GOLF

Three tours
Anne Nimnicht
THE PLAYERS:
page 7

J A C K S O N V I L L E

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VOLUME 2 ISSUE 7

one chair(woman)
page 6

Curtis Hazel
USGA AMATEUR:
page 13

The journey starts here

LO CA L G O L F & S P O RT S M AGA Z I N E

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From the Publisher

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Money talks
You hear it everywhere: the most affordable golf anywhere is in Northeast Florida. I hear it from the consumer, the salesmen and the course owners. The consumer, of course, is happy. Those of us who venture outside the immediate area know the price is really right, not only for golf but also for equipment. The salesmen are both happy and not-so-happy. On the one hand, theyre selling a lot of merchandise to the pro shops and retail stores. On the other, they may not be getting the prices they want. The course owners, as we all know, are scrambling. The intense competition for the golfer has driven prices lower and lower, and the deals are coming fast and furious. Did you get the Hampton Golf deal last month, golf for $8.99? How about the discounts at the World Golf Village? And how about the fierce retail competition between Edwin Watts, David Gates and the

various franchises? I think that our courses and stores have adjusted to the poor economy better than anywhere else, because weve always had competition here. Sure, they arent making the money that flowed just a few years ago, but weve been fortunate here. I have read about other cities that have several courses closing, its been minimal here. Thats because they know how to run their businesses. One factor that works in our favor is that we arent a seasonal economy. Our prices are pretty much the same, no matter the time of year. Check out what youll pay in, say, Orlando. A good courses daily greens fee may top $100 in the winter and drop to $30 in the summer. Even Myrtle Beach has seasons and the golf prices reflect those. This economy cant stay down but, almost for sure, its going to take a while for normalcy to return. The course operators will continue to have a challenge. But, in numerous conversations, I havent been able to find a course thats close to going under. Yes, some are hurting, but

these seem to be higher-end places that have outside financial backing. With all this being said, why arent you out there more often? I realize that our pocketbooks are stretched but I also see prices that make an afternoon worth of golf about expensive as an evening out at a movie (by the way, does anyone know why they have stopped making good movies?) or a dinner for two. If you play late, youll have change left over from a $20 bill at some courses. If you missed Hamptons offer, too bad, but their prices are still more than affordable. Same with the WGV and the courses that Mike Pullen controls. Get out there. Its time to let the economy work in your favor. Comments? Im at brian@jagolfmag.com.

Brian Lamarre Publisher

PitchShot

TSX
VOICE OF THE FaN

Tiger out....
Tiger Woods announced earlier this month that due to injuries to his left leg that have not fully healed, he would miss the 2011 British Open. He has also bowed out of the U.S. Open and AT&T National, of which he has hosted for the past five years. Lets not forget he also walked out after 9 holes on Thursday at The Players. Who knows when hell return.

Saturda y Mornings at 10:00

www.tsxradio.com
Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

Roche wins EWC title

Jeri Roche won the championship of the Executive Womens GA of Jacksonville last month with a 74 at the Country Club of Orange Park. Monica OReilly was the net champ. Gross and net flight winners, as well as the winning scramble team, qualified for the semifinals in Savannah with winners there going to the national championship. Gross flight winners, in addition to Roche, were Nipa Polnoi, Sharon Zeimetz, Glenna Riesterer and Sheila Woolsey. Joining OReilly as net winners were Donna Willard, Margie Begley, Mary Pat Franz and Linda Hagan.

Selva team takes Pro-Lady

Selva Marina pro Russell Radel and members Liz Crawford, Bess Godfrey and Ann Ruden won the annual Northern Chapter PGA ProLady last month at Mayport Windy Harbor. The team had a 119 total in the best 2-of-4 format to win by two over the Marsh Creek team of Cary Splane, Sue Foley, Laurie Mussoline and Pam Celestino. Splane was the low pro with 65, one better than Flagler Colleges Santiago Cavanaugh. Host pro Jon Fine and Sawgrasss Billy Pomeroy tied for third at 69. There were 34 teams and tied for third were Hidden Hills, with Wayne Ulmer, Linda Frank, Marilyn Poyner and Jane Verkouteren; and Palencia, with Mike Broderick, Cindy Gates, Carol Dickman and Susan Agee.

Jeri Roche

The scramble champs were Lori Collins, Rosann Burdette, Barbara Ulch and Jennifer Eckensberger.

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Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

From the Editor

We keep the conversation going. Look for Jacksonville Golf Magazine on Facebook.

Players new chair learns from Beman

Curtis Hazel is the new Players volunteer chair and his reading list starts with former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Bemans biograFred Seely phy. I dont think that people realize that they were talking about the Players being a major back then, he said. Lots of people think its a new thing. <<< Lets hope that Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood havent started a trend. Youll recall that they skipped the Players this year and the underlying thought was that they wanted to take another route to prepare for the U.S. Open. Nightmare: McIlroy wins the Open, Westwood ties for third. <<< Former UF player Brady Ackerman is now a broadcaster and his old loyalties have to be put aside when he makes his predictions. Who will win the SEC East in football this year? Georgia, says the Ocala resident. <<< CBS is filling its college football analyst team with some questionable characters. First they hired exTennessee Coach Phil Fulmer, whose teams compiled a long rap sheet in Knoxville, and now they have Rich Rodriguez, recently dumped by Michigan and formerly at West Virginia, where he had such fine citizens as Pac Man Jones and Chris Henry. <<< While were at it, our SEC football championship game: South Carolina vs. Arkansas. S.C. is the only East team that seems settled, Arkansas has a lot of seniors plus maybe the leagues best quarterback and running back. <<< Jaguars assistant coach Ron Heller says he may have the best bookends of coaches. He played college ball for Joe Paterno at Penn State and finished his pro career with Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins. There were some good ones in between, but its hard to beat that pair, he said. <<< New daddy: Mike Perkins, the Jags film director. <<< The venerable Henry Tuten Gator Bowl Pro-Am gets a new rotation this year. Timuquana will have the opening round on December 15 with the final at San Jose on the 16th. It will be the events 35th year and its previous lineups were at Long Point/ Deerwood and Valley/San Jose. Tuten expects one of his best fields ever. <<< Terry Norvelle got the Jacksonville U. broadcasting job and hell also head up the athletic fundraising. He replaces Barry Milligan, whos now on the arena staff. <<< Remember UF basketball player and ballhog Nick Calathes? Hes been playing in Greece and will get a tryout with the Dallas Mavericks, who drafted him when he skipped out of school two years early. <<< Couple of locals are slipping. Former Bishop Kenny star Jonathan Paplebon, now with the Boston Red Sox, was recently rated the No. 4 overrated player in a Sports Illustrated poll of major leaguers, and boxer Roy Jones Jr. (he lived here a decade or so ago) is so far behind in his taxes that hes fighting in tank towns to scratch up some bucks. <<< You might remember the Handa Cup down at the World Golf Village, a Ryder Cup-like competition between LPGA Legends and their rest-ofworld counterparts. Got publicity when it was here but no mention when it wasnt. Here it is: it turned up this spring in New Hampshire and the good old USA prevailed again, 34-14. <<<

Only the true FSU football fan has heard of Tank Carradine but wait ... youll hear plenty about him. He originally signed to play at Illinois but couldnt qualify academically, so he went to a junior college. Hes a defensive end, weighs about 255 pounds and turned down Ohio State and Georgia to sign with the Seminoles. <<< Jacksonville Us football league will start looking like its basketball league next year as Mercer and Stetson join, and Kennesaw State may also apply. The Pioneer League now is a mess (JU has a road trip every other year to San Diego, for instance) and a more compact league will help expenses. <<< Good decision by Jacksonville Bud Cauley to turn pro, even if it meant he would have to go through qualifying for the U.S. Open. Cauley was exempt because he was a Walker Cup member, but he couldnt use that unless he were still an amateur. He got through the Open qualifiers and then made the cut, winning $18,620. He followed that with a 48 grand paycheck the next week. <<< Does any membership have the outreach we see at Sawgrass? They take in events which seemingly have little interest the latest being the Womens Western Amateur and have a big time. Theyre also the best when it comes to supporting the Jacksonville Area GA scholarship fund, and they even gave a home to the ladies tennis tournament. <<< Womens Western Amateur? You probably never heard of it before it came to town and you wont hear of it again, but the winner, Victoria Tanco, certainly will be back in the paper. Shes just barely out of the junior ranks and shes heading soon for what should be a very nice pro career. <<<
Fred Seely is editor of Jacksonville Golf & Sports Magazine and can be reached at editor@jaxgolfnews.com.

Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

Anne Nimnicht
Hometown: Gainesville College: Jacksonville University.

Three Tours, one chair(woman)

Anne Nimnichts first duty in the local professional golf tournament was to pick up players at the airport. Arnold Palmer one day, Jack Nicklaus the next. That was in 1965 and her chauffeuring duties have expanded considerably since. Considerably, and today she has a distinction that no other person can claim: she has chaired a tournament on all three levels of the PGA Tour. She was the first female chair of the Players (1997,) ran the Champions Tour event here from 1999-2002 and now chairs the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open on the Nationwide Tour. Along the way, she has carried one of the citys best-known names and today is chairman of the board of the Nimnicht automotive group, which includes a Chevrolet dealership on Jacksonvilles Westside and a Buick/ GMC dealership on the Southside. I got involved because our company helped provide cars for transportation when the Greater Jacksonville Open started (1965,) she said. I has played high school golf in Gainesvlle so I knew the game, and my father and I would watch the tournaments on television every Sunday. It was fun to drive the players. I never thought it would lead to this. In those days, the local tournament leadership was very male oriented. Almost every committee was chaired by a man and the best women could do was to be called co-chairman, except for a few committees that had nothing but women because, well, they were considered womans work. One was what then was called Markers, the ladies who follow each

Family: widow, sons Billie III, Lee. Business: Chairman of the Board, Nimnicht car dealdeships.

group and keep scores. Bobbi Santora got me involved in that and I did it for years, said Nimnicht last month, sitting in an office at Nimnicht Buick/GMC near The Avenues Mall. She called it quits when the tournament to the TPC in 1981 and I took over. Then I got involved with other committees like Admissions and Credentialing. In 1993, she was asked if she would take a new assignment. The committee of Past Chairmen had voted her to become that years new vice chairman. If all went well, she would go through the four VC slots and then become chairman. The first woman. I had no idea that I ever would be asked to do that, said Nimnicht. It wasnt anywhere on my radar. It wasnt necessarily because I was female and no female ever had been a vice chair. It simply wasnt anything that I thought might happen. When the Senior PGA Tour now the Champions Tour came to the area in 1998, she got another call. This was from Brian Goin, then the Players director and now a Tour executive. Would she chair it? She would and did, from its first visit to the Golf Club of Amelia Island in 1998 to the next four years at the World Golf Village. It was enjoyable because the senior players were so receptive, she said. They appreciated everything that anyone did. But the isolation of the new WGV didnt attract fans and the event moved on. Its now in Savannah.

She went back to being a past chairman until last year. Jeff Sanders, who the Tour had hired to run the new Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open, called. Would she chair his event? I guess I cant say no, she said. Shes in for the duration of the first contract and will lead this year (Oct. 20-23) and next. While she was moving up in golf, she also was learning the automobile business. She married Billie Nimnicht Jr. they met while students at Jacksonville University and found herself immersed in one of the citys oldest companies. Started in 1941 as Riverside Chevrolet by Billie Sr., it was a fixture on Riverside Ave. near the present Haskell Company building. Car dealers moved to the suburbs in the 70s and 80s and Riverside went to Cassat Ave., getting a name change to Nimnicht Chevrolet. Six years ago, the company acquired a Buick dealership and built on Philips Highway. Anne and Billie also had an interest in brother-in-law Ed Nimnichts Cadillac dealership on Blanding Blvd. near Orange Park, which later was sold and is now Cadillac of Orange Park. Billie Jr. died in 2001 and Anne became the companys chair, with sons Billie III and Lee running the dealerships. Im not active day-to-day. Billie and Lee are very good at what they do, she said. But I am the chairman. And thats a title that she certainly is used to having.

Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

Hazel: 2012 chair

Insurance executive Curtis Hazel got his start in the Players as a standard bearer in 1984. He even made national television, standing near Jack Nicklaus as he pondered a shot from the woods left of the 16th fairway. Hazel never stopped volunteering in the tournament and now hes at the top, becoming the chairman for the 2012 tournament. Hes one of three who are assuming roles at the top of the volunteer organization. Kevin English, a vice president at PSS, has been elevated to a vice chairmans spot, putting him in line to be chairman in five years, and Mike Hartley of The Hartley Press is the new chairman of the past chairmans organization. Hazel got involved in the tournament through his godfather, Wayne Waters. He was the chairman and got me into it, said Hazel. It was fun then and its fun now.

WGV update
The Slammer & Squire has a summer special through September at $199 per month. It provides unlimited green fees, range balls, a 50 percent reduction in monthly dues and advance tee times. <<< The two courses also have reduced greens fees including a Play All Day package for $99 on the Slammer & Squire and $109 on the King & Bear. Info: 9406100. <<< The final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2, opens July 15 in the IMAX Theatre. <<< The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Convention Center has again won Meetings & Conventions magazines Gold Tee Award, given annually to the best golf/meeting properties in the world, as selected by the magazines readers. This marks the seventh consecutive year that the resort has captured the award.
<<<

Curtis Hazel

Hes the second in his family to be chair: his stepmother, Theresa Greene-Hazel, led the volunteers in 1999. Hazel will head the volunteer force of over 2,000 and brings a history of experience, having served in numerous committees as well as the four years as a vice chairmen that lead the top spot. Hazel recently formed his own company, Hazel Partners LLC, after 10 years with his familys Greene-Hazel and Associates. He lives at Palencia with his wife and two children, and where he carries a 14 handicap. Hazel is a graduate of Bolles and UNF.

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After extending its showing of Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory exhibit into 2011, the WGV museum is transforming it into a traveling exhibition with the support of the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation and it will embark on a five-year tour this fall. The 2,500-square foot exhibit will open in Oct. 1 at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in Green Bay, Wis. Following a three-month engagement through Jan. 1, it will open at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich., for a Feb. 8 - June 10, 2012 exhibition. The tour is scheduled to continue through 2015.

Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

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Sponsored by Underwoods Jewelers

Jacksonville Area GA
www.jaxareagolfassn.com July 19: Directors, Deerfield Lakes. July 21-24: Amateur, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Aug. 16: Directors, Cimarrone. Sept. 20: Directors, Ponte Vedra G&CC. Oct. 3: Bill Black Memorial, Ponte Verda. Oct. 19: Directors, Palencia. Nov. 7: Four-Ball, San Jose. Nov. 21: Club Team Championship. Dec. 13: Directors, Fleming Island.

Calendar
1stCoast GA

Jacksonville Womens GA
home.comcast.net/~jwga/ Sept 14: Opening Day Deerwood.

North Florida PGA

www.nfpga.com July 13-14, Junior, Disney World. Aug. 25-26: Senior, Reunion.

www.1stcoastgolf.com July 12: All Association, Deerwood. July 21: AmaTOUR, Hidden Hills. Aug. 1: All Association, San Jose.

Northeast Florida Seniors GA

www.nefsga.com May 9: Halifax Plantation. May 23: Selva Marina.

PGA Tours
www.pgatour.com Sept. 22-25: The Tour Championship, East Lake Golf Club. Oct. 13-16: PGA Tour McGladrey Classic, Sea Island. Oct. 20-23: Nationwide Tour Winn-Dixie Open, TPC Valley. Oct. 20-23: Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, Walt Disney World Magnolia and Palm.

Florida State GA
www.fsga.org July 11: Match Play qualifier, North Hampton. July 11: One-day event, Hammock Beach Ocean. July 12: One-day event, Hammock Beach Conservatory. July 21: One-day event, Palencia. Aug. 1: One-day event, King & Bear. Aug. 22-23: Valley and Stadium. Sept. 10-11: State Mixed, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Sept. 13: One-day event, King & Bear. Sept. 19: Mid-Am qualifier, Queens Harbour. Sept. 26: One-day event, Marsh Creek.

Northern Chapter PGA

www.nfpga.com/northernchapter/5813/ July 10-11: Chapter Championship, World Golf Village. Aug. 10: Stableford, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Aug. 28-30: Gate Petroleum Invitational, Ponte Vedra Lagoon and Ocean. Sept. 19: Military Pro-Am, NAS. Oct. 3: Pro-Assistant, Glen Kernan. Oct. 17: Marsh Creek Pro-Am. Nov. 7: Sawgrass Pro-Am. Nov. 21: Pro-Am Tournament of Champions, Amelia National. Dec. 12: Partners Pro-Am, TBA.

Mens Senior Interclub

www.ewga.com June 13: Slammer & Squire. July 18: San Jose.

LPGA Tour
www.lpga.com Dec. 2-5: Tour Championship, Orlando Grand Cypress.

Executive Womens GA
www.ewga.com July 17: Slammer & Squire. Aug. 7: St. Johns G&CC. Aug. 17: Palencia. Aug. 21: Slammer & Squire. Sept. 25: St. Johns G&CC. Oct. 2: St. Johns G&CC. Oct. 15: North Hampton. Nov. 5: Deercreek. Nov. 20: St. Johns G&CC. Dec. 4: St. Johns G&CC.

USGA Qualifiers
July 25-26: Amateur, Amelia National. Aug. 8: Senior Amateur, Marsh Creek. Aug. 29: Mid-Am, San Jose.

Players Golf Tour

www.playersgolftour.com July 2: Orange Park. July 16: South Hampton. July 30: Fleming Island. Aug. 13: Eagle Harbor. Aug. 28: Deercreek. Sept. 11: Amelia National. Sept. 24: Eagle Landing.

Golf Channel Tour

www.golfchannel.com/amtour MLynch@golfchannel.com July 16-17: TPC Stadium/Valley. July 23: Cimarrone. July 30: Amelia National. Aug. 20-21: Tour Championship at Ponte Vedra Ocean and Lagoon. Sept. 3: Hammock Beach. Oct. 15: Ponte Vedra G&CC. Nov. 15: Amelia Island Plantation.

Other
July 15-17: Florida Open, Black Diamond. July 18: Fore Our Students benefit, Jacksonville G&CC. Aug. 28-30: Gate Petroleum Invitational, Ponte Vedra Lagoon and Ocean. Sept. 13: MaliVai Washington Foundation Pro-Am, Marsh Landing. Dec. 14: Gate Petroleum Senior, Ponte Vedra Lagoon and Ocean. (Qualifier: Dec. 6.)

North Florida Senior GA

www.nefsga.com July 11: Ormond Beach Oceanside July 25: South Hampton. August 8: Palm Coast Grand Haven. Aug. 22: St. Johns G&CC.

Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

JAGA

www.jaxareagolfassn.com

A look back at the Amateur

The Jacksonville Area GAs Amateur Championship often inaccurately called the City Amateur is July 21-24 at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and heres a look at the past: Even though JAGA was established in 1954, the first Amateur wasnt until 1962 because a City Championship was run by a group at the old Brentwood course. The tournament had an odd name, The Finkelstein, because a Bay Street pawn shop of that name sponsored it. JAGA finally took control and Ed Snake Swanson of San Jose was the first winner in 1962. The man who won the most, Ray Terry of Timuquana, isnt the most famous athlete in his family. His father was Bill Terry, the last man to hit over .400 in the National League and a member of baseballs Hall of Fame. The younger Terry, who ran the family car business here, won in 1964-65, 67-68 and 70. Only one JAGA champion went on to win a PGA Tour event although several have made the Tour. The man is Woody Blackburn, who played at the old University CC and who won the 1976 Disney Team with Billy Kratzert in 1976 and the 1985 IsuzuAndy Williams San Diego Open. Jeff Klauk of the TPC (1997) has won twice on the Nationwide Tour. The McCumber family has produced excellent players here but only one JAGA winner: Josh, nephew of Mark and son of Jim, who won in 1995. Three winners went on to become club head pros in this area: Robert Harris (1974,) Ponte Vedra; Robbie Gilmore (1976,) Selva Marina and Queens Harbour;) and Cary Splane (1985,) Gainesville and Marsh Creek. Terry and Splane have also won the State Amateur. Two sets of relatives have won: father Henry Tuten (1971) and son Chris (1991,) and cousins Leon Rowland (1983) and Roger (1988.) The PGA Tour moved here in 1979, bringing many good players on its staff, but only one has won the JAGA: Mike Bodney in 1990. Three-time winner Robert Goettlicher of Orange Park (1987, 1999-00) is the only local to win the prestigious North & South Amateur in Pinehurst. Why isnt it the City Amateur? Because JAGAs boundaries stretch well outside the area and several winners were from out of the Jacksonville area, including Roger Rowland (Ocala) and Jack Rountree (Lake City.)

JAGA championships
July 21-24: JAGA Amateur at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Open to any player with an index of 10.0 or less. The field will be limited to 84 players and 42 are exempt from last year. If there are enough entries, a qualifier will be held July 10 at Ponte Vedra for the open spots. The entry fee is $85 for the qualifier with another $165 due from those making the field. The entry fee for exempt players is $250. There are three other JAGA events in 2011 with details to be decided: July 28-29: Junior, Queens Harbour. October 3: Scholarship tournament, Ponte Vedra Ocean. November 3: Club Team Championship, Deerwood.

Publisher Brian Lamarre, brian@jaxgolfmag.com Editor Fred Seely, fred@jaxgolfmag.com

A family affair
Mark Ellison and son Mark won the Jacksonville Area GA Fathers Day tournament last month with 142. It finished as a family affair with dad Rod teaming with brother Mike to finish second in the top flight at 147. Other flight winners were Don and Michael Cameron, who had 149 to take the Second Flight in a card match with Gary and Jack Meadors; and Jack E. and son Jack H. Heineman, who won the Third Flight with 155, 10 shots better than Rocky and Kelly Russell.

For advertising & editorial Jacksonville Golf Magazine PO Box 65536 Orange Park, FL 32065 p. 904.383.7587 f. 904.240.4487 www.jaxgolfmag.com info@jaxgolfmag.com
Jacksonville Golf Magazine is published every month and distributed throughout Northeast Florida. Reproduction without express written authorization from Jacksonville Golf Magazine is strictly prohibited. Editorial content is not necessarily the view of the publisher. All information is from sources we believe to be creditable. Neither the publisher nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found in the publication. The publisher accepts no liability for the statements made by advertisers.

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Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

Get a more interactive experience. www.jaxgolfmag.com

JAGA hosts club playday

The Jacksonville Area GAs directors meeting last month at San Jose was an opportunity for club officials to gather as general managers, pros and superintendents were included. There were 28 clubs represented and speeches were held to a minimum, with host pro Todd Bork welcoming the players and encouraging support for the Northern Chapters drive to save golf in high schools, and JAGA President Bob Streightiff thanking the officials for their help.
The winning team was Julington Creeks foursome of (standing) John Arms and (seated, from left) Jerry Kay, Leslie Fisher and Ken Mierdierks. They returned a 24-under 120.

Match play makes it

The citys first-ever match play tournament will return next year with just a few changes.

Hidden Hills was the runner-up by one shot with (back row) Tex Blinn and Barney Poston, and (front) Russ Stuart and Larry Dismore.

The final handshake: winner Eric Graybeal (left) gets congratulations from runner-up Mike Bodney.

Marsh Creek has (from left) Andy Maguire, Don Orion. Bud Delores and Jud Ammiano.

Marsh Landing: (back row) Chester Stokes and George Halvorsen, and (front) Ed McDonald and John Arnold.

Windsor Parkes team consisted of Mark Casper, Rip Phillips, Mark Heeter and Rae Marks.

Graybeal (center) with the key volunteers including (from left) JAGA President Bob Streightiff, Palencia assistant pro Mike Broderick, tournament chairman Joe Fitzgerald and assistant chair Matt Cooney. The Fernandina team of Jim Edwards, Frank Finoccio, Damien Brink and Buddy Tate.

Well have several meetings to determine what we need to do, but overall I think it was a great success for a first year venture, said Bob Streightiff of Queens Harbour, who put the event as a major goal during his presidency of the Jacksonville Area GA. Joe (Fitzgerald, the tournament chairman) emailed the contestants for their thoughts, and well consider everything before going ahead. The inaugural was played at Palencia with former Jacksonville U. player Eric Graybeal beating ex-PGA Tour exec Mike Bodney in the final, 2 and 1. The 32-man field was filled by invitation, using the JAGA Amateur finish as a basis, and quarter finalists received points toward a spot on the 2012 Underwood Cup team.

Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

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Northern Chapter PGA

Prep effort getting results

The drive to fund Duval County high school golf is about halfway to its goal and the efforts leader says he expects to raise the $70,000 needed by months end. Mike Lynch, president of the Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA, said that sales of raffle tickets has been going well and that outside donations have been received. A benefit tournament also is scheduled. Lynch hopes to raise $60,000 through the raffle and get donations for the rest. Budgetary problems caused the Duval County School Board to cut several sports including golf. The chapters effort is mirrored by enthusiasts on other sports. Weve asked every Chapter member to sell 20 tickets, said Lynch, and this response has been excellent. For instance, San Jose sold out almost the first day. Its not too much to ask of our membership. Lynch also has received donations. Ed Tucker (Amelia River general manager and professional) played high school golf at Fletcher and his mother sent $500, he said. She wanted to show how much she appreciated what the program had done for her son. The chapter will sponsor a fundraising tournament on July 18 at Jacksonville G&CC. The entry fee is $125.

How you can help

1. Buy a raffle ticket for $100. Prizes are foursomes at area courses. Tickets are available from local pros. 2. Participate in the July 18 golf event. Details at www.nfjg.org. 3. Make a donation. Details at www.nfjg.org.

Howard, Rumbaugh pace Junior Butler wins invitational

The TPCs Duke Butler virtually cinched a spot on the Underwood Cup amateur team last month by winning the 51st annual Bob Meeker Invitational at Selva Marina. Butler made birdie on the second playoff hole to beat collegians Nate Mosby and Greg Mergel. All had tied at one-under 143. The Meeker is one of the amateur events that give points for the Underwood team. Butler also qualified for the Florida State GA Public Links championship last month, which also was worth points. One shot off the pace were Chris Bray and Joel Dahlenberg, followed by Blake Holcomb at 145.

Orange Parks Sabrina Rumbaugh, who won the girls division of the Northern Chapter Junior, participated in last months Ryder Cup Junior Academy at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance in Port St. Lucie and one benefit was a photo with World Golf Hall of Fame member and 1995 United States Ryder Cup Captain Lanny Wadkins, who was one of the instructors.

Cory Howard and Sabrina Rumbaugh took the top divisions last month in the Northern Chapter PGA Junior Championship at Amelia River. Howard shot 155 to edge Jack Alderson and Jonathan Folkner by one shot in the boys 16-18.

Rumbaugh took the girls with 151, two ahead of Emily Tillo. Kevin Slaydens 149 took boys 14-15 by one over Jake Kline, and brother Spencer Slayden was the 12-13 winner with 44, 11 better than Graydon Kent.

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Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

Amateur: long road starts here

The long road to the United States GAs Amateur Championship begins with local qualifying in this area, its July 25-26 at Amelia National and ends August 28 when the new champion is crowned at Erin Hills, Wisc. Tiger Woods won the 1994 Amateur at the Its one of the largest TPC Stadium course. tournaments in the world and over 7,000 are expected to enter. The number of places at the local qualifier wont be decided until all entries are in but its probable that there will be the same three spots as last year. The local qualifiers face another 36-hole qualifier at Erin Hills and its companion course in Michigan on Aug. 2223, then go into a match play field of 64. The Amateur once was played here Tiger Woods won in 1994 at the TPC and seven men who live in the area have won, starting with Hyde Park GC co-owner Billy Maxwell in 1951. The 36-hole qualifier here is expected to bring together almost every top area player. Five with area ties made it last year but only the University of Floridas Bong Vongvanij and Lake Citys Blayne Barber made match play. Both won two matches before going down. Not making last years match play field of 64 were J.D. Tomlinson of UF, UNFs Sean Dale and Max McKay of St. Augustine. Local winners Here are the local winners, who they beat in the final, or their winning margin with the runner-up, and where they played: 1951: Billy Maxwell, Atlantic Beach, d. Joe Gagliardi, 4 and 3, at Saucon Valley, Pa. 1960: Deane Beman, Ponte Vedra Beach, d. Bob Gardner 6-5 at St. Louis CC. 1963: Beman d. Richard Sikes 2-1 at Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa. (Beman also was runner-up in 1966.) 1967: Bob Dickson, Ponte Vedra Beach, won by one shot (stroke play) over Vinny Giles, at Broadmoor Club, Colo-

rado Springs. 1969: Steve Melnyk, Jacksonville, won by five shots over Giles at Oakmont CC, Pittsburgh. 1986: Buddy Alexander, Gainesville, d. Chris Kite, 5-3, at Shoal Creek CC, Birmingham. (Jacksonvilles Len Matti ace was medalist.) 1997: Matt Kuchar, Sea Island/Jacksonville, d. Joel Kribel, 2-1 at Cog Hill, Chicago. 2001: Bubba Dickerson, Callahan, d. Robert Hamilton, 1 up, at East Lake, Atlanta. Tiger wins here The 1994 U.S. Amateur was played at the TPC Stadium course in 1994 and it was the first of three straight Amateur wins by a Stanford undergraduate named Tiger Woods. It was the second Amateur (and, at this point, the only other) to be played in Florida. In 1987, Billy Mayfair won at Jupiter Hills. Woods fell behind Trip Kuehne in the 36-hole final and won the last three holes for a 2-up victory. Woods successive Am finals were also close, as he edged Buddy Marucci 2 up at Newport, R.I., in 1995 and the University of Floridas Steve Scott in 38 holes at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon in 1996.

Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

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Winners
Bob Meeker Invitational at Selva Marina Overall: Duke Butler IV. Flight: Pat Carrol. Senior flights: Mike Vallencourt, John Holmes. Executive Womens Golf Association championship at Orange Park Gross champion: Jeri Roche. Net champion: Monica OReilly. Gross flights: Nipa Polnoi, Sharon Zeimetz, Glenna Riesterer, Sheila Woolsey. Net flights: Donna Willard, Margie Begley, Mary Pat Franz, Linda Hagan. Scramble team: Lori Collins, Rosann Burdette, Barbara Ulch, Jennifer Eckensberger. North Florida Junior Foundation Ponte Vedra Lagoon Boys 16-18: Dan Huffington. Boys 14-15: Hank Massey. Boys 12-13: Logan Membrino. Girls: Sabrina Rumbaugh. Foundation boys: Jack Pues. Foundation girls: Lauen Weidner. North Florida Junior Foundation at St. Johns Prep 14-15: Hunter Wells. Prep 12-14: Harrison Presto. Foundation Boys: Jack Pues. 1stcoast Seniors at South Hampton Gross flights: Bruce Moskovciak, Randy Hammond, Rae Marks, Buzz Gillis Net flights: David Hodges, Jim Stampfli, Bob Burlingame, Mike Brogan. St. Johns Junior at St. Johns GC Girls: Sabrina Rumbaugh. Boys 12-13: Nicolas Jahn. Biys 14-15: Jake Kline. Boys 16-18: Logan Lanier. Golf Channel Amateur Tour at Amelia River Flights: Brad Polhemus, John Brendel, Bill Reed, Mark Petrosky. Jacksonville Area GA directors at San Jose Julington Creek team of John Arms, Leslie Fisher, Jerry Kay and Ken Mierdierks.

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Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

Course Directory
PUBLIC
Bent Creek 103rd St. on Westside. Range. 779-0800. Blue Cypress Off University Blvd. in Arlington. Range. 762-1971. Cecil Field 103rd St. on Westside. Range. 778-5245. Deerfield Lakes Lem Turner Rd. just south of Callahan. Range. 879-1210. Fernandina Beach Amelia Island Parkway. Range. 800-646-5997 First Tee of Jacksonville Golfair Blvd. west of I-95 North. Nine holes. Range. 924-0401. First Tee of St. Johns County. Three holes. SR 207, St. Augustine. 810-2231. Hyde Park Northern dead end of Jammes Rd. on Westside. Range. 786-5410. Jacksonville Beach Penman Rd. south of Beach Blvd. Range. 247-6184. King & Bear Part of World Golf Village but about three miles south of main area off SR 16. Range. 940-6088. Mill Cove Monument Rd. in Arlington. Range. 642-6140. Palatka Moseley Ave. west of downtown. Range. 386-329-0141. Palm Valley Palm Valley Rd. east of U.S. 1. Nine holes. Range. 285-8978. River Bend Golf Links South of Green Cove Springs. Range. 284-8777. Slammer & Squire In World Golf Village. Range. 940-6088. St. Augustine Shores U.S. 1 south of St. Augustine. Range. 794-4653. St. Johns Golf Club Cypress Links Blvd. 27 holes. Range. 209-0350. Starke East of town. Nine holes. Range. 964-5441. UNF Golfplex At University of North Florida. Three holes. Range. 620-2050.

Royal St. Augustine SR 16 west of I-95 in St. Augustine. Range. 824-4653. Selva Marina Selva Marina Blvd. north of Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach. Range. 246-3144. South Hampton CR 210 west of I-95. Range. 287-7529. St. Johns Golf & Country Club CR 210 west of I-95. Range. 940-3200. Windsor Parke Hodges Blvd. north of Butler Blvd. Range. 223-4653.

Palencia US 1 north of St. Augustine. Range. 599-9030. Plantation Country Club A1A south of Ponte Vedra Beach. Range. 543-2960. Ponte Vedra G & CC In TPC. Range. 285-0204. San Jose San Jose Blvd. Range. 733-1511. Sawgrass A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach. Range. 273-3720. Timuquana Timuquana Rd. west of US 17. Range. 389-0477.

SEMI-PRIVATE
Amelia River Amelia Island Parkway. Range. 491-8500. Champions Club at Julington Creek Off SR 13 in Mandarin. Range. 287-4653. Cimarrone CR 210 west of I-95. Range. 287-2000. Country Club of Orange Park West end of Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park. Range. 276-7664. Cypress at Grand Club Palm Coast. Range. 386-437-5807. Eagle Harbor CR 220 in Fleming Island. Range. 269-9300. Eagle Landing OakLeaf Plantation. Range. 291-5600. Golf Club at Fleming Island US 17 in Fleming Island. Range. 269-1440. Keystone Golf & Country Club U.S. 21 south of town. Range. 352-473-4540. Magnolia Point Off US 17 in Green Cove Springs. Range. 269-9315. Matanzas Course at Grand Club Palm Coast. Range. 386-446-6330. North Hampton Off A1A west of Fernandina Beach. Range. 548-0000. Pine Course at Grand Club Palm Coast. Range. 386-445-0852. Queens Harbour Atlantic Blvd. west of Intracoastal Waterway. Range. 221-1012.

PRIVATE
These clubs are private and are open to the public only for special events. Amelia National Off A1A west of Fernandina Beach. Range. 652-0660. Deercreek North of Avenues Mall on Southside Blvd. Range. 363-1507. Deerwood Baymeadows Rd. west of Southside Blvd. Range. 642-5917. Glen Kernan Hodges Blvd. north of Butler Blvd. Range. 646-1116. Grand Haven Palm Coast. Range. 386-445-2327. Hidden Hills Monument Rd. in Arlington. Range. 641-8121. Jacksonville Golf & Country Club Hodges Blvd. north of Butler Blvd. 223-6910. Long Point South of Amelia Island Plantation. Range. 277-5908. Marsh Creek A1A south of St. Augustine Beach. Range. 461-1145. Marsh Landing South of Butler Blvd. in Ponte Vedra Beach. Range. 285-6514. Osprey Cove East of I-95 at Exit 1 in Georgia. Range. 800-352-5575. Pablo Creek San Pablo Rd. south of Butler Blvd. Range. 992-6900.

RESORT
These courses are primarily for the use of resort guest or members. Some are also open for public play at certain times. Omni Amelia Island Plantation In Amelia Island Plantation. 54 holes. Range. 261-6161. Golf Club of Amelia Island Amelia Island at Ritz-Carlton. Range. 277-8015. Ponte Vedra A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach. Range. 273-7710. TPC Sawgrass In Sawgrass Country Club, 36 holes. Range. 273-3235. Open to public 14 days in advance.

MILITARY
These clubs are located on Navy bases and are for persons assigned to the bases or retired military personnel. They occasionally are open for public play during special events. NAS US 17 north of Orange Park. Range. 542-3249. Windy Harbor Mayport Rd. north of Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach. Range. 270-5380.

Jacksonville Golf Magazine July 2011 www.jaxgolfmag.com

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