Chatham Junior Woman’s Club

The Chatham Junior Woman’s Club will host its annual golf outing on Monday, July 11, 2011, at Edgewood Golf Course in Auburn. The Chatham Junior Woman's Club is a non profit-organization based in Chatham. “The golf outing is one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” CJWC member Michelle Marquess said.The golf outing will begin with a 1 p.m. shotgun. Each participant will receive a golf cart, lunch, dinner and three drink tickets.“We have lots of great raffle prizes to give away and we typically have some great silent auction items as well such as tickets to a Cardinals game,” Marquess said. There are still spots available for individual golfers and foursomes. NewsChannel 20 has committed to be the event sponsor for this years event and the Chatham Jaycees will be providing support as well as the tournament’s gold sponsor.  Additional corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. The profits from the golf outing will help the CJWC to provide support to the Chatham community.

Travelers sets up well for 1st-time wins

Bubba Watson won his first PGA Tour title last year in the Travelers Championship, becoming the third player in five seasons to break through at the event.J.J. Henry, a Connecticut native, won in 2006 and Hunter Mahan took the first of his three PGA Tour wins in the 2007 tournament.Mahan said he doesn't think that's just coincidence. The tournament starting Thursday, a week after the U.S. Open, sets up well for more inexperienced players. "This is an opportunity for a lot of young guys to play well, like me and J.J. and Bubba," he said. "You're going to make a lot of birdies out here. It's not like an Augusta-type golf course where you have to learn it over time. You can come out here right off the get-go and play well." It also doesn't hurt that the Travelers comes when many of the top players are home resting, and others aren't mentally at the top of their game. "There is such a buildup to (the Open) like no other tournament has, so the week after that you kind of get a bit flat in the middle of the week," said Geoff Ogilvy, who will be playing the TPC River Highlands for the first time in 10 years. "You really want to be intense, but it's hard." Watson acknowledged that gave him an advantage last year, when he came into Connecticut after missing the Open. "I got here mad that I wasn't in the Open and then I somehow won," he said. "So yeah, that might have some effect on it that you're energized and you're ready to go and you're mad that you weren't in a major, so now you're ready to go at the Travelers."

Donald since the start of 2005

The consistency showed by Donald since the start of 2005 is quite remarkable. He has missed just one halfway cut and only recorded two performances rated above 70.00 by Pro Golf Form. Such consistency is indicative of a measured and controlled golfer who has superb course management skills. Add to this the fact that the 2005 season was the first in which Donald competed in all four majors and you can begin to see that there is still plenty of room for improvement. Donald's game is characterised by steady play from tee to green. His game is all about course management, placing the ball in the right spot and playing the percentages. It's an approach that should ensure he is regularly in contention. Couple this with growing mental confidence and he can be expected to win many more titles over the coming years, including major championships. Donald's game is best suited to the US Open championship and this probably represents his best chance of major glory, although don't rule him out in the other majors. In short, Luke Donald is a massive talent, and with growing confidence he is sure to become a major player in the golf world over the coming years. Of course, much of Donald's success will be dependent on the form of Tiger Woods, but of all the young pretenders out there, Luke Donald has arguably the greatest chance of asking the most questions of Woods. Luke Donald is going to be big.

Golf Driving Tip That Will Add Yards Quickly

A golf driving tip that can make the difference between being the shortest hitter in your foursome to the longest…consistently would interest you right? Well…the tip I’m going to discuss is not what you’d think, but you need to take notice and apply it…if you want to own your foursome off the tee! When you think of a golf driving tip I’ll bet you think of swing mechanics. Am I correct? If so, has it worked? I mean…have you added 10,20 or even 30 yards to your swing taking this approach? If most of you are being honest you’ll say no. For those of you who have accomplished the above with that approach…congratulations. You are a small percent of the golfing community that is successful. So if a golf driving tip pertaining to swing mechanics isn’t it…what else is left? Well…you’re looking at it if you look in a mirror. It is your physical make-up. What your body is capable of doing at this moment. All the swing thoughts and golfing tips in the world won’t help if your body can’t physical perform them. And no matter how hard you try…you won’t be successful. You see…your body needs to move with a certain level of flexibility (fluidity), strength (power) and sequence (body awareness). Most of these qualities dissipate with age. Do you feel as flexible, strong or with great body awareness as you did years ago?

Golf swing tips

Golf swing tips are rampant! Golfers can’t get enough of them. But are they working…or are they adding to the confusion and frustration of your game? Many qualified instructors will tell you to stay away from all the golf swing tips in the golf magazines. Why? Because it causes “paralysis-by-analysis!” What I mean is you get on the course and you are thinking too much about your golf swing mechanics and not enough about getting the ball in the fairway, onto the green, and in the hole! We also call this the “62-point checklist”. I’m here to tell you that golf swing tips by themselves will NEVER work! I know…this is a very strong statement, but I feel very strong about this. How many times have you received a tip from a golf instructor, golfing buddy or out of a magazine…only to try it and play worse? Come on…be honest! I can tell you right now that it’s your BODY that won’t allow you to apply this golf swing tip.

Mickelson struggles, but is pleased with minimal damage at Congressional

It sounds like a scene out of a movie. Just as Phil Mickelson was finishing his opening round of the U.S. Open on Thursday, the clouds opened up over Congressional. Perhaps it seemed fitting considering Mickelson celebrated his 41st birthday by shooting 3-over 74 –nine shots back of playing partner and tournament leader Rory McIlroy. As Mickelson would tell the story, though, he would emphasize what happened next. A small crowd showered Mickelson with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” –slightly less boisterous than the ’02 crowd crooning at Bethpage –and then he walked into the clubhouse, saw his wife Amy, and hugged her with a smile. Mickelson may have shot 74, but he is happy that was the score he turned in after a day of spraying it all over Congressional. “This actually turned out to be a great day because I played horrific,” Mickelson said. “I started out hitting a good shot into the water to make double [at the par-3 10th hole]. And to hit it where I did today and still end up only 3 over, I’m still in it.” Against his assessment of the form he had during the round, Mickelson’s 74 was almost as good of a score as McIlroy’s 65. “This easily could have been a day that could easily be in the 80s but I was able to get myself around and be only 3 over,” he said. After opening with a double bogey, Mickelson went on to make three bogeys. He salvaged two birdies to keep within eyesight of the pace as he took a walking tour of the many awkward escapes Congressional can require of a player who is well off their normal game. The five-time U.S. Open runner-up and four-time major champion feels as though he will improve significantly on Friday.

U.S. Open five things to know

American rise? For the first time in the history of golf, no American owns a major championship at the same time Europe has possession of the Ryder Cup. Might that change at Congressional Country Club this week? Well, Europeans own the top spots in the world with Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer taking the top three rungs on the rankings ladder. And if a non-American were to win just outside our nation's capital on Father's Day, the streak of five major winners from somewhere other than the United States would also be a first in the sport's history. 2. Streaks end at Congressional With Tiger Woods not in the field, he'll be missing his first U.S. Open since 1994. That leaves the Masters as the only major Woods hasn't missed as a professional. Other streaks that will end this week are Vijay Singh's mark of 67 majors in a row, which was the longest active streak. The new benchmark is Sergio Garcia's 48 straight after the Spaniard made it through sectional qualifying on June 6. Mike Weir had been ahead of Garcia with 48 in a row, but the Canadian -- who has been struggling through injuries -- isn't in the field at Congressional, either. 3. When leading isn't ideal He who sleeps with the 54-hole lead should beware. Thirteen consecutive 54

Golf-Ishikawa apologises after driving into trouble

Japanese golf prodigy Ryo Ishikawa was forced to apologise for some wayward driving on Friday after reports he had been caught behind the wheel of a vehicle without a valid license dented his squeaky-clean image. The 19-year-old is a huge celebrity in Japan with numerous multi-million dollar endorsements but was left red faced when he was found to have driven on an invalid international permit. "I humbly apologise for the embarrassment that my carelessness and clumsiness caused," Ishikawa told a news conference before leaving Japan for next week's U.S. Open.  Ishikawa's remarkable success since becoming the Japan tour's youngest winner as a bashful 15-year-old has already earned him a fortune on and off the course.  His bright smile has made him a favourite among Japanese housewives and he was quick to face the media after his run-in with the law.  "As a professional, I must be more vigilant and devote myself to golf," he said, bowing deeply in a black suit and tie.  "To be honest, my mind is still not at ease at what I did. I will put all my energy into golf."  Ishikawa drove a car in Japan before the international permit he had obtained in the United States had become valid. Japanese golf officials have criticised Ishikawa and said they would hold a meeting to discuss possible punishments after hearing from the player and his father Katsumi. Following the deadly earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan in March, Ishikawa promised to donate all his earnings for this year to relief efforts in the devastated areas.

Davis earns master's from FAU

Joshua Hunter Davis of Palm City received a master's degree May 5 in fine arts from Florida Atlantic University. He is a graduate of Martin County High School and Savannah College of Art and Design, where he received his bachelor's degree. Davis is teaching at Digital Media Arts College and FAU. Willoughby Golf Club announces that this year's City of Stuart Four Ball Championship, which took place April 1 at Willoughby Golf Club, raised almost $10,000 for the 10th Street Recreational Complex in Stuart. Funds raised will be directed to the East Stuart Youth Initiative, which collaborates with several local agencies to provide afterschool programming where children are exposed to a multitude of activities and experiences that they would otherwise not be able afford or participate in. The charity golf event drew a crowd of 62 participants, including former Major League Baseball player and announcer for the New York Yankees, Jim Kaat. Format for the tournament included a two-person best ball partner tournament with two divisions, Championship and Handicap.

Kiyoshi Murota keeps torrid pace, leads PGA Senior championship by four

Kiyoshi Murota has outclassed the rest of the field at the PGA Senior Championship through 36 holes. The obscure player from the Japanese Senior Tour shot a 67 Friday at Valhalla and is 11-under par and four clear of his nearest competition at the halfway point of the tournament. When asked on Thursday if he could shoot another 66 on Friday at the Valhalla Golf Club, Kiyoshi Murota, the likeable pro from Japan simply said, "no, no more." Murota was right, he didn't have another 66 in his bag, instead, he shot a five-under par 67 at the Valhalla Golf Club and his 11-under par total of 133 leads the 72nd PGA Senior Championship by four shots at the midway point. The little-known Murota was four clear of two huge names in senior golf -- Hale Irwin and Nick Price. Irwin, the all-time leader in career senior tour victories with 45, is a week from his 66th birthday and he added a 68 to his first round 69 and is tied with Price at seven-under par 137. Price followed up his first day 67 with a two-under par 70 on Friday. The tournament suffered through a five-hour-plus rain delay on Thursday and half the field had to finish their first 18 early Friday morning, including defending champion Tom Lehman. Lehman was four-over par for his first round with six holes to play but birdied three of his final six to finish with a 73. He then came through with a two-under par 70 and is one-under and 10 behind the leader with two days to catch up.

23 Golf Clubs Bring $1 Million at Sotheby's

A collection of golf clubs -- 23 woods and irons said to have been owned by winners of the British Open golf tournament -- brought $1,031,101 yesterday in a sale by Sotheby's in Chester, England. The price was the highest paid at auction for sporting memorabilia, more than doubling the $451,000 paid on March 23 at Sotheby's in New York for a Honus Wagner baseball card from about 1910. The golfing memorabilia sale was held as aficionados of the sport gathered for the British Open, which begins this weekend in Southport, 50 miles north of Chester. "Even without the golf clubs, the sale brought a record total for a golfing sale for us," Jon Baddeley, a Sotheby's collectibles specialist, said by telephone from the salesroom. The sale total was $1.9 million. The new owner of the clubs, an unidentified British corporation, told Mr. Baddeley that the collection would not be split up and would be put on display. The clubs were collected by Willie Auchterlonie, the Scottish winner of the British Open in 1893, and by his son Laurie. Both were club makers at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland. The collectors identified each club as having been owned by a winner of the British Open between 1860 and 1930. The oldest club is said to have been used in 1860 by Willie Park Sr., a Scottish golfer. The newest club was used by Bobby Jones, an American, in 1930.