One major homebuilder estimates that ten percent of their new construction projects are golf course properties. That number is even as high as twenty percent in Southern states, with the majority being built in Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Florida, prime retiree destinations. A change in tradition has also occurred in the types of homes being built on golf course property. Whereas golf courses were lined exclusively with single family homes, there has been increased demand to construct condominiums, apartments and duplexes to cater to the senior population. Additionally, these alternate golf course properties are very popular in the time share industry.

Golf course communities are not immune to basic economic principles of supply and demand, however. Recent reports suggest that the market may have been overbuilt in response to initial demand and golf course property has become more affordable in recent years. Developments outside of major metropolitan areas have had a difficult time luring buyers away from the city for a full-time residence. Some communities have even turned to late night infomercials to lure customers, offering free airfare, gifts, and even discounted sale prices for potential buyers.

Homes on a golf course property may include large, bay windows with outstanding views of the golf course. They may even include extra large garages to accommodate the owner�s automobiles and a golf cart. Some communities include, or require, golf club membership fees within the dues for the homeowner�s association. Golf course properties are now a lot more affordable and can be a good option for those who are golf enthusiasts or retirees who want to be near a golf course.

Golf balls are always in demand…Titleist – PROV1 and PROV1x along with the NXT Tour and Tour-S (white & yellow), the new Velocity ball and the DT SOLO (white & yellow) are all in stock!!  Have you tried a new ball lately?  No.  Well, you need to try the new line-up from Bridgestone golf…the ball fitting experts with a ball for all swing speeds, the Tour B330 and B330-s, the RX and RX-s (white & yellow), and the always popular E-Series balls…E7, E6, and E5′s….a very good ball for everyone.  Callaway golf balls are a hot seller this year….give them a try too!!

This week is being sponsored by Wilson Properties, thank you Linda, Arch and Brandon Wilson to your dedication to Scotch Pines.  In 1962 Scotch Pines opened its doors/holes to the general public with one goal:  offer a quality golf course to the public where friends and family could gather for a great time.   50 years later, with the continued support of members, like the WILSON’S and the local community we are still open today.  Here’s to another 50 years.

In addition to the normal pot games Wilson Properties is offering an additional chance to WIN a $15 gift certificate per Flight to the PRO SHOP, please keep in mind that the following games are open to ALL PLAYERS at NO cost:

Tee shot closet to to the 125 yard marker on #7 & #10

KP on #11 & 8

Thank you again to Wilson Properties.

After 5 weeks of league I think this is the first year that we have not had the weather to blame for our poor scores, lets hope it continues.  Here are this weeks matchups and the standings 1/2 way through the league:

A Flight:

#10  Team Points            vs.     Holcomb/Gray

#11  Masingill/Musser  vs.  Grimes/Pena

#12  Donner/Matsubu  vs.  Powers/Young

#13  Kennell/Greer        vs.  Fry/Choate

#14  Musser/Abshire    vs.  Grant/Mendiguren

#15  Team Rynearson   vs.  Joyce/Ramirez

#16  Dion/Haines            vs.  Goodwin/Thebo

B Flight:

#1  Carlman/Waggoner   vs.  Team Wilson

#2  Howard/Martindale  vs.  Farrow/Thebo

#3  Burlile/Cesaro              vs.  Mio/Surmeier

#4  Head/Herd                     vs.  Frates/Franklin

#5  Clover/Howard            vs.  Sullivan/McCrea

#7  Mckinney/Byars          Bye week

#8  Greif/Hanigan               vs.  Ogburn/Clapp

#9  Moscrip/Rhinehart    vs.  Enyeart/Grove

Standings after 5 weeks

Considering how many people golf today, it’s surprising that many don’t turn their hobby into a career. Just like any other passion such as painting, hockey, writing or cycling, a career in golf can end up being the job of a lifetime. Pros like Tiger Woods and Colin Montgomerie have propelled the popularity of golf into fame and fortune and the number of fans and would be tournament pros waiting for their lucky break is phenomenal. The problem is, only a select few people end up growing in ability to become the tournament pros we see on television, but there are still so many career opportunity spin offs from the sport itself that anyone who really wants to get into a golfing career can have their choice of jobs.

There are plenty of schools and colleges who will teach you the skills you need to land a golfing career, and a quick search on the internet will turn up all sorts of academies offering programs and courses to further your golf career. Some programs take only 16 months to complete, which really isn’t much of a time investment to a great profession. Two solid years will earn you an associate degree in golf complex operations and management, if you’re interested in the business aspect of running a complete golf course. There’s emphasis on the golf pro and general golf management, both of which give you plenty of knowledge to get deeply involved in a golf career. Reputable golfing academies rely on the know how and experience of PGA professional golfers to instruct and coach the students.

The game of golf has plenty of career opportunities surrounding the sport. One golf career that may suit a lot of people and still has plenty of fame and popularity attached is the club pro. Club pros may not be the ones out there with the cameras surrounding them, but the pro shops of golf clubs are the heartbeat of the profession. Club pros are the ones who teach others how to play, repair equipment when it breaks and selling new equipment to people in search for the right club or putter. Generally speaking, most of the playing activity centers on the club pro and they’re considered the experts who know what they’re talking about.

Even other jobs that aren’t within the playing activity of golfing are still valuable career choices. Greens keepers have become veritable experts on the golf course terrain and it’s not just anyone who knows how to keep a course at its optimal playing standard. You could take that one step further and start your golf career as a course architect. New courses are always being opened to challenge players and an architect’s job is to work with the available terrain while designing a new course overtop that will have players raving to bring in club memberships and sales.

There are careers that can be related to golfing, and many of these types of professions are interesting, important ones. Consider the physiotherapist who specializes in golfing injuries or the photographer who has to catch the perfect image for sporting magazines. Even the sports equipment used in golfing can end up being a career choice; someone has to craft those perfect clubs.

Every aspect of the golfing industry can lead to a job that has you enjoying something you’ve always shown an interest in. All you have to do to find your golf career is visit a complex and observe the many people it takes to keep the facility running smoothly and providing all the members and guests with the professional help they want and then find your niche.

Amazingly bunkers came about due to geography and topography surrounding the origins of golf and golfing on the windswept desolate Scottish early historic golf courses/ because these holes were sheltered from the cold Scottish breezes, sheep would take refuge in these areas. Thus the holes expanded. When this land came to be used for golf pursuits, it was often too much hard work and time for grass to grow back. Hence the locals took advantage of the sheep�s efforts and fashioned sand filled bunkers from the holes.

On these old courses, the golfing greens were sited so as to maximize the bunker�s threat to golfer�s shots. Hence the sand traps, properly called �Bunkers� came to be named �hazards� in the rules of golf and golfing. Later on in golf and golfing course architecture, golf architects would place these insidious �traps� so as to penalize wayward shots. As a result golf course bunkers are seldom in the middle of the golf fairway � they are usually on the sides of the golf course fairways. Talk about mean and sadistic.

How deep is the usual bunker? That is like asking � what is temperature in New York or what the temperature in Winnipeg, Canada is. It all varies depending on the course , type of sand, the golf course greens keeper preferences and laziness and even the time of year and weather � making a difference as to how wet the sand is and how much has blown away. The usual depth of the sand in a golf bunker can be said to be generally 2 inches in depth. This amount does stop the golf ball form burying too much on landing bit still provides a decent cushion for the escape shot.

Sand bunkers can be the most frustrating and feared part of most golfers. It is the last places most want to be in or finish. It�s a reasonable fear but then again why should such simple sand in a hole cause so much grief on the golf courses of the world?

Fear of the golf bunkers need not be pervasive. It all comes down to a lack of technique, understanding and lack of practice of dealing with these shots. On top of that many golfers will only hit the ball harder getting even angrier all the time.

It all comes down to preparation and practice. Your local golf pro can show you easy tips. Most people never practice sand bunker golf shots. It�s akin to a belief that if you never go near the water you will never. However in this case you will play golf, and at some time you will end up in the sandbox � properly called the �bunker�.

Take the time during the golf season or better yet in the off season to ask your local golf pro for some help and tips on how to get your golf ball out of the horrible sand bunker. If you want to reduce your golf tension level and frustration level as well as reduce your golfing score this is time and money more than well spent.

Fairway height- 3/4″ mow days are Tues./Fri.

Green height- 5/32″ mowing done Tuesday thru Sunday, Rolling on Mondays

Light topdressing scheduled for 05/14/2012

Holes are being changed Tues./Fri./Sun.

Tee height- 1/2″ mow days are Mon./Thurs.

Approach height- 1/2″ mow days are Tues./Fri.

Rough height- 2-1/2″ mowing is daily

Trim (around greens and tees)- 7/8″ mowing is 4 days a week

Thanks,

Paul

Have you purchased golf swing aids only to use them once or twice and not see improvement? Isn�t this an everyday occurrence for golfers? I see and hear this all the time, and yet golfers will continue to spend hundreds of dollars by the �latest/greatest� gimmick.

I don�t know if they (golfers) think they will find the �one� training aid that will change their game forever; or they are just trying to take the easy way out?

Either way, the main reason most golf swing aids don�t help is because you are not working on what�s causing your swing faults. You! Your machine (body) dictates your outcome! There�s no way around it!

What your body is capable of in that moment is the result you�ll get.

How many times have you wished you could make a bigger backswing but can�t? How often do you walk off the course with a sore back? How many times did you have a good front nine only to blow up on the back nine and shoot your normal score?

The above results were because of the �physical� issues within your body. Until you realize this and take a different approach to your golf improvement program, you�ll be a frustrated golfer for a long time.

In my opinion, there are a couple of golf swing aids that are effective when you incorporate them with your new golf training program. One is the medicus. This is a fantastic golf swing aid that gives you instant feedback. Swing it too fast or out of plane and the shaft breaks at the hinge.

Another golf swing aid I like is the weighted golf club. I swing mine everyday and boy does it loosen me up and strengthen my golf swing muscles.

Other than the above golf swing aids, there are dozens and dozens of ones that are a total waste of money. Save your money and work on you! The sooner you do, the sooner you�ll stop buying the latest, greatest golf swing aids.

For many beginning golfers, having an instructor is not enough. In order to learn more, downloading lessons is an easy way to increase their knowledge about the game and help themselves become better golfers. Online golf training has helped many people enjoy the game of golf even more. When searching for an online golf lesson website, visit sites that are legitimate and offer free trials of the software. Even though this software should not cost too much to download, you should not pay unless you feel comfortable using the site. Make sure you read the instructions pertaining to downloading materials carefully and completely so you ca begin using the software right away.

Because you can download these lessons directly to your computer, you should be able to use them whenever you have the time. Watch the lesson completely the first time through and then watch it again more closely. You will begin to see where improvements can be made in your own game. Take notes if you want to practice holding the clubs to get a better idea of how to hold them or swing.

If you are looking for advanced software, you can purchase software that critiques your swing and offers golf swing analysis from most computer stores. With this software, you may need additional equipment, so be sure to read all the instructions before buying any software. You may need to create a video of your swing so the software can analyze it. It will be able to tell you what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong.

Learning how to play golf is different for everyone. While some people need help from instructors, others can learn by watching instructional video, DVD’s, or computer programs that are filled with advice and tips. Having these options can only enhance your golf game and allow you to learn at your own pace. Once you have learned the basics, you can learn more advanced techniques that will help you become a better golfer.

                                      1^ST Gross           Penny Jones/Denise Oliver                 73

                                       2^nd  Gross         Nila Kirshner/Lynette Murphy         81

                                       1^ST Net               Angie Bork/Peggy Irving                     61

                                       2^nd Net              Jenna Maggard/Karen Giardina        T-63

                                       2^nd Net               Nancy Bastida/Joanna Odaga           T-63

                                  2^nd  FLIGHT               Place                   Team                   Score

                                       1^ST Gross           Pam Ellison/LoriKamppi                    81

                                       2^nd  Gross          Judy Lawrence/Sandy Runkle         T-85

                                       2^nd  Gross          Alicia Gentry/Kate Pressley             T-85

                                       1^ST Net                Linda Brewer/Margaret LaLeff         53

                                       2^nd Net               Julia Green/Julia Waterlin                  55

Thanks to all participants, hope too see you at our next event, please contact the pro shop to be added to our tournament distribution list.

A couple of small house keeping issue to take care of today:

1)  if you have not paid your $70.00 per Team Tuesday Night League fee, please see the Pro Shop and take care of this minor issue.

2) if your handicaps are not correct on the card it is typically b/c I have notbeen able to find your namein the GHIN system.  If you do not have or have not paid for your 2012 handicap to be active, please see the Pro Shop and ask them how to take care of this, thank you.

3) Over the next several weeks the course will be placing bait stations out in the rough areas to poison our little friends the squirrels, if your ball happens to land on, in or around please take relief, we would prefer you not disturb these areas.

4) Please make sure that you have your sand & seed bottles filled and you use them while on the course to fill in your divots or those left by others.  If every team would please take a few minutes prior to teeing off to fill in the tee box that they are starting on it would be a great help to everyone.

5) Have fun.

A-Flight starting hole & pairings

#1  Kennell/Greer      vs   Goodwin/Thebo

#2  Matsubu/Donner vs.  Zimmerman/Haines

#3  Young/Powers    vs.  Grant/Mendiguren

#4  Holcomb/Gray   vs.  Joyce/Ramirez

#5  Grimes/Pena    vs.   Fry/Choate

#6  Team Rynearson  vs.  Musser/Absire

#7  Masingill/Musser  vs. Team Points

B-Flight starting hole & pairings

#10  Farrow/Thebo     vs.  Ogburn/Clapp

#11  Greif/Hanigan     vs.  Frates/Franklin

#12  Clover/Howard   vs  Moscrip/Rhinehart

#13  Team Wilson    vs.  Howard/Martindale

#14  Mio/Surmeier   vs  Sullivan/McCrea

#15  McKinney/Byars  vs.  Burlile/Cesaro

#16  Carlman/Waggoner  vs.  Head/Herd

#17  Enyeart/Grove have a Bye this week.

 Due to the having 15 teams in the league this year one team every week will have a Bye, you will only have one Bye for the entire league.  if you have a Bye plese continue to show up and play b/c their may be a situation where we substitute your team in for another that cannot show up for the evening.

Current Standings:  As always, if you see an error please let myself or David Gray know ans we will review the cards to see where the errors were made and we will get them fixed ASAP, again thank you for your patience.