April Newsletter
posted: 2009-03-16
April Newsletter
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Teacher's Corner
Forgiving vs. Rewarding
The "buzz" term in golf club marketing over the last several years has been forgiving. My questions as a golf coach is, "What exactly is it that the golf club engineers are trying to forgive?" Upon further examination, the answer is painfully obvious.
Every club I have ever seen that is marketed as "forgiving: is designed to do two things.
1. Influence the golf ball higher in the air
2. Influence the ball left (for the right handed player)
Herein lies the fatal flaw. If the club is successful in doing those two things (and believe me, those who engineer clubheads these days have a lot of knowledge and technology at their disposal) then your swing had better be bad enough to counter with low and right (slicing) influence in order to counter the high/left that is built into the golf club.
That's what the marketers in golf tell you when they describe the club as "forgiving." They are simply saying that you are doomed to a lousy slicing type swing motion, and they have some sort of a solution. They build the clubs to try to counteract the poor swing.
At Cordova Bay we view things differently. We view things from the coach's perspective. We believe people can improve, and can build balanced, athletic swings. So we make golf club recommendations with the sole purpose of rewarding your better balanced swings. With the reward system you will be encouraged to continue to reproduce those more athletic swings.
Our staff all experience extensive education in both the golf swings' and the club's effect on the ball flight. Our coaches are fully qualified to design clubs that will reward your better swings.
Your choice: Improve and reward
OR
Remain stagnant and hope that the club masks the flaws
Brian Hann, CPGA
Lead Teaching Professional
Cordova Bay Golf Course
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Player of the month - Ridge Course
Meet John Baker. John moved to Victoria in 1969 from Ontario. John has played at the Ridge Course since it opened in 1999 and plays up to 4 days a week. He has been an integral part of the Ridge atmosphere, as he is one of the friendliest and most dedicated golfers we have. He has even taken some impressive photographs for us over the years, some of which hang in our facility today.
1. When did you start playing golf?
I started playing golf 60 years ago.
2. What is your favourite golf moment or best golfing memory?
Definitely getting my first hole in one. That was the best feeling.
3. What is the best round you have ever played? At the Ridge Course my best score has been 27. On an 18 hole course my best was 83.
4. What is your favourite hole at the Cordova Bay Ridge Course?
I really like #6 over the water. It is very challenging.
5. What is your fantasy foursome?
I don't really have one. I enjoy playing with the guys I always play with; Ken Kissinger, Buck Serafini, and Wael Kahale. If I could make it a 5-some then Trevor Taylor as well.
6. What is your favourite golf club in your bag?
My 8 iron. It is the most reliable.
7. How many hole in one's have you had at the Ridge Course?
I have had 3 hole in one's at the Ridge Course (#1, #3, #8). In my life I have had a total of 7 hole in one's. My first hole in one was with Ken (at the Ridge Course) who gave me a black ball to use. It is a really luck ball!
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Golf Club Evaluation Days *FREE*
Are your golf clubs on their best behaviour? Maybe you have one or two that seem to be favourites, but the others are not entirely trustworthy. Consider this your invitation to book a complimentary fifteen-minute session on April 16th and 17th with one of our professionals on staff.
These sessions take place at the driving range, where our professional will be observing your golf swing and the resulting ball flight as they assess the relative fit of your golf clubs. If you've ever wondered how well your clubs are suited to you and your golf swing, this is your best possible chance to get the straight goods from one of the most knowledgeable staff of teaching professionals in Canada.
These FREE sessions coincide with the recent opening of our Cordova Bay Golf Lab! The GOLF LAB is located in the small building near the first tee. We have assembled all of the key tools to measure golf clubs, including a frequency analyzer to measure the relative stiffness of the shafts in your clubs, as well as a weight scale to measure the dead weight and balance of your clubs. You will have the opportunity to see if the clubs in your bag are consistently built throughout the set. You will also see if the clubs are actually what you have always assumed they are, including the loft angles that are inscribed on the clubheads.
Call the Pro Shop at 250.658.4444 to make a booking for your FREE golf club and swing evaluation, and encourage a friend to book as well!
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The Retirement of Laurie Carroll
Laurie Carroll has retired after almost six decades in the golf industry. He began his love for the game in the 40's as a junior member at Gorge Vale. He would compete in junior competitions against another fine young player who was a member at Victoria Golf Club, Ron McLeod and a friendly rivalry began. In 1952 Laurie was offered a job as an Assistant Golf Professional at Victoria Golf Club under the tutelage of Mr. Phil Taylor. He took over from his friend, Ron McLeod, who took off to Alberta to seek his fortune. Laurie worked as an Assistant Professional at Victoria Golf Club from '52 to '59 when he was promoted to Head Professional taking over from a retiring Phil Taylor. He held that position from '59 to '65.
At Victoria Golf Club he had the opportunity to play golf with the likes of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and an upstart young Pro named Gary Player. He played with Bob Hope on several occasions and became friends. Bing and Gary he did not like so much. Laurie tells the story of the day that his adopted son arrived he was to play golf with Bob and had to cancel. Later that day he took his new son to the golf course and Bob held him in his arms. Laurie and his family would receive Christmas cards from Bob for several years. In 1966 Laurie spent some time as a Sales Representative while planning his next move in the golf industry; that being owner/operator of Douglas Golf Land Driving Range. This is where Laurie started his renowned career teaching the game of golf to it seems everyone in Victoria. At this location he also operated a mini golf franchise called Putt-Putt Golf. The expansion at the pat Bay Highway forced Laurie and his now new cohort Doug Grove to find a new home to carry on teaching the game of golf to Victoria. That location of course was Mattick's Farm. Laurie operated Douglas Golf Land from '67-'77.
Laurie took over the operation of the Driving Range and 9-hole golf course here at Mattick's Farm in '77. He has been on the property ever since. He worked here at Cordova Bay during construction and was named Director of Golf when Cordova Bay Golf Course opened in 1991.
I have had the pleasure of working with Laurie for the last several years and it was our habit to have lunch together every Monday. This is when he would tell me the stories of his career in golf, some of which he told me more than once. His last Monday, March 23rd he put in a regular shift and picked the range clean one last time. He touched so many in the game of golf, he will be missed. I have some pictures to share of Laurie's last day on the job.
Doug Walsh
Manager of Outside Services
Cordova Bay Golf Course
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Last week a legend in the world of Victoria Golf retired
Laurie Carroll has devoted more than 50 of his 79 years to the game of golf and is a conduit to some of the great characters and innovations in the history of the game.
Laurie began in the business as a professional when many players still had wooden shafted clubs in their bags, and when one of a professional's daily duties was club making and repair.
Laurie learned the art of club making from Phil Taylor, his boss at the Victoria Golf Club. A veteran of 11 British Opens before emigrating, Taylor held the position for 38 years, introducing such innovations to Victoria as steel-shafted clubs and numbering on irons. Playing in the Open Championship in the early 20th century Mr. Taylor would have certainly played with golfing legends Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, and J.H. Taylor.
We can all be proud of the connection we have, through Laurie, to the early history of the game in Canada and to some of it's greatest champions.
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Pro-file
Doug Mahovlic - Canadian PGA Member since 1971.
The staff and management of Cordova Bay Golf Course are pleased to welcome Doug Mahovlic to our professional staff. A native Vancouver Islander, Doug brings a wealth of customer service, management and teaching experience to Cordova Bay. His posting to one of our Associate/Teaching Professional positions will allow you an opportunity to interact with Doug on any number of levels.
Most recently, Doug spent ten years as Head Golf Professional at Quilchena Golf and Country Club in Richmond. Previously, he held a similar posting at Olympic View Golf Club and Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club. Those who are old enough may even remember Doug from his early days in the 70's when he was an Apprentice at Gorge Vale Golf and Country Club. With all of his experience at local golf course, chances are that even if you don't recognize Doug's name, you'll recognize his smiling face when you see him in the golf shop or on the lesson tee.
"The Dirt" on Doug......
Favourite golf course outside of Saanich:
Turnbury (Scotland)
Favourite quote from a golf coach:
"Swing the clubhead." ~ Ernest Jones
Favourite anonymous philosophical quote:
"Those who dare to teach must never cease to learn."
Critical teaching belief:
GASP (Grip, Alignment, Stance, Posture)
Best National Competition Result:
4th Place, Canadian Club Professional Championship - Prince George, BC
As you can imagine, Cordova Bay is very pleased to have Doug Mahovlic as a member of our team. Please help us welcome him back to the Victoria golf scene!
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Winter League Wrap Up
A big thank you to all Winter League Members for their support over this winter season. It was a rough winter, but we made it!
The Winter League wrap up brought out a huge number of players, but we would like to congratulate a special few for their on course achievements:
Lee Frank for her LD on #15
Sharon Morgan for her KP on #4
Monty Bryant for his KP on #6
Michael Simmonds for his LD on #16
Claudette Walter for her Closest to the Pole on #9
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May we serve you?
Broken Down Golf Cart
1/2 oz melon liqour
1/2 oz amaretto
2 oz cranberry juice
In a martini shaker combine melon liquor, amaretto and cranberry juice. Once combined pour into chilled martini glass.
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Aeration: at the course and at home
On Monday and Tuesday, March 30th and 31st the Bay Course was closed for aeration of our tees, greens and fairways. This operation was completed over two days with the combined efforts of many of our staff from maintenance, administration the restaurant and the Pro Shop. This large operation signs the transition from winter to summer for our maintenance staff and gives the golf course a healthy start moving into April.
I am often asked by people if they should aerate their lawn in the spring and the answer is a definite yes. I have learned through 25 years of experience on golf course that the best and simplest operation you can perform to promote healthy turf is spring and fall aeration. The benefits are too many to list in this short article but the single most important factor is the creation of additional air pore spaces in the soil that set off a chain reaction of positive events. With the creation of air the root zone microbial populations are stimulated. This increased microbial activity is Mother Nature at work. During this activity organic matter is decomposed, nitrogen and other beneficial nutrients are released in a form that is available to the plant and soil structure is naturally improved by the residues produced by the microrobes. The improved soil structure, available nutrients and additional oxygen then set the stage for new root growth and a stronger healthier plant.
The last stage of our aeration program on the golf course which could also help on a home lawn is the addition of sand topdressing. For our Bay fairways the sand topdressing totals over 500 cubic yards of sand per application. This sand helps dilute the organic matter on the surface and helps smooth the surfaces that are a bit bumpy after 5 months of divots created during winter play. The end result is a soil profile that would be described as a sandy loam. Sandy loam soils drain well but have an adequate amount of rich humus that hold nutrients and moisture for uptake to the plants. In summary, aerating your lawn is a great thing to do and I would suggest that you organize a work party with some of your neighbours, rent an aerator for 4 hours and aerate your lawns. Of course, once this is done, grab your golf clubs and come on out for a game of golf because you have done a great thing for your lawn and now it's time to treat yourself.
Sincerely,
Dean Piller
Superintendent
Cordova Bay Golf Course
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Cordova Bay Golf Course Parking
Just a reminder to all Cordova Bay Golfers...if the main lot is full additional parking is available up at the Ridge Course.
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So you want to take it deep?
By Dr. Michael Buna D.C.
Cloverdale Centre for Health
The longest hitters in the game play with perfectly fitted equipment. I am talking about their golf clubs and their bodies. The good folks at Cordova Bay are experts at fitting golf clubs. If you follow my advice you can start "retro" fitting your body tomorrow.
When most people go to the gym and do a weight routine they are only improving half of the fibers in their muscles. What people don't know is that your muscles have two types of fibers: slow twitch and fast twitch. Weight lifting improves the slow twitch muscle fibers but it doesn't do much for the fast twitch muscle fibers. Fast twitch muscle fibers are the ones that are going to increase club head speed.
To work your fast twitch muscle fibers you must do activities that involve speed and for the golfer you must do an exercise when you emulate your golf swing. There are a few ways you can do this. By far, the most cost effective way is to buy $8 worth of rubber tubing and do the following. Tie a knot in the end of the rubber tubing. Place the knot of the rubber tubing on the other side of a door at about 3 feet off the floor and close the door.
Get into your golf stance with your body parallel to the tubing. If you are right-handed golfer have the right side of your body closest to the door. (Left is Left). Grasp the tubing in your both hands like you grip a golf club. Step away from the door until you feel a slight amount of tension in the rubber band. You should feel that your hands are in a half a back swing position. Emulate the rotating of your shoulder and hips pulling the arms across the front of your body just like in your golf swing. Once you have learned how to do this in slow motion then do it at a high rate of speed attempting to do this as fast as you can. Now you are working the fast twitch muscle fibers. Go back to your starting position and repeat approximately 10 times. Do this every day because you want your muscle fibers to remember this.
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Captains vs. Presidents Results
There was a tie between the Captains and the Presidents!
Saturday KP - Rick Choo and Wayne McLellan
LD - Bill Isreal and Lari Mitchell
Sunday KP - Doug Symonds and Chuck McCaffree
LD - Gordon Parker and Larry Bachiu
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Handicapping
The basic premise of handicapping is to record all of your scores at any golf course you play.
If 13 or more holes have been played, you shall enter an 18 hole score. If 7 to 12 holes have been played, you shall enter a 9-hole score. In either case, any holes not played during your round shall be scored as the par of the holes plus any handicap strokes you are entitled to receive on the unplayed holes.
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Green Tip of the Month
Remember to inflate your tires!
Poorly inflated tires are not only unsafe but are harmful for the environment. According to environment.about.com "the average person who drives 12,000 miles yearly on under-inflated tires uses about 144 extra gallons of gas per year." With gas prices as high as they are, that is a very costly unnecessary expense. For every one of those gallons burned "20 pounds of carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere as the carbons in the gas are released and combine with oxygen in the air." Every vehicle that drives those 12,000 miles on soft tires "is contributing as much as 1.5 extra tons (2,880 pounds) of greenhouse gases to the environment annually." So remember, inflate your tires because not only are you going to save some money but most importantly you are going to save the environment.
For more information on this topic please click the link below:
http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/tire_pressure.htm
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Ridge Report
Welcome to the 2009 Golf Season at The Ridge at Cordova Bay!
With spring finally here, and the daffodils beginning to bloom, we are looking ahead to the 2009 season. The patio is bright, and the coffee is fresh, so come on by and say hello.
"Drive for show, and putt for dough," is a well known golf phrase depicting the importance of a sharp short game, and where better to practice your short game than the short but challenging Ridge Course at Cordova Bay. With our greens punched in mid March, we are happy to offer the best executive par 3 greens in the city. Who knows maybe you can even challenge the course record, a 7 under par posted by Brennan Fritz in February 2000.
Happy Golfing!
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Sweetswinger Plus
Sweetswinger Plus scheduled for April has been postponed until May. This is a unique program that integrates both physical and mental coaching. It is a 12 hour intensive plan that will split time between evening "classroom" sessions and afternoon "practical application" sessions.
Spring Session
Wed. evenings (classroom setting)
May 6, 13, 20, 27
6:30-8:30pm
Sat. Afternoons (Practical/ Outdoor)
May 9, 16, 23, 30
from Cordova Bay Golf Course |
