_/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/ __/

AMERICA'S VALUE GOLF DESTINATION
Golf Packages From $47.00 Per Day
Santee South Carolina http://www.santeetourism.com THINK SPRING: THE OSPREY COLLECTION OF FINE COURSES
PLAN NOW TO PLAY IN 2007 http://www.golfospreyonline.com/
Black Forest, Canthooke Valley, Cutter's Ridge, Ridgewood,
The Medalist and Wilderness Valley

******* SHOW TIME *******
WEST MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW-FEBRUARY 9-11
Web: http://westmichigangolfshow.com

LONDON GOLF SHOW - FEBRUARY 9-11
Web: http://golf-show.com

MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW-MARCH 10-12
Web: http://michigangolfshow.com

--------ADV--------------
2006 WINTER MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
COMING-DECEMBER 22
THE 4TH ANNUAL MICHIGAN GOLFER TOP 10 LIST
_______ADV________

_/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/ __/

__/CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT HITS THE BIG 50
__/ THE EDITOR HAS THE YIPS
__/BOOK REVIEW: "FIX THE YIPS FOREVER" -By Hank Haney
__/ GOLF TECH GURU FRANK THOMAS TO APPEAR AT WEST MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW
__/ MG ON THE ROAD
__/ CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT SHANTY CREEK
__/TURKEY DAY AT THE MAJESTIC
__/ NEAL KOTLAREK'S TOP 10 MICHIGAN COURSES
__/ TREETOPS AND BOYNE HIGHLANDS MAKE GD TOP 75 RESORTS LIST.
__/GOLF TRUISM-PART II
__/GOT 10?
__/DALY DOUBLE
__/DARCI STOCKER TAKES 2ND AT THE NATIONAL CHRYSLER CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
__/NGF REPORT: SEPTEMBER GOLF ROUNDS DOWN, YEAR TO DATE UP
__/2007 PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW REVISES SCHEDULE AND FORMAT-January 25-27
__/ ARCHIVES-MICHIGAN GOLFER
__/FALL EDITION: MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
__/ 2006-07 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR
__/ ASSOCIATION LINKS
__/ MICHIGAN GOLFER ONLINE RESOURCES
__/ COURSE VIDEOS

***
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT HITS THE BIG 50
Crystal Mountain is starting off its 50th Anniversary Celebration with a bang! Fireworks will light up the night sky over the Mountain as the yearlong celebration begins on Saturday, November 25.

This is the first of several events planned throughout the year to celebrate 50 years at Crystal. Among the 50th Anniversary events slated for the winter season is an aprs ski party on December 28. Donned in traditional aprs ski attire, guests are invited to come off the slopes and enjoy complimentary wine and cheese. In March, Crystal harkens back to the early days at Buck Hills with the 50th Anniversary Spring Carnival featuring a BBQ, NASTAR races and a retro ski-clothing contest.

Each guest who stays under the 50th Anniversary Ski Package this winter will take home a poster commemorating 50 years of winter fun. The vintage poster features *Chris*, Crystal's lovable Saint Bernard that served as the resorts mascot in the early 1960's.

In 1956, fueled by a passion for skiing, a group of community members established the ski area known as Buck Hills. A half-century later, three downhill runs, a rope tow and a humble warming hut have blossomed into 45 downhill runs, 9 chairlifts, and lodging for 1,300 guests. The founders of Buck Hills will be recognized with a dinner on Saturday, November 25 at which time the Crystal's *Buck* downhill run will be dedicated in their honor.

***
THE EDITOR HAS THE YIPS
We had two corrections on the MGN of last week. Dave Richards reminded me it is not the Captain's Table but the Captain's Club that Raymond Floyd worked on in Grand Blanc and Paul Nefousesuggested I was a course short by not naming Wabeek CC as one that Nicklaus built. Since I just visited Wabeek, the error is testament to the mental Yips I am acquiring as my body and mind goes through the aging process. Thanks and a Tip of the Tam to Dave and Paul for their corrections.

***
BOOK REVIEW: FIX THE YIPS FOREVER-By Hank Haney
How's this for a nice newsletter segue? Eveyrone seems to talk about the Yips, but finally someone has done something about them, namely Hank Haney. And since his pupil Tiger Woods is winning everything in sight, Hank Haney has a little more time to put down his thoughts about this dreaded golf handicap.

Basically, like a master sleuth, Haney tracks down the culprit of the Yips. After much study, he rules out the possibility that it could be a psychological affliction and points to the Yips being focal dystonia. Focal dystonia is a motor-neural malfunction that causes a player's brain to distort the messages sent to the muscles. Haney points out that the Yips can take place while putting, driving or chipping.

Haney's cure for this body malfunction is to rewire the brain and his book provides lessons on the circuitry involved. Haney is the best of the best, being one of Golf Digest's instructional gurus and also an analyst for ABC and ESPN. Haney is assisted in the book by Matthew Rudy, who is a senior writer for Golf Digest.

It is a Gotham book selling for $30 U.S. and $37.50 Canadian
http://penguin.com

***
GOLF TECH GURU FRANK THOMAS TO APPEAR AT WEST MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW
Frank Thomas, former USGA Technical Director and one of the foremost consumer experts on golf equipment., will be making an appearance and providing clinics at the nationally acclaimed West Michigan Golf Show set for Feb. 9-11 at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. A weekly guest on The Golf Channel and a regular contributor and Chief Technical Advisor to Golf Digest, Thomas is Founder and President of Frankly Golf, an international consulting company aimed at, among other goals, educating consumers about golf technology.

"I'm just delighted to be a part of this year's Show and to be able to share my thoughts and advice to West Michigan golfers about the often confusing world of golf technology," said Thomas. "There have been so many product improvements and advances in the golf industry many golfers are bewildered by all of it. It's my hope that my clinics will shed some light and understanding on golf balls, shafts and clubheads." Thomas is no stranger to Michigan having attended Kalamazoo College and later West Michigan University where he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Hours for the Show are 4:00 pm-9:00 pm, Friday; 10:00 am-7:00 pm, Saturday, and 10:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday. Tickets are $8.50 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-14, and children 5 and under are free. A free sleeve of Srixon Softfeel Golf Balls for the first 100 people each day at the Show or with an online ticket purchase. Tickets are also available at the door. For more information go to www.westmichigangolfshow.com or call 1-800-328-6550.

INFO:iCarolyn Peticolas Alt, ShowSpan, at 616-447-2860
Terry Moore, Sportserv Ltd, at 616-247-1931
Taken and edited from a WMGS release.

***
CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT SHANTY CREEK
Trinidad Resort & Club L.L.C, a subsidary of Apex Oil Company, is the new owner of Shanty Creek. Their new team consists of Jack Eslick as COO, Jon Stultz as Vice President of Sales & Marketng and William Paterson as Vice President of Finance.

They are starting off the new skiing season with new rental equipment, a Magic Carpet lift at Schuss and some new snow guns throughout the resort. Stay tuned as they begin to transform this resort into the player that it once was.

http://shantycreek.com

***
TURKEY DAY AT THE MAJESTIC
The infamous Majestic Turkey Day will be held on November 19th, along with the golf ball drop. If you are not familiar with Turkey Day, itis where you can golf for free if you bring in at least 20 pounds of frozen turkey that will be donated to Gleaners Food Bank. After golf, wewill be serving a fabulous turkey dinner.
http://majesticgolf.com

***
GOLF TRUISM-PART II
The following truths have been proven through experience!
1. It is surprisingly easy to hole a fifty foot putt...for a 10.
2. Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of hisown haircut.
3. Nonchalant putts count the same as "chalant" putts.
4. It's not a gimme if you're still away.
5. The shortest distance between any two points on agolf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.
6. There are two kinds of bounces; unfair bouncesand bounces just the way you meant to play it.
7. You can hit a two acre fairway 10% of the timeand a two inch branch 90% of the time.
8. If you really want to get better at golf, go backand take it up at a much earlier age.
9. Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourthbad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three.
10. When you look up, causing an awful shot, you willalways look down again at exactly the moment when youought to start watching the ball if you ever want tosee it again.
Thanks and a Tip of the Tam to Jack Minzey for passing these on.

***
NEAL KOTLAREK'S TOP 10 MICHIGAN COURSES
1) Bay Harbor G.C. (Links/Quarry). The 7th Hole on the Quarry is as good as it gets--in Michigan, in the Midwest or in the country. A fine Art Hills design on magnificent terrain, highlighted by spectacular views. I was an attendee at the implosion ceremony when this site was nothing more than a dusty, broken down quarry with a negative land value. Amazing!

2) Treetops - Jones Masterpiece. Overshadowed by the Fazio and Smith courses, this 18 put Gaylord golf on the map. The par-3 No. 6 is the epitome of Northern Michigan Golf due to its panorama of trees as far as the eye can see.

3) Legends at Shanty Creek. Perhaps Arnold Palmer's best design. Fantastic views of Lake Bellaire and incredibly diverse holes--almost like a fireworks display of memorable golf holes.

4) Tullymore. Wondrous landscape and spectacular design. Played from the middle tees, the course is charming and challenging. Played from the back tees, the layout can bring your handicap to its knees.

5) Greywalls. Golfwriters from across the Midwest have been almost reverential in their praise of this course which Golf Digest claimed was the nation's best new layout in 2005. Towering rock formations on some of the holes are unique and inspiring.

6) Arcadia Bluffs. A landmark golf course spread over 3,100 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline which cleverly links old Scottish design with new architectural concepts. The multi-tiered greens on this course are down-right diabolical.

7) Donald Ross Course, Boyne Highlands. While the Heather is considered Michigan's best course by many state professionals, this quirky layout is tricky, pretty and delightful.

8) Hawk's Head. Arthur Hills considers this to be one of his finest designs. A number of holes are framed by natural dunes which gives the layout a Cape Cod feel.

9) High Pointe. Tom Doak's first design continues to delight even after changes significantly altering its original look and feel. Fantastic green complexes and Scottish feel.

10) Thoroughbred. Art Hills' "Million Dollar Miracle"--a fantastic golf course laid out over cranberry bogs for a modest budget. The 18th hole is worth the price of your green fees.

Honorable mention: The Ravines, Leelanau Golf Club, Elk Ridge, The Bear, Hawk's Eye, the Medalist, Pilgrim's Run, Thousand Oaks, Stonegate G.C.

Neal Kotlarek, was formerly the editor for Par Excellance Magazine and now is a writer for Chicago Golf and Chicago District Golfer. He is one of most knowledgeable golf writers in the Great Lakes area and in particular, loves to play in Michigan.

***
TREETOPS AND BOYNE HIGHLANDS IN TOP 75 RESORTS IN U.S.
The 75 Best Golf Resorts list was just published in the latest Golf Digest. Treetops Resort in Gaylord, finished 56th and Boyne Highlands Resort finished 65th on the list. Cheers.
http://treetops.com
http://boyne.com

***
DALY DOUBLE
Niklas Ahola, from Gladstone, a winner on the Michigan Jr. tour this year plays a young John Daly on a new video "You Don't Know a Thing", produced by John Azar. John Daly is a friend of Nik's dad, Terry, a former U.S. Ski Team member.

***
DARCI STOCKER TAKES 2ND AT THE NATIONAL CHRYSLER CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Inez Bridges gave us a headsup onMWGA member, Darci Stocker. Stocker took 2nd place with a 161 in the National Chrysler Club Championship at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor FL. Marci Zweifel from Orlando took 1st place in the women's division. David Obst of Ft Lauderdale was the men's division winner.

The Chrysler Club Championship, presented by Golf Digest Companies, is an amateur golf competition for men and women that is played in a series of matches at local, regional and national levels. Regional winners advanced to the national finals, a two-round tournament played in conjunction with the PGA Tour's Chrysler Championship in Tampa, Fl.

Information courtesy of Inez Bridges

***
NGF REPORT: SEPTEMBER GOLF ROUNDS DOWN, YEAR TO DATE UP
Rounds played slipped 2.3% in September 2006 vs. September 2005, the National Golf Foundation reported. This follows a 0.8% decline in August and a 2.0% decline in July. Because the summer months account for a large volume of rounds played nation wide, year-to-date rounds played dropped to a 0.9% increase for the first nine months of 2006.

Through June, year-to-date rounds played had been up 3%. The reporting is based on data from operators at more than 1,800 golf facilities.

For the full year 2005, rounds played were down 0.1%.Year-to-date, regions experienced the largest positive swings werethe Southeast (+5.1%), Gulf Coast (+4.6%) and Central/South Florida (+2.6%). Only two regions reported year-to-date declines _ the Southwest (-1.1%) and the Northeast (-1.4%).At all public courses, rounds played were up 0.1% for 2005; year-to-date 2006, up 0.9%. At private clubs, 2005 rounds played were down 1.0%; year-to-date 2006, up 0.8%.

Year-to-date, play at premium public courses (those with peak season weekend green fees with cart above $70) is down 0.2%. At value courses (those with peak season weekend green fees with cart below $40), rounds played rose 1.0%. At standard courses ($40-70), play was up 1.2%.

Taken and edited from a NGF report

http://ngf.org

***
2007 PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW REVISES SCHEDULE AND FORMAT-January 25-27
This year's show format features unique daily programs, special events and seminars focusing on a central business theme. While show days are lengthened, the show week is shortened with a revised exhibition hall schedule ­ Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 25-27 and no Sunday exhibition hours. One hour is added to each day, 8:30 a.m. ­ 6:00 p.m., and so are new exclusive floor hours where no conferences or off-floor exhibit activities will take place.

Beginning with the ³warm up² to what many consider to be golfıs most important round of business, the 5th annual Demo Day will open the redesigned show on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge. Exclusively for PGA Members, key retailers and media, this yearıs event at Demo Day again will feature more than 80 top golf equipment, training aids, performance wear & golf accessory companies. Manufacturer demonstrations, club-fitting workshops and teach-the-teacher clinics will be staged throughout the day. Not enough time to accomplish everything? If you are a PGA Member, come one-hour early at 9:00 a.m. for an exclusive PGA Member early opening.

Taken and edited from a PGA Merchandise release
http://pgamerchandiseshow.com/App/homepage.cfm?moduleid=42&appname=100248

***
FALL EDITION: MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE - NOW ONLINE
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Catching Up With Calvin Peete: Motor City Miracle-byJohn Berkovich
Detroit's own Calvin Peete is kicking back in Jacksonville, enjoying his second family and helping out his wife Pepper with the area's First Tee Program. Ontario writer,John Berkovich, caught up with Calvin and brings up this story.
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Jud Heathcoat and Idaho Golf-Jason Deegan
Jason Deegan continues his golf travel and brings us a story about Idaho golf and a visit with Sparty, Jud Heathcoat. Jason matches his prose with pictures in this delightful read. You will also encounter a floating island green, just the thing for an aquaphob.

http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html Golfing Gaylord-by Dr. Sam Fullerton, Photos by Kevin Frisch
Sam Fullerton, spends most of his time teaching Eastern Michigan University students about his specialty, Sports and Event Marketing. However, Sam is just as comfortable with a putter as a podium. Sam tells the story and Kevin Frisch of Resort and Golf Marketing supplies the photos as we take yet another look at the Gaylord Golf Mecca.
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Sip and Chip-by L'Anse Bannon
The American pairing at the Ryder Cup will soon be forgotten. However, there is a new pairing, wine and golf or Sip and Chip that might last a little longer in your memory. L'Anse Bannon checks our the vineyards of the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Point and pairs them up with some great golf destinations.
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Tournament Roundup
We have more roundups then Roy Rogers and Gene Autry combined. Everything you wanted to know about tournament golf is brought to you by a stable of writers from the Michigan Golfer, the Michigan Section PGA and Summer Tournament Wrapup-Kelly Hill
v Gregg Davies Wins the 2006 Michigan Amateur-by Jack Berry
Mike Harris Wins the Tournament of Champions-Michigan PGA Staff
Kris Tamulis WinsMichigan Womenıs Open
Scott Hebert Wins his 6th Michigan Open-by Jack Berry
Final Ford-John Wukovits
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Our Michigan Television Show also brings you coverage of these tournaments:
Native American Cup http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/nativeamericancup/
Michigan Amateur http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/boynegolf/
Michigan Women's Golf Association http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/mwga/
Michigan Open http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/michiganopen/
Michigan Golf Course Owners Association http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/mgcoaleaguetournament/

Slice of Life-Terry Moore
Terry Moore takes us through a tour of his golf bag and muses about the decisions he has made in creating an awesome arsenal of worthy weapons for golf's challenges.
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

***
2006 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR
http://michigangolfer.com/calendar.html" ASSOCIATION LINKS
American Association of Golf Course Architects
http://asgca.org
Golf Association of Michigan
http://www.gam.org/
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
http://www.gcsaa.org
Michigan Section PGA
http://www.Michigan.PGA.com
Michigan Golf Course Owners Association
http://mgcoa.org
Michigan High School Athletic Association
http://www.mhsaa.com/
Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association
http://migca.com
Michigan Publinx Seniors Golf Association
http://mpsga.net
National Golf Course Owners Association
http://ngcoa.org
National Golf Foundation
http://ngf.org
National High School Golf Coaches Association
http://www.nhsgca.org

***
MICHIGAN GOLFER ONLINE RESOURCES
Website: http://glsp.com
Ezine http://michigangolfer.com
News: http://www.webgolfer.com/news.html
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv
Podcast: http://glsp.com/podcasts.html

Comments to artmccaf@glsp.com
Copyright © Great Lakes Sports Publications, Inc.