SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – This summer, thanks to four Valley golf courses, you can scratch your golf itch and support the First Tee of Phoenix at the same time. ASU Karsten, Eagle Mountain, Longbow and the Raven-Phoenix golf clubs are all participating in an attractive program called “Tee It Up at 10 for the First Tee.”
"Tee It Up at 10" Supports the First Tee
Here’s the good news: Each course will reserve one tee time each day, Monday through Friday, between 10 and 11 a.m. on their tee sheet for the Tee it Up at 10 foursome. The reservation will be sold for $100 to the first player to telephone the golf course and request the reserved Tee it Up at 10 tee time.
Here’s the great news: The entire $100 is donated directly to the First Tee of Phoenix!
The Tee it Up at 10 program tee times during the 10 o’clock hour will be available from June 11 through August 31, 2012 at all four golf courses. Telephone the golf courses directly to purchase the reserved tee time. Each course’s advance booking policies determine how far in advance the Tee it Up at 10 reservation may be purchased.
“We noticed that nationally, The First Tee posted a goal of raising 100 Million dollars,” said Daryl Crawford, Director of Golf for ASU Karsten Golf Course. “We thought it was a great idea and through the common thread of OB Sports [the management firm for all four clubs], we now have four golf clubs participating at a local level to help them reach their national goal.”
The First Tee of Phoenix
In addition to donating the tee time fees, each golf course is also collecting donations of used and gently used equipment, e.g. clubs, shoes, balls, pull carts, umbrellas, clothes, for The First Tee of Phoenix. It’s a great incentive to clean out your garage and provide kids around the Valley with the tools they need to take up the game.
“Junior golf has always been one of our top priorities at Longbow and for the OB Sports team in general,” said Jay Larscheid, General Manager of Longbow Golf Club. “Plus, the program allows us to direct the proceeds back into junior golf efforts here in Arizona. In the end, this is a strong incentive to gets more Valley kids playing the game of golf.”
The First Tee of Phoenix teaches youngsters the game of golf by focusing on important core values such as responsibility, respect, integrity and confidence, all of which are keys to success not only on the golf course, but in life.
Telephone each golf course directly to book the special Tee it Up at 10 tee time:
TEMPE, Arizona — Lindsey Weaver of Scottsdale, Arizona took home her ninth AJGA championship trophy after a two-hole sudden death playoff against Allisen Corpuz of Honolulu.
Ms. Lindsey Weaver and Mr. Blake Barens
Blake Barens of Villa Park, Calif., won his first AJGA event after scoring even-par 70 to edge the competition by one stroke.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the PING Phoenix Junior at ASU Karsten was a 54-hole stroke play competition played on the par-70 ASU Karsten Golf Course. The event featured 57 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18, from 15 states, Colombia, Mexico and Thailand. The Boys Division played the course at 6,858 yards while the Girls Division played the course at 5,977 yards.
Weaver carded a final round 2-over-par 72 and Corpuz carded a 1-over-par 71. Both finished the tournament at 1-under-par 209. Each made par on the first playoff hole, but on the second, Weaver made birdie to secure the victory.
After losing this tournament last year in a playoff, it meant a lot to Weaver to win it in the same fashion. This victory was also special for the Scottsdale local as she looks forward to a future at the University of Notre Dame.
In the Girls Division, Corpuz finished in second place, while Bethany Wu, of Diamond Bar, Calif., finished at even-par 210 to take home third place.
Barens’ even-par round on Thursday was exactly what was needed to withstand the competition.
“It was playing really tough out there, so I knew it was not about who was going to go really low; it was more just about surviving out there,” Barens said. “I found out I was about tied going into No. 15, so I knew I had a chance; I just had to hold on.”
Cody McManus of Phoenix and Dean Sakata of Diamond Bar, Calif., finished tied for second at 2-under-par 208. Zachary Wright of Phoenix and James Lee of Albuquerque, N.M., finished tied for fourth in the Boys Division.
Over the last five years, the depressed economy has played havoc with private golf in Arizona. The latest episode involving members of a long-time Phoenix country club voting to give up ownership through a bankruptcy court.
Moon Valley Country Club
Call it crazy, and we’ve seen a bunch of that since things went south, but that’s basically the fate decided for Moon Valley Country Club. As soon as a bankruptcy court judge fills in the details later this month, Borders Golf, a management group based in Colorado will take over the club’s restructuring and ultimately its ownership without restriction.
How could it have come to this for Moon Valley, once home to the LPGA back in the days when it was owned by PING founder Karsten Solheim? In a lot of ways, Moon Valley is a victim of the times, especially in the private world of golf where the numbers continue to trend downward. Of Arizona’s approximately 100 private clubs, about 15 to 20 have experienced BK or other financial troubles to varying degrees.
Amazingly, no private club in Arizona has gone under — yet. That’s quite a bit better than the national numbers, where about 100 of the 4,400 private clubs have gone belly up, according to the National Golf Foundation. However, the fact that 400-plus – 10 percent — have opened their doors to the public in some capacity is a more telltale sign of their woes. In other words, change your playing policy and take in the public or go under.
In Moon Valley’s case it was a double-whammy that led its members to opt for BK. Which came first is up for debate, but a water bill that climbed to nearly $1 million annually was compounded by a major exodus, as membership fell from a high of 440 full-time members a few years ago to 267 today. The combination kept Moon Valley from paying off a $6 million debt tied to the sale of the club and improvements made over the years.
It gets worse. When the members missed a few payments and fell into arrears, the bank tried to call in the $6 million note. When the members balked at a settlement for 50 cents on the dollar, an outside investment company, Dimension Financial-REL of Phoenix, swept in and bought the note for $3 million. Suddenly, members weren’t dealing with the bank; they were dealing with Dimension Financial, a buyer of distressed properties that ultimately wanted to build four-story condos on the course.
Bill Doyle, a lawyer who doubles as president of the Moon Valley board, put it this way: “The water bill went up, the membership went down, and we were stuck in the middle holding a pretty large debt.’’
At that point, the Moon Valley membership hired MCA, a consulting firm that specializes in restructuring and reorganization. And along those lines, the membership raised an additional $300,000, which is what the bankruptcy will cost when all is said and done in court. But just to make sure everybody had “options,’’ four were put forth and offered up to the 267 remaining members.
The first was to file bankruptcy and turn the club over to Borders, a golf management company that does business in Colorado at clubs like Catamount and Cordillera, as well as international retreats like Punta Lobos and TPC Cancun in Mexico, Las Olas in Panama, and Placencia in Belize. Borders also has managed dozens of clubs in the past, including SaddleBrooke in Tucson and Mt. Graham Golf Course in Safford. But the key, for Option One, was that Borders agreed to let the members keep their memberships. A call to Borders Golf for comment was not returned.
The second option was sell Moon Valley to the M Club, the new private club concept being put together by PGA Tour star Phil Mickelson and his agent, Steve Loy. The hang-up with the M Club, according to several members of Moon Valley, was the M Club would then turn over about 15 acres of land at Moon Valley to Dimension Financial-REL to settle the $6 million debt. Again, members would keep their memberships and continue to pay the monthly, but the possibility of condos cluttering the course made this choice far less appealing.
The third option was let Dimension Financial-REL take over the club for the $6 million note. But the members as well as the 1,200 residents in the Moon Valley neighborhood, didn’t like the idea of the 300-plus condos, which would have been built where Moon Valley’s maintenance facility sets in the middle of the golf course. Also taking a hit would have been the ninth and 10th fairways at Moon Valley, which border that facility. Chances are the re-zoning never would have survived the battle with the club and its neighbors, especially the “high-rise’’ factor of four stories.
The last option was to close the doors on the club entirely, thus erasing the traditional tree-lined track founded by Bob Goldwater and built by noted architect Dick Wilson in 1960. According to several members, this never was going to happen.
“The vote was unanimous for (option one): to give up the club to Borders with members keeping their memberships,’’ Doyle said of the vote that took place May 23.
“The agreement is not complete until we get the particulars (from the bankruptcy judge) but we anticipate that Borders will take over when it’s done. Considering the alternative(s), we’re very happy.’’
Still, the bankruptcy court’s decision won’t fix the water issue, which could cause a further retreat among the members. Doyle said to resolve that issue, a pipeline to carry canal water will eventually be built at a cost of several million dollars from a source near 19th Avenue and Dunlap. At the moment, Moon Valley remains on Phoenix city water, or very expensive “drinking water.’’
That million-dollar water bill wasn’t always the case, noted Doyle. When members purchased Moon Valley from Solheim back in 1994, it seemed to be a bargain at $6 million – and the water bill was less than half what it is today. Plus, some of that debt was accrued when the club built a state-of-the-art Aquatic Center, tennis courts, a full gymnasium and fitness club along with remodeling the clubhouse.
In every way, Moon Valley just kept getting better – or so it seemed. But the water bill just kept going up, up, up, and members kept leaving. It was a situation that hardly seemed fair when compared with other private clubs in the Valley. Even though Moon Valley irrigates 150 acres of grass, or about 60 acres more than is permitted today, they pay significantly more because of their location in northwest Phoenix and the year the club originated (1960). By comparison, Phoenix Country Club, which traces its roots to 1899 and uses canal water, is grandfathered into its water rights at a fraction of the cost. And Mesa Country Club, which was built in 1950 and also uses canal water, gets an even better deal with the city of Mesa due to grandfathered rights and the fact they pump their own water.
Jim Frazier, a long-time member at Moon Valley, freely admits that his club uses more water than any other course in Arizona, “but we also conserve every drop of it.’’ Frazier added that the club would already have tied in to a cheaper source of water had the opportunity not fallen through due to money woes. Now, he said, the best hope is that Borders will be the club’s “white knight, and ride to the rescue.’’
“It’s too bad it’s come to this, but as far as I’m concerned, I have no equity left in my membership,’’ said Frazier, who was one of those who originally paid $15,000 to $30,000 to belong to Moon Valley.
“I guess you could say that there are times in life when things are just not fair, and this is one of them. The economy and the water bill have got us by the tail and their swinging us around and around.’’
Yes, these are the worst of times for Moon Valley, which still looks in great shape despite the inner turmoil. A tragedy, really, for a club that once experienced the best of times, such as Laura Davies winning a record four LPGA titles there and Annika Sorenstam carding the one-and-only 59 in women’s golf. And Moon Valley had lots of proud traditions, like the annual MV3 Invitational, one of the better amateur events that are held throughout the Southwest.
In fact, the recent MV3 just took place at Moon Valley with Arizona Golf Association standouts Michael Wog, Trey Martin and Adam Walicki beating a team led by Cameron Howell, the 2011 AGA player of the year. And Wog’s team did it in record fashion (24under par), something that was not lost on Wog, a junior member at Moon Valley.
“I love the golf course, and I’m really concerned about the direction the club is going to take. It’s not a good situation, although keeping the club as much intact as possible and not building condos is the way to go,’’ Wog said. “Seriously, it makes me sad as hell.’’
Frazier also feels the pain.
“It was kind of like the perfect storm,’’ Frazier noted. “We got a great deal on the club from Karsten, tried to make it better by adding some wonderful amenities, got caught in a recession, and then the water bill finally took us down.
“Last year, we thought we had it all figured out when Century Golf, which is owned by the Arnold Palmer Company, agreed to buy it and let us keep our memberships. Then the financing (for Century Golf) fell through and (Dimension Financial-REL) bought the note. So I guess (the bankruptcy) and the deal with Borders Golf is about as good as we can do in the end.’’
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the club has its collective backs to the wall. In 1984, a time when the economy was again on the brink, the members fell into a deep financial hole. But that was when Solheim came riding to the rescue. Whether Borders Golf can save Moon Valley Country Club remains to be seen.
If not, there could be a fifth option that wasn’t in play the last time around: Open Moon Valley to the public and get rid of its private status. There already is precedent in Arizona, just ask the guys at Southern Dunes.
PHOENIX, Arizona — When you are 7’8” tall, life can present challenges. You duck through doors, your legs hang off the bed, comfort on an airplane is non-existent and buying clothes off the rack is not an option.
Courtesy of the Harlem Globetrotters
But being one of the world’s tallest men can present opportunities. Like never getting lost in the crowd, dunking a basketball without leaving the ground and, at times, being treated like a VIP.
Such is the life of Paul Sturgess who was declared the World’s Tallest Professional Basketball Player by Guinness in November 2011 and made his on-court debut with the Harlem Globetrotters in December 2011.
Since joining the team, he has literally hit the ground running, dazzling crowds with his sheer size and talent. A recent video showing Sturgess dunking the ball, finishing with his feet on the court and a handful of rim, has gone viral. Here’s the link – check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTnC0RBXwws
Sturgess, who grew up in Loughborough, England, has gotten used to the stares and constant requests to have his photo taken. But when he needs a break from his celebrity status, he turns to his childhood passion and heads to the golf course.
A single-digit handicap, Sturgess says he consistently drives a golf ball 300 yards, boasting a personal best drive of over 360 yards. He took up golf as an 11-year-old before he hit his growth spurt, growing a foot between the ages of 16 and 17. Finding size 20 shoes to wear daily is not the easiest task for Sturgess, so one can imagine that finding clubs to fit a person who stands 7’8” can be very challenging. That’s where the Arizona connection takes hold.
“Golf provides the ultimate networking opportunity,” stated Piranha Golf President Steve Collins. “A friend of Piranha’s US Senior Executive Dave Barnes, called him to ask about helping Paul get a custom-fit set of clubs. We thought it was a perfect opportunity. After all, our mission is to do things different, to find unusual and unique ways to partner and get noticed. Working with the Harlem Globetrotters and Paul certainly fit the criteria.
Paul with PGA Section Teacher of the Year, John Dunnigan
“We phoned our Global Ambassador Chuck Evans, Golf Magazine “Top 100 Teacher” and Golf Digest “Best Teachers in America” to find out who was best to perform a club fitting in Philadelphia, where Paul was located at the time. That led us to John Dunnigan, the Philadelphia PGA Section Teacher of the year in 2008 and one of Golf Digest’s Top Teachers in Pennsylvania for eight consecutive years. John loved the idea of working with Piranha and Paul.”
“I am a big advocate of custom-fitting,” commented Dunnigan. “Getting the right clubs for your swing is about the most important thing a player can do to improve his game.”
During the hour-long session, Sturgess sampled Piranha’s V*Blade irons as he had decided early on that he loved the way they looked and because they too were so unique in the market. It quickly became apparent to Dunnigan that the Piranha Golf V*Blade irons were indeed the right choice for Sturgess, as his golf skill was immediately apparent.
“The V*Blades irons are designed to produce a lower ball spin rate from the lower to mid-irons and higher spin rates from the higher irons,” commented Dunnigan. “With the V*Blades, Paul was able to hit the ball more consistently and with great accuracy.”
With the decision made, the work began. Antonio Gelonesi is not only the Chairman/Owner of Piranha Golf, but a Master Club Maker as well. He personally built a full set of V*Blade irons, as well as a driver, fairway metal, wedges and a putter for Sturgess.
Just in time for the northern hemisphere golf season, Piranha Chairman, Antonio Gelonesi made the trek from Sydney, Australia, to Chelsea Piers in New York City to hand-deliver Paul’s custom set of clubs. “I have a very old set of clubs back in England, but I am very excited about my new clubs and the chance to go out and elevate my game,” said Sturgess. “People often doubt that I am a good golfer, so I was anxious to receive my new custom clubs and show folks what I can do on the course.”
“This seemed like a match made in heaven,” commented Collins. “From the start, it was apparent the Piranha core values were in tune with those of the Harlem Globetrotter organization. Their team is an amazing group with which to work and I think this is just the start of more good things to come.”
Troon North Golf Club has released their calendar for the 2012 3-day Summer Junior Camps. This unique opportunity provides a fun-filled way for kids of all ages to improve their golf game, in a safe environment while playing and practicing at one of the best golf facilities in Arizona.
Beginner Camps are offered Monday – Wednesday from 8-11am
Open to all kids age 5-9 years old
Cost is $150 per 3-day camp
Advanced Camps are offered Monday – Wednesday from 8am-2pm
Includes lunch and on-course instruction in the afternoon
Open to all kids age 10-17 years old
Cost is $200 per 3-day camp
June 2012 Camp Dates
June 4-6
June 11-13
June 18-20
June 25-27
July 2012 Camp Dates
July 9-11
July 16-18
July 23-25
July 30-August 1
For more information or to sign up, call 480.585.5300 ext 251 or email rmahoney@troongolf.com
Scottsdale, Arizona – Do you have a shelf full of “He likes golf so I’ll buy him this” golf gadgets collecting dust in the garage?
Well, just forward this hint along to your well-meaning loved ones before they start their Father’s Day shopping, or leave an innocent, printed copy in plain view around the house somewhere and you won’t have to visit that corner of the garage this year.
Tin Cup Products, LLC emblems are a fun and easy way to comply with the USGA Rules of Golf to mark your ball for identification, and add your own personal style to your golf ball at the same time.
These are the same emblems used by many professional PGA, Champions, European and LPGA Tour players to make certain their ball is clearly marked.
Named “Best New Product” at the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show, the Tin Cup personalization process takes just seconds, as players simply place the stainless steel Tin Cup stencil over a ball and trace the emblem using an ultra fine point permanent Sharpie.
Arizona dads will be happy to know that both the University of Arizona “Block A” and the Arizona State University “Pitchfork” and ASU logo are both prominently featured in Tin Cup’s popular collection of 30 officially-licensed college cups.
Whether you’re supporting the U.S. Military, want to promote your alma mater or your certain fondness for cigars, you’ll find the Tin Cup logo stencil that’s just right for you. In addition to more than 90 existing models, Tin Cup introduces new logos and designs each month, producing an ever-expanding collection to choose from, including all four major military branches. Other popular emblems we’ve seen about are the Luck of the Irish and the Jolly Roger.
And don’t forget game improvement markings for your ball. The Take Aim Tin Cup emblem features a modified bulls-eye pattern with lines to help you aim and then set-up to your target and intended path of play; it’s in their popular “Visualization Series”.
Tin Cup products are made in the USA from 100% stainless steel. Each design sells for $19.95 and Tin Cup also offers a kit including the design stencil, storage bag and pens for $30.
If you wish to use your own logo design, Tin Cup’s customization program provides low minimums, affordable pricing and prompt delivery for corporations, charities, media outlets, celebrities, events and others seeking a distinctive gift.
Tin Cup stencils are currently sold at more than 750 retail locations worldwide, including PGA Superstore, Edwin Watts, Roger Dunn and Golfsmith, as well as elite clubs and resorts like The Boulders, Baltusrol, Bandon Dunes, Congressional, Kingsmill, Medinah, Reynolds Plantation, Torrey Pines, Wailea and Sea Island. The company also has distributors in Canada, the UK and Japan.
For more information, visit www.tin-cup.com or call 888.984.6287.
MESA, Arizona – Augusta Ranch Golf Club owner and general manager Don Rea announced the Summer Golf Pass is back for 2012 and if you like golf, you’ll love this.
Augusta Ranch Golf Club
Four months – unlimited walking golf – $99.00.
Augusta Ranch has three types of Summer Golf Passes available. Customized options for an individual golfer, a junior golfer or complete foursomes ensure that everyone will find a Summer Pass that fits their style of play.
Each pass includes special discounts on all the accoutrements like range balls, carts and guest fees; check out the details below.
Take special note of the fact that Don is doing a little “looking out for others” again. With each summer golf pass sold, Augusta Ranch will donate $5 to the Folds of Honor Foundation. He can’t help it, you know, it’s just the way he’s wired.
Golf passes can be purchased at the Augusta Ranch golf shop or by calling (480) 354-1234. For more information, visit www.augustaranchgolf.com.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – If your dad is an avid golfer, forget the necktie, the silly barbecue apron and the latest, overpriced “musk in a bottle” fad. Give him something he’ll really enjoy – Butch Harmon’s new golf instructional two-DVD set titled “Butch Harmon About Golf presented by Titleist”.
“Coming from a golf family, Father’s Day has always been associated with golf,” says Harmon. “I can’t think of a better way to say ’happy father’s day’ to your dad than with some tips that began when my dad, Claude Harmon, played on tour.
Butch is the son of 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon, and has been involved in professional golf for over 40 years. He was a PGA Tour player from 1969 to 1971, with one Tour win – the 1971 Broome County Open – to his name. He became best-known, however, through his work as a teacher of the game, beginning with Greg Norman in the early 1990s followed by a ten year association with Tiger Woods from 1993 to 2004.
“My thoughts were to create a DVD that was designed to help your game, capture and retain your interest, and to entertain you. Unlike any other golf instructional DVD ever produced, I’ll share my thoughts supplemented with those of the game’s greatest golfers that I’ve had the privilege of working with.”
The two-DVD set features 57 chapters containing more than 250 specific tips, totaling over four hours of instruction from the man voted #1 in Golf Digest’s annual ranking of America’s Best Teachers for the past 11 consecutive years.
Dad will savor watching Butch’s actual footage of the familiar student-players who benefited from Harmon’s instruction, including Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Natalie Gulbis, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Adam Scott, Nick Watney and Tiger Woods.
Since his early experience with Norman, Butch has worked with more than 100 PGA, LPGA, and European Tour players, including 21 Major winners and recent former Official World Golf Rankings number one Lee Westwood.
The Butch Harmon School of Golf currently has five signature locations throughout the United States, Macau, and Dubai, and is one of the top golf academies in the world. The signature locations include Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, Nevada, Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City, Florida, Loon Golf Club in Gaylord, Michigan and international locations in Macau and Dubai.
The “Butch Harmon About Golf presented by Titleist” DVD set is sponsored by Titleist, Winn Grips, Rolex, Golf Digest and JMA and will be available for $79.95 on-line at www.ButchHarmonDVD.com.
Once Dad’s taken care of, click the Arizona Golf Authority, it’s “All Things Arizona Golf.”
Cave Creek, Arizona – Tatum Ranch Golf Club is offering avid players the opportunity to sample the private country club lifestyle through their new Summer Membership program.
Tatum Ranch Golf Club
The golf course, designed by Bob Cupp, opened in 1986 and is both an entertaining and challenging layout that’s matured quite nicely. Generous fairways make it playable for everyone, as do seven, yes, 7 sets of tee markers. Skilled players will be tested from the 6,856-yard tips (72.2 / 135), while friends and family can choose their own comfortable yardage and everyone can enjoy a day of recreational golf, together.
Although the Club is technically located in Cave Creek, it’s right on the edge of both Scottsdale and North Phoenix, just north of Loop-101 on Cave Creek Road – quite convenient to drive to, actually.
The Tatum Ranch summer membership includes:
• Access to the 18-hole championship golf course 5/1 through 9/30/2012
• Seven-day advance Tee Times, any day after 9:00am – cart fee applies
• Access to the driving range and practice facilities 5/1 through 9/30/2012
• Full access to the swimming pool, fitness center, clubhouse amenities and social events
• Preferred rates at OB Sports managed golf courses; check out www.obsports.com/travel
Only a limited number of Summer Memberships are being offered at $1000, so act quickly. Come September 30, if you like the country-club lifestyle, you have the opportunity to upgrade to full membership – at which time, Tatum Ranch will credit the $1000 Summer Pass payment against the initiation fee for any of several full-golf membership categories.
For help with the Summer Memberships at Tatum Ranch Golf Club offer call 480.585.2399, email Ellen Haboush, Director of Membership at ehaboush@tatumranchgc.com or visit www.tatumranchgc.com/summer for all the details.
