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The Waterfall Club in the North Georgia Mountains- Beyond Expectations!

July 3, 2016 By admin

At The Waterfall Club, overlooking Lake Burton, beyond expectations, way beyond expectations!

If there ever is truth in advertising in the golf business, I would have to say you will find it at The Waterfall Club in Clayton, Georgia—above Lake Burton and beyond your expectations!

You may recall The Waterfall Club as the host club for Feherty’s interview with Alabama football coach Nick Saban on The Golf Channel. Coach Saban lives on Lake Burton and is an avid golfer and member at Waterfall. I remember watching that show and thinking what a beautiful place that is and wanting to visit and play the golf course someday soon.

Feherty interviewing Coach Saban at The Waterfall Club. Photo Credit: SECRant.com

That little planted seed came to fruition when Head PGA Head Golf Professional Chris Schindler contacted me on Facebook and invited me to come and experience The Waterfall Club. Maybe I should do a show called Following Feherty? My experience, and hopefully yours too (if you are not already a member), at The Waterfall Club will be beyond expectations. I mean way beyond and my standards are high having visited a good deal of the best golf resorts around the world!

We had a boat full of people and a boat full of fun too out on Lake Burton!

First and foremost are the people of The Waterfall Club. I expect to meet and have wonderful people come into my life. I think that way especially around the game of golf because it acts as a good filter whether on a public municipal golf course or a prestigious private club like this one in the North Georgia Mountains. To play and enjoy golf one has to get honest with themselves and the challenges being confronted. Ego and power and prestige mean little on the golf course. Golf just seems to bring out and embrace people with genuinely good hearts. Every one I encountered, from the wait staff, to the golf staff, to the supportive members were people I would love to see more of for the rest of my life!

CLICK here for a Highlight Video that emphasizes a special spirit for family golf at Waterfall.

With Doc Wiley on the tee at the signature par-3 second hole.

The heart of The Waterfall Club is the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Scott Pool. The course features bent grass fairways and greens with Zeon zoysia tees. It’s a green environment unlike any other unless you have played Augusta National in the springtime. It’s mountain golf at its best on strategically leveled out terrain of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Mostly though the terrain is natural. The well designed and memorable holes appear natural to all fortunate enough to put a tee in the ground at The Waterfall Club.

The name of the club comes from the signature par-3 second hole which plays much shorter than the scorecard distance of 185 yards. The tee sits atop a natural waterfall that cascades 70-some yards down to the green. There are many other gorgeous mountain and Lake Burton views, including the 15th tee where the mountain tops seem to be infinite in number and beauty as far as the eye can see. This club could have just as easily been called The Most Beautiful and Natural Golf Club in the World!

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Ian Murphy, GCSAA Golf Course Superintendent

With Chris Schindler, Ian Murphy and Jason LeBlanc (L to R).

With my hosts Chris Schindler, Ian Murphy and Jason LeBlanc (L to R).

A big part of the heart of The Waterfall Club is the big guy named Ian Murphy, the Golf Course Superintendent, who likes to be outside. He likes challenges too—like growing bent grass at an elevation of 2,000 feet above sea level in a temperate rain forest where day and night temperatures can vary widely. Ian who doesn’t play golf puts it simply—”I went to school, got into turf and now am up here in the North Georgia Mountains growing grass.” With a supportive greens committee he is thrilled to be at The Waterfall Club and makes one heck of a boat captain too!

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Chris Schindler, Head PGA Golf Professional.

My host for the Waterfall visit was Chris Schindler, who along with General Manager Jason LeBlanc, made my time in the North Georgia Mountains, both on land and on water (even in the sand too) quite extraordinary. If you know Bill Hughes, PGA Master Professional and General Manager at TPC Sawgrass then you know Chris Schindler. They worked together back in the early days of TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas and are two of the nicest, most professional people in golf. Chris, a product of the acclaimed Ferris State PGM program lists Lake Burton, the lifestyle and the golf course as his ever expanding membership’s Top 3 reasons for loving The Waterfall Club.

CLICK here for the Full Video of Fun on Lake Burton with the Doc Wiley Family!

Although it was the 4th of July weekend it sure felt like Thanksgiving to me!

As the ultimate host Chris set me up to play golf with Dr. Daryl Wiley, his son Carson, and his son-in-law Sam. It was an extraordinary time golfing with more fun to come afterwards. You can’t miss the dramatic views of Lake Burton while on property at The Waterfall Club unless you are mesmerized by the dramatic views of the mountains. The Lake, the Lake, the Lake was on my mind throughout the morning round while crisscrossing a gorgeous piece of property that use to be a horse farm.

As fate would have it I ordered the Birdie Burger for lunch in the clubhouse as I had no birdies on the golf course. I think Carson had five, his Dad a couple and Sam one. Me no birdies, but I love how they treat guests at The Waterfall Club. After lunch we headed for the lake and a pontoon boat captained by Superintendent Ian Murphy. Watch the video, what a fun afternoon with a wonderful family!

It’s all about the golf with me but The Waterfall Club is so much more! Here is our golfing foursome- Sam, Carson & Doc Wiley and me (L to R).

I could go on and on about The Waterfall Club but let me just mention that they have a mountain lodge with luxury accommodations for guests of the members. I stayed in a beautiful and comfortable private residence but would love to come back and stay in the lodge with all its conveniences and magnificent views. The dining at the club is exceptional as well. I had dinner in the dining room and it was an amazing experience. Culinary delights and The View, The View, and The View!

The Waterfall Club—above Lake Burton and beyond your expectations!

On the green at No. 2 with the signature waterfall and tee above behind me.

The BIG Georgia Peach with the little one!

Doc Wiley’s favorite vista on the way to the 18th tee. I agree wholeheartedly!

Filed Under: East Coast Golf Journey, Featured Golf Resorts & Courses, Travel Golf

Player Quotes on the Olympic Spirit of Golf…

June 25, 2016 By admin

“When they announced that golf will be at the Olympics, I said ‘Hey, I want to get myself on that team,’ If you end up getting a medal that’s great, but to say I’m an Olympian, I think that’s a pretty proud thing to say,”—Lydia Ko (New Zealand)

“It will be a very special feeling. I have talked to other athletes about it already and it will be something completely new for me to be part of such a big team. I don’t know exactly how it is decided who carries the flag, but that would be the ultimate.”—Martin Kaymer (Germany)

“Being the first golfer to win a gold medal after such a long break will mean a lot to the athlete that wins it. You will always be recognized as the first one in the modern era to win an Olympic gold medal in golf. It would help in every part – both for golf in my country but also for myself.”—Martin Kaymer (Germany)

“(Winning an Olympic Golf Gold Medal) would be definitely up there. You can win a major four times a year, but an Olympic gold medal [happens] only once every four years. It would be very special to me.”—Martin Kaymer (Germany)

“I will be in Rio, have no plans for more children & averaged 70 last year. Ready to play if anymore withdrawals.”—Gary Player (South Africa, after Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, & Branden Grace withdrew)

Filed Under: Journey to Olympic Golf

Bubba Watson Already Feeling & Demonstrating the Spirit of Olympic Golf…

June 21, 2016 By admin

Suzanne Yost McCourt’s artwork ‘Journey to Olympic Golf.’

The Spirit of Olympic Golf… something nobody has felt or experienced in the last 112 years… In hopes of defining the “Spirit of Olympic Golf,” I took a 100-day, 14-country, 18,471-mile “Journey to Olympic Golf” to investigate, chronicle and share a combination of the Olympic Spirit and the History and Tradition of Golf. Here is my best guess on what constitutes the soon to be born again “Spirit of Olympic Golf!”

CLICK here for the article: The Spirit of Olympic Golf, Soon to be Born Again…

As we get closer to that first Olympic Golf tee shot on Thursday, August 11th here are some more clues from the world’s best golfers on what it means to be a Olympian Golfer and what that “Spirit of Olympic Golf” truly is… from Bubba Watson—dedication, preparation & passion…

From Media Day for the TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP (June 20, 2016) courtesy of ASAP Sports:

Bubba Watson watches his putt on the eighth green during the second round of the 2013 Travelers Championship. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Fred Beckham

NATHAN GRUBE (Tournament Director for the Travelers Championship): And then also Bubba, our two-time champion, is here back with us. It is never a given that your champion will come back for media day or defend your tournament. I’m going to say that.

And from the beginning — I’m going to tell you a quick story. From the beginning, Bubba has said, absolutely I’m coming back. And when all of a sudden there was rumblings going, I heard many commentators saying, oh, that’s unfortunately for Travelers because Bubba is going to be in the Olympics, there’s no way he’s going to play the week before, and you talk to Bubba and he goes, “I’m coming.” Later you talk to him, see him down the road in the fall at the other events when Andy (Besette, Executive VP & Chief Administrative Officer of The Travelers Companies, Inc.) and I are out there recruiting, Bubba, how’s your schedule look, and he goes, “Oh, I’m coming,” and never wavered once, from the beginning, that he was going to defend and he was going to be in the Olympics as an Olympian. We are very fortunate to have him do both of those.

Olympic Golf returns after 112 years… what defines the Spirit of Olympic Golf?

MARK ROLFING (NBC Golf Analyst): It’s going to be an incredibly busy seven weeks between now and when you’re going to try and put your name on that trophy for a third time (2016 TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP ends Sunday, August 7^th; Olympic Men’s Golf Competition on the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is scheduled for Thursday, August 11^th through Sunday, August 14^th). How are you going to manage and how have you to this point managed what’s going to be an incredibly busy, competitive time for you?

BUBBA WATSON (Defending 2015 & 2010 TRAVELERS Champion): We took that into consideration about the Olympics just throws the whole schedule off. One week throws the whole schedule off, how they had to do things. And I was fourth in the world for the last two years, so I knew I had a good shot at making the Olympic team, so we had to prepare for that. So leading up to the Masters, just after the Masters, we took a lot of time off. I wasn’t supposed to play Memorial, but I added it at the last minute, so that was going to be another time off.

But yeah, I’ve been preparing on the time, how do I save the energy, get ready for this long stretch. So what I saw it as is this is a new season for me. I had the first part of the season, had a break, and now this is a new season.

The Olympic Rings are at home at Glen Echo CC and so was I as I kicked off the 2013 “Journey to Olympic Golf!”

Trying to prepare for this, and the no-brainer — there’s so many questions being asked, but the no-brainer was you’re defending champion; your dad got to see you win here; what it meant to my family; how good Travelers has been to us; how good Travelers has been to the TOUR; and then from the golf side of it, preparation for the Olympics. I don’t know what the preparation is going to be down there because it’s a new venue that just was built, so for practice and to knock rust off or whatever it is, I want to come here and try to win and defend my title and then fly to the Olympics.

So it was a no-brainer never to miss this. This was never coming off the schedule. We’ve always planned on being here. No matter what happened, I was going to be here. So I’m missing (the Olympic) opening ceremonies, and then I just found out, because I didn’t know the date, but I’m missing (the Olympic) closing ceremonies because it’s the week after our event, so I’m just going to fly in for the golf tournament and then fly out if I make it to the Olympics.

Filed Under: Journey to Olympic Golf, People in Golf

JTOG Day 60: From Panama to Colombia’s Karibana Resort!

June 3, 2016 By admin

Yesterday I took Torch out for one more drive around Panama City before leaving her with Diego Poma at the Infiniti dealership. Goodbye Torch, I love you!

Monday, December 9th was the first day I set foot on the South America continent. I was forced to leave Torch behind in Panama City due to mechanical problems (suspension) and the complicated logistics of taking her on a ferry across the Caribbean Sea to Colombia. I left her in the good hands of Diego Poma, the owner of the Infiniti dealership in Panama City. I am hopeful she will be restored and be cared for like the classic beauty she is!

CLICK here for JTOG Day 59: Saying Good Bye to Torch in Panama City, Panama

The Darian Gap connects Central & South America but you can not drive through it—only place in the world I encountered that!

Traveling through the Panama City airport was a breeze—no baggage fees, no extra charges or hassles. It felt a little weird traveling without Torch. My golf bag weighed in at 10.35 kg and my roller bag was 20.40 kg. My backpack was fairly light. I shared a taxi to the airport with a nice American couple and asked them to take some of my golf books back to the States for me. She was for it and willing but he refused noting that they could be drugs! It was a “flat flight,” a total of 49 minutes at fairly low altitude and reminded me of one I was on between Oakland and San Francisco back in the corporate days.

The Darian Gap from above… I would like to return one day and drive through it!

Interesting enough we traveled low over the Darién Gap, a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest. Consequently there is no road connection through the Darién Gap connecting North America with South America and it is the missing link of the Pan-American Highway. It was the main reason I was flying in the air to Colombia instead of traveling on the ground with Torch.

I thought it would be a good humanitarian story if I was able to drive through the Darién Gap which is reportedly subject to the presence and activities of the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which has committed assassinations, kidnappings, and human rights violations during its decades-long insurgency against the Colombian government. I met President Andrés Pastrana Arango of Colombia at the La Reunion Resort in Guatemala. Since he negotiated with the FARC during his 1998-2002 presidency I was hoping he could support my Drive through the Darian Gap proposal but never heard back from him.

With Colombia’s 30th President Andrés Pastrana Arango at Reunion Resort in Guatemala.

Looking down over the Darian Gap, I also smiled when I thought back to meeting some NPR and CNN Espanol reporters at the Intercontinental in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I hadn’t realized that there was an election going on while I was there and then they told me there was a coup during the last one. They suggested I didn’t hang around to find out so I went out to Roatan and when I came back headed out of Dodge and went to Nicaragua.

What really made me laugh was when I told them about my Darian Gap idea. They thought I was crazy and I countered that they should write a story about the “Journey to Olympic Golf.” They said that they don’t do golf. Then I pressed that if something happened to me would they write something about it so my sons would know what happened. We went back and forth and finally they agreed that if something happened to me that they would at least submit something to their editors but no guarantee that it would be published.

My new friend & driver Roy waiting for me at the Cartagena Airport!

I liked Columbia the minute I arrived. Karibana, the golf resort I would be visiting just outside the ancient walled city of Cartagena sent a driver to pick me up. It’s always a nice welcome when there is a person with a sign that has your name on it. The Karibana Resort is now officially part of the PGA TOUR TPC golf network as the TPC Cartagena at Karibana. Joseph Mildenberg and his family is the name behind Karibana. Since March 2015, Karibana has hosted two Web.com tournaments won by Andrew Landry and Brad Fritsch.

Having lunch with Joseph Mildenburg and General Manager Carlos Abuchaibe upon arrival at Karibana!

Joseph and the Mildenberg family could not have been nicer to me during my stay at Karibana and later in the week in Bogota. Great people with a love for golf and a passion to make Karibana one of the top golfing destinations in the world. At the time there was no hotel on site so they hosted me next door at the quite nice Estelar Grand Playa Manzanillo by Occidental Hotels and Resorts. The hotel on site at Karibana will be a five-star, 270-room hotel managed by Conrad, Hilton’s luxury brand and is scheduled to open soon. It will include a 1,000-person convention center, meeting rooms, restaurants, a pool, world-class spa, and rooftop bar.

The 17th at TPC Cartagena at Karibana! Absolutely stunning & beautiful!

The day continued to get better and climaxed with a round on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at the TPC Cartagena at Karibana. The pictures in the photo gallery below does not do the course justice. It is so beautiful—sculptured and confined with graceful yet edgy at times white sand bunkers. The first nine meanders through a natural forest with six lakes while the second nine seeks and eventually finds the Caribbean Sea. The short par-3 17th is spectacular with the massive thatched roof beach club beyond the green and the Caribbean edging into play as well.

Dinner at Andante Allegro Vivace and a walk around Cartagena with Joseph and Carlos to complete an extraordinary day!

Actually the best and most historic part of the day was an evening ride into the ancient walled city of Cartagena for dinner at Andante Allegro Vivace with Joseph and his General Manager Carlos Abuchaibe. Actually the best and most historic part of the day was an evening ride into the ancient walled city of Cartagena for dinner at Andante Allegro Vivace with Joseph and his General Manager Carlos Abuchaibe. After a fine Italian dinner we walked around the streets of the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site which was founded in 1533.

My first day on the continent of South America could not have been better or more memorable!

Please enjoy the gallery of 47 pictures from throughout JTOG Day 60 and the 58 pictures in the second gallery from playing my first round at TPC Cartagena at Karibana with Joseph Mildenburg!

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The 58 pictures from playing my first round at TPC Cartagena at Karibana with Joseph Mildenburg!

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Filed Under: Journey to Olympic Golf

Spiritual Start to Pink-Out Sunday at THE PLAYERS Championship!

May 22, 2016 By admin

FCA Host Matt Roop with Jared & Kelsey Wolfe…

May 15th, 2016 was a beautiful PLAYERS Sunday! For the last 32 years it has started with a Non-Denominational Service on the back lawn of the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass. This is a service I look forward to all year long for its simplicity, openness and testimony given. This year by professional golfer Jared Wolfe and his lovely wife Kelsey. The beauty of the service is documented in my Facebook post below and the 30 pictures included as well.

Announcer Stokes Hill with Dustin Johnson on the first tee…

With the passing of time I have realized how the spirit of that service carried through the entire day at TPC Sawgrass. For me personally it was witnessed shortly after as I went to Darlene’s Diner for an Ultimate for me and my friend Stokes. You can see the spirit of Darlene and all the wonderful volunteers in the pictures.

I headed up to the first tee to see Stokes announce some of the world’s best players included Dustin Johnson. He doesn’t eat on the job so I auctioned off his Ultimate to the folks in the stands. A mother and daughter passed and a nice young man in spirit accepted—my newest friend courtesy of THE PLAYERS!

Ernie Els getting cleaned up on the first green after a special beach welcome from the seagulls above…

As I ventured walking with Ernie Els who is always good natured even when a seagull showed him dropping love bomb on the first green. The beauty of the golf course and the spirit of the volunteers permeated TPC Sawgrass as much as the color pink on Pink-Out Sunday. The spirit of THE PLAYERS continued all day long to the eventual anointing of World No. 1 Golfer Jason Day as the newest PLAYERS Champion!

Here is the Facebook post and the 30 pictures below!

Jared & Kelsey Wolfe giving testimony of their love for Jesus Christ and each other…

Pastor Jack Millwood of the Crosswater Community Church…

God is that peace that u r looking for…about half of the best players missed the cut.. we r not each other’s standards… Jesus Christ is our standard.. we get in Heaven on His ticket, a Sponsors Exemption… personal relationship with God. deep involvement.. supportive community… Jesus, lead me for the rest of my life… then the Ultimate at Darlene’s Diner for me & my buddy Stokes… TROML Day in progress! Happy Players Sunday! (Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 5/15/16)

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Filed Under: Hickory Golf, People in Golf, PGA TOUR Golf

Volunteers & Red Coats are the Heart of THE PLAYERS Championship!

May 15, 2016 By admin

They are there before, during and after the playing of THE PLAYERS…

They are one of the main reasons the PGA TOUR relocated to the Greater Jacksonville area…

There are over 2,000 of them and the number continues to grow each year…

They are organized and their system of organization internally generates great volunteer leaders, the highest which is the Tournament Chairman who after years of service earns the right to be and to wear a “Red Coat.”

With 2016 PLAYERS Tournament Chairman Michelle McManamon.

Who are they?

The volunteers of THE PLAYERS Championship!

A World of Commerce Surrounds THE PLAYERS Championship!

Michele McManamon is the Tournament Chairman of the 2016 PLAYERS and will forever be connected to its champion Jason Day!

CLICK here for VIDEO Welcome from Tournament Director Matt Rapp & Michele McManamon.

With 2013 PLAYERS Tournament Chairman Robert Davis.

If you go back to 2013 when Tiger Woods won his second PLAYERS and was still the No. 1 ranked golfer in the world, the Tournament Chairman was Robert Davis.

Interesting enough his father was the Tournament Chairman for the 1988 Senior TPC (Tournament Players Championship), now called the Senior Players Championship. That tournament was won by Billy Casper who the senior Davis played high school golf along with Gene Litler while growing up in San Diego.

CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Robert Davis, 2013 Tournament Chairman

PLAYERS volunteers come from all over the United States and from four foreign countries too!

Chairman Davis points out that it was the spirit of the volunteers of the Greater Jacksonville Open (GJO) that attracted the attention of then PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman to bring the tour organization from Washington, D.C. to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. This spirit re-manifests itself every Spring as the volunteers reunite for another PLAYERS Championship. Being a volunteer is a lot of fun, you get to see a great championship up close and personal and there is a huge sense of community.

The $7.1MM in 2013 has grown to $8.1 MM in 2015 to who knows what in 2016?

Last year a record 8.1 million dollars was donated to charities in the Northeast Florida community, part of a total of 75 million since 1977 when the tournament found a home in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Why not become a PLAYERS volunteer in 2017?

More memories of previous PLAYERS and some of the great volunteers can be found in the links below:

Memories of the 2008 PLAYERS Championship won by Sergio Garcia!

Memories of the 2009 PLAYERS Championship won by Henrik Stenson!

Memories of the 2010 PLAYERS Championship won by Tim Clark!

Memories of the 2011 PLAYERS Championship won by K.J. Choi!

Memories of the 2012 PLAYERS Championship won by Matt Kuchar!

Memories of the 2013 PLAYERS Championship won by Tiger Woods!

Filed Under: People in Golf

Memories of the 2016 PLAYERS Championship Won by Jason Day!

May 15, 2016 By admin

Photo Credit: SearchPrivacy.co

The 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship was Jason Day’s conquest and probably my most prolific PLAYERS from both an experience and writing perspective. From the prior Saturday’s Volunteer Party at the Clubhouse to the St. Johns County & JAX Chamber of Commerces’ Kickoff Event to Tuesday’s romantic Military Appreciation to the Sunday morning worship service to four rounds of record-setting golf, it was an epic PLAYERS for me!

Jason Day proved his No. 1 world rankings with a wire-to-wire show to win his first Players. Day shot 63 on Thursday and tied the course record set by four other golfers (Fred Couples in 1992 Rd. 3 (won), Greg Norman in 1994 Rd. 1 (won), Roberto Castro in 2013 Rd, 1 (PLAYERS debut round, finished T19, Martin Kaymer 2014 Rd. 1 (won).

After Round One, Day was two strokes in the lead. After a 66 in Round Two, Day was four strokes in the lead. After a 73 on Moving Day, Day was still four strokes ahead going into the final round. A Sunday 71 made it a four-stroke win and a wire-to-wire victory

Here are my Facebook posts starting with the Volunteer Party:

Too much fun at the Volunteer Party of the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass last night and I am not even a volunteer this year! Great to see everybody & feel the true spirit, enthusiasm & volunteerism behind this great championship! WOW, that was a party to remember! Do you like my Jacksonville Jaguar tie from the Katherine Way Collections from the Katherine Way Beach Boutique & matching BIION Footwear?

The next prelude to the main event was the St. Johns County & JAX Chamber of Commerces’ Kickoff Event

A World of Commerce Surrounds THE PLAYERS Championship!

THE PLAYERS Championship kicks off for me tonight with the After-Hours at THE PLAYERS Championship event co-hosted by the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce & the JAX Chamber… come support THE PLAYERS, enjoy an evening of complimentary refreshments and network with more than 700 business leaders from Northeast Florida… this annual event sells out every year, already sold out… r u going? Will u be there? Looking for some storylines and local businesses to feature on Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary… thinking the 2016 Players is going to be an “all-hours” event for the next 11 days… take note that both COC have beach divisions… Jacksonville Chamber Beaches Division & SJC Chamber – Ponte Vedra Beach Division… note to self to remember that there is a golf tournament too! (-:

The 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass was officially kicked off by Executive Director Matt Rapp and Tournament Chairman Michele McManamon at the JAX Chamber & St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce event. Immersed in a world of commerce, THE PLAYERS continues to give back to the Northeast Florida community with a record $8.1MM last year and more than $75MM since 1977 when the tournament was first played here. I think the young couple from Australia says it all about the excitement and feelings of goodwill surrounding THE PLAYERS! The weather will cooperate and it will be the best PLAYERS ever! (-: Jacksonville Chamber Beaches Division SJC Chamber – Ponte Vedra Beach Division

Already an exciting event at the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship.. some great interviews… Part 1 of 2… Thanks for all the interviews! Gas South, Sandler Training – McManamon, JMI Resource, Amelia Toffee Company, Mulligans Pub Ponte Vedra Beach, Blackfinn Ameripub – Jacksonville, John E. Anderson Allstate Insurance, IBERIABANK, Katherine Way Collections, JAX Chamber, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Chamber Beaches Division, SJC Chamber – Ponte Vedra Beach Division

Great St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, JAX Chamber, SJC Chamber – Ponte Vedra Beach Division, Jacksonville Chamber Beaches Division event last night at TPC Sawgrass to kick off the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship! Some interesting interviews coming so that u can meet these folks & their businesses…

Tuesday is Military Appreciation Day at THE PLAYERS Championship!

Good Tuesday at THE PLAYERS! Stadium Course looks really good! Good to be out there & run into some friends too! (-:

Do you agree? Most inspiring moment of the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship were the two romantic gestures during the Military Appreciation Ceremony… here it is in 30 Pics on FB… God Bless America is sung… NBC Sports’ Dan Hicks mc’s… Commissioner Finchem speaks… Military Commander speaks & pointing to his wife salutes their long term loving marriage… golfer Jerry Kelly introduces K9s For Warriors veteran & his dog… disabled veteran with PTSD speaks honestly & from his heart and then introduces his girlfriend, honors her and then gets down on his knee showing his heart and proposes to her… she accepts… no finer inspiration will you find this week at THE PLAYERS… thank you to all women & men who serve us and the United States of America… congratulations to these two loving couples! (Andy Reistetter, 5-11-16, Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

Now the competitive golf with a course record tying performance by Jason Day in the first round!

Witnessing History: Jason Day’s Record 63 in Rd. 1 of the 2016 PLAYERS!

Round 1 2016 PLAYERS… following Day Spieth Grace… off 10 announced by my buddy Stokes Hill… Day birdie birdie-birdie start… Spieth & Grace even all pars! www.AndyGolfTravelDiary.com

Thru 6 holes, Day has cooked off, still -3… Spieth still all pars but hole-high on 15… Grace crash & burn on 15 taking 4 greenside to get it in the hole, looked like me! Yeah Ernie Els!

Thru 9… Spieth awakens with 2 putt birdie on 16… Day responds with deuce on 17… Grace snake bitten, closest on 17 but rims out birdie putt… Day -4, Spieth -E, Grace +2… Remembering Spieth historic win in Australia… G’day for Spieth Down Under, Record 63 Wins Australian Open!

Thru 12 holes… took a little break at the turn… caught up with group at 3 tee… Day birdied 1 & 2… loses the honor when Spieth & Grace deuce No. 3 and he pars… exciting round of golf!

thru 15 holes… it’s Day’s day, not so much Spieth’s as he bogeys 5 & 6…

Wow, what a round of golf by Jason Day… ties record low 18-hole score of 9-under par 63 by 4 others… Fred Couples Rd. 3 in 1992 (T13 finish to Davis Love III win), Greg Norman Rd. 1 1994 (won by 4 strokes), Roberto Castro Rd. 1 2013 (T19 finish to Tiger’s win), Martin Kaymer Rd. 1 2014 (won by 1 stroke)… tragic ending for Spieth, double bogeys the last shoot even par 72… ditto score for Grace who double bogeyed the 15th earlier in the day. Memorable PLAYERS in progress… (Andy Reistetter, 5-12-16, Facebook Post with 24 Pics)

It was an amazing experience to walk with and watch Jason Day shoot that record tying 63 in the first round of the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship… now at least I can upgrade my dream round in my head and keep dreaming about conquering the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass when she opens back up in November… did shoot a 3-under 70 at Old Elm back in the old Chicago days… right after playing for 3 years exclusively with my authentic & antique hickory-shafted golf clubs and then retooling with a new set of PING Rapture clubs… 9 birdies, 9 pars now wouldn’t that be nice to do or even dream about…

Round Two was as nearly exciting with Rory needing a birdie on the 9^th hole, his last but ended with a bogey to shoot 64!

Rory McIlroy nearly sets a new Course Record of 62 at THE 2016 PLAYERS Championship

Happy PLAYERS Friday! Started off No. 10 with Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed & Sergio Garcia… 4 birdies so far, rest pars, Sergio 2 under today. Said good bye to old No. 12, complete redo for next year into drivable par 4…

Holes 13, 14, & 15 with Kuch, Rickie & Adam Scott… tough day for Rickie… missed 2 short birdie putts & a sandy watery DB on 14…another beautiful day for scoring though feels like wind is picking up…ocean, beach, paradise!

GMac, Louie, & Hide kind for 16, 17 & 18… now Rory, Rory, Rory for his second 9, 7 under first 9…

WOW, what a day following Rory McIlroy, nearly a course record 62 except he bogeyed the last, the par-5 9th, instead of birdieing it, that’s golf, that’s life! Congratulations to Will Wilcox acing the 17th! Amazing! So good to see so many of my friends out there today, I love the spirit of THE PLAYERS, the people and our Ponte Vedra Beach community… TROML Day for sure! (-:

Rory nearly roared a record 62 in THE PLAYERS Championship but it was Pete Dye that must have smiled a bit at the end…

Colt Knost 3-putted the 18^th hole to become the sixth player to shoot a 63 in the PLAYERS!

Onward to Sunday which started with the 32nd Annual Non-Denominational Service on the back lawn of the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass!

Spiritual Start to Pink-Out Sunday at THE PLAYERS Championship!

Spirit of THE PLAYERS Championship with me one week later and all year until the next PLAYERS Pink-Out Sunday… Fellowship of Christian Athletes Crosswater Community Church

Great start to PLAYERS Sunday at the 32nd Annual Non-Denominational Service on the back lawn of the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass! Inspirational sharing of their love story by Jared & Kelsey Wolfe, Pastor Jack Millwood’s message & benediction, beautiful music & singing… golf is like life… something God put in me to do.. first met in Bowling. Green, KY & went bowling… peace, calmness, no stress… were friends before they were friends… making sure actions support what I say… prayed for God to change my heart… her steps, my steps, stepping together.. all I wanted to know is that she is okay… my love language is quality time together.. husband will not complete you. .. my joy is not from him… my joy comes from my relationship with Christ.. God is the rock of our marriage.. God is that peace that u r looking for…about half of the best players missed the cut.. we r not each other’s standards… Jesus Christ is our standard.. we get in Heaven on His ticket, a Sponsor’s Exemption… personal relationship with God. deep involvement.. supportive community… Jesus, lead me for the rest of my life… then the Ultimate at Darlene’s Diner for me & my buddy Stokes… TROML Day in progress! Happy Players Sunday! Splendid Spiritual Self (Andy Reistetter, 5-15-16, Facebook Post with Link)

My buddy Stokes Hill announcing on the first tee today! Great guy, great job, only wish I was a better videographer & documentarian! Yeah Stokes! (-: (Andy Reistetter, 5-15-16, Facebook Post with 1 Video)

Nice morning at TPC Sawgrass walking with Ernie Els & Justin Rose then checking out the “pinked out” 16, 17 & 18… love this place, my home away from home when I am home… great to see a lot of friends out there… watching the end on TV at home… wow, Jason Day no birdies on the first nine holes, but still up by 4 strokes thru 12 holes… the Duke is my hero… Kuch… who will win the 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship??? (Andy Reistetter, 5-15-16, Facebook Post with 29 Pics)

Bit sad the day after to see the circus move out of town to Dallas… but WOW what a great Players… Rickie Fowler to Jason Day transition in progress… Lots of Stadium Course changes coming up… 2017 THE PLAYERS Championship sure to be bigger & better.. c u there next year! (Andy Reistetter, 5-16-16, Facebook Post with 17 Pics)

That was a memorable PLAYERS! Thanks to all the Red Coats & Volunteers! Here’s an insider’s view of the PLAYERS volunteer organization with a look back to 2013 with Tournament Chairman Robert Davis! Can’t wait until next year’s THE PLAYERS Championship on the upgraded Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass!

Post 2016 PLAYERS meant major golf course renovations including a totally new 12^th hole for the 2017 PLAYERS and beyond!

New era at TPC Sawgrass with renovations of the Stadium Course underway… reminiscent of the original construction in the early 1980s… portraits on Championship Way removed… probably a few big surprises in store… (Andy Reistetter, 5/21/16, Facebook Post with 14 Pics)

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Filed Under: Hickory Golf, PGA TOUR Golf

Rory McIlroy nearly sets a new Course Record of 62 at THE 2016 PLAYERS Championship

May 13, 2016 By admin

I had a great view, everyone with stadium golf does, but my friend Merri Mike Mama, pinked out two days early than most, obviously had a better one!

Rory finishing on No. 9… I had a great view, everyone with stadium golf does, but my friend Merri Mike Mama, pinked out two days early than most, obviously had a better one!

My strategy for watching golf during Round Two of 2016 THE PLAYERS Championship was to start with the Zack Johnson/Patrick Reed/Sergio Garcia group, watch them for three holes and then do the same for two other groups, cascading back to and then follow Rory McIlroy for his second nine holes. I would have seen a lot more birdies if I had started with Rory and advanced through the three threesomes ahead of his group. Although I never would have left Rory as he shot a 7-under 29 with 5 birdies and an eagle on his first nine holes!

Rickie in trouble on the 14th with no finishing heroics to close translated to a missed cut for the defending champion.

Actually I am happy I was able to see the other nine golfers play. Zach Johnson was in contention and slong with Sergio and Patrick Reed making birdies for me to see. I happen to catch the Matt Kuchar/Rickie Fowler/Adam Scott at the time of Rickie’s demise on the always difficult par-4 14th to miss the cut. Bunkered left off the tee then dubbed it in the water looking a lot like us amateurs until he dropped a ball and hoisted a beauty up over the trees that I can only dream of and 2-putted for a bogey. I toured the scenically spectacular 16th, 17th and 18th with the Graeme McDowell/Louis Oosthuizen/Hideki Matsuyama group while looking back on Rory’s progress and sensational eagle at the 16th!

Kuch’s Krew was out in full force to see him post a 67 in Round 2 and finish T3 after a brilliant Sunday 68.

9:10 am Happy PLAYERS Friday! Started off No. 10 with Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed & Sergio Garcia… 4 birdies so far, rest pars, Sergio 2 under today. Said good bye to old No. 12, complete redo for next year into driveable par 4…

10:03 am Holes 13, 14, & 15 with Kuch, Rickie & Adam Scott… tough day for Rickie… missed 2 short birdie putts & a sandy watery DB on 14…another beautiful day for scoring though feels like wind is picking up…ocean, beach, paradise!

Interesting scenario on the 4th green when Dustin Johnson’s ball accidentally was dropped in the water hazard. His caddie had to jump in and luckily was able to retrieve the ball to avoid a penalty for substituting a ball to complete the hole.

11:19 am GMac, Louie, & Hideki for 16, 17 & 18… now Rory, Rory, Rory for his second 9, 7 under first 9… Oh yes, by the way Rory was playing with Dustin Johnson (shot 70 and finished T28) and Bubba Watson (shot 71 and finished T41).

7:57 pm WOW, what a day following Rory McIlroy, nearly a course record 62 except he bogeyed the last, the par-5 9th, instead of birdieing it, that’s golf, that’s life! Congratulations to Will Wilcox acing the 17th! Amazing! So good to see so many of my friends out there today, I love the spirit of THE PLAYERS, the poeple and our Ponte Ve Beach community… TROML Day for sure! (-:

Jason Day was able to get it up-and-down from the front right pot bunker while Rory was not from the left one.

I found it interesting how two of Pete Dye’s legendary pot bunkers impacted the way Rory finished his second round 64 and Jason Day finished his first round 63. They guard the front right and front left of the reachable 583-yard par-5 ninth hole upon which both Rory and Jason finished their rounds. Day was in the front right pot bunker in two and was able to get it up & down to a back right hole location to shoot a record tying 63 on Thursday. Rory chose to lay up needing birdie to set a new course record 62 even though he was within range. His 90-yard wedge third shot failed found the severely sloped grass depression around the front left pot bunker. From there it took him an additional three strokes to the front left hole location resulting in his 64 score. Surely Pete Dye was at home and continues to smile at his ‘Dye-abolical’ design of the Stadium Course.

Nice one on the scorecard Wil Wilcox! Photo Credit: NBC Sports/Golf Chaannel

Earlier in the day, Colt Knost shot a course record tying 63, missing a 6-footer in the last to shoot 62. The 2007 U.S. Amateur Champion and two-time Web.com Champion has yet to win on the PGA TOUR but joined 5 others in the record book for the low 18-hole score of 9-under par 63… Fred Couples Rd. 3 in 1992 (T13 finish to Davis Love III win), Greg Norman Rd. 1 1994 (won by 4 strokes), Roberto Castro Rd. 1 2013 (T19 finish to Tiger’s win), Martin Kaymer Rd. 1 2014 (won by 1 stroke) and a day earlier Jason Day who went on to win the 2016 PLAYERS in wire-to-wire fashion.

With my buddy Quinn watching the Rory action at the par-3 8th hole.

When I made it home to watch the rest of Round 2 on NBC Sports/Golf Channel I was treated to the first hole-in-one on the 17th since Miguel Angel Jimenez’s ace in 2002. What a wild and zany celebration which I thought was awesome! Nice ace in only Wil Wilcox’s second competitive tee shot on the iconic island green hole!

It was a fun day walking and watching golf with a kid from Hobart and William Smith Colleges named Quinn Schara. Here are the best 85 pictures from the 500 I took that day!

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Filed Under: Hickory Golf, PGA TOUR Golf

Witnessing History: Jason Day’s Record 63 in Rd. 1 of the 2016 PLAYERS!

May 12, 2016 By admin

Steve Sands on television with Jason Day after his historic 63! Photo Credit: NBC Sports/Golf Channel

Seeing Jason Day shoot a record-tying 63 on the Stadium Course in Round One of the 2016 PLAYERS Championship recording nine birdies and nine pars was amazing. He went on to win in wire-to-wire fashion and maintained his World Number One ranking. As good as when I saw Henrik Stenson shot a bogey-free 66 on Sunday to win in 2009.

Day was paired with Jordan Spieth, playing for the first time since a triple bogey 7 on the 12th cost him his second green jacket at Augusta National a month ago, and Branden Grace who won for the first time on the PGA TOUR at the RBC Heritage the week after The Masters. Here are my Facebook posts and pictures from Jason Day’s memorable day!

With my buddy & PLAYERS Tee Announcer Stokes Hill just before Jason Day teed off on the 10th tee.

9:46 am Round 1 2016 PLAYERS… following Day Spieth Grace… off 10 announced by my buddy Stokes Hill… Day birdie birdie birdie start… Spieth & Grace even all pars!

10:30 am Thru 6 holes, Day has cooked off, still -3… Spieth still all pars but hole high on 15… Grace crash & burn on 15 taking 4 greenside to get it in the hole, looked like me! Yeah Ernie Els!

11:28 am Thru 9… Spieth awakens with 2 putt birdie on 16… Day responds with duece on 17… Grace snake bitten, closest on 17 but rims out birdie putt… Day -4, Spieth -E, Grace +2… remembering Spieth historic win in Australia… G’day for Spieth Down Under, Record 63 Wins Australian Open!

Always a lot of fun to be at THE PLAYERS, never know who you will meet outside the ropes!

12:20 pm Thru 12 holes… took a little break at the turn… caught up with group at 3 tee… Day birdied 1 & 2… loses the honor when Spieth & Grace deuce No. 3 and he pars… exciting round of golf!

The last two posts coming later from home after my cell phone batteries died.

2:45 pm Thru 15 holes… it’s Day’s day, not so much Spieth’s as he bogeys 5 & 6…

4:29 pm Wow, what a round of golf by Jason Day… ties record low 18-hole score of 9-under par 63 by 4 others… Fred Couples Rd. 3 in 1992 (T13 finish to Davis Love III win), Greg Norman Rd. 1 1994 (won by 4 strokes), Roberto Castro Rd. 1 2013 (T19 finish to Tiger’s win), Martin Kaymer Rd. 1 2014 (won by 1 stroke)… tragic ending for Spieth, double bogeys the last shoot even par 72… ditto score for Grace who double bogeyed the 15th earlier in the day. Memorable PLAYERS in progress…

It was a spectacular day at TPC Sawgrass for Round One of the 2016 PLAYERS!

Jason Day is now in the record books of THE PLAYERS Championship tying the previous record low 18-hole score of 63 by Fred Couples (1992 Rd. 3, finish T10 to David Love III’s 1st of 2 PLAYERS win (also 2003)); Greg Norman (1994 Rd. 1, Won); Roberto Castro (2013 Rd. 1, finish T19 to Tiger Woods’ 2nd PLAYERS win); Martin Kaymer (Rd. 1 2014, Won); and then being tied by Colt Knost in Rd. 2 (T3 finish) and nearly Rory McIlroy who bogeyed his last (par-5 No. 9) to shoot 64 (T12 finish).

Here are the 85 pictures I took during Jason Day’s historic Round One at the 2016 PLAYERS:

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Filed Under: Hickory Golf, PGA TOUR Golf

Congratulations James Hahn, Mr. Passion & Perseverance!

May 8, 2016 By admin

James Hahn joyously running up the 18th fairway looking for a 2-putt for his tour card in the 2009 Q-School.

Back in the day when there was a Q-School that led professional golfers directly to the PGA TOUR I was assigned to James Hahn’s group. The year was 2008, it was the Q-School Finals at Bear Lakes and it was late on the afternoon of the final day. Hahn was in the hunt to make the Top 25 & Ties and earn himself a tour card for 2009. There was no wrap-around season back then either.

Coming off the tee at the par-4 18th hole he asked me if I knew what he needed to make it. I did know but I hesitated to tell him but I did—you need a par 4. I don’t want to interfere with any professional golfer’s golf game but he asked me so I felt obligated to tell him what I knew to be reasonably true.

On the right a dejected James Hahn after 4-putting for a double bogey to miss out on his tour card.

His tee shot was bunkered right. Not too severe of a bunker but there was water to carry to get to the green and it was probably a 6 or 7 iron for him. The youngster, a month after he turned 27, then hit a great shot onto the green about 40 feet away from the hole. A reasonable 2-putt would give him his first tour card. I was so excited for him. He was so excited for himself that he literally ran down the fairway and leapt for joy along the way.

Then he 4-putted for double bogey, a T34 finish and a card on the then Nationwide, not Web.com Tour.

In 2010 he played in 28 events, had five Top-10s and finished 29th on the Money List, not good enough for a PGA TOUR card. Then he finished T41 at the 2010 Q-School, not good enough for a PGA TOUR card.

The final standings has Hahn in the red indicating a card on the Web.com Tour not the blue coded PGA TOUR.

In 2011 he played in 25 events, had one Top-10 and finished 67th on the Money List. No tour card.

In 2012 he played in 24 Web.com events, caught fire, won The Rex Hospital Open in a playoff, finished 5th on the Money List and earned his tour card for the 2013 PGA TOUR season!

In 2013 he played in 26 PGA TOUR events with two Top-10s early in the year with a T4 at Humana Challenge and a T3 at Pebble Beach. I was at both those tournaments and had an opportunity to speak with the tour rookie at the Humana Challenge. My impression was that of a fine young man who had his humble head on straight with an open-minded approach to golf and life. That double bogey to miss his card back in 2009 was surely to be just a stepping stone in the big picture. It was an exciting year to be at the Humana with their sponsorship from the Bill Clinton Foundation and fitness advice from Mr. Gary Player himself. The light-hearted tournament in the desert where Bob Hope’s spirit is always lingering around any small or large gathering of people. After the fast start, Hahn would fade a bit missing seven of the last ten cuts he faced in 2013. and he finished No. 110 in the FedEx Cup Standings, which was good enough to keep his card for the newly format 2014/2015 wrap around season on the PGA TOUR.

It was a great honor for Merri Daniel and I to meet and interview Gary Player at the 2013 Humana Challenge.

In 2014, the now famous ‘Gangnam-style dancer’, would miss 13 of 27 cuts faced and again finish the year with two Top-10s and barely keeping his card. This time the peak performance came later in the year with a T5 at the HP Byron Nelson Championship and a T6 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Yet he missed three of the last seven cuts and squeaked in at No. 123.

In his breakthrough year of 2015, Hahn would trade in one of those reoccurring pair of Top-10s for a win at the Northern Trust Open in a playoff with Paul Casey and Dustin Johnson. He would win by canning a 25-footer on the third playoff hole. His second Top-10 came with a T6 finish at the Greenbrier Classic. With the early season win, Hahn played in his first Masters and missed the cut there and at the U.S. Open and British Open. Earning over $2 million for the year, the Korean-born American finished No. 51 making it through the first three FedEx Cup playoff events but failing to reach the Select 30 for the Tour Championship at Eastlake in Atlanta.

James Hahn, 2016 Wells Fargo Champion! Photo Credit: ESPN

So far this season, Hahn has duplicated his pair of Top-10s with a 6th place finish last November in the CIMB Classic and his one-hole playoff win today over Roberto Castro at the Wells Fargo Championship. His win came after a streak of eight straight missed cuts that goes all the way back to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am! That makes him 3-for-3 in playoffs and 52-for-96 in cuts made on the PGA TOUR. His cuts made percentage of roughly 50% was slightly better on the Web.com Tour ( 48-for-97) and while playing in Canada (16-for-24).

Bottom line is that James Hahn, now 34-years old and known to me as Mr. Passion & Perseverance never let that Q-School double bogey at the last phase him one iota. Maybe he doesn’t consistently make cuts but when he gets in a playoff he consistently wins!

Congratulations to James Hahn on his second career PGA TOUR victory!

With my buddy Frosty documenting Troy Merritt’s win at the 2009 Q-School. We didn’t compete but we did have the opportunity to play the Jack Nicklaus designed Lakes Course the next morning!

Bear Lakes Country Club, host to the 2009 Q-School.

Commemorative flag!

Filed Under: Hickory Golf, People in Golf, PGA TOUR Golf