Free Club Fitting? Remember, There's No Free Lunch

Free club fittings at retail golf chains sound like a can't-miss deal. But, like the proverbial free lunch, it may not turn out to be what you hope. A 22-handicap golfer (who wishes to remain unnamed) recently went to one of the new golf stores for a custom club fitting three different times and got three different suggestions.  Huh? Where's the "science" in the process?

Woody Lashen

“Having an ill trained, inexperienced club fitter can have serious effects on your golf game,” said Woody Lashen, co-owner of Pete’s Golf Shop on Long Island.  The fitter has years of experience and brings an engineering degree to the fitting studio. “An experienced fitter recognizes swing flaws from ill fitted equipment," he says. "Counter to what these chains push on golfers, our philosophy is that a brand neutral approach is the best way to find the best clubs for your game."

Lashen says a proper fitting should start with an earnest discussion between the golfer and the club fitter.  The conversation should reveal what the player is looking to accomplish with their golf game and include how often they play, their handicap, and the problems they typically encounter on the course. This will help provide a base line with their current clubs.  Lashen adds that it may be determined that you can't do better, so there’s no need for new clubs.

The available technology to help determine the many elements of a set of clubs, is tremendous.  But if the fitter does not have a full understanding of the technology, it doesn't help.

Compounding the problem is that certification of club fitters is inconsistent and unreliable, which leaves word of mouth as a key resource to find a reliable one.

“Club fitting is part technology and part art," Lashen says. "We have found that for the men and women who come to us, their club fitting goes a long way to help them increase their enjoyment of their time spent with friends and business associates on the golf course."

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

Ring the Bell for Atlantic City Country Club

Atlantic City Country Club

It’s easy to see why the Atlantic City Country Club has been a favorite of pros and ams alike during its 117-year history.  Strategic, scenic, tradition-laden, you name the positive golf adjective and it applies in spades.  The club has hosted six national USGA championships and its fairways have been walked by everyone from Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Sam Snead to Nancy Lopez and Arnold Palmer.  The easy-to-say-hard-to-get term “birdie” was coined here, as was “eagle,” at least according to local lore.

The best news in ages, though, is that ACCC is now under new ownership. After years of less-than-benign neglect by previous owners Hilton Hotels and Caesars Casino, it was purchased this year by the Ottinger Family Group, which immediately began a program to bring course conditions and amenities back up to premium standards.  The family also owns Ballamor Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township and Scotland Run Golf Club in Williamstown, NJ.

Small greens and big bunkers define the ACCC course and make it a strategic pleasure (or pain) to play.  While sandy soil and wind are prevalent conditions, it’s not a links course.  You can certainly use a good ground game and it often pays to keep your ball under the wind, but flying the ball into most greens is your best choice. Besides, the voracious greenside bunkering often makes a high, soft approach necessary unless you’re in the one perfect position in the fairway to run it up.

The course plays 6,577 yards from the tips with a 72.3/133 rating/slope.  Three other tees are available including the forward set that brings it down to 5,349 yards. You tee off on the first hole basically from the practice green, which is a great old-fashioned touch.  Don’t get too wrapped up in nostalgia, though, because your drive has to carry a water hazard and avoid numerous fairway bunkers and deep rough to find the fairway on this 450-yard test of both skill and power. Beginning with the fourth hole, views of the Atlantic City skyline compete for your attention at many spots on the course.  The wetlands are brought into play when you reach thirteen and shape your play until you finally turn back toward the clubhouse on seventeen.

Daily fee rates at ACCC vary hugely by season and time of day.  Peak season weekend mornings are $225, but you can tee off after 3 PM for $99.  The best value is October, when the summer crowds are gone, the weather is actually nicer, and greens fees range from $58 to $160.

The grill and locker rooms are real treats for lovers of golf memorabilia. Take a few minutes to check out the photos of the many greats who played at ACCC over the years including a twinkle-eyed Arnold Palmer in his Coast Guard uniform from 1951. Stop, too, at the great bell hanging just outside the clubhouse entrance and imagine the rush of jolly golfers responding to its call to the last trolley back to Atlantic City.  The club today still rings it at the end of each day to invite you to “play a round with history.”

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

Put a Stripe on Your Driver

ClubCrown Stripe

Want to spice up that driver of yours?  Or maybe cover up the idiot mark that guy you loaned it to put on it (never you, of course)?  ClubCrown by VIVE has the solution. It's the ClubCrown STRIPE, a new self-install product at a really attractive price point. You can put the ClubCrown STRIPE on any metal wood yourself in just minutes.

"The STRIPE allows golfers to customize the crown of their club for only $19.99 and gives them the added benefit of serving as an alignment aid," says Andrew Glaser, Founder and CEO of the company. "Just like the original ClubCrown, the STRIPE can be removed and won't damage a club's finish. Every design we make has fantastic alignment properties and, at the same time, gives your clubs a very cool look and feel. All STRIPES are the same width as a golf ball and our proprietary alignment method ensures that the stripe always goes straight back. The customized alignment properties of the STRIPE are totally unprecedented in golf, especially at this amazing price point."

The STRIPE will be offered in over 70 collegiate and military designs, plus many other exciting designs. Installation only takes a few minutes. An easy-to-follow instructional video on the ClubCrown STRIPE website shows just how simple the process is.

ClubCrown designs and manufactures high-tech films that are installed on the crowns of drivers, fairway woods and hybrids.  The New York-based company, ClubCrown, started out selling a professionally installed product. The films are available in hundreds of designs, colors, patterns, universities and logos.  ClubCrowns are durable and highly resistant to bubbles, ripples and peeling.  They are also removable.

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

Marine Park Boasts Grand Tournament Schedule

Marine Park Golf Course will become tournament central this season. The highlight will come on July 7, when many of the area’s top professional and amateur players will compete in the 2nd Annual Brooklyn Open Championship. Entries in the tournament are sold out with a field of 120 players. The professional purse is expected to exceed $7,500.

Last October, Staten Island teaching professional and retired FDNY firefighter Pete Meurer won the $2,000 first prize in a sudden-death playoff that extended five holes. Meurer defeated Gabriel Lee of Bayside after the two players carded 1-under par 71s on the 7,091-yard layout. A field of 112 players participated in the inaugural Brooklyn Open Championship.

"With all our course renovations in place and continued outstanding playing conditions you naturally want to see how Marine Park stacks up under tournament conditions," said Mike Giordano, co-operator of Marine Park Golf Course. "We believe hosting tournaments can only help put a spotlight on Marine Park."

In partnering with the Marine Park Players Club, the Robert Trent Jones Sr. course in Brooklyn will host seven inaugural Volvik Cup Series tournaments for both professionals and amateurs. Marine Park will host a Volvik Cup event on June 30, July 14, July 21, July 28, August 11, August 18 and conclude August 28 with the Volvik Cup Championship.

The Volvik Cup will include one division for professionals and four divisions for amateur players. Professionals and amateurs will compete during each tournament for points and to qualify for the Volvik Cup Championship.

``Players of all talent levels can enjoy the excitement of tournament golf on a weekly basis at Marine Park and keep track of their points standings all the way through a `season-ending’ Volvik Cup Championship event,’’ said Rich McDonough, Director of Golf Course Operations at Marine Park.

On June 28 from 4-8 p.m., the RE/MAX Regional Long Driving Qualifier will take place on Marine Park’s opening. Prior to the RE/MAX main event there will be a skills competition. Both events are open to the public.

The inaugural Jamaica Open NY Golf Championship is scheduled for August 4 at Marine Park.

Earlier this month Marine Park hosted a sectional qualifier for the 67th Annual Metropolitan Golf Association Public Links Championship where 65 of the area’s top amateurs competed for 14 qualifying spots.  

Marine Park is an 18-hole, par-72 Championship Course open to the public year-round and is a member of New York City Parks. Located in southern Brooklyn, this links-style course was designed in 1964 by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. It boasts panoramic water views, country club quality greens and fairways, a beautifully manicured driving range and prevailing winds off Jamaica Bay. It measures 7,091 yards from the Championship tees.

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

Sun Mountain Combo Advances Push Cart Technology

Sun Mountain continues to innovate the golf bag and push cart markets with the introduction of their new Combo cart. Combo is a golf push cart and golf bag in one, which is big step toward improved convenience. It folds for storage and opens easily for use.

When folded, the Combo cart fits into a car trunk flat, and can also be stored vertically in a clubroom. It occupies about half of the space of a separate cart and bag. When it’s time to hit the course, simply swing the front wheel into place, release the rear wheels, and set the handle height. When on the course, Combo offers the added bonus of a built-in seat that stores flat to the bag when not in use and then folds down for a secure and comfortable seat including a back pad.

The bag on the Combo offers full-length, individual club dividers, and eight pockets including a full-length clothing pocket, velour-lined valuables pocket and a beverage pocket. Also, if for some reason the bag ever needs to be replaced, it can be easily removed from the cart frame and replaced.

The frame of the Combo cart is constructed from a strong and lightweight aluminum. The accessory tray offers convenient spots for scorecards, beverages, balls, tees, as well as phones and wallets and other personal belongings. The solid foam tires and synthetic wheels on Combo are maintenance-free and a foot-operated braking system holds it steady when parked on hills.

Combo is in golf shops with a retail price of $469.

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

Brynwood Junior Golf Camp Kicks Off Next Week

Guess what happens on June 30 (besides my birthday)?  It's the kick off date for Brynwood's Junior Golf and Tennis Camp.  It's a fabulous opportunity for your kids to not only get into golf and tennis, but to enjoy the best of summer fun at a great facility with a super staff.



One of the best things about Brynwood's camp is that you don't have to be a member for your kids to take part!  While members enjoy a nice discount from the reasonable weekly rate, non-members are welcome, too.  To me, that's a great move on the club's part to grow the game.  For more information, visit www.brynwoodclub.com.

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

Colin Montgomerie Gets New Jersey Connection

Colin Montgomerie

Senior PGA Championship winner and Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie will represent Forsgate Country Club and Shackamaxon Country Club in New Jersey as their touring ambassador. Both Forsgate and Shackamaxon are affiliated with RDC Golf Group, Inc., a New Jersey-based golf course ownership and management company.

Over the next year, members of Forsgate and Shackamaxon may be fortunate to see honorary member Montgomerie at their facilities as he participates in charitable events, showcasing his legendary skills and sharing stories about Ryder Cups past and present. In addition, Montgomerie now sports the Forsgate Country Club logo on the side of his visor as he competes on the European and Champions Tours. Throughout the year, members may also have the opportunity to meet and to watch Montgomerie as he competes on Tour.

A record eight-time winner of the European Tour Order of Merit and of 42 professional tour events worldwide, Montgomerie is perhaps best known by Americans for his Ryder Cup prowess.  ‘Monty’, as he is affectionately known, competed as a member of eight victorious European Ryder Cup Teams and captained the winning 2010 European Ryder Cup Team at Celtic Manor. He never lost in a singles match against the Americans.

Currently, Montgomerie is competing in his second season on the Champions Tour, and his achievements have continued.  On May 25, 2014, Montgomerie claimed his first Major Championship victory and his first professional win in the United States with a four stroke victory at the Senior PGA Championship. Montgomerie has also finished in the top-ten in six out of the seven other Champions Tour events he has entered in 2014, including a second place finish at the Toshiba Classic.

“I am very proud to be partnering with Forsgate, a club that was founded by a Scotsman and that boasts a highly-respected course designed with Scottish inspiration,” said Montgomerie. “I am also excited to be associated with the nearly century old Shackamaxon Country Club and look forward to testing my golf skills on one of A.W. Tillinghast’s classic designs.”

“Colin Montgomerie is not only one of the most recognizable names in the game of golf, he is one of the favorite sons of golf’s birthplace,” said RDC Golf Group Chief Executive Officer Christopher Schiavone.  “The spirit of Scotland’s golf courses is present throughout Forsgate, from its Scottish founder John Forster, to the inspiration that architect Charles Banks found from courses such as North Berwick and Carnoustie.  At Shackamaxon Country Club, Monty will be able to play a great course designed a century ago by the legendary A.W. Tillinghast.”

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