B8 | Saturday, May 6, 2017 Columbus Telegram

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COL_TELE-05-6-B8_1

GOLF GUIDE

TYLER ELLYSONtellyson@columbustelegram.com

COLUMBUS — When Mike Vun-Cannon describes Elks Country Club he doesn’t even start with the challenging 18-hole golf course.

“It’s more than a golf course,” according to VunCannon, who has been with the local club for 21 years, serving as the head PGA golf pro-fessional since 2003.

That doesn’t mean the tree-lined course located just west of 48th Av-enue north of Columbus isn’t worth talking about. There are just other perks people know far less about.

The Elks Lodge, for instance, gives both golfers and non-golfers a chance to connect with the com-munity.

The lodge holds youth hoops and soccer shoots each year, members volunteer their time with various projects and organizations and the club hosts events for nonprofits, including last fall’s outing for the TeamMates Mentoring Program and Big Pals-Little Pals. In addition to those activities, the Elks Lodge awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to high school seniors each year.

“The lodge is a big giver back to the community,” VunCannon said. “A lot of people don’t realize that.”

VunCannon said that community involvement adds value to an Elks membership, as do the restaurant and swimming pool, which is cur-

rently being renovated.The restaurant features a full

menu of fine-dining options and the club is set up to accommodate business meetings, social gather-ings, weddings and other events.

“You don’t have to be a member to come up here and eat,” said Vun-Cannon, who credited the food and beverage staff for their service and skills when crafting the cuisine.

About 50 students from Colum-bus High School dined there before their prom last month and the club hosts numerous nonprofit events and banquets throughout the year.

Of course, the golf also brings people in.

The CHS and Scotus Central Catholic booster clubs, Lakeview Education Foundation, Columbus Community Hospital Foundation, Columbus Family YMCA Founda-tion and Columbus Rescue Mission all hold fundraiser golf tournaments at Elks, where some of the state’s best players also test their skills.

The Columbus Classic held each spring attracts the top amateurs and Elks partners with Nebraska Public Power District, Wells Fargo and the Nebraska PGA to put on the Nebraska Open at the end of the summer.

Professional golfers from across the country play in the annual Nebraska Open, which features a Friday pro-am followed by two additional days of tournament

play. Zach Johnson competed in the event in 1998 and 1999 before winning the Masters in 2007.

The Open, which raises money for community college scholar-ships, has been held at Elks since 1992 and is the state’s second-larg-est PGA event, trailing only the Web.com Tour stop in Omaha.

VunCannon said the course is both challenging and fun for golf-ers, whether they’re playing for a check, league bragging rights or to pass time with buddies on a Sunday afternoon.

“The best golfers can still shoot a big number here,” he said.

Elks plays 6,600 yards from the back tees, with several doglegs making it feel longer.

“You’ve got to hit a lot of differ-ent golf shots out here,” VunCan-non said while praising the work of course superintendent Eric Bice.

“He does a great job,” VunCan-non said. “He gives our members great conditions every day.”

The club’s approximately 280 members also have two men’s and two women’s leagues to choose

from and the pro shop offers an ar-ray of equipment and clothing, as well as lessons that are available to both members and non-members.

The semi-private course can be played twice a year by Columbus residents without a member, and it’s home to the Columbus High golf teams and a youth program featur-ing about 80 participants.

Still, the club is continuously looking for ways to promote the course.

A collaboration with Norfolk Country Club, Fremont Golf Club and Hillcrest Golf and Country Club in Yankton, South Dakota, allows Elks members to play those courses without paying greens fees. The same agreement brings people from those three cities to Columbus.

“It’s a great value,” said Vun-Cannon.

The local country club is also part of this year’s Nebraska Golf Passport program, which includes 27 courses in Nebraska and Iowa. A $100 passport covers greens fees at each course for one round.

VunCannon views the pro-gram as a way to introduce new people to Elks while bringing in additional revenue through cart rentals, food and drinks.

“We’re always trying to come up with new ways for people to use the facility more,” VunCan-non said.

Elks offers more than challenging golf

TYLER ELLYSON, THE COLUMBUS TELEGRAM

Head PGa professional Mike VunCannon says Elks Country Club is both challenging and fun for golfers of any skill level.

METRO SERVICES

Are you having trouble gaining the amount of ground you desire from your swings? Perhaps you haven’t considered being fitted for a custom set of clubs because you feel the investment isn’t worth putting toward a game you just can’t figure out.

Don’t give up yet. Clubs that are too long or short can have big downsides to a golfer’s game.

Most stock golf clubs can pro-vide you hours of fun with family and friends, but if you are a stick-ler for lower scores, you should consider getting a custom set. Your local golf shop will be able to assist you in getting proper measurements and give you a quote. Remember, even a pro-fessional golfer can’t make an efficient swing with clubs that don’t fit.

FittingA fitting session will generally

take 15 minutes to a few hours de-pending on the number of clubs you are being fitted for. A session usually involves you sampling clubs from different manufac-turers to see which head works the best for your style.

Your height and the length of

your arms will be the determining factors when it comes to finding the club length you require. This may be the most important part of the process, as a club of incorrect length will make it nearly impos-sible to maintain a proper stance that is crucial to swinging.

Today’s custom fittings utilize state-of-the-art technology to find the perfect set of clubs to truly enhance your game.

Club partsThe shaft flex — sometimes

known as the golf club’s engine — will be fabricated to the ex-act length that will benefit your game. Improper shaft length is infamous for causing hooks, slic-ing and minimizing distance.

Loft simply means the angle of the club face that controls trajec-tory and distance.

Custom-fit irons will be cal-ibrated to your style to ensure consistent results. The loft also is crucial for drivers, because it allows the ball to carry farther and roll less.

Your grip also should be fit to your size. Correct grip controls the amount of hand rotation, which will make it easier for you to remain square when swinging.

Custom clubs can lead to lower scores

METRO SERVICES

Custom clubs can help golfers make an efficient swing.

METRO SERVICES

You have likely noticed the range of different types of golf balls of-fered at your local shop. It can be easy to get confused and a little overwhelmed when choosing the ball to best benefit your golf game.

Before purchasing your next set of golf balls, decide upon which part of your game you want to improve. There are balls on the market that can improve your distance, control and even spin. Remember, these advantages will only happen if you understand how to utilize them.

LayersThe advantages of different types

of golf balls start with their con-struction. Here is a breakdown on the four most common balls you will find.

� One piece: Very inexpensive, usually not for sale to retail con-sumers, mostly found at driving ranges.

� Two piece: Great for amateurs, acrylate or resin core, durable cover that resists damage for a short time.

� Three piece: Solid core featur-ing rubber between core and cover, softer than a two-piece ball, better spin control.

� Multilayer: Built with four to five layers to provide maximum distance, ultimate spin control, more durable than the fewer layer options.

What’s right for you?Now that you have a general idea

of how to decipher the numerous options of golf balls based on their layers, how do you choose the one for you? It depends on what you want to achieve and how experi-enced your golf game is.

AmateurThe experts at American Golf

recommend a two-piece ball for beginner golfers. You can find them

with ionomer covers. This mate-rial reduces the ball’s tendency to hook or slice due to inexperienced swings.

The two-piece ball also will supply a boost in distance and ball height for slower swings. Use this type of ball to perfect your swing before you move on to the more advanced layers that demand more control.

AdvancedAs your game improves, you

should consider moving on to a three-layer or multilayer ball. Golf-ers who regularly achieve birdies or better during a round can gain great benefits from using an advanced ball.

Choosing a ball that features a urethane or ionomer cover will absolutely launch from the tee box but give you much more spin control when advancing toward the green.

Select the right ball to fit your game

METRO SERVICES

Putting can be one of the most stressful parts of a day on the course. Imagining the route your ball will take on a sometimes worse-for-wear green can be dif-ficult. There are a few tips you can use to give yourself an edge when finishing off a hole.

The 1991 Ryder Cup was deter-mined by a 6-foot putt on the final hole of the final match. Bernhard Langer was behind the missed putt in the tournament that was so intense that it was deemed The War on the Shore. This just goes to show how a well-played game of golf can be tainted by a poor stroke on the green.

Proper postureA perfect putt requires an even

more perfect stance, and the first step is to keep your back flat and horizontal to the ground. This may feel uncomfortable or unnatural at the beginning. Holding this pose during a putt keeps your shoulders straight and square with the ball.

The next important part of your stance is your club’s posi-tion. The grip of your club should be held in the center of your body so your hands and shoulders create a triangle. Have a partner snap a photo of you during a putt to ensure you’re holding yourself properly.

This triangle is a major factor in proper putting because it allows your shoulders and arms to rock back in forth in a smooth motion. You should also bend your knees to evenly distribute weight to your

heels and toes.

Visualize ball pathThe path your ball will take

depends on your swing and the condition of the green. It is a good idea to get an idea of how your ball will travel before committing to a swing. Here’s how:

� Your best view is behind the ball. Examine whether you will be shooting uphill or downhill to get a sense of the power you need be-hind your club.

� Walk sideways from the ball to create an imaginary line to the cup. Here you can adjust to any breaks the greens may make.

� Don’t over think it. Once you have a good understanding of your ball’s path, remember your stance basics and take the shot.

Putting tips to help golfers finish holes

For more informationcall

(402) 564-1313

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