2011 is almost here so I would like to reflect on the accomplishments of SNGA in 2010. 1. SNGA’s Sponsor, MetLife, saved SNGA mem-bers a lot of money on their home and autos by pro-viding huge discounts to all SNGA members.

2. SNGA’s home courses, Highland Falls & The Palms, and Harrah’s properties, Rio Secco and Cascata, offered discounted rates throughout the season to all SNGA members.

3. The Grind E-newsletter grew its distribution list from 7,000 members to over 10,000 members. The Grind provides pertinent information involving the golf community, discounts to SNGA members, upcoming tournaments & Charity events, articles on the benefits of stretching & strength training by Body Balance, rules information, and issues with maintaining turf grass in Southern Nevada by Superintendent PJ McGuire. Story continued on page 8.

2010 Issue Dec.

2010 Year in Review Written by Nicole Dutt-Roberts

In This Issue >>>

The Official Newsletter of the Southern Nevada Golf Association

1. 2010 Year in Review 2. Misunderstood Rules 3. PJ McGuire 4. PGA Players in Vegas 5. Pointe Hilton Resorts 6. First Tee/WSNGA 7. Year in Review (Cont.) 8. Body Balance for Performance 9. MetLIfe Auto & Home® 10. What's on Tap?

The Grind

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Come join us in 2011! For details on becoming a part of the WSNGA, contact Janet at wsngainfo@gmail.com.

Misunderstood Rules By Mike Charrie

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As I sit here thinking about what to write, I find it hard to talk about grass. With the rain falling and the cold temperatures of winter here, our growth rate of turf has slowed dramatically. While we are still able to keep decent green color on the turf by applying nitrogen and iron in a foliar application. That is a fertilizer shot applied by spraying it on the leaves and allowing it to dry so the plant absorbs it from the leaf. I just don’t want to talk turf. My thoughts are wandering to all the silly gifts us golfers get at Christmas, the stupid desktop golf games, the swing gadgets, the DVDs to help our game, the mugs with dumb sayings, and ties with golf holes imprinted on them. It makes me think that golfers are not the ones who keep these cheesy golf gift manufactures in business as I have never seen a golfer purchase one of these ludicrous items. But in fact it is the families and loved ones of golfers who are keeping that small mom and pop run sweat shop in Korea employed throughout the year. Attention Golfers Families! Here is breaking news. We will never, I repeat never, use the golf swing trainer from Norelco, “Shave off strokes”! We will not ever put on the hat that ties to our shoes and our belt buckle to force us to keep our heads down. We will only play with the “golf game desktop version” one time, right after we open it and then it will be tucked in a drawer at work never to be seen again. We would not be caught dead on the golf course using the “club cleaner and personal fan device” we got in our stocking this year. We will not be picking up any hints to improve our game from “Dorf on golf”. I say this not to be mean but to save money this year and next by allowing you all to focus on gifts that really matter to golf-ers, like gift cards to the liquor store, if we can’t shoot straight at least we can drown out the memory of that last bad round, or a gym membership, because if we can just lose that 10 pounds of holiday fat we stored we could shave a few strokes off our game all by ourselves, and of course the ever popular golf ball of the month club. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and 2011 finds you and yours prosperous and healthy!

PJ’s Super Section Information about Golf Course Maintenance from PJ McGuire, CGCS

Nevada Golf Industry Alliance

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Desert Hawk Hole #9 Boulder Creek Golf Club

PGA Tour Fairways Filled With Vegas Golfers Story by Brian Hurlburt of GolfLasVegasNow.com

As we end the year, it’s time to take a quick look back at the season that was on the PGA Tour for golfers with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. And there are plenty of those players out there who are roaming the fairways among the best players in the world. The guy who made the biggest splash on the PGA Tour this year, who could claim Fabulous Las Vegas as his home, was Rickie Fowler. Fowler earned recognition as the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year. He finished 22nd on the money list with more than $2.8 million in earnings. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Fowler has left living in Las Vegas in the rear view mirror. He is no longer living in his Summerlin condo, and has added a home in Florida in addition to his roots on Southern Califor-nia. But it was fun to claim him as a Vegas Golfer while it lasted. His Vegas room-mate, Cameron Tringale, is said to still have the home here, and he recently secured his PGA Tour playing privileges for 2011 via a top 10 finish at Q School. Speaking of the recent Q School, another UNLV golfer has found his way out to the PGA Tour. Andres Gonzales finished in the top 25 at Q School and has his tour card for 2011. Gonzales has won on the Canadian Tour and now will be a rookie on the PGA Tour. He plays and practices at the Las Vegas Country Club among other Las Ve-gas golf courses. A few other Las Vegas golfers didn’t fare as well as Tringale and Gonzales at Q School, but will still have plenty of chances to play on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour in 2011. Among those were Craig Barlow and Scott Piercy, two pros who have roots with the Southern Nevada Golf Association. Both grew up in Las Vegas, and played in amateur events all over Las Vegas. Neither qualified for full privileges, but Piercy finished 136th on the money list and will get several chances to play. He is also contacting tournament directors for sponsor exemptions. Barlow finished 191st on the money list, but is totally vested on the PGA Tour since he has made more than 150 ca-reer cuts. That helps him secure spots in PGA Tour events, plus he will have some status on the Nationwide Tour in 2011. Other golfers with strong ties who will be exempt on the PGA Tour include the fol-lowing players, followed by where they finished on the 2010 money list: Charley Hoffman (25) with more than $2.5 million; Nick Watney (27), more than $2.5 million; Adam Scott (28), more than $2.4 million; Ryan Moore (32), $2.3 million; Alex Prugh (70), $1.2 million; Bill Lunde (83), $1.07 million; Chris Riley (90), $1 million; Chad Campbell (96), more than $971,000; Alex Cejka (108), more than $904,000 and Dean Wilson (117), more than $832,000. Hoffman, Watney, Prugh, Cejka, Lunde and Wilson live in Las Vegas. Scott, Moore Riley, and Campbell are former Rebels, as is Hoffman and Lunde. Brian Hurlburt is the Founding Editor of GolfLasVegasNow.com and committee member of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame.

*Package rates are based on double occupancy and inclusive of golf. Packages and Package rates are all based on availability. Please make your reservations within 5 days of arrivalby calling the phone number below and request Plan Code "P9". Please call 1-888-463-4931 to book your package and to reserve tee times. Package price is only available with avalid tee time reservation. Rate is based on the number of golfers in a suite. For one tee time per day, package must be booked with occupancy of one adult, two tee times per day,must be booked with occupancy of two adults. Package rate may be subject to change if additional tee times are required. Exclusive of tax and gratuity. Golf greens fees are basedon availability and are subject to change without notice. Guests receive one round of play for each night's stay. Please note that the golf course will be closed September 27 throughOctober 14, 2010 for course overseeding. Offer includes two Hilton Breakfast buffet certificates for each night's stay. One certificate is valid for one adult Hilton Breakfast buffet. Eachchild 5 years of age or younger will eat without charge when accompanied by a paid adult including adults utilizing the Hilton Breakfast buffet certificate. At the Pointe Hilton TapatioCliffs Resort breakfast certificate is redeemable at Pointe In Tyme restaurant and at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort breakfast certificate is redeemable at Hole-in-the-Wallrestaurant. Breakfast certificates have no cash value; gratuities are not included. Certificates not valid for room service breakfast, after departure or at another hotel. Offer cannot becombined with any other discounts and is not applicable to groups.

Stay & Play

Tee-up this year at the Pointe Hilton Resorts with our Stay and Play package. Yourpackage includes a one night stay, Hilton Breakfast for two, and one round of golfat either Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort or Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort.

October 13 - December 31, 2009 rates from $109/Night/Person*

March 1 - April 4, 2010 rates from $149/Night/Person*

May 21 - September 26, 2010 rates from $69/Night/Person*

October 15 - December 31, 2010 rates from $119/Night/Person*

September 27 - October 14, 2010 Overseeding - No Play.

April 5 - May 20, 2010 rates from $109/Night/Person*

January 1 - February 28, 2010 rates from $129/Night/Person*

For reservations please call 1-888-463-4931 or to reserve online at

TTaappaattiioo CClliiffffss RReessoorrtt cclliicckk hheerree and to reserve at SSqquuaaww PPeeaakk RReessoorrtt ccll iicckk hheerree..

*Package rates will vary based on single occupancy or double

occupancy. Packagerates are based on double occupancy per person.

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Before you know it GOLF will be back on the front burner! The recent heat wave gave us proof of that! And while the “silly season” of professional golf is fi-nally over-in a few short weeks the tour players will be gripping and ripping it again!!! Well, what does this mean for Southern Nevada Women? Well, it means that whatever break our golfers have taken away from the links, it will be hard to stay away any longer! The WSNGA had a great 2010 and our plans are to have an outstanding 2011! More Fun Day events to offer our members-A Silver Cup to defend-and an Amateur and Senior Amateur Championship, which have been having increased participation, even in these tough economic times. So, stay tuned to the Grind Newsletter and the WSNGA website, which is getting bigger and having more to re-port than any time in the past. And remember-only 2 weeks until “golf that counts” is on the telly! Have a safe and happy holiday from all of us at the WSNGA!

This past year, the SNGA and the WSNGA, had a friendly challenge amongst the two Associations, which Association’s members could sponsor more junior golfers for The First Tee of Southern Nevada’s Awards Banquet. Well the WSNGA put the squeeze on, and surpassed the SNGA with a handful more sponsors than SNGA. Being the competitive person that I am, I would like to whip the WSNGA this time. I have committed to personally sponsoring 4 junior golfers ($100. 00) and I would like to encourage you to sponsor a junior or two. All you have to do when you sign up (see The First Tee of Southern Nevada’s ad above) is tell Stacy whether you are sponsoring on behalf of SNGA or WSNGA. Lets put a smile on a child’s face by joining me (SNGA) or Janet (WSNGA) in this effort to give deserv-ing junior golfers a chance to experience this won-derful event! Happy Holidays! Nicole Dutt-Roberts Executive Director, SNGA

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2010 SNGA Year in Review (Continued from Page 1) 4. The strict handicap policies are working. The 2010 SNGA scoreboards averaged about 10% scores under par

versus the 70% number in 2008. 5. The pace of play policy has cut the tournament rounds from 5 ½ hours to about 4 hours & 45 minutes due to

more slow play penalties being accessed. 6. The first social tournament was successfully run at South Shore Golf Club. More will be added to the 2011

Tournament schedule. 7. SNGA hosted a course rating and handicap seminar in conjunction with the USGA. 8. SNGA raised money for MOPH veterans and the UNLV Lady Rebels. 9. SNGA supported the Las Vegas Hall of Fame by purchasing a table at its Award Dinner and a four-some at

its annual golf tournament. 10. SNGA Board members generously sponsored junior golfers, from The First Tee, so they could attend their

annual Awards Banquet. See page 6 to find out how you can sponsor a junior golfer at the upcoming First Tee Awards Banquet.

SNGA Tournaments For those of you that participated in the SNGA Tournament Series, you are aware that it was a memorable and very competitive year complete with tight Player of the Year races, a Southern Nevada Cobb-Whalen Cup Vic-tory, and a bevy of exciting moments. Six men were crowned Player of the Year in their respective divisions and they included: Joe Sawaia (Scratch), Randy Goodwill (Net), Frank Acker (Senior), George Yocum (Senior Net), Severine Leoffler (Super Senior), and Tom Khamis (Super Senior Net). The SNGA hosted 11 SNGA Events, 3 Nevada State Events, 4 USGA Qualifying Events, and 2 Social Events. The 20 total events hosted by the SNGA were held at 13 different golf courses including Boulder City, Sunrise Vista, DragonRidge, The Legacy, Mojave Resort, Boulder Creek, Las Vegas National, Cascata, Rio Secco, Paiute Resort, Highland Falls, Southshore, and Las Vegas Golf Club. There were 347 SNGA Members that participated in at least one SNGA Event this year. There were 55 SNGA Members who participated in more than 5 events, 2 that participated in more than 10 events, and one who participated in more than 15 events. In addition to the participation in our events, the SNGA is proud to announce the promotion of Mike Charrie from PJ Boatwright Intern to Tournament Director starting March of 2011, congratulations Mike and welcome aboard. All in all it was a decent year for SNGA Events and we cant wait to increase the participation next year. SNGA Memberships The SNGA finished 2010 with a total of 68 Member Clubs of which 46 are associated with a Course in Southern Nevada. The SNGA had a total of 11,759 active members for 2010 and SNGA Membership recorded 345,508 rounds. The SNGA added two member clubs in 2010, Conestoga Golf Club (Type 1 Club in Mesquite) and Golf Summerlin Club (Type 2 Club in Las Vegas). Southwest Golf Club recorded the largest membership in our asso-ciation with a total of 911 members. This year, The SNGA also provided over 300 FREE Handicap memberships to local junior golfers through the First Tee of Southern Nevada. For those of you that don't know, as the re-gional Affiliate of the USGA, The SNGA is licensed to conduct Course Ratings to update and maintain the USGA Handicap System in Southern Nevada. The SNGA conducted two Course Ratings this year for Silver-stone Golf Club, and The Legacy Golf Club. The SNGA is happy to have such support from the population in Southern Nevada and we look forward to growing our membership in 2011. The SNGA would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors, Member Clubs, board members, media representa-tives, tournament participants, and members of this Association for making it what it is. Without all of you we would not be able to keep providing services that benefit the game we love. We look forward to an exciting 2011 and hope to enjoy it with all of you.

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Modern golf swing instruction has generally placed the most emphasis on keeping the movements of the overall swing more compact with fewer, simpler movements. This has helped golfers at all levels of experience and talent to perform better and play safer. One key area of the body that, when kept steady during the backswing, promotes more consistent ball striking and power in the swing is the right knee (right knee for a right- handed golfer and left knee for a left-handed golfer). Controlling the swing will be difficult with an unstable right knee and less compact backswing. If the right knee is allowed to straighten, turn out or slide laterally during the backswing, then extra movement is introduced into the right hip, pelvis and spine. This creates a “mushier” coil and can allow excess motion in the upper body so that the golfer with an unsteady right knee will have a tendency to over swing the club at the top of the back-swing. The resultant swing errors of casting, coming over the top, reverse pivoting and/or lateral swaying now often cause poor or inconsistent contact with ball. One great exercise to promote a steady back hip and knee during the backswing is called the “Bridge with March-ing”. Get into a bridge position and cross your arms over your shoulders. From there lift your pelvis off the ground and lift your legs one at a time in a marching motion The key here is to keep your pelvis level and off the ground and keep the contraction in your glutes, not in your legs. To make this exercise very golf-specific, close your eyes and mentally focus on the process of per-forming a full backswing with a perfectly steady right hip and knee when you are bridged and march-ing your left leg (stable and balancing on your right) if you are a right-handed golfer (opposite for left-handed golfers). If you have any further golf fitness and health questions, please do not hesitate to contact Arnel Gaspar at 702.882.9727 or email me at agaspar@fitgolf.com.

Steady Back Hip and Knee during the Backwswing

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thoughts... final

Las Vegas National Golf Club Site of the 2009 SNGA Season Opener

What’s on Tap >>>

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2625 N. Green Valley Pkwy. Suite 100 Henderson, NV 89014

702-458-4653 www.snga.org

“The proper score for a businessman golfer is 90. If he is better than that he is neglecting his business. If he's worse, he's neglecting his golf.” ~ St Andrews Rotary Club Member

Happy Holidays from SNGA The SNGA would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukah, or another Holiday, we here at Southern Ne-vada Golf Association hope it is a safe and festive time of year for you and yours. The SNGA is ramping up for the 2011 Tournament Series and is excited about new and old locations, new and old familiar faces, and more good and exciting golf. We look forward to providing you with an enjoyable 2011 and are excited to get back in the swing of things. Make sure to check out www.snga.org and check your email inbox for updates on the 2011 Tournament Series. Check back often for information and updates about changes to our events.