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O F M I A M I

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A Local Championwith a Big Heart

Golf Vacation

First Tee

TaylormadedriverR11

MorganPressel

Orlando22

10

08

14

A $10 Million renovation to both courses breathed new life into a classic South Florida design

Jacaranda Golf Club9200 West Broward Boulevard Plantation

954.472.5836www.golfjacaranda.com

C O N T E N T4

Staff

Staff Advisers

Editorial

First Tee of Miami

Orlando Golf Vacation

Club Fitting

Morgan Pressel Foundation

Nike VR Pro Combo Irons

Ping Tour Wedges

Taylormade R11

The Umbra Putter

J.Lindeberg

Purchasing a home

Lizarran Restaurant

Events

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08

10

12

14

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24

26

28

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INDEX

Fernando Solorzano

VPGA

Publisher

POMPANO BEACH

Former Professional

Golfer with over 30+

years of South Florida

Golf knowledge.

Fernando has locally

organized over

100+golf tournaments.

Connie Solorzano

Marketing Director

Luis Luaces

Associate Director

Umberto Bernardini, VPGA

Golf Tour Director

Mark McBride, PGA

Contributing Writer – Golf Mechanics

Peter Brandon

Contributing Writer - Wine Connoisseur

Ryan Heiman

Contributing Writer - Independent Golf Reviews

Stacy Solomon

Contributing Writer -Golf 4 beginners

Manuel Contreras

Editor in Chief

MIAMI BEACH

Strong sales & marketing

background in the

fast moving consumer

product industry, his

career span more than

14 years experience

in various fortune 500

companies, Including

Puma, Reckitt Benckiser

and Colgate Palmolive.

Michael Berenger

PGA MBA

Assistant Editor

KENDALL

A Former PGA Tour

Player with extensive

background In the

golf industry. Michael

has worked for the

top 5 golf companies

including Taylormade,

Callaway, Odyssey

znd now Fila Golf.

Adrian Peralta

Art Director

BRICKELL

Design consulting

and Brand Strategy

specializing as Project

Manager in a wide

variety of print and

media sources with 17

years of experience.

Co-founder and partner

of Innovart, LLC.

7801 N.W. 80th Ave. • Tamarac, FL 33321 • (954) 722-4300www.woodmontcountryclub.net

Ron Baker, PGA – Director of Golf

Golf-Lunch-Range Balls $38 daily after11 am - valid thru

Aug 31, 2011

Buy 1 bucket of range balls and get one free - valid thru

Aug 31, 2011

Series of 3 hr lessons $200 With this ad $150 valid thru Aug 31, 2011

CALL (954) 722-4300 FOR TEE TIMES

…Woodmont Country Club voted one of the top Ft Lauderdale’s

courses by SFG Magazine …

Newly renovated Champion Grass GreensChampionship (Par 72) over 7,000 yardsFive Par 5’s layout and Five of the longest Par 3’s in Florida

Our newly redesigned design seeks to catch

the attention of a broader band of players.

We have gone from golf purists to a more

diverse base adding expert reviews and

articles from great friends and experts in

the industry. Yet, we will always be open for

suggestions. We want to be your reliable

source for golf information in South Florida.

Local Golf EconomyOne does not need to be a financial guru

to realize that a lethal dose of a stagnant

economy and a growing unemployment rate

(10.4% as of June 2011 according to Google

Public Data Explorer) has taken a direct toll

to golf course financials in South Florida.

After all, our beloved sport is pure leisure

and if one needs to cut back on monthly

spending less rounds of golf will be first on

our significant other’s list.

The struggling economy has buried many

golf courses in a financial sand trap, forcing

owners to offer deep discounts to keep play-

ers and recruit new members. Others are

putting up “for sale” signs or seeking new

financing to stave off foreclosure. A handful

of South Florida golf courses have previous-

ly been targeted for foreclosure or bankrupt-

cy or have exchanged hands due to financial

stress, including Bonaventure Country Club,

Colony West, Woodlands Country Club and

Heron Bay Golf in Broward County. Doral

Golf Resort & Spa in Miami and Boca Del Mar

Country Club, the Grand Lacuna golf course,

the Ocean Breeze Golf & Country Club and

the Emerald Dunes Golf Course in the Palm

Beaches. Others less fortunate like Oak

Woods, Rain Tree, California Club, Turnberry

in North Miami, Westview Country Club in

Opa Locka and Calusa Golf Club in Kendall

have either closed or turned into residential

developments for good.

Still, there are plenty of opportunities and

bargains out there that tempt us to come

out to play our sport. We face difficult times

ahead and we have to be smart about how

we spend our money. With our newest

edition our staff invites you to support our

sport! Play Golf!

Fernando SolorzanoCHAIRMAN PUBLISHER

E05

E D I T O R I A L6

N E W L O O K S G R E A T C O N T E N T

For More information:

www.sfgmagazine.com

@soflagolf

SouthFloridaGolf

DoralGolfWarehouse.comEXPORTAMOS A TODO EL MUNDO

MENTION THIS AD AND RECEIVE A SPECIAL GIFT

Doral’s Only Golf Outlet Store8101 NW 33rd Street | Doral, FL

(305) 772-5918

Our incredible selection of New and Pre-Owned equipment will satisfy the most demanding golfer. We carry all top brands and

we specialize in the market of Trade-Ins.

In addition, former President George W. Bush serves as Honorary

Chair. He succeeds his father, former President George H. W. Bush,

who served as The First Tee’s honorary chair since the organization’s

inception in 1997 and shifted to an honorary chair emeritus role.

Along with establishing an initial goal of providing golf learning

facilities that enable young people from every walk of life to partake in

the game, The First Tee realized that there existed a larger opportunity

to teach life skills.

Sports have been a traditional vehicle for teaching life lessons. The First

Tee Life Skills Experience was formulated with the help of academic,

sport psychology, youth development and golf experts to proactively

teach these lessons for life as part of the basic instruction program.

The First Tee is unique in that these life skills are intentional delivered.

A participant cannot opt out of the life skills instruction because these

lessons are seamlessly integrated into the golf activities.

The First Tee of MiamiIt its quite difficult to speak about The First Tee of Miami – Dade County

without having to mention Charlie DeLucca Sr. Charlie’s charisma and

passion for youth players landed him the nickname ”the Godfather of

South Florida golf”,

DeLucca spent a few minutes of his busy daily life speaking to us

about the future of the game.

SFG > Charlie, when did your involvement with the youth in Miami-

Dade County and the First Tee started?

DeLucca > Back in 1963 I was the Golf Professional at “Miami Lakes”

(Shula’s Golf Club). I knew there were a lot of children in the area and in

First TeeOF MIAMI

H I S T O R Y O F T H E

L O C A L8

The First Tee, whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf, is supported by golf’s major organizations

Research has shown the primary reason more children, and especially

economically disadvantaged children, do not play golf is because of the

lack of places that welcome them. In 1997, the World Golf Foundation

created The First Tee as a way to bring golf to young people that

otherwise would not be exposed to the game and its positive values.

• Ladies Professional Golf Association

• Masters Tournament

• PGA of America

• PGA TOUR

• United States Golf Association

By FERNANDO SOLORZANO

most places they were not allowed to be anywhere near a golf course.

So with the help of a handful of people including the Graham Family,

Andy Cappeletti and Ralph LaPonzina (father of Johnny LaPonzina)

we started a youth program and our first summer we had about 140

children. We had people bringing their kids to our Junior Program from

Palm Beach all the way to the keys. It was a great partnership with the

golf course and also with the developers of Miami Lakes. They were

building homes and it was a way for families with children to move

out west.

SFG > Were you successful with the program?

DeLucca > The second year we were with the program I took 9 -10 kids

to the Peewee Nationals and all finished, and when I mean finished we

had a handful of players in the top 10 places. After that we started the

Dade County Amateur Championship in partnership with the City of

Miami and that is how we started the Dade Amateur Golf Association.

In 1981, the Dade Amateur Golf Association (DAGA) began a year-

round program of weekly tournaments for Junior Golfers to be played

on a variety of the better Dade County golf courses. At the time this

was considered one of the most ambitious Junior Golf programs to be

undertaken in the entire United States

Charlie still relishes the arrival of 640+ juniors from around the world

as they come every year and storms the grounds of the Doral Golf

Resort & Spa to start of the Doral Publix Junior Championship. Twenty-

seven years ago, DeLucca began the event as a warm-up to the Junior

Orange Bowl International Golf Championship. Today, it ranks among

the most popular junior events in the world.

9

Orange County Nationalbest overall layout

Orlando has many different options when it

comes to golf. Many are connected to a resort,

or community. But OCN is a little different; it

is all about the golf, and not so much about

the lodging or other amenities. It is a pure

golf facility, and it is the best that Orlando

offers. While there are a few modest lodging

options on site, the courses themselves are

free of housing, condos or any buildings to

speak of. Combine the rustic setting with

outstanding holes, and you get the best overall

golf layout in Orlando. There are 36 holes

of championship golf, (The Panther and the

Crooked Cat), a 360-degree range, a teaching

center, and a giant clubhouse all set away from

the hustle, bustle and commercialization of

Orlando. The Panther is the harder of the two

and a little more open, but the Crooked Cat

has more elevation change and tends to have a

few more trees too.

For more information: www.ocngolf.com

There is so much to do in Orlando. Many people travel to Orlando for Disney, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios, and all the

other tourist attractions. It has great weather, tons of lodging and is easy to get to. Along with all of those reasons to visit Orlando, FL,

you might want to consider it as a great golf destination. There are many excellent courses in the area. I haven’t played them all, but

these are some of the best. If you are going to make Orlando a mostly golf vacation, then contact the various courses to see about their

Stay/Play packages, some are very reasonable and offer great options.

OrlandoGOLF VACATION

C O U R S E S10

By RYAN HEIMAN

ChampionsGateThe best conditions in town

When picking a place to play there are a variety

of factors, the price, the location, the other

amenities and the overall rating. One thing

that can make or break any course is the

conditions. My experience at ChampionsGate

was enhanced by the immaculate conditions.

I played seven rounds while I was in Orlando

and the two rounds at ChampionsGate were

played on the finest conditioned courses.

ChampionsGate is another giant complex in

Orlando with hotels, condos and houses. The

one aspect of this resort that was nice is the

fact that with all the lodging and amenities, the

courses themselves still felt natural. The holes

didn’t feel woven through the housing. A few

holes of the International course are close to

and play near the hotel, but still it didn’t feel

so claustrophobic like many resort courses.

While this is the more popular course, I enjoy

the great variety of the National course too.

Along with this courses, there is a great range

and putting green, also the Leadbetter School

is on site to improve your skills. Overall Greg

Norman designed 36 great holes of golf and

the staff keeps them great.

For more information:

http://championsgategolf.com/

Orange LakeThe best family golf resort in Orlando

If you take a vacation to Orlando, FL, you might

as well plan on bringing the family along; the

wife, kids, and maybe some extended family

might want to come along. Therefore it is going

to be important to find a place for everyone. I

think that Orange Lake Golf Resort is the best

place in Orlando for a family vacation. Here

are the reasons why. The location is excellent

for all the other attractions, namely Disney.

The Resort is a Holiday Inn Resort meaning

you know what you are going to get in terms

of lodging, good quality with a reasonable

price. The resort itself has a huge

pool complex, multiple lodging types,

and plenty of space for biking and

walking. For every golfer in the family

there are a great variety of options.

There is a par 3 course (Crane’s Bend),

a lighted par 3 course (Legends Walk),

a “resort” course (The Reserve) and a

championship course (The Legend).

Also if you need to tune up your swing

or want to get better, the McCord

Golf Academy is on site too. Golfers

of every age and ability can enjoy the

resort, and the non-golfers will find

more than enough to keep them busy

on this vacation in Orlando.

Resort information:

http://orangelake.com/home.html

Grand CypressThe Best Variety of Golf in Orlando

The Grand Cypress complex is huge. They

have hotels, villas and condos which all

offer excellent stay and play packages. The

gated entrance really gives a sense of a high-

end exclusive experience and you won’t be

disappointed. There are 45 excellent holes of

golf on this complex. They are all solid layouts

by Jack Nicklaus. It a must play in Orlando and

the pristine conditions will bring you back to

play it again. The New Course is so unique.

It is an homage to the Old Course. While it is

not a replica, it is fun links style golf course.

It is interesting because of so many double

greens. The other 27 holes, North, South and

East are more traditional Florida golf, but they

are all a strong test of your skills. There are a

few tame holes, but some are very tough, like

the closing holes of the North and South. You

can expect pristine conditions and memorable

rounds at Grand Cypress.

For more information: www.grandcypress.com

Bay HillPlay where the pros play

Every year Arnold Palmer hosts a tournament

at his course. The Bay Hill we have all seen

many times on TV. It is in the heart of Orlando,

and it a large complex with hotels, condos and

spa. It has everything you need to see right on

the grounds. You can relax and golf. Everyone

likes to play where the pros play, just to see

how we stack up. Unfortunately we’re not

nearly as good as they are, but it is still fun. It

is also fun to play on a course with such high

standards of maintenance too. While this is

one of the higher priced rounds in Orlando,

how many rounds do you get to play where

the pros play?

For more information:

http://www.bayhill.com/Home-1.html

Largely ignored and often overlooked by

most golfers is the need to be equipped with

the right set of clubs and fitted to the right

length and specs. Yes, buying golf clubs is

just like buying a pair of shoes or purchasing

a new suit, not every set of clubs is tailored

to your game and most important once you

have the right clubs do they fit?

It is just incredible that in this day

and age of technology we see

thousands of players as they

visit a retail store, perhaps

inspired by a television

ad or a friend’s

suggestion and plop

down $300 to $1,200

for a set of irons without

even testing them.

Advances in technology

have narrow the price gap and

today it has become affordable

to obtain an unbiased opinion from a

qualified club fitting professional as to what

really should be the right club for you and

have it fit to the right specs.

Our staff visited Palm Beach Gardens to

speak with Brian Thomsen, Club-Fitting

Services Manager at PGA National Resort

and Spa. Brian comes to PGA National after

spending a year on TOUR fitting the best

players in the world on the PGA, LPGA, and

Champions TOUR and nine years as a club

fitting technician at Doral Resort and Spa and

The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, FL.

SFG > Brian, would you agree with the myth

that if a set of clubs is good enough for a tour

player is good enough for me?

Brian > No, and there are many reasons

for my answer. A tour player with all

the talent can just about play with

any clubs and they get paid top

money to do this. The average

amateur needs specific clubs

depending upon other

factors such a swing speed,

handicap index, frequency

of play, etc.

SFG > How will you go about

determining the right club for a

player?

Brian > I start by telling the players to bring

their current clubs to our shop. I measure the

length, lie and flexibility of irons and woods

on a frequency cycle machine to determine if

they can still use their own equipment or if

any changes are needed to make their current

equipment to fully work. Depending on the

individual I may recommend to change to a

different golf shaft on a driver or if needed

I could recommend another driver based on

my findings

ClubTHE IMPORTANCE OF

fitting

12 L O C A L

By FERNANDO SOLORZANO

SFG > I just purchased a $400 driver, does it

means that the manufacturer sold me the wrong

club?

Brian > Golf clubs are made under certain

manufacturer standards and more often these

standards fail to meet a specific player’s needs.

It will be nearly impossible for a manufacturer to

custom make clubs for players.

Even the most rudimentarily trained sales clerk

at a sporting-goods store will direct golfers to

models with generally appropriate characteristics,

such as stiffer shafts for fast swingers and

whippier shafts for slower swingers.

All you have to do is ask…They will

also nudge higher handicap players

toward irons with bigger, more

forgiving club heads and drivers

that get the ball airborne easily. In

more advanced sessions, the fitter

will watch customers hit balls, either

indoors in a hitting bay or outdoors at

a range, and custom order clubs with just

the right length, grip size, shaft flexibility and

lie angle.

In fact, most experts will agree that “Any fitting

is better than no fitting” Bill Baldwin Store owner

Planet Golf in South Miami told us last week.

Titleist, Taylormade, Ping, Callaway and most

club makers provide a fitting cart, with sample

heads and shafts, to teaching pros that sell its

clubs and train them in how the system works.

“Club fitting is more important than anything

else because with the wrong fit you will not able

to use the equipment properly”.

We had one of our staff members adjusted his old

clubs and the changes were noticed especially in

his wedges. First, the lofts and lies of the current

wedges were off, possibly from getting banged

around over the two years he had played them.

Second, the technician recommended taking the

seldom-used four iron out of his bag and replace

it with a third sand wedge, to give more scoring

accuracy from inside 120 yards. The driver

head was fine but the shaft was too stiff for his

ball flight and swing speed. A new shaft was

recommended and installed, after the changes

our employee spent $300 (compared to $ 1,200

+ by purchasing a new set) and the gains will last

for years.

We offer these details not because they are

relevant to anyone else’s particular fitting needs,

but to illustrate the types of issues a good fitting

can address. One of the main benefits of club

fitting is peace of mind. A player will go out there

and worry about the swing, about the lie, wind

and climatic conditions but for sure he will not

longer have to worry about whether or not he/

she is playing with the right equipment

Morgan was born in Tampa, Florida. She grew up playing golf

(starting when she was 8 years old) here in South Florida at St.

Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton Florida where she currently

lives. Inside the ropes she has great achievements including 2

wins in the LPGA Tour (2008 Kapalua Classic and 2007 Kraft

Nabisco Championship) and becoming a two-time member of

the U.S. Solheim Cup Team. In May 2010, Morgan also won the

Japan LPGA Salonpas Cup.

But for hundreds of women in South Florida her philanthropic

achievements are far more crucial, the ever fight between life

and death. In 2003, when she was only 15 years old, Morgan lost

her mother to breast cancer. Kathyrn Krickstein Pressel was only

43. Morgan moved with her grandparents and quickly developed

a deeper awareness of breast health. Just a few years ago she set

up a foundation in memory of her late mother.

The Morgan Pressel Foundation primarily raises money through

a golf tournament, the Morgan and Friends Fight Cancer Golf

Tournament. In four years, they have now

raised over $1.75 million. Last year they

were able to purchase a MammoVan to treat

patients on the go. The Kathryn Krickstein

Pro Images courtesy Keith Allison

“The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be”

O U R C O V E R

Horace Bushnell

14

F O U N D A T I O N

By FERNANDO SOLORZANO

Pressel MammoVan has provided more than 1100 mammograms

throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade County,

serving women who may not otherwise schedule their annual

mammogram due to the constraints of work, childcare issues or

transportation.

The MammoVan is equipped with an onboard GE mammography

unit that brings state-of-the-art, 100% digital technology directly

to the patient. In addition to providing screenings at area

businesses and organizations, the MammoVan has been utilized

as a marketing billboard at the Komen Race for the Cure and

American Cancer Society Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walks,

Town Center at Boca Raton and Saks Fifth Avenue during their

breast cancer awareness efforts, Think Pink Rocks at Mizner Park

and the Levis Jewish Community Center’s Celebration of Women

Tea. Morgan Pressel is an LPGA star with a passion for raising funds

and awareness for Breast Cancer. She is a

model citizen and thru her achievements

off the court she is able to impact

her community, our South

Florida Community!

If you are interested

in making a donation,

please send it to:

Morgan Pressel Foundation

P.O. Box 480157

Delray Beach, FL 33448

A C H A M P I O N W I T H A B I G H E A R T

F O U N D A T I O N

Tiger Woods has been working with one

of the Directors within NIKE’s Innovation

Kitchen, Tobie Hatfield, and NIKE Golf on a

FREE-inspired prototype shoe that Tiger will

wear during this week’s WGC-Bridgestone

Invitational.

Originally developed in 2004 by a group led

by Hatfield, NIKE FREE is a ‘natural motion’

technology that is designed to mimic and

conform to the natural motion of the foot,

coupled with the protection and traction of

a lightweight performance shoe.

The FREE-inspired elements in this

prototype model allow greater movement

for the front of the foot, increasing stability

with mobility. “This will help give Tiger

greater stability as he addresses the ball.

The freedom of movement that natural

motion technology delivers will also allow

more power to be released through the

swing rather than through the body – which

can happen when your feet are too static.”

said Hatfield.

“I love the feel of NIKE FREE for training, so

I asked Tobie if it was possible to bring that

technology to the golf course. It’s exciting

to see a conversation like that come to life

and I look forward to wearing them this

week,” added Tiger.

The majority of the upper consists of a

polyurethane coated stretch fabric, also seen

within the construction of NIKE Basketball’s

Hyperfuse 2011. Part of the heel is created

from recycled NIKE Air Max units melted

into thread and then woven together to

create a strong, breathable textile material.

The FREE-inspired outsole is directly taken

from NIKE Sportswear’s Special Field Boot

designed for first-responders.

This model also has a half heel counter in

both shoes to give more stability on the

lateral side, particularly in follow through.

The shoe also incorporates NIKE Flywire

(first introduced in Beijing in 2008) attached

to each lace loop, which when pulled tight

envelope the foot for maximum comfort

and stability.

TigerDEBUTS PROTOTYPE SHOE ON COMEBACK

E Q U I P M E N T16

Woods

Is designed to mimic and conform to the natural motion of the foot

By STACY SOLOMON

This fall on

The first real set of golf clubs I bought for

myself was the original Nike Pro Combo

Irons. I played them for 3 seasons. I loved

their feel and performance, especially in

the 5-PW. I was

never a huge fan

of their looks and

couldn’t hit the

3 or 4 iron. Fast

forward another

4 years and the many sets I have played

since, yet there is still a place in my heart

for those old’ Pro Combos. I did regrettable

sell them a few years back, so when Nike

introduced the VR Pro Combo Irons

for 2011, I was excited; I

couldn’t wait to put those

back into my bag again.

As I unpacked the box

and put them in my bag

just waiting for the time

I could get them on the

course, I noticed some

changes/upgrades from

the original Pro Combos.

The new look is refreshing.

The simple rivetless backs

done in chrome look so

much better. The overall

progression from blade to

cavity back to pocket cavity

appears much more fluid.

I also like the fact that

you could if desired get

the 3-7 irons in the same

shaped blades too. The

mix and match of the VR

Pro Combos with the new VR Pro Blades is

a nice feature (while maybe not necessary,

still nice). The head shapes were modified

slightly too, offering a player’s look with

modest forgiveness.

I couldn’t wait for my first round of golf

in with these. They were put to the test

because I was also playing a new driver,

which initially was a little wild off the tee.

So finding my way all around the course,

the irons came to my rescue numerous

times. I was able to hit the long irons into

the greens and found it easy to escape the

rough with long and short irons.

When it comes to playability, these rank

right near the top of my list. For the

majority of the last season I played blades.

At the end of the season I had some cavity

backs in my bag. I was contemplating

mixing and matching those two sets to

make a combo set; now I don’t have too.

The VR Pro Combos are really right up the

good recreational golfer’s alley. (For that

matter a number of Nike pros are playing

and winning with them too.)

Working through all the irons in the set is

rather seamless and just what I need for my

game. I struggle with the 3 and 4 irons.

They are not my favorite clubs in the bag.

While they still aren’t, I did hit the 4 iron

very well. The pocket cavity offers just the

right amount of forgiveness. As much as I

tried to hit the 3 iron, it will probably still

get replaced with a hybrid. But of all the 3

irons I have hit, this was the closest yet to

NikeVRPRO COMBO IRONS

R E F R E S H I N G A N O L D F A V O R I T E

E Q U I P M E N T18

When it comes to playability, these rank right near the top of my list.

By RYAN HEIMAN

making the cut. It was easy to elevate and

felt good; it just can’t beat out my hybrid.

The 5-7 irons are a split cavity, which I found

to be just the right balance of forgiving

yet slightly workable. I had the ability to

hit the ball straight most of the time, with

the ability to control shots just enough, so

nothing wild, but just a subtle cut or draw.

The 8-PW are blades and are as pure as it

gets. They are similar to the other Nike

Blades I have played, but just a little different

shape to the muscle. It is a little taller

than previous versions. This too seems to

work in my favor for controlling trajectory.

The lower irons are typically easier to hit

because of the added loft and these were

not difficult to play by any means. Their

pure feel at impact and awesome results

were just how I like it.

My set was built with DG S300s

the stock shaft, which played

as expected. They can

be shot makers

shafts as wells

as straight shooters. It is one of the most

versatile shafts on the market. The Nike

grips were a version of tour velvets that felt

nice and offered great grip even with some

sweaty palms.

The feel on these is just as good as any

other forging out there if not better. They

are buttery soft at impact. I was happy with

the durability. They didn’t get dinged up or

gouged by banging around on the plane or

in the cart. Even the sand didn’t seem to

scuff them up or do damage to the finish.

I got seven rounds in with

these irons and I shot

some great scores. I

found many greens in

regulation and found

t h a t

the rebirth of the Pro Combos was a great

move for my bag. I can see why a number

of Nike professionals have these in their

bags on tour. Nike refreshed one of my old

favorites with the VR Pro Combo Irons.

Quick Hits+Awesome Looks+Great Playability+So Soft

-Susceptible to chatter

For More information:

www.nikegolf.com

On almost anything metal, rust is considered

evil, except when it comes to wedges. Ping

introduced their new Tour-S series with an

oil-can finish they call Rustique.

These wedges will rust up a little

in the wear area. The rust color

is very similar to the original

finish that will wear from use.

The new Tour-s Wedge have a

new tuning port in the cavity

which is very similar to the

S56 irons. This tuning port

Ping uses to create a cast club

with excellent feel. They also

redistribute the weight to the

perimeter for some forgiveness

in a wedge. The design, feel and over all play

made me forget that these have conforming

grooves.

I ordered a 52* 56* and 60* with KBS shafts.

They all have similar grinds which are on

the moderate side. I believe you can get

more aggressive grind from the Ping WRX

department. They all have a great shape,

and aggressive, yet conforming grooves. I

was also pleased with how they dug just a

little but no huge divots.

The 52* gap wedge served me well. I was able

to use it most on full shots, but from time to

time to keep trajectory down on chips. While

the grind isn’t overly aggressive, I still found

it to be fairly versatile. I found this to be my

110 club every time I needed it.

The 56* is primarily my sand wedge. This

club too didn’t have any fancy grind, but it

just worked. It was able to escape the sand

easily and typically with good spin. I had

many sand saves with this wedge. I did use

it too from the fairway at 100 yards. I had

very good trajectory and distance control

with this wedge.

The 60* does everything else. I use it on full

shots at 90 yards and everything inside of

that. I was really happy with this wedge even

though the grind was similar to the other 2

wedges. I could still open it up and hit the

flop. The leading edge was sharp enough to

cut through the rough to extricate a ball, but

didn’t dig too much on tight lies.

I was really impressed with the

amount of spin that all three

wedges offered. I have sets

of both non-conforming and

conforming grooves. While

there is some difference I didn’t

notice it much with these.

They are sharp and spin the

ball nicely. While I didn’t have

many spin back, I wasn’t dealing

with much roll out either. I just

always felt in control of the spin.

Rust is a good thing on these Ping Tour-S

wedges. They look great, offer a non-glare

finish and spin the ball very nicely. For cast

wedges they even felt pretty good.

For more information:

www.ping.com

Quick Hits+Cast yet good feel+Great spin for CC grooves+Versatile wedge+Oil Can/Rustique Finish

-Minimalgrind

PingTour-S Wedges

W H E N R U S T I S G O O D

E Q U I P M E N T20

The new Tour-s Wedge have a new tuning port in the cavity which is very similar to the S56 irons. This tuning port Ping uses to create a cast club with excellent feel

By RYAN HEIMAN

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The hit of the 2011 season has been the white

driver. Taylormade first introduced us to

the “Ghost” concept last year with the Corza

Ghost putter. Since then they have painted

just anything and everything white that they

can. While white paint isn’t going to change

the performance of a club, it will certainly get

people’s attention. White paint isn’t going to

keep this club in the bags of golfers, but its

outstanding performance will. In all honestly

they could have painted this driver any color

and it still would be a great driver. The white

paint is interesting. You’re immediately drawn

to it. You also initially notice it on the backswing

out of your peripheral vision. It takes a couple

of swings to get used to that, but once you do, it

won’t bother you at all. I know there was an ad

by a competitor against the white head showing

it with a shadow; but the sun has to be just right

to make this happen, and even when it does,

that little shadow isn’t going to bother anyone.

Besides the white paint, the R11 has a

combination of FCT, MWT and ASP what

Taylormade calls 3D tuning. These three

adjustable parts of this driver allow any golfer

to get the exact setting they desire. There is the

possibility of so many different combinations, it

can be dizzying. The 3D tuning really doesn’t

take that long to set up. First remember that

the ASP has no impact on performance, just

appearance at address if you are resting the

club on the ground. It does make it look closed,

neutral or open if the club is resting on the

ground, once you lift it, it has no real use. FCT

is easy to adjust it the lie angle and loft angles.

It has 8 settings. I found the standard neutral

works best for me. The 3rd setting that took

the most tweaking to get it where I wanted it

was the MWT. While the R11 doesn’t come with

a weight kit, I had one from my old R5 TP. I

have a whole bunch of different weights, I think

I tried almost every combo I could think of until

I settled on a lighter than expected combo of

6gr heel 1gr toe. This is 4 grams lighter than

stock, but really seemed to do the trick for me.

It comes stocked with a 10gr heel and 1gr toe.

But also swingweights at D5 so this brought it

down to D3

I was surprised to see the loft at 9 instead of 9.5

degrees loft, but I think that is because of the

hosel adjustment (FCT). This new loft allows

for greater adjustment and maintains a gap

between the 9* and 10.5* Previous 9.5 and 10.5

lofts had some overlap. No one is going to miss

you rocking this driver at the course. You will

most likely have to field some questions about it

too. But if your results are like mine, you will be

more than happy to share them. On the course

I was really impressed with this driver right off

the shelf. I’ve heard of many golfers getting

their best numbers with the “made for” Blur

compared to the TP version. (also saving

them $100). It had a good feel, just not

quite as tight feeling as the real deal

Blur available in the TP version. There

are many other TP shaft options too,

most for just a $100 upgrade. I had

long, lowish spin, mid high drives with

the “made for” Blur. It was rolling out quite nice,

even for the early spring. It was fairly straight,

but from time to time because of the length

of the shaft at 45.75 and whip of this shaft, I

would lose one right or left. Even though the

shaft got a little wild with my swing at times, the

face was very forgiving. I noticed I hit the ball

all over the face early in the season, but didn’t

lose significant distance or lose them way right

or left. The sound and accessories are pretty

stock Taylormade. The good metallic sound

at impact can be changed with the weights.

Tinnier with less weight and more muted with

heavier weights. The Tour Velvet grip and long

sock headcover make for a nice combo.

The real winner for me is also the fact that

R9/R11 tips are available to purchase from

Golfsmith and other club making stores.

(Thank you Taylormade) This allowed me to try

a whole bunch of other shafts I have. This is

when I found the real winner. The R11 9* with

the Nunchuck shaft. This combo is the best I

have ever hit. Straight and long. It is hard to

believe that a shaft that only comes in one flex

and works for everyone can be that good, but

it was. I hit more fairways over 5 rounds than

I ever have before. When it came to distance,

it seemed like the Blur was longer by a couple

yards, but because I hit more fairways and got

more roll, my average length went up.

Sure not everyone is going to buy into the

white driver and some don’t want that kind of

flashiness, but the truth is this driver is good.

With the right shaft, it might be the best. I think

I found my 2011 driver; Taylormade R11 9* loft,

N (FCT), 6gr H 1gr T (MWT) Neutral (ASP) with

the Nunchuck shaft.

For more information:

http://www.taylormadegolf.com/products/

drivers/r11-driver

Quick Hits+3D Tuning

+White

+Availability of FCT tips

+Low-Spin, Forgiving face

-White doesn’t

appeal to all

-Can get expensive if

you go the TP route

or extra shafts

TaylorMadeT H I S D R I V E R W O U L D B E G O O D I N A N Y C O L O R

E Q U I P M E N T22

“The R11 has a combination of FCT, MWT and ASP what Taylormade calls 3D tuning”.

By RYAN HEIMAN

•Affordable entry fees•Single and Two Day Events

•Pro Only Events•Senior (50+) only events

•Amateurs welcome events•Amateur Division (up to 3.9 hcp)

•Premium Golf Courses •Instant professional payouts•Gift certificates for amateurs•Top 33% payout to the field•Statistical scoring service

•Miami Dade and Broward Courses www.soflatour.com

Fernando fs@soflatour.com (954)940-8293Manny mc@soflatour.com (786)239-8572

As an innovative golfer for the past 30 years, always tweaking and

trying something new, especially on the putting surface where I am

at my weakest point, I thought I tried it all. From my old Wilson Staff

blade, Bobby Grace, The Plop, Ping Anser, Odyssey 2-ball, 3-ball,

Sabertooth, White Hot and Ice and 4 different Scotty’s, I have tried

everything or used every putter imaginable, but when I laid eyes on

the Axis1 Umbra, the first thing to come to mind was, wow!!

The Axis1 Umbra and its predecessor the

Eagle share one thing in common, is all about

balance. By putting the heel weight into an

area that’s ahead of the putter face, the center

of gravity moved to the sweet spot in the club, which also happens

to align with the shaft. Placing the putter at address and relaxing

your grip just a bit and you will immediately feel the balance.

We interviewed Industrial Engineer and Designer Luis Pedraza during

his summer visit at Edwin Watts store in Fort Lauderdale where he

showed us his balance test. Pedraza’s lengthy resume includes over

25 US patents, has excelled in developing products with complex

ergonomic requirements and he is particularly proud of his design

of the Spaceball, a 3-Dimensional computer mouse which was used

to control the Mars Rover Expedition at NASA. Pedraza set up to

putt using a regular putter, lifted it slightly off the ground and put a

finger behind the shaft just above the head — and the head flopped

open and flipped completely around. He then did the same test with

his Axis1 and the putter head didn’t move.

SF > Luis, what is the major difference between your product and

all the rest

Axis 1 Golf THE UMBRA PUTTER BY T H E N E W E S T W E A P O N I N M Y B A G

E Q U I P M E N T24

By FERNANDO SOLORZANO

By putting the heel weight into an area that’s ahead of the putter face, the center of gravity moved to the sweet spot in the club, which also happens to align with the shaft

Luis > When you hold any of those putters at address position and

you relax your grip you will always notice one thing, the putter face

opens up. It’s a natural tendency due to the way traditional putters

have been built. Axis 1 putters have a patented counter to heel

counter weight to balance the club. You can hold the club with 2

fingers and the club will be aligned and balanced throughout the

entire swing motion. We are the only company to put the sweet spot

right on the center of the club and aligned with the shaft

Its unique shape virtually eliminates the usual twisting and torque

made during the stroke. Most putters, by nature, want to open up

(turn to the right) during a player’s stroke. The Axis1 doesn’t. Our

outdoor test conducted at the undulating greens of Jacaranda East

confirmed us that the physics behind it really worked. The putter

was shared by all 4 players in our foursome. All of us were amazed

at the stability and consistency of our putts; all of us improved in

different degrees our putting averages, in my experience, it takes

me a good month before I adjust to a new putter. Needless to say

after shaving 5 putts from my usual 28-31putts per round average,

the Umbra stays in my bag.

Once you see pass the club’s odd-looking head shaped like a capital

J, you will notice straighter putts and a key ingredient to great

putting, consistency. The Umbra putter is USGA approved and the

science behind it is as solid as a great putting day on my very first

try. This putter receives my 100% approval.

www.axis1golf.com

J.Lindeberg continues to lead the way in

golf fashion. Summer-Fall 2011 sees the

introduction of a new range of golfing

accessories, golf bags and a dedicated

outerwear section. Green is infused throughout

the collection this season along with the

traditional shades J.Lindeberg is renowned for.

J.Lindeberg is an international lifestyle brand

that bridges fashion and sport through modern

design. Founder Johan Lindeberg envisioned

to modernize golf wear and over the past few

years has almost single-handedly changed the

way professional golfers dress. J Lindeberg

golf clothing successfully combines fashion

and sportswear and were pioneers of the

use of Hi performance Hi density non-coated

water proof breathable fabrics called H2Off

and made by Japanese giant Toray who is the

largest fiber and textile manufacturer in Asia.

J. Lindeberg has become the label of choice for

the new golfing generation. Through the use

of brighter fabrics, better fitting constructions

and designs that bring traditional golf wear

into the present, J. Lindeberg has become the

hottest name in golf apparel.

J. Lindeberg golf clothing and accessories can

be found at most local pro shops and the J.

Lindeberg store at the Aventura Mall.

F A S H I O N

J. Lindeberg has become the label of choice for the new golfing generation. Through the use of brighter fabrics, better fitting constructions and designs that bring traditional golf wear into the present, J. Lindeberg has become the hottest name in golf apparel

26

By FERNANDO SOLORZANO

Jack BarrettDirector of Development

954-651-6720 jbarrett@thefirstteebroward.org

Entry Fee Individual $250.00 Foursome $1000.00

Includes: 18 Championship Holes w/Cart,Lunch, Dinner, Prizes and Gift Package

Additional Dinner Guest $50.00

Sponsorship PackagesTitle Sponsor $15,000 16 golf spots at event 8 VIP tickets to the WCG/Cadillac Championship at Doral Logo placement on gift items and program Exclusive signage at event Evening program and sponsor board recognition

Platinum Tee Sponsor $5,000 8 golf spots at event 4 VIP tickets to the WCG/Cadillac Championship at Doral Full 6’ banner at event Custom tee signage (preferred placement) Evening program and sponsor board recognition

Gold Tee Sponsor $ 2000 4 golf spots at event Full 6’ banner at event Custom tee signage (preferred placement) Evening program and sponsor board recognition

Silver Tee Sponsor $1000 2 golf spots at event Custom tee signage Evening program and sponsor board recognition

Custom Tee Signage $250

Schedule of Events

11:00 a.m. Registration 11:30 a.m. Lunch Noon Golf / Shotgun Start 5:00 p.m. Dinner Awards Presentation Comments from Honored Guests Giant Raffle

Charity Golf Classic

Monday, October 24, 2011Noon Shotgun

Weston Hills Country Club2600 Country Club WayWeston, Florida 33332

The First Tee Founding Partners

For more infomation visit www.thefirsteebroward.orgor contact:

presented by

As most people know we are currently in a buyer’s

market and now more than ever the chance of pur-

chasing your dream home near a golf course is closer

than what you may think. Purchasing a home near a

golf course is a solid investment as the great views and its

location will help maintain the value of your property. My recom-

mendation is to follow these easy steps in order to maximize your investment.

Those in the market for a home near a coun-

try club and are willing to pay more for your

home, what choice do they have really? What

many people do is make sure that they have

spent the right amount of money on your

investment.

If you are looking to invest in property near a

golf course then you need to find a home that

has an outdoor patio and backyard that is in

perfect condition. The backyard is especially

important, as is usually the area that faces the

golf course and therefore must be in perfect

condition.

Following these easy steps and with the right

Real Estate agent to guide you, the home of

your dreams may be just around the corner.

BIENES RAICES MIAMI

• Invest in a house that shows the

incredible scenery surrounding the

house. When you are looking for

property near a golf course you

already know that the yard surround-

ing the house is the main role in the

purchase. You will find some styles

of houses that are so dependent on

others to search the house big as

stage County club expects and de-

mands a certain level of cleanliness,

and its spectacular properties.

• Homes located near a golf course as

homes located near water (ocean,

lake, river, etc) are generally seen as

the ultimate luxury real estate mar-

ket, buyers are much more willing

to pay a higher price for this type of

investment. The key is to be patience

and to wait until you find the right

home to suit your needs.

• Remember the price of the property

is generally calculated by area and

square feet. The added price comes

with the views of the golf course and

this is the perfect moment to seek

the expertise of an experienced Real

Estate agent who can help you dur-

ing the negotiation process with the

current owner.

• When you are in the market for a

property near a golf course, club

or country, then you should start

your search with the bar set much

higher than with standard housing.

Purchase price may be higher but

your return of investment and added

value may be stronger as the years

pass.

• Location, Location. Location…the

most important words in Real Estate

HOMEPurchasing a

GOLF COURSE

Bio: Tanny Rodriguez, PA

Over 20 years experience in the local

Real Estate market specialized in the

areas of Doral, Brickell, Biscayne,

Miami, Coral Gables and Weston

near a

L O C A L28

By TANNY RODRIGUEZ

Miami

Doral

BiscayneBiscayneBrickell

Tanny RodriguezRealtor Associate

(305)970-1833tannyr@tannyrealtor.com

Jesus DuranBroker Associate

(305) 632-9857jesusduran@bellsouth.net

www.tannyrodriguez.com

Bienes Raices Miami

10783 NW 41st St Unit 1

Doral, FL 33178

Comprar o vender es una decision muy importante !Ponga sus necesidades en

nuestras manos!

Compre su propiedad hoy! Doral, Brickell, Aventura, Biscayne, Miami, Sunny Isles.

Telefono de Venezuela: 0261-335-4804 Pin # 25EB463D

Brickell Biscayne

Who doesn’t enjoy eating and drinking good food in a fun

and relaxed atmosphere where one feels free to sing and

dance and make new friends? That is Lizarran Spanish Tapas.

A restaurant in the heart of Coral Gables that brings together

the best of the Spanish gastronomy with all the passion of

the Spanish culture.

In 1988, at just 24 years of age, Mateo Ferrero, a young

entrepreneur from the region of León, Spain opened a tavern

now known as Lizarran in Sitges, near Barcelona. There, he

recreated the atmosphere of tapeo (a savory meal made up

of many hors d’oeuvres-style dishes) and txikiteo – a tradition

combining food,

wine and song –

which he so

enjoyed. That is

how pintxos (a

style of tapeo

popular in the

north) first got to

Catalonia, Spain, bringing along with them the

tradition of eating with friends while standing

around a tavern chatting with friends and

strangers alike

This spacious restaurant receives floods of light

during the day and glows under candlelight in

the evening. Glossy dark floors bring a shine

to the Spanish art that decors the place. The

sangria is fruit-heavy and refreshing and

compliments the boquerones, aceitunas

con anchoas and calamares a la

andaluza (our favorite dish)

They have a large selection of cold and hot

pinchos as they’re called. Pinchos are like

tapas, just served on top of bread with a

toothpick and are usually for one person. They

also offer a executive lunch especial, which

included 3 pinchos for around $10 dollars.

Enticing dinner options are the gambas al ajillo

served with tender shrimps and hot olive oil-

and-garlic dressing and the tiny meatballs in

a creamy saffron sauce with fluffy paella rice.

Lizarran has an extensive catering menu

whether you’re planning a birthday party,

wedding reception, corporate event or large

family party that can be tailored to your needs

including the to die for Paella and Sangria. If

you are feeling for a great Spanish dish and

even better atmosphere Lizarran Spanish

Tapas is a must! We highly recommend it

Lizarran is conveniently located at 65 Alhambra

Plz, Coral Gables 33134 between Douglas Rd

and Galiano St

LizarranR E S T A U R A N T

R E V I E W30

This spacious restaurant receives floods of light during the day and glows under candlelight in the evening. Glossy dark floors bring a shine to the Spanish art that decors the place

www.lizarran-ca.com

By FERNANDO SOLORZANO

St. JudeMiami Golf Tournament

E V E N T S

The Second Annual Friends of St. Jude Golf

tournament took place on March 18, 2011, at the

Biltmore Hotel. This event brought together young

professionals, athletes and prominent members of

the South Florida community in support St. Jude in

its mission to find cures for children with cancer.

FRIENDS OF

GUS MACHADOIn 1998 Gus Machado founded the Gus Machado Classic Charity Golf

Tournament benefiting the American Cancer Society. With every year

that passes, this tournament is more and more successful . Since 2008

the tournament is held at the exclusive Indian creek Country Club , at

Indian creek island, Miami Beach , and has become one of the signature

events in the greater Miami area. To date the Gus Machado Classic

Charity Golf Tournament has raised over half a million dollars.

C L A S S I C

ZO’s SummerE V E N T S34

Groove

Zo’s Summer Groove Golf Classic

debuted it’s new location at Fairmont

Turnberry Isle. On Friday morning

July 22nd, Alonzo Mourning kicked

off the weekend with Zo’s Summer

Groove Seminole Hard Rock Hotel

& Casino Golf Classic presented by

Hublot at Fairmont Turnberry Isle

in Aventura, Florida. The event was

hosted by Zo and his celebrity guests

like Bill Russell, Jason Taylor, Roland

Martin, Miami Heat head coach Erik

Spoelstra and USA Network original

series BURN NOTICE actor Jeffrey

Donovan.

G O L F C L A S S I C