GolfTalk Live Events
Upcoming Schedule, Remotes and Events
This Week: August 28th from Long Bay Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
It’s time for another GolfTalk Live jaunt to the Myrtle Beach area and this eight-day adventure begins at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Long Bay Club, with the Know Your Score Celebrity Tournament to benefit prostate cancer research.
A strong lineup of celebrities will be on hand for the day and we will talk to a number of them, including: Jim Huber, the four-time Emmy-winning essayist for Turner Sports; Mitch Laurance, the voice of women’s professional billiards on ESPN; and head professional at Long Bay Club and host for the day, Jim Fellner.
Of course, we also will take a peek ahead at the busiest week of the year in Myrtle Beach – the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship that gets under way Monday and lasts through Friday. More than 3,600 players from all 50 states and 20 countries will be competing. And, yours truly! Don’t miss the daily stories in the Blog section of this website.
The summer’s hot, humid weather has taken its toll on golf courses in the area and the Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents has been proactive in battling the effects. Last week they brought in Darin Bevard, senior agronomist for the USGA. Bevard is one of the most respected agronomists in the country and he conducted a seminar on “recovery.” His insights were so outstanding, they can even be applied to caring for your lawns.
Finally, in our Equipment Corner, Tiss Dahan from Adidas talks to us about a very important piece of equipment in the hot and sticky weather – the correct golf shirt. Adidas’ new ClimaCool version could be the perfect solution to every hot, sweaty golfer south of Canada.
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...Two Locations Top 3 Finishers in Gross and Net categories advance to the Grand Finale. Stay at the beautiful Sheraton Atlantic City on Sunday October 17 and play Atlantic City Country Club on Monday October 18, 2010! Learn More / Sign-up |
Future Radio Show & Remotes Schedule
- September 4th – The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the final round of the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship
- September 11th – Sandy Run CC in Flourtown, Pennsylvania
- September 18th – Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, Maryland
- During the winter months we have a new, exciting indoor site for live remote broadcasts of GolfTalk Live. Play-a-Round Golf, the indoor golf facility on Lancaster Pike in Malvern will be our warm home most weeks until April. Listeners are invited to see the show live each week from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern.
- Remember, you can catch GolfTalk Live anywhere, by going to www.WNTP.com and clicking on the “Listen Live” button.
WNTP 'Listen Live' link: 
Charitable Events & Tournaments
- The Tulips for TaTas Tournament, benefitting the Susan G. Komen Rally for a Cure (Breast Cancer Research) will be held at Hartefeld National GC in Avondale, PA on Monday, August 30. The Scramble event begins with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Registration begins at 8:30. For more information contact: Stephanie Capaccio – 610-761-2438 or Anthony Augustine – 610-496-2246
- The 2nd annual Susan Fazio Golf Outing will be played on Monday, September 20 at Manufacturer’s Golf & CC. The committee is attempting to top last year’s total of $30,000 raised for melanoma research. The event is a full day of lunch, golf, dinner and prizes. For more information or to register, go to www.susanfazio.org.
- The 21st annual Jerry Segal Classic, benefitting Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, will be held on both Green Valley CC and the Ace Club courses on Friday, September 24. For more information call 215-587-3090 or 215-569-4600.
- The 8th annual Taylor Open – Hope for Tara – will take place on Monday, September 27 at Island Green GC. All monies raised will be donated to Brain Cancer Research at Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania. The $110 fee covers golf, cart (1 p.m. shotgun), lunch, refreshments, dinner and prizes. To sign up or for more info, contact Rich Gordon (856-283-1332), Jim Szczur (856-228-2907), Bill Kane (215-519-7949), Tom Rola (215-593-6669), Janet McNesby (267-241-2287), Mary Taylor (215-384-3933), Captain Dennis Gallagher (215-686-3380) or Chief Inspector James Tiano (267-722-8467).
- The annual LANConnect Charity Golf Outing, benefitting the Abington Hospital Neonatal Unit, will be held at Jeffersonville GC on Monday, October 4. The $125 fee includes on-course lunch, golf, cart, refreshments, buffet dinner and prizes. An auction, which includes many fine area golf courses, will be a post-golf highlight. For more information, e-mail Bob Friedman at bfriedman@lanconnectinc.com.
- The 7th annual Columbus Cup golf outing and bocce tournament will be held on Monday, October 11 at Bellewood GC near Pottstown. The annual day of music, food, bocce and golf is organized by the Americans of Italian Heritage Council and dedicated to the preservation of Italian heritage. The $175 fee includes lunch, tee gift, golf, refreshments, dinner and prizes. Dinner and bocce only is $60. To reserve a spot, contact TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
Listeners are encouraged to send information about their charity tournaments to: Tony Leodora.
Past Event Highlights...
August 21st from Seaview Resort in Absecon, New Jersey
August at the Jersey Shore – it doesn’t get any better than that.
And when it comes to luxury resorts at the Jersey Shore, it certainly doesn’t get any better than Seaview. With 36 holes of golf, a luxury hotel and a spa that specializes in pampering, Seaview has a long reputation as one of the great golf destinations in America. This year, it regained its reputation as one of the favorite LPGA Tour stops – as the ShopRite LPGA Classic returned to the Donald Ross-designed Bay Course. For years, LPGA players have deemed Seaview (and Atlantic City) their favorite stop on the schedule.
Seaview’s head professional Kevin DeDonato will serve as co-host and tell us what it was like hosting all the lady pros this year. Mike Tidwell, director of sales and marketing for the Seaview Dolce Resort will talk about all of the amenities awaiting guests at the hotel.
With the contentious PGA Championship barely behind us, and the pressure-packed Ryder Cup around the corner, the stress of tournament golf becomes evident. We had a long talk with one of the noted golf mental coaches in the country – Rick Sessinghaus – when he held a seminar at Body Balance for Performance in Conshohocken. Sessinghaus had some very interesting views on the mental aspect of the game. His observations are just as applicable for tour pros as for weekend amateurs. And don’t miss his book – Golf, the Ultimate Mind Game.
Summertime golf can be a bit uncomfortable, especially during a record-breaking season that has seen so many days over 90 degrees. Our friends at Adidas have come up with the answer – the new ClimaCool Golf Apparel. Tiss Dahan, senior director of global apparel for Adidas, will be with us to explain the secret behind this revolutionary new line of clothing. And, a native Jersey Girl, she might pass along a few comments about the Jersey Shore.
This Week: August 14th from Hershey Links GC in Hershey, Pennsylvania
They call it “The Sweetest Place on Earth.” But GolfTalk Live is quickly beginning to learn that it is the Sweetest Golf Place on Earth.
Hershey Resort is a great golf destination that also happens to provide an amazing assortment of family activities. Or is it a family vacation destination that also happens to have a great assortment of golf courses?
We will be broadcasting from the patio of the newest golf course in the Hershey Collection -- Hershey Links. This Dr. Michael Hurdzan-Dana Fry creation has gained status over the seven years of its maturation. Now, it can proudly stand beside the two classic Hershey courses. Head professional Bob Kreider will ride shotgun.
Continuing the tour around the Hershey Resort, public relations manager Kathy Burrows will tell us about all the family activities available in the Hershey area, as well as the lodging available at the luxurious Hotel Hershey.
Also, Chef Ken Gladysz will be on board to discuss the culinary excellence that has become a Hershey trademark. It’s a good guess that chocolate will enter the discussion at some point.
Finally, for years Hershey was a vibrant stop on the LPGA Tour. It was a favorite of the fans and players. Therefore, it only seems fitting that we tell a heartwarming story of a tour player – Jin Young Pak -- who has been adopted by a local country club – Meadowlands.
August 7th from Pocono Manor Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania
Would you like a quick way to beat the heat? Do what we are doing at GolfTalk Live – heading for the Pocono Mountains. People have been doing that for years – vacationers, honeymooners, hickers, bikers … anyone who wants some cooler fresh air in the middle of August.
What those people are finding now is a greatly improved golf scene that rivals any of the vacation areas on the East Coast. The combination of new courses, renovated courses and old courses that have been coerced by the competition to spit shine their product.
Nobody knows this better than our co-host for the day, Carl Wilgus. He is the Executive Director of the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau – and an avid golfer. He will join us at one of the Grand Old Ladies of the Pocono Mountains, Pocono Manor Resort.
Greg Wall, the Director of Golf at Pocono Manor will also be with us to discuss what is going on with the historic East Course, designed by Donald Ross, and the challenging West Course, designed by George Fazio.
Also, Lisa Green, the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Inn at Pocono Manor will tell us what we can expect if we come to the resort for a vacation, a golf trip, a romantic weekend, or whatever.
Finally, we will talk more Pocono Mountain golf with Tony Farda, owner of Hideaway Hills, one of the newer courses in the area. Built in the mid-‘90s, Hideaway Hills is part of the movement that helped elevate the overall quality of golf in the region. Farda will tell what it was like building a course from scratch in the mountainous terrain, and how it has matured in the years following.
July 31st from Westover CC in Jeffersonville, PA – home of the Montgomery County Amateur Championship
It’s tournament weekend in Montgomery County, as the 9th Montgomery County Amateur Championship is taking place on a number of courses. Once again Westover is the site for the first round of the Handicap Championship, open to players from anywhere, as long as they have a valid handicap. Westover also is the site of the Celebration of Golf Festival, which concludes championship weekend Sunday night, 6 to 9 p.m.
The Junior Championship is played at Brookside CC in Pottstown on Friday and the Championship, Women, Senior and Super-Senior Divisions are played at Raven’s Claw on Saturday and Blue Bell CC on Sunday.
It’s also birthday weekend, as GolfTalk Live celebrates the 30th birthday of the movie classic, Caddyshack.
In another celebration, a tip of the hat goes to local golf professional Stu Ingraham who, along with Ted Sheftic and Rich Steinmetz, qualified for the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. They did it by taming the hardest golf course in America, the Pete Dye course at French Lick. Ingraham tells what it was like.
With the weather taking its toll on a number of area golf courses, we can understand why the Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents called in disease specialist Steve McDonald. He warned that this year already has taken its toll on a number of golfers. Our local guys were busy taking notes.
July 24th from Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, Maryland
When it comes to daily fee golf courses, it just does not get any better than Bulle Rock, close to the shore of the Chesapeake Bay, in Havre de Grace, Maryland. For five years the home of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, Bulle Rock is a perennial Top 100 golf course in America. And deservedly so. By his own admission, it is one of the best designs by the venerable Pete Dye.
Sadly, the LPGA Championship no longer comes to Bulle Rock. A majority of the LPGA players called it the best course they played all year on the Tour. However, it is still available to anyone else who wants to play it and Rick Rounsaville and his staff play the part of perfect hosts all day, every day.
One of the LPGA players who always liked to come to Bulle Rock was Paula Creamer, the newly crowned U.S. Women’s Open Champion. Earlier this year her career actually was in jeopardy because of an injury to her left thumb. It required surgery and kept her on the shelf for a number of months.
Injuries to the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder seem to be happening at an alarming rate. We went to Dr. David Zelouf of the Philadelphia Hand Center, one of the renowned experts in the field, for an explanation of what happened to Creamer and is happening to many other professional golfers. More important, he provides a few tips on how to keep it from happening to us.
July 17th from Blue Heron Pines GC in Cologne, New Jersey
Some Jersey Shore regulars are already calling this year one of the best beach summers in many years – and we only just passed the mid-point of July. By the same token, it also has been one of the best seasons for playing golf. The weather turned warm early and the courses have been in great shape. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that GolfTalk Live is taking advantage of things to spend the weekend at the Shore.
Blue Heron Pines has always been a favorite stop and general manager Will Arabea always lays out the red carpet. In addition, our favorite Jersey Shore publicist, Rodger Gottlieb, will be along to recount stories from the beginning of this latest golf renaissance in South Jersey.
While we’re at the Shore, putting and short game guru Dave Pelz has his eyes across The Pond – where many of his students are doing battle in the British Open at St. Andrews. Pelz always has some interesting observations on the game, as the pros play it, and this week should be no exception.
Nicky G, the Official Gastronome of GolfTalk Live, also has his eyes on the British Open – but from his kitchen. Known as Nick Giovanangelo, owner of Inside Jewlers on West Chester Pike in Broomall in real life, Nicky G views the final day of the Open Championship as an excuse for a grand Sunday Brunch. Once again, he has come up with one of his time-tested recipes to help our listeners enjoy the day.
Finally, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame has announced its seventh class of inductees … and a very famous golf name is on the list.
July 10th from Raven’s Claw GC
Do you remember the days of the great baseball doubleheaders? Two games for the price of one – bargains like that don’t come along any more. Except in golf.
This week we have a great doubleheader – with the live remote broadcast of the GolfTalk Live show from Raven’s Claw GC, immediately followed by the limited field GolfTalk Live Invitational tournament. The three low gross and three low net participants advance to the final in Atlantic City in October. If you missed this event, you get another chance to qualify. The next qualifier is Tuesday, September 7 at Meadowlands CC in Blue Bell. The final is Monday, October 25 at Atlantic City CC.
Raven’s Claw GC is also the host site for the first round of the Montgomery County Amateur Championship on Saturday, July 31. We will talk about how this five-year-old course has become tournament tested in such a short time. And, speaking of tournaments, the golf world has not stopped buzzing about the AT & T National and Aronimink GC. It has been a week of rave reviews.
To provide more commentary, we have two experts lined up.
The first is architect Ron Prichard, who did the magnificent renovation of Aronimink in 2002. He will explain how some of the changes he made positively affected play last weekend.
Then we will turn to Joe Logan, former golf writer for the Inquirer who now has his new website www.myphillygolf.com. He spent the week at Aronimink, as did GolfTalk Live host Tony Leodora and the two will compare notes on what happened.
July 3rd AT&T National course-side at Aronimink GC
Finally, the cream of the golf world (in the form of the PGA Tour), comes to the Philadelphia area – and GolfTalk Live is ready and waiting.
The AT & T National is at Aronimink all week and GolfTalk Live host Tony Leodora is doing daily Blog stories on www.golftalklive.net, as well as offering daily live reports on WNTP 990-AM.
Saturday morning, he will be coming to you live from the deck overlooking the Aronimink golf course. Tore Fiore, executive director of the Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau will serve as co-host for the show, informing listeners about interesting side trips during their visit to Aronimink.
John Gosselin, head superintendent at Aronimink, also will be on board to tell us how the course is holding up, under the siege of the best players in the world.
Jack Nilon, president of the First Tee of Suburban Philadelphia, also will be on board to tell us how the Tiger Woods Foundation and the AT & T have worked with local charities.
Finally, for something a bit different, our friends at Adidas have devised a unique job interview process that will last 50 days. Two young candidates have been chosen for this “Wear in the World” promotion and will travel the world, completing assignments in the hope of gaining fulltime employment in the TaylorMade Adidas Golf corporate structure.
June 24th / 26th Show from The Deck at Harbor Pointe in Essington, PA
Get the best of both worlds. Come to The Deck at Harbor Pointe, one of the best happy hour spots in the Philadelphia area, for all the fun on Thursday afternoon. We will be working hard, recording our weekly show, while everyone in attendance winds down from the work week and prepares for the weekend. Then, listen to the show at its regular time, 7 to 8 a.m., on Saturday.
The theme for this week will be a preview of the AT & T National tournament next week from Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square.
All of Delaware County is abuzz over the prospect of hosting a top-flight PGA Tour event, with a top-flight field, for the first time in 30 years. Tiger Woods, plus local favorites Jim Furyk and Sean O’Hair will lead the onslaught on Aronimink.
The Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau has been serving as your official tour guide all month and executive director Tore Fiore will be on hand to remind listeners about all there is to do in the area for golf fans visiting Aronimink.
In the Equipment Corner we visit with Jack Parsons to talk about the hottest new product on the golf market – the ProPlay Golf Swing Analysis System. To call it a personal Video camera is a gross understatement. This video system will revolutionize golf instruction. Don’t miss Parsons’ interview, or check out his product at www.proplaysports.com.
In the Superintendents’ Corner, we get a visit from the busiest man in the golf business – this week – Aronimink GC superintendent John Gosselin. He will fill us in on how the Donald Ross gem will stand up against the onslaught of the PGA Tour. Did they put enough teeth into the course? Or are they going to give the pros a break? We will get all the facts.
June 17th from Seaview Dolce Resort & Spa in Absecon, New Jersey
The girls are back in town and everybody at the Seaview Dolce Resort and Spa near Atlantic City has rolled out the carpet for them. After a two-year hiatus, the ShopRite LPGA Classic is back at Seaview and the area is filled with golf fans.
It is also filled with Villanova alumni, as the Nova Legacy Golf Classic will be held on Seaview’s Pines Course on Monday, June 21 – the day after the women of the LPGA Tour finish their tournament on the Bay Course.
Dennis McKithen, executive director for the Nova Legacy Golf Classic has done a good job of rounding up Villanova alumni for his event, which will be hosted by members of the 1985 Villanova National Championship basketball team – including head coach Rollie Massimino. This is the final event in a year full of events celebrating their 25th anniversary of the upset over Georgetown.
“We wanted to hold our event in conjunction with the LPGA Tour event so that we can make it a weekend of celebration hear at Seaview and in Atlantic City,” explained McKithen. “Many of the people playing in our event came into town early to enjoy the LPGA tournament and also our pairings party at the Borgata on Sunday night. It should be a lot of golf … and a lot of partying.”
Seaview director of golf Steve Havrilla will be on board to talk about the excitement, and some of the challenges, of hosting big events back-to-back
We also have an appointment with the Swing Doctor – Lou Guzzi – our official Director of Instruction at GolfTalk Live. He took in a very sick patient lately and performed a miracle cure.
Last note: don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same. The contest runs through October.
June 12th from Meadowlands GC in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue.
There is definitely a patriotic them this week, as the members of Meadowlands CC prepare for Flag Day on Monday … and also prepare to host the 4th annual Armed Forces Appreciation Day at this incredibly beautiful club just off Route 73 (Skippack Pike) in Blue Bell.
From the walls of the stately clubhouse, to the manicured banks of the ponds on the course, to the circle on the lawn, to the driving range … all of Meadowlands will be decked in red, white and blue in a show of patriotic pride and everlasting thanks to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
Each year the members of Meadowlands CC turn over their entire club to returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. Staff members at Meadowlands have also joined the volunteer brigades who do everything from serving at the registration desk and handing out goodie bags, to unloading golf bags from the trunks of cars and putting them on the golf carts, to serving as forecaddies on the course, to cooking and serving a great picnic meal.
Since this event began four years ago, similar events have been held across the country – all based on a theme of paying tribute to our men and women in uniform. Last week, there was the Treats for the Troops Tournament at Skippack GC. The Folds of Honor movement has swept the country. A huge Walk for the Troops was held in Delaware County two weeks ago. It is amazing how catching a good cause can be.
And, as we look forward to our next patriotic holiday, we have the AT & T National coming to Aronimink GC over the 4th of July weekend. Jay Sigel, Aronimink’s favorite son, spent some time with GolfTalk Live to preview that PGA Tour event and what it means to Aronimink, Delaware County and the entire Philadelphia area.
June 5th from Skippack GC at Evansburg State Park, in Skippack, Pennsylvania
There is nothing like spending a day in the park in the summertime. This week, that park happens to be Evansburg State Park – home of the rejuvenated Skippack Golf Club.
At the heart of the rejuvenation is PGA professional/general manager Darryl Lock, who has done wonders since coming to Skippack a few years ago. There is a new look in the golf shop and restaurant … and certainly a new look on the golf course. Skippack has never looked so good.
Lock will discuss all that has been done during his renovation phase at Skippack … as well as all that he still plans to do. Taking one of the old standards of daily fee play in Montgomery County and turning it into a course that can attract players from throughout the region is a daunting challenge, but one that Lock and his staff have accepted with enthusiasm. The results are starting to show.
Looking for a respite from the heat of the summer? GolfTalk Live, in its never-ending quest to bring new golf venues to the listeners, has come across an interesting island stop. Tucker’s Point Hotel, with its renovated golf course, is an 88-room luxury hotel on the island of Bermuda that has been attracting attention lately. Director of Golf Jason Epstein made a swing through the area this week to titillate our imagination with details of this new golf destination. Maybe a more in-depth inspection could come in the near future.
Finally, we are only a couple of weeks away from the return of the LPGA Tour to the area – with the ShopRite LPGA Classic coming to Seaview Resort near Atlantic City. The field looks to be exceptionally strong.
May 29th from Blue Ridge Trail GC in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania
It’s Memorial Day weekend and that means parades, hot dogs, hamburgers … and lots and lots of golf. GolfTalk Live will be doing its playing on the western edge of the Pocono Mountains – at one of our favorite stops, Blue Ridge Trail GC.
This Ault & Clark layout is a trifecta of excellence in the Pocono Mountains – great design, great conditions and great value. Add the consistent hospitality of general manager Tony Barletta and his staff and you have one of the best golf experiences in the entire Mid-Atlantic region.
Barletta’s roots are in the greenkeeping end of the golf business, so it seems fitting that this week’s show will focus heavily on superintendents and their role in golf.
Mike Kern, golf writer for the Daily News and a frequent contributor to GolfTalk Live, will be with us to report on his findings from his recent trip to Aronimink GC. The AT & T National is only five weeks away a Mike will tell us whether the course is in shape for the PGA Tour pros.
In an extended Superintendent’s Corner segment, two of the best in the business will report on what it’s like to get a course ready for a tournament.
Ray Rippert, superintendent at Indian Valley, will have his course tested on consecutive Monday’s with high level tournaments. That kind of schedule is often difficult to balance in the midst of heavy member play.
John Gosselin, superintendent at Aronimink, will discuss what it is like getting ready for the PGA Tour. His report should be quite interesting.
Finally, Barletta will report on Blue Ridge Trail – a course that has often been called the finest conditioned course in the Pocono region. A shorter growing season and heavy play from outings and the general public, place different demands on his course.
Memorial Day in the Poconos – the thought has us so fired up, we might have to start grilling breakfast hot dogs during the show.
May 22nd, from Tee’s Golf Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
The fans of GolfTalk Live are in for a special treat at WNTP Family Fun Day at Tee’s Golf Center in Conshohocken. After the normal one-hour broadcast of the show, GolfTalk Live will be on hand for another four hours – with prizes, drawings, special guests, announcements and a golf trivia contest.
In addition, the winner of our special Golf Triathlon will receive an overnight stay at the Sheraton Atlantic City and a foursome at Blue Heron Pines. Sign up for the Golf Marathon and compete at 11 a.m.
Aside from the many guests who will be with us over the five hours of broadcasting from Tee’s, we will make a visit to the Equipment Corner and talk to Steve Asman, president of Sunbuster Performance Eyewear. His Green Reader glasses have become a major hit in golf circles. Find out why they are better than any other sunglasses for golfers.
In a fascinating interview with author Michael Bohn, we learn about his new book: Heroes & Ballyhoo, How the Golden Age of the 1920s Transformed American Sports. Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen are discussed side-by-side with Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey.
Finally, the excitement of a Saturday morning at Tee’s Golf Center – driving range, mini golf, batting cages, skate park and golf academy – comes to you live over the air waves.
May 15th from Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina
This week’s show will provide listeners with a fascinating look inside one of the great golf resorts in America, Pinehurst.
It has been called “The Home of American Golf” for many reasons – not the least of which is the fact that renowned golf course architect Donald Ross chose Pinehurst as his home and created his greatest course there, Pinehurst No. 2.
For the past week it has also been the home of the International Network of Golf’s 20th annual Spring Conference. Leaders from every walk of the golf industry came to Pinehurst to be part of this intense networking and educational experience. We will have interviews with a number of them that should provide a look inside the business portion of the golf industry.
Of course, the main focus of the show will be on Pinehurst Resort and how it continues to maintain a leadership position as both a resort location for golf and as host to some of the top professional and amateur competitive events in the country.
This summer Pinehurst will continue its leadership in the world of amateur golf by again hosting the prestigious North-South Championship, as well as the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships.
At the same time, the renowned architectural team of Coore and Crenshaw is busy at work on No. 2, uncovering old photos and drawings in an effort to restore the championship course.
Finally, all of this work is in preparation for 2014, when Pinehurst No. 2 will be the site of an unprecedented event – hosting back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open championships. That year, there can be no argument from anyone that Pinehurst is truly “The Home of American Golf.”
GolfTalk Live listeners most certainly will enjoy this inside look at Pinehurst. Mike Kern -- golf writer for the Daily News, a frequent visitor to Pinehurst over the years and a regular contributor to GolfTalk Live – will provide expert commentary.
May 8th from Tobacco Road Golf Club in Sanford, North Carolina
It’s off to the Sandhills of North Carolina for two consecutive shows from two of the most different, yet most interesting golf locations in America. Our favorite golf writer, Mike Kern of the Daily News, will be along for the entire trip, as we sandwich the International Network of Golf Spring Conference in between the two shows.
Before we move on to the Home of American Golf, Pinehurst, we make a pit stop at Tobacco Road, the masterpiece of the late Mike Strantz. This golf course is a cross between an architectural bit of genius and a roller coaster ride.
Strantz created a visually intimidating, yet mentally stimulating test of golf that is as unforgettable as it is fun to play. Carved from this area of natural sand dunes, Tobacco Road is 18 holes of mind-numbing visuals and strategic challenges.
Joe Gay, director of golf at Tobacco Road, will be with us as co-host. He also will give us a few tips on how to put together a package trip to the Sandhills region that will combine fine accommodations, excellent golf and exceptional values.
While in the Pinehurst area, it would be a crime to not spend some time with one of our favorite veteran golf professionals, Bob Thatcher. Long a fixture on the Philadelphia golf scene and a former player on the European Senior Tour and the Senior PGA Tour, Thatcher now has moved to Pinehurst and enjoys the slower life in North Carlolina. However, he still stays in touch with the Philadelphia area and will chime in on a variety of subjects.
The International Network of Golf is the premiere business conference in the golf industry and executive director Mike Jamison will be with us to discuss some of the highlights of the upcoming week.
May 1st – Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay Hotel and Resort in Half Moon Bay, California
Westward Ho! This is GolfTalk Live’s first trip to the West Coast …and we couldn’t have picked a more spectacular venue.
The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay is home to two spectacular cliff-side golf courses and the consistent elegance of a Ritz Carlton hotel and spa. We will record our show Friday night, during happy hour, around the firepit overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The show will then air at its regular time on Saturday morning.
The golf courses – the Ocean Course and the Old Course – both have the stamp of Arthur Hills and his golf course design team all over them.
The Ocean Course was designed by Hills and features traditional Scottish features, complemented by the natural terrain of the rugged Northern California coast. There are views of the Pacific Ocean from every hole. The Old course was designed by Francis Duane and Arnold Palmer in 1973 and renovated by Hills in 1999. It is a parkland style course, but still provides a home hole along the Pacific Ocean.
Bill Troyanoski, a familiar name to Pennsylvanians from his days at Mountain Laurel Resort in the Pocono Mountains, will be our co-host and guide. He now serves as director of golf at Half Moon Bay.
To provide further insight to the two magnificent golf courses, we will hear from John Strawn, chief design architect for the Arthur Hills company and a man who got his hands dirty during the work at Half Moon Bay. Strawn is also recently returned from a trip to China and can provide insight into golf course construction around the world.
Since we are spanning the country with this show, it is fitting that we spend a minute talking about Play Golf America, the growth-of-the-game initiative that has been a pet project of the PGA of America for a few years now. The local version of this event will take place Saturday, May 8 at Makefield Highlands GC in Bucks County and Philadelphia Section PGA executive director Geoff Surrette will be aboard to tell us about it.
Finally, prepare to be dazzled with details about the amenities and sevices provided in the Ritz Carlton hotel. We have done shows from other Ritz Carlton sites in the past – mainly the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida – and we never cease to be amazed by the level of luxury and attention that is a company trademark.
April 24th, from Sheraton Atlantic City Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey
The golf season is off to a great start, thanks to some mild spring weather … and nowhere is that more appreciated than at the Jersey Shore, where bringing visiting golfers to play on great courses and enjoy the nightlife has become a passion.
Among the most passionate in that effort is our host this weekend, the Atlantic City Sheraton, and the most active packaging arm for golf in the area, Atlantic City Golf Vacations.
Carla Caulk, director of sales for the Sheraton Atlantic City, will be with us to tell us how a hotel, located to the famous Walk shopping district and within walking distance of the boardwalk casinos, could be the key to a successful golf/family vacation.
Linda Simpkins, sales director for Atlantic City Golf Vacations, also has some keys to enjoying golf in the area. A veteran of the Jersey Shore golf scene, she has taken over the call center at Atlantic City Golf Vacations and knows all the ins and outs of putting together a good golf package.
Now, when it comes to putting together a successful golf outing – whether at the Jersey Shore or anywhere in the Greater Philadelphia area – nobody knows more about the subject than Tom Hynson of GolfEventFundRaising.com. As the name of his company suggests, Tom is involved in a number of different ways to increase the bottom line of your golf outing or fund raising event.
Finally, nobody is more concerned about the health of golf at the Jersey Shore than Tim Erensen, the executive director of the recently resurrected ShopRite LPGA Classic at Seaview Resort. Erensen is basking in the glow this week of early commitments from players such as Se Ri Pak, Julie Inkster and Karrie Webb. He will get us up to speed on his event, which will be played June 18-20.
In our monthly Superintendents Corner, we will continue with the Jersey Shore theme by playing in the sand. Tim Davisson, of BioBasics, is the guy area superintendents look to when it is time to rebuild their bunkers. From buying the the right grade of sand to installing the proper drainage, Davisson is an expert on the subject.
And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same. The contest runs through October.
Montgomery County Amateur Championship
Junior Scholarship Fund
Thank You Video
Tony Leodora of GolfTalk Live extends his sincerest thanks to all the supporters of the Montgomery County Amateur Championship Junior Scholarship Fund in this video message.
April 17th, from Plymouth Country Club in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
This weekend marks the start of the oldest amateur competition in the Philadelphia area, the Golf Association of Pennsylvania Inter-Club Team Matches. Clubs from all over the area will be putting their best golfers up against teams from other clubs. Therefore, it is only fitting that GolfTalk Live visits one of the older private clubs in the area, 98-year-old Plymouth Country Club.
This William Flynn-designed gem has withstood the test of time and, even though it is not long by modern standards, it provides an exciting challenge for all who play it.
Club president Bill Hirst will serve as co-host for the show and membership chairman Chuck Caparo will be along to explain how this old club is re-inventing itself to meet modern demands. Head professional Chris Hanson also will talk about some of the events scheduled for the year, including the Big Five Invitational, a top-flight collegiate tournament that comes to Plymouth in October.
Speaking of events, an old sponsor, Tom Hynson, comes back with a new name. His company, GolfEventFundRaising.com, specializes in improving the bottom line for all kinds of events. He will be making a cameo appearance before his big interview on next week’s show.
The PGA Tour has moved to one of the more festive events on the schedule, the Verizon Heritage Classic on Hilton Head Island. Harbour Town head professional John Farrell will be aboard via telephone to tell us what it is like to have a full-blown party taking place on your golf course.
For the last three years the visit by the voice of the Philadelphia Eagles, Merrill Reese, has been a highlight of the GolfTalk Live schedule. This visit will be even more exciting, coming the week after the Masters. Merrill is an addicted golf nut and undoubtedly he will have a few comments about what transpired in Augusta. We might even get him to stop talking golf long enough to analyze the Donavan McNabb trade and the upcoming NFL draft.
Finally, in our weekly Myrtle Beach Report, we will visit another of the area’s great golf courses, Black Bear. Head professional Patrick Wilkinson will tell us what life is like since his course gained an entire new identity a few years ago.
And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same.
April 10th the first of our local live remote broadcasts for 2010, at LuLu Country Club in North Hills, Pennsylvania
It is Masters Weekend. The temperatures throughout the Delaware Valley have been absolutely balmy this week. And the local golf season begins with our first outdoor live remote broadcast of the year at LuLu Country Club in the eastern end of Montgomery County.
Golf fever is coursing through the veins of everyone who has ever smacked one down the middle of the fairway or curled in a 50-foot putt.
Nowhere is that more evident than at LuLu Country Club, a Donald Ross gem that has gone through a bit of a rebirth in recent years. First, the golf course went through a sympathetic restoration at the hands of the renowned Forse Design Incorporated firm out of western Pennsylvania. Never has it looked better.
Now, the membership is going through a bit of a renovation, as the club changes to meet the demands of the 21st century golf family.
LuLu president Paul Muller will join the GolfTalk Live crew and serve as co-host from the historic grille room inside the clubhouse. In a full segment to explain how a 98-year-old club reconfigures itself to meet the demands of the modern market we will visit with LuLu general manager Mark Schwab, head golf professional Andy Watters and executive chef Dan Quay.
Since the rest of the world will be focused on Augusta National and what is happening at the Masters, it is only fitting that we visit with our expert on the scene, Daily News golf writer Mike Kern. Our favorite golf writer has been working overtime this week covering the action on the course and the Tigers Woods side show.
Of course, we would never let you take up a position in front of the television for a Sunday afternoon of watching the final round of the Masters without being properly fortified. That duty falls on Nick Giovanangelo, owner of Inside Jewelers on West Chester Pike in Broomall and the official gastronome of GolfTalk Live. As has become tradition on GolfTalk Live, Nicky G has come up with another five-star recipe that will enhance your television viewing. His one-pot veal scaloppini will make your mouth water even while you are reading the recipe. Put it on the table for Masters Sunday and you are guaranteed a feast fit for any golfer.
In our weekly Myrtle Beach Report, we will visit another of the area’s great golf courses. The entire area is humming, in preparation for the upcoming Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Pro-Am.
Thanks to an aggressive marketing this year, the entire Grand Strand – from just below Wilmington, North Carolina to Georgetown, South Carolina – is going through one of its busiest seasons in years. The golfers have returned to the Myrtle Beach area with a vengeance.
And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same.
April 3rd, the Masters Preview Show
Since the entire world, and not just the golf world, will be focused on Augusta National to see if Tiger Woods can make a triumphant return to competitive golf after a five-month layoff, GolfTalk Live has put together a special Masters Preview Show.
We will take a look at the upcoming week at Augusta National from a number of viewpoints … but one of the most interesting definitely will come from Mike Kern, our regular correspondent and golf writer for the Philadelphia Daily News. Don’t miss Mike’s predictions on the much-awaited press conference with Tiger Woods on Monday, as well as who will be the one to don the green jacket next Sunday.
Speaking of the Masters, former Masters champion Fred Couples is now the hottest player in golf, having won three straight Champions Tour events and not turning in a competitive round higher than 68 this year. He also is well in front of all other Champions Tour players in driving distance, using his TaylorMade driver. Tom Olsavsky, one of the TaylorMade technical geniuses who works with Tour players, will shed some light on Couples success. And maybe we can get a prediction out of him about Couples’ chances in the Masters.
For those who have rushed into the new season a bit too quickly, and without the proper physical preparation, we may just have a product that could be a godsend. Dave Ritting and former Penn State running back Blair Thomas will be on board to tell us about their new product, “Power Over Pain.” This amazing new product, which employs the old healing attributes of magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salts) is being used by professional and amateur sports teams throughout the area. Now, golfers have discovered the secret and are trumpeting its benefits.
In our weekly Myrtle Beach Report, Mike Buccerone, the director of golf at Pine Lakes International, will talk about another heralded comeback. After being closed for more than a year for renovation, Pine Lakes International, the oldest course in Myrtle Beach, reopened for play. Known as “The Granddaddy”, the course is now better than ever. The newly renovated clubhouse also serves as home for the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame.
And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same.
This Week: March 27th from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern
I thought March was supposed to go out like a lamb. If that is true, it is a wet, cold lamb.
Fortunately, GolfTalk Live will be warm and dry inside Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern for the Winter Invitational Tournament of Champions. Qualifiers from previous Winter Invitational weekends will be competing for a fabulous array of prizes right after our weekly live remote broadcast concludes.
Geoff Surrette, executive director for the Philadelphia Section PGA, will be on board to talk about the upcoming Spring Meeting for the area golf professionals and plans for the 2010 season. The Spring Meeting is sponsored by ProPlay Golf Performance Systems, the most powerful portable pocket-sized video camera in the market. ProPlay gives golfers immediate, frame-by-frame variable speed playback. ProPlay president Jack Parsons will explain a bit of his involvement with the Philly PGA.
In the Equipment Corner, Jay Hubbard will tell us why the new Tour Edge Exotics CB3 Tour fairway wood has become one of the hottest clubs on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. Even though the pros have endorsement deals with other club manufacturers, they have been putting the new Tour Edge stick in their bag. And why not? Tour Edge guarantees 20 yards more distance you’re your current club.
In the monthly Superintendent’s Corner we look at the annual race against time – trying to get courses out of the winter mode and into top condition for the onslaught of play from golfers who have developed a severe case of cabin fever over the winter. Sean Remington, superintendent at Green Valley Country Club, will be with us to explain how greenkeeping crews pull off the annual miracle.
With an eye to some warm weather golf to help us prepare for the new season, our Myrtle Beach Report continues. This week we will visit with Norristown native Dave Harbaugh, the director of golf at Wild Wing Plantation. Wild Wing has 27 holes of golf along Route 501 west of Myrtle Beach and it is known for keeping the course in superb condition.
And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same.
March 20th from Parkland Golf & Country Club in Parkland, Florida
The Phillies aren’t the only ones going to Florida to get in a bit of spring training at this time of year. GolfTalk Live is doing the same thing – and doing it at one of our favorite Florida haunts, Parkland Golf and Country Club, just west of Boca Raton.
It is Member-Guest Weekend at the ultra-posh club and head professional Dave Salerno has rolled out the red carpet for everyone this weekend … including GolfTalk Live. In addition to talking to Salerno about his superb Greg Norman-designed golf course, we may also talk to some of the guests – especially ones with a familiar name to Philadelphia sports fans.
The Doctor is in the house at Parkland and Julius (Dr. J) Erving will take time away from the Member-Guest competition to give his viewpoint on a number of topics.
Jamie McWilliams, our trusty Florida correspondent, is right on the scene at the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook for the players’ reaction on Tiger Woods’ decision to return to competition at the Masters.
With an eye to golf in another section of the South, our Myrtle Beach Report continues. This week we will visit with Delaware County native Bob Seganti, the director of golf at True Blue, the Mike Strantz-designed brute on the southern end of the Grand Strand.
And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same.
March 13th: Atlantic 10 Basketball Championship at the Sheraton Atlantic City
GolfTalk Live has never been opposed to mixing a little college basketball with golf, which is exactly what attendees at the Atlantic 10 Basketball Championship in Atlantic City will be doing. The alumni from the different teams love to come to Atlantic City, play golf during the day and watch basketball in the Convention Hall at night.
GolfTalk Live will be there broadcasting live from the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel, host site for all of the teams playing in the tournament. As has been the case the last two years,Temple Coach Fran Dunphy will be a special guest on the broadcast. Sheraton general manager Danny Williams will serve as co-host.
With an eye to golf further south, our Myrtle Beach Report continues. Keith DeVos, a Philadelphia area native who went to Neshaminy High, is the head professional at Oyster Bay GC in Sunset Beach, North Carolina and will provide the report.
And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same.
As part of our theme throughout March, to get you ready for the upcoming golf season, we made an extensive visit to Body Balance for Performance in Conshohocken. A special clinic with training specialist Andy Hogg and LPGA/PGA professional Becky Dengler was held. GolfTalk Live will bring you a condensed version of that clinic, with a few tips that should be quite helpful.
March 6th from TPC of Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Talk about engines revving up. Being in the Myrtle Beach area as the calendar turns to March is quite incredible. Golfers are headed to the area known as the Grand Strand in droves. Last weekend the golf courses were relatively quiet. This weekend, the tee sheets are full.
Our co-host for this week is Chip Smith, owner of the TPC at Myrtle Beach. Not only will we talk to him about this great layout on the southern end of Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand, but we will chat a bit about his favorite member – Dustin Johnson. The Myrtle Beach native, who has become one of the hottest 20-somethings on the PGA Tour, regards the TPC as his home course. All of his trophies are on display in the clubhouse.
And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same.
February 27th from Glen Dornoch GC in Little River, South Carolina.
When in doubt, get the heck out. That is the motto of GolfTalk Live.
With yet another snowstorm pounding the region, GolfTalk Live host Tony Leodora has evacuated the area and taken up safe haven in his favorite southern destination - Myrtle Beach.
Saturday, he will do the first of two shows in an eight-day stretch from the area known as the Grand Strand. Glen Dornoch, placed gracefully along the Intracoastal Waterway, is a spectacular venue and the show should be energized by the view from the clubhouse. Be prepared for a lot of chat about spring getaways to the Myrtle Beach area.
The Golf Channel is debuting a new series, "Being John Daly". The goal is to get inside the private live of one of the most complex athletes, and complicated individuals, the sports world has known in recent years. The show debuts next Wednedsday. National golf writer Jack O'Leary, who has spent some time in Daly's company, will be aboard to discuss the upcoming shows.
In the Superintendent's Corner, we have an interesting visit with Todd Struse. As head superintendent at Blue Bell CC, he has shown to be a master of communication with his members. His newsletters are a much anticipated read. In his latest, he explained what a superintendent does during a long winter, like the one we are experiencing. He also talks about the damage the winter storms have done.
And don't forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year. Not only do we get away to Myrtle Beach, but we try to help you do the same.
February 20th from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern.
Have you had enough of the snow? Can’t wait to swing the golf club?
That’s exactly what we will be doing Saturday morning when GolfTalk Live comes back to Play-a-Round Golf. In addition to talking golf, we will be playing golf in the next-to-last qualifier for the GolfTalk Live Winter Invitationals. Those who finish in the money this week will qualify for the Tournament of Champions on Saturday, April 3.
Speaking of talking golf, the world should be talking about the Accenture World Match Play Championship in Arizona. Instead, Tiger has upstaged his former sponsor by holding a press conference on Friday to discuss his propensity for spending so much time with his pants down around his ankles. Should be interesting. We will analyze the situation with Joe Logan of MyPhillyGolf.com.
In keeping the with desert theme of the World Match Play Tournament, we will closely inspect the Desert Dry shirts from Antigua in our Equipment Corner.
Going from the desert to the frozen tundra, we will have a chat with Carl Wilgus, president/CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. He is hosting a 9-hole tournament on Sunday … on the frozen surface of Lake Wallenpaupack.
In our third Myrtle Beach Report of our new three-month promotion, we will visit with Jimmy Biggs, the director of golf at the 36-hole facility, The Pearl, in Calabash, North Carolina. He will have plenty of information on his Dan Maples-designed “pearls.” And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year.
February 13th at North Coast Golf Show, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks, PA
Cabin Fever will have the golfers of the Delaware Valley area coming out in droves this weekend to the North Coast Golf Show in Oaks. And GolfTalk Live will be there to bring you all of the action live.
On Friday night at 6 p.m. we will record a live remote broadcast of our show from the WNTP booth on the show floor. The show then will be replayed at our regular time on Saturday morning.
Stop by the booth all weekend to talk golf with show host Tony Leodora and other members of the GolfTalk Live crew. Show times are 2 to 8 on Friday, 10 to 6 on Saturday and 10 to 5 on Sunday.
Also, we will have a number of guests from other booths at the North Coast Show dropping by to talk a little golf on the air. Be prepared for a record number of guests and the fastest moving hour in golf.
In a fascinating interview that was done during our week at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, we talked to Dr. Gio Valiante – author, psychologist and the hottest new head guru on the PGA Tour. His work with an assortment of players over the last couple of years has produced amazing results and he talks about his work during a frank conversation.
In our second Myrtle Beach Report of a new three-month promotion, we will visit another course along the Grand Strand, bringing information that should enhance your next Myrtle Beach visit. And don’t forget to go to www.phillytomyrtle.com to enter your name for a chance to win free golf for a year.
February 6th from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern, PA
Home, Sweet Home my foot!!!
GolfTalk Live returned home from nine days of sunshine and warmth at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando … only to get smacked in the face with another blast of winter weather in Philly.
Unfortunately, Saturday’s storm will force us to cancel the GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational from Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern. The next-to-last qualifier for the Tournament of Champions will be moved to Feb. 20.
For the first time since March of 2006 we will be doing the radio show from the WNTP studios. It is not as exciting as doing the show on location, but we will be able to guarantee bringing you a show, despite the snowstorm.
Not only did we come back from Orlando with memories of warm weather still dancing in our heads, we came back with a lot of information from the PGA Merchandise Show.
After a lot of research and consultation, we once again came up with Tony’s Top Ten – 10 items that caught the ever-discerning eye of our host during his visit to the Show. Don’t miss the countdown.
Finally, the week before Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Nick Giovanangelo of Inside Jewelers on West Chester Pike in Broomall. While it is important that golfers, especially golfers who want to go away on a special golf trip this year, pay attention to Nicky’s suggestions for outstanding Valentine’s Day presents, it is even more important to listen to his other suggestions. Nicky G never makes a visit to GolfTalk Live without bringing a recipe. His latest is sure to make everyone’s Super Bowl party a gastronomic success. The full recipe will soon be available on our Blog.
In our first Myrtle Beach Report of a new three-month promotion, we will visit with Steve Mays, director of Marketing for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. He will talk about some of the great events taking place along the Grand Strand in this upcoming season, such as the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday after the Masters Bash, the Father-Son Tournament and the World Amateur Handicap Championship.
January 30th from the PGA Merchandise Show at Mystic Dunes Resort in Kissimmee, Florida
With another case of sensory overload – golf style – properly registered, we will present our annual PGA Merchandise Show spectacular. Listeners will get a taste of what it was like at the world’s biggest golf expo, and get previews of interviews and Blogs to come in upcoming weeks.
Our co-host for the show is Andy Mears, president of Player’s Pass and a PGA Show veteran for almost 20 years. He and show host Tony Leodora will compare notes.
Speaking of notes, the group Kansas will be hitting some notes – from familiar songs such as “Dust in the Wind” and “Wayward Son” at a concert on Friday night from the PGA Show. Tony Leodora will have an interview with the band’s resident golf nut, drummer Phil Ehart.
Not quite up to rock star status, but a star on the Philadelphia agronomic scene, head superintended John Gosselin of Aronimink GC will be with us in the Superintendent’s Corner. He has currently taken over reins as president of the Philadelphia Golf Course Superintendents Association and should have some interesting comments about the “show circuit,” as he prepares to attend the Superintendents Association’s annual show in San Diego.
In our final GolfOrlando Report of our three-month promotion, Jody Seifert, Director of Golf at Orange Lake Resort, will give us a look at one of the largest resort properties in the Orlando area.
January 23rd from Mystic Dunes Resort in Celebration, Florida
It’s a tough and lonely job, leaving Philadelphia in January and spending the next two weekends in Orlando … but somebody has to do it. The GolfTalk Live crew is returning to the fabulous Mystic Dunes Resort – near Kissimmee, Disney and all of Orlando’s attractions for two shows that will focus on the PGA Merchandise Show.
Rick Smith, the director of golf at Mystic Dunes, will serve as co-host and also spend a segment with us, telling us all about the golf course and the accompanying housing and amenities at Mystic Dunes.
This week we landed one of the real PGA Merchandise Show veterans, in Lakeland-based golf course architect Ron Garl. He has worked the show from the aisles, in a booth, behind the speaker’s podium and in the classroom. There are few golf industry individuals who have as much experience in all facets of the PGA Merchandise Show as Garl. He has some good stories about what he calls, “The Super Bowl of Golf.”
Also, we will follow last week’s discussion about the announcement that the ShopRite LPGA Classic is returning to Atlantic City with an interview with the tournament’s new executive director, Steve Erensen.
Finally, in the next-to-last week of our weekly Golf Orlando Report, we visit an old friend, Steve Schaller, at Falcon’s Fire GC in Kissimmee. Schaller used to be Director of Golf at Seaview Resort in Atlantic City. Now he is General Manager and Director of Golf at this recently renovated Rees Jones-designed gem. We will find out how he is adjusting to the warm weather.
January 16th from the Sheraton Atlantic City Hotel
The GolfTalk Live crew is returning to one of its favorite haunts – the Atlantic City Sheraton. The biggest difference in this visit, from those at other times of the year, getting a tan on the beach is not a priority.
Instead, this mid-winter visit to the site of so many other live broadcasts is prompted by talk of golf. Recent news of the return of the ShopRite LPGA Classic to Seaview Resort has anyone connected with the South Jersey golf scene all pumped up.
We will have comments from a number of people who will be gauging the impact that the newly revived LPGA tournament will have on the area. In particular, Carla Caulk, sales manager for the Sheraton, will talk about how the hotel plans to accommodate the guests who have golf on their mind.
In another of our winter segments designed to help you prepare for the upcoming season, we visited Body Balance for Performance in Conshohocken. The indoor golf training and fitness facility held one of its great golf seminars this week. Jonathan Doctor, head professional at Chester Valley CC was on hand to talk about alignment and how you can work on alignment during the winter, without ever stepping foot on the golf course.
Dave Ostrow, head physical therapist at Body Balance, also talked about how physiological problems could affect your ability to maintain proper alignment.
Finally, in our weekly Golf Orlando Report, we visit Hunter’s Creek GC and talk to general manager Marion Walker. She was quite happy to report that the warm weather is returning to Central Florida.
January 9th from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern PA
With GolfStyles magazine publishing its annual Private Clubs Issue this week – and taking a close look at what is happening on the private club scene – we thought it would be a good idea to bring in some experts on the subject.
We have put together a panel that will tell of different experiences in the world of running a private country club. Bill Beisel, general manager of Blue Bell Country Club, will talk about the different challenges and advantages of being involved with a non-equity club. Gilbert Benjamin, president of Meadowlands Country Club, will explain how his club completely turned around its fortunes after being placed on the critical list four years ago. Chuck Caparo, membership chairman at Plymouth Country Club, will tell what his club is doing to turn around its fortunes.
In our final segment, we will pay tribute to one of the fixtures in the Philadelphia golf scene, Wood’s Golf Center, which closed its doors after 52 years in East Norriton. Terry Harbaugh, daughter of founder John Wood and the 2008 Pennsylvania Senior Women’s Amateur champion, will tell of playing the course for the last time on December 31.
For a bit of warmth, we will take time for our weekly Golf Orlando report. This week we visit a Robert Trent Jones classic, Metro West.
And, of course, after the show we will be the only ones playing golf in the Greater Philadelphia area as another round of the GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational takes place in the warm environs of Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern.
January 2nd – Producer’s Revenge – Annual Year in Review.
Once a year the technical staff behind our award-winning GolfTalk Live show rises up in revolt, takes control of the programming and puts together an episode we lovingly call, “The Producers’ Revenge.”
Joe Harnett, the producer who does all of the pre-show preparation at WNTP; Terry Brennan, who produces the show live each week from the studio; and Eddie “The Kid” Caiazzo, who is our producer on site at the live remote broadcasts, have banned together for an interesting and exciting look back at GolfTalk Live in 2009.
They will bring you highlights from some of the great interviews, re-live some of the great sites for our live remote broadcasts and – always a listener favorite – bring you some of the best bloopers from throughout the year.
Of course, we can’t leave the entire show up to our triumvirate of producers. We still bring you our weekly Golf Orlando Report – a burst of sunshine and warmth from another great golf course in the Central Florida area.
December 26th from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern PA
You ate too much. Maybe drank a bit too much. Listened to the Mother-in-law too much. And now all you want to do is get out of the house. Come to Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern. Listen to the live broadcast of the show then, immediately after, play in our GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational Series. Better-ball-of-Partners on the most realistic golf simulators in the world. Call 610-725-9155 to make a reservation.
Our show takes a nostalgic look back at a very memorable decade in golf.
Harry Donahue, the host of the Inside Golf television show, will be with us to talk about one of the bigger changes in golf over the period – the change in television golf advertising. The commercials used to be sophisticated and oozing with class. No more.
In our Superintendent’s Corner, our experts will be talking about the decade, from an agronomic viewpoint. There have been new advancements in the industry, but the sweltering summers of 2006 and 2007 also posed new challenges that made a superintendent’s life miserable.
Also, Mike Kern, golf writer from the Daily News, joins us to take a look at the decade from a competitive standpoint. How have the history books been re-written by the deeds of the last 10 years?
Finally, in our weekly Golf Orlando Report, we visit another great golf course in the Central Florida area, hoping to bring bit of warmth with it.
December 19th from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern PA
We are back inside the warm and cozy confines of Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern for this weeks show and another battle to the prize-filled finish in our GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational Series. Right after the conclusion of the show, two-player teams will compete for cash and prizes.
The show will be our annual Christmas Special, with Nick Giovanangelo of Inside Jewelers (Nicky G) returning to play the part of Santa Claus. We will review our Holiday Golf Gift Guide, assembled from our list of Products of the Month for 2009.
In the Equipment Corner, Tiss Dahan, Senior Director of Global Golf Apparel for Adidas Golf, will tell us what's new in golf fashion just in time to go out and get that special golf gift for the holidays.
The Tiger Woods story just won't go away and does not promise to vanish for many months. Joe Logan, former golf writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer who now has his www.MyPhillyGolf.com website, will be on board to discuss the implications the Tiger soap opera could have on the PGA Tours presence in Philadelphia.
In our weekly Golf Orlando Report, we visit another great golf course in the Central Florida area, hoping to bring bit of warmth with it.
December 12th from The Golf Club at Indigo Run, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
For the last 24 years, the same week each year, GolfTalk Live host Tony Leodora has been coming to Hilton Head Island. Now he has put together a show to tell you exactly why this golf paradise holds such an attraction.
The show will come from Indigo Run Plantation, a wonderfully designed housing and golf enclave in the middle of the island. Two courses – The Golf Club at Indigo Run, designed by Jack and Jack Nicklaus Jr., and Golden Bear Club, designed by the Nicklaus Design company – are the focal point. The show will come from the pro shop at The Golf Club at Indigo Run. Stuart Cavcey, the new general manager, will serve as co-host.
Two interesting perspectives will be presented by a pair of Hilton Head residents.
Joe Walter is a retired banker and transplanted Pennsylvanian, who sharpened his game as a member at Moselem Springs. He has lived fulltime on the island for almost five years and tells what is like.
Linda Hartough is a renowned landscape artist who lives on Hilton Head. Her studio is located in Sea Pines. Aside from being Hilton Head’s most well-known artist, she is well-regarded in golf circles for her paintings of U.S. Open venues.
In our Equipment Corner segment, we have an interesting discussion for Brian Bazzell, the director of new products for TaylorMade-adidas golf. His pride and joy, the TaylorMade Burner Irons, have climbed to a spot as No. 1 selling irons in America. It is a first for the company that has had the No. 1-selling driver for a number of years.
On our weekly Golf Orlando Report, we will check in with another warm weather golf site from Central Florida.
December 5th from Oyster Bay GC in Sunset Beach, North Carolina
One last curtain call for 2009 in the Myrtle Beach area this week, and we find ourselves at one of the most picturesque courses along the Grand Strand – Oyster Bay GC. Our co-host for the show will be head professional Keith DeVos, who honestly enjoys lording over this Dan Maples masterpiece.
Of course, he climbs into the hot seat this week – with the entire world transfixed on the Tiger Woods soap opera. We will have help in the discussion, as Holly Geoghegan, host of the Golf Insiders radio show on the Orlando ESPN affiliate, brings perspective from Tiger’s neighborhood.
Jim Nugent, golf journalism veteran and creator of the new Global Golf Post internet magazine will tell us all about his new product. His online publication features an all-star cast of golf writers.
In the Healthy Golf segment, Dr. Richard Roth of Main Line Eye Specialists joins us to talk about what might be the greatest opportunity to improve your game during the offseason – surgery to correct your vision. New advances now provide a number of options for all those golfers who regularly launch their drive, then say, “Did anybody see where that went?”
On our weekly Golf Orlando Report, we check in with Andy Mitchell, the director of golf at Marriott’s Grand Pines GC. This recently renovated course is also the home of the Nick Faldo Golf Institute.
November 28th from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern PA
If you have that Thanksgiving hangover, GolfTalk Live is the perfect antidote. It is our Turkey Shoot Show … as in “shoot, are we ever sick of turkey.”
Nicky G, our favorite sponsor from Inside Jewelers in Broomall, will serve as our co-host. As the official gastronome of GolfTalk Live, he will bring us out of our tryptophan-induced stupor with another delicious recipe tip for a weekend of watching football.
He also will be part of the field in our Turkey Shoot edition of the GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational. In our third week of competition, teams will be trying to stop the run of two-time winners Rob Pino and Scott Draper. Aside from our regular prizes, competitors will be playing for special Turkey Shoot prizes, which are, of course, not turkeys but steaks provided by our sponsor, Player’s Pass.
Play begins immediately following the live broadcast of the show. You can still register by calling Play-a-Round Golf at 610-725-9155 or TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
For an added bonus, Dave Ostrow from Body Balance for Performance in Conshohocken will be with us. He will be stretching out golfers in preparation for our GolfTalk Live Invitational competition. Also, he will explain to us how golf-specific exercises can improve your game.
To signify the official start of the Holiday Season we will review our GolfTalk Live Golf Gift Guide. After a year of hailing a different Product of the Month each month, we have come up with a pretty good list of potential gifts for the avid golfer.
The newest entry on that list, Utopia Putters, is quite a story. Owner/developer Scott Saunders will be with us to tell how this new putter is taking the country by storm.
On our weekly Golf Orlando Report, we check in with Steve Phillips, the head professional at Mystic Dunes. This is one of the most unique courses in Central Florida, with undulating greens that will really test your putting stroke. It is also a timeshare resort that rents one, two and three bedroom condos on a daily or weekly basis.
November 21st from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern PA
The first week of the GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational Series at Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern was a huge success. All of the players who participated in the two-man net better-ball-of-partners competition really enjoyed themselves. And they all walked away with prizes. Of course, the team of Rob Pino and Scott Draper walked away with the biggest prizes, taking the title for Week 1 and qualifying for the Tournament of Champions in March. The prize chest is already getting filled for that event.
This week is another week of competition, immediately following the live broadcast of the show. You can still register by calling Play-a-Round Golf at 610-725-9155 or TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
On the show this week, we have a number of very interesting interviews. Jamie McWilliams, our correspondent in Florida, reports live from the LPGA Senior Championship at Innisbrook. Jamie always has some interesting tidbits from the tournament scene.
On our weekly Golf Orlando Report, we check in with Dave Scott, the Director of Golf of Shingle Creek GC. Not only does he report on the quality of the course, but he gives some insight into the Four Diamond Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, adjacent to the course.
Sports Illustrated is celebrating its 50th anniversary by putting out The Golf Book, a coffee table book reliving 50 years of SI golf coverage in photos. There are also a few stories weaved in with the photos and Philadelphia’s Michael Bamberber has his name on one of the stories. He gives us a look at what the last 15 years of covering golf for Sports Illustrated has been like.
Finally, we will get a live report from Stu Ingraham, who has been in Arizona all week trying to make it through the Champions Tour Q-School. .
Last Weeks Results: Rob Pina and Scott Draper Win First GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational
History was made on Saturday, November 14 when the first GolfTalk Live Invitational tournament was held at Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern. The net better-ball-of-partners competitions will be held on select Saturday mornings throughout the winter until April.
The team of Rob Pina and Scott Draper combined for a net 5-under-par 31 to win by two shots. Second place, at 3-under-par 33 was the team of golf course architect Ed Shearon and show host Tony Leodora.
Reservations for the Nov. 21 tournament, which gets under way shortly after the GolfTalk Live radio show goes off the air at 8 a.m., are now being taken. Call Play-a-Round Golf at 610-725-9155 or TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
Full first week results follow:
GolfTalk Live Invitational - November 14, 2009
Rob Pina – Scott Draper 31
Ed Shearon – Tony Leodora 33
Nick Giovanangelo – Dick Kearney 35
Dan Furman – Ed Furman 35
Chris Fuga – Mark Fuga 38
John Salamone – Jeff Stanford DNS
November 14th from Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern PA
In case you haven’t noticed, the leaves are off the trees, the lawn furniture has been put away and the fireplaces are burning brightly each night. That also means it is time for GolfTalk Live to find a warm, cozy home for the winter.
Mission accomplished. For the majority of weeks between now and April we will be headquartered in the comfortable surroundings of Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern – the area’s No. 1 indoor golf facility. And we will be conducting our GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational tournaments immediately following the show.
This week’s lineup is set but you can register to compete in upcoming weeks by calling Play-a-Round Golf at 610-725-9155 or TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220. Steve Graves, owner of Play-a-Round will be on board to provide more details about the upcoming tournaments.
For this week’s opening competition we have recruited golf course architect Ed Shearon. He will talk about the formula for successful golf course development in today’s economy before putting his reputation as a player on the line in the tournament.
One of our favorite sponsors, Nick Giovanangelo of Inside Jewelers, will be on hand to talk about special presents for that special person, now that the holiday season is here. Also, as an added bonus, he will give us one of his tried-and-tested recipes that go along with watching football games on television. He dazzled listeners with his recipe for watching the Masters. Have paper and pencil ready for his latest.
Our Orlando Report continues with an interesting discussion with Ryan Thomas, head professional at ChampionsGate. With two Greg Norman courses and a fabulous Omni Hotel, ChampionsGate is one of the top resorts in the Orlando area.
Rob Pina and Scott Draper Win First GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational
History was made on Saturday, November 14 when the first GolfTalk Live Invitational tournament was held at Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern. The net better-ball-of-partners competitions will be held on select Saturday mornings throughout the winter until April.
The team of Rob Pina and Scott Draper combined for a net 5-under-par 31 to win by two shots. Second place, at 3-under-par 33 was the team of golf course architect Ed Shearon and show host Tony Leodora.
Reservations for the Nov. 21 tournament, which gets under way shortly after the GolfTalk Live radio show goes off the air at 8 a.m., are now being taken. Call Play-a-Round Golf at 610-725-9155 or TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
Full first week results follow:
GolfTalk Live Invitational - November 14, 2009
Rob Pina – Scott Draper 31
Ed Shearon – Tony Leodora 33
Nick Giovanangelo – Dick Kearney 35
Dan Furman – Ed Furman 35
Chris Fuga – Mark Fuga 38
John Salamone – Jeff Stanford DNS
November 7th from Thistle GC in Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Like a boomerang, the GolfTalk Live radio show keeps coming back to the Myrtle Beach area. This is the second weekend of our most recent visit, and our seventh show from the Grand Strand this year. Although we are in North Carolina, it looks like Scotland, as we visit Thistle GC. General Manager Gene Weldon will be our co-host.
Thistle served as the opening course for a competition, the 15th annual Freedom Trail Challenge, that has come to the Myrtle Beach area this year. A total of 32 players have been competing in a Ryder Cup-style event.
Andy Mears, president of Player’s Pass, has been playing all week in the competition and visiting courses in the area. He will be a guest during a segment, talking about the world of discount golf. There are a lot of bargains on the golf horizon and his company can help you play more golf and pay less money. He also has a very special offer for GolfTalk Live listeners that he will unveil during this show.
Lucia Olson, a very talented artist and jewelry designer from Washington State, will be on the show to talk about her new line of golf jewelry – Just Fore You. With the holidays approaching, it will be a great segment to find a meaningful gift for that special person.
Charlie King, one of the Top 100 golf instructors in America, will return to the show. The Director of Instruction at Reynolds Plantation in Georgia, King has just released a new edition of his book, The Red Zone. It concentrates on how to score better, instead of how to swing better.
Finally, our annual GolfOrlando segment begins, bringing you three months of warmth, sunshine and great golf from Central Florida.
October 31st from Tidewater GC in Little River, South Carolina
Like a boomerang, the GolfTalk Live radio show keeps coming back to the Myrtle Beach area. This time, on Halloween, it is to visit one of the favorite haunts, Tidewater GC, for the first of a two-week stay along the Grand Strand. Tidewater head professional Chris Cooper will sit in as co-host.
We will talk about some of the inside secrets to planning a great golf trip to Myrtle Beach and one of our experts will be Vaughn Stanaland, vice president of Century 21 Thomas real estate in North Myrtle Beach. Not only can his company get you the best housing along the Grand Strand, but they can help with golf, restaurants and entertainment.
Andy Mears, president of Player’s Pass, will be a guest during a segment, talking about the world of discount golf. There are a lot of bargains on the golf horizon and his company can help you play more golf and pay less money. He also has a very special offer for GolfTalk Live listeners that he will unveil during this show.
USGA Regional Agronomist Adam Moeller will be with us in the Superintendent’s Corner to talk about what it is like trying to grow grass in different regions of the country. Each region has its own special challenges, and some regions have more than others.
Finally, the countdown has begun. Only two more weeks remain until the start of the GolfTalk Live Winter Invitational Series at Play-a-Round Golf on Lancaster Pike in Malvern.
This Week: October 24th from Westover CC in Jeffersonville, PA
Get ready for another milestone in GolfTalk Live history. Over the years the show has displayed versatility by coming to you from many great locations. This week, we come to you from more than one location at one time.
Eddie “The Kid” Caiazzo, our trusty on-site producer, will set up the equipment at Westover Country Club in Jeffersonville, Pennsylvania, then put on the headset and man a seat at the broadcast table. Next to him will be Paul Galczyk, a GolfTalk Live veteran and head professional at Westover.
From 1,000 miles away, in the parking lot at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan, our host Tony Leodora will be connected to Westover, the studio and our guests via the magic of radio technology.
Leodora is crossing one of the items off his “Bucket List” by taking in the Penn State-Michigan game along with one of our sponsors, Andy Mears, the president of Player’s Pass. Even though football and tailgating are on his agenda that day, golf will still be on his mind during a very interesting show.
Speaking of “on his mind”, he will be spending another session with Bryan Toder, a certified hypnotist, based in Lafayette Hill, who has developed a program to help us with our golf games. Leodora has dabbled with the program lately and is starting to see some results.
John Salamone, the winner of the GolfTalk Live Invitational final at Atlantic City CC a few weeks ago will be a guest. He will talk about the event, as well as the upcoming GolfTalk Live Winter Invitationals at Play-a-Round Golf in Malvern. Salamone is already registered for the first winter event on Nov. 14, along with his partner, Anthony Stipa.
In the final segment, get ready for an incredibly lively and interesting roundtable discussion, as Leodora, Caiazzo and Galczyk are joined by Mike Kern of the Philadelphia Daily News. Fred Couples’ laid back style of “managing” the victorious President’s Cup team will be compared to Charlie Manuel’s similar approach to managing the Phillies. And other great manager/coaches in Philadelphia sports history will make their way into the discussion.
October 17th from Parkland GC Parkland, Florida
We, at GolfTalk Live, are not as dumb as we look. As soon as the first cold winds of fall hit the area, we headed for sunny, warm Florida. Our destination is the fabulous private club, Parkland Golf Club.
One of the finest Greg Norman designs to be found in America, this five-year-old course has quickly matured into a gem that leaves players of all levels raving.
Dave Salerno, the Parkland head professional, will join us as guest host for the day. Beware, he is an unabashed New York Giants and New York Yankees fan. We should have plenty to talk about, since the Phillies and Eagles are bracing for clashes with the rivals from the north.
In Hershey this week the inaugural Hershey Amateur was held and the players who made history at the first event got a special treat. Not only did they get to play the West and East Courses at Hershey CC, by they had a special final round on the relatively new Hershey Links GC.
With the fall nip in the air, many golfers are taking stock of their games and wondering what they can do to make the next golf season special. In our Healthy Golfer segment, David Ostrow talks about setting goals and putting together a physical training session for the winter months.
October 10th from Atlantic City Sheraton Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ
We have been telling you that Fall is the best time of the year to play golf at the Jersey Shore. And we are backing up our claim with action … as this is the third week in a row we are doing a live remote broadcast from the Greater Atlantic City area.
This week we visit GolfTalk Live’s official home away from home, the Atlantic City Sheraton Hotel. Not only is this hotel the perfect spot for both business travelers and vacationers, just steps away from The Walk shopping district in Atlantic City, but it is also a sports hot spot.
Throughout the year the Sheraton’s golf concierge places golfers on courses throughout South Jersey. Every March it is headquarters for the teams playing in the Atlantic 10 Basketball Championship. Now, it also houses the teams for the new Legends Basketball Classic over Thanksgiving weekend – Florida, Massachusetts, Rutgers and Michigan State. General Manager Danny Williams will fill in some of the details.
Rick Osberg, one of the top professional golfers in the Philadelphia Section throughout the ‘90s, has taken over as general manager and director of instruction at Tee It Up Golf in West Chester. He has scheduled a number of events at the facility, including Old Havana Cigar Night on Thursday, October 15.
Jim McLean has been one of the leading golf gurus in the country for years. He has a new book out, “The Slot Swing”, and will talk about it. He also might talk about his star pupil – 14-year-old Alexis Thompson, who led after two rounds of last week’s LPGA Tour event.
GolfTalk Live Invitational Series Concludes With Magnificent Final at Atlantic City CC
On a brilliantly sunny but windy day that tested the golfers, the grand finale of the GolfTalk Live Invitational Series was held at Atlantic City CC. A total of 16 golfers advanced from qualifying tournaments held during the summer at Downingtown CC and Meadowlands CC.
John Salamone, an employee on the golf staff at the Ace Club in Lafayette Hill, captured the Gross Division championship after firing a 78. Salamone also was the winner of the gross division during the qualifying tournament at Meadowlands.
Joe DeSantis, president of Plymouth CC, won the Net Division title with a 73. DeSantis also was the winner of the net division during the qualifying tournament at Downingtown.
Closest to the pin prizes went to Dave Meissner, Chuck Caparo, Mitch Harris, Shawn Burns and Todd Pline.
October 3rd from Atlantic City CC in Northfield, NJ
Last week the PGA held its Tour Championship. Now, the GolfTalk Live Invitational is holding its championship.
After qualifying tournaments at Downingtown CC (in June) and Meadowlands CC (in September), the GolfTalk Live Invitational rolls into Atlantic City CC to pick the top golfer in the Net and Gross categories.
Of course, all of this week’s contestants already have won – by virtue of their weekend trip to Atlantic City, paid accommodations at the Sheraton Atlantic City Hotel and their round of golf on the incomparable Atlantic City Country Club course.
Speaking of Atlantic City, we will spend a few minutes talking with Brian Hoey, the marketing director for Atlantic City Golf Vacations. We want to get a pulse of how the business was this year, with bad weather hurting the spring season and casinos reporting declines in gaming revenues.
With the conclusion of our two months of Myrtle Beach reports comes the grand finale – selection of the winner of the Philly-to-Myrtle contest. We will have an interview with the excited winner.
Finally, we call on national golf writer Joe Logan, host of the new website, www.myphillygolf.com, to provide a review of the entire PGA season
This Week: September 26th broadcasting from Blue Heron Pines GC in Colonie, NJ
The Fall is the best time of year for golf at the Jersey Shore and we will continue to prove it over the next few weeks. This week we are at Blue Heron Pines Golf Club, outside Atlantic City. This Stephen Kay-designed classic has maintained its position at the top level of courses in New Jersey. General Manager Will Arabea will sit in as co-host.
We will have a report from the largest event of the year for the local pros, the Philadelphia PGA Championship from Concord Country Club. In our weekly Myrtle Beach Report, we have a double-barreled offering this week. Bob Seganti, the head professional at True Blue GC on the south side of Myrtle Beach and a Philadelphia area native, will update us on happenings along the Grand Strand. Also, we will have an interesting interview with a foursome of golfers from Pennsylvania who have been taking a golf trip to Myrtle Beach at the same time each year, for 40 years.
In our Superintendent’s Corner we will tackle the important issue of the need for judicious decision-making when selecting hole locations at this time of year, when green speeds naturally increase.
The good folks at Hershey Resort are excited about their upcoming event, and they give us an update on entries for the upcoming Hershey Amateur, to be held October 11-14.
September 19th broadcasting from At the Rail Wine Bar and Grill at White Clay Creek CC in Wilmington, DE
What does mid-September mean to you? The start of football season, the stretch run in baseball season, the FedEx Cup playoffs in golf season, the end of summer beach season.
To those with a taste for fine wines, it means harvest season. And that’s why we have, once again, dedicated this show to Wine and Golf. With the upscaling of so many courses and clubhouses in recent years, wine has played a larger role in the life of a golfer.
Nowhere is that truer than at White Clay Creek Country Club, and its At the Rail Wine Bar and Grille. We were part of the Italian Wine Dinner held at White Clay Creek, a spectacular affair that provided a splendid backdrop to our annual Wine and Golf show. We recorded the show so that you could enjoy the atmosphere on Saturday morning.
Once again, our resident wine expert Sam Marino was on hand to provide his usual colorful commentary. A renowned winemaker, caterer and wine expert, his expertise in the field of wine is always a valuable addition to our show.
Tim Kozenskie, the vice president of food and beverage at White Clay Creek, was quite proud to watch the Wine Dinner unfold and he explained how these events have become popular nights on the club’s calendar.
In our weekly Myrtle Beach Report, we visit with native Philadelphian Dave Harbaugh, the director of golf at Wild Wing Plantation.
If you think the economy has hurt other businesses, try to be in the fundraising business. Charity tournaments throughout the area have been hard-hit by low participation and diminishing sponsorships. The Jerry Segal Classic, one of the largest charity tournaments in the area, is no stranger to the challenges of fundraising in this economy. Founder Jerry Segal and spokesman, Billy Cunningham, the former 76er Hall of Fame player and coach, talked about what they are doing to overcome the obstacles to this year’s event.
Tom Jaronski, golf consultant for Hershey Resort, gives us an update on entries for the upcoming Hershey Amateur.
September 12th from Running Deer CC in Elmer NJ
On a fitting weekend, the opening weekend of the NFL season, we visit the third of Ron Jaworski’s three South Jersey golf courses – Running Deer. This semi-private club has been in the Jaworski fold for less than a year but the improvements to the facility are startling.
For one thing, they added the Dick Smith Golf Academy, one of the top instructional teams in America. With former PGA of America president Dick Smith and brother Tom Smith leading the way, the Dick Smith Golf Academy has quickly built a stellar reputation in the region. Dick will be with us to explain a little bit of his teaching philosophy.
In our weekly Myrtle Beach Report we visit with Bill Long, the director of golf marketing for Ocean Ridge Plantation in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Leopard’s Chase, the latest course in the rotation, was the topic of conversation. Undulating greens and extreme natural beauty are the two subjects that concern most golfers after their first visit.
Dr. Richard Roth, one of the health care experts on staff with GolfTalk Live, visits with us again to talk about eye care during the late summer hay fever season.
Also, we will have a report from the Walker Cup at Merion GC Saturday and Sunday.
September 5th - Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
After battling the rain, wind and difficult golf courses for four days, the 3,100 competitors in the World Amateur Handicap Championship turn their attention to the revered Dunes Club for the final round of champions (from each flight) and the coronation of a new Champion
No, I will not be reigning as champion, nor did I even come close to winning my flight. I settled for middle-of-the-pack status. You can read all the gory details from every day in my Blog
Instead, we will talk with tournament director and Director of Marketing for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, Steve Mays. And, of course, we will talk to the overall winner.
Also, we had a chat with one of the Top 100 teachers in the world and the Director of Instruction at Grande Dunes GC in Myrtle Beach, Brad Redding. You may remember him from his years at Hartefeld National.
We ran into an old friend with a new product in the nightly 19th Hole at the World Am. Larry Wise, former PGA Tour player and former Director of Golf at the Center Valley Club, was in Myrtle Beach consulting for a new putter company, Dreamliner. They have a great concept and were introduced to it in its infancy.
For those envious of everyone who played in the World Amateur Handicap Championship but were unable to join us, you have another shot at first-class competition. The Hershey Am is coming to “The Sweetest Place on Earth” in October. Tom Jaronski, director of golf marketing for Hershey Resorts and Entertainment, took a few minutes to tell us all about this new event.
August 29th - Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, site of the “Know Your Score Celebrity Golf Tournament” to benefit the fight against prostate cancer
The award-winning GolfTalk Live radio show, hosted by Tony Leodora, is taking on the challenge of the PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach.
For a stretch of nine days the Myrtle Beach area will be the headquarters for GolfTalk Live, focusing on two of the largest events of the year in the area.
It all begins with the pairings party for the Know the Score Celebrity Golf Tournament, benefitting the fight against prostate cancer, on Friday. That will take place at Tommy Bahama’s in the new Market Common, just south of the airport in Myrtle Beach.
On Saturday, August 29 GolfTalk Live will broadcast from the tournament site, the Long Bay Club at the north end of the Grand Strand. Beginning Monday, August 31, show host Tony Leodora will play in the World Amateur Handicap Championship.
In an effort to further bare his flawed golf game to the world, he will write a daily story from the tournament and post it on the Blog portion of this website. The Myrtle Beach adventure will conclude with a show on Saturday, September 5 from the famed Dunes Golf and Beach – site of the final round of the World Amateur Handicap Championship.
“The World Amateur Handicap Championship is always an action-packed week,” said Leodora. “Playing in it and writing a daily self-confession should make it even more interesting – and probably more humbling.”
GolfTalk Live, which airs 52 weeks a year from 7 to 8 a.m. each Saturday on WNTP 990-AM and on www.wntp.com , is an interview-driven golf show that has grabbed national attention. At the PGA Merchandise Show in 2008, GolfTalk Live was voted America’s Best Golf Radio Show by the prestigious International Network of Golf.
August 22nd from RiverWinds GC in West Deptford, New Jersey
We are back for the second of three live remote broadcasts from Ron Jaworski’s courses in South Jersey and RiverWinds GC is one of the most unique golf courses in the Greater Philadelphia area. Situated right on the Delaware River, across from the Philadelphia International Airport, it is a mixture of riverside seclusion and city activity.
Amazingly, we were able to drag Ron Jaworski away from his new duties as ESPN’s Monday Night Football color commentator and ESPN football analyst to talk a bit of golf with us.
We also cornered one of the most controversial and colorful figures in the world of golf, John Daly. The new trimmed-down version was still a king-size ball of color when we hit him with one of our popular 10 Questions sessions. You will have to hear some of his answers to believe them.
Finally, we make another journey south for our weekly Myrtle Beach Report, this time talking to PGA professional Dave Woodberry at the Legends.
August 15th from Champions Pointe GC in Henryville, Indiana
We've all heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing. But now we are getting a wolf i n golfer's clothing. And the main wolf is none other than Frank Urban Zoeller - lovingly known as Fuzzy.
GolfTalk Live is flying to Louisville, Kentucky, then taking the short trip across the river to Henryville, Indiana where Zoeller teamed with golf course architect Clyde Johnston to build a wonderful daily fee golf course, Champions Pointe. And this weekend that course will be transformed into Fuzzy's personal lair for the Annual Wolf Shootout and Celebrity Challenge to benefit Magnolia Health Systems. One of the largest charity tournaments in the country, Zoeller's three-day party will start with the live broadcast of our show on Saturday, move through two days of amateur golf, then reach a zenith with a game of wolf between Zoeller and his buddies - Boo Weekley, Rocco Mediate and John Daly on Monday.
For Saturday's show, nationally known golf writer Jack O'Leary will serve as co-host. He has recently accepted a position as personal PR director for Zoeller's latest product - Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka. It was a match made in heaven.
Of course, Fuzzy will take a seat at the microphone for one segment of the show. His wit and witticisms always lighten up any interview...even early in the morning.
Our favorite area golfer, Mike Kern of the Daily News, will report in live from the PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minnesota.
Finally, we will have our weekly Myrtle Beach Report - highlighting some of the finest courses along the grand strand.
August 8th from Hershey Links GC in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Take a deep breath while you are reading this and you can probably smell the chocolate in the air. That’s because this week’s show is coming to you from Hershey, Pennsylvania – Chocolate Town, USA. We will be taking in the sights, sounds, smells and especially the tastes of one of America’s favorite family vacation destinations.
And we will be getting a good look at the relatively new Hershey Links GC, designed by the acclaimed tandem of Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. Originally built to be the Wren Dale private course, it was purchased by Hershey Resort last year and a new clubhouse was unveiled this year.
Aside from talking about the sights at Hershey Links GC and the two established Hershey courses – East and West – we will be talking about the new event that will bring golfers from all over to all three courses. The new Hershey Amateur is slated for October and the excitement is starting to build for this premier, flighted handicap tournament.
We also will take a look ahead to next week’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine GC in Minnesota. Mark Sheftic, the teaching professional at Merion GC, is the only local pro to qualify for golf’s final major of the year and we will talk to him about what it is like to be playing in his first major at age 34.
Look out for this interview. Our guest is a bit fired up over this topic. Dick Yuengling, the president of Yuengling Brewing Company in Pottsville, Pennsylvania is wondering out loud why the President of the United States did not choose an American-owned beer company as his choice for last week’s beer summit at the White House with Officer Crowley and Professor Gates. If we can get Dick calmed down for a moment, we might talk a little bit about the phenomenon of Yuengling become the “Golf Beer” of America.
Finally, we will continue with our weekly Myrtle Beach report … and you won’t want to miss this one. Director of Golf Dan Buccerone will give us a look at the newest (and oldest) golf course on the Grand Strand – Pine Lakes International. The first golf course built in Myrtle Beach, in the 1920s, Pine Lakes was closed for the last 18 months for a major renovation. Word has it that the new product is something very special.
August 1st Remote Broadcast from Westover CC in Jeffersonville, Pennsylvania
It’s tournament time in this part of the country and we will be talking tournaments throughout the show – from the Montgomery County Amateur Championship which is taking place this weekend, to the Pennsylvania Amateur which concluded on Wednesday, to the upcoming GolfTalk Live Invitational at Meadowlands CC to the new Hershey Amateur in Chocolate Town in October.
Westover is one of the host courses, along with Meadowlands CC for the Handicap Division of the Montgomery County Amateur Championship and head professional Paul Galczyk will be with us until he sends the golfers out to test Westover under tournament conditions. Westover also hosts the Celebration of Golf Festival, with its heralded Taste of Montgomery County on Sunday night.
The Championship Divisions of the Montco Am will play at Raven’s Claw on Saturday and Blue Bell CC on Sunday.
Talk about tournaments, we will be checking progress on the largest golf tournament in the world, the PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach at the end of August.
March 14th - Atlantic 10 Basketball Championship Special, from the Sheraton Atlantic City
March Madness has infected everyone at GolfTalk Live. We had to be in the middle of the action, so we moved to Atlantic City where the Atlantic-10 Basketball Championship is in full swing.
Danny Williams, general manager at the Sheraton Atlantic City, will be our co-host. His hotel is headquarters for some of the teams and, as a college basketball junkie, he enjoys the tournament atmosphere as much as anyone.
Jeff Vasser, executive director of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, will be one of our guests. He is heavily involved in hosting the tournament and trying to keep it here well into the future.
And, as usual, we will try to have one of the coaches on the show to talk a bit of golf as well as basketball.
February 14th - “Breakfast with the Golfers” Valentine's Day Special
Love is in the air this week – along with the usual smell of bacon and eggs – as GolfTalk Live host Tony Leodora proves he is a true romantic and devotes the entire show to Valentine’s Day. The music of lovers will escort each segment in and out of the commercial breaks. And we’ll even squeeze a bit of golf talk in between all of the romance.
We are entering book season, as the golf books start flooding in requesting reviews. Could there be a more appropriate interview on Valentine’s Day than one with Greg Rowley, the author of the new book “Golf Naked.”
Don’t worry, there is no need to smoke a cigarette after this interview. It is rated PG.
Of course, the obvious follow-up to golf naked would be a golf marriage. We have Scott White, the global senior director of marketing, to explain the marriage that took place between apparel giants Adidas and Ashworth.
Finally, we have the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for everyone – man or woman – a rose. In this case it is Ed Rose of eRose Web and Business Services. He will talk about how a well-designed website can help anyone in the golf industry – from a daily fee golf course, to an instructor, to a private club, to an equipment manufacturer. There are a lot of do’s and don’ts, so make sure you pay attention … and feel the love during this segment.
February 7th - “Breakfast with the Golfers” PGA Merchandise Show Re-Cap
GolfTalk Live is back from the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando with plenty of news … and the slightest bit of a tan.
Despite advance talk of gloom and doom, the PGA Merchandise Show actually was a very upbeat affair. For the first time in a number of years Titleist and Ping returned as exhibitors. Numbers of attendees and exhibitors were down only slightly and most of the talk was about what the industry can do to make the most out of today’s difficult economy.
We talked to Tour Edge president David Glod, not only a gifted clubmaker but a leader on the business end of the golf industry. He gave a frank assessment of the golf economy and what things will be like for the rest of the year.
After a week of analysis, we are ready with this year’s version of “Tony’s Top Ten,” a discerning look at 10 products that caught our eye at the PGA Merchandise Show … and not all for the same reason.
Finally, we will have our annual pre-Valentines visit from the man who can help you get away on a golf trip (or trips) this year – Nick Giovanangelo from Inside Jewelers on West Chester Pike in Broomall. Nick knows that the easiest way to grease the skid to Myrtle Beach or Pinehurst is with diamonds.
We appreciate your interest, your patience and thank you for listening every Saturday Morning from 7am to 8am on WNTP 990 on your AM "dial".
