Month: November 2023

Summer 2023

By now everyone has heard the story of Michael Block, the PGA Professional from California that finished 15th in the PGA Championship. Mike is one of the 29,000 PGA Professionals around the country that go to work every day and do their best to make the game more enjoyable for the members and patrons of their clubs and golf courses every day. To say that Mike was a little out of his element is pretty much an understatement. Dealing day to day with members that are buying gloves, looking for a new hat, trying to figure out how to putt, how to hit it ten yards further, complaining about the rough being too long, the weeds on #12, the hole in the cart path on #7, you get the idea. With this and all of the other things that go on in the shop everyday these were probably more on his mind prior to arriving in New York, and not how he was going to be able to perform on national TV playing alongside Rory McIlroy. To his credit, he played very well considering all of the attention that was on him. He was the only PGA Professional to make the cut out of the 20 that qualified for this event. I’m positive that it was a whirlwind week for him, especially after making the cut and getting all of the requests for interviews and TV time. CBS even “miked him up” at one point and spoke with him on the air live during the play of a hole. After the trophy presentation, I watched a clip of the phone call from the Charles Schwab tournament extending him a sponsor’s exemption in the event this past week. He thought about it for a few seconds and with a response that would have come from any of us PGA Professional’s, he asked if the guy could ask his boss if he could have off. Then remembering that his boss was there with him, he turned to him and asked if he could go play. I thought that showing that was some great television.

The point of this article is “Golf is a Hard Game”, Mike showed up in Texas and went through his warmups and practice rounds and any of the PGA Tour players do. I am sure that it was different for him since he was out of his normal routine; he wasn’t in the pro shop talking to members or looking at his inventory seeing what he needed to order next or calling vendors asking where are my golf balls or my spring order of clothing. He did seem to be having some fun, how could he not, he was off work, playing golf and enjoying all of the amenities that are available to a Touring Professional. There is a reason that PGA Tour guys are called “Professional Golfers” and we as PGA Professionals are called “Golf Professionals” and that showed up in his play on Thursday last week. Not to take anything away from his performance, but he is not used to the travel, sleeping in a hotel bed, going out to dinner every night, not having to worry about being in the golf shop at 6am and giving time to every reporter or people that wanted his time and attention.

wanted his time and attention. Bobby Jones once said, “You would think that after you have hit a great golf shot 1,000 times, you should be able to produce great golf shots at will.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Watching Mike’s play, gives everyone a better idea of just how good the PGA Tour players are, especially the ones that continue to make the cut week after week. Tiger’s PGA Tour record of 142 consecutive cuts made ran from the 1998 Buick Invitational through the EDS Byron Nelson in 2005, pretty strong showing. He won 28 percent of those events, if he was .280 average in baseball, he would be just an average player, in golf, a 28 percent win average helped make him one of the greatest players of all time. All of this adds up to being able to look at your own golf game and realize that you shouldn’t be expecting so much from your game, especially if you don’t put much practice time in. Here at YCC, I put out a weekly newsletter and I always include a tip or drill from the PGA Professionals at the Titleist Performance Institute. I can tell you that I have only seen one player from my club working on a drill that was in the newsletter. Golf is a hard game, even harder if you don’t put in the time to get a little better.

One thing for sure, it was nice rooting for such an underdog. Michael Block’s play made watching the PGA Championship a little more interesting and special. It was refreshing to see someone do so well with all of the odds stacked against them. Block put in many years of hard work and practice to achieve the unthinkable and finishing 15th competing with all of the greatest golfers in the world. If you practice hard and commit to it, you too can better compete against your friends and members of your club or golf course. Happy hitting!

Summer 2023

Happy spring everyone! Most years in the spring issue I write something about “It’s a new year, let’s make it a better golfing year by doing this or that.” Unfortunately, many of the older players I know tell me the same old story every year. They ask me why they’ve lost 15 yards with their driver over the winter. Did you do any exercise or stretching over the winter or did you just sit on the couch watching TV and eating potato chips or ice cream all winter, I always ask. That question usually gets a blank stare.

This past winter I spent an afternoon at the PGA Show with the Professionals from the Titleist Performance Institute, “TPI,” and they had some things to say that I thought were very encouraging. First let’s talk about the fact that we are all getting older. The comment from one of the professionals was, “your body is pretty much done growing at age 21, so you have been aging for a long time, so don’t stress about it.” Here’s the thing, their research tells them that any player regardless of age can pick up speed, but like anything else you have to be willing to put in the work. Fast twitch muscles don’t go away; most players just stop using them so they become inflexible. The solution is to do some heavy lifting (within reason obviously) to get those muscles back in use. The problem is as we get older, we all have aches and pains, so lifting, stretching, working out is painful, it is much easier to go to the fridge and grab a beer. TPI studies the body and how it moves and after getting an evaluation from a TPI Professional, they can tell you what you can and cannot do during your golf swing in your present physical condition. They can also tell you what you can do to change that condition if you want to get better and hit longer golf shots. Again it is all relative, we can’t take an 80 year old and get them to swing like a 20 year old, but we can help that 80 year old improve on what they are doing in their current condition.

There is a lot that goes into this, legs, core, and shoulders but if you are willing to put in some work, I am willing to help you through it. Sorry, about the shameless plug for my instruction. Once the player knows where his/her issues are and starts to address that, a game plan can be put in place for them to get them on the right track as they work towards obtaining their goals. I know that you all want to hit it longer, I have never had a student approach me and tell me that they want to hit it shorter just so they can hit more fairways. I just read a quote from Francesco Molinari and he basically said that the harder he hits it, the straighter it goes. Everyone has a higher speed that they can go to, it’s just that most don’t because they can’t control their body and higher speeds. It’s easy on the range because players can just swing away and not have to chase the ball and count the shot. Once players get on the first tee, they start to limit themselves by looking left and seeing trees, looking right and seeing out of bounds, they start to guide the ball and try to just dink it into the fairway instead of ripping it. Your mind is another limiting factor; Padraig Harrington was asked why he is hitting the ball with much more speed as he aged. His answer was that he told his mind that it was ok to swing harder. Obviously this is an elite player that we are talking about, but just like you, there was something in his head that was telling him not to swing too hard. This is useless if you can’t control your body during the swing, especially if you decide to start swinging harder because all you will be doing is hitting the ball further into the woods.

I don’t know about you, but all of this information made me hopeful that if I put in the work, even at my age I can strive to make improvement in my swing and distance. I have a group of friends and fellow PGA Professionals that I play with on a regular basis. We all just try to have some fun and beat each other’s brains in. I’m constantly looking for an edge and maybe this is the answer. I have never been to Scotland or Ireland, and I plan to do so in next few year. I don’t want to go over there and play from the ladies tees so I’m more motivated than ever to improve.

You can go to mytpi.com and set up a program for yourself or seek out a TPI or PGA Professional that can help you with your journey if you decide to take it. Best of luck and have a great season!

Spring 2023

Mr. Joseph Hardy III, founder of 84 Lumber and the developer of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort “Nemacolin” died earlier this year and one thing is for sure, he most definitely will be missed. Known for his flair, incredible imagination and kindness, it is only fitting that he passed on the exact day of his 100th birthday.

A family statement provided by the company said the family had lost its “patriarch and allaround great man.” A profile posted on the company’s website said he passed away on his 100th birthday Saturday ”surrounded by his loving family singing Broadway show tunes to comfort him at his home in Farmington.”

“Many knew Joe as a brilliant businessman and enthusiastic entrepreneur,” said the statement provided by Amy Smiley, 84 Lumber’s vice president of marketing. “Even with his vast success, Joe always remembered what matters most: people. He helped make the American dream real for so many, and he will be greatly missed.”

Those of us who know Nemacolin best and appreciate its beauty and splendor are forever grateful to Mr. Hardy for giving us an incredible place to play fantastic golf. He gave us an adult playground like no other. Nemacolin truly is one of the finest resorts in the world and it all started with Mr. Hardy’s vision. He was very proud of his daughter Maggie and grandson PJ and how they are carrying forward his legacy.

List of Major Milestones at Nemacolin in Honor of Mr. Hardy

• 1988: The Woodlands Golf Academy was established, the Woodlands Spa opened, and Lake PJ and the Panorama Pavilion were constructed.
• 1989: The Lodge Annex and the Townhomes were built, and The Golden Trout was opened where Rockwell’s is today. Scenic hiking, jogging, and horseback riding trails and tours were added alongside boating, fishing, and croquet experiences.
• 1990: Nemacolin and the Hardy family celebrated the first Royal Reception charity fundraiser.
• 1995: Mystic Rock Golf Course was added, and Mystic Mountain ski area at the Adventure Center, Kidz Club area, and PJ’s Ice Cream Parlor opened.
• 1996: Fat Bird was adopted as the resort’s new logo and whimsical mascot.
• 1997: The resort celebrated the 10th anniversary of Hardy ownership with the opening of The Chateau.
• 2002: Mr. Hardy’s daughter, Maggie Hardy, became the president and owner of Nemacolin.
• 2004: Falling Rock opened, hosting Aqueous restaurant, Amber Bar, and the Golf Shop.
• 2006: Wildlife habitats were built, bringing a variety of exotic wildlife to the resort. The Hardy Girls’ Gym was constructed.
• 2007: The resort celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Mr. Hardy’s 84th birthday. Falling Rock was awarded the coveted AAA Five-Diamond Award.
• 2008: Falling Rock retained its Five-Diamond status for the second year, and Lautrec was the only new restaurant in the eastern half of the United States to be awarded the Five-Diamond rating, making Nemacolin one of only 21 resorts worldwide to offer both AAA Five-Diamond lodging and dining.
• 2009: Lautrec retained its Five-Diamond status for the second year and acquired the Mobil (now Forbes Travel Guide) Five-Star Award, becoming one of only 14 restaurants in the country to have received both ratings. Nemacolin became the first resort designated as a PET PROUD facility when it opened Wooflands Pet Resort & Spa and the Woodlands Animal Care Center — the area’s premier boarding and daycare facility, and an animal hospital and veterinary clinic, respectively.
• 2014: Nemacolin embarked on a $30 million resort-wide renovation, one of the largest projects in the resort’s history, holistically reimagining guest rooms and experiences.
• 2017: Shepherd’s Rock, the second Pete Dye-designed course at Nemacolin, joined Mystic Rock, doubling play to 36 holes of championship-level golf at the resort.
• 2020: While Real Life Magic was always a part of Nemacolin, 2020 ushered in a new era and refreshed identity for the resort. The logo was transformed, and the mascot evolved into Pearl, who knows Nemacolin inside and out, sparking joy and adventure wherever she appears.
• 2021: Updates to the bunkers, playing surfaces, and tee boxes were completed on Mystic Rock, solidifying it as one of the premier mountain courses in the country. The Peak opened as a hub of year-round entertainment and fun with a heated outdoor pool, cabanas, an event stage, and expanded dining.
• 2022: Nemacolin celebrated its 35th anniversary, and the resort earned 22 Forbes Stars for the third consecutive year. The resort received a No. 2 rank from Travel + Leisure as one of The 10 Best Resorts in the Mid-Atlantic, and Condé Nast Traveler recognized Nemacolin as #14 on their list of the Top Destination Spa Resorts in the United States: Readers’ Choice Awards 2022.
• 2023: Nemacolin celebrated the 100th birthday of the resort’s founder, Joseph A. Hardy III, who has since moved into his next life. We continue to laud his legacy as we grieve his passing. The beginning of the year also marked The Grand Reimagination of The Lodge at Nemacolin with an anticipated completion in the fall of 2023.

Summer 2022

The game of golf has always been steeped in tradition, history, written and unwritten rules, along with etiquette. Back in the day, you would find the gentlemen golfer dressed in plus fours, a tie and a wool jacket, even if it was the middle of summer. Country Clubs are the last bastions of golf that are attempting to uphold some of golf’s great traditions and principles. But all things change, some should and some shouldn’t. I wrote a paper over 35 years ago as I was working towards becoming a PGA Member. The topic was what Rules of Golf you would change if you had the authority to do so. I picked fixing spike marks and playing balls from fairway divots. The Rules changes of January 2019 made it so that players can do basically anything on the greens now and not receive a penalty, so the spike mark Rule did get changed. But, we as players still have to accept the rub of the green if our ball ends up in a fairway divot and figure out a way to play it.

I bring all this up because I’m observing some shifts on what is happening on the golf course. I have been at public facilities, so I have seen it all; some players get unnerved when they see a player with his shirt untucked. Try approaching a 350-pound man and telling him that he is going to have to put his shirt back on and try not to bust out laughing when he tells you that he is just “trying to get some sun!” There is a manufacturer now that is called “Untucked”, making shirts that were made not to be tucked in. The Club where I am now requires that shirts be tucked in, I have had a few visitors that try to tell me their shirts can’t be tucked in because they were made to be untucked. Those situations are never fun.

If you are paying attention to what is happening on the PGA Tour, it used to be that spectators were not permitted to bring their cell phones on to the golf course property. Now they are common place except for Augusta National which still does not permit cell phones on the property for patrons. Players used to only have to worry about the shutter noise from the professional photographers, now they have to worry about every spectator on the property.

Speaking of noise, golf is usually a tranquil setting with just the chatter of your foursomes, the songs of the birds and other outdoor noises. Now there are devices to take on the golf course to listen to your favorite playlist while playing. Some courses have the Visage system or other devices that will allow players to watch their favorite sports team in action and not have to miss playing a round of golf. Of course we all know that there are certain demographics of players that despise the use of these electronic gadgets and make no bones about expressing their disdain for such things. They don’t bother me personally, I sell them and if there’s something that I don’t like, I usually just ignore it. I will say that players using these devices should be cognizant of the other players around them and be aware that some players grew up playing with their surroundings being quiet while they are playing and maybe in terms of trying to keep the peace, make it so all the other players on the course don’t have to enjoy their music. There are other things that certain demographics of players or the history of golf look at as being essential parts of the game and golf etiquette. No hats in the clubhouse dining areas, some clubs no hats anywhere, hats on with bills forward, and no rally caps when on certain courses. It seems that hats cause a lot of problems for some players and clubs.

There is a certain part of that lends itself to just being a gentleman, not just a golfer. There is a story about four PGA Tour players filming some sort of commercial in the Grill at Mr. Palmer’s Bay Hill Club. They all had their hats on, probably because they wanted their advertisers to be seen on their hats in the commercial. Mr. Palmer told the director that their hats would have to be removed while in the Grill or they could go outside to finish what they were doing. A lot of “to do” over a hat, but there are Rules about such things, as a visitor to these places, a member or a guest, you should know what the rules are and live by them while there or maybe don’t go there.

I have a friend that I took to play at a grand old course. Anyone who has played there knows that it is a great place, steeped in tradition and a really nice round of golf and a walk through history. It was kind of an inclement day and there were not very many players on the golf course. My buddy is kind of like Pigpen when he plays because he spends quite of bit of time in the woods with the brush and briars pulling at him so his shirt is always untucked. He had to be told several times to tuck his shirt in. It was quite comical, although he did not think so. He finally said, “don’t bring me back here again, there are too many rules!” Who would not want to go back to that club even though they have some Rules that he didn’t agree with.

I have been a Club Professional for 35 seasons and I have seen a lot of changes. No more bags line while you have breakfast waiting your turn. Some clubs don’t even serve breakfast these days. You never see anyone stepping off yardage anymore; I would say that not many new players know that you can get a yardage off of a sprinkler head. The music, the clothing, the things that you see on the golf course now, like I said, upsets some people that are slow to accept change. Whether you are a young player or a seasoned player we should all try to meet in the middle somehow to agree on change. Some Rules are not going change and that should also be accepted. One thing I do know for sure, unless you are pizza or ice cream, you can’t please everyone, you can quote me on that. Although, two seasons ago I found a young man that does not like pizza, so I may have to change the quote.

Spring 2022

As I sit here writing this just before Valentine’s Day, watching the snow melt off of the golf course and enjoying seeing some green grass again, I am thinking about how spring is a time of renewal. I hope that all the players reading this are making plans to make this their best golf season yet. I am always excited about the spring issue to write about working on your game and striving to get better.

Unfortunately, this issue I’m featuring something different. This morning I went to visit a very dear friend that is facing what may be his last weeks here among us. It was nice to be able to visit with him, and talk about some things that were on his mind. On the ride to his home, I stopped at the place where I began my golf career in 1987 working for him, teaching players at his range. That visit brought back memories of all the fun times we had. We would hit balls during our down time, discuss different theories about what makes a good swing work, why some bad swings work and everything in between. We planned golf outings, enjoyed traveling with our regular customers to play different courses in the area and dreamed of the various golf trips we would take together.

I’ve been moving in and out of his range for over 35 years and that doesn’t count the time I spent there as a kid hitting golf balls. He gave me my start in the golf business and for that I will always be forever grateful to him and his father. I moved on, earned my Class A PGA card and have been very successful in the golf business, and it all started at that range. A few years ago in 2019, his son won the Master’s lottery and received two tickets to attend a practice round that year. I will never forget that Master’s and how I was able to spend it with him walking the course we talked so much about. We squeezed in some Georgia golf that week and I’m forever thankful we were able to spend that time together.

So my friend as you move on to whatever is coming next, I hope that there is a heaven and that it is made for golfers and with a pristine golf course that is unrivaled even by Augusta National standards. I also hope that all your aches and pains will be gone and that you have no worries except for what club to hit and what your next tee time is going to be. If all is perfect there, the 19th hole will have a big piece of pie waiting for you when you are done playing. I and everyone that knows you will miss you.

Dedicated to William C. Ruozzi Jr, Bill’s Golfland.