Mohegan Sun Country Club Golf Course Shines in Connecticut

Although Mohegan Sun calls its Country Club “Connecticut’s best kept secret”, once a golfer stands upon this golf course’s cushioned tee boxes and walks along its pristine fairways, word will most certainly spread.

For any golfer visiting Mohegan Sun for the obvious fun, your stay would not be complete without playing eighteen holes at the newly redesigned Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug. Located about fifteen minutes from the hotel/casino, the drive time is worth the effort as this parkland-like golf course boasts a redesign with added yardage and all new greens. We played a best-ball format and although we didn’t hit out of the sand, we raked bunkers which were thick and powdery.

From the moment Barry and I walked towards the welcoming clubhouse, we were greeted by everyone from the attendant who hoisted our bags to members who were eager to share the history of their golf course (and on which hole they made an ace!) Even former pro football player Ahmad Rashad gave us a pep-talk before our round! This friendliness made me feel at home and, while on the small yet efficient practice range, I felt like a member of this exclusive private club, not just a guest.

The practice putting green is well manicured and resembles the golf course greens in speed and lie. It is important to get in a bit of practice here before heading out to the first tee as you will learn much about the course and feel more comfortable as you enter the 18-hole 6471-yard (from the blues) maze of forestry, sand and water.

Our group began Media Day scramble format on the ninth hole, a 411-yard (blue tee/349 ladies) par-4 with a pretty view of trees and a big bite which started our team off with a bogey.



in spite of its straight-forward appearance.The tenth hole, "Double Down", a 353-yard par-4, put us right back into the game with a birdie. Although it's a relatively short hole, the fairway on ten is surrounded by water with bunkers left, right and center of the fairway forcing a golfer to be precise or land in the drink.

One memorable hole on the course was the redesigned sixth, a tricky 485-yard par-5 in which you might focus your attention on the small waterfall on the right side of the fairway while the left drop surrounding the green tricks you into thinking you can go for it. Yes I did "go for it"...I thought I took enough club and guess where I landed? Smart play on this golf course is essential in order to score well, and golf training aids might have been a help here in advance.



Barry’s favorite golf hole was the seventh, High Meadow, the number-one handicap hole on the course. This 384-yard par-4  is deceptively difficult for it's length yet Barry played it wisely from tee to green making a birdie without assistance from his playing partners.



A warm welcome did not just begin at the golf course, it extended throughout the Mohegan Sun hotel. Aquai is a Mohegan word meaning "welcome" and is not just a term that is bandied about, it was shown by all of the employees we encountered within Mohegan Sun “country”.

We would like to thank Mohegan Sun for the five-star attention given to us at both the Country Club and throughout their property.

Like Mohegan Sun on Facebook and be sure to follow on Twitter @MoheganSun.

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Pinnacle Golf Ball GIVEAWAY: What good works are you doing in the golf community?

In March, Pinnacle Golf set out to find golfers who have “gone the distance” in the fight against breast cancer.  Today, Pinnacle is happy to announce that they have named ten honorees in the "Going the Distance" Awards.


Going the Distance Awards is a program established to celebrate and honor remarkable individuals who are making a difference in the fight against breast cancer.  The Going the Distance Award honors ten individuals within the golf community who have shown personal dedication to the fight against breast cancer, while demonstrating a passion to furthering the cause and positively impacting the lives of others.

The program celebrates and honors golfers who are making an impact in battling this disease. Ten honorees will have a $10,000 donation made in their name to help fund critical breast cancer research, as well as receive a prize package from Pinnacle.

Honorees were determined based on four key criteria:

·         A strong tie to breast cancer

·         Personal dedication to the fight against breast cancer

·         Impact on others’ lives or the community

·         Connection to, and passion for, golf

 Here are a list of the winners:

• Honorees:
  • Faye Bildman – Bethesda, Md.
  • Cy Breen – Cathedral City, Calif.
  • Rachel Brown – Dublin, Ohio
  • Debbie Christiansen – Wichita, Kan.
  • Kathleen Christiansen – Greenville, Pa.
  • Cynthia Janssens – Estero, Fla.
  • Jeanne Puckett – Charlotte, N.C.
  • Mary Lou Ray – Aurora, Colo.
  • Anne Sievers – Manassas, Va.
  • Pam Tyler – Neosho, Mo.

Each honoree will have $10,000 donated by Pinnacle in their name to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® to help fund critical breast cancer research.  Donations from this program will go toward life-saving breast cancer research at the national level.  Along with the donation, each honoree will receive a Pinnacle prize package of custom attire, golf shoes and Pinnacle Gold Ribbon golf balls.

“Pinnacle is so proud to honor these ten amazing individuals who are making a difference in breast cancer research, education and awareness,” said Mary Lou Bohn, Vice President, Golf Ball Marketing and Communications. “Breast cancer is one of the leading health issues facing women and their families today, so this disease touches golfers everywhere.  By honoring these incredible members of the golf community, we hope to inspire others to join the fight to create awareness and find a cure.”

Pinnacle has a long history of supporting charitable organizations that are aligned with golf and has been committed to battling breast cancer and funding research toward a cure since 1995. 

And now, onto the GIVEAWAY...

Pinnacle Golf and Golf for Beginners want to know what good works you are doing in the golf community!


Post either on this blog, on our Facebook page and/or on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and we will randomly select TWO (2) winners who will each receive a box of the three-pack Pinnacle Gold Ribbon golf balls....distance and control to help you play your best!

Telling the world about your contributions to the world of golf can score you a new box of the latest Pinnacle Golf Balls....hit 'em straight! 

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After Nicklaus tie, is Tiger Woods ready for major comeback?

With putts rolling into the cup and memorable fist pumps showing shades of the "old"  Tiger Woods, watching the back nine on Sunday at Muirfield Village was like reveling in the return of an old golf buddy.

 

There was an electric current flowing through the air with fans anxiously holding their collective breath waiting for Woods to fumble, waiting for Woods to miss another putt...but none of that happened. Instead, a focused Tiger pounced on his shots and gave fans a show worthy of the 2012 season highlights reel.

 

 

Television cameras aimed their focus on Jack Nicklaus on several occasions and spectators could see an anxious golf hero of old waiting impatiently to officially greet his successor.

 

"If he's going to do it, which he was obviously going to,” Nicklaus said, “I'd like to see it happen here,"   ...and it did.

When Tiger Woods finally met with Jack Nicklaus at the edge of the 18th green, handshakes and congenialities were exchanged and voices of the past exclaiming that Woods had no shot at Nicklaus' records were quieted.

 

And now questions of breaking Nicklaus' major records are being raised. Can Woods do it? Six months ago this same question would have been met with questions; Is his achilles healed...how is his swing...is his head in the game?

 

From ESPN which conjectures that "Tiger is on track heading to U.S. Open" to Golf Channel which put the question up to the fans for discussion, opinions are mixed at best. ESPN "experts" place Tiger's chances on or about twenty-five percent (except for Collins who raised the stakes to seventy-five percent) stating that Woods' game needs work, from his driver to bunker shots to putting. Fans on Golf Channel like Tiger's chances with a big "but"..."you never know what a guy's going to do week-to-week."

 

One thing fans can be sure of is that Woods will be "riding the momentum to San Francisco" in two weeks.

 

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.

 

Photo credit: yahoo.com

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Creative social media strategies to increase rounds on the golf course

Can the use of social media increase rounds of golf played? How can powerful yet seemingly "fun" apps like Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare help bring more people from talking about golf on their computers and smart phones to playing the game?

Golf is already considered a "social" sport for many, so it should come as no surprise that fans are using the internet to find great deals, to have fun with an interest to, well, be social! Large companies such as TaylorMade Golf and Golf Channel have social media gurus who create strategies for engagement and to build brand awareness. Believe it or not, you don't have to be a big brand in order to reap the benefits of social media but you do have to make the effort.

Even small scale communication with your current and future clients will yield positive results, you just have to create a basic strategy for your golf course growth and then decide how social media can best work for you.

Here are just a few ideas to get the golf ball rolling, so to speak, and to get more golfers onto your golf course! Share yours here!

If you don't have a blog, create one on your website now! Post at least once per week with descriptive pictures. Don't fill your space with too many words, two hundred fifty will do but do be sure to include information about what's happening on your golf course. Make sure that, if you don't have a subscriber list, create one now. If I would have known that there were special events at my local golf courses like wine and dines, women's get-togethers, local championships etc, I most certainly would have attended! Be creative! The Cadillac Championship held a social media "happy hour" ...sounds like a great idea!

Everyone loves a good deal. Offering incentives at your golf course like two-for-one golf on Facebook and Twitter and on sites like Groupon will get people onto the fairways. Also create print-out coupons on your website and feature on your blog so that golf fans will head over to your site to read your blog and download your offers.

Do you use Foursquare? Geocaching? Ever heard of them? If not, you should.
Foursquare, a GPS, social networking app, allows members to note their locations with a mobile phone and can find out where their friends are or have been. To be the "Mayor" of your golf course could yield special benefits like a free round of golf!

Geocaching is also GPS based but is an outdoor treasure-hunting game. Basically, a golf course can post "clues" to find "hidden treasure" somewhere within the course and, when someone finds the ""item, they get the treasure. It could range from a sleeve of Callaway golf balls to a Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Wedge. In the last thirty days, almost eight million new logs were submitted to further confirm that this might be an interesting concept to include in your social media strategy.

All of your great incentives and happenings should also be posted on Twitter and Facebook. Make sure to add "events" on Facebook. Where events can also be promoted on Twitter, it would be more fun to, perhaps, have a "retweeting" contest. Even if you aren't Ian Poulter who uses Twitter to gain followers with giveaways, you will surely get feedback.

In order to have social media work for your golf course, it is important to think "outside the box". These few ideas will get you kickstarted and, using a bit of creativity, your golf course could increase its bottom line, that is, more players on the fairways, in the pro shop and in the pubs!

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.

Ask me how I can help you promote your golf course or golf business: email golfforbeginners@aol.com

 photo credit: rockbottomgolf.com

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2012 Sybase Golf Match Play Championship a battle for Munoz, Kung and Pressel

Gladstone, NJ (MAY 20, 2012) – Azahara Munoz won the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship after defeating Candie Kung 2&1 in a back-and-forth match in the final round at Hamilton Farm Golf Club.

 

“We congratulate Azahara Munoz on her outstanding play over six exhilarating matches,” said John Chen, Chairman, CEO and President of Sybase. “It’s great that she becomes a Rolex First-Time Winner at our tournament, a memory both Aza and Sybase will cherish. We would also like to recognize Candie Kung for advancing to the finals by eliminating some of the top competitors in the field. We love the excitement the Sybase Match Play Championship brings to the LPGA Tour, and this was a beautiful week for great golf.”

 

 

With the victory, the 24-year-old Spaniard becomes a Rolex First Time Winner on the LPGA Tour and adds $375,000 to her career earnings. After turning professional in September 2009, Munoz became the first Spaniard to win the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year in 2010, and finished in the top-10 three times in 2011. Munoz is also a member of the Spanish National Team.

 

“The golf course is unbelievable and the maintenance guys have done an amazing job,” said 19th-seeded Munoz. “The weather’s been perfect, the crowd is amazing here, and everything about Hamilton Farm is great – the food, the volunteers, so we all love coming here.”

 

Over the four-day tournament, Munoz faced a tough road to the finals, taking down Lindsey Wright (4&3), Hall of Famer Karrie Webb (2&1), Jodi Ewart (3&1) and Stacy Lewis (5&4). In the semifinals, Munoz defeated good friend Morgan Pressel (2&1).

 

It wasn't an easy day for Munoz who mentioned, "it's been ‑‑ you know, none of us play our best, but we didn't make many mistakes.  I feel at the end hole, 16 was kind of weird.  She got really unlucky on the ball bounce way left, so I got a good break there.  But other than that, I started pretty slow and then made really good birdies on 11, on 13, so that kind of got me going."

 

There were two incidents which cast a pall over the event. The first was a slow-play, loss-of-play ruling against Morgan Pressel. Pressel then turned the tables by calling a violation (unsupported) on Munoz for allegedly touching her putting line with her golf club.

 

All ended politely for the two ladies as Munoz stated, "We are really good friends. I guess what happens on the course stays on the course.”

 

As the 49^th seed, Kung’s route to the finals wasn’t any easier. After facing Catriona Matthew (3&1) in the round of 64, she defeated Haeji Kang (3&2), No. 1 Ranked Yani Tseng (3&1), Julieta Granada (2&1) and Vicky Hurst (2&1) before losing to Munoz in the final. Every player Kung faced was seeded higher than her. For her second place finish, Kung earns $225,000.

 

Morgan Pressel finished third, earning $150,000 by defeating fellow American Vicky Hurst in the consolation match, 2&1. Hurst banked $112,500 for her fourth place finish.

 

Through their finishes, Kung, Pressel and Hurst qualified for the year-ending CME Group Titleholders. Munoz punched her ticket through finishing tied for second at the LPGA LOTTE Championship.

 

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Photo credit: Sina.com

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Is Tiger Woods still the Number-One Athlete in the World?

According to Forbes Magazine, Tiger Woods remains the World's Most Powerful Athlete for the eleventh straight year. According to his stats, Tiger is in the top-ten in the Official World Rankings but, as he mentioned after the Players, he's getting "smoked." Smoked Tiger, or smokin'?

No, this isn't the cover of Forbes Magazine but Tiger certainly looks more menacing on this cover of Vanity Fair



Woods topped a list of well-known athletes despite a slide from sixth to twelfth position but still, no other athlete could catch him, not even Tim Tebow who didn't even make the list. Quite frankly, in 2006 I could understand his Forbes placement but being in the number one spot in 2012 leaves me stumped.

A second place finish at the Honda Classic and a win at Bay Hill seemed like the start of a Woods comeback but, a cut at the Wells Fargo Championship as well as two 4th place ties (Masters, The Players), has the internet buzzing about how Tiger ever kept his Forbes placement, the state of his mental game and physical condition.

Here are what a few writers had to say:

TheBigLead.com stated, "He did this despite being nowhere near dominant at golf, losing some sponsorship deals and pulling in a measly $58 million last year."

The HuffingtonPost.com added, "Well, at least according to Forbes" ... with SBNation having the most cutting remark about Tiger Woods, "he may be past his prime on the golf course..."  Ouch.

On the flip side, and probably the main reason Woods remains the top athlete on the Forbes list is that, as Emily Kay said, "whether golf fans love him or hate him, they want to watch him." In my opinion, as long as the fans keep tuning in and the ratings surge whenever Tiger is playing golf, he will remain as the world's most powerful athlete.

As for the reasoning behind the stats? Forbes states that "no other athlete is mentioned on TV and radio more than Woods," ranking fourth overall in print mentions. As for golfers like McIlroy and Mickelson, well...when sports execs were asked who they wanted to see most on TV, Rory grabbed 15% of the vote but execs weren't really interested in Phil at all (only a seven percent share.)

I guess Woods won't have to worry about placement next year either; his Forbes spot is safe...or is it?

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on Facebook.

photo credit

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