Naples Golf News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Some of golf’s most influential leaders and members of the game’s most prominent associations converged on the nation’s capitol to celebrate a bipartisan Congressional resolution which declared April 16, 2008 as National Golf Day.

The golf leaders discussed the game’s impact on society, in particular its role to the U.S. economy.

The golf industry is the sports and entertainment worlds’ largest contributor to our economy, generating $76 billion in direct economic impact according to a recent study, the 2005 Golf Economy Report, commissioned by World Golf Foundation’s GOLF 20/20 initiative completed earlier this year and released at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. 

ESTERO, FL – It is only one year old but the accolades have poured in for one of Southwest Florida’s newest golf courses: Old Corkscrew. Since late February of 2007, when the legendary Jack Nicklaus played 18 holes in a course opening exhibition round, to today, the course has been recognized with a Florida course-of-the-year award, named to a prestigious golf magazine best-of list, earned its Audubon certification and lured Southwest Florida’s best known golf instructor to relocate his golf academy to the site.

“It’s been a great year for Old Corkscrew, that’s for sure,” said Mark Iwinski, manager of golf operations for Old Corkscrew Golf Club. “We are gratified by the recognition and awards we’ve received, but more important is the satisfaction we get in providing to our members and guests the best golf experiences in Southwest Florida.”

ESTERO, FL -- The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) has named Old Corkscrew Golf Club its 2008 Florida Course of the Year. Old Corkscrew is an 18-hole golf facility designed by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, and is located on a magnificently wooded and secluded 275-acre site on Corkscrew Road between Fort Myers and Naples, Florida.

The Course of the Year award is presented annually to an NGCOA member facility that is setting new standards in golf course design and club management by demonstrating exceptional quality, excellence of ownership and management, outstanding contributions to the community, and significant contribution to the game.

ATLANTA, GA – LastMinuteGolfer.com has announced that it plans to step up its efforts to help each of its participating courses to reduce their fixed costs. The company, currently representing that nation’s largest community of golfers (413,284 members), is offering 500 dozen range balls to each new LastMinuteGolfer course that joins the program before March 15, 2008.

LastMinuteGolfer’s growing family of over 575 golf courses continue to benefit directly from this effort as well, receiving monthly range ball rebates of up to $167/ month.

PGA Art Soderholm Scholarship Fund
The Southwest Chaper of the PGA has established a scholarship fund to assist youth in Collier, Charlotte, and Lee counties to obtain college educations. The scholarship fund will be designated for graduating high school seniors in Charlotte County, one-third in Collier County and one-third in Lee County.

Pole-Kat Golf, which made its name with a long-shaft putter in 1985, has a new club line this year – the 3DTM – designed to help golfers play better.

With the factory being in Fort Myers, local folks can buy the driver and other golf equipment at manufacturer direct prices.

The 3DTM, which stands for 3 wood/driver, has the big “sweet spot” of a driver and a spring face, which drives the ball farther than a 3 wood. It also has an offset to help most golfers that have a tendency to slice, said Jason Walden, one of the owners.Golfers can try out the 3DTM in the store’s computerized driving cage, then check the playback and swing analysis on a computer screen. The club can than be custom fi t for the golfer. Matching fairway woods are also available for the 3DTM.

John Feinstein
(Hardcover) Little, Brown and Company
ISBN 978-0-316-01430-4
$26.99

The best-selling author of “A Good Walk Spoiled,” is back with another look at the triumph and tragedy of this most personal game, this time from the perspective of golf’s most nerve-wracking weeks, Q-School. “Tales” chronicles the survivors and victims of golf’s most cruel rite of passage through the eyes, some laughing, some fi lled with tears, of the men who wanted to play golf with the big boys on the PGA TOUR in 2006.

TAMPA, FL – The First Tee of Miami came back from five strokes down to win the boys 13-15 age division by six shots at the Palm Course at Walt Disney World the weekend of August 12. Marcelo Huarte and Stefano Diaz each fired a 69 to contribute to the team’s second round total of 138. Along with teammate Jaime Rodriquez, The First Tee of Miami finished with a strong tournament total of 289 for the division title.

Playing the Magnolia Course, the Greater Orlando Junior Golf Tour maintained their first round lead to capture the girls 13-15 age division by four strokes. Team members Samantha Marks, Cindy Feng and Simin Feng played a part in the team’s success with totals of 146-149 for each round.

TAMPA, FL – Raj Nahal defeated Chris Kennedy 1- up in the final match to win the 16th Amateur Match Play Championship at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach on August 9-12.

After wining five matches each, Nahal, of Eustis, and Kenedy, from Bradenton, met in the finals of the 2007 Championship.

“I was excited to play Chris since I knew him from junior golf,” said Nahal. “I knew it was going to be a good match.” Nahal, 19, a University of South Florida sophomore, took an early lead after making birdie on the second hole. “I made double on that hole twice this week so I just played it safe and hit the ball in the middle of the green,” said Nahal.

TAMPA, FL – After six qualifiers across the state, the field of 64 is now set to play in the Florida State Amateur Match Play Championship at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach on August 9-12.

Since the number of entries received has always surpassed the capacity of the Championship, a qualifying stage was instituted this year. In the qualifying, players competed in 18 holes of stroke play in hopes of reaching the Championship at Sawgrass. The Match Play Championship will begin with an 18-hole seeding round to seed the 64 player field. Single elimination match play will follow to determine the Match Play Champion.