Category: Arizona Golf News

AZGA Arizona Golf Authority Excellent Adventures

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.

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.

The collection of Tournament Courses is spectacular and the Tournament Hotels offer your choice of accommodation.

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.

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.

Visit the Arizona Golf Authority and and read the “Insider’s Review” for every Arizona golf course at their AZGA Arizona Golf Course Directory; it’s the “Insider’s Story” for everything about golf in the State of Arizona.

Mesquite Amateur Tournament Adds Gross Score Division for 2011 Event

The Mesquite Amateur, May 30th through June 3rd, played on the spectacular golf courses in and around Mesquite, Nevada, now offers a medal play Gross Score Division for tournament participants that wish to compete on a scratch basis.

“We have a group of players who, over the years, have asked to compete on these great golf courses on a pure 3-round gross score basis, so we added a division just for them” shared Christian Adderson, Sporting Events Manger for the CasaBlanca-Oasis Resort.

“The avid scratch-golf crowd finds the Mesquite Amateur courses to be a proper test of their game and we want them to feel comfortable playing in our event, just as our USGA handicap players do.”

Contested over 3-days of play on 3 different Mesquite Amateur Tournament Courses, participants register to compete in one of six flighted divisions: men’s, women’s, seniors, super-seniors, etc. Each player’s aggregate score over 3-days of play is totaled, and the top 4 finishers in each division play a 4th Championship round the next day to determine the divisional champions.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, winner-wise; players posting the top 10 scores in each flight are winners too, and can conveniently spend their winnings in the Champions Room, sponsored by Callaway Golf, where all their latest and greatest gear is on display and available to the tournament participants.

2011 marks the 9th year this amateur event, played with an assist from your USGA handicap, is being hosted in Mesquite, a stress-free 1-hour drive up Interstate 15, just north of Las Vegas. Players from 40 different U.S. states are already registered for the tournament, including 35 players from Arizona.

The nationwide appeal of the event is due in large part to the high-quality golf and high-value reputation the event has earned over the years, as well as the ease of traveling to Mesquite. Sponsors, including Golf Mesquite Nevada and the Mesquite Resort Association, make sure you have a great time when you arrive as well.

This event, limited to the first 800 players to register, is highly popular with avid-amateur players of all abilities. The players rave about the immaculate golf courses Messer’s Palmer, Foster, Olson and Nicklaus built on the dramatic landscape in this locale; pristine fairways draped upon nature’s high desert terrain – “stunning” is the most popular description.

Tournament evenings are dedicated to grand dining and entertainment events hosted in the CasaBlanca Events Center. Following play each day, the entire field comes together to enjoy the unique camaraderie amateur golfers share with each other over dinner and drinks – a bit like the PGA Tour was back in the 1960’s when those guys actually spoke to each other away from the golf course.

This year’s first three evening events are themed for the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open golf tournaments. The final night’s Championship Dinner features the tournament wrap-up, special awards and of course, the championship trophy presentations.

Take a look at the  Tournament Hotels for the details on the Mesquite Amateur accommodation offerings; tournament participants are offered very competitive rates during the event. The CasaBlanca Resort & Casino hosts each evening’s banquet gathering, a Spa Breakfast, a Cigars Under the Stars Night and several other group activities. The Eureka Hotel & Casino is hosting a Texas Hold’ Em Championship on Wednesday, and if bowling is how you groove your golf swing, then the lanes at the Virgin River Hotel & Casino are for you.

Rich Cottle, one of Altadis USA’s 200 designated Cigar VIP’s, is based in Phoenix, AZ. and furnishes the cigars for the now 4-year old Cigars Under the Stars event held at the CasaBlanca pool.

“We had a gathering of 45 the first year”, Rich shared, “and the sign-up sheet for this year’s event suggests we’ll be hosting a gathering approaching 100.” He suspects that Altadis may provide him with their highly regarded H. Upmann product this year, but cautions, “Until I actually open the crate, I can’t know for sure what premium surprise they’ve tucked in there for the Mesquite event this year.”

If you enjoy thrilling golf courses, well organized and professionally managed events, and the company of avid-amateur golfers just like you, we guarantee you’ll find the Mesquite Amateur’s golf, gaming and warm hospitality to be one of your very favorite “Excellent Adventures”.

Scottsdale, AZ – Everyone understands the importance of networking, finding the new contact to open the door to new opportunities. Countless books and articles are written about the advantage the game provides in business, whether it’s to close a deal, build relationships, entertain clients or find out where one stands on the honesty scale. And every author reaches the same conclusion – there is no better place to accomplish your business goals than on the golf course.

The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce is providing a perfect opportunity to network on the golf course during their 2011 Scottsdale Area Chamber Open. This annual event, scheduled for May 16th at 12:30pm at Ancala Country Club, brings together Chamber members and their guests, representing the Valley’s most influential local and national companies.

Spots are still available, so if business-to-business networking is part of your plan, click here, to register for the opportunity to enjoy some fresh air while you’re working.

To get a leg up on the competition, click on the link and read the Arizona Golf Authority’s local-knowledge course review for Ancala Country Club.

Starfire Golf Club is offering a “112 Days of Summer” Golf Pass. Between the dates of May 23rd and September 11th, pass holders pay $15 before noon, or $10 after noon, plus tax, for greens fees and golf cart.

The pass is good every day of the week and includes the Mountain Shadows and Silverado courses as well, but the number of passes is limited so make your decision quickly.

Managed by In Celebration of Golf, Starfire’s central Scottsdale location, 27-hole layout and full service clubhouse make it an interesting and convenient play. Click on the link and read the Arizona Golf Authority’s Starfire Golf Club course review.

In Celebration offers several programs for the portfolio of courses they manage, including Silverado, Mountain Shadows and The Links at Queen Creek; click on In Celebration of Golf and check out their complete menu of golf cards.

As a pilot for Southwest Airlines, John Rutan has a built-in advantage when it comes to competing in the annual Nature Valley Amateur, a grass-roots tournament for the average guy that provides an authentic PGA Tour experience.

And, no, it has nothing to do with his golf game even if Rutan was one of the big winners at last year’s championship at the TPC Sawgrass – the home of the prestigious Players Championship.

“It does help to be able to fly for free,’’ said the 53-year-old Scottsdale resident, who took four shots at four different TPC qualifying sites last year before he finally broke through at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill, site of the John Deere Classic, to gain entry into finals for a second straight year.

“I just wanted to go back in the worst way because I had such a great experience the first time around. And then after all that (qualifying) last year, I ended up winning my flight, so that was a pretty neat bonus.’’

Rutan, who will be competing in his fourth Nature Valley Amateur on May 16 at the TPC Scottsdale, is one of those golf guys who love “playing where the pros play”. A lot of tournaments promise such an experience, Rutan added, but none deliver quite like the Nature Valley Amateur.

“I can sum it up in a few words – they treat you special. That’s certainly what got me hooked on it,’’ said Rutan, who tried to qualify at the TPC Scottsdale, the TPC Snoqualmie and the TPC San Antonio last year before he finally pulled off the trick and eventually won the trophy.

Basically, golfers try to qualify in five different flights – the Tour Flight (scratch to 5.9 handicap), Eagle Flight (6 to 11.9 handicap), Birdie Flight (12-17.9 handicap), Par Flight (18-24 handicap) and all-new Ladies Flight (0-24 handicap). The five winners at each of the 18 TPC qualifying sites – 90 players — advance to the TPC Sawgrass at Ponte Vedra, Fla.

As far as costs, contestants are responsible for their transportation and rooms to the big event, but receive two rounds of golf, a pairings party dinner (contestant and guest) and an awards banquet for qualifying. The initial entry fee is $158.

“I took my wife and sister last year, and everybody had a wonderful time,’’ Rutan related. “The first couple of times I played in the tournament, it was just one day of competition, but last year they made it two (days) and that really took it to a new level.’’

Rutan called Sawgrass “spectacular’’ with the best greens and bunkers he’d ever played, which is saying something when you consider that Rutan plays mostly at Troon Golf facilities in Scottsdale like Troon North and Talking Stick, as well as Grayhawk and the TPC.

But Rutan said certain elements surrounding Nature Valley’s national championship made the event better than any tournament he’d ever played in.

“The caddies they provide are just great. They know there stuff and they really do make you feel like you’re playing in a professional event,’’ he said. “You also get a locker with your name on it right there in the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse. So there you are in the midst of all these lockers with PGA Tour players’ names on them.’’

Oh, yes, and there was one other thing Rutan cherished about last year, when his 168 gross score led to a 150 net and his victory in the Eagle Flight.

“The 17th hole – OMG! — I’d seen it so many times on TV during (the Players Championship) but it was even better in person,’’ he said “That walk from the 16th green to the 17th (tee) was just unbelievable.’’

That’s why, no matter how many times it takes him, Rutan is dead-set on a return to TPC Sawgrass.

“I’m entering at the TPC Scottsdale, which is May 16 and the first of 18 chances, and if I’m not successful, we’ll see how many it takes,’’ he said. “I know that I’d like to go back and play the TPC Snoqualmie anyway simply because it’s beautiful and it was cold and rainy the last time I was there – but still beautiful even in crummy weather!’’

Yes, Rutan could be flying all over the country trying to land a spot in the Nature Valley Amateur – his favorite tournament on earth. He just hopes to bring home the Waterford crystal that goes to the five flight winners.

“My big crystal trophy is on our kitchen table, so I get to look at it every day,’’ he said with obvious pride. “It’s right there with the smaller crystal trophies I got for qualifying those two straight years.’’

If Rutan isn’t enough of a gung-ho spokesman for the event, you can always check it out at naturevalleygolf.com. Just hit the “PLAY’’ button to start the video of the 2010 tournament highlights. In fact, one of those guys holding the crystal appears to be none other than “Nature Valley veteran‘’ himself — John Rutan.

“I guess you could call me that, for sure,’’ said the defending champ.