SLO County Golf, Wine & Real Estate

Golf, Wine & Real Estate News and Events Blog

Tony Criscuolo offers Yoga for Golfers

Monday, October 31, 2005

The combination of yoga and golf instruction is a natural union in many ways. For example, the process of learning yoga postures is remarkably similar to learning to swing a golf club, and a calm, centered mental state is essential to success in golf and a major component in proper yoga instruction.

Most people with major swing faults have tight muscles that will not allow their bodies to get into the right positions. The flexibility, alignment, balance and muscle tone that result from the correct execution of a well-rounded yoga practice will lead to consistently excellent play.

The proper mental state enhances your ability to control and direct the motivating potential of the emotions. Dealing with such feelings as fear and anger on the golf course is a major challenge for even the best tournament players, and a well conceived yoga practice aids in learning to maintain a balanced emotional state.

Yoga instruction is combined with clinics at the Avila Beach Golf Resort that will focus on the sound fundamentals essential to success in any or all of the three main elements of golf: the full swing, the short game and putting. Although the half-hour yoga or golf sessions can be taken separately, the best outcome is experienced when they are done consecutively, starting with the yoga session.

This combined format is available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings only. Single sessions are arranged by the availability of the instructors and the convenience of the students.

Our instructors are recognized as experts in their fields:

Tony Criscuolo, a collegiate basketball player, past air force aviator, college teacher, psychologist and a yoga instructor for 30 years, has taught many LPGA and PGA touring professionals, top collegiate athletes (in SLO he instructs the Cal-Poly football, women's soccer and men's and women's golf teams) and taught for three years at The David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida.

Jay Farrior, the head professional at The Avila Beach Golf Resort and a former nationally ranked tri-athlete, uses enjoyable drills and competitions to make the learning of sound fundamentals both rewarding and fun. He sees fitness, flexibility and focus as the essential "3Fs" to the improvement of all facets of the golf game.

For more information and to book Yoga for Golf sessions please contact Tony Criscuolo at (805) 542-0137.

Yoga for Golfers
Article by Tony Criscuolo, San Luis Obispo, CA

San Luis Obispo County Golf Boom?

Sunday, October 30, 2005

With another golf course - Monarch Dunes Golf Resort - nearing completion here in San Luis Obispo County, you might think there's a golf boom on the Central Coast. In reality, many of our county courses have struggled in recent years, along the the golf industry as a whole.

Not only has overall participation slowed, but expenses have risen significantly with the higher costs of oil and fertilizers. Here in San Luis Obispo County, our privately owned local courses also have the extra challenge of competing with the lower greens fees offered by our three county courses, which are subsidized by local tax dollars.

According to an article today in the LA Times, this isn't the scenario that golf's gurus envisioned in the 1990s, when the "Tiger effect" - a surge in interest in the sport inspired by the arrival of Tiger Woods on the pro tour - and dot-com stock options fueled the belief that a course a day could be built for the foreseeable future.

That euphoria extended into 2000, when 400 courses opened nationwide. This year, about 150 will open, still far exceeding the 50 or so that will shut down.

The build-it-and-they-will-come mentality has been fueled by demand for high-end communities anchored by alluring courses. It comes after a heady half-century of growth; only 3.5 million Americans played golf in 1950, compared with 27.3 million in 2004.

But the number of rounds played increased by just 0.7% in 2004 after three years of decline. The ranks of serious golfers - the roughly half of all players who account for the vast majority of rounds - fell by nearly 5% last year.

Woods has lured newcomers, including many minorities, to the game. Latinos, Asians and African Americans now account for one-fifth of all players, according to a 2003 National Golf Foundation survey.

But many new golfers quickly retire their clubs because of the game's high costs, its inherent difficulty and the time it takes to play 18 holes - or because they come to agree with Mark Twain's observation that golf is a good walk spoiled.

That leaves golf's near-term success in the grip of baby boomers, those now in their 40s and 50s with time and money to play, their fascination with the game ingrained after watching Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer turn it into a television staple.

"We see 15 to 20 years of terrific business ahead for our company," said Henry Dozier, vice president of golf for Pulte Homes, which owns the Del Webb retirement communities. "If you were born in 1964, that makes you 41 right now, and you'll be hitting the Del Webb sweet spot in 10 years and be in it for another 10 years."

What's uncertain, said Steve Mona, chief executive of the Golf Course Superintendents Assn. of America, is whether boomers with a wealth of leisure activities to choose from will hold onto their clubs or trade them for running shoes, bicycles and kayaks.

Golf also must hone its marketing game for younger consumers "who've had computer screens in front of them since grade school," said Dana Garmany, chairman of Troon Golf, a Scottsdale, Ariz., company that owns and operates courses. "If golf doesn't understand how to evolve, it's going to end up being like polo."

Most new courses in the last decade have been high-end, daily-fee clubs that are open to the public. In most cases, the developer builds the course and surrounding homes and eventually sells out to the homeowners or an operating company. The math can work, if the owners are willing to pay for upgrades over the years, and the course generates enough cash to remain healthy.

Golf's new economics have ended the days when club pros could build a career on a solid swing and a winning smile. The emphasis is on luring customers and getting them to play often.

Courses are rolling out frequent-golfer cards, wine tastings and barbecues. Some offer day care for toddlers and free rounds to children playing with parents. Others offer deep discounts on second rounds.

Operators also are recognizing that golf traditions are not sacrosanct.

"These kids are going to be bringing their laptop, their cellphone and BlackBerry, and they're going to be wearing their favorite cool shirt," said Tim Hurja, a PGA pro whose company books golfers onto Palm Springs-area courses. "What's golf going to do? Say, 'No, no, no, you can't have a cellphone, you've got to wear this shirt, and you can't have a mulligan?'"

Read entire article here:
After Boom, Golf Isn't Out of Woods
LA Times, Greg Johnson

Nov 5-6 - Nipomo Amateur Championship

Friday, October 28, 2005

Blacklake Golf Resort is hosting the Nipomo Amateur Championship on Saturday, November 5th and Sunday, November 6th, 2005. Entry Fee for this 36-hole stroke play tournament is $125 per person. Fees include Golf and cart rental both days, prize fund, range balls and a banquet following the tournament on Sunday.

Contact PGA Head Professional Rudi Fann for more information at (805) 343-1214 or rudi@blacklake.com.

Introducing Damian Pascuzzo

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Damian Pascuzzo, president of Graves & Pascuzzo Design in El Dorado Hills, CA, is the architect responsible for the design of San Luis Obispo County's newest golf course - Monarch Dunes Golf Resort - located in Nipomo at The Woodlands.

Damian Pascuzzo is well known for his design philosophy of "strategy-over-length" and is a leading advocate for advancing affordable golf. Pascuzzo claims that "long-ball" technology threatens the growth and affordability of golf as green fees rise to accommodate courses that require more acreage, resulting in higher construction and maintenance costs.

Pascuzzo follows this philosophy at Monarch Dunes, weaving risk-reward strategy into hole design using natural land forms, carefully preserving trees, and introducing lakes, elevation changes and subtle movements in the terrain. His vision for Monarch Dunes blends strategy with affordability resulting in an old-style Scottish Links course right here to the Central Coast of California!

In 1991, longtime associate Damian Pascuzzo partnered with well-known architect Robert Muir Graves to form Graves & Pascuzzo, Golf Course Architects. As partners, Graves & Pascuzzo have designed golf courses around the Western United States and the Pacific Rim, including Paradise Valley Golf Course in Fairfield, CA., La Purisima Golf Club in Lompoc, CA.; and Meadowood Golf Club in Spokane, WA.

Since Graves passing, Damian Pascuzzo has headed the firm while playing an active role in the American Society of Golf Course Architects, where he recently served as its President. When Damian Pascuzzo began his term as president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, promoting the need for more affordable golf was at the top of his agenda.

While not knocking high-end daily-fee courses, Pascuzzo believes entry-level affordable golf has been lost in the shuffle.

Recent research out of the Golf 20/20 initiative indicates that there are many people who want to play the game but don't. They make up the latent demand segment of the market. Conservative estimates place the number of people in the latent demand segment of approximately 10 million. Other estimates take that figure up to 20 million people. The reasons most often cited for not playing golf are time, expense and difficulty.

Pascuzzo wants to make developers aware that you can build alternative, affordable facilities and make them training grounds. Pascuzzo shares, "If we can get people out to less expensive courses where they can be successful and not be intimidated, then they can move on. One thing we know for sure: Golf is an addictive game. Once you get people comfortable with it, they tend to stick around."

Wally Uihlein, the CEO of Titleist's parent company, portrays the attitude of many in the golf manufacturing industry when he shared in a Sports Illustrated article that, "Advances in equipment should continue unchecked so the game will be more enjoyable for the average golfer, especially now that the golf industry is mired in the same recession as the rest of the U.S."

Pascuzzo suggests instead that golf's flagging participation rates are due primarily to cost. It is a simple equation. The farther players can hit the ball, the more length and width we need for safe and enjoyable golf courses. This additional acreage means more development costs and greater maintenance budgets. These additional expenses are most likely going to be passed on to the golfer in the form of higher greens fees.

Like-minded architects are not attempting to roll back the clock, but looking to the future of the game. They just want to keep golf affordable so golfers of all ages and abilities can enjoy it. Making golf more expensive, time consuming, and more intimidating is not the way to grow participation rates.

These architects delight in plotting holes that conform to the terrain and make strategy and decision-making paramount. Ideally, golf should take advantage of natural beauty, not overwhelm it. One can only hope that their plea for valuing "strategy over length" is heeded.

Pascuzzo Makes a Case for the Defense--of Strategy
Pascuzzo tackles technology, affordability issues
Municipal golf still plays an important role in game's growth
How has the golf ball harmed golf

Back under 85 at Morro Bay Golf Course

Saturday, October 22, 2005

I've been wanting to play Morro Bay Golf Course for some time now and got my chance today after getting an invitation to play with a friend as his son. Overall, I enjoyed the round and played better than I have recently, but our 8:15am tee time was 30 minutes late and the course was backed up much of the day - due, I assume, to the very dense fog that never lifted.

The fog was so dense on the higher elevation front nine that the greens were rarely in view outside 100 yards. It was quite a challenge to pick a target line. We could rarely see where any tee or fairway shot landed.

Nevertheless, we didn't loose any balls and I ended up shooting an 83 overall, with a 42 on the front and 41 on the back. I achieved 6 pars and 1 birdie, but managed 2 double bogies (both immediately following my birdie on the par-4 6th). I only 3-putted one green, coming in with 34 putts in total, 17 on each nine. Although I only hit 6 fairways and even less greens with 4, I came through with a decent short game and avoided the dreaded triple and quadruple bogies that have plagued me of late... no OB's!

This round should help me regain my confidence - that I can get back in the low 80's and again break 80 on occasion. It's been 2 months since I've shot under 85! Two months ago, I had a three month stretch where I was shooting 85 or less 75% of my rounds. I feel like I'm about to break through again on a consistent basis. I'm getting used to my new grip which has added distance to my irons. The lost accuracy is slowly returning.

Looking forward to getting out again soon to see if I can keep up the lower scoring. Between work and going out of town next week, I may have to wait until the following week to try.

Hunter Ranch Players Club Membership

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Is there a chance you will play golf at Hunter Ranch at least a couple times in 2006? If so, the 2006 Players Club Card will save you money!

That's right! A 2006 Players Club Membership priced at just $229 will more than pay for itself if you play just a few times throughout the year.

However, the more you play, the more you save! As a 2006 Players Club Member you will receive a minimum of 40% off green fees and preferred cart fees every time you play. So the more you play, the bigger the savings! Additionally, as a 2006 Member you will receive exclusive e-mail specials and events not available to the public.

Members receive Two Complimentary Green Fees plus additional special savings certificates that together are valued over $700!

2006 Players Club Cost Savings include (Effective January 1st, 2006):

Preferred Golf Rates, $27 Mon - Fri ($33 savings), $39 Sat, Sun and Holidays ($39 savings)
Early access to twilight times plus special twilight rates ($8 savings)
Preferred Cart Fees - $12 ($5 savings)
Two "Four for $100" Green Fee Certificates (a $424 value; certificates valid for play at Hunter Ranch and sister course La Purisima)
Two "Two for One" lunch vouchers
Four Preferred Guest Passes allowing you to entertain your friends and clients at your preferred rate
NCGA / SCGA Handicap or a $25 Golf Shop credit
10% discount on Golf Shop non-sale merchandise
Bonus: Two complimentary rounds of golf when you join (a $156 value)

Hunter Ranch has creatied the Players Club program to provide the best golfing value to our most loyal patrons while maintaining our focus on customer service. And, the early opportunity to join only increases that value as your privileges will begin immediately providing you with additional time to enjoy the benefits. That could be as much as fourteen months for the price of twelve!

Take advantage of the savings and begin to enjoy your 2006 Players Club membership today!

For more information or to join today online, visit www.hunterranchgolf.com.

Still Struggling with new Grip

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

After posting a 98, my worst score ever, 2 weeks ago at Cypress Ridge, I haven't played or practiced since. So far, that has been my only round of golf after taking my first lesson ever which resulted in a grip change.

Today I ventured out to Blacklake to see if I can whittle my score back down and make progress with this new grip. I made some progress, but still had too many blow-up holes to post a good score. I shot a 90, with a 45 on Lakes and 45 on Oaks.

I was shooting 5 over after 8 holes on the Lakes (3 pars, 5 bogies, hitting 4 greens), but managed to quadruple bogie par-5 9 after clobbering my drive, but duffing my 2nd shot, hitting the 3rd shot out-of-bounds, and ending with 3 putts.

My consistency faltered further on the Oaks. The highlight on the back was making a 36 ft. birdie putt on the par-4 3rd after hitting a 290 yd. drive and 110 yd. wedge to the green. I also ended with a par on both 8 and 9. However, lost balls on par-5 6 helped add another quadruple bogie. 3 putts on the 2nd and an OB on the 4th added 2 double bogies.

Overall, I was striking the ball well, but let the short finess course get the best of me when getting aggresive with my driver and 3-wood. I also struggled with my wedge within 100 yards and my putting (35 putts, including 3 3-putts) still needs a lot of improvement.

Nevertheless, I think my new grip and resulting swing are improvements over the old. It's just going to take time to regain confidence and consistency with my aim and touch.

River Oaks Saturday Morning Golf League

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Beginning Saturday October 22nd, 2005, River Oaks Golf Course is hosting 10 weeks of team play in their new Saturday Morning Golf League. Various games are featured each week. Entry fee is $100 per player (includes all 10 weeks of play!).

Contact Paul Crockett for more information at (805) 226-2096.

Reestablish your Tempo every day

Monday, October 17, 2005

Tip by Jim DeLaby, PGA

Want more consistent ball striking, distance, and accuracy earlier in your round or practice then you need to reestablish (or re-find) your Tempo everyday.

Here is an easy way to figure out the proper swing tempo for you on a daily basis:
(Note: your tempo is devised by combining your rhythm, or speed for the back-swing with your rhythm, or speed for the thru-swing, in balance)

1. Start with your favorite or easiest club to hit (any club will do... common selections are a wedge, or a 7 iron, or a fairway wood)

2. To get that proper mix of balance + rhythm, start with a Baseball Bat swing (standing with your club like your getting ready to hit a pitch at waist high or a little above) Swing easily or slowly at first. If you can complete this baseball swing and hold your finish position in balance for 3 seconds, then speed up the next baseball swing a bit.

3. Speed up each successive baseball swing until you cannot hold your balance. Once you have lost your balance on the finish, you know your swinging to fast (Note: in the summer heat your Tempo will be faster and you will be able to hit the ball farther/but in the winter your Tempo will be slower and you will hit the ball shorter). After falling off balance back down your speed to a level that doesn't throw off your finish off balance.

4. Now put a tee in the ground.

5. Using that same in balance Tempo you discovered with your Baseball Bat swing drill, clip the tee and hold the finish in balance for 3 seconds.

6. If you can hold you can clip the tee and hold your balance then you have found your Tempo for that club and are ready to hit a ball. (Note: if you miss the tee above then your Tempo is too fast, but if you hit the ground before the tee your Tempo is too slow)

7. Now place a ball on a similar tee (same height as the tee clip drill). Concentrate on the same Tempo that clipped the tee. (Note: Just because the ball is now present does not mean you abandon thinking about the tee clip... since Tempo thought created the tee clip then the same thought with the ball there will clip the tee again!)

8. Listen to the tee clip and watch your ball that is now airborne.

So if you want more consistent ball striking, distance, and accuracy earlier in your round or practice session, re-find (or reestablish) your TEMPO every day.

Learn more about Jim DeLaby and schedule a golf lesson.

Make the Central Coast your next Golf Destination

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

For most golfers, home courses, like old clothes, offer a certain comfort. On the road, however, it's another matter. A bit of challenge and adventure is expected on new and unfamiliar ground, be it hilly or flat, coastal or desert, barren or lush. Something exotic, famous, or strikingly scenic may be in order on this, a once-a-year - or even once-in-a-lifetime - vacation opportunity.

Close to seven million Americans a year golf while traveling on vacation, and just about every destination is entered in the competition. Go to any corner of America today and you will find a golf course.

One such destination is the California Central Coast - fast becoming one of the top vacation spots, not only for its famous castle, wine tasting and beaches, but for fabulous, top-notch golf!

Central Coast wineries were recently discovered - almost overnight - by moviegoers won over by the Academy Award winning film, "Sideways". Tens of thousands of novice and veteran wine lovers, with specially made "Sideways" maps in hand, took "Sideways" bus tours, and visited the restaurants and wine tasting rooms they saw on the big screen, thirsty for Miles' favorite varietal, pinot noir.

And of course, the Central Coast's San Luis Obispo County is famous for the magnificent Hearst Castle, where tourists flock to tour this historic private 127-acre estate built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.

For those who would like to add golf to their Central Coast vacation itinerary, San Luis Obispo County - recently voted #1 for golf in California by Golf Digest - offers a world-class golf destination.

Relaxed and uncrowded, over a dozen San Luis Obispo County golf courses offer a variety of terrain and levels of play. The scenic courses offer lush scenery, ocean views and challenging holes.

Come experience San Luis Obispo County's Mediterranean climate, offering excellent year-round golf conditions in addition to the most affordable golf on the California's Central Coast. You will have one of your most memorable golf vacations ever.

Visit our Courses page to select and make reservations at any of our San Luis Obispo County golf courses.

Speeding Up SLO Play

Monday, October 10, 2005

I've played a few rounds of golf recently during the week that seemed to crawl. I expect this slow play if I'm playing in Southern California or the Bay Area, but not here on the Central Coast where the courses are usually never busy on weekdays. A round of golf simply should not take five hours to complete, despite what you tell your spouse.

Most experts say that a good pace of play not only increases enjoyment of the game, it can actually improve one's game. Standing around on every shot allows the muscles to cool down or limbs to stiffen up. A brisk pace can help keep a golfer loose and ready to play.

It's often a combination of little things not done that wind up contributing to slow play and on-course traffic jams. Playing with a brisk pace isn't about rushing your shots, it's about being ready to take your shot when it's your turn, and behaving efficiently on the course.

To guage your pace, use the groups ahead of you and behind you. If the group that teed off directly in front of you is pulling away - putting a full hole's distance between them and your group - you need to speed up. If there's no one in front of you holding you up, but you are holding up those behind you, either speed up or allow the trailing group to play through.

Here are some tips for making sure your pace of play is as brisk as it should be.

Use the Appropriate Tees
Choose a set of tees appropriate to your skill level. Playing from the championship set of tees when you're not really good enough to do so only adds strokes and time.

Play "Ready Golf"
If all else fails, try playing "ready golf," which simply means that order of play is based on who's ready, not who's away.

When waiting on the tee for the group in front to clear the fairway, don't be so strict about order of play. Let the short hitter - who can't reach the group ahead anyway - go ahead and hit.

Avoid Mulligans
If you're following the rules, you won't be using mulligans. But if are using mulligans, limit them to no more than one mulligan per nine (you should never hit a mulligan if players behind you are waiting - or if you want to later claim that you played by the rules).

When in Doubt, Hit a Provisional
When you think your shot might have landed out of bounds or be lost, immediately hit a provisional ball. Don't walk ahead to search, only to have to return to the original spot to replay a shot.

If you are playing a recreational match with, shall we say, a "loose interpretation" of the rules, then simply drop a new ball somewhere around the area where your ball was lost and keep playing.

Proceed Directly to your Ball
Each member of a foursome (or any group) should proceed directly to his or her ball. The group should not travel as a pack, going first to one ball, then the next, and so on. Avoid side-trips to the other players' balls on the other side of the fairway.

If sharing a cart, don't drive to the first ball, wait for the first player to hit, then head to the second ball. Drop the first player off at his ball, drive on ahead to the second ball. The first player should walk over to the cart as the second player is playing his shot.

Prepare for Shots Before You Get There
While walking (or riding) to your ball, use the travel time to begin thinking over your next shot - the yardarge, which club you'll use, and so on. Begin preparing before you get to your ball.

Instead of walking to your ball and then looking for a yardage marker, look for them on your way to the ball.

Carry Three Clubs
When using a cart on a cart-path-only day, be sure to take three clubs with you when you walk from the cart to the ball. This way, you won't have to return to the cart if you discover you didn't bring the appropriate club.

If you're "about 150" yards away and your cart buddy needs to go look for his ball in the weeds, take your 6-, 7-, and your 8-iron (assuming you hit a 7-iron 150 yards). The wind, the elevation, the lie, and the location of the flagstick may affect your club selection.

When you're near the green and your partner is on, grab a few wedges (you never know what kind of lie you'll have in that bunker) and your putter and send him on his way to park the cart at the back of the green.

Keep Your Eyes on the Balls
When you - or your partners - hits a ball, follow it. Watch it fly, land, bounce, splash, and/or roll to its finishing position. Mark the location with a landmark - a tree, a patch of differently colored grass, or the guy you hit in the next fairway. Knowing the location of the ball to within a few feet is the key to finding your ball quickly, and knowing the location of your partner's (or even your opponent's) ball is key to becoming a good golfing buddy.

Limit Your Search for Lost Balls
If you do loose a ball, limit your search. If you're not following the rules anyway, don't spend more than a minute searching - or just immediately play your provisional. (If you are playing by the rules, wave through any group behind that is being held up by your search.)

Cut the Practice Swings
One practice swing is plenty unless you have lots of time. If you must take a lot of practice swings, and you can do so without distracting others, take your practice swings while others in your group are playing their shots. When it's your turn, take one more practice swing at most and then fire away.

Park Your Cart or Bag Between the Green and Next Tee
Leave your bags or golf carts to the side of the green, and in the direction of the next tee, never in front of the green.

Don't Forget Clubs
After chipping onto the green, take your wedge with you to your ball and laying it nearby while you putt. Or, at the very least, put your wedge on the back edge of the green near the exit path to the carts. If you putt out first, grab the flagstick and your buddy's wedge so that he doesn't have the chance to forget. Once you're done putting, you'll be able to get off the green quickly.

Prepare for Putts While you Wait
On the green, begin lining up your putt and reading the break as soon as you reach the green. When it's your turn to putt, be prepared to step right up and take the stroke.

In truth, green-reading begins the instant you get within 30 yards or so of the green - check the elevation, slopes, and grain early on and you'll save time when you start to fine-tune the line you've chosen.

Fill Your Pockets
Carry a few extra tees, ball marks and a spare ball in your pockets so you don't have to return to your golf bag to retrieve them, should you find yourself in need of one.

Tend the Flagstick
Have some common courtesy, and pull the flagstick when it's ready. If you're the last to chip onto the green or the closest to the pin, assume that it's your job. If it's not your job but you're closest to the pin, pull it anyway. Just make sure nobody really wanted it tended. If you're the first to putt out, grab the pin and be ready to put it in when the last person putts out.

Continuous Putting
Don't mark your two-foot putt. Just tap it in. Heck, in the day and age of soft cleats, "spike marks" are practically a non-issue (unless you regularly play with former sumo champions), so don't even worry so much about stepping on someone's line. you can do it quickly and without leaving a mark. Just putt out.

Get Off The Green
When your group has finished putting out, get off the green. Check your scores on the next tee and write them down while others are teeing off. Don't settle bets on the greens, don't give lessons, and don't practice putt if people are waiting to hit on to the green. Get off.

Pick Up
If you're playing a match that allows you to pick up when you're out of a hole, do so. Your 8 will not help when your partner has two putts for par, and watching you play Army golf is not an enjoyable experience for those behind you.

Save Advice for the Range
If you're the type who likes to offer tips to playing partners, save it for the driving range - or only do so on the course when you're sure that you're not slowing down play.

Play, Then Talk
Never hold up play because you're in the middle of a conversation. Put the conversation on hold, take your stroke, then continue the conversation.

Call for Snacks Ahead of Time
Many golf courses have a phone on the ninth tee. It usually rings the halfway house, where you can place orders. Stop in, grab your food, and get back to the tenth tee. Lollygagging in the halfway house is a sure way to get "jumped" by the group behind you. If you do need to take awhile (bathroom break, etc.), give the guys behind you the chance to play through.

Hang Up
Get off the cell phone or leave it in the car. Unless it's an emergency (in which case slow play shouldn't be an issue because you should be heading back to the clubhouse), just hang up. Golf courses should institute a local rule whereby it is both legal and in which players are encouraged to hit into any group in which someone is talking on a cell phone.

Help Your Fellow Man
If you're closest to the pin and your pal's in the sand and barely gets it out onto the putting green, pull the pin and then offer to rake the trap for him. Don't just wait around for him to rake and then putt. Be kind, and the golf gods will be kind to you.

First Visit to Sea Pines Golf Resort in Los Osos

Saturday, October 08, 2005

I had the pleasure of playing Sea Pines Golf Resort in Los Osos for the first time yesterday. Sea Pines Golf Course is recognized as one of the finest and most challenging executive 9-hole golf courses in California. The course offers stunning views of the Morro Bay Estuary, Morro Rock and protected rare coastal dunes. I was impressed not only with the beauty of the course and its surroundings, but with how excellent a condition the course is kept.

The course is relatively flat with narrow fairways lined by mature pines and cypress trees. The resort is bordered by ocean dunes, bay views, picturesque Montana de oro State Park and the charming quiet villages of Los Osos and Baywood Park. Scenic views of the bay and dunes are available from nearly every hole!

A large pond comes into play on the par-4 3rd on the approach to the green. A smaller pond on the par-4 6th requires you layup your tee shot, then shoot over the pond and between two large cypress trees to land the green. A wonderful view of Morro Rock can be obtained from the 6th green.

A driver and short wedge will land the green on the 4th and 5th, while mid to long irons are required for each of the last 3 par-3 holes. The narrow fairways make these par-3 holes quite a challenge to hit from the tee.

In addition to the golf course, Sea Pines provides a driving range and practice areas equipped with two putting greens and a chipping area to help sharpen your skills.

I'm planning to start playing Sea Pines on a regular basis to sharpen the part of my game that needs the most work - approach shots, chipping and putting. But even my reliable driver got to come out of the bag on 3 holes. In my opinion, if you can master this course, you can master any course!

Like me, I'm confident you will find the course and the surrounding beauty, including natural wildlife, a place you will want to come play again and again.

Jim DeLaby's Keys to Successful Putting

Friday, October 07, 2005

After learning of my putting woes last round, Jim DeLaby shared these keys to successful putting with me to help me rediscover this skill, a skill that once gained, Jim indicates you never loose.

Jim DeLaby's 5 Keys to Successful Putting
(as discussed at recent Cypress Ridge Homeowners Potluck)

1. Lopsided Golf Balls - yes it is true and we have known about it, at least from a teachers stand point since the 1990's, that the golf balls get out of round from either play or even sometimes out of the sleeve box... my rule is that if you think your stroke and speed are fine but your still missing key putts 3 holes in a row change golf balls.

2. Speed - Putting is all about finding the right speed. You can be super accurate but if you're way short or way long after the putt you have not given yourself a great chance to make the next putt. However the opposite is true too... If your distance is decent and your aim is off a little the next putt tends to be easier.

3. Arm Hang - setting up to the putt with posture that allows you to hang your arms contributes to swinging the club more like a pendulum of a clock. Gravity now is your friend during the stroke, not the enemy.

4. Fitted Putter - A golf magazine recently stated that nearly 90% of all golfers are mis-fitted with their putters. I will take that even further and state that most of these mis-fitted golfers have putters that are too long!

5. Green Speeds Change - If the speed of the greens are different the next time you play, either much slower or much faster, then you will have trouble 2 putting UNTIL you get the new speed recalibrated. Also, remember the practice putting greens are usually the last to get cut in the morning and may not be the same speed as the greens on the course until later in the morning or day.

Jim is confident that addressing these 5 keys will reduce the challenges we face putting.

Learn more about Jim DeLaby and schedule a golf lesson.

Another Look At Golf and Biorhythms

Thursday, October 06, 2005

I was reminded at Cypress Ridge Golf Course yesterday, after my worst round in years, of a quote made by Tiger Woods, "I don't know whether our biorhythms get out of sync, some muscle memory is depleted or that computer between our ears suddenly crashes, but every player has days when consistent ball-striking is a foreign concept. I know I've had my share."

As I've shared once before, I'll sometimes check my biorhythm chart on days when I play extremely well or extremely poorly. A curious look at the charts today was initiated after shooting a 98 (51/47) at Cypress Ridge Golf Course yesterday. As far as I can remember, this is the worst round I've shot as an adult!

So what happened?

As I posted earlier, I took my first-ever golf lesson last week. Essentially, all that I changed as a result of that lesson was my grip. Prior to playing yesterday, I'd had the opportunity to practice at the range with this grip change 3 times. I actually felt pretty confident with the change and seemed to be hitting the ball longer and straighter. My ball striking on the course yesterday was pretty consistent with my results on the range. I was hitting the ball well, with only a few exceptions.

What I think contributed to my poor play most was a mental and emotional breakdown I experienced due to a horrible start with my putting.

I played extremely well on the first 4 holes, hitting each fairway and landing each green in regulation with good tee and fairway shots.

However, I three-putted each of those 4 greens!

On the 5th, I hit another great tee shot in the middle of the fairway, but hit my approach shot a little fat and came up short - missing my first green in regulation. I chipped up close, but 2-putted to continue my string of bogies. The round was still under control, but I started getting discouraged with my putting. I could have easily been even at this point, but was instead, 5 over.

Things started to unwind on 6. My long drive faded well right, potentially out-of-bounds or lost. My provisional did the same. My next provisional was long and right down the middle. Amazingly, I found both of the 1st balls in bounds and played my first ball, which was found in the dirt surrounded by some tufts of long grass.

I duffed that shot and left the ball under some chapparel, still right of the fairway. The ball was unplayable, so I dropped it and left the next shot short. I then chipped close to the pin, and finally 1-putted. Even though this was only my first double bogie, I felt discouraged and let it sink in that the chance of shooting a good round had gotten away from me.

This proved fatal on 7, where I put my drive out-of-bounds left. My provisional landed in the fairway. My wedge to the green was then too strong, and landed inches from a rock in some tall grass behind the green. I managed to place a wedge on the ball, but left it short of the green. It took another chip and 2 putts to finish this par-4 hole with an 8!

I then finished 8 and 9 with double bogies, both with great drives landing in the fairway. The 9th was particularly horrible. I hit a huge drive followed by 3-wood that drifted right, but remained on the fairway. I then hit this par-5 green in regulation with a wedge, but left it at the back of the green on the shelf above the pin placement. I then managed to 4-putt for a double bogie - finishing 9 with 23 putts!

This resulted in my first post-50 round (51) for nine holes in years. After my string of 5 bogies to start the round, I finished the last 4 holes with a quadruple and 3 double bogies! And this was done missing only 2 fairways on the front nine and hitting 5 greens in regulation. Amazing!

The back nine was even crazier. Even though I managed 5 pars, I experienced 1 double, 2 triple and another quadruple bogie to end the back with a 47. Another amazing outcome - shooting 11-over for 9 with 5 pars - argh!

I played 10 and 11 well, coming up with a bogie and par. I hit another good drive on 12, followed by one of my best 8-irons ever. However, the 8-iron hit the deep bunker in front of the green due to a strong headwind - a significant mental error in club selection. The ball was plugged and took 2 shots to get out of the sand. That 2nd shot flew over the green and required another chip and 2 putts to finish the hole.

I played 13 well and parred, but added another triple bogie on 14. I hit a huge drive on 14 that cleared the fairway bunkers on the left by a mile, but ended up 1 foot out-of-bounds - due more to power than to direction. I just hit it too far!

To continue my inconsistent play, I parred 15, then added my 2nd quadruple bogie on 16. This was my biggest blow up. I hit my drive left into the eucs. My only option was to punch my second shot back into the fairway. I then pulled my 4-iron just a little left, but hit a tree and bounced further left, landing under a bush. I managed to climb into the bushes and punch the ball sideways back into play, but then landed my subsequent shot in a bunker short of the green. A chip and 2 putts resulted in another 8!

I parred 17 and 18 to keep my score under 100, but still left the course in a bit of a state of shock ;).

Looking back on the round, I have to feel good about my ball striking. A few errant drives were costly, resulting from a lack of concentration. My short game was horrid, but should have still resulted in a round no worse than the high 80's. It was my mental and emotional game that sent the round south. I let my poor putting at the start rattle me and lost the ability to stay focused over many of my remaining shots.

So, as I mentioned, after such an unusually poor round, I found myself checking my biorhythm chart this morning to see if it showed anything that mirrored my play yesterday. It turns out it does.

My physical cycle shows it's near a peak. This is consistent with the good results I had striking the ball yesterday. I really hit some huge drives. All this physical energy may have even contributed to my putting performance, messing up my speed control just enough to throw me off.

But most telling is that my emotional and intellecutal charts are near the bottom. I can't overestimate how important those aspects are to the game of golf. You can hit the ball long all day, but if your mental game is off and you let your emotions take over, your round is finished.

That's exactly what happened to me yesterday. I managed to let some "just-missed" putts and one errant drive at the beginning of the round ruin the entire round. If I'd managed to remain focused and controlled my emotional response to some poor shots, I could have easily finished with a decent round with how well I was striking the ball.

Anyway, this was a good lesson. Even if these physical, mental, and emotional cycles do influence us, they don't have to rule us. When our mental and emotional states are at a low, we can simply be more aware of the need to take control of those aspects of ourselves. Instead, I just let them take over yesterday, to the detriment of the strength I did experience in striking the ball.

Check my recent entry about biorhythms if you'd like to learn more about this theory that we are influenced by physical, emotional, and intellectual cycles.

Monarch Dunes Golf Resort Coming Soon!

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

As early as November, a soft opening of Monarch Dunes Golf Resort in Nipomo will hail the South County's first new 18-hole golf course since Cypress Ridge opened its doors just north in Arroyo Grande.

Nestled in eucalyptus groves just minutes from the Pacific Ocean at The Woodlands in Nipomo is the new home of Monarch Dunes Golf Resort - 18 holes of top-notch and challenging golf. Monarch Dunes at The Woodlands is located just southwest of Blacklake Golf Course, 10 minutes from Pismo Beach and only four miles away from the Pacific Ocean.

The "soft" opening of this golf course is roughly scheduled for the same time the first phase of new homes will be completed. These first homes are part of a large resort-lifestyle community being developed at The Woodlands by Trilogy Central Coast, a division of Shea Homes.

An official opening for the golf course is likely next spring. Shea Homes will have over 40 homes available in its first phase, many along the Monarch Dunes 9th fairway.

A par-3 9-hole course is planned later, located east of the current "north" golf course. The "south" course, another 18 holes, will eventually run near a bluff overlooking agricultural land west of Santa Maria.

Monarch Dunes Golf Resort is under management of Kemper Sports Management, the same group that manages world-famous Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes in Oregon and Desert Willow Resort and Black Gold Golf Course in California. Kemper Sports works with each course to identify and foster its unique qualities and opportunities, which often results in commercial success far beyond what's possible with a one-size-fits-all approach. Their plan is simply to do a good job and let word of mouth do the rest.

Mark Luthman, Regional Director of Kemper Sports, granted Golf SLO a first look at Monarch Dunes, the championship layout by Damian Pascuzzo of Graves & Pascuzzo and PGA Tour player Steve Pate - winner of six PGA Tour events.

Damian Pascuzzo is a past President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and well known for his design philosophy of "strategy-over-length". A leading advocate for affordable golf, Pascuzzo claims that "long-ball" technology threatens the growth and affordability of golf as green fees rise to accommodate courses that require more acreage, resulting in higher construction and maintenance costs.

Pascuzzo accomplishes this goal at Monarch Dunes, weaving risk-reward strategy into hole design using natural land forms, carefully preserving trees, and introducing lakes, elevation changes and subtle movements in the terrain.

His vision for Monarch Dunes essentially delivers an old-style Scottish Links course right here to the Central Coast of California!

You'll find terrific topography with undulating fairways lined with grassy knolls, sand dunes, and "lacy-edged" bunkers, leading to rolling, elevated greens. This links style course will appear wild to golfers more used to traditional manicured courses. Even the nearby undeveloped coastline lends its sense of wildness, providing the coastal influence of cool morning fog and warm afternoon breezes.

What makes the course so unique is that it mimics the look and appearance of nearby dunes using "shaped" dunes instead of traditional grassy mounds.

But Monarch's unique appearance doesn't stop with its strategic and natural design. Monarch Dunes also introduces the Central Coast to rare fescue fairways and velvet bentgrass greens.

Fescue, a rarity on golf courses, loves well-drained soils such as the sandy soil found on the Nipomo Mesa. We observed that these fairways don't grab your club like bermuda and the ball sits up so nicely on fescue. Fescue is also very disease-resistant and goes dormant during droughts.

Velvet bentgrass greens fell out of favor nearly 50 years ago when courses began their heavy reliance on petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides. Mismanagement coupled with poor seed production put velvet bentgrasses into obscurity. However, velvet bentgrass has the finest leaf texture, highest shoot density and smoothest playing surface of all turfgrasses. Velvet bentgrass also possesses exceptional drought, shade and disease tolerance, good wear stress tolerance and good heat tolerance.

As we toured the course (and even played 2 holes), we grew confident that Monarch Dunes will deliver fun, challenge and variety for golfers of all experience and skill levels.

The course should prove challenging from the tees all the way to the greens.

Although the course is not particularly long - measuring just over 6,600 yards from the tournament tees - and generous fairways are offered to hit off the tee, severe risk is presented to the gambler. Landing areas appear closer and smaller than they are. Fairways are often bordered by hazardess water, sand and dunes. Some fairways are flat, while others play across and along ridge lines.

The course hosts five lakes which come into play on one third of the holes. Three of these lakes impact tee shots on five holes. Most of the lakes border fairways, but the par-3 8th requires a carry over water.

The challenges arise as golfers approach the greens. Some greens are enclosed by deep bunkers, mounds or dunes. Others are just targets perched in the air. All of the golfer's senses come into play!

Pascuzzo has attempted to put the bounce and the roll back into the game of golf with this layout, penalizing those golfers who just like the aerial game.

We're certainly looking very forward to our first round at Monarch Dunes Golf Resort! With the addition of Monarch Dunes to San Luis Obispo County, the Central Coast is now an official top-notch golf destination.

Visit our course page on Monarch Dunes Golf Resort to learn more about the course, view photos, get driving directions or contact information, view interactive course maps, read course reviews, or reserve tee times.

Vern Ahrendes from the Times-Press-Recorder shared his review of Monarch Dunes recently from an early tour he was granted by both course designers.