jacksonville golf magazine

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A look behind the gatesPrivacy, please

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Feeding the Volunteers

Deane Beman

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VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 5

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Rhonda Ferguson

Wedge game

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Our take on a popular topicBest 18 holes

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George Halvorsen

Daytona Beach

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The Underwood Cup

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Better than Ever?The Players:

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Take Flight

Stay Centered

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Tim Clark, 2010 PLAYERS Champion

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Jacksonville Golf Magazine • May 2011 • www.jaxgolfmag.com 3

The Golf Channel seems to be em-phasizing instruction these days. There are some excellent shows but, to me, they just don’t quite fill my needs. What I get from those shows are basic tips: stay on balance, keep your head behind the ball, etc. But I need more.

We all want quick fixes and TV is a siren’s song when it comes to that. Just watch Michael Breed or Martin Hall, and you may think your prob-lems are solved. No, they’re not, as you’ll find out when you next play. Their best advice is what they say near the end of their shows: go see your local pro.

A colleague’s wife recently took a clinic on the short game and com-plained to her husband that it didn’t do any good. The next day she played a round and everything clicked, not just the short game. She was thrilled

and took full credit but my friend kept asking questions and finally it came out: the pro worked with her on a basic — hands in front of the ball — and she carried that to the course and did it on every shot. She wouldn’t have gotten that from TV.

Another friend took a playing lesson and heard something he wouldn’t get from TV because it was a hands-on personal thing: he wasn’t being aggressive. Go for it, his pro said. Clubs were meant to be used aggres-sively. If you try to finesse every shot, you’ll hit them weak and side-ways. My friend played aggressively in the Gate and it resulted in his best finish ever.

Golf isn’t a one size fits all, and that’s what you’ll get from TV and books. Martin Hall may be a great instruc-tor, but he doesn’t know if you’re tall or short, thin or stout, athletic

or uncoordinated. For some of us, breaking 100 will be an accomplish-ment. For others, not breaking 80 is a day’s labor lost.

Your PGA pro is trained to fit a golf game to your size, shape and ability. He also is trained to determine your goals and put you on a program to achieve them. You’ll pay for this, of course, just as you pay your doctor or your accountant to fix what ails you or your finances.

I’m not saying that you should quit watching the TV instruction shows. Not at all. There’s plenty of good information there. I’m saying that those shows come short of what you need. They may get you started, but you need some hands-on work to get you toward the finish.

I’m at [email protected].

Brian LamarrePublisher

Learning ... the best way

Hello fellow Tweeps.Check us out at twitter.com/jaxgolfmag

PitchShot

>> In case you missed it, and you probably did because it got absolutely NO media mention around here, the Florida men’s team won the SEC Championship at Sea Island. Hard to believe, but it was the Gators’ first SEC title since 2003. They won by six over Alabama on the Seaside course. The UF women’s team was ninth at Auburn’s course. Around here, the UNF men were second in the Atlantic Sun tourna-ment at Chateau Elan north of Atlanta; JU was ninth.

From the Publisher

UF wins SEC Sunday, July 10, 2011

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Ocean Course

Register online at www.jaxareagolfassn.com

City Amateur Championship Qualifier

7.10.11

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For advertising & editorialJacksonville Golf Magazine

PO Box 65536Orange Park, FL 32065

p. 904.383.7587 f. [email protected]

PublisherBrian Lamarre

EditorFred Seely

Jacksonville Golf Magazine is published every month and distributed throughout Northeast Florida. Reproduction without express written authorization from Jacksonville Golf Magazine is strictly prohibited. Editorial content is not necessarily the view of the publisher. All information is from sources we believe to be creditable. Neither the publisher nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found in the publication. The publisher accepts no liability for the statements made by advertisers.

Teaching pro Brad Rollinson and Julington Creek assistant David Palm combined for a 17-under 127 to win the annual Pablo Creek Pro-Pro. Each got $2,000.

They were two better than unat-tached pro Scott Grosspitch and First Tee of Jacksonville pro Bran-don Ehlers. In third were former Champions Tour players Bob Duval and Ted Goin.

There were 15 teams.

Northern Chapter PGA

Rollinson-Palmtake Pro-Pro

Letters to the Editor

Gerry James led the winning team and a pair of Nates shared low pro in the Northern Chapter PGA’s pro-am at Amelia National. The tour-nament attracted 30 teams.

The long-driving James, a teach-ing pro at CenterForce Golf, and amateurs Joe Mesa, Jimmy Ross and Michael Cheek had a 21-under 123 to win by one shot. Nate Cart-er, the pro at Deerfield Lakes, and Nate Manis, an assistant at the Slammer & Squire, each shot 72.

James’ team each won $145.80. Carter and Manis each got $222.

Two teams tied for second: Marsh Creek’s Cary Splane with amateurs Jack Murray, Bob Marshall and John Michalski, and Carter with Ron Leininger, Maurice Higginbo-tham and Phil Sheppard.

Following Carter and Manis in the low pro category were eight play-ers at 73: James, Richie Bryant, Clint Avret, Sean Solodovnick, Tom Stecker, Broc Nell, Scott Trethewey and Keith Gibson.

James, Carterscore at Amelia

PGA notesThree members of the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA have been nominated by the North Florida section for national awards.

Todd Bork of San Jose was nominat-ed for service to the game, instruc-tor Mary Hafeman was nominated for teaching and Jack Aschenbach of Amelia National was nominated for work with military-related charities. Winners will be announced at the PGA of America’s annual meeting later this year.

The Assistant’s Association is being brought back with Pamela Shelley of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and John Grzybek of Mayport Windy Harbor in charge ... This month’s pro-am at Palencia was the fourth straight sellout for the Chapter’s schedule ... Initial planning is underway for a sub-Chapter in the Tallahassee area. The group would elect officers and conduct events, but would report to the Northern Chapter board.

DATES: The next Chapter meeting is May 30 at San Jose ... A joint meet-ing with club managers and superin-tendents will be June 2 at the TPC ... After a few years’ absence, the Pro vs. Assistant event is coming back. It will be known as the Nike Cup and will be played Oct. 10 at Ponte Ve-dra Inn & Club with a pro-am on the preceding day ... The North Florida PGA will contribute $4,000 to the Chapter Championship purse, ac-cording to Section Executive Direc-tor Rich Smith. The event is July 10-11 at the World Golf Village.

I just picked up the April issue at lunch today and enjoyed it as always. I had skimmed the elec-tronic copy you sent me. Your editorial was extremely well written and right on as usual. In addition, I really appreciate your article regarding the JAGA City Match Play Championship. Your magazine’s support of golf in Northern Florida is exceptional and I thank you for all you do.

Bob StreightiffPresident, JAGA

Just read through the latest issue - good work to you and your team!

Matthew RappExecutive Director, THE PLAYERS

Do you have something you want to share? Email us at [email protected].


We keep the conversation going.Look for “Jacksonville Golf Magazine” on Facebook.

Whether they make their goal or not, let’s hear it for the PGA Tour and the commitment to raise $50 million for lo-cal charities over the next 10 years. That’s $5

million a year, almost double what they’ve averaged over the past 10 years. Isn’t it great to have a sports organization in town that doesn’t come with rumors that they may leave? <<<

Timuquana’s course is closed until about October to install new grass, work on some bunkers and add some tees. The clubhouse renovation will take until December: new ballroom and kitchen. <<<

It’s tough raising money and the Jacksonville Area GA scholarship fund is one that has struggled. Help came last month when Sawgrass’s Steve Wyand presented a check for $8,670 from the club and its mem-bers. Since 1999, the club has do-nated over $107,000. <<<

Waiting to see if the new ownership at The Golf Channel will produce an announcer shuffle. It’s now owned by NBC Universal and upgrades ob-viously have started on the produc-tion side. Hey, NBC, if you aren’t going to change some people, can you at least to give them a lesson in avoiding clichés? <<<

And will the Masters honchos tell the announcers that they don’t have to kiss the tournament’s fanny with every other sentence? Yes, it’s the best tournament in the world but yes, it’s just a golf tournament. <<<

We think that our area has only one Augusta National member and

he got a little publicity. Retired publishing/TV exec Ron Townsend of Ponte Vedra was handling hot dog Ricky Fowler’s media room in-terview and the player turned his cap backwards. Townsend told him to turn it around. Fowler said no, he wanted people to see his face. Townsend whispered something and Fowler quickly turned it the proper way. What did Townsend say? Here’s a guess: “Want to ever come back here, or do you want to join Gary McCord out on the street?” <<<

Don’t worry about UF quarterback John Brantley, says his high school coach. Just needs to get his con-fidence back. JU Coach Kerwin Bell,who had Brantley at Ocala Cath-olic, says new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is what Brantley needed. The new system fits him, says Bell, and Weis has a reputation of being a masterful playcaller. (Sounds like a see-it-to-believe-it deal. How long before the fans start chanting for frosh star Jeff Driskel?) <<<

Sad to say that we probably won’t get the NCAA basketball tournament back. It was a big hit here but bigger and better venues are now bidding, including the new Orlando arena. Jacksonville has a bid for 2014 but we won’t get much consideration until we get a new scoreboard (that’s a million bucks, folks.)

Got to wonder if Jacksonville na-tive Otis Smith isn’t on the hot seat as general manager of the Orlando Magic. He has built a mediocre team that has the fifth-largest payroll in all of sports. Only soccer giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, the New York Yankees and the LA Lakers have a higher average salary than Orlando’s $6,367,114 per player. (Oh, maybe the University of Kentucky’s basket-ball team belongs in there, too.)

The “Freedom” Friday promotion headed up by the local pros has turned out to be a monster success with over 1,000 red shirts sold. <<<

A long night faces stadium work-ers at New Year’s. The Jaguars play Indianapolis at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1 and then everything has to be cleaned up and repainted for the Gator Bowl at 1:30 the next after-noon. <<<

2012: Urban Meyer, coach at Ohio State. <<<

Can’t TV be honest with us? The lead-ins to the Heritage telecasts started with shots of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, neither of whom were at the tournament. C’mon — the golf fields can speak for themselves to-day. Woods and Mickelson certainly boost ratings but it’s not right to insult the other players by using im-ages of people who aren’t there. <<<

JAGA directors will hear from a retail veteran this month when they meet at Amelia National. David Gates will tell of his experiences here on the 17th. <<<

Surely someone can top this: Ju-lie Madison recently won her 23rd Timuquana ladies club champion-ship. Anyone? <<<

Funny how no one talks about Grand Slams when Tiger Woods doesn’t win the Masters. <<<

Give a look at the Daniel Memorial BBQ fundraiser at the stadium on May 21. Tickets are only 15 bucks and you’ll sample the wares of the city’s best cookers. Broadcaster Cole Pepper is in charge and you can pay up at www.danielkids.org. <<<

The Jaguars passed on Tim Tebow last year because he ran a spread of-fense, then took Blaine Gabbert this year. And he ran a spread offense at Missouri. Maybe it was the hair. <<<

— Fred Seely is editor of Jacksonville Golf and Sports magazine.

A big goal,Sawgrass $$and Brantley

Fred Seely

From the Editor

Cover Story

Don’t even think of getting through the gates unless you know someone. The three Jacksonville-area ultra-private courses protect their privacy and the term “Members Only” isn’t there solely to impress people.

Pablo Creek Golf Club, Plantation Country Club and Glen Kernan Golf and Country Club are some of the area’s best-protected pieces of prop-erty. Not only are they hard to find, you aren’t going to get through the gates unless you’re approved by a member or management.

Some of the area’s most prestigious names live at Plantation and Glen Kernan. Pablo Creek, which has no residences, has a membership that includes most of the area’s A List names.

Here’s a look at the three:

Plantation

It was developed by a group of Jacksonville investors including at-torney Charles Towers. Jacksonville architect Ed Seay brought in partner Arnold Palmer to design the course and little expense was spared in the amenities including one of the state’s most impressive clubhouses. The developers raided Timuquana for its key sports staffers: golf pro Bob Duval and tennis pro Hank Veno.

Today, it has a diverse membership including many who have retired to the area. Its privacy extends to ba-sic service: yard service is part of the monthly maintenance fee, thus you won’t see outside companies hauling mowers around, and even the mail service is internal — the post office

drops off mail at the front gate, and the staff delivers it.

The course: Compare it to Marsh Landing, a Seay design. And you won’t find a better conditioned course in the area.

Pablo Creek

Jay Skelton, a former stockbroker who managed the Davis family’s money (that’s Winn-Dixie,) had a dream of an exclusive, golf-only club and found that some of the area’s wealthiest were of the same mind.

The Davis family owned the land, which is adjacent to their Dee Dot Ranch, and Skelton and ex-banker Billy Walker led the development process. Tom Fazio was hired to de-sign the course and the initiation fee was set at a then-astounding $40,000 (it’s into six figures to-day.) No monthly fees; whatever was needed at year’s end was billed equally to the members.

It attracted many who wanted that privacy, including PGA Tour players such as Fred Funk and David Duval. Leading area businessmen joined, and Skelton reached out to promi-nent businessmen outside the area — today, the club has a substantial Atlanta presence.

Golf is the only game; a small but impressive clubhouse includes one of the area’s best restaurants.

But getting in? You probably can’t even find the entrance, which is down a small, unmaintained road. If you do, you’ll face a large gate that opens only after you’ve proven your-

self to whoever is on the other end of the intercom.

The course: Fazio is perhaps the world’s best-known architect and he’s gained that reputation through understated courses. Nothing flashy here; just 18 very good holes.

Glen Kernan

The late George Hodges Sr. was the largest landowner in the area that we now consider Butler Blvd. The University of North Florida is on Hodges land and on the south side of Butler is his private runway, one of the area’s longest.

His son, George Jr., took over the landholdings and, with wife Kernan, developed the Glen Kernan course. There are entrances on both sides but you’re not going to get in with-out their being absolutely sure that you belong.

Like the Plantation, it affords resi-dents a great degree of privacy and you’ll find people like Jaguar Coach Jack Del Rio and quarterback David Garrard living there.

Hodges got local architect Bob Walk-er to design the course and Hodges took an hands-on interest. Time and money were no object and Hodges even worked some of the heavy equipment used to dig the huge lakes that dot the property.

The course: Hard to compare with anything here due to the large amount of earth that was moved. Maybe Dye’s Valley. One neat bit: each of the par-3 holes points in a different direction.

Privacy, pleaseA look behind the gates

Pablo CreekLocation: Off Butler Blvd. at west end of San Pablo Road.

Developer: DDI Investments, a subsidiary of the Davis family which for-merly owned Winn-Dixie

Architect: Tom Fazio

Course opened: 1996

Rating/slope: 73.9/137

Pro: Richie Bryant

PlantationLocation: Five miles south of Butler Blvd. on A1A

Developer: A group of Jacksonville investors. Now an equity club.

Architect: Arnold Palmer and the late Ed Seay

Course opened: 1988


Pro: Nancy Maunder

Glen KernanLocation: Adjacent to Butler Blvd. between Kernan and Hodges blvds.

Developer: George and Kernan Hodges

Architect: Bob Walker

Course opened: 1999


Pro: Johnny Anderson


June 3-5: Match Play at Palencia

The field will be determined by invitations to the finishers of last year’s JAGA Amateur in order, with a field of 32. There will be one round on Friday and two rounds on the weekend days. The entry fee is $150.

June 25-26: Father’s Day at Hidden Hills.

There will be flights for amateurs and pros and teams can be made up of any related combina-tion. Both partners must have a current handicap index. Entry fee: $225 per team.

July 21-24: JAGA Amateur at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club

Open to any player with an index of 10.0 or less. The field will be limited to 84 players and 42 are exempt from last year. A qualifier will be held July 10 at Ponte Vedra for the open spots. The en-try fee is $85 for the qualifier with another $165 due from those making the field. The entry fee for exempt players is $250 and must be submitted by June 30.

There are three other JAGA events in 2011 with details to be decided:

July 28-29: Junior, Queen’s Harbour.

October 3: Bill Black Classic, Ponte Vedra Ocean.

November 3: Club Team Championship at Deerwood.

JAGA

JAGA championships

At the Senior Championships

www.jaxareagolfassn.com

Super Senior winner George Halvorsen (right) with tournament co-chair Gary Owensby.

The Jacksonville Area GA’s annual Senior Championship was last month at Eagle Harbor and John Milton (left) emerged the winner after a playoff with Bob Wildner and Gary Blackwell. JAGA President Bob Streightiff presented the trophy.

Legends winner Tom Fletcher (left) and co-chair Joe Power.


Instruction

Keep your emotions in check On the way to a recent tournament, I was talk-ing to a fellow profes-sional about playing tournament golf and the way we approach playing. The pro made

a comment to me that really made sense and helped me during the day’s event. His comment? Golf is such a game of intense highs and lows and emotionally you have so many different feelings throughout the round. Think about that- you make a great putt and Wow! Eupho-ria. You hit in the water and make double. Ouch! You’re angry and frus-trated.

Keep that in mind. Realize that these things will occur, as golf is not a game of perfection. Keep your emotions in check. I call it staying in the rocking chair, back and forth, nice and relaxed. Once an event oc-curs on the course, whether good or bad it’s over, it’s in the past. Re-lease that energy and get back in that rocking chair. The shot you last played is in the past. Stay focused on the present, stay in the moment and focus on your current shot.

Too many players consistently talk about what just happened on the course. They are focused on the past and not the present. Stay in that rocking chair, nice and relaxed and focused on the task at hand.

Another comment I hear frequently is “I hate this hole. I hit it in the water every time I play it”. Once again, let’s focus on the present not the past and not the future. Stay positive and think of each shot as an opportunity. It’s your opportuni-

ty to better yourself and your game with each shot.

You can apply this to life as well.The past is over, stay in the pres-ent and live for the moment. Enjoy it! Once that chance is gone, it’s in the past and you don’t get another opportunity. Take advantage of each moment, stay positive and use it to your advantage.

As Lou Holtz, one of the great-est football coaches of all time has said- “ The most important choice we make every day is the decision to have a positive attitude. Every day you ought to have fun and be excit-ed doing what you are doing. If you are excited about what you are do-ing, people are excited to be around you. Excitement is contagious.”

The next time you are on the course- stay focused, stay in the moment and stay positive. That will get you excited about golf!

— Rhonda Ferguson is an Instructor and PGA Apprentice Professional.

For questions or comments call 904-234-3434 or email [email protected].

Rhonda Ferguson

The Players Championship has announced an ambitious goal: to raise $50 million for youth-related charities over the next 10 years.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem made the announce-ment last month along with local business leaders.

Finchem said the tournament has generated approximately $27 million for charity over the past 10 years, $15 million of which has benefited youth-related or-ganizations. Through this shift in focus, the event will more than triple the financial impact on area non-profits that promote youth education, character de-velopment, and health and fit-ness.

Since 1977, when The Players moved to Ponte Vedra, more than $40 million has been generated for Northeast Florida charities, including a record $4.8 million donation in 2010.

Players goal:$50 million

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CalendarSponsored by Underwood’s Jewelers

Executive Women’s GAwww.ewga.com

Season Completed.

Men’s Senior Interclub www.ewga.com

June 13: Slammer & Squire.

July 18: San Jose.

Jacksonville Area GA

www.jaxareagolfassn.com

May 17: Directors, Amelia National.

June 25-26: Father’s Day, Hidden Hills.

June 27: Directors, San Jose.

July 19: Directors, Deerfield Lakes.

July 21-24: Amateur, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.

Aug. 16: Directors, Cimarrone.

Sept. 20: Directors, Ponte Vedra G&CC.

Oct. 3: Bill Black Memorial, Ponte Verda.

Oct. 19: Directors, Palencia.

Nov. 7: Four-Ball, San Jose.

Nov. 21: Club Team Championship.

Dec. 13: Directors, Fleming Island.

Jacksonville Women’s GA

home.comcast.net/~jwga/

April 6: Jacksonville Beach.

April 20: President’s Cup, Hyde Park.

April 27: Closing Day, Cimarrone.

May 5: Marsh Landing.

Northern Chapter PGAwww.nfpga.com/north-ernchapter/5813/

June 8: Mayport Windy Harbor Pro-Lady.

June 20: Pro-Scratch, Jacksonville G&CC.

July 10-11: Chapter Championship, World Golf Village.

Aug. 10: Stableford, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.

Aug. 28-30: Gate Petroleum Invitational, Ponte Vedra Lagoon and Ocean.

Sept. 19: Military Pro-Am, NAS.

Oct. 3: Pro-Assistant, Glen Kernan.

Oct. 17: Marsh Creek Pro-Am.

Nov. 7: Sawgrass Pro-Am.

Nov. 21: Pro-Am Tournament of Champions, Amelia National.

Dec. 12: Partners Pro-Am, TBA.

Northeast Florida Seniors GA

www.nefsga.com

May 9: Halifax Plantation

May 23: Selva Marina

PGA Tours

www.pgatour.com

May 9-14: PGA Tour The Players, TPC Stadium.

Sept. 22-25: The Tour Championship, East Lake Golf Club.

Oct. 13-16: PGA Tour Mc-Gladrey Classic, Sea Island.

Oct. 20-23: Nationwide Tour Winn-Dixie Open, TPC Valley.

LPGA Tour

www.lpga.com

Dec. 2-5: Tour Championship, Orlando Grand Cypress.

Golf Channel Tourwww.golfchannel.com/[email protected]

May 7: Queen’s Harbor.

May 14-15: Florida Masters, Disney Magnolia and Palm.

May 21: Amelia River.

June 11-12: Championship at PGA National.

June 18: Palencia.

Sunbelt Senior Tourwww.sunbeltseniortour.com

May 9-10: Greater Jackson-ville Senior Classic, Eagle Landing.

Players Golf Tourwww.playersgolftour.com

June 4: Bent Creek.

June 18: St. Johns G&CC.

June 19: Palencia.

July 2: Orange Park.

July 16: South Hampton.

July 30: Fleming Island.

Aug. 13: Eagle Harbor.

Aug. 28: Deercreek.

Sept. 11: Amelia National.

Sept. 24: Eagle Landing.

USGA Qualifiers

May 16: U.S. Open, Sawgrass.

May 27: Women’s Open, Deerwood.

June 6-7: Public Links, St. Johns G&CC.

June 13-14: Junior, Gainesille.

June 27: Senior Open, Gainesville.

July 25-26: Amateur, Amelia National.

Aug. 8: Senior Amateur, Marsh Creek.

Aug. 29: Mid-Am, San Jose.

Other

May 20: Els for Autism, TPC Stadium.

June 15: Ladies Invitational, Sawgrass.

June 20-25: Women’s Western Amateur, Sawgrass.

Sept. 13: MaliVai Washington Foundation Pro-Am, Marsh Landing.

1stCoast GA

www.1stcoastgolf.com

May 5: Seniors, Hyde Park.

May 19: AmaTOUR, Orange Park.

Florida State GA

www.fsga.org

June 8: Amateur qualifier, North Hampton.

June 13: Junior qualifier, Eagle Landing.

June 17: Four-Ball qualifier, Eagle Landing.

June 27: Florida Open qualifier, Marsh Creek.

July 11: Match Play qualifier, North Hampton.

Sept. 10-11: State Mixed, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.

Sept. 19: Mid-Am qualifier, Queen’s Harbour.


BookReview

For those out there who don’t appre-ciate Deane Beman, here’s a demand: get a copy of “Deane Beman: Golf’s Driving Force.” Without him, the Players would be the GJO, the Sta-dium course would be a housing de-velopment and the PGA Tour would be no telling where ... not here, for sure.

The author is Adam Schupak, who you might remember from his work at the World Golf Village and you can now read him in Golfweek. He must have done an extraordinary amount of work to produce this book, which profiles the man and emphasizes the work he did to build the Tour and to bring its headquarters here.

Who knew Beman was worth almost 400 pages? He must be the least ap-

preciated of all commissioners be-cause the media has lionized those in the so-called “major” sports. The Rozelles, O’Briens and Giamattis may get the glory but none of them did for their sport what Beman did for his. Schupak details everything in a straightforward manner, the result of interviewing over 200 people and spending untold hours with Beman.

There’s plenty here about Jackson-ville and Ponte Vedra, and you’ll get an appreciation of what the man meant to us. Not to start an argu-ment, but has anyone done as much for this community? Would the Na-tional Football League have paid at-tention to us had not the Tour lo-cated here?

For readers elsewhere, it’s a good

read about a significant figure in a major sport. For readers here, it’s that and more: it’s a history book about a man who brought us into the big time.

The book is $27.95 and available through the usual internet book-sellers, or at www.golfsdrivingforce.com. Might wait for a book signing somewhere here and a chance to get an autographed copy.

The Executive Board of the Northern Chapter, PGA invites you to join us in “Freedom Friday”.

As a symbolic reminder we ask that you wear a Red Shirt each and every Friday. To help we are offering “Freedom Friday” shirts with 100% of chapter profits going to the Folds of Honors Foundation.

Shirts can be purchased in area golf course pro shops and Edwin Watts at the Beaches or by contacting Jack Aschenbach, [email protected].

Remember Our Troops

Join us and wear your red shirt Friday at THE PLAYERS.

How we became big time

The Inside Story of The M an W ho Transformed Profession al Golf Into a Billion-Dolla r Business

by Ad a m Schup a k

Ad a mSchup a k

EAST COTTAGE PRESS

O nce ca lled the most powerful person in golf, former P G A Tour commissioner Deane Beman transformed the Tour into the success story it is today. Using never-before-seen documents and candid interviews w ith hundreds of players, associa tes, and corpora te chiefta ins, the book offers an intima te portra it of Beman’s shift from hardened competitor to an executive of change , who inherited a Tour tha t owned as its largest capita l asset an IBM typewriter. “ G olf ’s Driving Force” discloses how during his 20-year tenure Beman transformed a loosely-knit associa tion of tournaments into the envy of the sports world .

Discover how Beman survives a coup led by Jack N icklaus and Arnold Pa lmer, conceives the TPC network of courses, and orchestrates dea ls that made the Tour one of the most successful enterprises in sports.

“Deane Beman has had more infl uence on professiona l golf than any man in history. Among sports commissioners, he ra tes ahead of Landis and Rozelle . They built it; he invented it. If you care about the game , you’ll want to read his story.”

JERRY TARDE, Cha irman and Editor-In-Chief of G olf Digest

“I ca ll him ‘Coach. ’ Tha t’s wha t he was in every sense of the word . G olf was his game and we the players were his ‘guys. ’ Deane’s vision and relentless determina tion were the driving forces in eleva ting professiona l golf to the ma jor league sta tus it enjoys today. If you rea lly want to know how the professiona l game evolved , this book’s for you.”

R O GER M ALTBIE, NBC Sports / P G A Tour champion

“ W ithout Deane Beman, there wouldn’t be a P G A Tour, a Players Championship , or a TPC Sawgrass as we know it. This is an inside read on how it a ll came together—where the bodies are buried , so to speak. This isn’t just Deane’s memoirs; the reporting and writing of Adam Schupak make it a history lesson about a pioneer and game changer.”

TIM R O SAF O RTE, G olf Channel / NBC Sports

Adam Schupak has been lugg ing his laptop and golf bag and follow ing the sun to write about golf since 1997 . He has worked for the P G A Tour, World G olf Ha ll of Fame , and as a senior writer a t G olfweek.

Schupak gradua ted from Colga te University, where he played varsity golf, and holds a M aster’s degree from Columbia University’s Gradua te School of Journa lism. Schupak resides in O rlando, Fla ., but rema ins a N ew Yorker a t heart. H is trophy for w inning the 1999 TPC Sawgrass ‘A Flight’ C lub Championship is on permanent display in his living room.

About the Author

“ N o one can doubt tha t Deane Beman was a visionary. But wha t is too often overlooked is how much he loves the game . Beman decided a taciturn leadership style was wha t best served the P G A Tour when he was transforming it into a ma jor sports league , but the public was mostly denied the best part of the man. In “ G olf ’s Driving Force ,” Adam Schupak brings us the Beman we missed . The result is a fascina ting and diligently reported narra tive tha t revea ls important history. If you care about golf – and especia lly if you love it – read this book.”

JAIME DIAZ , Senior Writer, G olf Digest & G olf W orld

Trac

y W

ilcox

DEANE BEMAN

GOLF’S DRIVING FORCE

$27 .95DEANE BEM

AN GOLF’S DRIVING FORCE


PROfile

Here’s what Darlene Riggs produces during The Players:

— 750 eggs, cooked to order.

— 4,700 hamburgers.

— 450 pounds of chicken breast.

That’s just behind the stoves. She’s also responsible for the buying, the cleaning and finding good (and free) help to put it all together.

You’ll find her in a makeshift build-ing within a five-iron of the TPC clubhouse but hidden among the various buildings and trailers that house the tournament’s operation. She’s there to feed the 2,000-plus volunteers.

She gets there are 5 a.m. She leaves at 4 p.m. She’s a vice president at SunTrust Bank the other 51 weeks, but you’ll have to wait for a loan un-til next week because she isn’t talk-ing money.

It appears to be a simple operation. You go through a buffet line and make your selections, then pay a cashier at the end of the line. The drinks are served a few yards down.

Then, find a seat at one of the picnic tables.

The prices are kept at a break-even level. “We don’t want to make mon-ey,” she says. “If there’s something left over, we put it back into the op-eration.”

She says that the constant work fits her lifestyle.

“It has been a wonderful experience because you meet so many people,” she says. “I’m a people person. (Proof: she was Miss Congeniality in the Miss Senior Jacksonville con-

test.) If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be doing something else like it.”

She enters dance contests. She helps her grandson’s Little League. She follows sports and for good reason, her husband will be familiar to old-timers: boxer Dennis Riggs, a boxer where who retired as Florida Middle-weight Champion.

She is such an institution that you surely will know who runs the facil-ity. Two years ago, the tournament leadership pulled down the old sign with the old name — the Oasis — and put up a new one: Darlene’s Place.

Serving at the Players

Jack Aschenbach, Amelia National

Aschenbach is the assistant pro-fessional at Amelia National Golf Club on Amelia Island. He has been with the club since 2008.

He is the vice president of the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA and has been nomi-nated for an award from the PGA of America for his work in raising money for military charities.

Hometown: Sheboygan, Wisc.

Military background: Navy veteran, rising to rank of Se-nior Chief Petty Officer. He saw action in Desert Storm, and in campaigns in Grenada and the Persian Gulf. Retired in 1996 after 23 years. “We were going back to Wisconsin but it was a bad winter, so we decided to go south. We had two tours in Jack-sonville and really liked it, so we came here.”

Golf background: Turned pro in 1996. Achieved PGA membership in 2003. Assistant at Mayport and Deercreek. Head pro at Queen’s Harbour.

Honors: Northern Chapter PGA Pro of the Year, 2010. PGA Patriot Award for service to military-re-lated charities, 2010. Bill Straus-baugh Award for service to PGA pros, 2009. Assistant Pro of the Year, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Family: Wife Debbie, two children.

Resides: East Jacksonville.

Hobbies: Fishing. When he was based in Orlando, he was named the “Angler of the Year” in 1985 by the Orlando Bassmasters As-sociation.

Darlene Riggs

“It has been a wonderful experience because you meet so many people, I’m a people person.”


Around Town

The honor of Timuquana’s last outing before the club started its course reconstruction went to the Rotary Club of Riverside, which held its 15th annual charity tournament last month.

Teams from W.W.Gay Mechanical Contractors, one of the major sponsors, swept the top spots with gross going to Chris Croft, Bob Williams, Ian Heacox and Peter Kovach, and net to Larry Turknett, David Mar-tin, Marty Tubbs and Don Eshelman.

W.W. Gay teams win

The Fraternal Order of Police team of Leonard Propper, David Stevens, Robbie Freitas and Brad Gidcumb.

From O’Steen Volkswagen: David Ashley, Tom O’Steen, Mark O’Steen and Cole Pepper.

Nate Day, Brad Arrowsmith, Brian Nash and Ryan Jones. Ernie Risley, Jaguars punter Adam Podlesh, Geoff Risley and Ken Keating.

Mike Wood, David Martin, Howard Dale and Bobby Martin.


The Nationwide Tour returns to the TPC Oct. 20-23 and its director says everything will be bigger and better: more money for charity and more fun for the patrons.

“We’re coming off a success,” said Jeff Sanders, the Or-egon promoter who was hired to run the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open. “We never thought we would raise that much money for charity (an estimated $1.6 mil-lion) and we never thought we would get the commu-nity support that we did.

“It was a great venue (Dye’s Valley Course) and we had a strong field that really has shown up on the 2011 PGA Tour.”

Sanders, a former Tour player, pointed to the three play-ers here last year who won on this year’s PGA Tour: Jho-nattan Vegas, Gary Woodland and Brendan Steele. (Ve-gas missed the cut, Steele tied for 45th and Woodland tied for 50th.)

“Of the first 15 Tour events this year, 12 were won by Nationwide grads,” said Sanders. ”The quality is there.”

Sanders said this year’s tournament would add enter-tainment, including a concert following Friday’s second round. There will be themes each day.

Sanders said that almost every participating local char-ity has reenlisted — charities sell tickets and keep all the money. Almost 200 signed up in 2010.

“We have room for more,” said Sanders. “It isn’t a dif-ficult way to raise money. We expect a good increase.” (Charities can apply by emailing Michelle Rommel at [email protected].)

The charities sold about $150,000 last year almost five times more than the first year of Sanders’ other tourna-ment, in Boise, Ida. “We were stunned,” he said.

The format will be the same this year, with a Wednesday pro-am on both TPC courses followed by four competi-tion days.

North Carolinian David Mathis, who won by one shot over three others last year with a 16-under 272, is ex-pected to return as well as the PGA’s secondary tour’s ranking players — this tournament again is the final one before the Tour Championship that determines the players who will get PGA Tour cards.

Nationwide back in October

Jeff Sanders with LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam.

SaturdayMorningsat 10:00

TSXVOICE OF THE FaN

www.tsxradio.com

“Of the first 15 Tour events this year, 12 were won by Nationwide grads.

The quality is there.”

We keep the conversation going.Look for “Jacksonville Golf Magazine” on Facebook.


Northern Chapter Pro-Pro at Pablo Creek

Brad Rollinson-David Palm.

Northern Chapter PGA Pro-Am at Amelia National

Low team: Gerry James, Joe Mesa, Jimmy Ross, Michael Cheek.

Low pro: Nate Mantis, Nate Carter (tie.)

Golf Channel Tour at Eagle Landing

Mike Ellison.

Senior flights: Mike Knox, Dan Butterworth, James Zeigler, Dominick Annunziata, Brian Kempf.

1stcoast AmaTOUR at Fleming Island

Bruce Moskovciak, Bill Baer, Steve Ivey; Art Packard, Dave Pettengill, Dan Robusto.

1stcoast AmaTOUR at Ponte Vedra G&CC

Kenny Robshaw, Terry Williams.

1stcoast Seniors at Amelia River

Bruce Moskovciak, Bill Baer, Steve Ivey.

Jacksonville Women’s GA Championship at Jacksonville G&CC

Championship Flight: Tama Caldabaugh d. Susie Fonde.

Flight winners: Paula Fairley, Sa-chi Deriso, Nam Lee, Judy Ford.

Net winners: Shirley Budden, Debbie Somes, Jane Casper.

Timuquana Member-Guest

Gross: Butler Melnyk-Russell Skinner Jr.

Net: Keith Catlin-Jeff Prosser.

The oldest United States tournament for women comes to Sawgrass June 20-25 when they play the 111th an-nual Women’s Western Amateur.

The national tournament will be match play with a Championship Flight of 64 determined by two days of qualifying. Those who miss the Championship will be flighted.

The WWGA was started by the West-ern Golf Association, a Chicago-based organization whose Western Open once was considered on par with the U.S. Open among men’s events. The WGA and WWGA have

become national organizations over the years and play championships in various states.

The Women’s Amateur is next to the U.S. Amateur among women’s events and past winners include Nancy Lo-pez, Patty Berg, Beth Daniel, Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lang.

Two from this area have won: Louise Suggs, who lives at the World Golf Village, and Mary Hafeman, an in-structor at Windsor Parke.

There will be no charge for specta-tors at the event.

Women’s Westerncomes to Sawgrass

Hartley

WinnersGet a more interactive experience.www.jaxgolfmag.com


You have your favorite course; mine is under three hours away.

I admit this with much caution as I have a great layout about two miles from my home and am privileged to be a member there. I also — like you — have dozens of very good courses within the hour’s drive that I con-sider the limit of “local golf.”

But, none of them is Harbour Town. You saw it on television last month and heard the golfers talking about it. It’s very hard not to love the place. For a guy like me, not even Timuquana or the Stadium Course is equal. Nor any of the 60 or so others around here.

Why is it so great? Let me count the ways:

1. Anyone can play it. No forced car-ries. Long, long tee boxes that allow plenty of tee locations. Big enough fairways for the mediocre player.

2. Ambiance. A resort has to be uber

professional and this one is, in every category.

3. A challenge for anyone. The me-diocre player isn’t going to hit the green from 160 yards so the green’s size doesn’t matter. The better play-er can hit it but the pin positions are subtle and he better hit the right place.

4. Speed of play. When people pay $300 or so to play golf, you can’t begrudge them a leisurely trip (i.e., Stadium Course.) Harbour Town is a different animal because it’s short and almost completely free of places to lose a ball.

5. Variety of holes. Long, short and in between.

6. Close enough. Maybe 2:40 to the front gate of Sea Pines. Take I-95 to Georgia exit 8, then east to Hilton Head. Take the toll bridge ($1 saves you 20 minutes) and then go right at the first roundabout.

Downsides?

1. Condition may be an issue. In the past, the Sea Pines folks aimed at only one week: the week or two im-mediately after the Masters when the Heritage is held. They’ve got-ten a lot smarter over the years and have worked to keep the course in good shape. Not always, so you best check in advance.

2. Hilton Head gets very, very crowded during the summer and around holidays. Plan accordingly. It’s a smallish island that gets over-whelmed at times.

3. Price. Check the rates before you go to make sure you can afford it. www.seapines.com.

4. Accommodations. Hilton Head is a condo place and there aren’t as many good motels as you might think. Stay with a good chain.

— Fred Seely

Travel

Greatness is under 3 hours away

The 18th green at Harbour Town.


St. Augustine, FLCall 904-794-4653

for tee times

Bunnell, FLCall 386-313-2966

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Jacksonville, FLCall 904-778-5245

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Daniel raises $120,000 at TPCThe 11th annual Daniel Home fundraiser was held re-cently at the TPC and raised over $120,000 for the chil-dren’s agency. A team from Ch. 30/47 (right) emerged the net winners. Tournament chair Steve Carter (right) presented the trophy to (from left) Brent Martineau, Dave DeCandis and Patrick Kavanagh. The fourth player, Steve Wrigley, was unavailable for the photo.


The tournament included a party on the previous night. Among those enjoying it were Michael Mahoney, Mike Locher and Eric Tewey.

Don Dingman and WJXT’s Rebecca Barry.

Mike Israel, Dan and Amy Iracki, Jesse Dreicer and Cate Cheevers.

Daniel CEO Jim Clark (right) was in the Fifth Third Bank group that also included William Finocchio, Kevin Mackiewicz and Christopher Clark.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida foursome; Gregg Sutton, Jimmy Kelly, Charles Metzkes and Jim Griffin.

The Guardian Life foursome included incoming Daniel president Kirby Griffin, Marlen Vogt, cur-rent president Alan Joyce and Dave Marble.


PUBLICBent Creek 103rd St. on Westside. Range. 779-0800.

Blue Cypress Off University Blvd. in Arlington. Range. 762-1971.

Cecil Field 103rd St. on Westside. Range. 778-5245.

Deerfield Lakes Lem Turner Rd. just south of Callahan. Range. 879-1210.

Fernandina Beach Amelia Island Parkway. Range. 800-646-5997

First Tee of Jacksonville Golfair Blvd. west of I-95 North. Nine holes. Range. 924-0401.

First Tee of St. Johns County. Three holes. SR 207, St. Augustine. 810-2231.

Hyde Park Northern dead end of Jammes Rd. on Westside. Range. 786-5410.

Jacksonville Beach Penman Rd. south of Beach Blvd. Range. 247-6184.

King & Bear Part of World Golf Village but about three miles south of main area off SR 16. Range. 940-6088.

Mill Cove Monument Rd. in Arlington. Range. 642-6140.

Palatka Moseley Ave. west of downtown. Range. 386-329-0141.

Palm Valley Palm Valley Rd. east of U.S. 1. Nine holes. Range. 285-8978.

River Bend Golf Links South of Green Cove Springs. Range. 284-8777.

Slammer & Squire In World Golf Village. Range. 940-6088.

St. Augustine Shores U.S. 1 south of St. Augustine. Range. 794-4653.

St. Johns Golf Club Cypress Links Blvd. 27 holes. Range. 209-0350.

Starke East of town. Nine holes. Range. 964-5441.

UNF Golfplex At University of North Florida. Three holes. Range. 620-2050.

SEMI-PRIVATEAmelia River Amelia Island Parkway. Range. 491-8500.

Champions Club at Julington Creek Off SR 13 in Mandarin. Range. 287-4653.

Cimarrone CR 210 west of I-95. Range. 287-2000.

Country Club of Orange Park West end of Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park. Range. 276-7664.

Cypress at Grand Club Palm Coast. Range. 386-437-5807.

Eagle Harbor CR 220 in Fleming Island. Range. 269-9300.

Eagle Landing OakLeaf Plantation. Range. 291-5600.

Golf Club at Fleming Island US 17 in Fleming Island. Range. 269-1440.

Keystone Golf & Country Club U.S. 21 south of town. Range. 352-473-4540.

Magnolia Point Off US 17 in Green Cove Springs. Range. 269-9315.

Matanzas Course at Grand Club Palm Coast. Range. 386-446-6330.

North Hampton Off A1A west of Fernandina Beach. Range. 548-0000.

Pine Course at Grand Club Palm Coast. Range. 386-445-0852.

Queen’s Harbour Atlantic Blvd. west of Intracoastal Waterway. Range. 221-1012.

Royal St. Augustine SR 16 west of I-95 in St. Augustine. Range. 824-4653.

Selva Marina Selva Marina Blvd. north of Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach. Range. 246-3144.

South Hampton CR 210 west of I-95. Range. 287-7529.

St. Johns Golf & Country Club CR 210 west of I-95. Range. 940-3200.

Windsor Parke Hodges Blvd. north of Butler Blvd. Range. 223-4653.

PRIVATEThese clubs are private and are open to the public only for special events.

Amelia National Off A1A west of Fernandina Beach. Range. 652-0660.

Deercreek North of Avenues Mall on Southside Blvd. Range. 363-1507.

Deerwood Baymeadows Rd. west of Southside Blvd. Range. 642-5917.

Glen Kernan Hodges Blvd. north of Butler Blvd. Range. 646-1116.

Grand Haven Palm Coast. Range. 386-445-2327.

Hidden Hills Monument Rd. in Arlington. Range. 641-8121.

Jacksonville Golf & Country Club Hodges Blvd. north of Butler Blvd. 223-6910.

Long Point South of Amelia Island Plantation. Range. 277-5908.

Marsh Creek A1A south of St. Augustine Beach. Range. 461-1145.

Marsh Landing South of Butler Blvd. in Ponte Vedra Beach. Range. 285-6514.

Osprey Cove East of I-95 at Exit 1 in Georgia. Range. 800-352-5575.

Pablo Creek San Pablo Rd. south of Butler Blvd. Range. 992-6900.

Palencia US 1 north of St. Augustine. Range. 599-9030.

Plantation Country Club A1A south of Ponte Vedra Beach. Range. 543-2960.

Ponte Vedra G & CC In TPC. Range. 285-0204.

San Jose San Jose Blvd. Range. 733-1511.

Sawgrass A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach. Range. 273-3720.

Timuquana Timuquana Rd. west of US 17. Range. 389-0477.

RESORTThese courses are primarily for the use of resort guest or mem-bers. Some are also open for public play at certain times.

Omni Amelia Island Plantation In Amelia Island Plantation. 54 holes. Range. 261-6161.

Golf Club of Amelia Island Amelia Island at Ritz-Carlton. Range. 277-8015.

Ponte Vedra A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach. Range. 273-7710.

TPC Sawgrass In Sawgrass Country Club, 36 holes. Range. 273-3235. Open to public 14 days in advance.

MILITARYThese clubs are located on Navy bases and are for persons assigned to the bases or retired military per-sonnel. They occasionally are open for public play during special events.

NAS US 17 north of Orange Park. Range. 542-3249.

Windy Harbor Mayport Rd. north of Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach. Range. 270-5380.

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