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CONTENTSENHANCE YOUR GAMEDream Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Tailgater-Ade: Tailgating Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8The Advance Tee Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Play KC – Rockwood Golf Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Cart Girl Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15X-tra Play – Branson Creek & Payne Stewart Golf Clubs . . .16Imbibe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Charity Aware: Buddie’s Buddies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Improve Your Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Cigar for the Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Body Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Meet the Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

SEPTEMBER 2011

AutumnGolf Deals

at KCGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

6

Dream BagTim

Carriga

n

Outfit Your Bag with the Best of the BestAs we enter September and fall football season starts to move to the forefront of a lot of people’sminds, you can find some of the year’s best golfing weather. Temps are cooler and well-cared-forcourses are in great shape, while tee times are sometimes more accessible while casual golfers are atthe football stadium or down in their man caves watching games on TV. I’d urge everyone to play moregolf, not less, as the season winds down. It’s also a good time to review your golf bag – which is whatwe present here: some of the top new options from driver through putter, plus another new item wethink you’ll like.

PPiinngg’’ss nneeww GG2200 ddrr iivveerr aanndd ffaaii rrwwaayywwooooddss are the latest in their line of titanium drivers. The G20, though, ismade with a new, lighter and lower-density alloy called Ti 8-1-1. Clubmanufacturers have always used titanium because of its highstrength-to-weight ratio, but Ti 8-1-1 takes that to another level. Thatimprovement in material allows Pingengineers the ability to move and placemore weight where they want it in the club-head. In this way, they can improve its overallperformance and forgiveness. Besides that, Pingalso re-shaped the 460 cc head of the club to im-prove its aerodynamic properties. This additionalstyling provides incremental gains in clubhead speed,meaning most golfers will pick up at least a few yardswith the G20 over previous models.

The G20 fairway woods feature a lot of the same improvementsas the driver and incorporate a larger overall clubhead with ashallow face to increase ball speeds and provide for a long hit-ting, very forgiving club that can be hit from the tee orthe fairway. You can find it available in 3- through7-wood.

TThhee NNiikkee VVrr PPrroo hhyybbrriidd is a player’s hy-brid with a smaller head design but plentyof technology to improve distance and con-trol. The compression channel seen in theirdrivers and fairway woods is built into thehybrid. That design, along with a face con-struction that varies in thickness in specificareas, creates a long and penetrating ball flight.In fact, Nike claims the club is 21% hotter (fasterball speeds) than their previous hybrid in this line.There are four different lofts available from a verystrong 15 degrees through 24 degrees.

Titleist irons have always been consid-ered player’s type clubs for low hand-icappers. With the introduction ofthe TTiittllee iisstt AAPP11 aanndd AAPP22 ii rroonnssa few years ago, Titleist introduced acast option for mid handicaps in theAP1 with a more forgiving forgedclub in the AP2. The AP1 and AP2 haveundergone improvements in terms of sound,feel, and aesthetics. They combine multiple materials witha tungsten nickel sole that improves forgiveness and perform-ance by placing weight low and away from the clubface, alongwith soft elastomer inserts to improve overall feel and the soundof the club at impact.

The TTaayylloorrMMaaddee xxFFTT wweeddggee was introduced over a year ago,but still is an example of golf club innovation. The xFT allowsgolfers to switch out the face of theirwedge as it wears down over time.When grooves lose their sharpnessand depth as a result of being hitover the course of a year ormore, the ball comes off at ahigher launch angle and with lessspin – a result of the clubface notbeing able to grip the ball as well at impact.TaylorMade’s system lets golfers keep a familiar feel in termsof the shaft and grip but literally allow for a face lift as needed.You can get inserts with either the new, competition conformingZTP grooves, or the more aggressive Z grooves that are still ap-proved for casual play. Inserts run about $40 – a whole lot lessthan a brand new wedge. If you are worried about the durabil-ity of a screwed-in clubface, don’t be. We know of at least onegolfer who has been hitting his xFT wedge for over a year andthe club is still perfectly solid.


Great GOLF DEALS &More KC Cart Girl

Pictures and Videos Online at KCGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

YYeess!! ppuutttteerrss changed hands in 2011as Adams Golfpurchased the brand and technology. They havestreamlined the number of models available fromwhat seemed to be a confusing endless array thatwas simply too extensive to count, down to eightmodels from blade to mallet designs. The putter facetechnology, though, is what makes Yes! puttersstand out. One look at it, and you’llunderstand what they meanby C-groove tech-nology. The facehas a set of half-circle concentricgrooves that individually havea 20-degree upwardslant – something you mightnot see but can definitely feel if you run your finger overthem. That upward slant creates over-spin, getting the ballrolling straight and true with little or no skidding that cancompromise consistency in length and direction. This is an-other product we have “tested” over time as I have a bladeputter from Yes! in my bag.

As a final item, we recently ran across a new, interesting prod-uct in the PPrroo MMeennttaall CCooaacchh ssooffttwwaarree from Brain Cen-ter International (www.promentalcoach.com). It’s a softwareprogram designed to test and improve your mental approachand abilities. We got it installed and have a golfer testing itout. He took the initial assessment and found himself ratedjust above average in terms of brain speed, focus, inhibition(or ability to overcome it), flexibility, mental endurance,stress management, and motivation. He is now workingthrough his customized curriculum of lessons and activities– taking about twenty minutes every other day. It’s perhapsa bit early to see any results, but what the software intendsto do is increase any golfer’s concentration levels, promotemental endurance, teach and help a golfer find the “zone”more readily, handle pressure situations, and be able to morequickly recover from bad shots. Short of hiring your ownsports psychologist, it’s a unique approach that goes be-yond reading a book, although we have found some greatmental game books as well. It might not be for everyone, butlearning more and exercising your brain is probably not a badthing – stay tuned for more on the results our tester expe-riences.

8

What’s the difference between a picnic and a tailgate party?This question is put to me by Joe Cahn. If you don’t know, and probably you don’t,

Cahn is the official Commissioner of Tailgating. Or as he prefers to be called, TheCommish.

It’s a position he’s held with honor since 1996, when he gave himself the title. Rightafter selling his cooking school in New Orleans and taking to the open road to pro-mote and partake in what he calls, “the last great neighborhood of the American so-cial.” Or what you and I call tailgate parties.

Each year, Cahn says, he visits tailgate parties at 28 professional football games and14 college games, as well as various other events such as NASCAR races, hockeygames, even steeple chase races and polo matches. The Commish estimates that sincethe mid-1990s he’s logged more than 800,000 miles road-tripping to more than 800tailgate parties around the country.

In fact, Cahn and I are talking over the phone as he drives home after a July week-end spent tailgating at the College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies inSouth Bend, Indiana. (“Passed over again,” The Commish jokes. “Can’t understandwhy either. No steroids here, no scandal. Just a barbeque pit.”)

If anyone knows the difference between a Sunday picnic in the park and a Sundaytailgate party in the parking lot, it’s Cahn. But I’ll have to wait for the answer to hisphilosophical conundrum.

In the middle of our conversation, Cahn is waved over by a fellow highway driverand informed that his grill fell off his vehicle somewhere back down the interstate. Un-derstandably we postpone our call until the following morning so that The Commishcan backtrack to rescue his runaway grill.

In the time between our calls, I become increasingly intrigued by Cahn’s questionabout the distinction between picnics and tailgate parties. What at first seems a sim-ple question turns over and over in my mind until it reveals itself to have all the com-plexity and mystery of a stubborn shoelace knot – not that big of a deal but stillsomething you must solve.

Think about it. Picnics and tailgate parties share many similarities. A congregationof friends. Maybe even a few family members you can stand for short periods. Con-suming beverages and food, often grilled, in the great outdoors. Playing mildly chal-lenging games to pass the time.

The day after losing his grill, Cahn is speaking to me over the telephone from hishome in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. When asked about his AWOL grill Cahn sighs,says that’s a long story. And most likely one with a sad ending because he doesn’t tellit. Instead Cahn finally solves the picnic/tailgate riddle for me.

“This difference,” Cahn says, “is having an adversary.”Turns out the magic ingredient that transforms a picnic into a tailgate party is a gen-

erous dash of seasoning labeled “Us vs. Them.” Though to really kick it up a notch,I recommend using “Us vs. Them Sonofaguns.”

So long as you have a common enemy, Cahn says, you have a tailgate party ratherthan a picnic. But just as there are circles in skee ball and Dante’s Hell, so too arethere various levels of intensity in the world of tailgating.

NASCAR? Too many adversaries. Your team is just one versus 32 others. Baseball or Hockey? Us vs. Them yes, but diluted with too many games.Golf? No assigned seating. Everyone hustles out of the parking lot and onto the

course in a land-grab race to claim their patch of ground as early as possible. Besides,“Get in the hole!” is the most aggressive thing anybody shouts at a golf tournament.

Concert? No common enemy so that’s really nothing more than getting lit up inthe parking lot before stumbling inside to hear death metal, country, a men’s a cap-pella chorus or Jimmy Buffet.

Based on his not inconsiderable experience, The Commish maintains that the true,concentrated, Us-vs.-Them event is football.

In a football stadium parking lot, Cahn says, “95 percent are for Us, five percentare for Them.”

That, friends, is the math of a good time. And Kansas City gets an A+. It is TheCommish’s judgment that Kansas City (as well as the home towns of Jayhawks,Wildcats and Tigers) is always among the top two or three tailgating experiencesin the country. In particular, he says, KC is known for its fantastic array of grills.

Tailgater-ade

Joe Cahn, The Commish (right), and a tailgating teammate. Photo courtesy Joe Cahn.

Some good grub on the grill. Photo courtesy Joe Cahn.

This ain’t no Sunday picnic. It’s apimped-out party in the parking lot.


Okay, you have another team to hate on. But whatdoes it take to make a great tailgate party?

Luckily, like all brilliant ideas, the tailgate party is builton a few basic elements that are scalable to fit a range ofattitudes, incomes, races, religions, creeds, colors andparking lot spaces.

What to SportThe party starts in the bedroom. The closet, to be

precise. Wear your colors, Cahn says. You’re not going to

church. You’re not going to work. It’s a tailgate party, sobe sure to show the world what team you live and dieby. And if somehow you’ve managed to preserve a pair ofthose delightfully awful Zubaz pants striped in Chiefscolors, for Nick Lowery’s sake man, break them out!

What to ChewWhile an adversary is vital to a tailgating, it’s not the

most important ingredient of the festivities.“The people make the tailgate party,” Cahn says, “It’s

having friends around you.”Old friends make a good tailgate, as do the new ones

you’ll meet as they wander over to your tailgate party. SoCahn says it’s important do as much prep work and pre-cooking ahead of time at home. That way you spend lesstime at the grill and more time with the people at yourparty.

As for what to serve, grilled meats reign supreme attailgate parties, as they should. But Cahn suggests of-fering a variety of foods, including healthy alternativessuch as power bars and certain functional types offruits.

“You drop a banana or an orange on the pavement,you can still peel it and eat it,” he says.

Also, don’t be afraid to be daring with your menu.Keeping it simple by offering finger foods doesn’t have tolimit your menu to the bland or the common.

A few examples: give a creative twist to your dips (useblack beans, crème fraiche, etc.), deviled eggs (infusethe filling with different flavors such as truffle oil or an-chovy paste), or bratwurst (simmer in beer, serve withsauerkraut).

Finally, be sure to bring trash bags and containers forgarbage, recyclables and spent coals, though Cahn givesKansas City points because Arrowhead provides bins forall three.

What to GulpBooze is key, we all know that. Which adult beverages

you choose to serve are a matter of taste, style and wal-let. Conveniently, the same rules for food also apply tothe drinks: keep it simple but don’t be afraid to give thema creative twist.

Cahn warns against cross contaminating food anddrinks and suggests using separate coolers for each. Alsobe sure to offer water and soft drinks for any friends ofyours who might bring along their children, designateddriver or AA sponsor.

Okay, back to the booze. If you’re truly serious aboutyour mixology, you might consider investing in a gas-powered blender. You can order one online for $300 plusshipping. Weighing about ten pounds, it’s powered by a

24cc, 2-1/4 horse power Poulan 2-stroke engine withvariable RPM, throttle and speed capacity.

According to the web site mytailgate.com, theblender’s stainless steel blades are driven by a steel shaftsupported with sealed ball bearing construction. It hasfront-mounted primer, choke and kill switch for easyaccess. It boasts a 0 degree-chill in 15 seconds and, witha 60 oz. pitcher capacity, gets about 6,500 MPG (mar-garitas per gallon).

What to DoThere are varying schools of thought on tailgate party

games. Some people are into them, finding them a wayto generate fun and conversation, simply passing timeuntil the main event. Others are not into games, andwould rather just socialize. Either way, no problem.

The problem? There’s always one or two bozos waytoo into the inane game. Whether it’s a drinking game,a game that involves tossing something across a parkinglot without hitting someone in the noggin or even just araffle, the mixture of aggression, booze and competitionalways tends to overcome the odd, soft-brained tailgater.Always.

So please, for the sake of the grownups who knowhow to handle their booze, please remember that thegame in the parking lot is not the point of it all.

The point, of course, is to socialize, and not just withpeople you already know. Take a little time to strollaround, checking out other tailgate parties, meeting newpeople, seeing how they instill their creativity into thetailgating experience.

Cahn tells a story from a few years back about awoman with a notebook meandering from tailgate partyto tailgate party around the Meadowlands parking lot.Cahn asked her if she was a Giants fan. “Oh, I hate foot-ball,” the woman responded, “but this is the world’s bestfree cooking lesson.”

What the Heck is That?Your parking space is the final

frontier in your tailgating experience.This is where your tailgate party liftsoff or flops. So it’s important to havea focal point of your party space.

Think of it this way: you knowhow at a house party everyone tendsto gather in the kitchen? Same idea,only at a tailgate party it can be thegrill. Or a table and lawn chairs. Orjust the trunk of your car. Or, bigidea person that you are, you can goover the top.

Cahn has some incredible storiesof spaces he’s witnessed at tailgateparties over the years. Like the gen-tleman in Oregon with a mobile,stainless steel kitchen on hydraulicsthat sits at the center of the man’stailgate party.

Then there’s the guy in Min-nesota with a step van customizedwith a living room and working fireplace.

And Cahn tells of once seeing a landscape dump truckwith the bed transformed into a party room includingcouches and beer kegs. But the dump truck’s true genius?To clean it out, the owner told Cahn, all he had to dowas hit a button and the trash just tumbled out. Time toend the fun but some people won’t leave? Same thing,just hit the button. Party’s over, folks.

But in all Cahn’s travels, there is one extreme tailgat-ing experience that stands out for him. It is, he says,hands down the most outrageous thing he’s ever seen ina stadium parking lot.

It was at a University of Southern California game,Cahn says. “This is Hollywood. This is Los Angeles. Wesee a Rolls Royce pull up into a parking spot near thestadium. So you know they’re a big contributor. But I’veseen that before.”

At that point a man climbs out of the expensive au-tomobile. “Don’t know if you call him a butler or a manservant,” Cahn says. “This was southern California soprobably they call him a domestic engineer.”

The butler proceeds to set up and arrange an eleganttable complete with table cloth, candelabra, fine Chinaplace settings and so on.

Then Cahn says, the butler “puts out a beautifulspread. Seafood, foie gras. Four people are eating at thetable. I’ve seen that before. But when the string quartetstruck up the USC fight song – that I thought was a lit-tle over the top.”

For more tailgating tips or to follow the travels of Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating, visitwww.tailgating.com. According to the travel scheduleposted on his site, you can find The Commish in the Arrowhead parking lot on Oct. 31 when those SonofagunChargers come to town.

—Chad Sanborn

Tailgating with style. Photo courtesy Joe Cahn.

10

Mike

Holmes

Just as every golf cluband ball manufacturer claims theirproduct is the best and will allow youto hit it longer and straighter, mostmortgage lenders make similar claimswith lowest rates and fees, specialloan products only available to them,the ability to close in seven days, li-censed Loan Officers, etc.

The truth is that there’s very little difference in golf equipment at the sameprice point. It’s the golfer who hits it short or long, straight or crooked. Thesame can be said for someone in need of a mortgage loan. The mortgageconsumer, ultimately, controls how positive the mortgage lending experiencewill be. Media advertising should not be the only determinant for choosinga lender. Very often a personal referral from a relative, friend or colleaguewill help narrow down the field. Also, researching a potential lender withthe Better Business Bureau is always a good idea.

When trying to determine which lender to use it’s also a good idea to ex-tensively interview the individual Loan Officer. Mortgage loan originators arenow required to have a federal National Mortgage Licensing number as wellas state specific license numbers. Don’t hesitate to ask for that information.In order to obtain these licenses, the Loan Officer must go through rigorouscriminal and financial background checks, as well as pass federal and stateexams in addition to accomplishing ongoing continuing education. Since

mortgage underwriting guidelines have become more stringent, it’s impera-tive that the interview should be comprehensive and cover all facets of loanapproval to include the borrower’s credit standing, income/debts, assets avail-able and property value. If the Loan Originator has a full picture up front itwill help determine which loan program works best, and avoid possible de-lays or problems with final loan approval.

Getting the best rate and fees are mutually exclusive. No mortgage lenderhas a loan program that’s 100% exclusive to them. Since almost all mort-gage loans are securitized and sold into the secondary market, the rate avail-able day to day will be very similar among all lenders. It’s the fees that canvary greatly. Often a lender will be quoting a very low rate but will have ex-cessive fees tacked on. Always ask for the Annual Percentage Rate of any in-terest rate quote. An APR much higher than the note rate will indicateconsiderable fees are being charged. Mortgage lenders will provide a writtenestimate of all fees associated with the loan. This is probably the best way tocompare offers and make a sound financial decision.

Shopping for a mortgage can be as frustrating as shopping for a new car.That frustration can be minimized or eliminated by doing some research,interviewing the lender extensively and getting the loan offer in writing.

The Advance Tee Time

Mike Holmes – Senior Loan OfficerAdvance Mortgage Corporation – #262072

[email protected] – 816-810-55857500 College Boulevard, Suite 1150

Overland Park, Kansas 66210

12

Play KC

To many golfers, the clubhouseis an important part of a golf venue. They like a nice place to relaxafter a round or to peruse golf merchandise.

Rockwood Golf Club in Independence finally has that kind of club-house after months of operating out of a trailer. A fire destroyed theprevious clubhouse Nov. 28th.

Rockwood recently opened the 2,000-square-foot clubhouse andwill be adding a two-level deck in September, said Ross Judy, generalmanager and head professional at Rockwood.

Unlike the former clubhouse, the new one will have one distinct areafor merchandise and another with tables for food and beverages, Judysaid. The building is about 200 square feet larger than the old club-house and has large windows.

“The feel is of a bigger building,” Judy said. “It’s more open.”A deck is planned on the front of the clubhouse, facing the ninth

green, and another deck will be built on a slightly higher level. Thedeck on the old clubhouse was on the rear, overlooking the parking lotand road, which Judy said made little sense.

Rockwood, in business since 1946, is located in a residential area inwest Independence. It’s owned and managed by KemperSports, whichalso manages Shoal Creek and Hodge Park golf courses in Kansas City,and owns and manages Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

The previous clubhouse was only 11 years old but cramped and notwell designed, Judy said. The cause of the fire was believed to be a ciga-

rette discarded outside, and fanned by wind after the clubhouse closed forthe night, Judy said.

After the fire, club operators said the course would close until earlyMarch. A trailer was then brought in to serve temporarily as an officefor Judy and to serve golfers.

Originally, the new clubhouse was to open on April 15th, but con-struction and insurance-related delays pushed the opening back. Aweek-long ceremonial grand opening is planned for this fall, withspecial events and green fee promotions, Judy said.

The lack of a clubhouse, as well as a very hot summer, took a toll onplay over the summer. “It was the perfect storm for us,” Judy said.

But Judy believes the new clubhouse will help turn things around. Hethinks players will have a better experience with a nice facility to re-treat to after a round.

“It think people will hang around a little longer,” he said.The new clubhouse has opened just in time for a special week Sep-

tember 5th to 11th in advance of the Kansas City Chiefs’ home opener.Daily drawings will be held Monday through Thursday for four tick-ets to the game. Foursomes who play those days will be eligible.

On Friday that week, the club will have Jamaal Charles Day, whengreen fees and all merchandise will be discounted by 25 percent. Charles,a Chiefs’ running back, wears number 25. Domestic beer will only be$1 that day, the same price they are every Friday at Rockwood.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, the course will host its 5th annual Pigskin

Rockwood Golf Club:Enjoy the New Clubhouse


Classic, a four-person scramble. Thewinning team will get four tickets tothe Chiefs – Chargers game Oct. 31st.

On Sunday, a 7:30 a.m. shotgunstart is planned for $25 green fees, in-cluding cart. The idea is to get theround in before the football game be-gins. It is also Matt Cassel Day, withgreen fees of $7 after 11 a.m., not in-cluding cart.

On that day, Sept. 11th, all military,police, and firefighters will get freegreen fees all day in remembrance ofthe terrorist attacks ten years earlier inNew York and Washington, D.C.

Judy hopes the new clubhouse willbring renewed attention to Rockwood.“A lot of people don’t know about us,”he said. “Usually, if we can get playershere, they come back.”

Rockwood is a course with tight,tree-lined fairways and probably thesmallest greens in Kansas City, Judysaid. Players are best off giving uplength for accuracy. “Personally, if Ikeep my driver in the bag I score bet-ter,” he said.

Trees pose the biggest obstacle toscoring at Rockwood, where there areonly six sand traps. Water comes intoplay on several holes because of a creekand two ponds.

The course is not long at 6,125 yardsfrom the back tees, 5,649 from themiddle and 5,235 from the womens’markers. It carries slope ratings of 121,117 and 115, respectively. The courseratings are 68.9 from the back, 67 fromthe middle and 69 from the womens’tees.

Rockwood plays to a par 70, withno par 5s on the back. The course isundulating but walkable.

The course sells annual passes thatcarry tee time reservation priority, buttimes are usually readily available onshort-notice and for walk-ons, even onweekends, Judy said.

The course can be walked for $15on weekdays, $20 on weekends. Withcart, fees are $29 and $34, respec-tively. Rates are lower during somespecial promotions. There are dis-counts for players 55 and over or 17and younger. Twilight and nine-holerates are also available.

For a hole-by-hole guide, visit theirwebsite at golfrockwood.com. It’shandy for those playing the course forthe first time. Enjoy the new club-house and the autumn weather.

—Kevin Murphy

Rockwood’s new clubhouse recently completed, will be up and running at the time of this publication!


DUB’S DREAD GOLF CLUBHome Town: Kansas City, Kansas

How long have you been a cart girl? 6 months

Why you like being a cart girl? My favoritepart about my job is getting to meet new peopleand getting to know the ones that I see almostevery time I come in. I love spending my dayaround people that make me laugh and I neverhave to dread going to work. It's fun!

Interests: Sports, tubing, spending time withfriends and family, cooking, dancing and KU –Rock Chalk!

What you will be doing in 5 years: Hopefullyworking as an Athletic Trainer somewhere warmwith a beach in my backyard.

Biggest Tip: $35

Worst Pickup Line: "Do you believe in love atfirst sight? Or should I drive by again?"

Favorite Food: Mashed potatoes

Favorite Music: I'm not picky, I'll listen to any-thing I can dance to.

Something people don’t know about you:I have a shoe collection that would put ImeldaMarcos to shame.

Funniest thing that happened on the golfcourse: A group of men at a tournament wantedto see how far I could hit a golf ball, so they madebets with each other and whoever was closestwould get all of the money. After all of the build-up, I swung as hard as I could and completelymissed the ball. It was embarrassing for me, butentertaining for them. They were nice enough togive all of the money to me instead!

Sarah More photos of Sarah online at www.kcgolfermagazine.com

Cart Girl Spotlight

X-tra Play: Branson

16

Branson in Autumn for a Relaxing GetawayChoose Your Course for Amazing Golf, or Play Both!

It’s a short drive to a great vacation in Branson. With shows, goodfood, shopping, the lake, and of course, great golf, if you are looking to getaway from KC for some R & R, think Ozarks. Autumn makes for an idealbackdrop, and with the kids back in school and families staying closer tohome, the cool weather and less traffic add to the enjoyment the mountainshave to offer. Right now, Troon Golf has a nice deal where you can experi-ence both the Payne Stewart and Branson Creek Golf Clubs for a great price.

One of our team members, Todd Hillman, enjoyed the golf last month, andhis comments, all positive, reflected on the great condition of the courses andthe overall spectacular customer service and experience these courses offered.

“Branson Creek Golf Club is, and has been each time I have played, in metic-ulous condition. e course is you and Mother Nature for 18 holes. You willsee foxes, rabbits, and turkey while you challenge your game,” he said. “ePayne Stewart Golf Club is a fantastic, well-manicured course that lends it-self to shot making and club selection. It has a great clubhouse where you canfind Payne Stewart memorabilia and all kinds of golf goods. Pick up a PayneStewart book outlining each hole before you start, and don’t forget to readthe signage on each hole,” Hillman said.

With that said, here is a little more information on each course:

Payne Stewart Golf Club, Hole #4 Branson Creek Golf Club, Hole #18

Payne Stewart Golf ClubPayne Stewart, the golf legend, was a Missouri native and favorite son.

Payne Stewart’s life and legacy can be felt when you play the Payne StewartGolf Club. e course is a tribute course, and each hole has signage thatshares Stewart’s life story and golf career, so make sure to take an extra fewminutes at the tee boxes to let the experience sink in. People say that Stew-art lived and played in a manner of his own fundamentals – fun, family, faithand fortitude. Hillman recommends getting the Payne Stewart book at theclubhouse, too, to bring this course to life in a special way.

e course was designed by Chuck Smith with design consultant andPGA Professional, Bobby Clampett. It offers 18 Championship holes carvedinto the beautiful Ozarks. Players of all skill levels will enjoy their experienceby choosing one of five tee boxes ranging from 7,324 to 5,323 yards.

e clubhouse has a sports bar with a gallery of Payne Stewart photos, anda museum with items loaned by Stewart’s wife, Tracy, including five RyderCup bags, golf apparel and clubs, and other personal items. e lounge withcard tables and televisions makes it easy to relax after a day of challengingreflection. Enjoy the course and immerse yourself in the tradition.

Branson Creek Golf ClubOpened in 2000, this course has been rated #1 by Golf Magazine and Golf

Digest as the “Top Public Courses In Missouri” for eleven consecutive years(2000-2010). In 2010 Golf Magazine named Branson Creek Golf Club #82on its list of the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play in America.” is year,Branson Creek was named #1 in “e Best Courses Near You” State-by-Stateby Golf Magazine.

You really have to play it for yourself to appreciate it. It’s considered bymany as the centerpiece for golf in the Midwest. Designed by golf course ar-chitect Tom Fazio, it features a challenging Par-71 championship layout, withfive sets of tees.

e 7,100 yard course has great views, like playing golf in a nature pre-serve. Like Hillman said, it’s you versus Mother Nature out here. e cluboffers golf instruction, rents clubs and shoes, has on-course player assistance,and a large practice facility to get you ready to play.

At Branson Creek, you won’t be disappointed. e Troon Golf staff alwaysmakes you feel welcome, and the course will bring you back to Branson timeafter time. e course is open year round, so you can enjoy the autumnweather later in the season with a quick drive to Branson.

For more information, call 1.877.337.2963

18

ImbibeWalter B

etha

y

Mon

ica Rey

nolds Refreshing!

Ranchmart Wine and Spirits • 3748 West 95th Street, Leawood, Kansaswww.ranchmartwineandspirits.com • 913.381.9463

At some point in time I’m surewe have all tried vodka. It is (should be) an odor-less and flavorless spirit. It is typically made by dis-tilling fermented grains or potatoes with the finalproduct mainly being comprised of water andethanol. So, what’s to like? If it tastes and smellslike nothing, why drink it? It is refreshing!

If I need a change from wine or beer, vodka isalways my go to. It is a great spirit to add to any-thing you are in the mood for. Anything from abloody mary to a cosmopolitan is wonderful withyour favorite vodka. One of my favorite vodka

drinks is a vodka and soda water. Top it with aslice of lemon and you have one refreshing andtasty cocktail.

Vodka is a hot category right now . . . especiallywhile it is so hot outside. There are new brandspopping up all the time. Another advantage thatvodka has is that it can be made practically any-where (as long as it’s legal). Therefore, you getgreat vodkas that are made locally and ones fromall over the world.

While Russians are typically known for mak-ing great vodka, we also have some great brands

that are being made right here in Kansas. So, inaddition to trying some great new products youcan also support a local business.

Not a fan of the neutral spirit? You’re in luck.Vodka brands are coming out with new flavorsevery day. They range in flavor from hot and spicyto super sweet. Peanut butter, whipped cream,chocolate, bacon, and fruits of all kinds are just afew of the flavors you have to choose from. If youcan dream up a drink, chances are there’s vodkathat will compliment it. Cheers!

Charity Aware

Buddie’s Buddies

On a chance encounter during a day onthe course, Buddie Butterfield saw an individual with a swingthat he believed needed work. “If you’re a teacher, you knowyou have to give lessons.” So Buddie walked over to this gen-tleman and offered him some helpful advice. e golfer tookhis club and hit his own left leg, showing Buddie that he hada prosthesis. At that moment Buddie said to himself, “If youare going to teach, you need to be able to teach everything.”

is chance encounter with the golfer inspired Buddie togo into uncharted territory with his teaching ability and startan adaptive golf clinic. For this he pursued the help of a manby the name of Sonny Ackerman in Georgia. Ackerman ranan adaptive golf clinic called Arnie’s Army, and Buddie spenttime alongside him learning how to do the same. During atouching moment while in Georgia, Buddie recalls walkingthrough the lunchroom and having a student call out“Coach!” Buddie went to the girl’s side and gave her a hug.

From that moment Buddie found himself profoundlymoved. “I knew I had to come back to Kansas City and startthis program here,” he said.

So in 2004 Buddie created Buddie’s Buddies, a namethat he says “fits perfectly with what we work to create withall of our students.” e slogan that encompasses the mes-sage plays off of the purpose of the adaptive golf clinic;Where your only handicap is your golf handicap.

Buddie Butterfield has spent his life dedicated to thegame of golf. He began playing at the age of 21 while in theService. Early on he passed his PAT (Playing Ability Test) co-ordinated by the PGA. He played for many years alongsidemen like Arnold Palmer, and traveled all over the UnitedStates before coming back to become an instructor in his na-tive state of Kansas.

Buddie knew he would need help getting his clinic off the

“WHERE YOUR ONLY HANDICAP IS YOUR GOLF HANDICAP”

Buddie Butterfield (fourth from the right) and his team. Photos by Shannon Cooper

20


ground, so he reached out to the Shrinecommunity, and with them the programtook off. e following year in 2005,the Heartland Amputee Golf Tourna-ment began. e sole purpose of thetournament is to raise money to fund theclinic that Buddie holds on a bi-weeklybasis with volunteers and his Shrine sup-porters. Every other week he invites Vet-erans and amputees, and then childrenand adults with mental or physical chal-lenges to come out and learn how togolf. He uses the money from the tour-nament to purchase clubs, balls, teesand adaptive materials. Buddie’s Bud-dies provides all of the materials neededto play golf, “which leaves no excusenot to come,” he says.

e clinic has no age limit, and staysopen to everyone, and Buddie wouldnot have it any other way. “Without thegolf tournament Buddie’s Buddieswould not survive,” he says. He men-tioned he would like to retire from theprogram, but his heart and connectionwith his players will not allow it.

When asked what the biggest influ-ence he has seen on his players sincethey began with Buddie’s Buddies hereplied, “a confidence boost.” Fresh airand getting these individuals out of theirtypical environment, socializing, and in-teracting has played a major role. “esekids have a very close bond with eachother. ey look out for one another,”Buddie said.

He has also had to alter golf equip-ment to make it easier for his players. Forexample, he has added reflective tape todifferent parts of clubs so that those whoare visually impaired have the ability tolearn at the same rate.

More than about golf, Buddie’s Bud-dies, a non-profit organization, enrichespersonal and physical growth of men-tally- or physically-challenged individu-als. e programs provided offer much-needed recreation and functionalmobility to those who have limitedmeans of obtaining it in today’s society.

Seven years ago Buddie’s Buddies wascreated by a man who was truly

touched, and it has developed into anadvanced clinic providing aid to manypeople in the metro area. With a golftournament to raise awareness and pro-vide funds to keep this great organiza-tion growing, Buddie’s Buddies contin-ues to help out each year.

is year the tournament will be heldon September 16th and 17th at theOverland Park Golf Club. It costs $60for amputees and $100 for supporters.Buddie highly encourages any amputeeto come out to the tournament and be-lieves he will hit a record of 100 am-putee players this year.

e tournament is a two-day event.e first day amputees shoot their ownball and keep their own score, alongwith other players in the tournament. Atthe end of the day, a banquet in honorof sponsors, volunteers and players gath-ers everyone together in celebration. Onday two, amputees play alone.

Dan Cotton, the tournament directorand a certified Prosthetist-Orthotist,works at HOPE (Horizon Orthotic &Prosthetic Experience) in OverlandPark. Cotton has also dedicated himselfto the work of Buddie’s Buddies. Hehopes this year’s tournament will be aneven bigger success than last year, andcan help keep Buddie’s Buddies goingfor many more years to come.

Life is all about the unexpected mo-ments that, if you let them, can changeyour direction forever. Buddie never ex-pected the events that would followwhen he reached out to offer some help-ful advice to a fellow golfer. In that in-stant, Buddie knew he could not go onliving his life in the same pattern, so hecreated a new one that has helped shapethe lives of many individuals. It is peo-ple like Buddie Butterfield who enrichthe golfing community and its future.

If you would like to join the eventplease contact Buddie Butterfield atbbutterfield@ kc.rr.com.

—Shannon Cooper

Buddie Butterfield

Learning on the Range

Lessons from a Team Member

22

Improve Your GameThe Shoulder Turn

A good shoulder turnis the key to a powerful swing.Many of our students thatcome in have a difficult timehitting the longer clubs such as

the driver. The reason is they do not get a good shoulder turn. Andwhen you don’t get a good shoulder turn, you cannot engage thelarge muscles that create power. What I mean is, when you rotateyour shoulders against a stable right leg, it is like a discus throweror a pitcher in baseball. It creates a lot of torque in the torso of thebody. If done properly you will experience a sense of power withvery little effort. Also, by having the proper shoulder turn, it allowsyou to approach the ball from a shallow angle which is critical for thelonger clubs.

The key to a good shoulder turn is the posture at address. Youmust not slump your shoulders over the ball and get your chin

buried into your chest. Keep your chin up, chest up, and get yourhead behind the ball. There are different thoughts that work formaking a good shoulder. “Get your back to the target,” or “Get yourright shoulder behind you,” are two that seem to work for manypeople.

The shoulders should not feel very tilted. They should be levelwhen done properly. The way that you control the length of thebackswing is by the brace of the right leg and knee. The right kneeshould remain bent slightly and the weight of your body should beon the inside of your right foot at the top of your swing. You shouldfeel some resistance in the right leg. If you don’t feel this resistance,then when you make a shoulder turn you will over rotate and getyour swing out of kilter. This might sound complicated but it reallyis not. We have found at our Martin City Sports Complex, that whenwe teach people how this feels, it opens up a whole new game tothem. Come give us a visit, and we can show you how it’s done.

Robin & M

ark Nigro

Hello Golfers! I havesomething special for you thismonth. Do you know how greatyou felt when you bought thatnew set of clubs at the begin-

ning of the season this year? Or maybe, it was a new putter or wedge.Whatever the club, it was supposed to go longer, straighter, get youcloser to the hole and take five strokes off your game.But, the results you experienced using the new equipment for the

first time proved less than satisfactory. It added five strokes to yourround! Been there, done that. But you stuck to it and now there isa comfort level. They feel good and your scoring has improved. Thereis a lesson here. Think about it.There will be no delayed satisfaction in my next suggestion. Cigar

& Tabac, Ltd. brings you the finest all-Cuban-seed cigar that youhave ever tasted, grown in the only place on earth that literally repli-

cates the famous Pinar del Rio tobacco growing region of Cuba.Moreover, the entire production operation including the rolling isdone by Cubans on special work visas from Cuba. These are thefinest torcedors in the industry and now they work for you. We bring you the Buena Vista Limited Edition cigar. Tobacco

grown in Ecuador and aged and rolled in the Caribbean. Thesebeauties will satisfy from the first draw to the last. It won't take fivestrokes off your game but it will be the best finish on the 19th holeyou've ever had. We are introducing this very special cigar at Cigar & Tabac, Ltd.

as our September Buy 2 – Get 1 FREE. This is one tee shot you don'twant to miss ! Come in and try the closest taste to the island that'slegal. And Best Ashes from me,Lyn BeyerCigar & Tabac, Ltd. • 913-381-5597


Cigar for the CourseCuban Seed

Lyn Be

yer

24

Body HealingDan

iel Lau

ghlin Tight Muscles,

or Tight Nerves?

Sport + Spine • 7279 W 105th Street, Overland Park KS 66212 • 913.642.7746 • www.sportspinekc.comDaniel Laughlin has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is certified through the Titleist Performance Institute.

How flexible should I be? What should Istretch? How should I stretch? Why are my hamstrings so tight?Stretching is a topic I get asked about on a daily basis – especially whenit comes to golf. ere are different types of stretching which are allbeneficial to your body and to your golf game. Static stretching is whatyou would typically think of when you think of stretching (i.e. stretch-ing the hamstrings by holding the position for 30 seconds). Dynamicstretching involves active movement and warm-up to prepare for theperformance. Neurological stretching (or what we PTs call ‘nerve glid-ing’) mobilizes your nervous system.

e nervous system is stretched in both static and dynamic stretches;however, the nerves occasionally need to be paid a little extra attentionwith their own specific stretches. When neural tissue is restricted, it cancreate muscle tightness and decreased flexibility. Nerves need threethings: movement, space, and blood flow. e nerves in our bodies sitlike pieces of dental floss in the tissue. When we move, healthy and un-restricted nerves will glide and slide nicely without undergoing toomuch of a stretch. When nerves are restricted, they don’t get the niceglide and slide and are stretched beyond their normal length and arein danger of being damaged, irritated, or inflamed (i.e. sciatica). enerve response to being over-stretched is to tighten up the tissuearound it to prevent further stretch and to send a pain signal to thebrain. Dynamic stretches and specific “nerve gliding” exercises providethe movement, space, and blood flow that the damaged, irritated, andinflamed nerves need to heal.

e golf swing requires a lot of flexibility and mobility of the spine.e coiling and uncoiling of the spine requires not only movement ofthe joints but also gliding and sliding of the spinal cord and nerves. iscombination of movement allows for maximum flexibility and mobilitythrough the golf swing.

In the therapy world, stretching the nervous system is called gliding.Here are some nerve glides for your hips and spine which will help pre-pare you for your next round.

Sit at the edge of the chair with your feet flat on the floor and handsbehind your back. Sit really tall and then slouch down with your headforward. Alternate kicking one knee out until you feel a pull behindthe knee or in the hamstring. Perform 10x each leg.

Sit with feet flat on the floor. Reach forward and pull your knee uptowards your same side shoulder. Repeat this 10x each leg.

Here is a little secret on nerve gliding: all movements require someform of a nerve glide. All the exercises and stretches we have coveredin previous articles work as nerve glides as well. Now you can better un-derstand why the warm-up is so important in preparing the whole bodyincluding the nervous system, for the golf swing.

26

Steve Price: Painted Hills & Royal Meadows

When did you start playing golf? When I was sevenyears old.

Who taught you the sport? My dad.What clubs do you play? Nike Pro Combo Irons andTaylor R11 woods.

How did you get involved in the golf industry?Went to the first Professional Golf ManagementProgram at Ferris State University. Graduated in1980.

Your favorite part of managing a golf course?Watching people have fun.

Your favorite personal golf moment? My dad cad-died for me in the final round of the Kansas StateAmateur in 1975. He put a sticker on my golf bagthat said KISS " Keep it Simple Stupid."

Favorite golfer? Hale Irwin.Best round, and where? 66 at Detroit Country Clubfor US Open Qualifying in 1977.

Favorite hole at Painted Hills? At Royal Meadows?#2 at Painted Hills, and #6 at Royal Meadows.

Funniest thing that happened on the golf course?My funniest incident was when I was serving an in-ternship from Ferris State at Sea Island Golf Club inSt. Simons Island, GA as a member of the mainte-nance crew. This was an ocean course with manygreens surrounded by water. I was mowing greensand the direction was front to back which put mymowing pattern at the water. As I approached thecollar I waited too long to make the turn and as Iturned, the back wheel dropped off the retainingwall causing the mower to flip upside down into thewater. All said and done, only one part of the rearwheel was left above water. In Georgia, much of theinlets are full of Water Moccasins and alligators. AsI crawled up out of the water, all I could think aboutwas if anything was going to bite me. Needless tosay, I got the rest of the day off.

What is your strength when playing golf?My driver.If you're in the fairway off the tee, golf is just a lit-tle easier.

What are some things golfers should expect whenplaying at Painted Hills and Royal Meadows?Great course conditions with reasonable pricesand friendly staff. We approach golf from the anglethat the golf course is the third most frequentedplace with home and their job coming first andsecond. Creating that kind of environment is key toour success. Every golf course has 18 holes and aclubhouse. What we do with those 18 holes andclubhouse will separate us from the competition.

Meet the Pro

kc golfer magazine september

Documents

owners of kc golfer

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play kc rockwood golf

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