By Tony Leodora

If you are looking for proof that golfers are sincerely interested in improving their games during the upcoming season, take note of this fact. A crowd of more than 150 members and guests turned out at Blue Bell CC to hear a lecture by an instructor.

OK, it wasn’t just any instructor. It was Fred Shoemaker, whose unique brand of reshaping the golf game (both physically and mentally) has swept east from its origins in California. Using the brand name “Extraordinary Golf”, Shoemaker has become one of the hottest golf teachers in the country.

His leading disciple in the Mid-Atlantic region is George McNamara, a Montgomery County native, who is the longtime head professional at Brandywine CC in Delaware. Since adopting Shoemaker’s philosophy of how to play golf, McNamara has become one of the most sought-after teachers in the area.

Now, working in conjunction with Blue Bell general manager and PGA member Bill Beisel, a branch of the Fred Shoemaker School of Golf has been established at Blue Bell CC. The recent lecture kicked off the new venture.

In addition to instruction from Blue Bell CC staff professionals, led by assistant Bob Everett, a number of part-time instructors and Fred Shoemaker disciples, will be brought in to bolster the instructional program. They include well-known professionals such as John Poole, Mike Caldwell, John Carson, Meg Donohue, as well as McNamara.

The lecture served not only as the launching point for the new golf academy, but it also gave a large number of people an extended look at Shoemaker and his unique philosophies on the golf swing, the mental approach and the entire golf game.

For two hours, Shoemaker entertained and informed. Much of his instruction comes in the form of a golf-style parable. Also, part of his effectiveness comes from memorable phrases or sentences that resonate with the student and remain with them long after the lesson is over.

Here is a sample of some of his teachings and philosophies:

On his teaching style – “Instead of falling in love with being the answer man, I became interested in learning.

On awareness – “When people can become aware of things they were never aware of before, that’s the only time miracles happen in this game.”

On developing feel – “You can’t think and feel at the same time. They are divergent skills.”

On instruction – “Golf is the most analyzed motion in the history of the world.”

On doubt – “It’s like the bubbles in the bottom of a champagne glass. Where did they come from and how did they get there?”

On the key to success in competition – “The greatest players are the greatest comeback players. They drift away too, but they come back after two or three holes. They get it back. They don’t labor in their failures for days.”

Fashion Takes Center Stage
At 2013 PGA Merchandise Show

A personal assessment of the apparel side of the PGA Show by TL Golf Service’s Coordinator of Events and Marketing.

By Kayla Champagne

For the second year in a row, I was in attendance at the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando — AND for the second year in a row I was given the assignment to write a “fashion from the PGA Show” blog story. This assignment is both daunting and fun.

Daunting because the show room floor has nearly 10 miles of exhibitor aisles, and over half are apparel and accessory companies—so a lot of ground to cover. But of course it’s still fun because what 25-year-old female wouldn’t want to check out the latest tank-tops, jackets, skorts, shorts and shoes? Don’t worry I did browse through men’s apparel too.

Roaming the aisles there was no doubt that each booth presented a new, tempting assortment of colors and styles.

All of the leading brands were in attendance, including adidas, Puma, Antigua, Nike, Abacus, Cross Golf USA, Cutter & Buck, Polo and an entire show room floor of others.

This year, like last year, there was an emphasis on apparel that is both functional and stylish. Some of the companies that caught my eye include long time favorites, Puma, Antigua, and Jo-Fit and in fiamme. Even more exciting was finding a few less familiar brands — some with innovative ideas.

Starting with one of the biggest booths at the show — Puma always makes an impression, with apparel in bright colors and patterns. The line I kept hearing from the representatives in the booth was “Cool stuff that works,” which was certainly true as I looked around and observed all of the new pieces. I was told that gray is the new khaki, used as the base color for many of the bottoms and being paired with bright colored and patterned tops and jackets.

For the winter season Puma put out a new winter pant with warm technology, which retains heat close to your body to keep you warm when playing in cold weather. Also with warm and dry technology are the Popover Track Jackets, for both men and women, which retail for about $75. Finally, not neglecting your feet, Puma has some new footwear including a new Faas Lite Mesh shoe. The shoe is designed for comfort and lightweight performance as well as breathability and retails for about $90. For a better look at the entire line go to www.cobrapumagolf.com.

Another must-see booth when at the PGA show is the Antigua booth. Antigua is known for functional lifestyle and performance apparel. This year the Performance 72 line, which is named for the standard par-for-the-course “72”, has more color and flare than ever. As a marketing tool Antigua is now matching the apparel’s hang tags to the color of the garment or the accent colors of the garment. Many of the popular pieces are neutral with splashes of color.

As usual there is a great response to the lightweight fabric and the Desert Dry moisture technology. A big hit at the show seemed to be the new hybrid pull-over shirt, which can be worn as a shirt or a piece of outerwear and will be available for Spring 2013.

Pam Miller, vice president of customer service, explains, "What we mean by a hybrid is a combination of our lightweight outerwear and a short sleeve knit shirt. The look is good too. We use our very popular Desert Dry fabric. The wear and the feel on them works perfectly in your mid-range weather time.”

To check out all of the Antigua apparel visit www.antigua.com

From Antigua I hopped over to one of my personal favorites and a local company, JoFit, which is located in Huntingdon Valley, PA. The company creates performance athletic apparel for women with a focus on golf and tennis. JoFit designs all of their clothes to fit comfortably on all body types. Many of the pants have a scoop bottom, which is designed to give legs a lengthening appearance as well as a 4-way stretch and offset rear pockets to create a lifted, narrowed look. Many of the tops also have features designed to flatter different body types, including, alternative sleeve lengths, wide contoured waistbands and a 2-way zipper.

Hot at this year’s show—JoFit featured three new collections to come out soon. The Montego Collection features many of the traditional wind shirts, tank tops, polos, skorts and Bermuda Shorts in charcoal and violet colors. Then the Morocco Collection features many of the same pieces in white, raspberry, and neon green. Finally, the Casa Blanca Collection contains all black and white pieces, including a new Tech Vest which features signature JoFit fabric that is moisture wicking and has a 4-way-stretch technology. To check out all of the JoFit apparel visit www.jofit.com.

Of course if I was checking out the just-for-women apparel I also had to stop at a favorite just-for-men company to see what was new this year.  in fiamme golf shirts—a company which specializes in hand-cut, hand-sewn golf shirts made in Italy. The company prides themselves on having the finest Italian golf apparel, with double stitched seems, the finest double mercerized cotton fabric with a traditional ‘Gentlemen’s’ fit and genuine mother of pearl buttons.

This year in fiamme put out a Classico Collection, which features many of the classic styles, including an argyle and other patterns with solid color collars. Also, the Primavera and Autunno Collections include a bit more flashy colors and styles utilizing red, sky blue, orange, vino, plum and salmon. For more information about in fiamme go to www.infiamme.net.

Aside from some of the usual favorites, I found a few new items—or items that were new to me, that I felt were impressive and a must-have for the golfer. The first was “Sun Care You Can Wear…” golf and active lifestyle apparel from a company called SanSoleil. SanSoleil makes mostly women’s tops and cover ups that are UPF 50 and designed specifically to protect golfers and outdoor enthusiasts from the sun’s harmful rays. The garments retail for about $35 to $50. Located in Newport Beach, California, SanSoleil apparel also uses a SolTek technology which provides wicking, which controls moisture and helps the fabric dry quickly.

Diane Knight, head merchandiser explains, “SanSoleil is one of three companies, the other two are Line-up and Weekend Traffic, both apparel companies as well. SanSoleil started about 5 years ago with the simple thought to create an attractive sun protective polo for women golfers, and because of popular demand we continue to grow and soon you will see more men’s garments as well.”

For more information about SanSoleil go to www.sansoleil.com.

The last two items that I felt were good finds at the show are more of apparel accessories, which are every bit as necessary. The first is Nexbelt– and besides being one of the busiest booths at the show they also have a great product. Nexbelt produces stylish belts in every color and design with different buckles in the front — but with no belt holes and, as a result, no marks or discolorations on the outside of the belt. The belts retail for around $50 and you can find them at www.nexbelt.com.

Last but not least — Crocs, which has been around for about eleven years, but only two years with a golf shoe division has received high praise from around the industry. This year Crocs has teamed up with internationally recognized golf instructor Hank Haney to unveil the 2013 line of shoes that combine comfort, lightweight technology and style. Retailing for between $80 and $140 Crocs has put out some unique styles for this coming season, including a Duck Golf Shoe and a Golf Sandal. For more information about Crocs Golf and additional styles of Crocs shoes please visit www.crocs.com.

The Top Toys from the PGA Merchandise Show

By Tony Leodora

It’s hard to believe that 60 years ago the first PGA Merchandise Show was held in a parking lot in Fort Lauderdale, with manufacturer’s representatives displaying equipment, apparel and accessories out of the trunks of their cars. Wow, how things have grown.

The 60th PGA Merchandise Show once again turned Orlando upside down, as everybody who is anybody in the golf industry descended on the town for a break from the winter weather.

Demo Day at Orange County National’s four-sided driving range was once again the golf replication of kids being let loose in a toy store. Everybody got a chance to play with the newest and greatest toys — that manufacturers hope will be purchased by tantalized golfers to replace last year’s newest and greatest toys.

Then, for three days amidst the air conditioned comfort of the enormous Orange County Convention Center, golf professionals, buyers, club managers, some superintendents and even a small army from the media marched up and down the seemingly endless aisles. They touched, prodded, inspected, analyzed — and sometimes even tasted and sniffed the incredible assortment of products to be found in the more than 1,000 booths and rooms.

But nobody did a more thorough inspection than I. For I am charged — over the last 12 years — of narrowing down that amazing array of ingenious products to a mere ten. It is a daunting task … but one that must be done to keep the tradition going, to inform the golf public, to separate the wheat from the chafe.

And, after all of that, we present:

Tony’s Top Ten

The Ten Items That Caught My Eye at the PGA Show

1. Rife Putters — Vault 001 — This is a new line of putters that immediately gained notoriety because of its bi-metal design. Two different metals are incorporated in the putter head to produce results that are different from standard putter compositions.

A total of 14 different models have been included in the Vault 001 line. Just about every type of head size and shape can be found in this new line — including the Legend and Legend Z putters which pay homage to the famous two-bar design that has made Rife the No. 1 putter line on the Champions Tour.

The advantage of the new bi-metal design was unclear, until it was explained by John Berguist, vice president of design and engineering. "We’re able to attain different aesthetic lines on larger putters. Also, we can produce a different weight distribution in totally different head designs."

Added versatility would probably be the best way to describe the advantages found in this new line — a line that will be available in pro shops in the early spring.

2. Cleveland Golf — 588 RTX Wedge — Jeff Brunski, the director of research and development for Cleveland Golf/Srixon sounds very proud when he introduces the newest wedge in Cleveland’s impressive arsenal and calls it "the new face of spin."

The 588 RTX CB wedges combine the legendary performance of Cleveland’s famous 588 wedges with added forgiveness and the breakthrough Rotex Face – Cleveland Golf’s most advanced spin technology ever.

"The bottom line is that it produces a lot of spin, a lot of control from a variety of different conditions," explained Brunski. It’s a revolutionary technology from us and you can get fitted for this club."

The real bottom line is that the new wedges sell for about $140 and are available immediately.

3. Tour Edge — XCG-6 Fairway Wood — When Tour Edge, the Illinois-based company that has risen out of America’s heartland to compete with the giants of the industry, talks fairway woods … golfers listen.

While the entire line of Tour Edge products has proven to be a case of quality at an affordable price, it is the fairway wood where they have excelled. While many other manufacturers are talking about "longer," Tour Edge talks about better.

Better in the fact that this new fairway wood is longer than previous models but is also easier to hit. The knock against some of the "long" fairway woods from other manufacturers is that the middle of the sweet spot is foreign territory to most golfers.

"Believe it or not, it’s 20 yards longer than the other leading fairway wood," said Jay Hubbard, vice president of marketing for Tour Edge. "The tungsten sole gets the weight so low and so far back that it makes it easy to hit."

The club retails for $299 and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

4. TaylorMade R1 driver — Year after year TaylorMade comes out with a newer, greater driver. And year after year TaylorMade leads the driver count on the PGA Tour. It has come to be one of the greatest streaks in sports.

This year’s entry is the R1 driver. The catchy advertising slogan says it all when it proclaims "80 percent of all golfers are playing with the wrong loft. So we made one driver that has them all."

No longer do golfers order a driver with a pre-set loft — 9.5-degree, 10.5-degree. The R1 driver offers 12 settings between 8-degree and 12-degree.

Tom Olsavsky, senior director of product development for TaylorMade explained, "The R1 is a concept that goes beyond the club itself. What we’re doing is fitting golfers with the right loft, face angle and weighting to give them the best ball flight and the most distance. We don’t have head lofts, we have multiple lofts on the head."

The performance of the R1 is being proven on the PGA Tour and the European Tour, where the driver has recorded a majority of the wins through the first two months of the year.

5. adidas adiZero shoe — An incredible amount of Americans make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight … every year. Apparently, so did the folks at Adidas. But, unlike the rest of America, they have been successful.

The new adiZero shoe is the lightest golf shoe on the market — or, as the ad claims "so light it’s like wearing nothing at all."

Davide Mattucci is the global marketing manager for adidas and Ashworth footwear and beams with pride when he talks about this new, ultra-hot product. "First, it’s pretty striking when you look at it," he said. "But inside the shoe is some amazing technology. The shoe weighs 10.6 ounces, making it the lightest cleated shoe ever made.

"Most importantly, there is comfort — all-day comfort. Walking 18 holes in this shoe, you’re going to feel a heckuva lot fresher than you would wearing anything else."

Of course, following the style of many of today’s PGA Tour golfers, the adiZero comes in an array of bright colors that would make the great shoe maven Doug Sanders proud.

6. Swing Jacket — The leisure suit never made a comeback. The Nehru jacket never made a comeback. But the Swing Jacket did.

The Swing Jacket made a debut a few years ago with a very good idea — but very bad timing. Now, with new wind in its sales and president Bill Walsh providing an amazing amount of energy promoting the product, it is ready to take its place as one of the best swing training aids ever invented.

Golfers actually put on the jacket, slightly resembling a flak jacket, and strap themselves in. The basic idea is to keep all those moving parts from flopping around, hopefully leading to a repeatable swing.

"The most difficult thing for teachers to impart to their students is feel," said Walsh. "The distinction between the Swing Jacket and every other method of getting better is that we actually communicate that feel to people by physically guiding them through the correct motion."

The Swing Jacket may feel a bit confining at first but, after only a short time practicing with it, results start to take effect. And the proper swing is ingrained through feel, making it possible to take that swing out to the golf course.

The Swing Jacket is so new in its comeback that it hasn’t really settled on a price yet. It is expected to retail for about $129. For a better look, go to www.swingjacket.com.

7. Antigua — Hybrid Shirts — There is no doubt that "hybrid" has been one of the real buzzwords in the golf industry over the last 10 years. But the term usually applies to equipment. Now it is being used to describe apparel.

Antigua, which has undergone an amazing rebirth in recent years and is making some of the best looking and best priced golf clothing, now has a hybrid shirt. It can be worn as a shirt, It can be worn as a piece of outerwear. Either way it looks great, employing the quarter-zip front that has become so popular.

Pam Miller, vice president of customer service, explains, "What we mean by a hybrid is a combination of our lightweight outerwear and a short sleeve knit shirt. The look is good too. We use our very popular Desert Dry fabric. The wear and the feel on them works perfectly in your mid-range weather time."

And the colors and styles were enough to stop people in the aisle.

8. Nexbelt — Every year I give an award for the busiest booth, per square foot, at the PGA Show. This year, a new product and company called Nexbelt won it hands down. It was impossible to get near the booth for most of the show.

The basic concept is the production of a handsome, stylish belt, with different buckles in the front — but with no belt holes and, as a result, no marks or discolorations on the outside of the belt.

Tom Hunsucker, one of the owners, explains: "What makes this belt is it has a ratcheting system that adjusts to every quarter-inch. It has no holes so you always get that perfect fit. The belt fits you. You don’t fit the belt.

"The bottom line is that you can always feel comfortable. After a big meal, if you need a little extra room, you can easily let the belt out and nobody will know the difference."

The belts are extremely stylish and sell for around $50. For a better look at the entire line, go to www.nexbelt.com

9. Pearl Putter — Every year there are a great number of new putters on the market, each claiming to have a new, revolutionary feature. But the Pearl Putter’s revolutionary design is so simple and so logical, it’s a wonder nobody ever thought of it before.

The Pearl Putter can be adjusted so that the putter always has a flat lie at address. Golfers everywhere are seen wrestling with the lie of the putter — toe up in the air — heel in the air. In each case, efficiency is greatly compromised.

Billy Weston is a PGA professional who works with the Pearl Putter team as national sales manager. "Instead of adjust yourself to the putter of your choice, now we are going to adjust the putter to you," he said. "You can adjust the lie with a simple tool and you’re on your way to a nice flat, even roll."

The shaft swivels where it meets the putter head, allowing a number of lie angles. More important, it conforms to USGA rules. The putter head comes in a number of different colors and patterns — from traditional looks like gun metal or pewter or some of the brightest, boldest looks on the market.

Go to www.pearlprosports.com to see the entire line.

10. The Putting Stick — Each year it is easy to get confused by all of the training aids at the PGA Show. But, when you come around an aisle and see former McDonald’s LPGA champion Alice Miller mesmerized by something, you stop to look.

Miller, who teaches as Penn Oaks GC near West Chester, looked at The Putting Stick, tried The Putting Stick, watched others work on The Putting Stick, then gave an unsolicited testimonial: "This is the best training aid at the Show."

That statement put a broad smile on the face of inventor Vlad Gribovsky. He has worked hard to perfect an easy, affordable ($99) device that can help everyone with their putting.

"We believe it is the best putting trainer in the world," said Gribovsky. "It gives you immediate feedback in terms of results. It’s the only product that tells you whether your eyes are aligned over the ball. And it helps you with your stroke."

For more information, go to www.tpkgolf.com.

By Tony Leodora

I can always tell how successful my trip to the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando was by how tired my legs are … and how much my feet ache. Using that barometer this year, the show was a tremendous success. Even though numbers of attendees did not seem quite as high as past years, there was definitely the buzz of business in the air.

The 60th PGA Merchandise Show, held Jan. 23-26 in Orlando, Fla., celebrated its six-decade history while launching what many believed to be the most vibrant PGA Show Week in recent history to begin a strong 2013 for the golf industry.  The event brought together more than 1,000 companies and brands introducing new and innovative golf equipment, apparel, accessories and services to more than 43,000 attending PGA professionals, buyers and industry leaders from 75 countries.

“It’s gratifying to see such enthusiasm at the PGA Merchandise Show,” said Ted Bishop, presiding over his first PGA Merchandise Show as President of The PGA of America.  “The activity on the PGA Show floor and at surrounding events is a great start to the 2013 golf season.”

Coming off a strong year for business in 2012, a who’s who of the game’s biggest brands and hottest new companies showcased new products meant to keep the momentum going in 2013.  The PGA Merchandise Show covered 1 million square feet of the Orange County Convention Center including some 465,000 square feet of branded exhibits.  Products on display from industry leaders such as Titleist, Callaway Golf, TaylorMade-adidas Golf, Ping, Nike, Bridgestone and Cobra Puma Golf created strong buzz on the PGA Show floor.

In addition, the show was a Who’s Who of the personalities involved with the game. Below is a rundown of some of the high points and notable persons:

• The LPGA was best represented. Annika Sorenstam rang the opening bell and addressed those in attendance during a 10 a.m. forum on Thursday. Her main focus was growth of the game.
• Other LPGA stars who were spotted during the show included Lexi Thompson, Meg Mallon, Nancy Lopez, Jan Stephenson, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis and Dottie Pepper.
• On the PGA Tour/Champions Tour side, Davis Love, Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo and Ian Poulter were spotted. And PGA Tour putting and short game guru Dave Pelz was there for the duration of the show.
• Matt Schaeffer, golf course superintendent at Merion GC, won one of the GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards for 2012. His award was in the National Private Club category. Other winners included Stephen Tierney (International — Golfpark Nuolen, Switzerland), John Enderes III (National Public — Queenstown Harbor GC, Annapolis) and Joshua Kelley (National Resort — Ritz Carlton GC at Grande Lakes, Orlando). The winners were commended for their commitment to environmental stewardship on the golf course. He oversees operations from the facility’s two-year-old turf care center, which earned a Green Building Award from Associated Builders and Contractors for its many water- and energy-saving features. Shaffer and his team utilize a full-service integrated plant management program (IPM) that follows their motto of "the strongest turf starts with good soil science." With philosophies such as these, Merion has been named a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, and Shaffer’s efforts will showcased to the world when the course hosts the 2013 U.S. Open.
• Harry Hammond, longtime PGA professional in the Greater Philadelphia area who now works out of Penn Oaks GC in West Chester, received the prestigious Bill Strausbaugh Award from the PGA of America. Established in 1979, the Bill Strausbaugh Award is presented to a PGA professional who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community. The award reflects the characteristics and qualities of Strausbaugh, a Middle Atlantic PGA Master Professional who died in 1999.
• Once again TaylorMade had the largest booth — including their other brands such as Adidas, Ashworth, Adams and Yes Putters. Callaway and Titleist also had a large presence.

A complete Product Review from the PGA Merchandise will be published on this Blog next week, as well as sent to subscribers on our e-mail list.

Tony’s Test Drives:
One in a series of occasional stories featuring previews of golf destinations or golf equipment by our traveling golf writer.

By Tony Leodora

Until recently I had only thought of North Carolina’s Outer Banks as a coastal area that is battered often by hurricanes. Hurricane Sandy proved this observation to be true.

But I had been hearing for years about how nice the area was. More and more people from the Greater Philadelphia area had been vacationing there. Even family members started visiting on a regular basis and touting the advantages of OBX.

The one thing that kept me from following all of the rest of the Philadelphians to this rustic paradise less than seven hours to the south was a report of good golf. I knew there was not plentiful golf in that region. And I knew some of the golf wasn’t very good.

Then I started to get reports from other people in the golf industry. And the allure of a new golf destination started to tempt me. Thankfully, I gave into the temptation.

What I discovered was a natural vacation wonderland that has just enough golf to keep me happy — and a couple of absolutely great golf courses that made me giddy.

The entire trip was quite an eye-opener, especially for someone who spent most of the first half of his life mainly  the Jersey Shore. Everything about the Outer Banks was a pleasant surprise.

It all began with the choice of accommodations.

Although large and well-appointed beachfront or water view houses have always been the major attraction for those looking for accommodations in the Outer Banks, there is one excellent option. The Sanderling Inn and Spa in the town of Duck provides all of the comforts.

Despite a rustic, weathered look to the three main lodges, the rooms can be described only as rustic elegance. The spa is world class and the Left Bank restaurant offers spectacular sunset views and four diamonds cuisine.

Speaking of cuisine, the food all along the Outer Banks is excellent. The seafood is fresh and plentiful. The non-seafood fare has an upscale touch at many places and appeals to the usually demanding tastes of traveling golfers.

Highlights from the trip included:

• the clam chowder at Keegan’s Pub at The Pointe GC, a non-typical clear-broth version of the Manhattan version that is loaded with clams
• the raw oysters and clams at the Sunset Grille and Raw Bar
• the peel-and-eat shrimp, by the pound, at North Banks Restaurant and Raw Bar
• the seafood gumbo at Barefoot Bernie’s in Nags Head
• the take-out barbecue from Currituck BBQ Company
• the black-and-blue angus burger at the Pub at Kilmarlic

Viniterra
Although the six-and-a-half hour drive from Philadelphia is hardly an overbearing one, golfers no longer have to make it in a single effort. An excellent pit stop exists along the way.

The Club at Viniterra is located just north of Richmond, in close proximity to both I-95 and I-64. It was designed by Rees Jones and sits on a relatively severe piece of property that is criss-crossed by a number of ravines.

The golf course is part of a large planned community, with its own vineyard and winery. However housing sales are way behind projected numbers and the course has been opened to public play.

The course is an excellent test, with six sets of tees that stretch to 7,725 yards. Even the 6,124-yard white tees carry a 70.2 rating and a 130 slope.

The Pointe
One of the last stops on the mainland before crossing the bridge to enter the Outer Banks brings golfers past a very suitable beginning course to a golf vacation. The Russell Breeden design, The Pointe, is a well-conditioned, pleasant daily fee course.

There are four sets of tees, with the back tees stretching the course to 6,343. Don’t miss the Outer Banks Chowder offered in Keegan’s Pub at The Pointe. It is a clear version of Manhattan Clam Chowder and it is loaded with clams.

The Currituck Club
Another taste of Rees Jones architecture comes at the Currituck Club in Corolla, toward the northern end of the island. This 6,885-yard test creeps in and out along the sound, providing some great water views and enough wind to test even the best golfers.

The course is managed by ClubCorp and extreme pride is taken in the condition of the course. Prices in high season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) are of the typically high resort level. Prime green fees are $170 but in the off season they drop considerably, to as low as $59 after 11 a.m.

Nags Head Golf Links
This quirky Bob Moore design sits hard on Roanoke Sound. The openess to the water makes the course one of the windiest in the region. Add the tightness of most of the fairways and the best advice on a windy day is to bring plenty of golf balls.

The par 4 and par 5 holes are tight and challenging. The strength of the course is the five par 3 holes, which could be among the best I have ever played. The course is only 6,126 yards from the tips but, as was said in another national golf publication, "It is the longest 6,126 yards you will ever play.

Kilmarlic
Back on the mainland again, this parkland style course — Kilmarlic — is the gem of the trip. It is designed by Tom Steele, who only has one other course to his credit. From the looks of Kilmarlic, he should do more.

Again, playing at sea level, in the wind and with soft turf conditions, Kilmarlic plays a lot longer than the 6,560 yards listed on the card. Twice during its 10-year existence it has hosted the North Carolina Open.

The bottom line to the trip was that there is enough good golf available in the Outer Banks to keep the golfers in the family happy. And there is plenty of other vacation activities to keep the rest of the family happy.

Tony’s Test Drives:

One in a series of occasional stories featuring previews of golf destinations or golf equipment by our traveling golf writer.

By Tony Leodora

We have all heard the argument when the fall season arrives. One member of the family wants to set out via automobile for an extended weekend of leaf peeping. The other wants to cram in one final weekend of golf before the weather turns too cold.

The debate can turn so furious that PBS television newsman Jim Lehrer might have to be called to moderate it.

Or … fall travelers could take a trip to Turning Stone Resort, situated on the Oneida Indian Nation less than an hour east of Syracuse, and get the best of both.

Turning Stone has enjoyed spectacular growth since it opened in the mid-’90s. In those days it was just a very small casino that looked like the inside of an airplane hangar. Then came the hotel, and an expansion of the hotel, and another expansion, and the building of a tower, and an addition of a luxury lodge.

On the golf side, the explosion was equally stunning.

In rapid succession Turning Stone added the Robert Trent Jones II-designed Kaluhyat course, the Rick Smith-designed Shenendoah course and the Tom Fazio-designed Atunyote course. All three are championship courses of the highest caliber.

A nine-hole upscale par 3 course, Sandstone Hollow, was added and a nearby 9-hole recreational course, Pleasant Knolls, was purchased to round out the collection.

I have been to Turning Stone a number of times throughout its progression, including an extended stay five years ago as part of a national golf conference. But, due to all of the seemingly annual expansion, a refresher course was needed this year.

What I found was a number of exciting additions to the resort, including a new fine dining steakhouse that has been built on the penthouse level. The overall dining experience at Turning Stone has continually improved … along with the additions to the hotel and accommodations. Dinner at the Italian restaurant, Pino Bianco, was as authentic as you would find in New York’s Little Italy. The Rodizio, Brazilian steakhouse and salad buffet, would satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.

"We’re very proud of all of our improvements to this property," explained Dan Jones, the director of VIP relations. "I’ve been here from the beginning and it has been a constant progression of making everything better."

Those improvements have even extended to the golf courses — a difficult statement to make since the three championship courses each opened to heralded acclaim.  But inspection of the courses on this latest visit proved that the superintendent and his staff have been busy at work — polishing their gems.

The courses were in the finest overall condition of any courses I played this entire year. Many courses may have matched their greens, or tees, or fairways but the Turning Stone trio also had the most perfect rough to be found anywhere.

Chuck Harty, the recently retired executive director of the Central New York Section PGA, agreed. "I have been close to this project from the beginning. We’ve hosted a number of tournaments here. I have never seen courses in the kind of condition that the Turning Stone courses have on a regular basis now."

With all there is to do at Turning Stone — the casino, the nightlife, the big name entertainment, the outstanding dining, and golf that is as good as you can find at any resort in America — it’s hard to imagine every leaving the property. But, there are a few nearby attractions that are worth visiting.

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, is less than an hour away. Only a few minutes to the east is the quaint, restored harness racing track at Vernon Downs. A short ride to the west is the town of Canastota, home of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

And, of course in the fall of the year, Turning Stone is surrounded by a colorful eyeful — for the leaf peepers.

Sixth in a series of daily first-person stories from the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

By Tony Leodora

Rob Mieczkowski has an amazing amount of patience. And in a week that was made miserable by Mother Nature, he rode that patience to victory in the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship.

Mieczkowski, who carries an 8.1 handicap index and lives in Old Bridge, New Jersey, played steady golf throughout the week — his tenth year in a row of playing in the world’s largest golf tournament. That formula was good enough to get him into the final round on Friday, against all of the other flight winners in the 3,100 golfer field.

Then he caught fire.

In the final he got his net score to 8-under-par, with three holes left to play. That’s when the television cameras started to arrive. He immediately made double-bogey on the eighth hole  — his 17th hole of the day — to fall back into a tie for the lead. Then, making solid shots on the tough 9th hole, he made par-for-net-birdie to advance to 7-under-par and secure the victory by one shot.

"I was just trying to hit fairways and greens all day," said Mieczkowski. "I know it sounds simple but that was my plan and it worked."

Mieczkowski is no stranger to competitive golf. Aside from Glenwood CC, where he recently became a member, he is also a member of the Golf Club of New Jersey — a traveling group of golfers who play competitively throughout the area."

"A bunch of those guys came down for the week and it was great to have them around when I won my flight and found out I was playing in the final," said Mieczkowski. "It was a great week and I didn’t mind the long rounds. I couldn’t manage anywhere else I would rather be on a beautiful day like this than on the TPC at Myrtle Beach. I don’t care if it took seven hours."

That’s a good attitude — the attitude of a champion.

Fifth in a series of daily first-person stories from the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

By Tony Leodora

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — It wasn’t quite the Bataan Death March … but it was close to it.

The players coming off the soggy fairways of the immaculately conditioned Greg Norman course at Barefoot Resort looked like the wounded and weary of the golf world. They were limping, dragging and hobbling. Nobody had any spring left in their step.

It was one of the Senior Flights of this 3,100-person golf tournament — the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship — and the combatants looked like they really had been through a battle.

Another evening of rain had dumped almost two inches of water on the already-saturated courses. The players were forced to use cart paths only. Trudging through soggy fairways with golf shoes weighted down by water and mud had taken its toll.

The only ones who seemed to be happy were the flight winners, who advanced to the final round at the TPC at Myrtle Beach. The rest were too tired to feel any emotions.

The final round in my flight, for players age 50 to 59, was a stiff test. The powers-that-be decided to set up the course to play 6,487 yards. With the water-laden air and the soggy fairways that allowed no roll, the course played more like 6,900 yards. That was too much for us mere mortals.

At least it was too much for me. A round of 91 seemed pathetic … until I heard the other scores. Low for the day was 83. The third round leader shot a 98. There were eight rounds over 100. Despite my high score I moved up to 23rd place — above the halfway mark in my flight — another testament to mediocrity.

Biggest problem on the day was putting. After putting on shag carpet for three days, we encountered the ultra-slick new Champion Dwarf Bermuda greens of Barefoot-Norman. The greens were converted last year and it was the greatest move ever.

But it was too much of an adjustment for most of us. After slamming the first few putts past the hole, we may have finally adjusted to the speed but we were so spooked that we never recovered. I had 39 putts on the day … and that was not uncommon.

The result was a 5 hour and 20 minute round that would have been torture, had it not been for the extreme good nature of my fellow competitors.

Gilbert was a native of Columbia, who now lives in Virginia Beach and is a semi-retired jeweler. He came to golf late, after a career of playing soccer, and now plays golf four days a week. He was the group leader with a 90.

Ono was a native of Samoa and a gentle giant of about 6-foot 4-inches and a chiseled 250. He could hit a golf ball prodigious distances — even in the heavy air and with no roll. He is a career Army man, now military retired, who works as a civil defense employee at Warner Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia. He had a couple of blow-up holes that led to a round of 100.

His biggest blow-up came on our first hole, No. 15 at the Norman course. He wound up for a big drive and made solid contact, but nobody saw the flight of the ball. Looking down we noticed that he had driven the ball deep into the soggy turf — about four inches in front of where it had been placed on the tee. The shot was a career-first for all of us.

The winner on the day was definitely the Norman Course. Under drier conditions it would be in the best shape since the course opened.

Fourth in a series of daily first-person stories from the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

By Tony Leodora

Tuesday night brought two more inches of unwanted rain to the Myrtle Beach area. A major tip of the hat has to go to the superintendents and their crews at the courses for even getting them open for play in the third round of the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship.

But what the players found was courses that were water-logged beyond comprehension. Wachesaw East, a fine Clyde Johnston-designed course that hosted a few years of LPGA tournaments, was as wet as any course I have ever played. The 6,300-yard layout played to more than 6,800 yards — with no roll and ultra-heavy air that had golfers taking one or two extra clubs.

Our group — Bob from Wabash, Indiana who played with me the first day, and Brent, a general contractor from Minnesota who was a chatterbox — started on hole No. 17. The 17th and 18th holes at Wachesaw East might be the two most difficult closing holes along the Grand Strand. On each, I hit booming drives and made par on each. What a start.

Then, while practice swinging my driver on the first tee, I noticed it felt different. My tee shot went straight out about 50 yards and made a direct right turn into the woods. Two more huge slices on other holes, each going out of bounds, and I realized something was wrong. The club felt different. I inspected it but could find nothing.

Two holes later, after another wayward drive, I discovered the problem. I could feel something shift in the head when I swung. A weight had broken loose.

I began teeing off with my three-wood, a huge disadvantage on a day when the course played so long.

When we finally made the turn at the clubhouse, with seven holes left, I conferred with head professional Kevin Frick. He concurred that the club was broken and I was allowed to replace the driver with another that I had in the trunk of the car. I carry all kinds of spare parts.

But, by then, the damage was done and I was en route to an awful round of 91. Back to 32nd place in the flight, despite the fact that scores were high throughout. For the first time this week, nobody broke 80. And there was a 114.

Story of the Week No. 1 — Jeff Cannon from Indiana continues to play, despite wearing a walking cast. With cart path only in effect, he is definitely the Most Courageous Athlete.

Story of the Week No. 2 — Javier Moreno lives in Vera Cruz, Mexico. He drove to the event, taking two weeks for the trip and playing golf along the way at some fine courses in San Antonio, Atlanta, Charlotte, etc. After a week of golf in Myrtle Beach, he will make the return two-week trip, playing his way home. Now that’s a golf vacation.

Third in a series of daily first-person stories from the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

By Tony Leodora

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — Heavy rain at the beginning and the end of the round, cart paths only, no roll, slow and bumpy greens, a five-hour round and a balky driver … and it all added up to a score 10 shots better than the first round. Go figure.

Maybe it was the new pre-shot routine:

• No hitting balls at the range because there is none at Azalea Sands, the old course in North Myrtle Beach that is one of the economy plays in the area
• No chipping or putting before the round because it was pouring rain
• Three cups of coffee before play, due to boredom from waiting through the rain delay
• One Krispee Kreme donut (see boredom reason above), an absolute no-no before any round of golf … or before anything.

My performance in the second round of the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship — a not-too-pretty 85 — may have felt better than the first-day debacle but it didn’t help my standing the flight. I only moved up from 32nd to 29th.

My fellow competitors were Chuck from Knoxville, Tennessee and Jimmy from Norman, Oklahoma. Chuck had the fourth-best round of the day in the flight — an 80, that was highlighted by a number of long-distance putts, plus a few key mid-range putts.

When he walked onto the first green, he said, "None of you boys make fun of my putter. It’s an oldie that I brought out of the closet."

The device looked like something a plumber might use, with a nasty bend in the shaft and a reverse angle at the head. It had more dents than you could count … and no brand name. But it worked all day … on greens that were not meant for holing putts.

But his play was overshadowed by the event’s Most Courageous Athlete — Jeff Cannon from Indiana. He broke his ankle seven weeks ago but showed up in Myrtle Beach despite a walking cast that came up to just below his knee. He struggled through a 106 in the first round, but came back with a 91 in Round Two — despite having to trudge back and forth to the cart path.

"I’ve played in the last 22 championships and didn’t want to break my string," was Cannon’s simplistic explanation.

And some people claim that golfers are nuts. Go figure.