The Ledges Golf Club - South Hadley

For everyone interested in playing at a great course in the Western Mass area, please head to The Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley. I was able to play there on Sunday and the course was in great condition. The staff is very friendly and the pro shop has just the right amount of necessities to get you ready for your round! The people at the restaurant and bar were fantastic too.


What a great little place. I couldn't believe that more people weren't there. Let's do our part to support this place, it would be a shame to see such a nice course go away, it's good for our area. 


Chris

Chris Austin and Andy Lesenski take the Greenfield Four-Ball in dominating fashion...

It's a grueling weekend of golf. It's days of carefully plotting your way around the golf course and trying to drive the stake into your opponent. It's hard work, but if you play well, it can be four of the most rewarding days for an amateur golfer to win the Country Club of Greenfield's 4-ball.

Every year some of the best players come out to play in this great event. This year was no different.

The big story is always in the Champion Division. Lately, golf in our area has been dominated by the older, more experienced guys. Names like Bergeron, Ruschioni, and Varner. This year it was the young guns turn.

Chris Austin and Andy Lesenski dominated the field over that last four days to win on Sunday 5&3 over Mike Johnson and Max Wolanske. They used their incredible distance and accuracy to bring the golf course and their opponents to their knees. When you can hit your driver and then a short iron into even the longest par 5's, it really plays to your advantage.

I have been able to witness the practice and dedication that has gone in to preparing their games first hand. Both Austin and Lesenski are members at our course, The Crumpin-Fox Club. Lesenski has spent countless hours on the range in the last few weeks, really dedicating his time to improving his already solid golf game. Austin prefers to play side matches and 36-hole rounds in order to prepare his game for competition.

It's really exciting as a golf professional to see these guys playing so well. They are the future of our club, and they are the future of great golf in our area. It also ignites the already fierce rivalry between our club and The Country Club of Greenfield. It should make for some exciting golf come October and the Franklin Cup, an annual match between the best players at both clubs.

Congrats guys, your hard work paid off, enjoy it!

Chris

Dealing with confrontation on the golf course..and using it to your advantage!

A friend of mine showed me a video yesterday of an incident involving Bubba Watson and Steve Elkington from a few years ago at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Watson was complaining about how Elkington and his caddie were walking in his line and talking loudly while he was trying to swing. The two ended up confronting each other and then settling things in the scorers tent afterwards.

I was thinking about all of the people I have been paired with that have made it very difficult to focus and play solid golf.

I used to get very upset and let the people get to me, then I realized that this was their plan all along. It was a form of gamesmanship you could say. Then I figured that I could turn this into an opportunity.

Every time I get paired with someone who is rude, loud, or says things to try to get in your head, it enhances my focus. I have to be able to shut them out completely, and often times it helps my game. It allows me to be even more competitive than normal. Plus, when they hit their ball into the woods, I don't help them look for it.

So next time when someone is being obnoxious in your group, don't let it bother you and use it to your advantage!

Hope everyone has had a great weekend so far!

Chris

Can Phil Mickelson pull it off?

Phil is currently in second place at the Open Championship, with the back 9 still to be played. He is five under par after 9 holes. Darren Clarke is holding on nicely, but one can't help but root for Phil to comeback. Should be exciting. Tune to ESPN for coverage.

Chris

Hometown boy Tom Lewis, tied for the lead at the Open Championship...as an amateur!

There were some wonderful shots played today at The Open Championship at Royal St. George's. There was a hole in one by Dustin Johnson, two monster breaking putts made by John Daly and Rickie Fowler, and some great up-and-downs by some of the best players in the world! There is a story that tops all of that though...

Amateur Tom Lewis, from England, is tied for the lead after Round 1. Lewis shot a five-under round of 65. He made it look effortless. He looked relaxed and confident, and his swing looked in top form. It also helped that he was paired with the man he was named after, Tom Watson. We heard Watson compliment Lewis from time to time throughout the round, and it must have been very special for the young man to hear that come from his mentor.

I hope that Lewis can get past all the media hype he is going to get this evening and come back tomorrow and put together a solid round. What a great thing that would be for an amateur to come in and claim victory over the top talent in the world.

Day one was a great one, and it is only going to get better! Enjoy!

Chris

Tiger Woods will make a special announcement on Monday morning....people are talking!

Tiger Woods said Sunday, that he will sit down with the Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman on Monday morning and make a special announcement. People in the golf world are speculating what it might be. Most  people are saying that he will take the rest of 2011 off and let his knee and Achilles tendon heal completely. Others are saying he will defend or deny his use of steroids and his friendship with Anthony Galea. Galea is being indicted on transporting illegal drugs across the border for other athletes.

I personally think he is going to retire. Don't hold me to this. But who makes a special announcement to talk about steroids?  Why would he have to hold a press conference and talk more about his knee problems? He wouldn't. This could be his time to retire. I've said it before, he is the greatest player to ever play the game. Jack and Arnold were something special, but no one has brought more attention to our sport than Tiger, especially at a time when golf was fading. Through his work with The Tiger Woods Foundation, he has given children all around the world a chance to play this great game.

The fans should thank him, the other players on tour should thank him, and the media should definitely thank him for everything he has done. If he does choose to retire, I wish him well. I hope I'm completely wrong though.

Tune in and watch! Should be interesting to say the least....

Aronimink Golf Club....what a great place!

This week, the PGA Tour makes it's way to Aronimink Golf Club in the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania. I have never been down to see the course, but from what I understand, it is one of the best courses on tour. The players love it, the media loves it, and I'm starting to fall in love with it. Adam Scott, after shooting an opening 66 in Round 1 of the AT&T, said that it was an incredible test and that the course was setup very well.

It is an old Donald Ross course. It is a challenging test of golf. It is said to be one of his favorite courses he designed. The amenities and the facilities at Aronimink are wonderful. They provide a great place for an entire family to spend the day!

For more information please visit Aronimink Golf Club

Hope everyone enjoys this great July 4th weekend. Get out and play some golf and enjoy time with the family!

Chris

Massachusetts Open! Shaping up to be a great one!

The Mass Open is, once again, shaping up to be a great and exciting tournament! It is being held at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg, MA. The final round is scheduled for today.

In round one, the scoring was very low. George Zolotas, from Peobody, MA, led the field with a very solid 66. There were several others close to the lead including Michael Welch from Furnace Brook CC, and Adam Rainaud from South Hadley, with a 67.

Day two, proved to be the same. Scoring was fairly low again, as people tried to improve their position on the leader board in preparation for the final round. Welch, continued his solid play and shot a 69. He is now tied for the lead going into the last day with Kyle Gallo and amateur Brian Higgins.

Higgins is trying to become the first amateur since 1999 to win the Mass Open.

Some notable winners of the Open include Walter Hagan, Francis Ouimet, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Bob Toski as well as famed course designer, Donald Ross.

It should be exciting to watch today. If you can't get out to see it, you can follow the tournament coverage here MGA Links

Hope everyone has a great day!

Chris

2011 Heath Open - A great family event for a great cause!

Every year in June, my good friend's family holds their annual golf tournament at Beaver Brook Golf Course in Haydenville, MA. The Heath Open, always has a great turn out, awesome raffle gifts and the money always benefits a wonderful cause. This year was no exception. 

Unfortunately, my friend Jonathan lost both his grandparents this past year due to Cancer. They were the heart and soul of the Heath crew. I only had the chance to meet them a few times, but I remember them being very special people who played all sorts of roles in the family from doctors and therapists, to teachers and protectors. This made this year's tournament that much more important. 

The tournament went off without a hitch and all the proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society. Please do your part and make a donation or any contribution you can to the cause. There are almost 1.6 million cancer cases in the United States alone. With the technology we have now, it can be detected earlier and hopefully prevented. 

Get involved! Do your part to fight Cancer!

Chris

 

Travelers Championship - Course Caddy's Picks

Hey guys! Another week of great golf is upon us. This week the tour travels to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship. Here are my picks for the week...


1) Hunter Mahan. Hunter has consistently been in the top five at TPC River Highlands. He missed the cut last year and struggled at the US Open, but look for him to turn things around this week!


2) Padraig Harrington. He played pretty solid last year. His experience and his solid swing should help him go low in Connecticut. 


3) Nick Watney and/or Bill Haas. Haas is kind of a long shot it seems, but I feel like he is always lurking around the top of the leaderboard at events like this. Watney is just an all around great player who has been in pressure situations before and has no fear. If I wasn't going with Mahan to win this week, I would put my money on Watney. 


Let's not forget about Bubba Watson. He won this event last year is geared up and ready to defend his title. Hope he does. 


Enjoy the tournament!


Chris

Robert Garrigus, a great story from the US Open!

The big story in golf over the weekend was Rory McIlroy winning his first major championship. He made Congressional look a pitch-and-putt course. It was great for both the game of golf, and for his own personal game. Who knows what kind of fire this will spark inside Rory? It will be fun to watch that's for sure!

Not to take away from Rory's historic win, but watching Robert Garrigus make some clutch shots and some key putts was another great part of the 2011 US Open. For those of you who don't know, Garrigus has battled many personal demons in the past on his way to the PGA Tour including drug and alcohol abuse. When Robert made that birdie putt on the last hole on Sunday, the emotions that poured out of him were something special. If you watch, you can almost see the weight lifted off his shoulders. He fist pumped that putt and had a huge smile on his face. He thanked the crowd. He thanked his playing partners. He was genuinely happy to playing. This is what golf is all about. This is why the fans show up. This is why Robert Garrigus will soon be a household name, and grown men all around the world will be cutting their putters down to 28 inches. 

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day weekend! Love you dad!

Chris

The First Tee and Junior Golf....

Course Caddy is a big supporter of The First Tee program and Junior Golf in general. The kids are the future of our sport. They will soon be our new members, club champions, and even future golf professionals.

The First Tee program's mission is as follows - "To impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf"

The core of the program is Honesty, Integrity, and Sportsmanship. These are very important values to instill in our children.

Please do your part in supporting The First Tee. Participate, donate, and volunteer! It means the world to the kids and will make a difference in our own lives as well!

Enjoy the weekend watching the US Open!

Chris

Rory McIlroy deserves an apology....

I have to start by apologizing to Rory McIlroy. I made my picks, for fun of course, for my top five players to win the US Open this week. I studied the players, their stats, their Open history, and even their personal backgrounds. I did not however, include Rory McIlroy in my picks. I did not do it intentionally. I simply bypassed this great player. It may have been because of his historic collapse at The Masters, or his recent absence from the news, but for whatever reason, my brain completely skipped over Rory.

This is not fair to him. He deserves more than that. We have all been in a situation where we have been playing great and then the wheels fall off. It happens. It's part of the game. 

Rory McIlroy is a great player, and to see him bounce back from his Augusta performance and shoot an opening 65 at The US Open, was fantastic for both the game of golf, and for Rory's own personal game. 

I hope he continues his great play, and I wouldn't argue if he absolutely ran away with the golf tournament. It would be good for the game!

Enjoy the second round today!

Chris

Things are heating up at the US Open! Should be exciting!

All of the players are now on the grounds at Congressional. The pairing are all set. Mike Davis, the Executive Director of the USGA, is out on the course, making it as challenging as ever. How can it get any better?

Are there any predictions out there as to who will win? I think that Luke Donald will have a solid week. He always seems to be in the top ten, no matter what tournament he is playing in.

I'm curious to see how the big hitters will do this week. Distance is a key at Congressional, but accuracy is a key in any US Open. Do you guys think that any of the big bombers, like Bubba Watson or Dustin Johnson will win this week?

You guys know how much I love watching Bubba play, he makes the tournaments fun. I hope he does well. Dustin Johnson's former Coastal Carolina teammate Zack Byrd is in the field this week and having a good friend like that around him, may help to ease the nerves a bit and take Dustin to the top!

I can't wait for Thursday and the first round! Should be exciting!

Chris

Tiger's longtime friend and caddie, Steve Williams, will be on the bag for Adam Scott at the US OPEN

While Tiger is out with injuries, Steve Williams will caddie for Adam Scott at this year's US Open Championship. I can't blame him. He has to keep busy as well. Adam Scott and Tiger have a lot of similarities. This should be a very easy transition for Williams.

Already, the critics are starting to talk about how "Tiger and Stevie are splitting up" or that they are getting a "divorce." I don't think this is fair to either one of them.  I'm almost sure the two of them have discussed this in full, and have both come to the conclusion that this is a good thing for Steve. It will keep him sharp and focused on the game of golf, while at the same time helping out another top ranked golfer.

Adam Scott has always had the talent to win a US Open and maybe this year with Williams on the bag, he will do just that. How can you not cheer the two of them on?

Should be an exciting championship!

Chris

GOLF TIP: "In the bucket drill" By Justin Bush, PGA

Here is a great drill to practice your lag or long putting. Too often, people leave their long putts too far out of range, making it very difficult to two-putt. Try this tip, it will improve your lag putting almost instantly!


"In The Bucket Drill"
By Justin Bush, PGA


Are you three putting greens because of poor lag putts? If so, I have the perfect drill to improve your pace on long putts and get a better understanding of the speed of the greens. To begin, set up a semi-circle of tees one club length behind a hole. This forms the "bucket." Place ten golf balls twenty feet away so you will be putting into the bucket of tees. Try to get each putt past the hole but not past the tees. Reset and redo the drill when it is completed. Be sure to practice this drill on uphill and downhill putts. With some practice, you will be well on your way to reducing your three-putt greens. 


Hope everyone gets a chance to get out and play this weekend!


Chris

Tiger Woods announces he will NOT play in the US Open Championship!

Tiger Woods has announced that he will not participate in this year's US Open Championship at Congressional. He has cited injuries as the reason. This will be the first year since the 1995 Open that he has not played. 


In 2008, he ruptured his Achilles Tendon and endured a stress fracture to his tibia. He continued to play in that year's tournament, being told that the injuries would not make his leg worse. One has to believe that the damage he did over those five days in June, have taken a toll on his body permanently.


He still claims that this is a "short term frustration for long-term gain," according to his Twitter post today. 


We will have to wait and see what plays out for the former number one player in the world. For now, we will just have to watch it without him. People can say what they want about Tiger, but he makes our sport more exciting to watch and he attracts people to the game who may not have been attracted to it in the past. He will be missed by this writer, but this will only fuel the fire for the anti-tiger people out there!


The US Open is still on tap to be one of the best golf events of the season. Spend Father's Day weekend watching some great golf action!


Chris

US Open Sectionals - Follow up on who is advancing!

Here is a link to Golf Week's update on the US Open Sectional qualifying. Follow your favorite players or keep up on who is making it into the Open! 

US Open Sectionals - Live Updates And Results

Chris

Steve Stricker...Can he hold off the field at The Memorial!?

Steve Stricker holds a three shot lead going into the final round of The Memorial. Can he hold the rest of the field off? I think he can. Unlike some of the younger guys, Stricker has much more experience being in this situation and his game really favors the extreme pressure. 


I feel like Rory McIlroy could make a charge, but he is five shots off the lead. This may be too much of a gap, unless Stricker were to drop a few shots from the start. 


We can not forget about Jonathan Byrd, who is one of the most consistent players on tour. He is only three shots back. He could sneak up to the top rather quickly.


The Memorial is being held again at Muirfield Village Golf Club, in Dublin, Ohio. Murifield is a Nicklaus design that constantly ranks among the nation's top courses. 


It should be an exciting final round. Enjoy!


Chris

Good time this past Wednesday with Glenn Wong and his son....

On Wednesday of this past week, I was presented with the opportunity to play with one of the most influential people in sports education, Glenn Wong and his son, Glenn Jr. A close friend of mine, Al Wolejko had mentioned that they were interested in geting together, and I jumped at the chance. They are two of the nicest people I have ever played with. We talked a little about the business of sports, but for the most part, I think they were able to forget about work and their busy schedules and focus on playing our great golf course.

I have only met Glenn a few other times, but I am confident that I could run any business ideas or questions by him and recieve an honest answer in return.

I have an appreciation for people like Glenn and his son, and they inspire me to work hard and stay focused and never let people tell me I can't do something!

Thank you guys! Better work on those golf games before New Seabury, because we're coming for you again!

Chris

Comparing Scratch Players To PGA Touring Professionals...And Tips To Improve Your Game As Well!

In this months issue of Golf Digest, there is an interesting article called "How low can you go?" It talks about the real difference between "scratch" golfers and touring professionals. When we think of a scratch golfer, we think of someone who has a zero handicap. We think of that person at our club that walks right out of the car and shoots even par or sometimes one or two under. We think, I wonder if that person has a chance to qualify for a PGA Tour event? The reality is they probably do not. There is a huge divide between being a scratch player and a touring pro. 


Some of the best players in the world share their stories in this article about the time they officially became a scratch golfer, and how it takes a whole different level of dedication and fine tuning to make it to PGA Tour levels.


I thought that the most interesting part of the article is when they were interviewed legendary instructor, Butch Harmon. Butch says "There's a huge difference between a club scratch and a good amateur who's scratch. A good amateur's handicap is based on traveling to different courses and competing. If you're not shooting four or five under every time you tee it up at your home course, where you know every little break, then you're no good." The article then goes on to say that Harmon is not being cold hearted. He is simply stating what it takes to be a great touring player or amateur. 


Although this article talks mostly about the difference between a scratch player and a pro, I found it made some very good points that could be directed at players of all abilities. It touched on parts of the game that mid to high handicappers need to work on that will change their games completely. It talks about holding back and not attacking every single pin out on the course. Think about it, if you see a pin tucked right in the back of a green on a small slope, what are your odds of hitting it close? Slim right? The mid to high handicap player simply sees a flagstick and tries to fly their shot directly at it, whereas the scratch player or touring professional will hit to either a safe part of the green or to a spot that gives them the best chance for an easy putt. 


These simple decisions on the golf course can make a dramatic difference in improving your game. Talk to a PGA Professional in your area to find ways like this to lower your scores. 


Chris

Golf Handicapping System...What do people think? Honestly now, no holding back!

I am working a tournament today and just like every year with this event there is always an issue with the handicapping of the players. It could be a computer issue, it could be human error, either way, it is very frustrating and it makes our job very difficult. Then you have players who dont follow by the "handicap rules" as far as posting a score, or people who don't understand how it is supposed to work.

If it were up to me I would eliminate the handicaps completely, but I understand that my opinion is very one-sided because I do not keep a handicap. Even though I am not a scratch player, I think the game of golf is more enjoyable if you just go out and play. I also understand that if we did not have a handicap system in place, people with higer ones would not be able to enter in tournaments because it would be unfair.

I would just like to know people's thoughts about the system. I don't want anyone to hold back. You can say anything, within reason of course, this is after all a family friendly website!

Thanks,

Chris

Memorial Day Weekend! One of the best weekends for golf!

Golf courses all over the area today are booming because of Memorial Day weekend. This is a time when we honor those who have given their time, and sometimes their lives to our great country. It is also a great time to get out and play some golf.

We have to expect there to be a lot of play, so coming from a golf professional's standpoint, please be patient this weekend and enjoy your time on the course!

Chris

The Rain Is Finally Gone...Get Out And Play!

We in the Northeast are finally seeing a break in all this rain we have been having. Today, in the Northeast, it is in the lower 80's and it is very sunny out. It's a perfect time for people to get a nice round of golf in. Grab your kids, take your dog, take your....wife? Sure! Why not? She deserves a break too I'm sure. Whoever you choose, stop with the excuses and get on the golf course. There are many great deals you can get now in this tough economy. It will be worth it!


Chris

Neil Plimmer - Developing A Solid Pre-Shot Routine

Developing your own personal pre-shot routine, is a very important part of having a solid golf swing. It has absolutely nothing to do with the actual swing, but it focuses your attention and puts you in a great state of mind before you hit your shot. 


I was directed to this video from a friend of mine on Facebook. To me, it clearly explains the benefits and the rewards of having a pre-shot routine. Enjoy!


Check it out on the Course Caddy Facebook Page! "LIKE" us if you haven't yet! 


Neil Plimmer's Pre Shot Routine Video - Course Caddy FB


Chris

Happy Birthday Kym! We miss you every day! :)

Today is a tough day for everyone in my inner circle of close friends. In August of this past year, we lost a very special person to all of us, Kym Meyers. Today is her birthday!


Kym was only 19 years old when she passed away with a very serious illness that came on rather quickly. She was heading home from college, when something didn't look right with her. Something about her coloring was off. She was immediately taken to the Emergency Room. 


From there, a weeklong hospital stay resulted with Kym being diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis is usually a disease that affects people much later in life. It is when the liver is slowly deteriorating. What happens, is, scar tissue starts replacing healthy liver tissue and this blocks the flow of blood to the liver. The scarring also affects the liver's natural ability to fight off infections and diseases. 


Kym was also diagnosed with Celiac disease at the same time. Celiac disease is an inherited disease where the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats. 


Kym was released and put on a gluten-free diet. A short time later, her health started to get worse and she spent many nights back in the hospital. It came down to the point where she needed both a liver, and a kidney transplant. Unfortunately, there are so many people in need of a transplant, that she was not able to get one. 


She lost her battle on a late August day last year. 


In my opinion, her passing has done two things. One, it has absolutely devastated a very tight knit family and two, it has inspired an entire community to reach out and do everything they can to help with this awful disease. 


Kym's Kause, a charity program was started in Kym's memory. The point was to raise awareness for Organ donorship, and Celiac disease. Never in my life, have I experienced people coming together to plan an event like this one. Some serious effort and ideas went into making this a very successful venture. 


A motorcycle ride was held last October. Over 100 people rode in the event. A very serious amount of money was raised and donated to the cause. A pasta supper was then held and the results were just as spectacular. Both are planned for this year as well. 


Kym is missed every single day. Her mother, Joann, is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She has been dealt several tragedies in her life, yet she always makes sure everyone else around her is alright, putting others ahead of herself. This is a very special quality in a person and I am very thankful that I am a part of her life. 


We miss you Kym!


Love,


Chris


For more information or to make a donation, please visit the following links:


Kym' Kause
Donate Life - Organ Donorship

More foolish people and their stories on the golf course...unbelievable!

So today, I was invited to play in a golf tournament with my brother Nick at New Seabury at Cape Cod. It was a great time, and I can't say thank you enough to Kurt, Rhonda, Sara, and Mandi at Rafferty Fine Grading for the invitation! 


It was a 7:30am shotgun, on the ocean! It was absolutely FREEZING! So we play in the tournament, and afterwards at the banquet, this gentleman walks in and someone asks him how his day was and his response was "Ahh it was pretty good, but for some reason I just couldn't get warm out there at all!" 


What makes this a humorous story, is that the man was wearing shorts and a tee-shirt! It was 45 degrees! Unbelievable!


Please feel free to share your funny stories with me and I'll post them on the blog! 


Chris

I'm pulling for David Toms....

David Toms had a rough time last week at the Players Championship. He could have run away with the tournament. Instead, his putter worked against him and he was unable to hold on against KJ Choi. 


This week at the Crowne Plaza Invitational, he seemed to have forgotten about last week, and shot two consecutive 62's heading into the weekend. He then proceeded to shoot a 74 on Saturday, relinquishing his lead to Charlie Wi. The two are now tied going into the final round.


So, I can't help but pull for David Toms to come out of this funk he seems to be in. Like I've said before, I guess if being in a "slump" consists of shooting a few 62's and banking over one million dollars, I would take being in a slump every weekend. You want him to finish it off though. You want him to hold that trophy up on Sunday night. You want a guy who has really dedicated himself to playing better golf to win one of these weeks. 


It was very inspiring to hear about how David has taken a new interest in making the game of golf more fun. He said a couple weeks ago that his son was really helping to remind him that this is only a game. He was helping him remember that he is out on a golf course every week, instead of stuck in an office. He was reminding him that at the end of the day, David was able to come home to a beautiful family and a great life. This has relaxed Toms to the point where he is just playing his own game, he's going out and just letting his swing go. It's really great to see.


I hope he pulls it off today in the final round. I think you would see a lot of emotion come out of him, and it would be a huge weight off his shoulders.


Chris

Don't ever make a bet with J.J Henry. You'll lose....terribly!

It's a good thing that Jerry Kelly has a good sense of humor and high tolerance for embarrassing situations. Kelly, a Wisconsin native, lost his bet with JJ Henry, that Wisconsin would defeat TCU in the Rose Bowl last season. The wager? The loser would have to wear the winning team's mascot outfit on the first hole of the Crowne Plaza Invitational Pro-Am.  Yikes, I'll never make that mistake! Hopefully....?!

Chris

David Toms and Chez Reavie share the lead at 8-under at Colonial

David Toms and Chez Reavie both shot a score of 62 at The Crowne Plaza Invitational today at Colonial. Toms has seemed to recover after losing in a playoff at The Players Championship last week. David Toms said that his putting had held him back at Sawgrass, but that he had a lot of good things happening with his swing. He was dead on!


Rickie Fowler was one shot behind them with a 63. Fowler was one birdie away from breaking the course record at 60, but hit his approach shot on his last hole short and it rolled into the water hazard resulting in a double bogey, 6.


There seemed to be very good scoring all around today, with the players tied for 94th place, shooting an even par 72. Colonial attracts many great players and they seem to be taking advantage of the good scoring conditions! Should be an exciting weekend!


Chris

Hunter Stone, shoots a spectacular 69 at Crumpin-Fox to qualify for US Open Sectionals!

Despite the rain and cooler temperatures, the US Open qualifying round at the Crumpin-Fox Club went off without a hitch on Wednesday. In usual Crump fashion, the pins were in difficult spots, the tees back, and the fairways were as tight as they ever have been.

Hunter Stone, a local resident, and a good friend of every staff member at Crump, was the medalist with a fantastic score of 69. It was nice watching someone we have all watched grow up at the course, take some of the best players in the area, and bring them to their knees.

Right behind Stone was, Shawn Warren of Maine. Warren shot a 70, just one shot behind Stone, to wrap up the second qualifying spot. Shawn has some experience at Crumpin-Fox as well, playing there many times. I think a little bit of local knowledge goes a long way there!

Kevin Quinn, of Needham, MA secured the third spot with a 1-over par, 73. Kevin hits a lot of fairways, and a lot of greens, struggled a bit to make a few putts, but if struggled is shooting a 73, I would like to struggle everyday!

The most exciting part of the day for me was to watch a four person playoff for one qualifying spot, and two alternate spots. It was between Mike Dunham of Concord, Maine, Brent Paladino of Kensington, CT, Scott Hawley of Schrewsbury, MA, and Chelso Barrett of Keene, NH.

Hawley and Barrett were finished after the first playoff hole and Brent Paladino edged out Mike Dunham on the second playoff hole with a solid up and down for par.

All in all, it was a very exciting day at the course. This just proves to me that the US Open is one of the greatest tournaments in golf!

The MGA and the USGA staff on hand did a wonderful job running operations. They were very organized, friendly, and fun to be around!

CONGRATS to the qualifiers, and thanks to everyone for making it such a spectacular day at Crump!

Good luck in the next round!

Chris

Taylor Fontaine, URI student, disqualified from US Open qualifier - Non Conforming Grooves!

Taylor Fontaine, one of the University of Rhode Island's star athletes, had played a great round of golf on Tuesday at Newport Country Club. He was now set to move onto the sectionals and try to earn a coveted spot in the US Open in June, until he was disqualified for using a non-conforming Titlelist Vokey wedge.

A fellow competitor in the field, Ron Dellostritto, Weathersfield CC, mentioned that the wedge may not be conforming. Rules officials were called in, and Fontaine was disqualified. According to Ron Sirak of Golf World, Fontaine thought he may have had a non-conforming club, but was convinced by a friend that it was ok.

I hate to see players play great and then lose their opportunity to advance, but the rules are there for a reason. They keep the game fair. Although some of the rules don't make much sense, this one has been talked about and fine tuned for almost a year now, especially at the professional level.

Taylor Fontaine is a very talented player and he will have many more opportunities to advance in the next few years! Congrats to all the qualifiers!

Chris

The Players Championship Update....Toms and Choi headed to playoff!

David Toms birdied the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass to force a Sudden Death playoff! Here we go! Update to follow....

Chris

TPC Sawgrass at night! Thought this was cool...

Because of the late day at The Players Championship, grounds crews are working through the night to prepare the course for tomorrow mornings play. I thought this was a cool picture of the people working! 


Chris

Hilarious customers at the golf course....

I will be posting some things in the near future that may scare you, make you laugh, and make you cry. But, hopefully, they keep you coming back to this blog for more! I'm going to pay closer attention to the crazy people we have to deal with at the golf course on a daily basis, and share those stories with you, my friends. These people are out there! You can't make this stuff up! Enjoy!


I have been working at the golf course this season for only four days total now, and the yahoo's are already coming out of the woodwork. 


I answered the phone the other day with my usual greeting, "Crumpin-Fox Club, this is Chris, how can I help you?" Very pleasant right? I thought so! The gentleman on the other end of the phone said, and I quote, "Yeah, uh, let me talk to Kayley." Now I have been there for five years and not one time have we employed anyone named Kayley. When I explained to the man that there was no one with that name working here, he quickly responded with the following rant....


"You're Stupid! You don't know what your talking about. Let me speak to Kayley! I'm friends with her boyfriend and it's very important that I get a hold of her."


At this point, I explained again that there was no one by that name here. He then told me that she had just been promoted to Restaurant Manager. I again, kindly explained to him that I have never even met a Kayley, never mind, work with one! He seemed to calm down a bit at this point, but still, ended our great conversation with these words, "Have Kayley call me when she comes in."


I then hung up, and sat there with the most puzzled look on my face. Because of this conversation, I have given up alcoholic beverages completely! :)


Chris

Tiger Woods withdraws after 9 holes at The Players

Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the 2011 Players Championship after nine holes. He had been spotted walking around the grounds with a significant limp. He stated that he had re-injured his knee, which was putting extra pressure on his already damaged Achilles tendon. This is the second Players Championship in a row that Woods has withdrawn from. Last years tournament, he left after six holes of the final round.

After nine holes of today's tournament, he was 6-over par. His score of 42 was his highest ever posted at the Players for nine holes.

Woods' return to the game of golf is still in question. People will be wondering if he will be able to make a run at the 2011 US Open this June. We will have to wait and see!

Chris

Crumpin-Fox Club Coupon - Save $10 Off Green Fees

I will be posting a coupon for a $10 discount on green fees at The Crumpin-Fox Club on the Course Caddy Facebook page. Here's how to access it;

Go to www.facebook.com/coursecaddy.

Click "like"and follow the page for updates to courses.

Message me with your name, email address, and any comments or suggestions for the site, and I will send you the coupon! 

Spread the word to everyone you know who would be interested! 

Thanks so much!

Chris

Lucas Glover Wins The Wells Fargo Championship!

Lucas Glover will be the first one to tell you - there is nothing wrong with a good solid par. Glover finished off his final round of the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday with three of them, fist pumping the last one! He then sat and watched as his good friend, Jonathan Byrd, birdied the last hole to shoot an even par 72, and force a playoff. Glover was able to win on the first hole with, you guessed it, another par. 


It was Lucas Glover's first win since his triumph at the 2009 U.S. Open Championship. He has battled with personal issues and swing issues in the past. He was finally able to overcome them and take the top spot at the Wells Fargo.


Jonathan Byrd, who has won his last two events in a playoff, made a clutch birdie putt on the 18th hole. It was the excitement that the tour needs in the weeks that Tiger Woods does not play. 


There is some great talent on the tour, and it is exciting to watch these guys hit the ball. Tiger adds another element to the game, but when you have champions like Lucas Glover and Jonathan Byrd at the top, how can you not tune in?


Congrats Lucas Glover, now you definitely have to keep that beard going strong!


Enjoy the week everyone!


Chris

Crumpin-Fox Club Opening Scramble

Congratulations to the team of Jon Shea, Dan Benoit, and Karen Chula for winning the 2011 Crumpin-Fox Club Opening Scramble. They shot a score of 61 as a team, and beat the field by four shots. They will share a total of $450 in winnings. In second place was the team of Dave Chula, Tom Bergeron, and Jean Simmons with a score of 65. Hope everyone had a blast! It is always one of the nicest tournaments at the club for the members!


Chris

Seve Ballesteros 1957-2011

Yesterday, the golf world lost an icon. Seve Ballesteros, fought until the very end but unfortunately lost his battle with brain cancer. His impact on the game of golf will remain for many years to come. He inspired some of the greatest players in the world to play golf professionally. His generosity and compassion put him right up there with some of the greatest people to ever live. 


Seve grew up in Spain. He learned how to play the game of golf while playing on the beaches near his hometown. He turned professional in 1974 at the age of 16. He won his first major, The Open Championship in 1979, and went on to win four more for a total of five. 


He may be best known for his match-play abilities. He had a competitive fire like no one had ever seen. He would beat an opponent into the ground and then take that player out to dinner afterwards. 


He will be missed dearly, and his legacy will live on forever. 


Chris

Crumpin-Fox Club Demo Day - Friday, May 6th, 12pm-6pm

The Crumpin-Fox club will be hosting a demo day this Friday, May 6th, from 12pm until 6pm. It is a great time to stop by and try out the latest equipment from your favorite manufacturer. The following companies will be participating in the event:

• Callaway Golf
• Nike
• Adams
• Titleist
• Cobra
• Heavy Putter

The driving range will be open as well as both putting greens to work on your game! Hope to see everyone there!

Chris

The PGA Tour rolls into Charlotte, NC this week...

The PGA Tour makes its way to Charlotte, NC this week for the Wells Fargo Championship. All the major media outlets are pulling for Bill Haas to win. He was born in Charlotte, attended Wake Forrest, and lives in Greenville, SC now, just a short distance away.


I think that Mark Wilson will have a great showing this week. He has been on fire all season and he is very consistent, which is necessary at Quail Hollow.


Look for Gary Woodland's name to start moving up the leader board one of these weeks. He is very talented and his distance is a huge advantage. He keeps his focus very well and his mental game is very strong.


Enjoy the tournament!


Chris

Hickory Ridge Country Club

Today the HCC team played at Hickory Ridge Country Club in Amherst, MA. It was in great shape for this time of the season. There are still some wet areas, but it is drying up nicely.


At the end of the round, as we were leaving, the ladies league was coming in to play. I couldn't believe how many people participate in their monday night event. A good friend of mine, Terry Boyce, said that they have about 100 golfers per week attend. It was unbelievable. It was nice to see everyone having a good time.


Unfortunately, the HCC team did not play so well and we lost to a couple other schools. The New England tournament starts on May 10th, so we will spend the week preparing for that!


Chris

A Lesson From Jim McDonald, PGA

Mastering your pre-swing fundamentals is key to a solid golf swing.

In golf, as with most sports, it is crucial to develop sound fundamentals in order to develop an efficient swing. While fitness and properly fit clubs are just as important, we, as players, create the foundation with sound fundamentals. 

Jim McDonald, PGA, TPI Certified

Today, I would like to talk about the “pre-swing” fundamentals:

Grip: Your grip helps you square the clubface at impact and create club head speed. Hold the club in front of you at a 45-degree angle and place the club across the palm of your left hand (for right-handers). When you close your hand, you will see 1-2 knuckles of the left hand. The right-hand grip is more in the fingers.

Posture:  Since the ball is in front of us and on the ground when we play golf, maintaining good  posture throughout the swing is essential for creating the proper club head path through impact. We like to see a slight knee flex while bending from the hip joint. 

Alignment:  Most golfers will aim their body at the target, which aims the clubface to the right.  Think of the rails of a railroad track: your ball sits on one of the rails and you are standing on the other rail. Your clubface is aimed at the target and your bodylines will be left of the target.