Prior Events
SWGMA's prior year events and activities
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| Opportunity for FREE Swing Flex Power Golf Therapy! (Oct-09) |
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The Neuromuscular Performance Institute (NPI) is looking
for a few good
…and “not so good” golfers.
Can’t finish your swing? Have you lost power and distance? Do you over or under rotate? Whatever your problem…Swing Flex Therapy can help to eliminate it…FOREVER!
Paul Ruth, owner of NPI has developed what Steve Jones, 1996 US Open winner, has called “the next revolution in golf”. NPI specializes in “hands on” pain relief and performance based therapy. As a side effect, our therapy just happens to change the way you swing a golf club…for the better.
On October 21, 22, and 23, 2009 NPI will be hosting an event for their students who have completed training to become Certified Swing Flex Power Golf and Performance Therapists. We are looking for friendly volunteers to come in and visit our Scottsdale Airpark facility and receive a complimentary…that’s right a “FREE” 90 minute muscular evaluation and Swing Flex Power Golf therapy.
Swing Flex Power Golf therapy is a hands-on, swing changing muscular “release” approach to eliminating some of the most common swing faults. We guarantee that you will learn more about your body and “WHY” it is affecting your swing than you have ever known before.
We are looking for as many as 30 golfers to attend this great event. Unfortunately, appointment times are limited, so we are booking on a “first come first serve” basis.
For more information visit our website at www.npitherapy.com
Please contact NPI at 480-922-4499 to schedule your Swing Flex appointment.
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| “A Grand Time!” - Arizona Grand Resort (May 2009) |
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“A Grand Time!”
Arizona Grand Resort
By Dave Bond
If you are looking for a fun filled vacation for the entire family, look no further than Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix. The resort is located at the base of the Phoenix South Mountain Preserve and is close proximity to most of the major attractions in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Not that you will need to leave the resort, as everything you could possibly want in a vacation located at the newly renovated property.
One of the major changes in the $52 million renovation is the main lobby. When you walk into the lobby you are greeted by a very welcoming staff and a fantastic view of the first fairway on the golf course. The lobby offers numerous sitting areas both inside and on the patio where you can relax and unwind. Within the lobby are the new Lobby Grill and the New Lobby Bar. The Lobby Grill serves up an array of American Entrees prepared by some of the valley’s top chefs. The Lobby Bar is Tommy Bahama themed and is already well known for its signature chicken wings and unique cocktails. The golf shop and a nice marketplace are also located in the new Arizona Grand Lobby.
Also part of the renovation is the newly finished Villa Suites. The two room suites are very well equipped and have fantastic views of the golf course, Water Park, the valley below and the surrounding South Mountain Preserve. The suites are available for purchase for the vacationer who is looking to have ownership at a top notch resort.
As said earlier, there is really no reason to leave Arizona Grand once you have arrived. There is so much fun to be had at the resort that by the end of the day, you will want to eat at one of the restaurants on site and get to bed so that you can get up the next morning and do it all over again. Besides the Lobby Grill, you have choice of one of the better Mexican restaurants in the valley, Aunt Chiladas, or Rustler’s Rooste, which serves up great western themed meals with a fantastic view.
The two main attractions at the resort are the golf course and the award winning water park (The Oasis). The Oasis is one of the nation’s largest resort water parks and offers an array of adventurous fun. The park boasts a huge wave pool, a fun and relaxing lazy river, an area for the younger kids to play, and a 25 person hot tub. For the more daring person, the park has an eight story tower with three different slides. One of the slides is winding while the other two are at the top of the tower and are downright fast and exhilarating. The view of the Phoenix Valley from the top of the tower is truly amazing. If the view does not take your breath away, one of the slides surely will do the trick. Also within the water park is the Oasis Bar and Grill, offering up a selection of a snacks and beverages.
The other major attraction at the resort is the Arizona Grand Golf Course, formerly known as Phantom Horse Golf Club. The golf course also went through some recent renovations. The courses front and back nine are distinctly different from each other. The front nine starts out stadium like and leads you towards the awe inspiring back nine, which winds its way up and into the South Mountain Preserve. One of the major changes in the golf course was changing what used to be the finishing hole into the opening hole. Rather than having the eighteenth green next to the lobby, the courses first tee box now sits on an island that is overlooked by the new villas and the new lobby. The tee box serves as a center gathering area where weddings and special events can be held. The opening hole is a short par four, so it is advisable to tee off with whatever club you are most confident with as you will most likely have a crowd watching your opening tee shot.
As you work your way through the front nine, you will discover that Arizona Grand is not a golf course that requires length. In fact, there are very few holes on the course that you will want to hit driver. Course management is a must when playing this golf course. Most of the holes have trouble strategically placed where a well struck drive might land. An example is the first par five on the course, the 596 yard third hole. The fairway ends at about 250 yards, so your best play on this hole is to hit three wood off of the tee and then lay up on the second shot. The green on the third hole is representative of most of the greens in that is very small and requires a precise approach shot.
The back nine at Arizona Grand is one of the more picturesque nines in the Phoenix area. The layout winds its way up into the South Mountain Preserve and back down towards the resort. Most of the holes on the back nine require precision as the fairways and greens are narrower and smaller than what you would expect from a typical resort course. A great stretch of scenic holes starts at the downhill par five eleventh. The views of the East Valley from the tee box are fantastic. The twelfth hole is a fun little par three over a deep desert wash. Number thirteen, a 538 yard par five, is one of the signature holes on the golf course. A good drive down the left side will give you an opportunity to reach the small green in two. However, you will have to hit your approach over a very intimidating trio of “steeple” bunkers. The course offers up some risk/reward par fours towards the end of the round on holes sixteen and seventeen, measuring at 325 and 307 yards respectively. The finishing hole at Arizona Grand is the courses signature hole. It is unique in that you are finishing with a par three and perhaps the most scenic par three in Arizona. The tee box sits high up on the mountain and the view of the valley is absolutely breathtaking. On a clear day you can see nearly 30 miles in any direction. Once you catch your breath from the view you have to try and hit a green that looks tiny from this height.
Other attractions at Arizona Grand include a full service spa and a very well equipped athletic club. There are also numerous hiking trails that lead up and into the South Mountain Preserve if you prefer to exercise outside, or to look for some golf balls you may have lost during your round. Arizona Grand Resort truly has something for everyone. The only problem you might have is trying to find the time to experience everything that this resort has to offer. For more information or reservations you can visit the resort’s website at www.arizonagrandresort.com or call the reservation phone # at 1-866-267-1321.
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| Longbow Golf Club (Feb 2009) |
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Two Opinions
Longbow Golf Club
By Dave Bond
Photos by Wes Bolyard
The Valley of the Sun has very few desert courses that are walk-able, offer great views and have no houses lining the fairways. Throw in a great design and top notch conditions and you have a must-play golf course. Such is the case with Longbow Golf Club, located just off of the 202 freeway in East Mesa.
Longbow originally opened in the late 1990’s and was considered a good test of golf. The downside was that the designer, Ken Kavanaugh, had only 140 acres to work with. This meant that a majority of the holes were built very close to one another and the course was rather short, approximately 6,700 yards. Fortunately, Longbow was purchased by Daedalus Real Estate Developers a few years later and they brought Kavanaugh back to do a re-design, offering up more land at the site. The new layout opened in 2003 to rave reviews. The course now measures 7,001 yards from the tips and boasts a fantastic driving range and practice area, along with a stunning clubhouse.
One thing you notice as soon as you arrive at Longbow is how courteous and helpful the golf staff is. They really do go out of their way to make sure your round is enjoyable. The next thing you come across is how nice the driving range and practice area is at Longbow. The practice putting green has some severe slopes, which gives you an idea as to what you are in store for on the golf course.
Once on the golf course, you will encounter a wonderful mixture of par fours. Kavanaugh did a fantastic job of mixing in some long and mid-length par fours, with a very drivable par four at number seventeen. The hole measures 309 yards from the tips and it presents itself at a very crucial point in the round. A good drive will allow for a real possibility at birdie. However, a wayward drive or an approach shot hit to the wrong level of the severely sloped green can turn a birdie chance into a bogey very quickly. Another fantastic par four is the 407 yard third hole. The tee shot will need to be placed between two deep bunkers and the second shot must carry a desert wash to a narrow green that has severe slope running through the middle of it.
Kavanaugh also did a nice job on the par threes by mixing in two longer holes with two that are shorter. The second hole offers a fantastic view of Red Mountain in the backdrop, so be sure to have your camera handy. The course has three par fives, with two of them coming back to back on the 9th and tenth hole. Number nine can be reached in two with a solid drive; however, at 626 yards number ten is a three shot hole for most golfers.
Hole #2 with Red Mountain in background
Once the round is complete you need to be sure to enjoy an after round beverage from the clubhouse outdoor patio, which is one of the nicest at any public venue in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. The view looking east toward Usery Mountain and the Superstition Mountains is wonderful, especially when you are enjoying it sitting on a nice padded chair next to a warm fire.
Hole #8 with snow on mountain in background
For locals in the Phoenix area, Longbow offers a program called the Flight Card. For an annual fee of $179, you (and up to 3 guests) receive approximately a 50% discount year round on golf. The Flight Card comes with a multitude of other benefits, including discounts in the pro shop and discounts at other OB Sports managed golf facilities. To see all of the privileges that come with the Flight Card, visit the Longbow Golf Club website at www.longbowgolf.com.
If I had to describe Longbow Golf Club in one word, I would say value. From course conditions, course layout, clubhouse amenities and a friendly staff, you will be hard pressed to find a public club in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area that offers as much value as Longbow does.
An Afternoon Well Spent
By Denny Hanson
Golfing in sunny Arizona at any golf course is considered a very good day. Spending that day at Longbow in North Mesa makes the day exceptional. This emaculate 18 hole course offers everything for the novice as well as the very experienced golfer. Playing from 6400 yards, this course offered everything that this 9 handicapper could handle. Bunkers are strategically placed so as not to penalize the good shot. Sometimes, however, the “good shot” and the bunker placement could be left open for discussion. The tips play at 7000 yards and will challenge the best of golfers.
Longbow is in excellent condition from tee boxes to greens. The putts are true providing one can read them correctly. The holes on this desert course are distinctively unique. One rarely gets the feeling that I have played this hole before.
Except for small aircraft flying overhead, on the minute, the distraction is simply the beauty of the surrounding mountainsides. From Red Mountain and Four Peaks to the north and the Superstition Mountains to the southeast, the course offers it all at a very fair price.
Management was most courteous and provided us with food and beverages that topped off this wonderful golf media day. The answer to the question every golf course hopes to receive from its players is: “Would you play this course again?” YES!!!
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| Omni Tucson National Golf Course (Jan 2009) |
Omni Tucson National Golf Course
Pictures by Wes Bolyard
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| SunRidge Canyon Golf Club (Jan 2009) |
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SunRidge Canyon Golf Club
By Wes and Angela Bolyard
Photos by Wes Bolyard
As you drive around Fountain Hills, you will be awed by the beauty of the hills and valleys. In the valley where SunRidge Canyon Golf Club begins, the culmination of that beauty is all wrapped up in one spectacular golf course. With views of the McDowell Mountains to the north, the Mazatzal Mountains to the northeast, the majestic Four Peaks to the east and the Superstitions to the southeast, it will be hard to concentrate on the golfing at hand. But pay attention you must, as this course offers a true desert experience. Golf World magazine readers selected SunRidge Canyon as #26 of the top 50 public courses in the country to play. It definitely lives up to that distinction.
Hole 1 with Four Peaks in background
Entering the 18,000 square foot clubhouse, you feel an immediate warmth and charm of a large Spanish hacienda from Arizona’s territorial days. Inside you will find a full-service golf shop, women’s and men’s locker facilities, a conference room, a large dining area indoor and outdoor dining on the patio with an awesome view. Adjacent to the dining area is an event pavilion where special activities can be held, like banquets and weddings. Be sure to take some time and enjoy a delicious meal while visiting the golf course. You will find a very gracious staff to accommodate all your dining needs.
Opened in 1995, this Keith Foster designed course has achieved national ranking by Golf Magazine as #42 of the top 100 public courses to play. Foster says “This golf course emerged from the land”. SunCor Golf, who manages the property along with six other courses, offers a Players Club program that allows participants to play each of championship courses throughout Arizona and Utah at discounted rates.
The course layout utilizes a natural setting where minimal dirt was moved to create the overall look. The non-returning front nine’s natural terrain progresses gently downhill, then the back nine steadily reverses with an uphill climb back to the clubhouse. While traversing this 6,823 yard, par 71 layout, there are arroyos, hillsides, rocky outcroppings and desert brush to avoid. The good news is that the fairways are generous and have reasonable forced carries over the natural desert. The greens will require a vivid imagination for putting on their undulating surfaces. Keep in mind they will break toward Four Peaks. Some of the fairways give you an opportunity to view the Fountain Hills namesake: the 560 foot fountain that spouts off every hour on the hour for 15 minutes.
Hole 5 with Fountain Hills fountain behind houses
There is not a weak hole on the course and your attention will need to stay on the moment. There are several signature holes, but the one that first comes to mind is 17. This hole has the possibility of having the flag placed on two different greens which connect with a large sand bunker guarding the middle front of each. Of course, the fact that your shot must carry a deep arroyo will play with your mind too. The five par 3’s make club selection vital, as they traverse canyons, sit beside a lake, or have multiple bunkering. The 18th hole is most dramatic with the green sitting about 70 feet above the fairway.
To the novice player who approaches the golf course in a conservative manner, SunRidge Canyon will provide a tremendously enjoyable round of golf. On the other hand, those who attack it with aggressive play will find this golf course can easily hold its own against even the best players. Allow yourself plenty of time to take advantage of the driving range, practice putting green, chipping area, and bunker area. All the golf carts are equipped with a state of the art GPS system to aid in navigating the course.
SunRidge Canyon will be host to the Arizona Women’s Golf Association’s match play championship in May. This is a perfect course for match play with a lot of risk-reward holes. And what a test that will be for those who have never played here before, or even those who have. Ladies, just be sure to understand the hole before choosing your line of play. I think you will really enjoy the course and the natural beauty surrounding it.
800-562-5178 / 480-837-5100 www.sunridgegolf.com  Hole 17
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| Eagle Mountain Golf Course Review (Dec 2008) |
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Eagle Mountain Golf Course Review
by Wayne Williams and Bob Barrette
A very impressive and elegant desert design, contrary to most desert courses, this one is a lot friendlier, no long forced carries over desert wastelands, and blind shots, which could elevate your golf score. Lush green grass is everywhere, on tees, fairways, never a thin lie. Further adding beauty to the course are well positioned and manicured desert settings that are in play, only on very errant shots. Greens are large, and very undulating, and in excellent condition. Most green surrounds are amphitheater style, as much as 15 to 30 feet above the greens. There are four separate teeing areas, with total yardages of 5065, 5825, 6244, 6777, to accommodate all skill levels.
Hole #18
Directional poles are located on all par 4’s and 5’s to point out the most preferred (safest) shot placement, for each hole, in order to avoid the many, and well placed bunkers. Most holes are very hilly; assuring that one will likely encounter an assortment of lies. The only hole that has a blind tee shot is the first, a straight away par five, that is severely downhill, but very wide, and the ball rolls forever, making it play shorter, and easier than the yardage implies. Most fairways are bordered with steep sloping hills that will send your ball skipping back down to the fairway, as a rule.
Every hole is its own creation, no replicas, each with different striking panoramas of the mountains, hills, valley floor, buttes, and also city views. An abundance of grandiose hillside homes, are along both sides of the fairways, many over 18,000 sq. feet in size. Bringing a camera with you is a must, at this outstanding collection of golf holes, as all hole locations have panoramic vistas. 
Hole #14
The entire staff from the GM to the rangers did everything possible to make sure we experienced a perfectly enjoyable and fun day of golf. We are confident that a day of golf at Eagle Mountain Golf Course will be remembered for years to come. When visiting Phoenix make sure to book your tee time early so you don’t miss out on playing this “Elite” course.
Elite Course: The best the area has to offer Must Play Course: Don't miss playing here Quality Course: Good solid track Average Course: A standard golf experience
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| Penny Pulz Golf Academy (Nov 2008) |
How to Improve Your Handicap and Live Longer!
by Angela Bolyard
It’s commonly believed that exercise is good for one’s health, but it’s been debated for years whether a round of golf provides much exercise. Now a 2008 scientific study by the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, showed that golf has beneficial health effects regardless of sex, age or social group. The death rate among golfers was found to be 40 per cent lower than the rest of the population, which equates to an increased life expectancy of five years. In addition, the study showed that the lowest death rates were found in the group of players with the lowest handicap
So now that you have another reason to lower your handicap, you’ll be happy to know that the Penny Pulz Golf Academy can give you the full spectrum of training you might need to accomplish that. They offer much more than just the usual golf swing training. Their complex mental, physical and skill building can help all levels and ages of golfers from beginner to tour professional, casual to competitive
Penny Pulz
Opened in 2008, the Academy presents a body and brain training program using the latest technologies and techniques, and combines action from the sports world with research from the medical world. Using technologies such as the K-Vest and Brain Gym, the student is provided with more than just verbal instructions to learn what they are already doing right and what needs improvement.
The Academy is owned by two-time LPGA Tour champion and 18-year LPGA Tour veteran, Penny Pulz (SWGMA Board Member). Following her tour career, and coaching and teaching all levels of golfers for 13 years, it’s no wonder she was named a 2004 Top 50 Teacher by Golf For Women magazine, and a 2008 Top 50 Teacher, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals Division. Penny’s intense curiosity of the golf swing, it’s mechanics and it’s mental discipline have culminated in her desire for all golfers to benefit from the top training advantages she has experienced throughout both of her golf careers. Her philosophy on golf is more about being comfortable in your own style than it is about a specific technique. She says, “You will identify the similarities (golf fundamentals) and recognize the differences (timing, tempo, swing shape) which ultimately produce your unique style of golf.”
Seniors, juniors and those in middle-age have improved their golf game at the Penny Pulz Golf Academy located at Sun City Country Club. Check the web site at www.pennypulzgolf.com to see what group or private session might help you lower your handicap and add a few more years to your life. As Penny suggests, Play Golf, Have Fun, Live Longer
For more information, email ppgolf@pennypulzgolf.com or call 623-298-2781 or 1-800-550-0614.
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| Sun City Country Club (Nov 2008) |
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A Hidden Gem in the Valley
By Angela Bolyard
Photo by Wes Bolyard
Sun City Country Club is the first country club Del Webb ever built. “Our tree-lined golf course is the grandfather of all the country clubs now in existence at the numerous Sun Cities around the country”, says Tom Loegering, CEO of Sun City Golf Resort.
Within six months of its dedication ceremony on March 4, 1967, all the memberships had been sold and a waiting list was created. From then on it took about a year to gain membership. Over the past 16 years, however, over-saturation of golf courses and an aging population have had a negative economic impact on Sun City Country Club (SCCC), and many other Arizona golf courses, causing a decline in new membership. So, SCCC embarked on a plan to restore the country club to its former pristine condition. The course still retains its original design by Coggins and Nash, but has now been upgraded with $4 million of improvements without having to spend $4 million. This was accomplished by leaving out all the unnecessary “bells & whistles.”
SCCC is a semi-private course, and one of the few clubs in the valley making significant progress with members. Currently with 150 golf members, their ideal membership is 175 to 200. General Manager and Director of Golf, Bob Chadwick, said “This is a full service facility that prides itself on service. We provide a resort quality course with resort quality service without resort prices.” Their mission is to keep costs down, market to families and seniors, take care of members needs, and pay attention to public guests. Chadwick added “We are striving for an affordable place for families to play.”
Community support is also a key component in SCCC’s plan. "We want and need the support of the local community. The community was what made SCCC special in the early days and we want to build that ‘neighborhood feel’ once again.” says Loegering. As a show of their community spirit, SCCC is the home course for five neighborhood high school teams who play for no charge. SCCC also hosted 28 tournaments in 2008.
Sun City Country Club
Penny Pulz, 2-time LPGA Champion, is the Director of Golf Instruction at SCCC. She teaches all levels of golfers from beginner to tour professional, casual to competitive. In 2008, she opened the Penny Pulz Golf Academy at SCCC which presents golf training simplified with today’s technologies and techniques; combining action from the sports world with research from the medical world. This 18-hole championship golf course offers mature trees and fairways that challenge the golf course skills for all levels of golfers. The driving range, which is open to the public, is also protected by tall trees that provide shade from the summer heat that could be as much as 15 degrees cooler. There is also a spacious short game practice area.
The restaurant and lounge are open to members and the public. They offer a full service lunch menu six days a week, with a Saturday and Sunday dinner, and a Sunday brunch. Dancing to live music is available on Thursday and Friday nights. Other special events are hosted such as the $10 steak night (where you cook your own New York strip) which includes a salad and baked potato.
A variety of membership options are available for golfers, and there are no age or residence requirements to apply. Social memberships are also offered.
Sun City Country Club is located at 9433 North 107th Avenue in Sun City, Arizona (just north of Olive Avenue). For more information visit the website at www.SunCityCountryClub.org or call 623-933-1353.
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| Mesa Country Club (Sep 2008) |
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Mesa Country Club
by Wes and Angela Bolyard
Perched high on the mesa, just south of the intersection of the 202 Red Mountain Freeway and Country Club Drive, sits the Mesa Country Club clubhouse with a magnificent view overlooking the golf course and the McDowell Mountains to the north.
In late 1940’s, the city of Mesa decided it should have a golf course to enhance its recreational options for the residents. William Bell designed the first 9 holes and work was started in 1949 clearing the land. Play began the following year but the second 9 holes weren’t added until 1953 along with a swimming pool. Tennis courts were built in the middle 60’s and the course was re-designed in the early 70’s by Jack Snyder resulting in the current hole routing.
The eucalyptus trees lining the fairways now were part of the 70’s re-routing. My, how they have grown! They give you the feeling of playing a course in the Midwest, but they provide a much welcomed shade in the summer for golfers. Their size and volume inhibit the Bermuda grass recovery in the spring, so only the fairways, tees and greens are over seeded in the “winter” months. The course also abounds with colorful flowering plants.
Small greens, well placed sand bunkers, the occasional lake, and elevation changes guard par here. The SRP Cross Cut Canal runs thru Mesa Country Club, creating both a hazard on some holes and an enchanting waterfall, called Chandler Falls, to the right of the 7th tee. Number 7 is a par 3 which drops down about 50 feet and requires a carry over the canal. To add to the challenge, there are bunkers surrounding the green and a large eucalyptus tree to the left. Let the sound of the waterfall calm your fears about all the hazards. Even with the elevation changes, approximately 25% of the members prefer to walk the course which is aided by the close proximity of the greens and tees. On a side note: SRP used to have an electrical generating plant on Chandler Falls, and is contemplating re-building one for green power use
Your second favorite tee shot, after #7, will probably be on the 10th hole. Sitting just outside the veranda from the dining room, you are on an elevated tee, hitting across the road to a dog-leg right, tree-lined fairway. Your shot looks like it will go forever, if you miss all the trees. It can be a little intimidating if you’re not comfortable with an “audience” watching you perform.
Hole #7
Hole #10
Hole #18
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