A story about Eric Gonzales & TV weatherman

GOLF IN FLORIDA
By Jock MacKenzie

How many out there in golf-land dream as youths that one day they will be an honest to goodness golf pro, play the game whenever they feel like it, sit back and tell the student what and what not he or she should be doing?
Let me tell you, the life of an honest to goodness golf pro doesn’t work that way.

I’m thinking now of Eric Gonzales who runs the pro list at the popular Cypress Knoll Course, known in this area of Florida as one of several under control by The Grand Club.
I watched Gonzales struggle to earn his ticket, or official golf pro as known in the trade, for at least five years and perhaps a few more months.

He did the full rout every one of his working days and then dashed home so he could read and absorb the requirements of becoming a P.G.A. Professional.
I would often think, how can this man do it? How can he work long hours at the golf course and then dash home to work his heart out in order to become an official P.G.A. member? Five years, remember, five years of personal torture as I viewed it.

But, by golly, he did it. It takes a touch of genius and some times courage to make things simple but courage is something that is well within the body of Eric Gonzales.
I was talking recently with a lady who was footing the teaching bill so her nephew could learn this amazing game of golf. She told me that it was becoming expensive after so many months and even years. It was suggested that the nephew had enough and it was time to call a halt. A drain on the money pocket was her concern.

“No”, said the nephew, “I want to stay with Eric!” It was her money but his desire and that won the contest.
This young man, and no, I don’t have his name at hand, found a dream as the way to play a wonderful game with a fabulous teacher and he wasn’t about to give it up.
Now tell me, what Aunt, Uncle, Mother, Dad or family member would cut the cord and leave this happy youngster out on a limb? Whenever I go to Grand Reserve for golf or conversation I talk with men who have young daughters, and I mean young like 10 and 11 years, who are downright the happiest golf partners on the face of this earth because of teaching by Eric Gonzales.

So, you see, if Eric Gonzales had not given five years of his soul and countless hours on the range many other young men and women would never have the opportunity or success they now have. Yes, he’s well past the 5-year mark now but that matters not. What does matter is that Eric Gonzales has learned a touch of genius and sometimes courage to make things simpler. Do me a favor, please. When next you play Nine & Dine at Cypress, take a moment to walk over and say, “Thank you, Eric, for all you do.”

Nine & Dines has been a welcome golf addition for years. Others in this area have tried to run Nine & Dines of their own and every last one has failed. Not the one at Cypress. The plain truth is that Michael Tsouklaris, Director of Golf at The Grand Clubs, and Eric Gonzales have made Nine & Dine tops in the Florida market. 

YOUR BEST GOLF ON TAP

If you reside somewhere on the eastern side of the USA your best golf ever may be just a simple vacation away.
Palm Coast is the name of the game, a city of 77,000 people awaiting you as residents or vacationers to a city started and put in motion by ITT. They put the building of it from nothing, one that was a jungle that had to be torn apart.
But when all is said and done, we are talking golf here, beautiful golf courses and a huge bundle of them.
Start at the Grand Club with golf to test your best efforts from tee to green. One beautiful effort is Pine Lakes, the other Cypress Knoll, the first an Arnold Palmer creation, the second by Gary Player.

You also have a gorgeous beach shading the ocean water and top notch courses waiting for you to swing the clubs. ITT was first in building an Oceanside golf course and the numbers expanded from there, Coventry and a barrel more of beautiful golf courses all along the beach.
I’ll never forget the day that Jack Nicklaus came here, he was the builder of this sensational course and on the beach to celebrate the grand opening of this first course. We press were allowed to hammer him left and right . . . a question here and a question there . . . and he was a gentleman of not as the questions were answered politely and nicely.
Then it came time for the golf course itself, Nicklaus leading the way, as the official opening of this beautiful layout.
Officials, however, took hold of the microphone and went on for what seemed like hours. There was no stopping them. If an ITT official was present he was asked to speak. Nicklaus had enough. He hollered out: “That’s enough of the B.S. (I’m being nice here). We’re here to play golf and let’s go do it now. And thus, the deed was done, Nicklaus put on a golf show that had us applauding hole after hole.
At the earlier meeting with Nicklaus I sat with the weather man of the leading TV station then and now and out of Orlando. I told him that we don’t understand why all the Florida locations are included in his reports but not a view or word about Palm Coast.

“It’s there”, he said. I responded, “No it’s not.” And this argument went on for what seemed like a half hour, he was convinced that Palm Coast was included and I forcefully told him it wasn’t. We parted shortly after, he confident as lead weather man he new what was and was not there. I responded to every word relating that he was wrong.
I never heard from him again. But three days later for the first time in history there was Palm Coast shining brightly and it has been there ever since..

I’m relating this from long ago because I thought you had the right of knowing how Palm Coast had joined the big guys and that it came about fully because of this wonderful game of golf we play.Back to the golf courses you will enjoy here, a short ride to River Bend and you’ll be on one that delights. Another like this is Grand Reserve, somewhat new as openings go but simply said a darn nice enjoyable golf club to play any day of the week.

As famous golf teacher Craig Shankland wrote in his book many years ago, “When you analyze golf, you realize that its greatest pleasures are derived from diametrically opposite situations. One is the positive side, where you execute basics to achieve preplanned results. The other is the negative side, where the thrill results from overcoming forces that are constantly endeavoring to throw you off balance.”
Incidentally, the Shankland book, one I read often, sold for $3.95 per book and I doubt it could be found in the stores now.

So, come on down to Palm Coast, FL. What you’ll find here in a heartbeat is your best golf courses, a ton of wonderful people who enjoy being nice to you and a journey that just might be the one to start your route to lower scores.

Greatness is never given. You earn it!

GOLF IN FLORIDA
By Jock MacKenzie

GREATNESS IS NEVER GIVEN. YOU EARN IT

 Well into that theory is a golfer from Boynton Beach, FL who shoots his age routinely at 84! Bob Harris, according to the New York Times, has shot his age 893 times, an achievement he attributes partly to a rigorous exercise program. And my good gosh, I’ve been deservedly bragging about the golfer from Portland, Maine who shot into the 90’s even when reaching the count of 99!

We have our own golf star here in Palm Coast, FL with a population of 77,000 people and still growing in leaps and bounds. His name is Dick Perlman who has reached the age of high nineties while playing at the Grand Clubs Pine Lakes course with his wife Helen, who, by the way, is an attributed Golf Hall of Famer and swings the club as sweet as the best to hit the links, male or female. But most importantly, she is terrifically a nice person and all who have the good fortune of meeting her will tell you that in a heart beat. She’s a whiz at this game of golf and shows that quality every time out. That and other data provides the opportunity for me to shout the importance of women in golf. The numbers are growing in leaps and bounds and that’s reason one why golf course owners are shouting with glee. Right now women golfers in the membership are as important to them as good golfers will always be.
For example, me and my team partners stood by as we swung for pretty good distance only to view this lady going past us like a hot ride runner at the Daytona races.
So, no matter where you are – here in Florida, anywhere in New England, of course in California and wherever you care to name – you’ll find women a merging factor in this game of golf.

AS A RADIO BROADCASTER COVERING GOLF

 I’ll always remember as a radio broadcaster the assignment of covering a women’s tournament in the Keene, NH area. Most took the golf play of women in the Tournament as an also ran. But when I watched and broadcast the talent of these competitors, I was struck with admiration, and correctly so.
Another not so welcome affair was a 3-day tournament at a beautiful course in Dover, NH, one titled to this day as Cochecho Country Club.
I rushed to my radio station microphone to proclaim the victors. What I told the audience was by a man and his son, the latter lugging his Dad’s bag, after they came out of nowhere to win the Tournament despite a talented class field of golfers.
About four days later I received this well written letter from the winner saying he appreciated the publicity we gave them. “Just one problem he added, the “son” was my daughter! See, even a so called radio star is embarrassed.Frankly said, while playing the game I love so much at the popular Pine Golf layout, I would stop in awe at the ability and beautiful swings of ladies approaching the green. Frankly said, these ladies can play this game and play it well. So, the more of you of female persuasion who appear to play this wonderful game of golf the better every one of us is going to be. So, come on in ladies, we need more Helen Perlman’s and Deb Crowley’s wherever you are, from all of Florida, to New England, California, Texas and every State in this union.

RETURNING HOME FROM WAR

As I look back, at the age of 30 and returned from constant combat in the Pacific Theatre of War, I was asked to accept a free membership at a local and very popular golf course near a small town named Shelburne. I said no. I knew this came about because I was a radio sports broadcaster and this is what played in part a reason for the request.
Still, it was a stupid response on my part and I regret it to this day. Just think, in stead of being a sad hacker out on the green now I possibly could have become half way decent at golf and maybe even one of the top shooters.
So if someone asks you – male or female – to join their golf club as a member, jump at the offer so fast your shoes will tingle proudly every day of your life. Or, who knows, maybe like the golfer from Boynton Beach, you might shoot your age to a count of 84 at least 893 times!

GRAND RESERVE

Smooth as glass is a popular term but I really don’t know how else to describe this golf course. You could play it every day of the week and it would still be a great golf course, one you would marvel at consistently and day by day.
And, yes, it gets a lot of play, like women’s leagues on Monday and Friday, men on Wednesday and the rest a wonderful place to enjoy.
Mike Pullen, a master at making this golf course and others up and down the east coast better than most, is the Alabama graduate who has a very special touch for the benefit of we who love to play golf.
Yes, it’s a bit easier to score but what’s so wrong about that? Isn’t it fun to go out with clubs in hand and whack the little white or orange pill for a delightful ride, to shoot a game of 95 rather than a hundred?
Go try it. Grand Reserve is located just off Route 1 in the Palm Coast area and a short distance from the town of Bunnell.
One thing I know for sure. Go play it and the words I’ve just written will be yours to enjoy the week long.

GRAND HAVEN

Jack Nicklaus built this marvelous golf course on the river side of Palm Coast many years ago when ITT was in charge. There have been a couple of new ownerships since then but for some reason the quality of this golfing marvel just seems to get better and better.
Yes, it is private with a marvelous membership of the nicest people I will ever know in my life. After you meet members like Walt McRae, Hawley Rogers and Rick McArdle, just to name a few, you also will have the same impression.
McArdle, by the way, not only wrapped up another Club Championship this year, but he finds time to go to the schools and help their golf teams to be better. His son in law, by the way, is Ty Capps, the Nebraskan who is determined to make his mark as a full-fledged member of the every week golf tour.
One other thing about Grand Haven Golf Course: Watching Dane Winger and his golf lessons had me spellbound on the practice tee one day.
His tutoring was so impressive next to me that I forgot the golf balls in the pail at my feet and watched – without his knowing – every word he spoke and every movement he told the lady student what to do and what not to do. I’ve never had something like that happen before, my mouth shut in awe, my body frozen and the purpose of my reason there to hit golf balls before playing. Still, these were beautiful moments and I’ll not soon for get them even though the teacher prefers his name not be used. Hopefully, this one time I might be forgiven.
But I know I’ll never again have the honor of consistently viewing an expert at work, one who is absolutely the best in Florida golf and probably far beyond.

A COUPLE OF FREE MOMENTS

Many years ago in the mountains of Berlin, NH I was induced week after week to join a friend named Leo Cloutier for a baseball game. As I look back, it was probably the nicest thing to happen for me.
Cloutier was a sports writer for a local paper then went up the ladder to cover the game in top notch style.
From that, my pal Leo became the best friend of Ted Williams, the most talented baseball player I’ve seen in life, then and now. When Williams was given a special day at Fenway Park a brand new car was part of the many gifts. This famous baseball player then turned around to my friend Leo and gave him outright the auto he was driving at that time. That gives you the idea of how close in life the pair was.
Anyhow, whenever Leo wrote about Williams or anyone and everything else to be written he always closed with these words: “With malice towards none!” And that’s what I do for you now.

Come on down to Florida and enjoy the game of golf like no other – the sport of Pine Lakes, Cypress Knoll, Grand Haven, Grand Reserve or the golf courses near the ocean, Hammock Dunes, Coventry and more. Life in this part of Florida is special for us. So it will be for you. Try me out and see for yourself.
And as Leo might say: “Thanks for listening!”

Four members of the vaunted Sludgehammer Group getting ready to tee off

Four members of the vaunted Sludgehammer Group getting ready to tee off at Pine Lakes of the Grand Club in Palm Coast.Included and ready to swing the clubs with 12 other golfers are Jake Jacoby, Ken Danhoff, Stewart Manthey and Dennis Willerth.

The so-called Sludgehammers were originated in Staten Island NY and and are as popular today as they were back then. They schedule their golf play at both Pine Lakes and Cypress Knoll, two popular golf layouts.

Pine Lakes was re-built by Arnold Palmer, Cypress Knoll by Gary Player. Former Mayor Jim Canfield is a popular leader of the entire Group.

Why is golf more important in our lives than any other sport?

GOLF IN FLORIDA
By Jock MacKenzie

Why is golf more important in our lives than any other sport? Because it is the only one in life that can be enjoyed through the ages of 80’s and 90’s!

Proof that is the golfer in Portland, Maine who played this marvelous game well into his 90’s, shooting scores around 85. While playing the terrific Hammock Dunes Course in Palm Coast at the invitation of the Florida area’s radio station owner, I brought this up for conversation somewhere around the 4th hole of that match. He replied: “That’s true. I know him.
I quickly asked why in the world he would know this golfer when he was busy with his radio stations in Florida.
He told me, “I go back to Maine every summer and know this golfer well. I’m a member of the same golf course. And yes, he is playing into his nineties now and hitting some great scores.”
As time took its course, the golfer approached the 100 year mark and finally gave up his beloved game. “But”, the radio station owner told me, “Now he goes to the bar at the Club every day!”
Time has taken away the golfer’s name but I and a ton of others will never forget the accomplishment of this golfer in the State of Maine.

If you want proof that golf is the only sport in all our lives that one can play seemingly forever just remember the accomplishment of this dedicated golfer from Maine. 

While age is a meaningless number, it is a fact that other enjoyable sports cash in at ages of 30 and maybe stretching it out to 40 but no more than that. So haul your golf bag to the nearest golf course and swing away – good, bad or mediocre. It could be the most impressive step of your life. Greatness, like the golfer from Maine, is never given. You earn it. And a quick step to the golf course with clubs in tow may provide the first step for you. Please don’t laugh when TV displays a five or six year old youngster swinging a golf club. He or she is on the way to a special success that I wish I could have had. And if you are 60, 70 or 80 years of age ready to call it quits, don’t. You’ll be amazed at the success you earned the hard way.

A PERFECT EXAMPLE
Bill O’Rourke, a golf group director of former law enforcement personnel, is a perfect example that age, his or mine, doesn’t mean a thing. O’Rourke heads up a group playing golf at two outstanding Florida golf courses – Pine Lakes and Cypress Knoll – in Palm Coast, Florida. 

The group started back in 1985 at Matanzas by Lew Sipowicz – another unit of The Grand Club, one that present owners are attempting to restore in good playing condition.
So what’s so sensational about a group of men playing golf not affiliated with a group affiliation? They are reportedly at what is said to be latter age but they play twice a week with golf partners and only the Lord knows how many more times during the week on their own. On a local basis, if anyone is interested in joining O’Rourke’s group, please call Mike Tsouklaris at (386) 437-5807.
Meanwhile, congratulations Bill O’Rourke, something tells me your perseverance will have you on the golf course well into your 90’s just like the golfer from Portland, Maine.

Don’t give up the ship. Golf is a life saver all the way to 99. After that you’re on your own.Please remember this: Greatness is never given. You earn it! Playing this wonderful game into large numbers may have you taking the right step. In other more direct words: “Don’t give up the ship!”

GRAND RESERVE GOLF
It’s been nearly two weeks that a local group played the game together at Grand Reserve for the first time.
They were stunned at the excellent condition of this popular golf course just off Route 1 in the Palm Coast area and said it to all who would listen time and time again.
And you know what’s so amazing? They are still talking about it! They just can’t get over from that one time of play how good the day was because of the fantastic condition under their feet. The one problem was that the greens were so fast they couldn’t get the little white pellet into the hole with consistency.
Will they be back? You can bet most of them will be at the first group opportunity.

If you’re in the area for golf, call Bryan at 386-313-2966 for quotes and availability. But don’t miss this gorgeous golf course while here.

LASTLY
Come on to Florida and enjoy the golf time of your life by playing two sensational golf courses, Pine Lakes and Cypress Knoll.
Arnold Palmer built the Pine Lakes layout, Gary Player the fantastic Cypress layout. 

Always remember, coming to Florida and playing these beautiful golf courses as a man and wife from Montreal did, makes the perfect vacation. And they’ve got it in spades at Palm Coast and the Grand Club. Take it from this ancestral Scot, you won’t find better golf and more fun anywhere from New England to Florida by being here, maybe for vacation, and swinging the clubs with more fun and accuracy than anywhere else in the nation.
Like is often said on TV, “Come on down!”

The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of

By Jock MacKenzie

Discipline and diligence, that’s the stuff that Dreams are made of, or so a group of us thought as we headed for the Grand Reserve golf course on Route 1 and shy of Bunnell, Fl.
Pine Lakes of Palm Coast, Florida, the individual favorite, was down for customary repairs and Cypress Knoll, another favorite, was booked solid.
What this happy crew found was a downright beautiful golf course and then the smiles became greater. The group, calling themselves Sludgehammers, and most members originally from Staten Island, NY, was set to eat up this easy golf course. Then came reality. This golf course had the smoothest grass, the most beautiful layout, the best conditioned in a golf experience they had not previously found. Player after player spoke freely after viewing the condition of this beauty: “Wow, this is a terrific golf course!
When reality set in, the putts began to fly past the hole, something they were not accustomed to. Wow! These greens were beautiful, solid, terrifically conditioned and tough for many us to handle.
Except for talented golfers like Dennis Willerth, Jake Jacoby and David Studnicki, scores went flying upward than that expected.
If you’re headed to Florida to enjoy golf this summer, mark Grand Reserve in your book and enjoy some of the best golf of your life.
But be sharp with that putter because Grand Reserve will test the best you’ve got.

OTHER BEAUTIES IN THIS PART OF FLORDA

Many moons ago a very, very good friend – Colonel Robert Jones – and a terrific golfer and teammate in Dover, NH where Cochecho was the star golf site, decided to make a move to Palm Coast. These were boom-boom times when many were at or about to retire. Thus came the urging for me and wife Gibby to also make the move and one day we did.
Palm Coast was early in the growth pattern at the time, some 20,000 or less population with three golf courses – Palm Harbor, Pine Lakes and Cypress Knoll.
We were so naïve about where to find a good golf course that it was a little of this and a little of that, all starting with Palm Harbor.
Col. Jones then suggested we go to Cypress Knoll where Gary Player built a beauty, one that a certain player there says to this day, “I like this course for many reasons but mainly that it has less bunkers than most courses.”
What was never told to anyone is that we couldn’t find the golf course! We went up and down, over and under
We took roads to the right that never revealed a golf course. I swear we looked for Cypress better than an hour even though it was just around corner from where we spent all that time looking.
In reality, finding this golf course is a walk in the park. But the better news is that it’s a beauty with a terrific layout. Again, if you are Gary Player, one of the best
ever, with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, did a superb job for the ownership of the time. And knowing the plans of the present ownership I promise that playing Cypress Knoll will be one of your all time golf favorites in Florida.
When we were reasonably young and still working, we came to Florida every year with golf clubs in tow. The destination was constantly Orlando where we had our pick of golf courses. If then were today, a far better deal and much more enjoyable in a ton of ways, Palm Coast would be the one and only choice. It’s not a population of twenty thousand anymore. It’s now somewhere around the ninety thousand bracket and the money is on the table that says it shortly will have reached out for 100,000.
There are beautiful golf courses on the beach and several more beauties in Palm Coast alone. There is a genuine gem titled Grand Haven, a course constructed by Jack Nicklaus. There is another superb gem titled Pine Lakes or otherwise noted as The Grand Club.
My point is, please don’t spend all your money flying your way to the deep part of Florida when you have golf courses in Palm Coast equally as well and even better than those provided by long air flights.
Here you fly into Jacksonville or Daytona. The former is around 50 miles away, the latter 25 miles or less. And what you will find here is a bevy of golfers who know what you can also know with a shorter trip.
I’ll remember for the rest of my life the words from a young gentlemen and his wife who live in Montreal.
In a brief conversation with me they related: We’ve played four courses while here on vacation. This one is the best by far (Pine Lakes) and next year when we come from Canada to play golf this is the golf course we will play. It’s far better and more fun than we were told. Pine Lakes is our vacation choice!
So, when you are making plans for a vacation out of New York, Pennsylvania, Boston, New England and other similar locations, please mark Palm Coast on your calendar. It will be the best choice you’ve made all year.
If you are eager to play more private courses, the Grand Club, Grand Reserve and Grand Haven can make it happen. They are generally less crowed and in better condition than many courses. Try my word out and you’ll see what thousands now do.

PINE LAKES M.G.A.
Stapleford Points. White Flight 1: Ed McLeavey 32, Mickie Mann 30, David Ragsdale 27.
2nd White Flight: John Sbordone 35, Paul Libutaque 33, Jerry Fazzini 28. First Orange Flight: Gordon Patrick 38, Dave Schlink 37 m/c, Steve McLaughlin 37. 2nd Orange Flight: Gene Dunn 38, Celso Samaniego 37, Al Amara 35. Gold Flight 1: John Maino & Dale Bell 41, Wally Schubert 36, Frank Mento 35. Gold Flight 2: Dick Hoover 37, Tom Clutter 36, Bob Hunter, Tony Forte, Rick Hornberger 34. Closest to pin: Frank Mento No. 5, Dale Bell No. 9, Ed McLeavey No. 11, Gordon Patrick No. 14.

CYPRESS MEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Results 5/17: Select Best Nine Holes. White Flight: 1st Michael Mann 82-32. Orange Flight: 1st Dave Erbe 81-29, 2nd Dave Kaufman 87-30. Orange Flight 2: 1st Ed Reed 91-26, 2nd James Miller 94-29 m/c. Gold Flight: John Iocovozzi 83-30. Closest to pin: Michael Mann No. 5, Dave Kaufman No. 9, Dave Erbe No. 11, John Iocovozzi No. 14.

MATANZAS WOODS MGA TOURNAMENT
Pick Best Nine. White Flight : Ed McLeavey 86-32. Orange Flight 1: Don Bach 89-28, Celso Samaniego 91-28 m/c, Frank Hopler 99-28. Orange Flight 2: John Maino 86-29, Jere Dorney 103-30 m/c, Jerry Fazzini 96-30. Gold Flight: Russ Brown 96-27, Bernie Sheridan 103-29. Closest to pin: Gordon Patrick No. 5, Walt Twyman No. 9, Gordon Patrick No. 11, Russ Brown No. 14.

MATANZAS WOOD WOMEN’S ASSOC.
1st (Tie +4) Debby Crowley, Barb Bergquist, Zita Corum. Flight 2: (Tie -2) Gerry Bell & Alice Manthey. Flight 3: Bea Franchini +2. Flight 4: Gail Danhoff +8.

NINE & DINE/CYPRESS KNOLL
50 Golfers/ West Flight low gross: Richard Yates, Diana Leonetti, Danny Gerhard & Jeanie Schreiber 31. 1st low net: Terry & Sue O’Hagan, Rick & Jane Stefany 26.4. 2nd low net: Rich & Mira Gueren, H. Wied, Sylvie Fischer 27.2. South Flight, low gross: Steve Bickel, Fred Robinson, Ron Smith, Tony Bellantoni 31. Closest to pin winners: James Stabile No. 11, Mira Gueren No. 14.

GRAND RESERVE, MEN’S WEDNESDAY LEAGUE
Flight 1: 1st Ken Oberline 42, 2nd Jack Williams 39, 3rd Steve Thompson 37. Flight 2: 1st Walt Fraedrich 40, 2nd Charles Papson 39 m/c, 3rd Marty Popi 39. Green Flight: 1st Jerry Fletcher 40 m/c, 2nd Jerry Degiovanni 40, 3rd Paul Dean 37. Closest to pin: Roger Epperson No. 4, Jerry Degiovanni No. 10 & 13.

PALM HARBOR LADIES 18-HOLE TOURNAMENT
1st: Tie: Helen Perlman, Judy Pope, Linda Karam & Carol Ross 72. Gerry Bell, Kathy Devanna, Nancy Plum & Ann Steele 72. 2nd: Tie: Fran Knoedler, Marianne Schuettler, Patti McClintock & Helga Ghazi 77. Carolyn McLaughlin, Kathy DiGiore, Donna Drevniok & Jane Sturgis 77.

CYPRESS KNOLL WGA
Beat the Champ: Only 1 person from the field was able to beat the Champ: Deb Crowley 75-65.

GRAND RESERVE WOMEN/MONDAY GAME
Just the Middle (count the holes 6-14). Flight 1: 1st Ruth Martin 31 m/c, 2nd Sandy McCarthy 31 m/c. Flight 2: 1st Joy Clarkson 33, 2nd Carol Gear 34. Flight 3: Gerry Durrkin 32, Diana Mariano 32.5, Mary Page Slovak 36. Closest to pin: Shay Hall No. 4 & No. 10.

GRAND RESERVE WOMEN/FRIDAY GAME
Six Mystery Holes: Flight A: 1st Ruth Martin 24, 2nd Rae Ann Schumacher 27 m/c, 3rd Wanda Eller 27 m/c, 4th Joan Gray, 5th Karen Varriale 28. Flight B: 1st Sharon Argabright 27, 2nd Nancy Rupert 28 m/c, Nancy Cerniglia 29 m/c, 4th Diana Mariano 29. Flight C: 1st Betty Sabatino 27, 2nd June Heitman 30.
Closest to pin No. 13: Marianne Schuettler.

GRAND CLUB NINERS, PINE.
Low Gross: Low Gross: Flight 1: 1st, Gloria Wilkins 56, 2nd, Bonnie Brunson 58. Flight 2: 1st, Marilyn Millar 54, 2nd, Ann Leide 57.

READ THE TRUE STORY OF GOLF HAPPENINGS IN FLORIDA!

By Jock MacKenzie


As Peter Finch stated in a recent Golf Digest magazine, playing a golf course to your liking including private golf clubs want to make it happen.
Too many of us sit back and say to ourselves, “We can’t play there, it’s a private course and they don’t want us.” 

The truth is they do want you.  Prices generally may be higher than what you would like to have but that is not always in play. Take Pine Lakes and Cypress Knoll, for instance.  These are beautiful golf courses, a treat to play, but just like any golf course in the United States they have to act according to the general outlook of times in this era.  Sure they would love to have you as a full time member.  But the truth is they have to make the cash register jingle.Arnold Palmer designed Pine Lakes.  Gary Player put his heart in making Cypress top notch and his work shows.Or, like Grand Haven, another private golf course where Jack Nicklaus did a beautiful job in making this a beauty just as he did at Hammock Dunes on the ocean side.True, these are private golf courses and you just don’t walk in, plunk down a few bucks and head to the first tee.  But you can give a call and bingo!  You may have hit the exact time when a beautiful private golf course has opened up its arms for you.Try it.  These courses are in Palm Coast, FL with a population of nearly 90,000 people, a huge number – young and all the way to 90 – and may prove to be the best selection you’ve made in golf.  Check them out.  Already more and more golfers are coming down from Canada, Montreal to Prince Edward Island, and they return year after year because they like what they see and are treated very well.

FLORIDA GOLF SCORES

Deb Crowley grew up in Massachusetts.  Then New Hampshire became her home for a month or two out of a year.  But in reality, Palm Coast, FL is the site where she serves and belongs, still the best female golfer to come down the Turnpike. Crowley is a Golf Hall of Famer, one of the few named to that prestigious position by the Grand Club for her performances at Pine Lakes and Cypress. There is rarely an outing where Crowley doesn’t finish first and should that occur it’s never higher than second place.
To this day I silently wonder why this New Englander never took a shot at the ladies pro league especially where for years they played 20 miles or less away from Palm Coast.

Anyhow, in the recent Beat the Pro game at Cypress Knoll Crowley did her usual thing, 1^st place over Jan Graham and everyone else.  Those who did themselves proud on this occasion, all others beating the pro, were Rita Miller, Ginny Nicewonger, Judy Ivey, Nidia Farrell, Marie Mento, Mavis Moen, Carol Ross, Gloria Wilkins, Alice Manthey and Pat Kawa.

FOLLOW UP

Beat The Champ (Deb Crowley)

Cypress Knoll: Ginny Nicewonger, Helen Perlman & Sonya Sapp.  Birdies: Debby Crowley No. 16, Helen Perlman No. 5, Pat Kawa No. 6.

                                                            THE CHAMPIONS!

When you go up against the proud Grand Club players in the 2013 Club Championship you had better be alert and on your toes because you have some top-notch players driving you out hole after hole.
The Championship went to Harry Davis, easily a pro golf player if he had not elected to stay in the amateur ranks and at home where he and spouse Lucy could offer a brilliant beginning for each their children.  One such is in Hollywood today playing in some of the best TV Shows month after month.
Davis cleaned the clocks of competitors with scores of 78 & 74.  Jack Brockdortf took 1^st Low Net on scores of 73-36 and Phillip Paul 2^nd Low Net with counts of 76-74. 
Shelby Lee won the Low Gross honors in the Men’s 1^st Flight scoring 89 and 86.  Ron Dacuk was the 1^st Low Net shooting 81-72 and Dave Erbe 2^nd Low Net with counts of 84-71.
The 1^st Gold Flight went to Rich Kawa, 86-82, Frank Vignati (one of the Grand Club owners) shot a brillian 67-70.  John Iocovozzie took 2^nd place with scores of 68-75.
Want to take a guess on the Ladies Champion?
If you said Deb Crowley with counts of 77-81 you are right on the button.  Patte Garofalo won 1^st Low et on scores of 70-69 and a card match from Rita Miller who won 2^nd firing brilliant scores of 66-73.
In the 9-Hole Flight, Bonnie Brunson took honors with a Low Gross count of 57-53.  Pinky Wulf won low Net with scores of 40-32 while Rikki Davis took 2^nd place by shooting 38-39.
Whether or not you can match the play of these golfers – men and women – come on down to Palm Coast Florida as so many Canadians have recently done and give the course a pretty good whack of your own.
In other words, let’s see just how good you are at this wonderful game we call golf.

GRAND HAVEN WOMEN

With Appreciation to Marsha Hayton

On this day in May the team game was in play and some outstanding lady golfers made it work.
Flight 1 and 1^st place went to Sandy Pearson, Joan Crockett and Susie Samson with a total score of 55. Next in line with another outstanding performance were Sharon Downes, Mary Culver, Marcia Munsterman and Camile Hinsch one score off the winner’s mark with a 56.  Another shot back and in 3^rd place were Donna Alexander, Marcia Goldsmith, Sheilia Tebbano and Maryanne Guiglotto.
The trio of Sue Gump, Marcia Schile and Louise Dycke did a good effort but had to settle for 4^th spot on a score of 59.
Two more teams were in a battle of Matching Cards at scores of 60 but the 5^th place victors were Joan Callahan, Liz Denby, Meredith Johnson and Kathy Feldman.  Missing by the turn of a card were Carol Olsen, Patty Baldini and Marilyn Gingles.

GRAND RESERVE

If you have missed this sensational golf course on your tour of Palm Coast golf don’t wait.  This is the best golf course my eyes have seen for comfortable play by men and women as a team or singles.
Wouldn’t it be nice to go with a gorgeous golf course that is kept in perfect condition by the staff, one that invites you to play at summer rates, a golf course that can be easy on the golfer here and there but then can take out the hammer and make you earn your score?  Simply said, Grand Reserve is one beautiful golf course and both men and women love to play it week after week.
Just give a call to Bryan Hill in the pro shop for a tee time and you’re on your way.
The number is 386-313-2966.  Oh yes, it’s easy to get to, just off Route 1 on the way to Bunnell and well marked.
The golf course enjoys having ladies leagues twice a week and the men each Wednesday.  They also engineer a 9-hole group in play Monday mornings in addition to the popular regular play on both Monday and Friday.
Honestly, you’re missing out if you don’t give Grand Reserve a try especially at these low rates and the quality of the grass with thanks to those who are make this work as a top golf course day in and day out.

WEDNESDAY LEAGE PLAY

Grand Reserve

POINTS WINNERS: Flight 1: 1^st Steve Thompson 42, 2^nd Steve Quartarone 41, Ray Epperson 40. Flight 2: Marty Popi 41, Walt Fraedrich 39, Andy Curley 37. Green Tees: Paul Dean 42, Bob Stanton 41, Jerry DeGiovanni 39. Closest to pin: Steve Sprehe No. 4, Jerry DeGiovanni No. 10, Marty Popi No. 13. 

NINE & DINE

This popular event takes place on Tuesday at Cypress under the leadership of Pro Erick Gonzales.  When rain doesn’t pour down at a rate of four straight days and nights the event is packed, up to 90 to 100 golfers and more from all over the Palm Coast region and beyond.
Despite soggy conditions, Rich & Mira Gueren along with Roger and Sylvie Fisher won the Est Flight low gross with a card match score of 34.  Low Net in this group went to Frank and June Vignati on a count of 27.2.
Victorious in the South flight low gross were Tony Bellanton, Steve Bickel, Fred Robinson and Ron Smith with a score count of 33.
Closest to the pin winners were Joan Gray at No. 5 and Tony Bellantoni at No. 9.

PINE LAKES M.G.A.

Chicago Points at Hole. 1^st Flight: 1^st Harry Davis – Eagle on the Par 5 seventh Hole, 45 points, 2^nd Mickie Mann 37, 3^rd George Pollio 35. Flight 2: 1st Harvey Lydecker 37, David Kaufman 36, 3^rd Leo Blessing 34, 4^th Celso Samaniego 33. Gold Flight 1” 1^st Ed Namen 43, 2^nd Don Bach 41, 3^rd John Maino 39, 4^th Bob Sieling 37. Gold Flight 2: 1^st Frank Hopler 40, 2^nd Russ Brown 38, 3^rd Bill Cavanaugh 37, 4^th Jere Dorney 36. Golf Flight 3: 1^st Dick Hoover 42, 2^nd Tom Clutter 41 m/c, 3^rd Paul Martini 41, 4^th Tony Forte 40.  Closest to pin: Mickie Mann No. 2, Celso Samaniego No. 8, Leo Blessing No. 12, Tom Clutter No. 16.

PALM HARBOR

Men’s Golf AssociationNo Alibi: Green Flight 1: Rodney Russell 61, Larry Guidi 62, Tom Loney 64. Flight 2: John Raybon 58, Charlie Fiske 63, Garry Soppe 65. Flight 3: Richard Brodeur 58, Walt Schaaf 61 m/c, Anthony Martiez 61 m/c. Flight 4: Mike Jackson 60, Frank George 64 m/c, Don Toupin 64 m/c. White Flight 1: Jim Spencer 56, Pete Loglisci 59, Harry Leipold 60 m/c. Flight 2: Bill Ilavsky 51, Dave Berry 56, Bill Tuohey 57. Flight 3: Walt Lerian 49, Ed Gonzalez 64 m/c, Bob Palmer 64 m/c RodneyRussell No. 17.

Closing ScrambleTeam 2: Laura Amara, Addie Bosco, Bonnie Brunson 36         m/c. 3^rd: Elaine Studnicki, Elaine Baytala, Norma Good, Audrey Garrison 37 m/c.

                                  Niners Championship Winner:
Laura Amara, two Day Score 99. Flight 1: 1^st Gross Winner: Shirley Sheridan 100. 1^st Net Winner: Norma Kappel 72. Flight 2: 1^st Gross: Ann Leide 103. 1^st Net Winner: Isobel Harvwatt 70. Flight 3: 1^st Gross Winner: Jean Seavey 111. 1^st Net Winner: Pat Anomanni 68.

                                 Stableford Tournament Flight 1: 1^st Mimi Lenio 41 pts, 2^nd Kathy Devanna 39. Flight 2: Jane Sturgis 47, 2^nd Carol Ross 39.

LATEST GOLF RESULTS FOR PALM  COAST, FLORIDA.
RAIN SEEMS TO BE MAKING AN APPEARANCE FAR TOO OFTEN LATELY BUT THAT HASN'T DETERRED THE ANXIOUS SWINGERS FROM HITTING THE LINKS EVERY WHERE AN OPENING EXISTS.  HOORAY FOR THEM!

MATANZAS WOODS WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION:

MAY 1, GAME LOW NET, PLAYED AT THE GRAND CLUB'S PINE COURSE.
FIRST FLIGHT: KAREN JOYCE 70. 2ND FLIGHT: BARBARA RAPISARDA 83: 3RD FLIGHT: EINIE STINE 73. 4TH FLIGHT: 1ST SONYA SAPP 71, 2ND GERRY CHIARELLO 73.

PALM HARBOR NINERS AS PRESENTED BY ISABEL LOW.  APRIL 30, LOW NET.
FLIGHT A: 1ST MARIA RAUSCHENBERGER 34, 2ND ELAINE BAYTALA 36. FLIGHT B: 1ST JOAN TUOHEY 36, 2ND GERRY JACQUES 40. FLIGHT C: 1ST JEAN SEAVEY 31, 2ND PEG CARQUE 35.

GRAND RESERVE: WEDNESDAY MEN'S LEAGUE MAY 1, 8 A.M. START.
FLIGHT 1: WINNER, BILL LEVCHUCK 39, 2ND, KEN OBERLIN 37 M/C, 3RD MIKE BRON 37. FLIGHT 2: WINNER, DON GENDRON 41, 2ND RICH BROWN 39, 3RD MARTY POPI 36 M/C. GREEN FLIGHT: WINNER: PAUL DEAN 43, 2ND DON WIKE 41, 3RD JERRY DEGIOVANNI 37 M/C. CLOSEST TO PIN: BILL LEVCHUK NO. 4, DON GENDRON NO. 10, ANDY JOCKIMO NO. 13.

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                                     GRAND RESERVE GOLF CLUB IN BUNNELL

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A VERY SPECIAL GOLF COURSE TO ENJOY MARK GRAND RESERVE ON YOUR CALENDER.  IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE!  ALWAYS PREPPED TO THE HILT.  IT'S FUN TO PLAY . . . MUCH LOWER RATES . . . A GOLF COURSE THAT BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ENJOY AT EVERY OUTING.
WOMEN'S LEAGUES ARE IN PLAY ON MONDAY AND FRIDAY, THE MEN EVERY WEDNESDAY IN LEAGUE PLAY STARTING AT 8 A.M.FOR THE SUMMER.  YOU CAN JOIN ANY ONE OF THESE LEAGUES.  CALL BRIAN HILL AT 313-2966.  GIVE THIS BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE A TRY FOR YOURSELF AND YOU'LL SEE FIRST HAND JUST HOW GOOD IT IS TO PLAY OUR WONDERFUL GAME OF GOLF.

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GRAND HAVEN, A JACK NICKLAUS CREATION. GAME FOR MAY 1, INDIVIDUAL STABLEFORD.

FLIGHT 1: 1ST BOB STANSFIELD 45, 2ND BOB AIKEN 44, 3RD JIM ROBINSON AND BOB BORER 43, JIM PORTER 42, STEVE TOSH, PETER BIANCHI AND DENNIS EMERICK 40. FLIGHT 2: 1ST DICK HAINES, 2ND ROLAND ROBICHAUD, 3RD MIKE O'BRIEN, 4TH PHILLIP PERSON, 5TH RICK WHITE, 6TH TED KOLVA, 7TH TERRY DONAHUE, 8TH DARRELL MAY AND 9TH JACK HINSCH. CLOSEST TO THE PIN: BOB BORER AND HAWLEY ROGERS NO. 5, JIM ROBINSON AND BOB AIKEN NO. 8, MIKE O'BRIEN AND HARRY HASTY NO. 14, JERRY JOHNSON AND TOM PRUIT NO. 17.

WOMEN'S GHWGA. PAR BUSTER.FLIGHT 1: 1ST KAREN GILLIS 24, 2ND GLENNA PRUIT 23, 3RD, MARION HESSERT 23 M/C, 4TH NAN STILLMAN 21. FLIGHT 2: 1ST VIVIAN YOZZO 24, 2ND SUSETTE SWEENEY 22, CAMILE HINSCH 20, KAREN DELVAC 18.

PALM HARBOR MEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION ON MAY 1. CHICAGO POINTS. GREEN FLIGHT: FLIGHT 1: HERB HEIRS 40, GEORGE POLLIO 34 M/C, CHARLIE FISKE 34 M/C. FLIGHT 2: GEORGE DRUTTMAN 40, JOHN RAYBON 39, NICK QUATTROCCHI 37. FLIGHT 3: TERRY SMITH 44, ANTHONY MARTINEZ 40 M/C, WALT SCHAAF 40 M/C. FLIGHT 4: RICHARD BRODEUR 48, JOHN DURISH 46, IR SILBER 44. WHITE FLIGHT 1: HARRY LEIPOLD 46 M/C, DALE BELL 46 M/C, SAL RAISARDA 43. FLIGHT 2: PAUL GAMBA 45, PETE LOGLISCI 42, BILL TUOHEY 39. FLIGHT 3: ANTONIO RAVAL 41, BILL ILAVSKY 39 M/C, BOB PALMER 39 M/C. FLIGHT 4: TOM GLENN 43, PAUL SHUBNELL 40 M/C, JACK DERRIG 40 M/C. CLOSEST TO PIN: ANTHONY MARTINEZ NO. 2, IRA SILBER NO. 8, AL AMARA NO. 11, TOM LYNCH NO. 17.

                                                THE GRAND CLUB
THESE GOLF COURSES, PINE LAKES AND CYPRESS KNOLL,ARE TWO OF THE BEST LAYOUTS IN ALL OF FLORIDA.  IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED ONE OR BOTH RECENTLY, STOP IN AT THE PRO SHOP.
THEY HAVE TEACHERS AVAILABLE AT BOTH COURSES TO IMPROVE YOUR SWING, HAVE A TERRIFIC DINING LAYOUTS BUT MOSTLY THEY ARE FUN TO BE PART OF WHETHER YOU'RE SWINGING A CLUB OR DINING. 
ONE ARDENT GOLFER TOLD ME RECENTLY THAT HE PREFERS CYPRESS KNOLL.  WHEN I ASKED WHY HIS ANSWER WAS THIS: "CYPRESS HAS FEWER BUNKERS AND THAT'S WHY I LIKE IT MORE." SO BE IT.
ONE OF THE NICEST EVENTS TO OCCUR AT PINE LAKES WAS THAT OF TWO GOLFERS, A MAN AND HIS WIFE, WHO HAD BEEN HELD UP AND SLOW BECAUSE OF THE GROUP IN FRONT..  MY TEAM WAS ONE OF THE LATTER.
WHEN DONE, I WENT TO THEM IN A GOLF CART TO APOLOGIZE.  NOT AT ALL, THEY SAID, WE ENJOYED IT HERE.
THE PAIR WAS FROM MONTREAL AND RELATED THE FOLLOWING:  "WE'VE BEEN IN THE PALM COAST AREA FOR NEARLY A MONTH AND PLAYED A NUMBER OF GOLF COURSES.  THIS IS THE LAST ONE BECAUSE WE ARE LEAVING TOMORROW FOR A RETURN TO MONTREAL.  WE WISHED WE HAD PLAYED THIS GOLF COURSE FIRST BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST WE'VE PLAYED AND THE SLOWNESS DIDN'T BOTHER US A BIT.
WE'RE COMING BACK NEXT YEAR AND THIS WILL BE THE COURSE WE WILL PLAY FROM THE FIRST DAY AND ON."
I WAS SO STRUCK BY THE NICENESS OF THIS CANADIAN COUPLE THAT I SAID, "MAYBE I'LL WRITE ABOUT YOU IN MY COLUMN ABOUT  GOLF. AND ONE DAY I DID.
BACK CAME AN E-MAIL THAT RESPONDED "PEOPLE HERE NOW THINK WE ARE SPECIAL HEROES AS A RESULTS OF THAT ARTICLE YOU WROTE.  WOW! WE ARE IMPRESSED.
SO, YOU SEE, PINE LAKES AND FOR THAT MATTER CYPRESS KNOLL AS WELL, REALLY ARE SUPERB CHOICES TO PLAY THIS WONDERFUL GAME OF GOLF.