THE GOLF COURSE : The CGM golf course is an 18-hole, championship layout approximately 6400 yards in length. Par is 72 from the men's white and blue tees and 73 from ladies yellow tees. Although not particularly long, the course features narrow, tree-lined fairways that dog leg left and right, as well as small, tricky greens. The course winds through the exclusive Meadows Estates neighborhood and is relatively easy to walk. Best known for its natural Poanna greens, the course provides an excellent challenge for recreational and competitive golfers alike.

GOLF NEWS
By Dick Hendron, PGA Director of Golf

Golf Tip of the Month
Plan... Practice... Progress
Playing golf is not practicing golf. Wacking balls at the range is not practice. Warming up before your round is not practice. Hitting a few putts on the practice green is not practice. Reading the latest miracle technique in Golf Digest or watching “Playing Lessons” on the Golf Channel is not practice.

While coaching 15 year olds on an All Star Babe Ruth Team several years ago, my players chipped in and bought me one of my most treasured and meaningful gifts. It was a printed tee shirt that, on the front declared, “If you want to play... PRACTICE” and on the back “If you want to win... PRACTICE HARDER!” The truth is: proper and repetitive practice and a plan to institute it is the only way to progress at any endeavor; especially athletic endeavors.

If you truly want to improve your game, lower your handicap or just enjoy the game more, wishing and hoping won’t cut it. Try this general plan and refine it to fit your time parameters and improvement goals. 60% of your practice time should be spent on the short game. Chipping, pitching and putting account for more strokes than any other portion of the game. Use our outdoor practice facility, your backyard or your local park or school fields (where permitted), but practice your short game off of real grass and not off of mats. Devote 25% of your time to full swing mechanics to develop directional and distance consistency with irons, hybrids and fairway woods. Dedicate 10% of your practice time to the driver and 5% to specialty shots.

If you would like help with any aspect of your game or with setting up a productive practice plan, please don’t hesitate to ask Luke or myself for assistance. We’re here to help you get the most out of the game of golf.

Golf Course Etiquette:
Letting Others “Play Through” Can Cause More Delays
According to Golf Magazine, “playing through” is one of the most misused bits of golf etiquette. If you’re playing in a slow group, meaning the group behind is waiting on every shot and you can no longer see the group in front of you, then, by all means you should wave up the trailing group. However, if you can still see the group in front, that means there is no place for the trailing group to go, and therefore, no reason to let them play through.

Contrary to popular belief, playing through does not necessarily speed up play on the course, especially when it’s full. If there is clear sailing ahead, the group playing through has a chance to pick up speed, once they have been waved up.

But when the course is crowded, asking a group to play through can actually slow down play for the entire field behind you. Picture this: the first group has to wait for the second to play up, which leaves two groups in the same position. By this time, another group is coming up from behind and might also end up waiting. Now things are really clogged, and what is thought to be proper golf etiquette actually has caused more problems.

If you are the slow group, and there is no group in front of you, wait until you are on the green before waving up the group behind. There is much less chance the group behind will be looking for errant shots. While they are making their way to the green, try to finish putting. Then move to the next tee and wait there.

If you are the trailing group, go through as quickly as you can. If speed is your primary consideration, score should take a back seat. Don’t waste time looking for balls in the trees or in the rough and certainly don’t line up putts from both sides of the hole.

And, after you go through, make certain you pick up the pace. After all, that was the problem to begin with, right?

Summer Golf Academy
2008 Program for Juniors is Big Hit
More than 50 juniors participated in the 2008 Junior Golf Academy at Club Green Meadows. For seven weeks, youngsters attended the Monday sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in July and August. At the Academy, Juniors were broken into three groups; beginners, intermediate and advanced. Dick Hendron, PGA Director of Golf at CGM started the program in 2003. “It’s been going strong ever since,” says Hendron. “We make golfers out of these kids. They get to learn the fundamentals of the game with lots of individualized instruction and have fun at the same time.”

Each week during camp, prizes were awarded along with giveaways to each participant. Academy campers learned the rules of golf and basic golf etiquette in an easy to understand format specifically designed for kids. Chipping, putting and full swing techniques were taught by four instructors each day. “It’s important for the kids to learn the game in a safe and friendly environment. Judging by the smiles and improvements we saw, I think we achieved that with this program,” said Hendron.

“Unlike other junior golf programs where all the instruction is conducted on a driving range or putting green, kids attending our Golf Academy get to play on a real golf course,” says Hendron. The camp is held on Monday mornings and the course at Club Green Meadows does not open to members until 12:00 noon. “It was great to have the golf course all to ourselves, where we could let these kids experience live play on an 18 hole championship golf course,” said Hendron.

Sign-ups for the 2009 Junior Golf Academy at Club Green Meadows will begin in February, 2009.

Golf Department News!
• Golf Information Board: July is an extremely busy month for our golf course.
Please check the monthly Golf Schedule and information board at the Golf Desk when planning your outings.

Mondays:
• Golf course opens at Noon.
• After your golf game, stop by our Lounge for Taco Night beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Tuesdays:
• Ladies 18 hole golfers take the tees for Ladies’ Day each Tuesday until noon. Golf members may sign up for this weekly game on the bulletin board, located inside the golf locker room.
• Golf course open to all Golf Members at noon and remains open until Dusk.
• Junior Golf Lessons are held from 4:00 to 4:50 p.m. each Tuesday. Sign up your child at the Front Desk.

Wednesdays:
• Golf Course open from 7:30 a.m. to Dusk
• Couples Golf starts at 5:30 p.m. This fun event is open to all golf members and includes 9 holes of golf and dinner! All skill levels are welcome. Sign up at the golf desk!
• Course stays open until Dusk.

Thursdays:
• Men’s Day golfers take the tees each Thursday until noon.

Fridays:
• Golf Course open from 7:30 a.m. to Dusk.
• An organized Ladies’ golf game begins with tee times starting at 10:00 a.m.
• An organized Men’s Skin golf game begins with tee times starting at 12:00 noon.

Saturdays & Sundays
• Golf Course open from 7:30 a.m. to Dusk.
• Lots of tournaments take place for the Mens’ and Ladies’ Golf Clubs on Saturdays and Sundays. Check the Golf bulletin boards and Front Desk for specific tournament dates and times. Sign up today!


Improve Your Game With Private Lessons!
Dick Hendron, our PGA Director of Golf and Luke Holden, our Assistant Golf Professional, offer private golf instruction on all aspects of the golf game. One hour and half hour lessons are available to club members at all skill levels. Contact our golf staff at the Front Desk to book your private golf lesson today.

Read the entire Golf News in this months Meadows Magazine

Weekly Course Schedule: