Westchester Strong in Golf Digest Rankings

Nearly a third of the best thirty golf courses in New York state are located in Westchester County, according to the latest Golf Digest state-by-state rankings.  Here's the list of Westchester courses along with their rank:

 3. Winged Foot G.C. (West), Mamaroneck
10. Winged Foot G.C. (East), Mamaroneck
11. Quaker Ridge G.C., Scarsdale
12. Hudson National G.C., Croton-on-Hudson
15. Sleepy Hollow C.C., Scarborough
19. Fenway G.C., Scarsdale
23. Westchester C.C. (West), Rye
26. (-) Old Oaks G.C., Purchase
27. (-) Century C.C., Purchase

Fenway made a big jump from the 2013-14 rankings, moving up to 19 from 27, while Old Oaks and Century weren't in the top thirty last year.

Manhattan Woods G.C., just across the river in West Nyack (Rockland County), is ranked at 25 on the list.

Long Island neighbors Shinnecock Hills G.C. and National Golf Links of America are ranked first and second in the state.

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

Historic Mount Kisco Country Club

My friend Garth Bishop penned this excellent brief history of Mount Kisco Country Club, one of my favorites in Westchester:

From the Wampus Indians to the pioneering settlers, from industrialist Moses Taylor V to developer Dudley B. Lawrence, the land on which the present Mount Kisco Country Club clubhouse and golf course exists was once sought after and valued as a place to hunt, live, farm, develop, and presently, a place to play golf.

This area of New Castle was one of the last settled parts of Westchester, deemed "No Man's Land" by Colonists as only the Wampus Indians inhabited it. Eventually settled by pioneers from Rye, some of the land was purchased by them in an effort to keep the peace.

The farm that became Mount Kisco Country Club    photo courtesy of the club

The property on which the Club is situated was once farm land owned by Moses Taylor, V, a product of Yale, class of 1893, and a business magnate who was Chairman of the Board of Lackawanna Steel, Director of Bethlehem Steel when it merged with Lackawanna, President and Director of New York and Queens Gas Co., vice president and director of Westchester Title and Guaranty Co., and director of Witherbee-Sherman Co., New York Life Insurance and Trust Co., Consolidated Gas Co., and Interlake Steamship Company. He was also a railroad official.

With the help of a $7,000,000 inheritance from his father, Moses Taylor V used his 456 acres to create Annandale Farm, a dairy farm designed to raise and show prized, nationally ranked Guernsey cows, saddle horses, thoroughbreds and Percheron (a breed of draft horses). Annual dog shows were held on the property in the spring, with horse and cattle shows in the fall, attracting spectators from miles around. It was a vibrant setting, with 20 workers or more manning the newly constructed modern barns and cottages, taking good care of the breeding and milking in an effort to accommodate the owner and the marketplace.

The passing of Moses Taylor V at the age of 57 in 1928 enabled the Lawrence Properties of Westchester County, under the direction of Dudley B. Lawrence, to acquire about 1,000 acres of land in the town, including the famous Annandale Farm.

Recognizing the opportunity and need for growth north of New York City and Bronxville, Mr. Lawrence and family had a plan. They would build a 90-acre picturesque village center to be known as Lawrence Farms. The acreage would be divided into estates of substantial size, protected from business and heavy traffic. A golf course would also be built, and its architect, Thomas Winton, an immigrant from a famous golfing family in Scotland, was hired to design the course and supervise its construction. The Annandale Golf and Riding Club was considered for its name, but the Lawrence Family settled on Lawrence Farms Country Club.

Opened for play on May 17, 1930, Winton touted his creation as unique to the region - a course which incorporated no blind shots to the greens - quite an accomplishment and a difficult challenge to overcome at the time, given the lack of equipment required to move large amounts of land over the naturally hilly terrain of the area. Winton created a wonderful array of holes over the163 acres, utilizing the rambling Brook River, a tributary of Kisco River, on six of them. He carved fairways lined with hardwoods and the occasional pine, offering shots to many slightly elevated and well bunkered greens while still offering the player the option of a run-up shot in lieu of a forced carry. Sixteen of the eighteen holes run North and South, minimizing shots into the rising or setting sun.

Built as a course with a par of 72, the track retains its original routing but was reduced to a par 71 when the 5th hole went to a par 4 in the early 1950s. Long irons are required for the par 3 holes and the three remaining par 5 holes are quite a challenge to reach in two strokes. The land which was once the playground of prized cows, dogs and horses, became the prized playground of the club's golfing members.

Two of the Annandale Farms cottages were connected with a white washed brick and slate roofed structure, much in keeping with the architectural style of the farm. It was situated on the top of a plateau, originally overlooking the first and eighteenth holes. Two of the three large barns remain today, housing state-of-the-art machinery required to maintain the best of golf course conditions throughout the year. The third barn, long since razed, once served as the Westchester County Playhouse. Budding actors and actresses afforded audiences their many talents in various comedies, melodramas, concerts and musicals, with the likes of Ethel Barrymore, Ruth Gordon, Sally Rand, Jose Ferrer, Mildred Dunnoch, Eva Le Gallienne, Vincent Price and Henry Fonda gracing the stage.

Serious economic challenges would face the new club early on. Surviving the Great Depression wasn't easy and with the onset of World War II, two other courses in town, the nine hole Kisco River Country Club and the eighteen hole Mount Kisco Golf Club succumbed to the decline in membership and play. Members of the adjoining Mount Kisco Golf Club sold the property and the bulk of the membership moved over to its neighbor, the Lawrence Farms Country Club, subsequently renaming it the Mount Kisco Country Club on April 26, 1941.

With a current membership of approximately 250, Mount Kisco Country Club offers a respite from the daily grind, providing its members with options to play golf, tennis, paddleball, go swimming, entertain clients or participate in many of its socializing functions. Its annual Member-Guest golf tournament is second to none. The recent renovation and enlargement of the clubhouse and pro shop sends a message to all that its members will be afforded the best of modern amenities for many years to come.

Garth Bishop was born and raised in Mt Kisco, NY. He spent his youthful summers as a caddy at the Mount Kisco Country Club before taking up the game of golf while attending Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and is currently employed as the Purchasing Manager at Red Hawk Fire & Security in Hawthorne, NY. A former member of the club, he is an avid golfer, a Golf Collectors Society member and golf historian. He currently resides in Hopewell Junction, NY with his wife June and has two adult children, Allison and Graham.

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

Mark Your Calendar for the Journal News Golf Show

Put March 8 and 9 on your calendar right now! Those are the dates for the 10th annual Journal News Golf Show at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. You can kick off your season by visiting nearly 75 exhibitors including golf retailers, golf manufacturers, golf travel, instruction, and more. It's also a great place to re-connect with your friends int he golf business who have been hibernating through the winter.

Try out the latest equipment, check out fabulous golf courses and resorts, even get a free lesson from a PGA pro! There are also dozens of demonstrations, workshops, and discussions about everything from the latest technology to the newest rules of the game....all presented by experts from the Metropolitan Golf Association, Metropolitan PGA, and others. There's also a special women's learning area sponsored by the Executive Women's Golf Association.

You won't want to miss the hourly giveaways, either, as well as discounts and free samples from the many vendors present. You'll find a discount pro shop, too, where you can stock up and save before the season starts.  Among the biggest draws each year is the driving range, where you can try out the latest equipment from all the major manufacturers. You'll not only get a chance to swing away with the most up-to-date clubs, but company reps will be there to answer questions and give you guidance, too.

I make the Journal News Golf Show one of my first stops of the golf season...see you there!

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

Sprain Lake Rewards Accurate Tee Shots

Sprain Lake, the Westchester County course in Yonkers, is unique in that your tee shot will likely determine your score on almost every hole. Most courses put greater emphasis on the approach shot, but this Tom Winton design rewards the player who puts the ball in the fairway on their first shot by allowing for simple approaches to the generally accessible greens.

That's not to say the 6,110-yard par 70 layout is a complete pushover. Those tee shots require more than just a good wallop with a driver. In fact, even when you do use the big stick off the tee, you need to shape your shot with a fair degree of finesse to keep the ball on the short grass.  Fairways are narrow, many of them are tree-lined, and most of them slope decisively. There are numerous doglegs and water hazards to navigate, too, and even on holes that seem straight, like the 346-yard eighth, it's easy to hit through the fairway if you don't put a gentle fade on your drive to hold it against the hill.

The seventh hole, a 399-yard par four, is a perfect example of the need for intelligent driving.  The hole turns strongly right about 225 yards from the tee, with water just a few yards beyond the outside turn. A moderately-long driver of the ball will end up with a ball in the hazard unless he or she can fade it precisely off the tee.  On the back, the 459-yard seventeenth hole, a par five, looks like it should be a birdie fest but a creek bisects the fairway at about 250 yards downhill, forcing most players to lay up off the tee and leaving a long, uphill second shot.

The back nine plays significantly longer than the front. At 3,270 yards (versus the front's 2,840), the incoming nine features a 530-yard uphill par five, a 400-yard water-carry par four, and the challenging 440-yard par four finishing hole.

Westchester county invested heavily in Sprain Lake in the past year, extending the fairway on the treacherous third hole, expanding tee boxes, re-routing and improving cart paths, and tweaking a couple of greens. Sprain Lake may be short, but its steep greens and tight fairways make it a fun test for the thinking golfer.

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

Fenway Puts the "Class" in Classic

Third hole at Fenway Golf Club. Photo courtesy of the club.

Among all the doom and gloom about the supposedly inevitable decline of the sport of golf, it's always heartening to see a club that belies the tales of woe. Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY, one of the shining stars on the Westchester golf stage, is thriving. The reason? The Fenway membership didn't retreat into a bomb shelter during the tough times with their hands clamped on their wallets, but instead invested in the course, made adjustments to policies to fit modern lifestyles, and made a major commitment to improving the golf experience for new and existing members.

Gil Hanse was hired a couple of years ago to revisit the classic Tillinghast design and the completion of his work this spring really shows on the course. Numerous bunker complexes were expanded, a couple were added, and all of them were completely rebuilt to meet modern drainage and maintenance standards. In addition, some air-choking trees were selectively removed to improve circulation on a few greens with the additional benefit of opening some excellent vistas across several fairways.  Superstorm Sandy took care of a number of other monster trees that had out-grown their usefulness, resulting in improved play-ability on several holes.

Fenway is one of the most strategically complete golf courses in the area. At 6,714 yards, par 70, it truly tests every facet of your game. Eight of the par fours are over 400 yards (the #1 handicap fifth hole plays 480--uphill!), but there are some devilish short holes as well. The fairways are generous but extremely well-bunkered (see the picture of the third hole above). Greens vary in size according to the length of the approach shot, but all are strongly contoured and typically very slick. When I play Fenway, I literally use every club in my bag at least once.

Brand new this year is a fine new short game practice area designed by Hanse to help members hone specific shots that pester them on the course. Included in the complex is a huge kidney-shaped green complete with a false front on one lobe that would warm the cockles of Tilly's heart. There's also a nasty, narrow greenside bunker similar to the ones around the seventh green, an extra deep one just like the ones to the right of the ninth green, and a creatively designed bunker with a long tongue that allows practice of long bunker shots in one direction or holds up to six players at a time facing sideways for group lessons. Pitch and chip shots as long as 65 yards can be practiced from all sorts of lies in fairway or rough.

Membership has grown accordingly, including an influx of younger members with kids, which bodes well for the future of the game at Fenway. So does the attitude of the club's membership, which is dedicated to growing the game the right way: by providing an excellent golf experience.

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

Saint Andrew's Scores First After First

Here are a few historical facts about St. Andrew's Golf Club in Hastings, NY, guaranteed to astound your friends and golf trivia fanatics:

 • Saint Andrew’s is the oldest continuously existing golf club in the United States, established on November 14, 1888.

The first photograph of golf in America.
Harry Holbrook, A.P.W. Kinnan, J.B. Upham, and John Reid
 with caddies Warren and Frederic Holbrook at St. Andrew’s.
photo courtesy of the club

• The first photograph of golf in America was taken at Saint Andrew’s in 1888.

• The first recorded mixed foursome in America was played at Saint Andrew’s. Mrs. John Reid, paired with J. B. Upham, defeated the team of Miss Carrie Law and John Reid on March 30, 1889.

• The first known American golf “clubhouse” with its rudimentary “19th hole” (the famous apple tree) was established at Saint Andrew’s in 1892.

• Saint Andrew’s was a participant in the first inter-club team matches played in the US on October 9, 1894, along with Tuxedo (host), Brookline, and Shinnecock Hills. Saint Andrew’s tied for first place with Brookline but was unable to stay another day for a play-off, since the first US Amateur/US Foursome/US Open tournaments (October 11-13) were beginning in two days time at Saint Andrew’s.

• Saint Andrew’s was the host of the first U.S. Amateur Championship, held under match-play format (as all the UK tournaments of the period were conducted), in 1894.*  The first U.S. Amateur Championship was won by a Saint Andrew’s member, L. B. Stoddart, in 1894.*

• Saint Andrew’s hosted the first US Open Championship, in 1894.*

• Saint Andrew’s hosted the first U.S. Foursome (two players per team playing alternate shots) Tournament, in 1894.  Held in conjunction with the above-mentioned U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open championships, this event was short-lived on the national scene.

• The team of L.B. Stoddart and J.B. Upham from Saint Andrew’s won the inaugural US Foursomes Tournament, 1894. They defeated another Saint Andrew’s pair, T.C. Ten Eyk and W.E. Hodgeman, in the all-Saint Andrew’s final.

• Saint Andrew’s member/official Henry O. Tallmadge suggested and organized the December 22, 1894, meeting of five golf clubs at the Calumet Club in NYC, which resulted in today’s USGA.

• Saint Andrew’s published the first Club Yearbook (or Club Handbook) in the U.S. containing a list of members, officers of the club, the various committees, and constitution and by-laws, in 1895.

• The first golf club in the U.S. formed by women was the Saegkill Golf Club, organized by Saint Andrew’s women (Mrs. John Reid among them), in 1895.

• Saint Andrew’s organized and funded the first U.S. Public Links Tournament at Van Courtlandt Park (the first public course in the U.S.), with a field of 50 golfers officiated by John Reid, in 1896. This tournament was “for players who did not belong to a club in the United States Golf Association.”

• Saint Andrew’s member Charles E. Sands won the first-prize gold medal for golf at the Paris Olympic Games in 1900, the first year golf was included in the Olympic Games.

*These championships are regarded by some as unofficial, as they were held prior to the formation of the USGA the following year. However, there is no dispute that they were the first amateur and open national golf championships ever held in the U.S.

For more Westchester golf history, check out the May issue of Westchester and Hudson Valley Magazines.

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

Willow Ridge To Host Local US Open Qualifier

Itching to play with the big boys at the US Open at Merion this year? If so, your journey can begin at Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison. Anybody (almost) can take a shot at competing in the US Open--that's why it's called an "open" !  All you have to do is get through a local qualifier like the one at Willow Ridge, then a sectional qualifying tournament, and you're on your way to Pennsylvania.  Of course, you do need a USGA handicap index of 1.4 or better to get into the local qualifier, but if you start now.....

Willow Ridge CC. Photo courtesy of the club

Willow Ridge is a great, fun course with plenty of water and multiple-tiered greens to challenge your ambitions.  You can expect some gnarly rough, too, not mention narrower fairways for the qualifier. The event is scheduled for Monday, May 13.

Willow Ridge recently completed some major course improvements that include a few new tees and the re-thinking of the fifth hole, a 380-yard par four that now calls for a straight tee shot instead of a draw.  The trademark ninth and eighteenth holes still play uphill, though, and are bound to dash more than a few hopes for advancement to the sectional qualifier for many players.

The club has been upgrading facilities throughout the property over the last few years. The members invested in a new greens and turf maintenance facility and upgraded utilities along with a fine new practice area recently. The interior of the clubhouse was redone and a 300-person covered alfresco dining terrace overlooking the course was opened at the end of last season.

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

Knollwood's Mike Miller Scores in Portuguese Open

Mike Miller, the MGA and Westchester Player of the Year for both 2012 and 2011, moved a step closer to his dream of making the US Walker Cup team this year with a T-3 finish today at the Portuguese Open. Miller is the son of Knollwood Country Club head pro Bob Miller.

The 20-year-old had only one round over par on the Montado Golf Course near Pamela Castle, going 70-73-68-70 to finish at 7 under for the tournament. He scored 20 birdies and 13 bogeys to tie with England's Harry Casey for the number three spot four stokes behind the winner, Goncolo Pinto of Portugal. He poured it on in the final round, posting three birdies on the last four holes, but couldn't overcome the bogey-plagued second round score. Miller was the only American in the field.

This is Miller's first stop on a 25-day overseas excursion designed to give him more experience competing outside the US.  His next stop is the Spanish Amateur Championship. Last year, he traveled overseas for the first time in his life and placed fourth in the Lytham Trophy and Irish Amateur.

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

Start Your Season At The Westchester Golf Show

Sick of snow? Put it out of your mind at the Journal News Westchester Golf Show March 9 and 10 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. You may not be able to play 18 holes, but you can try out the latest equipment, take a lesson, and talk golf with over 75 exhibitors and experts who will help you get ready for the real thing in just a few weeks.

The popular indoor driving range will have stations for leading club makers like Titleist, Nike, TaylorMade, and  Tour Edge. Try out their newest clubs and talk to their reps about the features you need to bomb it, spin it, and put the ball closer to the hole.

The Metropolitan Golf Association will sponsor the Let's Talk Golf Stage with presentations by experts like MGA Tournament Director Brian Mahoney, who will answer your questions about the rules of golf, Max Galloway, pro at Mohansic Golf Course, who will help seniors get the most out of their game, and Frank Darby, head coach at St. John's, who will explain the college recruiting process and talk about how to develop junior golfers. Other presenters include Tom Avezzano, pro at Sprain Lake and Maple Moor, Charlie Meola, from Saxon Woods, and Jason Gobleck from Westchester Hills. Brian Crowell, head pro at GlenArbor, will demonstrate Slice-Free Golf--a presentation no golfer will want to miss.

Other popular features at the show will be free ten-minute lessons from PGA pros, a special lesson area sponsored by the Executive Women's Golf Association, and the Home Green Advantage putting and chipping area. You'll find fabulous deals on clubs, apparel, balls, and everything else you need for the season in the discount pro shop.

Admission is just $10 ($9 for seniors), but you'll get that back and more with plenty of free goodies like a "Bring a Friend to Play Free" voucher good at any of the six county courses and a free bucket of balls from Fairview Golf Center.

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

U S Open Returns To Winged Foot

18th Hole, Winged Foot West Course, photo courtesy of the club.

The big news in Mamaroneck, NY, is the announcement by the USGA that Winged Foot Golf Club will host the 2020 U.S. Open. It will be the sixth time the club has held the event and the 20th U.S. Open to be played in the state of New York.

"We're thrilled to bring the U.S. Open back to this outstanding club," said Tom O'Toole, Jr., USGA VP and Championship Committee chairman. "Winged Foot offers a spectacular setting in a dynamic market and has justifiably earned its reputation as one of the premier U.S. Open venues in the nation."

The last time the U.S. Open was held at Winged Foot was 2006, when Phil Mickelson suffered a traumatic collapse on the 18th hole to hand the trophy to Australian Geoff Ogilvy.

At one point, Winged Foot had offered to host the tournament in 2015, but withdrew that proposal after the membership complained of being deprived of the use of both of their golf courses for an inordinate amount of time. The U.S. Open is held on the West Course, but the East Course was closed for a year to accommodate parking, corporate tents, a driving range, and other tournament facilities and the subsequent renovation of the turf. The members are currently considering a plan by Gil Hanse to refresh the East Course.

"We have always had a good relationship with the U.S.G.A. and our decision to withdraw from consideration for 2015 didn't alter that," said club president John Schneider. "We felt a longer interval would serve everyone better." 2020 was the next open date, with the championship scheduled for Merion this year, Pinehurst in 2014, Chambers Bay (Seattle) in 2015, Oakmont in 2016, Erin Hills (Milwaukee) for 2017, Shinnecock for 2018, and Pebble Beach in 2019.

Winged Foot celebrates its centennial in 2023, but that year will certainly have numerous other events scheduled. Given the club's contributions to the amateur game, a Walker Cup would be a good choice, but that year will be a Great Britain/Ireland location. There's always the U.S. Amateur, though. Of course, it might be better to aim for a reprise of the U.S. Open in 2029, marking the 100th anniversary for Bobby Jones' epic win over Al Espinosa in a playoff in 1929.

US Open Trophy
with putter used by Billy Casper
and sand wedge from Hale Irwin's win at Winged Foot

Regardless of what the future holds, Winged Foot's place in the history of the game is assured. Besides the Jones victory in the U.S. Open, Billy Casper won the championship in 1959, Hale Irwin in 1974, and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1984 in yet another playoff.  Davis Love III won the PGA Championship at Winged Foot in 1997.

A.W. Tillinghast designed two excellent courses at Winged Foot. The West Course is better known and also hosted the U.S. Amateur Championships in 1940 and 2004 in addition to the Walker Cup in 1949, but the East is an equally difficult test. It held the U.S. Women’s Open in 1957 and 1972. The first USGA Senior Open was also held on the East Course. It was won by Roberto DeVicenzo in 1980.

It may be a little early to order tickets, but mark your calendar for June 18-21, 2020, the dates for the next U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club.

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

John Kennedy Honored With PGA Patriot Award

John Kennedy Jr., Director of Golf at Westchester Country Club, was honored by the PGA of America this week with the 2012 Patriot Award, which recognizes a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America. Kennedy established a foundation for supporting men and women of the military along with an affiliation with the VA to help instruct disabled veterans. He's the fourth recipient of the award, which was first presented in 2008.

Kennedy established Golfers in Support of the Troops Foundation in 2008, which has raised more than $90,000 over a four-year period to distribute more than 20,000 articles of clothing to U.S. troops and their families. Clothing was sent to Baghdad, Iraq, Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Collins, Colo.; and Fort Drum, N.Y. Kennedy contributed 50 percent of the clothing that he purchased for his own golf shop.

In addition to Westchester Country Club serving as a strong supporter of Patriot Golf Day since the initiative began in 2007, it also has supported Kennedy’s efforts to build an alliance between the New York VA Hospital Prosthetics Device Department and 2010 Patriot Award recipient Jim Estes of Olney, Md., founder of the Salute Military Golf Association. Together with 2011 Patriot Award recipient John Hines, the group is working to expand training of PGA Professionals to give golf instruction to disabled veterans.

“I think that certainly anyone growing up in America should have great appreciation for those who serve our country in uniform,” said Kennedy. “I have great respect for those that served and have served and the sacrifices they have made. It is a great feeling that by our efforts such as Golfers in Support of the Troops that we may help our veterans and particularly their families. Additionally, we have built a relationship with the New York VA Hospital to help spread training of PGA Professionals to encourage more disabled veterans to have the opportunity to learn and play golf. It gives those who have been in hospitals, sometimes for months, something positive for which to look forward. If I can succeed in this project, then more around the country can follow.”

Kennedy has been a PGA member since 1976. In 2010, he became the third member of the Metropolitan PGA Section to be named a recipient of the Horton Smith Award, which recognizes an individual PGA member for outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education. Kennedy also was the 1997 Metropolitan PGA Golf Professional of the Year; and recipient of the 2005 Section Bill Strausbaugh Award; the 1985, ’88 and 2009 Section Horton Smith Award; and the 1983, ’91 Section Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities.
Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Hudson Hills Tops The Crown

The crown jewel of the six golf courses operated by Westchester County is Hudson Hills, 7,000 yards of  impeccably-maintained fairways and greens woven into rugged hilltop terrain in Ossining. From the stone pillars marking the entrance to the cheerful attendant who greets you at the bag drop to the smooth and fast rolling greens, your experience at Hudson Hills resembles nothing so much as a round at one of the county's many top-notch private clubs.

The quality of play ranks up there, too. Hudson Hills stretches 6,935 yards from the tips, although the green tees at 6,323 with a 71.0 rating and 129 slope provide plenty of challenge. There are two other sets of tees to make the course enjoyable for players of all levels. The course is laid out up, down, around, and about one of the highest hills in the county, making your travels around the course an exercise in distance control through elevation management as well as shot direction. And here's a tip if in doubt about the line of your putt: it will always break away from the huge white water tower in view from just about everywhere. Something else to keep in mind on the front nine is that it wraps around the course clockwise, which means there's out of bounds and other trouble to the left on almost every hole.

Hudson Hills #2
 photo courtesy of the club

Hudson Hills offers a steady diet of risk and reward, although you'll want to bring an extra sleeve of balls if you're an aggressive player because the rough can be gnarly and there are more than a few blind shots where it comes into play. The first opportunity comes on the second hole, a 502-yard par five with a semi-blind tee shot you should aim well to the right to take advantage of the severe side slope that will push your ball to the left. A good drive to the end of the landing area will put you 230 from the green, but beware the water hazard on the right front: it's only 195 away and the fairway reverses camber to feed into it. Left is no bargain, either, since an impenetrable lateral hazard lines that side of the hole.

The five par threes range from 127 to 174 yards and elevation, as you might expect, plays a big role in club selection. Five of the nine par fours are over 400 yards. Most of them offer generous fairways, although the short fours demand high precision off the tee. The 368-yard eighth hole is particularly devilish, featuring a fescue-covered hillside on the right and a lateral hazard on the left the entire length of the fairway. Don't lay back too far from the tee, though, or you won't be able to see the green around the sharp dogleg.

Rates at Hudson Hills are slightly higher than those at the other county courses, but still quite reasonable for a course of this caliber. You can also buy an annual pass that brings Hudson Hills even closer to the country club experience.

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

Breed, Alexander, Kennedy Honored by PGA

Thee outstanding members of the Metropolitan Section of the PGA will be honored at the PGA of America Awards in January. They are Michael Breed, popular Golf Channel personality and head professional at Sunningdale, who was named PGA Teacher of the Year, Carl Alexander, head pro at The Golf Club of Purchase, who will receive the Horton Smith Award, and John Kennedy, Jr., Director of Golf at Westchester Country Club, who will be honored with the Patriot Award. Here's what the PGA press release said about them:

MICHAEL BREED - PGA Teacher of the Year

Michael Breed of Greenwich, Conn., whose telegenic instruction skills through his signature Golf Channel program, "The Golf Fix," has motivated countless viewers to enjoy the game, has been named the recipient of the 2012 PGA Teacher of the Year Award.

Breed, 50, is in his 12th season as PGA head professional at Sunningdale Country Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. He follows Michael Hebron (1991) of St. James, N.Y., as the only Metropolitan PGA members to receive The PGA of America's highest honor for a golf instructor.

A native of Greenwich, Conn., Breed began his athletic career in baseball as a shortstop, and was introduced to golf at age 13 by his father.

Breed is a 1985 graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., where he was a standout player for the Yellow Jackets, and was a 2004 inductee into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. Breed declared professional in 1985, and made a bid in 1991 to earn a berth on the former Ben Hogan (now Web.com Tour). Breed was a PGA assistant professional at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club from 1989 through 1992, before serving as assistant from 1992 to 1995, for former PGA Professional National Champion Darrell Kestner at Deepdale Golf Club in Manhasset, N.Y. In 1994, Breed competed in the Greater Hartford Open on the PGA Tour.

Breed made his venture into golf broadcasting at Golf Channel in 1999, appearing on numerous "Golf Academy Live" programs as both a guest instructor and host. He has served as an on-course reporter for the former Nationwide Tour and PGA Tour events, and as a guest on such Golf Channel programs as "Viewer's Forum" and "Golf Central." Breed also contributed numerous golf tips for CBS, Turner Sports, and Cablevision.

In 2009, Breed was selected to host "The Golf Fix," elevating it into one of golf's most popular instruction programs on cable television. He also serves as host instructor for Golf Channel's "Big Break Academy."

Breed's broadcasting venture, he said, would not have been possible without the support of his home facility, Sunningdale Country Club, where he has been PGA head professional since 2001.

Breed served from 2005 to 2010 on the Metropolitan PGA Board of Directors and is in his second term on the national PGA Instruction Committee. A past chair of the Metropolitan PGA Education Committee, Breed won two Ely Callaway Awards in 2010 and 2011, recognizing individuals earning the most service hour credits for education recertification. He was the 2000 and 2009 Metropolitan PGA Teacher of the Year, and recipient of the Section's 2006 and '07 Horton Smith Award for contributions to PGA education.

For more than a decade, Breed has served as a Titleist Leadership Advisory Staff member and is among Golf Digest's Top 50 instructors in the U.S., and since 2003 has been listed as a top 100 instructor by GOLF Magazine. Breed's worldwide travels include trips to Canada and China to promote PGA education and has appeared before more than 15 PGA Sections nationwide.

Breed has coached 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel, and past Tour winners Chris Smith and Joe Ogilvie. His current students include five-time Web.com Tour winner Darron Stiles, Ron Whitaker and LPGA winner Meghan Francella.

CARL ALEXANDER – Horton Smith Award 

Carl Alexander of Bedford, N.Y., whose leadership within the Metropolitan PGA Section resulted in showcasing both model programs and inspiring new audiences to the game, has been named the recipient of the 2012 Horton Smith Award for outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education.

Alexander, 46, is PGA director of golf at The Golf Club of Purchase (N.Y.), and a 16-year member of The PGA of America. He is the fourth member of the Metropolitan PGA Section to receive the Horton Smith Award, which was established in 1965, and named for the late PGA Past President and inaugural Masters Champion.

Born in New York City, Alexander is the son of renowned golf photographer Jules Alexander, and attended Rollins College in Orlando, Fla., before transferring to the University of Arizona. He turned professional in 1992, and joined the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf staff in Orlando, Fla. In 1997, Alexander accepted a teaching and assistant professional position at Pine Hollow Country Club in East Norwich, N.Y. In 1999, he was recruited to join GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, N.Y., as PGA head professional to help build the new private golf club.

In 2005, Alexander joined The Golf Club of Purchase, where he has built successful teaching programs, and managed a first-class golf club with high-end services. Throughout his career, Alexander has hired and trained many assistants, several of whom have gone on to their own head professional positions in the Metropolitan PGA Section.

Alexander was introduced to golf at age 6, encouraged to join his neighborhood friends, and would take his first formal lessons from then-Westchester Country Club assistant professional Jim McLean, who went on to become one of the country's most celebrated instructors and the 1994 PGA Teacher of the Year.

Since 2003, Alexander has served as a member of the Metropolitan PGA Board of Directors; was Section vice president from 2007 to 2011; and has been a member of the Section Education Committee since 2004, and chair of the committee since 2009. He also is co-chair of the Section Communications and Public Relations Committee, serving in those capacities since 2008.

Alexander was the 2006 Metropolitan PGA Teacher of the Year and the 2010 Section Horton Smith Award recipient, and the 2000 Westchester Golf Association Player of the Year.

Among Alexander's endeavors of the past several years include teaming with LPGA Tour player Jane Blalock and other LPGA Tour professionals for a women's executive golf clinic; and developing a junior golf program at The Golf Club of Purchase, which pairs junior golfers for clinics, contests, and on-course competition with professional staff.

In 2009, Alexander met with and recruited Stuart Levine, formerly of Dale Carnegie, and together they developed a leadership and governance program for the Metropolitan PGA Educational Programs and the Board. In 2010, Stuart Levine was one of several keynote speakers at the Met PGA Spring Educational Forum along with Barry Hyde of the USGA and PGA Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. The PGA of America's Education Department later created four regional educational conferences and teamed with Stuart Levine & Associates to create the Power of Fundamentals Executive Program.

Alexander later served on the committee to develop the Met PGA Head Professional Handbook, which featured more than 400 pages of materials and outlines designed to help professionals in every phase of their operations, business, and personal development. Alexander created the Teaching Center at Purchase, a year-round state-of-the-art facility offered to players of all skill levels.

JOHN KENNEDY JR. – Patriot Award 

John Kennedy Jr. of New Canaan, Conn., whose leadership within the Metropolitan PGA Section extended to establishing a foundation for supporting the men and women of the military along with affiliation with the VA to help instruct disabled veterans, has been named the recipient of the 2012 Patriot Award.

First presented in 2008, the Patriot Award honors a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.

The 61-year-old Kennedy is in his 22nd year as PGA head professional at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y., and is a 36-year member of The PGA of America. He is the second Metropolitan PGA Section member to receive the Patriot Award, following John Hines of Calverton, N.Y., in 2011.

Kennedy established Golfers in Support of the Troops Foundation in 2008, which has raised more than $90,000 over a four-year period to distribute more than 20,000 articles of clothing to U.S. troops and their families. Clothing was sent to Baghdad, Iraq; Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Collins, Colo.; and Fort Drum, N.Y. Kennedy contributed 50 percent of the clothing that he purchased for his own golf shop.

In addition to Westchester Country Club serving as a strong supporter of Patriot Golf Day since the initiative began in 2007, it also has supported Kennedy's efforts to build an alliance between the New York VA Hospital Prosthetics Device Department and 2010 Patriot Award recipient Jim Estes of Olney, Md., founder of the Salute Military Golf Association. Together with 2011 Patriot Award recipient John Hines, the group are working to expand training of PGA Professionals to give golf instruction to disabled veterans.

Born in Fairfield, Conn., Kennedy graduated from Fairfield University in 1972 and turned professional that year. He was elected to PGA membership in 1976, during which time he was an assistant professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y. In 2010, he became the third member of the Metropolitan PGA Section to be named a recipient of the national Horton Smith Award, which recognizes an individual PGA member for outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education.

Kennedy also was the 1997 Metropolitan PGA Golf Professional of the Year; and recipient of the 2005 Section Bill Strausbaugh Award; the 1985, '88 and 2009 Section Horton Smith Award; and the 1983 and '91 Section Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities.

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

Make A Difference With Your Labor Day Weekend Golf

Golfers this weekend will be supporting the children and spouses of the military men and women killed or disabled while serving our nation. It’s all part of Patriot Golf Day, a fundraiser for the Folds of Honor Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides postsecondary educational scholarships. On Labor Day weekend, golfers across the country are asked to add an extra dollar to their greens fees to fund Folds of Honor scholarships.  Both public and private courses—as well as driving ranges and other golf facilities—are behind the event.  Here are a few of the courses participating this year in my neck of the woods:

Ardsley CC
Whippoorwill CC
Bedford G&T
Mosholu
Otterkill CC
Hollow Brook GC
Hudson National GC
Leewood CC
Lake Isle CC
Knollwood CC
Willow Ridge CC
St. Andrews GC
Winged Foot GC
Mount Kisco CC
Wykagyl CC
Pelham CC
Casperkill GC
Vassar GC
Westchester CC
Sunningdale CC
Fenway CC
Patriot Hills GC
Tuxedo Club
Waccabuc CC
West Point GC
Metropolis CC
Dunwoodie GC

Even if your favorite course isn’t part of the event, you can still support this great cause with a direct dontaion—even if you don’t play golf this weekend!

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

Oscar Salazar Honored By Westchester Hills

Oscar Salazar

Westchester Hills Country Club paid tribute to a special person August 21. It wasn't the winner of a tournament championship or a newly-elected club president but rather Oscar Salazar, a locker room attendant at the White Plains club for 43 years.

When members of the club learned that the 65-year-old Salazar was battling cancer, they got together to stage an outing to both honor his years of service and to raise money for the education of his three kids. Over 120 golfers signed up for golf, dinner, raffles, and other fund-raising festivities held in the newly-renovated club house. One long-time member came from Florida for the event. Another cut short a business trip in Germany to fly back for it.

Oscar and his family greeted participants as they arrived, exchanging stories and posing for endless pictures as the golfer checked in. "This is like my second home," Oscar said. "The members are like a family."

Like the perfect sunny day, the mood was upbeat, cheerful, and celebratory of the man's life. His brother, Pepe, was in the locker room where he, too, has worked for many years. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino declared August 21, 2012, "Oscar Salazar Day."

Oscar, a native of Lima, Peru, came to Westchester Hills as a bus boy. In 1980, he "graduated" to the locker room where he presides over the upper level. His brother, Pepe, is stationed on the ground floor. The two are noted for continuous banter about their favorite teams. Pepe is a Yankees fan while Oscar roots for the Mets.

As head pro Jason Gobleck said, "We do golf events all the time, but this one is special. It's for one of our own."

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

Salem Golf Club Gets Better Every Year

Some people might find observing a golf course evolve about as interesting as watching paint dry, but I've always been fascinated by the way the playing fields of the sport change over time. One that I've watched for about ten years is Salem Golf Club in North Salem, NY, a non-equity club whose owners have continued to invest in and improve a fine layout.

photo courtesy of Salem Golf Club

In the last couple of years, Salem's managing partner Joel Berman has directed an aggressive program to remodel and re-position the bunkering on nearly every hole on the course. Sight lines (and strategic shot opportunities) have been opened up through selective tree removal in several places. Amenities have been added, too, including a new short game area to go with the range and putting green, new cart paths, and two sets of junior tee markers to help bring new players into the game. The result is a challenging but playable golf course with many striking holes.

Those familiar with the course will remember the 375-yard fifth hole, an extremely tight driving hole that was sort of a push-over if you kept your tee shot in the short grass. Some of the trees that squeezed the landing area have been removed, however, opening the hole to more aggressive play off the tee. New green-side bunkers make your approach to the potato-chip green even trickier. The eighth hole, a 396-yard uphill par four, has new fairway bunkers to force accuracy off the tee and deep new bunkers left and right of the green to keep you honest on your approach. The 426-yard ninth has two new bunker complexes, one off the left side of the fairway, the other about twenty yards short of the green on the right, that turned a so-so hole into a real tester.

On the back side, the already-excellent thirteenth hole, 407 yards that require three perfect shots (including a tough putt from anywhere on the green) to have a chance at par, got a completely new concept for the ladder of bunkers that climb the hill to the steeply elevated green. Originally, they were surrounded by fescue that drooped into the sand from the uphill side, making it sometimes necessary to play back down the hill just to escape them. The new bunkers, however, have smooth grass faces and flat sand bottoms, giving the player at least a chance to blast out to the putting surface. The hole is still the best on the course, however. As head pro Charlie Poole points out, "The tee shot is intimidating, the second shot for even the better player is difficult, and the green is hard, too. The hole never lets up."

Another major change comes on the fourteenth, a 595-yard par five with a sharp dogleg left that used to require a second shot over trees or a layup leaving a 200-yard approach over water from a downhill lie. The removal of several big trees opened an alley for the aggressive, accurate shot maker to place his second shot within wedge range of the green. It's still a monster three-shot hole, but now the player has some better options. New tees on the seventeenth hole lengthen it to 372 yards and new bunkers squeeze the landing area, making it a much more challenging hole. 

Salem currently has no initiation fee, no assessments and no tax on dues. Membership categories available include a special weekday-only option, which has proven popular.  The club has an active junior instruction program and children are welcome on the course--another big plus in my book.

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

First Tee Of Metro NY Teaches More Than Golf

Golf can teach us all many lessons, but few are as valuable as those learned by the kids at The First Tee of Metropolitan New York. Each year, some 700 youngsters aged seven to seventeen—a great many of them from nearby Yonkers and other Westchester communities—not only get a solid introduction to the game at Moshulu Golf Course in the Bronx, they learn nine core values that build character and promote healthy life choices as well.

“We learn golf rules and respect and perseverance,” attests Scarsdale sixth grader Zach Shearon, 11, who has participated in The First Tee program for three years. In addition to Moshulu, he’s played at Hilton Head and nearby Centennial in Carmel with his parents. “My Mom’s not that great,” he says, “but my Dad’s okay.” The scoop on his own game? “I like to chip and putt. It easier because I don’t have much muscle yet but I have my aim down pretty good.”

Zach’s experience reflects the First Tee approach pretty accurately. “It’s really an education program,” says Metro NY First Tee Chairman Phil Laskawy. “Golf is simply the methodology that we use.” A member of Quaker Ridge CC in Scarsdale, Laskaway  became involved founding the organization ten years ago when he was Chairman of Ernst & Young. The Metropolitan Golf Association and Met PGA teamed up with NY Parks & Recreation to build the facility at Moshulu and launch the program in the metro area. It’s supported today by fund-raising events, grants from corporate sponsors, and individual donations.

The standard program runs in six-week cycles spring through fall, with each once-a-week class lasting 75 minutes, according to Director of Instruction Todd Bordonaro. Cost is minimal, just $15 for the full six weeks and clubs are available for those who don’t have them. Kids are divided into age-appropriate levels and, as they go through the program, the material becomes a little more involved. “They learn how to be patient, how to be positive, how to keep a good attitude, how to set goals,” Bordonaro says. “We talk about health and wellness, working together, things like creating a ‘go-to’ team you can count on when you have a problem or need some help.”

Along the way, they learn some golf, too.

“It’s more relaxing than other sports plus it builds your confidence,” according to eight-year-old Noah Phillips, who lives in Mamaroneck. His uncles play golf at Saxon Woods, he says, adding, “My Mom saw it in the paper and within sixty seconds she called up and registered me. I learned stance, posture, how to drive and chip. My favorite shot is the drive.”

During the summer months, The First Tee runs golf schools Monday through Friday for six hours each day. Bordonaro explains, “They come in the morning, have some golf instruction, do some kind of other activity, have lunch, then play nine holes.” Tuition for the camp is $250 per week.

Zarina Iman, eleven, and her sister Karina, eight, New Rochelle, came to The First Tee camp last year for the first time. “I don’t watch golf on TV,” Karina says, “but I like to play. There are so many trees and birds and squirrels and chipmunks. Once we saw a coyote.” Wildlife is included at no extra charge.

Activities and instruction are broken into fifteen-minute segments to accommodate short attention spans. It’s not all golf, either. To hold interest, groups may play a quick game of kick ball or tag between practicing their chipping and putting. In addition to the nine hole Moshulu course, the kids use the driving range, practice green, chipping green, clubhouse, and classroom/meeting space under the watchful eyes of counselors like Terrence Wolfe, 17, from Bronxville, who attended camp for two years before stepping into a leadership role in 2010.

Many instructors are PGA certified and all receive First Tee training. Aspiring junior golfers who want to improve their golf skills in smaller classes can sign up for additional lessons in the Players Golf Academy, which limits classes to six students and requires the ability to shoot scores of 63 or 54 strokes for two levels of advanced instruction. Five one-hour classes cost $100.

While there’s plenty of golf fun to be had, the real emphasis of The First Tee is preparing youngsters for life. They progress through multiple levels of achievement (Target, Player, Par, Birdie, Eagle, and Ace) based on tests of both life skills and golf knowledge. No prior golf experience is necessary. At the Player level, kids are taught the rules and etiquette of the game and some of the basics. The Par level emphasizes interpersonal communication and self-management skills (like introducing themselves in social situations) while students work on their swing, grip, and stance. Students at the Birdie level focus on goal setting and learn course management. When they get to Eagle, the young golfers are exposed to wellness concepts for mind and body as well as conflict resolution in the context of playing competitively. Ace encourages giving back to the community and the pursuit of higher education opportunities.

For older kids, there is The First Tee’s Path to College program. Last fall, participants and parents visited Iona College in New Rochelle for an information session with the Iona College admissions team as well as a student-led tour around the campus where they learned about life at college, the application process, and essential steps to be competitive applicants.

Over the years, a number of First Tee graduates have gone on to college and taken their love of golf with them. Paul Toohey plays for Manhattan College, Joe Lee for Nyack, and Matthew Beltran for the University of Vermont. Tyler McCaine of Mount Vernon went on to Colgate after representing The First Tee of Metro New York at the First Tee Open At Pebble Beach, a unique Champions Tour event that pairs 78 junior golfers with 78 professionals. Last year, James Slattery of Mount Vernon received the 2011 Leung Family and Friends Scholarship. The 18-year-old, who was a First Tee-er for five years, is headed for Santa Clara University in San Francisco. Kelly and Patricia Leung, who fund the scholarship, are graduates of the program themselves.

For young golfers in northern Westchester, First Tee programs are also offered at Mohansic Golf Course through the Yorktown Athletic Club. For more information about both locations, visit www.thefirstteemetny.org.

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

Slice Free Golf At Westchester Golf Show

TaylorMade and Titleist headline the list of manufacturers demonstrating their 2012 line of Clubs at the 8th Annual Journal News Golf Show in White Plains. Other manufacturers include Adams Golf, Cleveland and Nike.

The Show will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 10th and 11th at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. In addition to trying the new Clubs on the Range, you can get a free ten minute lesson with a PGA pros and take advantage of half off savings in the Pro Shop. Visit the many exhibitors from golf courses, golf resorts, and golf-related products and services for special Show discounts.

One of the biggest draws is always the hourly talks on the Met Golf Association “Let’s Talk Golf” Stage. Topics include The Rules of Golf, The Mental Side of the Game, and Putting. One presentation not to be missed is "Slice Free Golf" by my colleague Brian Crowell. You've seen him on CBS and NBC telecasts from the majors, now get an up-close-and-personal look at his method for banishing your banana ball.

Register for hourly prize drawings which include golf trips, golf clubs, balls, and more. The Golf Show hours are 10AM – 5PM each day. Admission $9.00, $8.00 for seniors. Dollar off coupons are available in the Journal News and lohud.com. Each paid admission receives a coupon good for a free small bucket of balls at Fairview Golf Center in Elmsford, a $7.00 value.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Westchester Golf Show Just Around The Corner

You know golf season is upon us when the Westchester County Center in White Plains opens its doors on the annual Golf Show. This year, March 10 and 11 are the dates for the Eighth Annual Journal News Golf Show, the next best thing to being on the course.

The Driving Range will feature major manufacturers demonstrating their new club lines for 2012. The Discount Pro Shop will offer bargains galore on clubs, balls, apparel, shoes and accessories. The discounts are real, too. If you see nothing else at the show, visit the shop for substantial savings.

The MGA-sponsored Demo Stage will feature hourly discussions on the Swing, The Rules, The Mental Game and Putting. PGA pros will provide free 10 minute lessons on the full swing and the short game.

Exhibitors from far and near offer great deals on travel, resorts and local and regional golf. Others will help you get in shape for golf physically and financially. Entergy returns this year with its popular Charity Golf Corner where you will learn about how to get involved in Charity Golf Outings in our area. Women are invited to get their swing analyzed or learn the basics from PGA Pros at the Executive Women’s Golf area.

If you play the county courses (and who doesn't?) Westchester County has a great early season “Two Fore One” voucher. Pick one up at the Westchester County Park’s Booth and two play for the price of one.

Fairview Golf in Elmsford provides a free small bucket of balls coupon to each paid attendee. This $7.00 value basically reimburses the cost of a ticket to the Golf Show which is $9 or $8 for Seniors. Dollar off coupons are available in The Journal News and Lohud.com.

Put it on your calendar and watch for more news on other attractions.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.

Callaway Honors Jim Bender

Callaway Golf Company recently named Jim Bender, head professional at Ardsley Country Club, the winner of the Company’s Golf Professional of the Year Award.

Bender was honored by Callaway for his ultimate support of the brand, his overall excellence as a club professional, for having high level of proficiency at playing the game, for having the skills necessary to run a successful business, and for special events or extraordinary support he has illustrated throughout the year.

Bender has been head pro at Ardsley for thirty years, a mark not just of his affable personality and popularity among the members, but his ability to run one of the best golf operations in Westchester if not the Northeast U.S. Bender has been named PGA Merchandiser of the Year twice and served as President of the Met PGA Section as well. He's a player, too, having competed in the PGA National Club Pro Championship twice and played on the South African Tour for a season.

Previously, Callaway named Bender Regional Club Fitter of the year three times and National Club Fitter of the year twice.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.