June 2009 Sierra Golfer

Sierra Golfer

Your Guide to Golf And Life in the Sierra

Timilick Tahoe Tahoe’s Most Inviting Club The Skinny on Golf Balls Why Color Matters in Golf Discover Golf in Germany Golf and Other Wonders in San Benito County June/July 2009

www.sierragolfer.com2 | Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009

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Table of Contents Feature Timilick Tahoe in North Lake Tahoe Page 4 Columns Cowgirl Golfer from Texas Page 7 What’s in a Color? Page 8 Psychology of Golf Page 12 Physiology of Golf Page 12 The Travelling Golfer Page 16 Articles What’s New In Equipment Page 13 Golf in Germany Page 14 A Summer Bucket List Page 15

Sierra Golfer MagazineRick Rider, Publisher

PO Box 11 San Andreas, CA [email protected]

209.327.8934

Message from The PublisherThe June/July Issue of Sierra Golfer will mark our 7th Edition, including a Special E-edition for Greenhorn Creek Resort.The E-edition got me to thinking...I wonder if I am reaching enough viewers in this new digital age with the printed and digital issues we create, and with all the wonderful articles about all sorts of fun stuff we write about.Then I got to visiting with a network partner in Germany who plays golf all over the world, as well as in Germany, who expressed interest in the magazine.Well, next thing you know I’ve got him writing about golf in Germany and around the world. His name is Jens Bernitzky and he has a feature in this issue I think you will enjoy. To have the ability, though, to share Sierra Golfer to readers around the world is quite a privilege, and an honor. I am proud to showcase the writing talents in this magazine to the entire world!‘How do I get more readership in California, especially the Bay Area’ is the question that keeps coming up in my mind, however. So after working on this magazine project for almost a year, concentrating mostly on how to create a nice product to read, I figured I’d put my marketing hat on for a few days and see how I can reach more Bay Area and Napa Valley golfers and well-heeled travellers. Low and behold I think I’ve figured out how to reach over 475,ooo golfers in the highest demographics with my digital magazine...in the Bay Area as well as Napa, Monterey, and even the Gold Country once a month.They will see the Magazine as you can see it on http://issuu.com/sierra_golfer. Viewers can now download the entire magazine, send it to a friend, make comments and even print it out.The best feature yet, though, is the ability for me, as the publisher, to share the magazine view statistics with my advertisers. As an advertiser, I sure would like to know my ad is getting seen, and by the right clientele.I believe I’ve figured out how to get this done. Stay tuned.And for all our faithful readers, thank you all so much once again. Till next time...Rick Rider

Cover Art and inside art provided by Chris Talbotand Staff of Timilick Tahoe Club


The Timilick ClubA Place for theWhole Family

North Lake Tahoe, CA

Sitting on almost 500 acres, all of Timilick’s homes and Mountain

Lodges are designed to reflect the historic Sierra Nevada Mountain Lodges that once were prevalent in the area. Local architect Dale Cox, of Cox and Kromydas, has set the tone for Timilick by designing the gatehouse, the Mountain Lodges and the clubhouse. “He incorporates the ‘Tahoe Mountain Lodge’ style into his designs very well,” Richardson says of Cox, who also had a hand in Montana’s The Yellowstone Club. “He has a rugged yet elegant feel to his buildings.” Owners can expect to see a lot of heavy timbers, wood siding and plenty of stone used throughout the structures”.

Those who choose to build a custom home on one of the 218 homesites at Timilick can look to the Mountain Lodges, which are akin to town homes, for inspiration. Richardson describes them as “mini-custom homes” that are available in eight turnkey floor plans, from 2,000–2,650 sq. feet, if desired. The four furnishing options are handpicked by award-winning local interior designer Terry Hurt. Packages include mountain elegant (a clean traditional look accented by earthy hues), mountain modern (more contemporary and similar to what you might see in places like Utah and Colorado), old Tahoe (a rustic yet refined style with a nautical bent) and classic Tahoe (a timeless cabin feel).

Timilick is also home to a Johnny Miller/John Harbottle-designed championship golf course, which weaves through the pines as if painted with an artist’s brush. For indeed they were, the masterstrokes of the celebrated design

team of Johnny Miller – World Golf Hall of Famer and winner of 24 PGA Tour championships – and John Harbottle – renowned course architect and protégé of Pete Dye.

The Timilick Tahoe course offers two distinct nine-hole experiences. The front nine is called the Meadow nine, rambling through firs, spruce and pine trees at the base of the ridge. The back nine is called the Mountain nine, with elevation changes of up to 400 feet, with magnificent views of the Martis Valley, Lookout Mountain and the Carson Range.

“The course is a good combination of shot-making challenges and natural beauty,” Miller said. “Golfers will enjoy how the course flows over the natural terrain and I hope they’ll take their time and take in the magnificent scenery. It’s definitely one of the prettiest

settings I’ve ever had the privilege to work with as a course designer.

“I think people will leave the course remembering those last three holes,” Harbottle has said. “In fact, I’ll go so far as to say they just might be the best three finishing holes in the entire Lake Tahoe region.”

The Timilick course debuted last summer and has already won many prestigious awards.

2008 Awards

GolfweekNumber 7 of Best NewPrivate Courses 2008

Golf Inc.Top 5

Devlopment of the YearGolf Digest

Nominated for BestNew Course in 2009

Links MagazineAwarded Links Premier Courses

and Best Value

www.sierragolfer.com Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 5The Timilick Club...From the Moment You Join, You Belong

Timilick is Tahoe’s most inviting private club, and the first place to offer membership without requiring a property purchase. Wherever you call home in North Lake Tahoe,

membership at Timilick gives you access to incredible golf, endless activities, and luxurious amenities – all designed with families in mind. The future clubhouse, which will sit adjacent to the course, will offer golfers, members and residents a restaurant, fitness center, spa, pools and tennis courts. Annual and regular golf memberships are available for a limited time. Contact the Director of Golf, Matt Anderson, at (530) 263-7060, or [email protected] today for more information.

Golfers and non-golfers alike can also enjoy the neighboring thousands of acres of Tahoe National Forest—perfect for hiking, biking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing. The miles of on-property trails offer similar open-air opportunities (in fact, more than half the project is open space). Located minutes from the shores of Lake Tahoe, the slopes of Northstar and the shops of Truckee, it’s just the right spot for those who want it all.

The K James Companies Build Distinctive Golf Communities

Timilick Tahoe is being developed by Martis Valley Associates, LLC, a subsidiary of Chicago-based K. James Companies. The K. James Companies have been committed to developing

properties that add value to the surrounding communities for over 50 years.

The Company’s development approach incorporates environmental sensitivity, careful site selection, sensitive land planning to preserve a property’s natural beauty, and imaginative architecture to compliment the surrounding areas. Consistent commitment to these qualities has earned The K. James Companies numerous awards for land use, architecture and landscape design, including a lifetime achievement award bestowed upon the company’s principals from the Urban Land Institute.


Everything You Wanted to Know About (Golf) Balls But Were Afraid to Ask!

By Kristi LaRue, The Cowgirl Golfer

When I first took up the game of golf a couple of years ago, I used balls that I found in our back yard and used range balls (don’t tell the club manager) to get over the water holes. My reason for doing this was I didn’t want to spend our daughter’s entire college fund on new balls that I knew I’d lose in a few rounds of golf! One day, when my golf buddy and I got good enough for our husbands to join us, her hubby (the club manager!) said, “Kristi, you shouldn’t use bad (he used a different adjective) balls when hitting over the water. You could hit a great shot that won’t make it over simply because you used a bad ball.” Hmmm, I think he’s on to something there. At that point, I quit using range balls and only used the “better” balls I found in the back yard.

Fast forward a couple of years to the Llano, TX Annual Crawfish Boil Golf Tournament. My girl team got to a hole where the Srixon reps were selling sleeves of balls and giving a free sleeve to anyone who was able to hit their tee shot onto the green. I decided to go for it and made the green, yay! But when I went to choose which balls I wanted, the only factor that influenced my choice was the color of the box…pink!

I realized it was time to learn a little more about golf balls.

My research began with Google “History of Golf Balls”. Interesting but not helpful when choosing which ball is best for me. So I headed over to our club and interviewed our Club PGA Professional, Billy. Whoa, my pen was smoking I was writing so fast!

Billy started off by telling me that you should ultimately use a ball that has a good “feel” around the green. Because I had no idea what he was talking about, he launched into a basic explanation of what’s out there on the market.

Almost all companies have two high-end balls which cost about $50/box. For example: Titleist has Pro V1 and Pro V1x, Callaway has TOUR i and TOUR ix, Nike has the Nike One Black

and Nike One Platinum and Taylor Made has the TP Black and TP Red. The specific use for each type of ball is on the box. For example: The Titleist Pro V is a 3 piece, multi-layer construction that maximizes distance, durability and performance. The Pro V1x is a 4 piece, dual core construction that lowers spin and maximizes distance.

Almost all companies also have two mid-range balls that run about $30/box and 2 lower-

end balls that run about $20/box. Titleist’s mid-range balls (referred to by some as the “poor man’s Pro V1”) are the NXT Tour and the NXT Extreme. And their low-end balls are the DT Carry and the DT Roll. Titliest does not make a “lady’s” ball per se simply because a “lady’s” ball may not be right for you. Read on and you will understand why.

Now that we have a breakdown of all the different choices when selecting a ball, how does one go about deciding which one is best for them? I was told that the best way to do this is to have your swing analyzed. This helps you determine if you need more distance, longer air time or more or less spin. Since women have an average swing rate of about

70 mph we want a ball that has a high spin rate because a high spin rate causes the ball to stay in the air longer. This determination narrows down the ball choices quite a bit. For instance, a beginner, female golfer would not want the Pro V1x because it has a low spin rate. And once you decide whether you want to pay $50, $30 or $20, your choices are narrowed down even more. So, just because a ball is $50, doesn’t mean it’s the best for you. (We’re

getting there!)The last step is to buy a

sleeve of each of the balls you determined might be right for you and practice your short game with each type. This is how you get the “feel” around the green (which is what Billy told me right out of the shoot!). Distance and accuracy off the tee is what most people want so they look for a ball that is harder, like a rock coming off the club head. The problem occurs when they get close to the green to play the short game. That rock hard ball ain’t gonna cut it! You need a ball with more “feel” to it. (I bet all you men out there had no idea how in tune you were with your feelings on the golf course!).

Alrighty then. Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about golf balls but was afraid to ask, Billy threw in the marketing side of it all! He said when someone asks him, “What balls should I buy?” he asks, “What is more important to you, name brand, price or aesthetics?” Yup, pink, believe it or not, pink, aesthetics is important to people, pink! And marketers have figured that out, especially when it comes to women. They have used those pink balls and pink boxes to draw us in like bees to honey but in a helpful way. It just so happens that those pink balls are high spin and are therefore what we (beginners with a slow swing rate) should be buying anyway!

I think we just came full circle and I am so happy! I actually made the right choice at the Llano, TX Crawfish Boil Tournament when I picked the pink box of Srixons! My girl team and I had to laugh when we realized that all 4 of us were playing with a different shade of pink ball. You can keep the science of it all.

I’m a simple girl!


What’s in a Color? By David Wood

With the 2009 U.S. Open Championship coming up in June at Bethpage State Park (Black Course) in New York, thoughts turn to the first U.S. Open held there in 2002, when Tiger won his second U.S. Open wearing his traditional Sunday red color. What color will the winner wear on Sunday this year? Will it be Tiger again in his red or some other player in a different color?

Tiger’s Sunday Red It is doubtful that there

exists any true golf fan who does not know that Tiger’s clothing color of choice in the final round of a golf tournament on Sunday is always red. As to why Tiger wears red, according to a December 1, 2006 article in GOLF Magazine by Lisa

Taddeo, “Tiger wears red on Sundays because the color means good luck in Thailand, his mother’s native country. But there’s more to red than that. As the color of fire and blood, red is associated with energy, war, strength and power. It’s also linked with energy, so it’s often used to promote energy drinks and sports products. Plus, says color expert Lietrice Eiseman, Tiger is partial to red because of its vibrancy, and people in vibrant colors, she says, come across as powerful.”

In a February 2003 article in Golf Today magazine, sports psychologist Gregg Steinberg is quoted as saying, “Tiger feels more aggressive when he wears his red colored shirt. He knows he must play aggressively on Sunday if he is to go ‘low’ and win….Typically, red stands for aggression and assertiveness. As a prototypical example, the matador uses a red cape to make the bull more

aggressive and charge at him. Red also stands for fire and when you are fired up you are going to act more assertively….We infer our emotions from our actions. Our brain gets the message from our body how to feel….In the case of Tiger Woods, the action of putting on a red shirt on Sunday makes him feel more aggressive and fired up to go low on Sunday.”

According to the Wikipedia article on Tiger Woods, “He began his tradition

of wearing a red shirt during the final round of tournaments, a link to his college days at Stanford and a color he believes symbolizes aggression and assertiveness.” (The official colors of Stanford University are cardinal red and white.)

At the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Tiger was asked about the red color and stated, “This is based on Thai superstition. Red, the color of blood, symbolizes aggressiveness. By Sunday, I need everything I can get.”

Tiger won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines wearing red both in Sunday’s final round and then again in the Monday playoff with Rocco Mediate. But this time there was a little twist to it: In the Monday playoff, Mediate showed up also wearing red, prompting Golf Magazine writer Cameron Morfit to comment, “Rocco Mediate’s decision to wear a red shirt, matching Tiger’s typical crunch-time color, is hardly coincidental. It’s a classic poker move by a guy who played in the 2005 World Series of Poker. Woods appeared to get a kick out of Mediate’s color choice when the two shook hands, laughing before starting his warm-up.” But it did not help Rocco, and Tiger won the playoff.

At last year’s 2008 RBC Canadian Open Anthony Kim wore a red shirt on Sunday while shooting a 75. In the following week’s Golf World magazine, writer John Hawkins commented: “Hero worship has its limits. Sneaking into Superman’s closet and taking the crimson

cape for a test drive is like carjacking your old man’s Mercedes for a hot date. Stick with the Vegas belt buckle, A.K.”

That brings to mind another player who attempted to steal Tiger’s power color; it was England’s Luke Donald wearing red in the final round of the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah, while playing the final round with Tiger. He and Tiger started the day at -14. Donald found no magic that day. He shot +2 and Tiger shot -4 and won.

Tiger has been wearing red on Sundays his entire career, but he was not the first to do it. Both Lee Trevino and Curtis Strange were known for wearing red on Sundays long before Tiger started doing it. According to John Hawkins in an August 1, 2008 Golf World article, “Woods actually scarfed the red-on-Sunday motif from Curtis Strange, one of the original Nike guys in the 1980s.” In a November 1, 2001 article in Golf Digest by John Hawkins (“Lucky Charms: Superstitions may not make any sense, but don’t try telling that to a player”) Curtis Strange is quoted as follows: “I never wore anything but the solid red. That was the only shirt Nike made that looked any good. Tiger wears stripes, different shades of red. He’s taken it places.”

It is interesting to note that in that 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, Tiger’s Sunday red shirt matched the red shirt of the caddie in Bethpage’s official golf logo.

www.sierragolfer.com Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 9 Cont from page 8

Other Colors

Other players are or have been partial to some other colors. For instance, Gary Player is famously remembered for always wearing black. In fact, he adopted the nickname the “Black Knight.”

It has been noted that since winning the 2008 Players Championship, Sergio Garcia has been wearing black on Sundays. In a Golf Digest magazine interview in the May 2009 issue, in response to a question about his choice of black clothing, he said, “It makes me feel good. I feel calmer. It gives me energy from the heat.”

Although maybe not a long

term thing, Phil Mickelson has been wearing a lot of black and white this year, including frequently a white belt.

Davis Love III, who went to the University of North Carolina, often wears “Carolina blue.”

Ben Hogan was always known for wearing a white flat cap.

Back in the 1980’s Ken Green was known for always wearing a green glove and green and white saddle shoes. This season Joe Ogilvy and Charlie Hoffman are both wearing bright green gloves as part of an endorsement deal for Waste Management which bills itself as an env i ronmenta l ly friendly (green) company.

Seve Ballesteros favored navy blue when he was in contention on Sundays. One of the most famous photos of him shows him standing on the 18th

green at the Old Course at St. Andrews, decked out entirely in navy blue, just after he sank what proved to be the winning birdie putt in the 1983 (British) Open Championship.

On the LPGA, Paula Creamer always wears pink.

El Pato—the Duck—Cabrera Yellow

Angel Cabrera

(known as el pato “the duck”) likes to wear a yellow shirt on Sundays, and we were most recently reminded of that when he won the 2009 Masters. And in 2007 he won the U.S. Open at Oakmont wearing a yellow shirt on Sunday. He also won his two biggest

tournaments on the European Tour wearing yellow: The 2002 Benson and Hedges, and the 2005 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The Colors of Bethpage State Park And the 2009 U.S. Open

What color will the champion be wearing at the trophy presentation ceremony

at the U.S. Open on June 21, 2009? Bethpage State Park has five golf courses, all named for a color mentioned in this article: The Red, Blue, and Green Courses (opened in 1935), the famed Black Course where the U.S. Open will be played (opened in 1936), and the Yellow Course (opened in 1958). The Bethpage State Park golf logo encompasses these five colors: The logo consists of a caddie wearing black shoes, yellow socks, blue pants, a red shirt, and a green hat. What color will the 2009 U.S. Open Champion wear?David Wood is an avid golfer and golf historian with an astonishing record for attendance at Major Golf Tournaments and other events, including 14 Open Championships, 7 Masters Championships, 16 U.S. Opens, 2 PGA Championships and 5 Ryder Cups. He has played in numerous Pro-Ams (even the Mercedes in Maui, the lucky so & so!), and has been paired with tour pros Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Scott McCarron, Scott Simpson, Bernhard Langer, Gary Player, Chip Beck, John Cook and David Graham among others. He was Leaderboard Chairman for the 1999 U.S. Senior Open and Senior Marshal at the 2006 Ryder Cup. The retired CEO of Wells Fargo Financial makes his primary residence in West Des Moines, Iowa, and plays to an 11.9 Index. David can be reached at [email protected].


Warm up tips From the ProBy Jamie Harper ofTimilick Tahoe

After the snowy Winter we’ve had in Tahoe, we are thrilled to say...it’s finally time to get your clubs out and get ready for another spectacular season of golf.

Most people want to get right out on to the driving range and start pounding balls. Don’t forget the short game! With extended time away from golf, your touch and feel for the game are going to be the hardest things to recover.Touch and Feel1. Spend at least the same

amount of time on your short game as you spend on the driving range. 60% of all your golf strokes are from 80 yards in.2. Spend time on the putting green hitting putts from all different distances. Work on your short pitch and lob shots to improve your touch. A great way to practice chipping is to throw 40 balls around the green, from all different lies and angles, and aim to one pin. Work your way around the green, trying to get closer than the last chip as you move your way around the green. This will enhance your depth perception and work on your creativity from each lie.

Please contact Matt Anderson or myself for more detailed instructional help.

Matt Anderson-Director of Golf

Matt started his golf career at New Mexico State University, with a major inProfessional Golf Management. After college he worked as an assistant golfprofessional at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, MN. Minikahda was opened in 1898 and after Chick Evans won the 1916 US Open, he dedicated his money to start the Evans Scholarship fund for caddies. From Minikahda, Matt moved west to Lahontan Golf Club in Truckee. Matt worked his way up from the First Assistant Professional to Head Professional. After Lahontan, he moved to The Tribute Golf Links & Resort in Dallas, TX as the Assistant General Manager.

The Tribute is ranked in the Golf Digest top 75, and is a Scottish replica course with holes modeled after British Open courses in Scotland. After working in Dallas for a year, Matt was very happy to get out of the humidity and return to Tahoe. If you are looking for someone to fly fish with in the summer or ski with in the winter,give Matt a call!

Jamie Harper (left) and Matt Anderson (right) of Timilick Tahoe

Jamie Harper–Head Professional

Jamie Harper, Timilick’s Head Golf Professional, is in his second season at Timilcik. Before Timilick, Jamie was the Head Golf Professional at Auburn Country Club. He is a second generation golf professional. His father, Ken Harper,was the Assistant Professional at Los Altos Golf & Country Club before taking the Head Professional position at Lake Wildwood Country Club for 15 years. Jamie attended the University of the Pacific where he was a member of the golf team. He has worked at a few different private clubs including Lake Wildwood Country Club, Lahontan Golf Club and Auburn Country Club.


The PsychologyOf GolfEquanimity Leads To Parfection

By Ben Kline

Keep your cool and play better golf. Equanimity is the mind’s ability to just notice what happens without reacting. An equanimous golfer is resistant to anger, stress and distraction. Having a balanced mind is a great asset for playing and learning golf.

Expressing anger after a shot creates tension that leaves an impression on your body, influencing the swings that follow. Anger also narrows your focus. When your focus is inside your head and negative, it is harder to connect to the target and more difficult to consider what is needed for successful golf swings.

Bad shots can also result from getting excited after a great shot or hole. How many times, after making a birdie, does the next hole end in disaster? When some golfers experience success, their minds dart from focusing on one shot-at-a-time, to future thoughts. For example, “if I birdie, the next hole, I’ll have my best nine ever.“

A slight variation is the fear of success. You hit a great shot. Then you adopt the ridiculous belief that others will expect you to play well the rest of the round. Deep inside, you do not believe you are that good and you tense up.

Other golfers don’t care about your game. They only worry about their own. In any case, your mind has strayed from what worked; focusing on executing good golf shots, to worrying about a future outcome or expectation. The result--- lack of attention to good shot making and higher scores.

Observe professional golfers on television. Look at their faces after they make a birdie or a bogey. Most of the time, their expressions don’t change. They have learned to manage their emotions. But just because professional golfers do not jump for joy after a great hole does not mean that they are not experiencing great satisfaction. Rather, they are staying focused on the present so that they can create opportunities for the next great shot.

Just as practicing the right physical skills engrain good golfing habits, mental skills must also be practiced for growth to occur. How can you cultivate a sense of equanimity?

Make it a conscious intention to keep emotions in check throughout your golf round. When you catch yourself getting upset or excited, just notice it like an outside observer. Over time, the upsets will occur less often and less intensely. Also, use your time at the practice range as an opportunity to improve the management of your emotions. If you are not wasting time and energy reacting, you pay better attention to your swing and may just discover what has been hampering your progress.

Strive for equanimity. It may not show on your face, but the satisfaction will be there just the same.

Ben Kline is a sport psychology consultant based in Mill Valley, Ca., and is passionate about helping people improve performance on and off the sporting field. A former collegiate track athlete, avid golfer, classically trained musician, and veteran of 23 years in the competitive high technology industry, Ben holds a Masters degree in Sport Psychology. He enjoys working with amateur and professional athletes who desire to overcome impediments to peak performance or just want to increase enjoyment of their sport. Ben believes that our bodies have their own genius and that our thought patterns, beliefs and personal histories can interfere with the manifestation of that brilliance on the sporting field. Information on Ben’s practice can be found at clarityperformance.com.

The Physiology Of Golf Fitness Programs

By Ann Grassel, PT Certified Titleist Golf Fitness Instructor

For golfers, it is essential to have a strong and flexible body to enjoy a great game. In the younger golfer, it is important to develop good biomechanics that they will carry with them through the rest of their golfing life. In older golfers, it is also important to have skills that will help them prevent injuries and stay in the game.

The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) has developed a Golf Fitness Program that is used to assess their touring professionals. TPI uses the results of video analysis and physical screening to design an exercise program specific for his or her needs.

This program is now available to you.

As a Certified Titleist Golf Fitness Instructor, I do an analysis of your golf swing from 2 angles—Face on and Down the Line—to identify 12 Common Golf Swing Faults: C-Posture, S-Posture, Over-the-Top, Early Extension, Loss of Posture, Flat Shoulder Plane, Sway, Slide, Casting or Early Release, Reverse Spine Angle, Chicken Winging, and Over the Top.

I then perform a Physical Screening to identify the physical deficits that directly contribute to specific golf swing faults. I take the results of the video analysis and the physical screening and plug them into the Titleist Performance Institutes website to develop a golf specific exercise program for my clients. These exercises are designed to correct the deficits in strength, flexibility and balance. When these physical deficits are corrected, they will correct the golf swing faults. These exercise programs are sent directly to your e-mail address, with

videos of each exercise, on the days selected by you, to do the exercises at home or in the gym.

In addition to this program, I use my expertise as a physical therapist to assess the way you walk, sit and work. I teach you how to engage your core muscles in your everyday activities so that you can use your new alignment as you do your exercises. This new skill, used constantly in your activities, will carry over into a great golf swing.

You can contact me to schedule a Golf Fitness Assessment. If you are unable to come into my office, there is an Off Site Assessment option. On the TPI website, you follow a step by step format to do a self assessment. The results then produce a Golf Specific exercise program for you. For an additional fee, you can send me a video of your golf swing for assessment.

You will find that as your fitness improves, so will your game

Ann Grassel, PT is a Certified Titleist Golf Fitness Instructor and recently opened the Marin Golf Fitness Center in Mill Valley, CA. Ann has 30 years experience as a Physical Therapist specializing in Sportsmedicine, Movement Analysis and Re-education and Ergonomics. She works with athletes of all skill levels and was privileged to have been a Therapist/ Trainer at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Ann earned a degree in Physiology from the University of Illinois and in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University Medical School. Ann can be reached at 415-272-2264 or online [email protected] or

www.maringolffitness.com


What’s New inGolf EquipmentBy BrianVanderBeek

You always can find them on the pegboard rack to the side of the cash register at the local golf store or pro shop -- all those wallet-tugging golf accessories all guaranteed to lower your score.

I did the math recently while looking over such an array of brushes, towels, groove-cleaners and glove-driers. I could buy the entire selection for several hundred dollars, and at the end of the day the golf course would owe me strokes.

This spring, the people at PrideSports came out with new and improved versions of some golf accessory stalwarts, and were kind enough to send some samples in the mail. Look for these the next time you’re checking out the latest accessories.

BLACK WIDOW TOUR SPIKES

Does the Black Widow spike system really need improving? This line of soft spikes has been one of the best and most comfortable on the market since debuting

15 years ago.This year, they’ve added

an adjustable version to the line. It incorporates a removable support ring easily adjusted to provide extra traction or a softer, more comfortable feel.

My Take: This is a sexy idea, but I just don’t see the need. I’ve never slipped, even while playing the side-hill lies of the Mother Lode, while wearing Black Widow spikes, and their comfort already is unmatched in the soft spike market.

Suggested retail: $16.99 per full replacement pack, includes a couple spares.

SOFTSPIKES CLUB GRIP

As a former tennis player who reformed his evil ways and switched to golf while

in college, I recognize this product as similar to the gauze-type grip wrap still popular in net sports.

The big difference with this product is that it’s a non-absorbing, tacky rubber tape intended to cover and improve a worn grip.

I threw one of these on my sand wedge and found

it was very easy to install. It is very tacky and provides extreme cushion, much like the original Winn grip (You remember, the one that disintegrated and turned your hands black after three rounds back in 1996.)

My Take: If you need an emergency, temporary repair of a grip and don’t have time to replace it, this is an ideal product. But be warned, this tape will add significant size to your grip diameter, turning that rock-hard five-year-old full cord velvet grip into something resembling and feeling like an arthritic grip.

Suggested retail: $4.99 for a three-pack, $1.50 each.

PROFESSIONAL TEE SYSTEM

You’ve tried them all: standard wood tees, tall tees,

brush tees, crown-pronged tees, and you either swear by them or don’t really notice the difference.

Here’s another option worth checking out. PrideSports TPS system is a plastic tee that is the first to incorporate a 30-degree offset. They claim it promotes an ascending blow

with reduced tee friction – all the better to reduce driver spin.

It comes in 2.75 and 3.25-inch lengths, allowing golfers to use every one of those 460cc’s in your driver head.

My Take: I like the way these set-up visually. They’re directional, so they get you thinking about your target from the moment to stick your tee in the ground. The backward angle of the tee makes it appear as if the ball is suspended in air, not resting on a perch. I didn’t notice any difference in tee shot performance, but these tees are extremely sturdy and I haven’t yet broken one. One caveat: The angle of the PTS causes the tee to fly forward longer than any tee I’ve ever used. You will lose these on a driving range because you won’t want to wander into the line of fire far enough to retrieve your flying tee.

Suggested retail: A pack of 15 -- $3.49-3.99 (depending on length.)

Brian Vanderbeek is a Sportswriter and is currently nursing his 5.9 handicap index at Stevinson Ranch, but Brian’s a Dutchman so don’t ask him to play for money .


Golf in Germany – Discover a Different golf ExperienceBy Jens Bernitzky

Germany and Golf? Most of your readers have probably never thought about a golf vacation in Germany.

So far, Germany is known to Americans for its reliable and luxurious cars, beer, Oktoberfest, the Alps and perhaps recognized as a strong economy as it (still) is a member of the G8 states.

Guess what: Germany offers the largest amount of golf courses in whole central Europe. More than 700 courses are waiting to be discovered by enthusiastic golf vacationers.

Among those you can find real pearls, as there are quite a large number of courses which are ranking among the top courses in Europe. To mention some of them: The Hardenberg Resort

Wildboar Hole at theHardenberg Resort

in Noerten-Hardenberg (central Germany), St. Leon Rot – Course Red (former PGA European Tour Course) in Heidelberg and Gut Laerchenhof (Host of the Mercedes Benz Championships by Bernhard Langer) in Cologne.

The big advantage with a golf trip to Germany is that you find so many diverse country sites only within a few hours’ drive: From the scenic Alps, to the Black-Forrest or to the North- or Baltic Sea, it is just a matter of some hour’s drive.

With Frankfurt/Main, Munich and Hamburg as the three main airports, it is very convenient and rather cheap to fly to Germany. Apropos cheap:

Golf in Germany is in common very affordable. The average Green fee rate for a 18-hole round is approximately Euro 35- 45, (US$ 45.- to 58.).

But once you plan to play golf in Germany, what will be the biggest difference for you as an American golfer?

First of all, as in most European Countries, the service standard is not yet matching the American.

So don´t expect someone to pick-up your golf bag from your car, to clean your clubs after the golf round and don´t even expect to find caddies. There are only a few courses in Spain and France that offer this service.

Buggies are available at about

95% of all courses, but they have to be booked in advance (fee appr. US$ 32, per 18-holes). Germans (similar to the Scandinavian Golfers) prefer to walk and use a trolley instead of a buggy.

Golf in Germany is rather young (the German Golf Federation was founded in 1907) and it used to be for many centuries a sport for the upper society. This is changing rapidly for some years but you can be sure, that one of the first questions you´re asked on a Golf round is: “What is your profession” and even before that “What´s your handicap?” The social status of a German Golf player is very dependent upon his or her handicap. So once you plan to play golf in Germany, make sure you bring anything with you that proves your handicap, because the secretary in the office requires two cards from you:

- Your credit card - Proof of the ability to

play golfThe proof of the ability

to play golf is another “nice gimmick” you only find in the German speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland): It´s called “Platzreife”, which is a sort of “driving license” for golf. Every person in those three countries, which would like to start playing golf, has to do a practical and theoretical test under the supervision of a golf professional where they need to answer 30 questions regarding golf rules and, in addition to that, to play a 9-hole round with a minimum score of 12 Stableford points.

710 yard par 5 hole at Green Eagle near Hamburg

If a person fails this test, it is not allowed to play on non-public courses or to become a member of a golf club. If you pass this test, you start with the official handicap of +54.

Is that how you attract people for this great sport? Not in my opinion. There is quite a big discussion going on about this “license” but it will boost this article to write more about it.

I will continue with more information about the difference between golf in US and Germany in one of the next issues of “Sierra Golfer”.

About the author: Jens Bernitzky (40) is founder

of “Golf Tourism Development & Services” (GTDS) (www.deutsche-golfstrasse.de) based near Hamburg.

GTDS is specialized in the field of golf tourism consulting. His clients are major golf resorts and tourist boards which intend to promote their golf destination and/or resort in other golf markets. He is also publisher of the newsletter “Green-Discoverer” related to golf travel and business issues (www.green-discoverer.de) and host of several golf related groups in different social networks.


A Summer “Bucket” List

By Laura Stewart

I love the idea of trying new things, experiencing new places, the excitement and anticipation of exploring the unknown. In our heads we have all put together a bucket list at some point, places to visit or things we want to do before we die. But I am more of an instant gratification kind of gal and I thought it would be fun to put together a summer bucket list or alternatively, put some suggestions together for you, of some of my favorite things to do around town related to food and wine. So here is your bucket list, have fun!

Summer Concerts at Piatti’s - The Piatti’s at the Pavillons hosts a free jazz concert series every Friday night from 3-6pm in their courtyard starting May 29th through September 25th. Another reason to check Piatti’s out again is they have just brought on a new executive chef. Ryan O’Malley, previously from the well rated Grange downtown and Hawks in Roseville, is launching a new menu to kick off the spring and summer seasons and they are very excited about what he will bring to the table, no pun intended.

Happy Hour at Morton’s Steakhouse – Ever since I moved from San Diego eight years ago, I have gotten out of the Happy Hour rhythm. I pledge to get back into it this year, why don’t you join me? Especially to save money, happy hour is always a great alternative to eating dinner out and well no need to lie…it is fun to be able to have a glass of wine earlier in the day when the sun is still out. Typically Morton’s is not on my radar, but for Happy Hour it really is a good deal. Bar Bites (aka appetizers) for only $5 and drinks starting at $4. I recommend their jumbo lump crab cakes, probably one of the best I’ve ever had. And if

you haven’t heard, they recently moved to a site on Capitol Mall that is definitely more bright and vibrant than the previous location.

Saturday wine tasting & dinner date – One of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday starts with heading to Roseville and going to Capitol Cellars for their weekly wine tasting from 3-6pm. Owner Marcus Graziano has one of the best wine selections in town and always is featuring highly acclaimed and interesting wines, sometimes even the winemaker will be there. After the tasting we walk next door to one of my absolute favorite restaurants, La Provance. For small plates, you have to try the Gnocchi Maison with truffles, every time I have them I think about it for days. And for dinner the Australian rack of lamb is by far the best lamb I have ever had in a restaurant. The Diver scallops with risotto are wonderful too. Great wines, romantic ambience and incredible food make this a perfect way to spend a Saturday with your favorite person.

Inn at Spanish Bay Happy Hour – Inevitably the day will come that we are back in 100 degree plus weather and miserable. Escape the blistering heat and take a weekend trip to Carmel where it will likely be thirty degrees cooler and a great place for dining and wine tasting. One of my favorite places in the world is the outside patio at the Inn at Spanish Bay. Surrounded by fire pits, an ocean view, and a bag piper playing through sunset, happy hour here is truly happy. Enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail and peruse the appetizer menu. My recommendation is the Lakanilau Roll, a sushi roll wrapped in seared Kobe beef that melts in your mouth. If you head into Carmel Valley for wine tasting, make sure to visit the Parsonage winery located in an area art gallery, where they feature full bodied red wines at great prices.

Far Niente wine tasting & tour – Many years ago I had

an enlightening experience that changed my life forever while wine tasting. I know it seems shallow that it was at a winery, but for an aspiring chef and foodie, the wine tour at Far Niente in Oakville was a truly unique and palate opening experience. After the scenic cave tour, we were taken into an intimate room with a long old world style dark wood dining room table. At each place setting lied five different wines poured in five different style wine glasses and five unique cheeses to be paired with the corresponding varietal. I had no idea before then just how versatile and sophisticated cheese and wine pairings could be and how your taste buds could be so magically awakened! Two years later I purchased a table very similar to that one for my wine room, and when I had my launch party for my new business, I also conducted a food and wine pairing similar to Far Niente for my guests and prospective new clients. And hopefully they were

inspired as well to think outside the box when it comes to wine and cheese pairings.

If all else fails and these ideas don’t appeal to you, then make your bucket list very simple. Go get your favorite bottle of chardonnay, wine glasses, some ice and of course and ice bucket….and VOILÀ! That’s a bucket list anyone can complete.

Cheers!

Laura Stewart owns the personal chef business INDULGE Gourmet that operates in the greater Sacramen-to area. She provides many services including cooking classes, weekly meals, dinner parties with cooking demonstrations, wine pairings and catering special events. Born and raised in Northern California, she spends a lot of time in the Napa Val-ley and other wine regions through-out California and enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge of wine with her clients. To contact Laura, email [email protected] or call 916.288.5761.

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Golf, Hike and Explore San Benito County

By Lynn Nilsen

San Benito County is a hidden gem, often thought of as

the Palm Desert of Monterey, but with a more palatable price. I drove to Hollister last week from the Sierras, where it had been raining all day. Once I passed Tracy on I-5, the rain let up, and the weather shifted toward a warmer, almost balmy, climate. The hills reflected colors of yellow and gold with patch work of green grape vines and agricultural fields sewn into the landscape. San Benito County’s climate

is considered temperate; a perfect escape from the summer heat that hangs in the valley, and a great place to find the sun when the “June gloom” fog invades coastal communities.

San Benito County is bordered by Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties to the north, Merced and Fresno counties to the east and Monterey County to the west and south. As you cross the county line, you enter a micro climate perfect for a game of golf, adventurous hikes and wine tasting, at one of the many local vineyards and wineries of the region. After a day of activities, you can head to San Juan Bautista and enjoy a stroll downtown, browsing antique stores, vintage clothes, jewelry and cute boutiques, before dining at one of the many restaurants in town. My favorite Restaurant is Jardines de San Juan on Third Street, serving fabulous Mexican cuisine.

I recommend sitting in the gardens and feasting on one of the many delectable items on the menu, with a margarita to top it off.

If you’re looking for a weekend escape, Ridgemark Golf and Country Club offers 32 spacious Guest Cottages; the club house, just steps away, provides a menu sure to delight the epicurean

within. There are two courses to enjoy: Gavilan and Diablo. These 18-hole, semi-private, championship courses are named after the Mountain Range they are nestled between. Parts of the Gavilan and Diablo courses are tucked away with nature, presenting players with spectacular views of the wine country and mountains. There are homes on some of the fairways, but they seem to be positioned so most shots do not end up in a swimming pool or barbeque.

I found the Diablo Course to be the more challenging of the two; I felt like I was trying to place my ball up the mountain part of the time. This course was designed by Richard Bigler, a par 72, 6,582 yards with a 72.3 rating and a 126 slope.

The Gavilan Course has its own challenges, but seems a bit tamer and friendlier. The course was designed also by Richard Bigler, a par 72, 6721 yards with a 72.7 rating and a 126 slope

A must-play golf course, just down the road, is San

Juan Oaks, a beautifully laid out Fred Couples, award winning course, designed by architect Gene Bates. San Juan Oaks is located in a gorgeous, natural environment, snuggled in the hills – the views inspired me to want to return to paint the beautiful scenery or do some bird watching. This is a par 72, 7,133 yards with a 75.6 rating and a slope of 145.

San Juan Oaks’ restaurant and bar is very inviting; you won’t be disappointed with the excellent cuisine paired with a glass of local wine. Be sure to check out the spacious 300 seat banquet room, patios and courtyards, while wondering around the clubhouse; this is a wonderful venue for a wedding or corporate event.

If you have the time and energy, I recommend visiting the Old Mission San Juan Bautista to see some of our California history, dating all the way back to 1797. This was number fifteen, of twenty-one missions, built in California.

www.sierragolfer.com Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 17 Continued

Another enjoyable activity is the beautiful hike up to Fremont Peak, a famous land mark of the area. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Monterey Bay, the dramatic peaks of the Gavilan Range, and the rolling hills of San Benito Valley, Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia Mountains, east of Big Sur. This is an important piece of our California History. You can see why, in 1846, Captain John Fremont chose this location to help California gain its independence from Mexico.

If you are up for more hiking, try a trek at the Pinnacles National Park, a spectacular natural wonder with fascinating rock formations. This national monument is a release point for endangered California Condors, which can sometimes be seen along the hiking trails.

Bear Gulch Cave and Balconies Cave are two caves to check out in the Pinnacles National Park. Flashlights are required and the status of these caves should be checked out ahead of time.

The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail runs 1200 miles from Arizona to Central California, passing close to Pinnacles National Monument at the town of San Juan Bautista. For more information check out this link: www.solideas.com/

DeAnza/TrailGuideAfter all the hiking,

sightseeing and golf, wine tasting is a welcome activity. Leal Vineyards, located right down the road from Ridgemark offers a nice selection of wines to taste; we especially enjoyed the 2005 Estate Syrah, the 2006 Carnaval, a Meritage and their 2006 Cabernet Franc. There is a beautiful area in the middle of the vineyards for weddings and events.

There are seven other area wineries to enjoy, all located on the San Benito County Wine Trail. I played golf at San Juan Oaks with Phyllis Blackburn (one of the owners of Pietra Santa Winery). We decided to finish our day with wine tasting at her winery, located toward the top of the wine trail, off Cienega Road. Pietra Santa Winery was absolutely beautiful, with mission style architecture that rivals any of the charming wineries in the Napa Valley. They also grow and press olive oil, so you may want to pick up a bottle along with some wonderful red wines. My favorite wine was the Pinot Noir 2007 and the Sangiovese 2005.

Check the internet for golf specials and packages reasonably priced on the Ridgemark and San Juan Oaks websites. Also check www.golfnow.com for golf specials.

Splitting her time between Incline Village, Nevada and Santa Cruz, California, Lynn Nilsen is an avid amateur golfer with a 20 handicap. She is a member of several golf clubs throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as golf clubs in the Lake

Tahoe area. When she’s not out playing golf, Lynn spends her time mountain biking, skiing, hiking, scuba diving, kayaking and spending time with her family in Santa Cruz.

Lynn’s Picks for Golf Courses and Accommodations:

Ridgemark Golf & Country Club3800 Airline HighwayHollister, CA 95023831-634-2207www.Ridgemark.com

San Juan Oaks Golf Club3825 Union RoadHollister, CA 95023831-636-6115www.sanjuanoaks.com

Restaurants:

Jardines De San Juan115 Third StreetSan Juan Bautista, CA 831-623-4466www.jardinesrestaurant.com/

Inn at Tres Pinos6991 Airline HighwayTres Pinos, CA 95065

Exploring, Missions, Hikes

Mission San Juan Bautista406 Second StreetSan Juan Bautista, CA 95045831-623-4528

Fremont Peak State ParkSan Juan Canyon Rd.Off 156, 11 miles south of San Juan Bautistawww.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=564

Pinnacles National MonumentWrite to:5000 Highway 146Paicines, CA 95043-9762831-389-4486www.nps.gov/pinn/


Sierra Golf Course Directory...Course Location Web address Phone Head Pro/GMSnowcreek Golf Resort Mammoth Lakes, CA snowcreekresort.com 760.934.6633 Gary PaolinoSierra Star GC Mammoth, CA mammothmountain.com 760.924.4653 Dave SchachtRiver Creek GC Ahwahnee, CA rivercreekgolfcourse.com559.683.5600 Jim MonsonSierra Meadows CC Ahwahnee, CA sierrameadows.com 559.642.1343 Tim Huber Pine Mountain Lake GC Groveland, CA pinemountainlake.com 209.962.8620 Tony MurphyLake Don Pedro G&CC La Grange, CA deerwoodcorp.com 209.852.0404 Bill CloudPhoenix Lake GC Sonora, CA phoenixlakegolf.com 209.532.0111 Mike WhiteMountain Springs GC Sonora, CA mountainspringsgolf.com209.532.1000 Mike CookTwain Harte GC Twain Harte, CA twainhartevillage.com 209.586.3131 Jeff BurmesterGreenhorn Creek GC Angels Camp, CA greenhorncreek.com 209.736.8111 Darryl PeifLa Contenta GC Valley Springs, Ca lacontentagolf.com 209.772.1081 Phil SponsellerSaddle Creek Resort Copperopolis, CA saddlecreek.com 888.852.5787 Geoffrey PodgornyForest Meadows GC Murphys, CA forestmeadowsgolf.com 209.728.3439 Jim DillashawMeadowmont GC Arnold, CA forestmeadowsgolf.com 209.795.1313 Jim DillashawSequoia Woods CC Arnold, CA sequoiawoods.com 209.795.2141 Larry Babica Castle Oaks GC Ione, CA castleoaksgolf.com 209.274.0167 Dominic Atlan Mace Meadow GCC Pioneer, CA macemeadow.com 209.295.7020 Gregg StandridgeCarson Valley GC Gardnerville, NV carsonvalleygolf.com 775.265.3181 Rob HarbottleGenoa Lakes GC Genoa, NV genoalakes.com 866.795.2709 Lou EigurenGenoa Lakes GC & Resort Genoa, NV genoalakes.com 866.795.2709 Lou EigurenSilver Oak GC Carson City, NV silveroakgolf.com 775.841.7000 Robert MasonSunridge GC Carson City, NV sunridgegolf.com 775.267.4448 Matt LaPorteEmpire Ranch GC Carson City, NV empireranchgolf.com 888.227.1335 Keith StollDayton Valley CC Dayton, NV daytonvalleygolf.com 775.246.7888 Rick VaughnEagle Valley GC Carson City, NV eaglevalleygolf.com 775.887.2380 Dave GebhardtRosewood Lakes GC Reno, NV cityofreno.com 775.857.2892 Bob ForseLakeridge GC Reno, NV lakeridgegolf.com 800.815.6966 Randy BeeghlyWashoe GC Reno, NV washoegolf.org 775.828.6640 Darin MenanteWolf Run GC Reno, NV wolfrungolfclub.com 775.851.3301 Lacy EricksonSierra Sage GC Reno, NV sierrasagegolf.org 775.972.1564 Steve BellHidden Valley GC Reno, NV hvccreno.com 775.857.4742 Kelly ManosThunder Canyon CC Washoe Valley, NV thundercanyon.com 775.882.0882 Dave La FataRed Hawk Golf Club Sparks, NV resortatredhawk.com 866-Go2Hawk Greg EnholmWildcreek GC Sparks, NV visitrenotahoe.com 775.673.3100 Eric HuzarskiArrow Creek GC Reno, NV www.arrowcreekcc.com 775.850.4653 John Ross Incline Championship GC Incline Village, NV golfincline.com 775.832.1146 Brannigan McNultyIncline Mountain Course Incline Village, NV golfincline.com 775.832.1150 Angie RodriguezOld Brockway GC Kings Beach, CA oldbrockway.com 530.546.9909 Garrett Good Edgewood Tahoe GC Stateline, NV edgewoodtahoe.com 775.588.3566 Randy FoxLake Tahoe GC Lake Tahoe, CA laketahoegc.com 530.577.0788 Amy McCormickNorthstar-at-Tahoe Resort Truckee, CA northstarattahoe.com 530.562.3887 Pete SmithTahoe City GC Tahoe City, CA golftahoe.com/tahoe-city 530.583.1516 Bob BoninoTimilick Club Truckee, CA timilick.com 877.Timilick Matt AndersonCoyote Moon GC Truckee, CA coyotemoongolf.com 530.587.0886 Ed McGargillGray’s Crossing Truckee, CA grayscrossinggolf.com 530.550.5800 Shane JonesOld Greenwood GC Truckee, CA oldgreenwoodgolf.com 530.550.7010 Bob Hickam, DirectorTahoe Donner GC Truckee, CA tahoedonner.com 530.587.9443 Ed Leinenkugel, Dir.Apple Mountain Resort Camino, CA applemountaingolfresort530.647.7400 Paul ShortsGrizzly Ranch Resort Portola, CA grizzlyranch.com 866.901.1010 Rob Young


Staff and Contributing ColumnistsTo The Sierra Golfer Magazine

David Wood is an avid golfer and golf historian with an astonishing record for attendance at Major Golf Tournaments and other events, including 14 Open Championships, 7 Masters Championships, 16 U.S. Opens, 2 PGA Championships and 5 Ryder Cups. He has played in numerous Pro-Ams (even the Mercedes in Maui, the lucky so & so!), and has been paired with tour pros Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Scott McCarron, Scott Simpson, Bernhard Langer, Gary Player, Chip Beck, John Cook and David Graham among others. He was Leaderboard Chairman for the 1999 U.S. Senior Open and Senior Marshal at the 2006 Ryder Cup. The retired CEO of Wells Fargo Financial makes his primary residence in West Des Moines, Iowa, and plays to an 11.9 Index. David can be reached at [email protected].

Jon Leland is a pioneer in communications and media and has helped companies grow their businesses for three decades. Articles about Jon and his work have been published in Business Week, Presentations, Electronic Media, MPC World, PC Today, and San Francisco Business Times magazines. Jon is now a keynote speaker on the subject of “Winning with Ease: The power of stress-free performance as illustrated by life lessons learned from golf.” He plays to a 15.1 index. Jon blogs at http://www.TheJoyofGolfing.com. More info on his work and his speaking can be found at http://www.ComBridges.com

Kristi LaRue was born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX. She attended Kilgore Junior College in Kilgore, TX and was a Kilgore Rangerette. She then moved to Austin, TX in 1980 to attend the University of Texas and received her B.S. in Geological Sciences. She stayed in Austin and began her career in Environmental Geology with a part time job as a certified aerobic instructor. She met and married her husband, Jim (architect/avid golfer), in 1986. They have one daughter who attends Auburn Univ. When Kristi isn’t playing golf, she’s teaching aerobics, volunteering on two boards, running a part time whole food nutritional business, helping at Jim’s office or going to live music venues.

Robert “Buck” Reed is responsible for Golf Marketing at Greenhorn Creek and has been a resident in the community since 2006. Buck has been involved with the printing industry for most of his career most recently selling to and creating labels for the wine industry. He enjoys using his degree in marketing and background in print design to create promotional materials and marketing programs for Greenhorn. His sports interests are varied: scuba, tennis, skiing, motorcycling and golf are among them. Since coming to Angels Camp he has become involved in the community as a Rotarian and member of the Angels Camp Branding Team.

Ben Kline is a sport psychology consultant based in Mill Valley, Ca., and is passionate about helping people improve performance on and off the sporting field. A former collegiate track athlete, avid golfer, classically trained musician, and veteran of 23 years in the competitive high technology industry, Ben holds a Masters degree in Sport Psychology. He enjoys working with amateur and professional athletes who desire to overcome impediments to peak performance or just want to increase enjoyment of their sport. Ben believes that our bodies have their own genius and that our thought patterns, beliefs and personal histories can interfere with the manifestation of that brilliance on the sporting field. Information on Ben’s practice can be found at clarityperformance.com.

Splitting her time between Incline Village, Nevada and Santa Cruz, California, Lynn Nilsen is an avid amateur golfer with a 20 handicap. She is a member of several golf clubs throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as golf clubs in the Lake Tahoe area. When she’s not out playing golf, Lynn spends her time mountain biking, skiing, hiking, scuba diving, kayaking and spending time with her family in Santa Cruz.

Laura Stewart owns the personal chef business INDULGE Gourmet that operates in the greater Sacramento area. She pro-vides many services including cooking classes, weekly meals, dinner parties with cooking demonstrations, wine pairings and catering special events. Born and raised in Northern Califor-nia, she spends a lot of time in the Napa Valley and other wine regions throughout California and enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge of wine with her clients. To contact Laura, email [email protected] or call 916.288.5761.

Ann Grassel, PT is a Certified Titleist Golf Fitness Instructor and recently opened the Marin Golf Fitness Center in Mill Valley, CA. Ann has 30 years experience as a Physical Therapist specializing in Sportsmedicine, Movement Analysis and Re-education and Ergonomics. She works with athletes of all skill levels and was privileged to have been a Therapist/ Trainer at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Ann earned a degree in Physiology from the University of Illinois and in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University Medical School. She has also been a golfer for over 40 years and has played courses in Scotland, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Hawaii. She has watched golf develop from a game where players used to only practice on the range and play to a game where fitness training is now essential. Ann can be reached at 415-272-2264 or online [email protected] or www.maringolffitness.com


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June 2009 Sierra Golfer

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