the use of both color and fabric blocking. As the shift solidified and the trends diversified, there was a lack of newness coming into the performance apparel markets when it came to brands that specialized in side-line apparel and dabbled in golf wear.
Taking our cue from the fashion market and less from the collegiate market our focus was to be golf wear specific. We developed and have updated color palettes in what we coined ’contemporary performance’. We transitioned from the warm natural earth hues in our 2010 collections and to a rich jewel palette for our 2011 performance lines. We believe this distinction in both our brand and our product shows our intent to cater to the genuine golfer with our genuine golf apparel, both esthetically and functionally.
AZGA: What goes into developing a new line of golf apparel?
Gregg: While we’d like to think we have all the right answers, we know there is a distinct correlation between the involvement in our product R & D and the acceptance by the consumer, especially with regard to technical details and features that demonstrate focus on both form and function. We talk to consumers about their likes and dislikes and we do a lot of testing before we launch any line. Through this collaboration of R&D and the consumer, we are able to create products that look good, feel great and meet our performance standards.
AZGA: What’s your favorite item in the fall ’11 line?
Gregg: I’d have to give the nod to our Hero line, it’s one of the most comfortable performance fabrics we’ve developed. It’s light enough to be worn on its own in mildly cool temperatures, yet warm enough to hold out the unwanted elements. It’s only been part of the collection for a short time, but based on its popularity in accommodating layering needs we’re expanding into additional base layers such as ribs and textures. I personally love the duality of the base layers. And we’re finding our customers agree. They are buying and pairing a polo with a base layer one-for-one in milder weather.
From the Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf News Desk
Don Rea – Augusta Ranch Golf Club – 100 Holes in 1 Day
Mesa AZ – Don Rea, General Manager at Augusta Ranch Golf Club, located in Mesa AZ, believes it’s important to give back to the game that has provided him with so much; and he turns that belief into action. “That’s why I’m an annual participant in the 100-Holes In 1 Day golf event”, Don shared.
The 100-Holes event benefits the Southwest Section PGA. Don recently completed the challenge and provided some interesting details about his day.
Don Rea’s 100-Holes in 1 Day Stats
Total Score: 354 – 15 over for the 100 holes
Course Played: Augusta Ranch Golf Club
Course Length: The 100 holes measured 21,032 yards, 11.95 miles
Temperature: 103 degrees Fahrenheit
Tee Time: Start 6:30am – Finish 7:02pm
Birdies: 10
Hole-in Ones: Don remains 0 for 44 (years); 2 near-misses today
Number of Flagsticks Hit: 1
Hydration: 288 ounces of PowerAde consumed during the round, some mixed with water
Swing Thought for the Day: Electrolytes
Fuel: Short break for breakfast and lunch
Pairing: Don’s friend, Doug Powell, came out and played alongside for 82 holes
Golf Coach: Wife and daughter both told him “you’re crazy”, and then supported him all day
Extended Family: Augusta Ranch staff members supported Don, dawn to dusk
Injuries: “The hip was hurting at the end, but my shoulder felt great.”
Donations: Don raised $3,450 for the SWPGA Foundation
Way to go, Don! Good cause, good job, good man.
Click Don Rea – Baseball’s Loss is Arizona Golf’s Gain for the complete story on Don’s major league baseball days, and his choice to accept the role of Managing Partner at the Augusta Ranch Golf Club, located in Mesa, Arizona.
The Raven at South Mountain Gets Upgrades and New Management Company
From the Arizona Golf AZGA News Desk
Phoenix, Arizona – CNL Lifestyle Advisor Corp. is making big changes at The Raven Golf Club at South Mountain. The first change at the Gary Panks/David Graham designed course is bringing on OB Sports to manage golf operations, agronomy, food and beverage, instruction and marketing.
“We are delighted to have OB Sports managing the Raven at South Mountain,” stated Gary Rosmarin, Vice President, Asset Management of CNL Lifestyle Advisor Corp. “Not only does OB Sports bring tremendous expertise to the table, but with its headquarters being nearby, the facility has access to a wealth of knowledge and support from the entire OB Sports corporate team.”
More important to avid players are the improvement projects, being overseen by OB Sports, to enhance just about every aspect of the experience. Scheduled to be completed prior to the start of the Fall season, the course will feature completely renovated bunkers, improved turf conditions and new landscape. OB Sports will also implement a specialized tree management program to improve the health of the 6,000 Georgia pine trees that line the fairways and provide a very unique golf experience at the Raven at South Mountain. In addition, while the Club is closed for the Fall overseed, the clubhouse will be upgraded to incorporate new interior/exterior paint, interior design elements, kitchen upgrades, restaurant rebranding and additional landscaping.
“We are all excited to lead the charge with re-establishing the Raven at South Mountain as one of the preeminent resort golf and event venues in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market,” said Mike Conner, Senior VP of OB Sports Golf Management. “We have already started rolling up our sleeves and have gotten to work on a number of projects that are already getting great reviews from golfers whom frequent the Raven. They are taking notice of the improvements we have done and some of the ’new look’ and ’new vibe’ we are creating at the course,” added Conner.
All of the enhancements are being done with little if any disturbance to the current operations. “Play levels continue to build as more golfers are getting wind of the improvements and upgrades we have already completed and those yet to come,” stated Conner. All of the work on the golf course will be completed by OB Sports over the next few months.”
For tee times and more information on the Raven at South Mountain, call (602) 243-3636 or visit www.theravensouthmountain.com.
Mesa, AZ – Here’s an opportunity to enjoy some golf and help a really good cause. All Sports Arizona, a non-profit group providing affordable and educational recreational activities for kids of all ages, is hosting their first-ever golf event to raise money for their cause.
All Sports Arizona holds the Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken Baseball and Softball Charter for the East Valley. “We have an average of 600 children that play in our program each year,” said Larry Merrix, All Sports Arizona president. “One of our teams, the Hamilton Huskies, won the Babe Ruth National Championship in the 14U Division in 2008.”
The skinny:
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Painted Mountain Golf Resort
6:30am shotgun start
Lunch and awards ceremony follows
Cost is $49 per person or $196 for a foursome
For those competitive sorts, there are prizes for the top 3 teams as well as a putting contest, longest drive and closest to the pin. For those just out to have fun, there are raffle tickets, too!
“We are going to have a really fun time,” added Merrix. “No matter what your skill level, you can come out and enjoy great golf with good friends. And you might even win a prize or two.”
We’re making it easy for you to sign up now, just click on Entry Form and download the PDF, fill it out and send it in. Then you’ll be ready to test your skills and help a great cause.
Jeff Miller and Tournament Director, Christian Adderson
Mesquite, NV – The most enjoyable amateur golf tournament of the year crowned its winners today following the final round of the 9th Annual Mesquite Amateur Golf Tournament played at the CasaBlanca Golf Club.
Art Hickman, of Long Pond, CA carded 75 to win the gross division, Dr. Jeff Miller, a podiatrist from St. Louis, MO won the net division with a 79, and Dana Boyette, Nashville, TN shot 86 and claimed the women’s division. Each champion golfer received a perpetual Joshua Tree trophy, $650.00 worth of Callaway equipment and other bounty.
Interesting news, no doubt, but for the AZGA Golf Staff, here’s the important story: The Mesquite Amateur is the best run Amateur Golf Tournament in the USA.
The Mesquite Am draws over 550 amateur players, from 40 U.S. states (33 from Arizona this year) and 13 foreign countries, for 4 days of golf using 6 golf courses, and at every step along the way two things always happen: each event begins on-time and someone says “Thank you, very much, for attending the Mesquite Am.”
How refreshing.
The Uphill Par-4 18th at CasaBlanca Golf Club
This field of tournament players is quite “amateur” remember, the average age is 56 years, the average handicaps for 16 separate flights range from 12.1 to well over 19; winner Dr. Jeff is a 20.
The AZGA Arizona Golf staff groups included players from Colorado, Illinois and Washington. These tournament players are spending their discretionary dollars, and we find they gather here more for fun and enjoyable golf, with like minded compatriots, than the term “Tournament” may imply.
Christian Adderson, Tournament Director, and Sporting Events Manager for the CasaBlanca – Oasis Resort shared, “Our Mesquite Am is a modest entry fee – high value event for our tournament participants, featuring all the best elements Mesquite’s great golf has to offer. They spread the word about us at home, and consequently, our Mesquite Am field size increases each year.”
And here’s a sure bet, courtesy of the AZGA Arizona Golf Authority: Mesquite’s golf courses are a great play outside tournament week as well.
Upon arrival at the golf course each morning, the AZGA Arizona Golf Staff found check-in, carting of clubs, the shotgun parade to the tees and balls in the air at 7:30 a.m. was absolutely seamless and right on time.
And every day, at each golf course, at least one staff member or volunteer said “Thank you, very much, for attending the Mesquite Am” somewhere during the proceeding.
Each evening, the entire field gathers together for dinner, on-stage entertainment and a big screen video presentation of the day’s events filmed at the courses – just hope they videoed one of your good shots today. And at the appointed dinner hour, an enormous service staff monitored multiple food stations to make sure the tidal wave of hungry participants descending on the affair, all at the same time, were served immediately.
And without fail, each evening during this enormous dinner service event, either from behind the food service area or from the staff serving the ocean of 10-top tables, a personal “Thank you, very much, for attending the Mesquite Am” pierced the din of the collective roar.
The Par-5 6th at Conestoga Golf Club
On time events and “Thank you, very much” held true at the ancillary events as well: A practice round at Conestoga Golf Club, the Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Event, CasaBlanca and Rich Cotttle’s Altair Cigars Under the Stars, Callaway Golf’s Champions Room and the Equipment Demo Day at CasaBlanca Golf Club.
The Mesquite Am Sponsors and their respective staff members work year-round on this event and it shows. Golf Mesquite Nevada, the Mesquite Resort Association and the City of Mesquite have the local residents turn out in force as an army of red-shirted Volunteers to make certain every venue, from tournament registration to on-course competition runs smoothly, on time and without delay.
The commitment of the volunteer forces may well be a product of their own passion for golf. You see, the population of Mesquite, NV totals roughly 15,000, and with seven championship golf courses in town, has a ratio of golf holes per citizen that is astronomical compared to other US cities, Phoenix and Scottsdale included.
Mesquite is an easy golf trip from Arizona, just 77 miles northeast of Las Vegas on I-15. Visit with the staff at golfmesquitenevada.com and organize a playing trip; they have an arsenal of 9 championship golf courses and 4 distinct resort hotels to help you customize your visit. Then visit The Mesquite Am to register for the 2012 event scheduled for May 28 through June 1, 2012.
You’ll experience great golf, a friendly field, on time expert event management and a personal “Thank You” to boot; see you there.
Trey Kaahanui is serious about golf. He’s even more serious about honoring the man who taught him the game and the values it instills.
This summer, the soon-to-be-senior at McClintock High School, is participating in the American Junior Golf Association’s “Birdies for Charity”. The program is simple, Trey generates pledges from fans, and then every time he makes a birdie during competitive play, he earns money for his charities. He has set a goal of playing at least 20 rounds and making 4 birdies per round.
“I am passionate about Birdies for Charity,” said Kaahanui. “I was lucky enough to be the recipient of the ACE grant program, allowing me to pursue my dream of playing competitive golf. Now it is my turn to use my skills to give back.”
Trey’s goal is to raise $1,000, which will be split between the AJGA Youth fund and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. The Foundation is especially important to Trey, as they focus on the disease which took his beloved grandfather, “Papa”, before he had the chance to watch him become one of the top junior golfers in the nation.
“If it wasn’t for my Papa, I would not be playing golf,” commented Trey. “He introduced me to golf when I was 8 years old and taught me to always enjoy the game because it would introduce me to people and places I might not otherwise have the chance to know.”
As is usually the case when elders provide advice, Papa’s was spot on. Trey’s summer schedule will take him to Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington and Florida this summer. He has also been to France as a member of the USA team competing in the Evian Jr. Masters and to China as a US representative in the Aaron Baddeley Junior International Championship. Not bad for a 17-year-old.
Despite all his travels, “Mr. Aloha”, as he is known by friends, also finds time to give back to the game that has given him so much opportunity. He has volunteered with the First Time Phoenix, caddied for the Special Olympics and been a mentor to Special Olympic golfers at Shalimar Golf Club.
Trey lives by the belief that one person can make a difference. “I know the economy is bad and people may not be able to help, but that doesn’t mean I will stop trying,” said Trey. “When I get discouraged that donations have been slow, my mom reminds me all the time to never give up on my goal.”
In a world consumed with “me, me, me”, it is so refreshing to find a young man who looks beyond himself and knows how much better it is to give than receive.
The AZGA pledged its support to Trey and we hope you’ll consider doing the same.
Click this American Junior Golf Association AJGA Link for more information about making a “Birdies Pledge” or a one-time donation via the site.
AZGA Arizona Golf Tool Chest – AZGA Breaking the Code:
Lee Trevino is credited with a statement uttered almost 20 years ago that’s as true today as it was then: I can beat you today with any bag of clubs on this range because I can manipulate the club face, precisely, every single swing, and make the club perform the way I want it to. You tell the everyday golfer they can’t do that, and that’s why it’s more important their clubs fit them, than it is my clubs fit me.
Gary Blaisdell
Throughout my 20+ years as master equipment fitter and instructor for Henry-Griffitts®, Slazenger® and since 2000, my own Blaisdell Performance Systems®, I still find it to be the simplest expression of why the avid club player and recreational golfer must have equipment custom tailored to fit them.
The Arizona Golf Authority has invited me to share my thoughts on the current state of the custom-fitted golf equipment industry with you. Throughout this series of articles I will explain the substantial difference between “fitted golf equipment” and “golf equipment custom-fitted to you”. Don’t think you have been properly fitted just because a store clerk has watched you hit balls ten feet into a net, or used a swing simulator. There’s a lot more to it than that, as we will discuss in later articles.
We will also visit the common elements that constitute an enjoyable golf experience for the player. Our research has demonstrated that regardless of the level of play, professional competition, club or recreational golf, each golfer expresses almost the exact same answers to questions about “enjoyable golf”.
The warm-up is complete, now we’re off to the first tee to get started by debunking a few myths.
“Gary, my golf swing is so inconsistent, I’ll score well for a while and then poof, it’s gone.”
Not true, my friend, you are as consistent as the day is long and I’ll prove it to you. We go stand off to the side of the first green, turn back and watch the first tee. We can’t see anyone’s face from over 400 yards away but invariably, simply watching whomever it may be strike their tee shot immediately reveals the name of the player. “Yea, that’s Wally, that’s his move.”
Ladies and gentlemen, don’t fret over your perception of inconsistency, rather, let’s capitalize upon the highly predictable consistency you own right now, and most likely will own far into the future.
“Gary, I don’t play as well as Mr. B who’s in our group because he’s a former all-conference athlete blessed with supreme hand-eye coordination.”
No sir that cannot be true. Hand-eye coordination has no significance in the game of golf because the ball is at rest, it’s not moving. If hand-eye coordination had any role to play in the act of striking a golf ball well, the blind players I have fitted and who are currently enjoying the game would not be able to do so. Yet they are, right now, even though they can’t see anything.
I assure you, a proper golf swing for you is a simple exercise in choreographed balance. Focus on that last word, balance, as we will return to it often.
The topic of balance requires a column in itself and I’ll address that next month. Between now and then, here’s what you can do to prep. Absent a golf club, assume an address position that feels balanced to you. To do so, image a shortstop or a point guard preparing to move athletically in any direction, or perhaps someone about to propel a 460cc lump on the end of a stick at 80, 90 or 100 mph through space. Once you have found your position of balance, don’t move. Have someone hand your golf club to you and make note of where it contacts the ground in relation to you. You may be surprised to see your club doesn’t touch the ground at all and could inhibit your ability to address the golf ball in balance.
Check in for the next edition and we’ll help you understand what you have just discovered. In the meantime, if you have questions, Gary would be happy to respond. You can use the form below to send them his way.
Gary Blaisdell is the Founder and CEO of the custom golf equipment fitting and instruction company Blaisdell Performance Systems, Inc. headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Gary can be reached at:
Scottsdale, ARIZ – OB Sports Golf Management, headquartered in Scottsdale has debuted a new Mobile Golf App to provide detailed golf information for those on the run. Powered by Smartstay App, the OB Sports App is available on both the iPhone and Droid platforms as a complimentary download. The Golf App provides a wealth of information for golfers that frequent OB Sports facilities as well as traveling golfers looking for popular golf destinations in Arizona and other destinations across the country.
The OB Sports Golf App features general information about all of the 40-plus OB Sports-affiliated facilities including quick links to the club’s official website, contact information and location. Featured clubs that are resort – or destination-oriented, have enhanced functionality within the app that includes links to book tee times, tap to call functionality (with direct dial up to the club’s golf shop), tap to share, detailed club information, club specific news feeds pulled from real time Twitter posts, photo galleries and quick links to the select course videos via You Tube. In addition, featured club listings also include an Out & About section that offers mapping functionality, information on other area attractions and quick links to Yelp-powered user reviews related to the respective facility.
“As the mobile platform becomes more important to everyday consumers, OB Sports wanted to wanted to lead the golf course management industry by being in this space and providing golfers with an OB Sports App that helps them connect with our facilities using their mobile device,” stated Phil Green, Chief Operating Officer or OB Sports. “By downloading our free app, golfers can check out the nearest OB Sports managed facility, plus get quick access to contact our clubs and be on the first tee in no time,” added Green.
The OB Sports Golf App, which OB Sports had been developing for seven months, was built on the Smartstay mobile app platform with OB Sports and O’Rourke Hospitality, along with O’Rouke’s technology partner DeCare Systems Ireland.
“The long term plan will be to continually upgrade the app as we discover new technology enhancements that can be integrated into the OB Sports Golf App,” stated Kris Strauss, vice president of sales and marketing for OB Sports. “I can see the next generation of updates to the OB Sports App including enhanced booking environments, enhanced social networking and even some sort of GPS functionality that provides golfers with even more resources. In the meantime, we hope golfers throughout the country download the new (and free) OB Sports Golf app,” added Strauss.
Mesa, AZ – Our friend at All Sports Arizona will host their 2011 Fall Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at Red Mountain Ranch Country Club.
