Pound Ridge Upgrades Clubhouse

Pound Ridge #13  photo courtesy of the club

Pound Ridge GC is spiffing up the clubhouse and will undergo significant enhancements this off-season, bringing the indoor facilities up to the standards closer to those of the excellent Pete Dye-designed golf course.

The main building will be expanded to provide permanent bathrooms, a full-service kitchen with new equipment, and men’s and women’s showers and small locker rooms. The breezeway between the building and temporary structure will be enclosed for additional comfort and privacy.

Floor, ceiling and window frame moulding, chair rails and other fixtures, features and equipment will be added to create both elegance and permanence. Guests will have the choice of relaxing in the refreshed interior or outdoors on one of Pound Ridge’s two alfresco seating and gathering areas.

“The end result will be a significantly more appealing and single integrated structure,” says Pound Ridge owner Ken Wang. “This is part of our long term plan to provide facilities and amenities commensurate with the quality of the golf course.”

According to Wang, Pound Ridge’s proximity to Wall Street and the financial community of Stamford, Greenwich and Norwalk area of Southern Connecticut leads to a high number of “business golfers” out for an efficient and enjoyable round.

“Having a comfortable spot to grab a quick shower, change of clothes and bite to eat, perhaps before returning to the office or an evening function, is important,” adds Wang. “The layout is also very walkable and those who carry or pull their clubs will appreciate the option of freshening up, post-round.”

The project is underway, and all work is expected to be completed by spring 2014.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Exercise to Move Shoulders With Stable Hips

Here's a guest post from Dr. Jenni Martin MS DC LPGA Class A teacher and club professional who runs The Golf Gapper in Sacramento.

Learning to engage your core while moving your upper body and NOT moving your hips is essential to a powerful and balanced swing. This is a great exercise after any lower back issues. It is challenging and can be made even more so with the use of a weighted ball.

Sit on a medicine ball. Slowly, arms across your chest, raise each leg and twist with arms across your chest. Do this exercise slowly and to both sides. Switch legs. Do each direction 5 times. Add a weighted ball to increase the difficulty.

Dr. Martin grew up next door to Mark O'Meara and the Mission Viejo Golf Course. Her interest in golfers began years ago while helping Natalie Gulbis.  Her clientele includes students from  + 2 golfers to stroke patients, to those who have never touched a club.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

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Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

2014 USGA Championship Schedule

Pinehurst will host the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships in consecutive weeks in June on recently restored Pinehurst No. 2. It's the first time the two championships have been scheduled back to back and the USGA picked a fabulous venue for it. They also chose Bobby Jones's home club, the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, GA, for the the U.S. Amateur while St. Louis Country Club will host the 38th Curtis Cup Match.

“The USGA is excited to have an excellent group of courses to conduct our 2014 championships,” said Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., USGA vice president and Championship Committee chairman. “The historic nature of playing both Opens in consecutive weeks on a revered course sets the tone for the season. The list of venues crisscrosses the United States and reflects our commitment to bring USGA national championships to as many regions of the country as possible.”

Pinehurst No. 2 will host the 114th U.S. Open on June 12-15 and the 69th U.S. Women’s Open on June 19-22, thereby becoming the only course to have hosted the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur. Payne Stewart (1999) and Michael Campbell (2005) won the two previous U.S. Opens on the course, which is generally considered to be the greatest work by architect Donald Ross.

Atlanta Athletic Club, the home club of five-time Amateur champion Bob Jones, will host the 114th U.S. Amateur on Aug. 11-17. The club has previously hosted five USGA championships. For the first time in a century, the U.S. Women’s Amateur returns to Nassau Country Club, in Glen Cove, NY, on Aug. 4-10, for the 114th playing of the championship. Katherine Harley Jackson won the second of her two Women’s Amateur titles at the Long Island course in 1914.

The Curtis Cup Match, the biennial competition between women’s amateur teams from the United States and Great Britain & Ireland, will open the championship season on June 6-8 at St. Louis Country Club. The club has hosted five USGA championships, including the 1947 U.S. Open.

The state of Oklahoma will host a U.S. Senior Open for the first time when the 2014 championship is played at Oak Tree National from July 10-13. Oak Tree was the site for the 1984 U.S. Amateur (won by Oklahoma resident Scott Verplank, who turns 50 on July 9 and will be eligible for his first U.S. Senior Open).

The U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links will both be conducted by the USGA for the last time in 2014, with both scheduled for July 14-19. The APL will be held at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, KS, while The Home Course, in DuPont, WA, is the Women’s APL site.

Overall, there are 13 USGA national championships, as well as the Curtis Cup Match and USGA Men’s State Team, on the 2014 schedule. In addition, Japan will host the World Amateur Team and Women’s World Amateur Team Championships in September – events which are co-sponsored by the International Golf Federation, the USGA and The R&A.

The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championships will debut in 2015, with sectional qualifying for the championships to be conducted starting in August 2014.

Just in case you want to book your flights early, here's the 2014 USGA Championship Schedule:

• Curtis Cup Match, St. Louis Country Club, St. Louis, Mo., June 6-8
• U.S. Open, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Village of Pinehurst, N.C., June 12-15
• U.S. Women’s Open, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Village of Pinehurst, N.C., June 19-22
• U.S. Senior Open, Oak Tree National, Edmond, Okla., July 10-13
• U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, The Home Course, DuPont, Wash., July 14-19
• U.S. Amateur Public Links, Sand Creek Station Golf Course, Newton, Kan., July 14-19
• U.S. Girls’ Junior, Forest Highlands Golf Club, Flagstaff, Ariz., July 21-26
• U.S. Junior Amateur, The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas, July 21-26
• U.S. Women’s Amateur, Nassau Country Club, Glen Cove, N.Y., Aug. 4-10
• U.S. Amateur, Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Ga., Aug. 11-17
• U.S. Mid-Amateur, Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pa., Sept. 6-11
• U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, Harbour Trees Golf Club, Noblesville, Ind., Sept. 6-11
• U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, Hollywood Golf Club, Deal, N.J., Sept. 13-18
• U.S. Senior Amateur, Big Canyon Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif., Sept. 13-18
• USGA Men’s State Team, French Lick Resort (Pete Dye Course), French Lick, Ind., Sept. 30-Oct. 2 (International)
• Women’s World Amateur Team, Karuizawa Golf, Karuizawa, Japan, Sept. 3-6
• World Amateur Team, Karuizawa Golf, Karuizawa, Japan, Sept. 11-14

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

More Decisions On the Rules of Golf

You've probably heard about the USGA (and R&A) decision regarding video evidence of ball movement, but it's worth noting that they ruling bodies announced 86 other changes to the 2012-2013 edition of “Decisions on the Rules of Golf.” The changes, part of a customary two-year Decisions review cycle, become effective on Jan. 1, 2014.

“The Rules of Golf are constantly evolving,” said Thomas Pagel, USGA senior director of the Rules of Golf. “The Decisions review process is an opportunity for The R&A and the USGA to continue to help make the game more understandable and accessible for players, officials and others who participate in the game.”

To that end, Revised Decision 25-2/0.5 uses pictures to help clarify when a golf ball is considered to be embedded in the ground.

Illustration courtesy of the USGA

Two other changes are particularly noteworthy:

New Decision 14-3/18 confirms that players can access reports on weather conditions on a smartphone during a round without breaching the Rules. Importantly, this new Decision also clarifies that players are permitted to access information on the threat of an impending storm in order to protect their own safety.

Revised Decision 27-2a/1.5 allows a player to go forward up to approximately 50 yards without forfeiting his or her right to go back and play a provisional ball.

If you need some fascinating bedtime reading, printed copies of “The Rules of Golf” and “Decisions on the Rules of Golf, 2014-2015” are available from the USGA and The R&A.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

USGA Interprets Video Rule: Don't Believe Everything Your Camera Sees

If a ball moves in the pine straw but nobody saw it except through the lens of a high-def video camera, did it actually move?  Then there's the one about the lonesome tree falling in the forest....

Anyway, the USGA and the R&A have issued a new Decision 18/4. As of 2014, if a ball's movement is "not reasonably discernible" to the naked eye, no violation will be called at the time or later, regardless of whether video evidence exists otherwise.

Just in case you need more detail to understand the new interpretation of the rule, here's the statement the ruling bodies released to explain it:

In recent years, the rapid development of video technology, such as HDTV, digital recording and on-line visual media, has brought a new level of scrutiny to Rules issues arising in elite golf tournaments. This has led to an increasing number of inquiries to officials from television viewers and others about whether a breach of the Rules has occurred, sometimes resulting in breaches of the Rules being identified (and penalties being applied)  after the incident itself occurred. Occasionally, the identification of the breach has been after the player has returned his or her score card, which has therefore resulted in disqualification under Rule 6-6d. These developments have generated considerable discussion concerning whether, how and when such video evidence should be used.

The Rules of Golf Committees of the USGA and The R&A have been reviewing the operation of the Rules in the light of these continuing technological developments in order to determine whether any changes to the Rules are appropriate. In April 2011, the USGA and The R&A adopted Decision 33-7/4.5, which authorizes Committees to waive the disqualification penalty for a breach of Rule 6-6d in narrow circumstances in which the player could not reasonably have been aware of a breach of the Rules that later was identified only through video evidence.

Since adopting Decision 33-7/4.5, the USGA and The R&A have continued to review the impact of video technology on the game. With input and assistance from representatives of the professional tours who serve as consulting members of the Rules of Golf Committees, the USGA and The R&A are now introducing a further modification of the Rules, with effect from January 1, 2014, to address the use of video technology in determining whether a ball at rest has “moved” within the meaning of the Rules. New Decision 18/4 will provide that, where enhanced technological evidence shows that a ball has left its position and come to rest in another location, the ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time. The Decision ensures that a player is not penalized under Rule 18-2 in circumstances where the fact that the ball had changed location could not reasonably have been seen without the use of enhanced technology.

Beyond these Decisions, as part of the 2016 Rules review,  the Rules of Golf Committees will be discussing other issues concerning the possible effect of video technology on the application of the Rules to the playing of the game, such as the necessary degree of precision in marking, lifting and replacing a ball, the estimation of a reference point for taking relief, and the overall question of the appropriate penalty for returning an incorrect score card where the player was unaware that a penalty had been incurred. As is true of the rules in many other televised sports, adapting to developments in technology and video evidence is an important ongoing topic in making and applying the Rules of Golf. 

In pursuing this continuing review, the USGA and The R&A will be guided by their longstanding position that a Committee should consider all evidence, regardless of the source, that may be relevant in determining the facts to which the Rules must be applied. As reflected in the interpretations contained in the Decisions, for questions of fact, the resolution of doubt must be made in the light of all relevant circumstances and be based on the weight of the evidence. To reach a correct ruling, all evidence from witnesses concerning a possible breach of the Rules should be considered, whether those witnesses are participants in the competition, non-participants such as spectators, or persons who have reviewed television footage and the like. Additionally, the Decisions provide that a Committee may make or revise a ruling at a later time if further information becomes available before the competition has closed.

In many other sports, there are good and understandable reasons for imposing a strict time limit on the review and correction of rules decisions. In golf, however, even at the elite level, players often apply the Rules to themselves without the assistance of a referee and, in stroke play, are responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole. Moreover, competitions are often played over more than one day and, in stroke play, the outcome typically is based on total score, making it possible to correct errors significantly after the fact and, indeed, at any time before the competition is closed by virtue of the result being officially announced. For these reasons, disregarding relevant evidence of a breach of the Rules, obtained before the competition has ended, could lead to uncertainty and to unhealthy debate and disagreement about the fairness of a result that was influenced by an incorrect set of facts and failure to apply the Rules properly. If a player has breached a Rule, but this is not discovered until a later time, whether through video evidence or otherwise, such evidence must be considered so that the correct ruling can be applied and the player’s score can be recorded accurately.

In their ongoing review of the use of video and other enhanced technology, the USGA and The R&A will continue to be guided by the view that, regardless of the timing or the type of evidence used, the integrity of the game is best served by getting the ruling right.

As long-winded as they may be, I dare say I agree with the decision.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Winterizing With Mike Diffley

Some words of winter wisdom from guest blogger Mike Diffley, head pro at Pelham CC...

Hope everyone is catching some rest after a long beautiful fall here in the Northeast! It's great to have the seasons here in the Met area. Spring brings excitement, the Final Four, the Masters and the start of the golf season. Summer brings long days with plenty of opportunity to get outside and enjoy ourselves. Fall is an awesome time for golfers, conditions are great, the weather outrageous and the end of the season coming soon. Too soon sometimes but still it is great to have a beginning, middle and end.

Those of you that are not in the golf industry, I know you don't get enough time. Weekends seem to fly by even when you get to recreate a little. In the golf business, yes we work almost every day but it is our profession and we live and breathe what we do, so lucky us! Now for the winter, which totally sucks. And I hate the end of daylight savings time--I feel like someone hit me in the forehead with a brick! It is a time to rest, regroup, re-set goals and work on some things that will make us better and healthier.

So are you setting an off-season or winter list of goals? You should! I am!

Physical - You can become more fit ( flexibility and strength are the keys ) The purpose is to be stronger and to increase your club head speed. My favorites are stretching, plenty of places to learn that (Titleist Performance Institute Channel on YouTube) and using the Swing Fan and Swoosh. The Fan provides resistance like weight training and the Swoosh provides speed training. Modern sports science says both are needed to improve your swing speed. Do 2 sets of 10 each working your way up to 25 of each. A little cardio, I ride a bike (something to get you sweating).

Putting - Get a putting mat  (8 feet is enough) do sets of five or ten and make 50 or 100 total. To mix it up make 50 at three feet and then go and make 50 at six. I would do one set standard, one set looking at the hole, one set with your eyes closed, one set left hand only, and one set right hand only!

Mental Training - Read a book!  Here are a few that will stretch your brain and you might learn something about getting better at golf and more!

The Practicing Mind - Thomas M. Sterner (How learning golf is like learning music with deliberate Practice!)
Mindfulness - Ellen J. Langer (The opposite of mindlessness!!  Enough said)
High Performance Golf - Henry Brunton (Many aspects of getting better and developing golfers)

I'm going to Jupiter in a week or so to spend the winter. I'll be playing, coaching and enjoying the golfer life! Lucky me! I'll be starting off with helping Nannette Hill get through LPGA Q School. She is injury free and looks ready to me. Then on to Fox Club in Stuart working on my game and helping those who think I can!

If anyone wants to find me, this is a good avenue to track me down. Be well. Go Johnnies!

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf