Many have said that through every adversity there is a seed of equal or greater benefit. Of course, when you are right in the middle of a major challenge, it is often hard to take solace in such words. Little did John and Elizabeth Kline know when their first born daughter MacKinzie was born with a congenital heart defect in the spring of 1992, that she would one day be an extraordinary child with dreams of being a professional golfer.
Neither Kline nor his wife had played much golf and neither knew very much about the sport that would soon capture their daughter’s heart. If one saw “Mac”, as she is affectionately called by her family and friends, walking around the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course snack bar area, one might mistake her for any typical blonde hair, pony tailed 9-year old kid. If you followed her to the driving range and watched her practice one would soon realize she is anything but typical. Get a chance to spend some time with her or talk to her and you would quickly realize how very special she is.
“She has a great aura around her and everybody loves her,” says John Mason, the Director of Instruction at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course and Mac’s coach for the last three years. To truly appreciate her vibrant smile and fully comprehend her incredible story, you must start at the beginning of Mac’s story…..
MacKinzie Jean Kline was born March 30, 1992 with a heart defect described as Single Ventricle with transposition of the greater vessels. Her liver is transverse (meaning it is on the left side of her body) and she is aspleenia, which means she was born without a spleen. Simply put, transposition is when oxygenated blood from the lung flows in the wrong direction. This causes poor oxygenation to the body. You do not have to be a medical student to understand that proper oxygenation is vital to sustain life. MacKinzie’s Single Ventricle pumps her blood through her body and the blood flow to and from her lung goes by gravitational flow. She was only 3 months old when Dr. John Lamberti of San Diego Children’s Hospital performed open- heart surgery. The two- part procedure called a Hemi-Fontan was the first of two open-heart surgeries needed to modify Mac’s heart. The second procedure was performed when she was 23 months old. The Klines were overjoyed their daughter would survive surgery, but doctors said Mac would never be like “normal” children or be able to participate in sport, especially any aerobic activity. This challenge did not stop the Klines from looking for ways to expand Mac’s horizons. They figured they would find less physically stressful things she could participate in-hence, golf. The doctors were right, she is definitely not normal. Mac far succeeds that.
Naturally left handed, her parents introduced her to the game of golf as a lefty. She continued to swing her starter clubs for the next two years in her backyard, but before long, the Klines realized Mac enjoyed swinging so much they should take her to a golf course and invest in proper instruction. They soon met John Mason, an accomplished player and a solid PGA instructor at nearby Encinitas Ranch. Before too long, Mason recommended Mac change from swinging left-handed to swinging right-handed. “I felt she would benefit in the long run since it is best if your front arm is stronger. She was swinging equally as well from the right side and she did not feel awkward. Since she hit the ball well both ways and she is naturally left handed, it would be beneficial as she matured as a golfer,” Mason said. When Mason decided to turn her around in December of 1999, Mac had only 60 days or so to prepare for her tournament debut. She had already registered to play in her first junior golf tournament with the North County Junior Golf Association. She won that tournament and went on to win 19 more of the 24 tournaments she entered before the 2000 season was over. Mac was the San Diego County Jr. Golf Association’s Golfer of the Year in her 8- and under age division and placed 5th in the prestigious Jr. World Championships during her first season of competition. Currently, she is club champion at both Encinitas Ranch and Rancho Carlsbad. Her second year of junior golf was equally as impressive, never finishing out of the top three. Mac won 16 of the 31 events she entered, finished second in 13, and third in two others. In the last round of the Jr. World Championship she was paired with Cheyenne Woods (adorable niece of you-know-who). With the press buzzing around their group the entire day, Mac managed to make four birdies and finish with a 3- under final round 55. This moved her into a tie for second place, however, she won the card off because of her strong back nine. She took home the coveted runner-up trophy. “I really wanted to win the Jr. World. Although many of the players are older than I am, I knew I still had a chance. I played well, so I think this was the highlight of my summer”, Mac explains.
She plays in tournaments all year round and has traveled all around the country earning national awards, including the Heather Farr Award. It is no surprise that recently Mac was nominated for consideration for the Giovanni Villani Award. Both awards are given to youngsters who are passionate about the game of golf, who have incredible spirit, and display strong character. The Villani Award is given to a San Diego Jr. Golfer who succeeds despite adversity. “Mac is amazing in that she treats everyone well. It really doesn’t matter if her playing partners shoot 100 or they beat her, she is always kind and considerate. Mac is very humble, meek and mild mannered. She could very well be cocky, but she isn’t. I’m not sure you can teach that quality”, Mason says.
On average, Mason has given her lessons twice a week since they met. “ I started out mostly with her swing mechanics and the basics. It took about a year to solidify the fundamentals. Now, we spend a lot of time on her short game, especially her putting.”
Both Mac and Mason agree that the weakest area of her game right now is the fact she starts poorly because she gets too nervous. Hard to believe, since anyone who knows her agrees that the strongest part of her game is her mind. “Her greatest asset is her mind. She is patient, focused, has incredible concentration levels and is very determined” says Mason. Although she has a lot of golf between now and then, she will tell you, “My goal is to win Jr. World 2002.”
Most mornings, Mac practices putting for an hour before she goes to school, but before you think she is perfect, she will quickly add “but sometimes I sleep in”. If she doesn’t hit the putting green at 7:00 am , she is definitely on it sometime between 3:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon when she returns to the course for more practice. Mason also wants Mac continually working on her physical strength. He tries to incorporate physical training into their training program. “We work a lot on fitness. Mac has great timing and good clubhead speed. She also has great balance and eye hand coordination, but she can’t over exert herself so we stick to pushups, sit ups and try to walk as much as possible.” She walks a lot since Mac plays a minimum of 36 holes per week. Unlike most third graders, she would rather walk with a pull cart than ride in a golf cart. Encinitas Ranch, sprawling over the hills of Encinitas, CA. is not the easiest of courses to walk either!
The only thing besides the first tee jitters that seems to rattle her even keeled personality is the fact she may have another heart surgery soon. “I feel a little worried or nervous about the possibility of surgery. I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to have another one. I shouldn’t get too upset though because I know it doesn’t hurt and the doctors are really good.” Spoken like a true champion, showing courage and bravery even when things are challenging. Despite the possible surgery, she says she has a lot to accomplish in order to hit her goals. “I want to go to college and then play professional golf when I grow up. I really want to play on the Ladies Tour and after I retire I want to teach golf.” Right now her goals are high and although she sets the standards for the 10 and under crowd, everyone should take notice of her commitment to excellence.
Vital Statistics
Name: MacKinzie Jean Kline
Birthday: 3/30/92
Nickname: Mac
Siblings: Younger sister, Madison
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Brown
Height: 4’5”
Weight: 67 lbs.
Best Score on Regulation Course: 81 @ Talking Stick (from Jade Tees – 5,800 yds)
Scottsdale, AZ.
Most Birdies in a single round: 4
Hole-In-One: Not Yet!
Clubs: Custom fit Taylor Made irons and woods
Putter: Titleist
Ball: Callaway Red
Favorite Club: Driver
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Subjects: Reading/Math/Science
Pets: A dog named Lucky
Jacqui Nicoletti McSorley is co-author to the book Golf Guide for Parents and Players (Mansion Grove House), along with Johnny Gonzales. Additionally, Jacqui played professionally on the Japan LGPA Tour, and is currently a sought-after LPGA Teacher and started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site in northern San Diego county.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Jill McGill is Enjoying the Moment
Most athletes will tell you how incredibly lucky they are to do what they do for a living. Jill McGill is no exception. Minus lugging the 70-lb. golf bag through airports, she loves her life. Like many professional golfers before her, the road to achievement has been scattered with many ups and downs. Professionally 2006 wasn’t the year she had hoped for; but personally, 2006 was the year she had always dreamed of. Jill said, “Well, I am not happy with my 80th place ranking, but in light of the fact that I will be married December 9th, I enjoyed my best year personally. I’m doing well.”
McGill loves the Del Mar area where she and husband Patrick Byerly reside. The 34- year old from Denver, Colorado fell in love with southern California while watching the Rose Bowl as a freshman in high school. She fell in love with San Diego when she came to play in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship at Torrey Pines.
The six- foot beautiful blond didn’t grow up in a “golf family”. “ When I was 9 or 10, I remember my mother telling me that after swim and tennis, I couldn’t hang out all by the pool all day. She said that I would have to do something constructive, so I started to play golf.” Although McGill has shown promise at every stage of her golf career, she hasn’t let golf consume her life. Even in her early high school days, she almost chose not to play. “It was kind of lonely. I was on the boys team.” However, knowing she really wanted to go to college in California and that she would need a golf scholarship, she sent out letters to colleges. “I didn’t play a lot of junior golf, but I played well in a couple of key events. I shot 71-71 in the U.S. Junior Girls and then I also played well in the Junior World.”
She peaked the interest of her “dream school” and earned a scholarship to the University of Southern California. By her senior year at USC, she was an obvious All-American and the #1 ranked amateur player in the country after winning the Women’s U.S. Amateur, played at San Diego Country Club. Before she graduated she just fell short of winning back to back U.S. Amateurs, but won the prestigious U.S. Public Links Championships. It was only after the national championship success and all of the media attention did Jill seriously consider a life on the LPGA tour. She was unsuccessful in her first attempt at the LPGA Tour qualifying school, but used that year to finish her schooling at USC and go on to graduate with a degree in Communications. One of the highlights of her career and pivotal turn in her career came in 1995 at the Women’s British Open. “I finished in second place behind Karrie Webb. That was a huge confidence boost. It made me realize that I could play with the best and that I belonged out there. It really helped me through “Q” school.
Fast forward ten years and almost two million dollars in career earnings and you have McGill, now a seasoned veteran in a tour getting younger year by year. She is still enthusiastic about traveling to all corners of the world, meeting new people and loves the excitement of tournament golf. While she wouldn’t share her specific goals, she did share how excited she is to have someone to share her passions with as she gears up for the 2007 season. McGill’s success has always been self-driven and her greatest desire for the new year is to be able to live in the moment. She really is striving to let go of the outcome and the results. “I want to detach myself from all of that, let the results take care of themselves, and live in the moment.”
In addition to her professional success, she is most proud of the opportunities she has to work with charities; especially troubled kids involved in the Get a Grip Foundation. She also gives her time to the Boys and Girls Clubs, as well as being the player spokesperson for two LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Programs in San Diego. McGill also is involved in raising awareness of skin cancer.
When she isn’t on tour this year in search of her first LPGA tournament victory, she will be around San Diego enjoying what other San Diegans enjoy. While at home, she and her husband love the active, healthy lifestyle available. Both are avid college sports fans, they both love to work out, they love the beach and since he is a marathon runner, McGill is running a bit more. Her new husband is not a golfer, but she loves to play at San Diego, Fairbanks and La Jolla Country Clubs. “The people at these courses have been wonderful to me over the years. They make me feel so at home!” McGill says, “I truly feel like I am on vacation when I am at home!”
Jacqui Nicoletti McSorley is co-author to the book Golf Guide for Parents and Players (Mansion Grove House), along with Johnny Gonzales. Additionally, Jacqui played professionally on the Japan LGPA Tour, and is currently a sought-after LPGA Teacher and started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site in northern San Diego county.
McGill loves the Del Mar area where she and husband Patrick Byerly reside. The 34- year old from Denver, Colorado fell in love with southern California while watching the Rose Bowl as a freshman in high school. She fell in love with San Diego when she came to play in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship at Torrey Pines.
The six- foot beautiful blond didn’t grow up in a “golf family”. “ When I was 9 or 10, I remember my mother telling me that after swim and tennis, I couldn’t hang out all by the pool all day. She said that I would have to do something constructive, so I started to play golf.” Although McGill has shown promise at every stage of her golf career, she hasn’t let golf consume her life. Even in her early high school days, she almost chose not to play. “It was kind of lonely. I was on the boys team.” However, knowing she really wanted to go to college in California and that she would need a golf scholarship, she sent out letters to colleges. “I didn’t play a lot of junior golf, but I played well in a couple of key events. I shot 71-71 in the U.S. Junior Girls and then I also played well in the Junior World.”
She peaked the interest of her “dream school” and earned a scholarship to the University of Southern California. By her senior year at USC, she was an obvious All-American and the #1 ranked amateur player in the country after winning the Women’s U.S. Amateur, played at San Diego Country Club. Before she graduated she just fell short of winning back to back U.S. Amateurs, but won the prestigious U.S. Public Links Championships. It was only after the national championship success and all of the media attention did Jill seriously consider a life on the LPGA tour. She was unsuccessful in her first attempt at the LPGA Tour qualifying school, but used that year to finish her schooling at USC and go on to graduate with a degree in Communications. One of the highlights of her career and pivotal turn in her career came in 1995 at the Women’s British Open. “I finished in second place behind Karrie Webb. That was a huge confidence boost. It made me realize that I could play with the best and that I belonged out there. It really helped me through “Q” school.
Fast forward ten years and almost two million dollars in career earnings and you have McGill, now a seasoned veteran in a tour getting younger year by year. She is still enthusiastic about traveling to all corners of the world, meeting new people and loves the excitement of tournament golf. While she wouldn’t share her specific goals, she did share how excited she is to have someone to share her passions with as she gears up for the 2007 season. McGill’s success has always been self-driven and her greatest desire for the new year is to be able to live in the moment. She really is striving to let go of the outcome and the results. “I want to detach myself from all of that, let the results take care of themselves, and live in the moment.”
In addition to her professional success, she is most proud of the opportunities she has to work with charities; especially troubled kids involved in the Get a Grip Foundation. She also gives her time to the Boys and Girls Clubs, as well as being the player spokesperson for two LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Programs in San Diego. McGill also is involved in raising awareness of skin cancer.
When she isn’t on tour this year in search of her first LPGA tournament victory, she will be around San Diego enjoying what other San Diegans enjoy. While at home, she and her husband love the active, healthy lifestyle available. Both are avid college sports fans, they both love to work out, they love the beach and since he is a marathon runner, McGill is running a bit more. Her new husband is not a golfer, but she loves to play at San Diego, Fairbanks and La Jolla Country Clubs. “The people at these courses have been wonderful to me over the years. They make me feel so at home!” McGill says, “I truly feel like I am on vacation when I am at home!”
Jacqui Nicoletti McSorley is co-author to the book Golf Guide for Parents and Players (Mansion Grove House), along with Johnny Gonzales. Additionally, Jacqui played professionally on the Japan LGPA Tour, and is currently a sought-after LPGA Teacher and started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site in northern San Diego county.
Bajamar: Jewel of the Baja Peninsula
Bajamar. For some, it may bring back memories of a wild weekend north of Ensenada that included a lot of cervezas, tequila, and lost balls. Golfers may remember trucking down to the Bajamar Golf Course in the late 70’s and early 80’s only to find a barren course. It used to be a course with remote tee boxes, a lot of desert, and fairways sprinkled over the hills of the baja peninsula. The ocean views were nice, but the brutal conditions made the golf hard to enjoy. It really isn’t much fun when you lose three dozen golf balls, and at the price of balls these days that would be reason enough to skip the trip across the border!
However, that was then and this is now. The Bajamar Ocean Front Golf Resort spans over 1,600 acres and has some of the most majestic views a golfer can find. The newest nine, Oceano, is spectacular. For those golfers privileged enough to have played Pebble Beach, it is a beautiful reminder of how incredible it is to play along side the crashing surf. For those who have never played Pebble Beach, and may never do so due to the escalating green fees (around $400), Bajamar is a great opportunity to play golf in one of the most gorgeous natural settings on the West Coast.
Patrick Shaw, a PGA professional, has been the Head Golf Professional at Bajamar for two years. He encourages players of all abilities to come down and enjoy the facilities. “The course has new owners and is under new management. We are not a five star resort, but the atmosphere is so relaxing. It is a different world down here – there is no pollution, no traffic, and it is very quiet.” Shaw, a native Bostonian, feels like he has a bit of Cape Cod to offer. “This course reminds me of some of the East Coast Ocean front golf I grew up playing. Yet, you get to enjoy playing year round. It’s like the old days for me, riding my bike to work!” Shaw says. There are four sets of tees, which allows any level of player to enjoy their round. All three nines have their own distinct personalities and present their own set of challenges. You literally have an ocean view on every hole on the course whether it is from the tee box, the fairway or the green.
The Vista course, the first course built for this property, was designed by Percy Clifford in 1976. The Vista, “The View”, is super challenging. The gold tees are 3605 yards and from the blue tees, it plays 3316 yards. The course is more manageable for the middle to high handicapper from the white tees as it plays just over 3000 yards. There are several blind tee shots on this nine where a little course knowledge goes a long way.
The Lagos course is named appropriately “The Lakes” since four of the nine holes have lakes that come into play. The ninth hole is a challenging par 3 coming into the clubhouse with water surrounding the green. Shaw describes this nine as the “fun nine”. There are many dog- legs and a lot of target golf shots over water. This nine has three par 3’s making par 35. The yardage is considerably shorter than the other two courses from the blue and white tees, possibly setting a player up for some lower scores, but from the gold tees, holes 6,7,8, and 9 are extremely challenging. A player may find it difficult to carry the trouble on a couple of these holes should they decide to play from the tips. The Lagos nine was part of the original course, but was re-designed by David Fleming in 1991.
The Oceano course is magnificent with a stretch of four holes hugging the rugged coastline. Carlos Moreno has been an assistant professional at Bajamar for three years. His description is perfect. He said, “the terrain and the design of the golf holes fit like a glove. You really can’t picture anything else being there.” Shaw, Moreno, and anyone else who plays the scenic course usually agree, “you put this golf course anywhere else and you would pay two and three times the green fee you pay now.” Oceano is a little longer than Vista from the white tees, but is still very fair for the middle to high handicapper. The low handicap player definitely should play either the blue or the gold tees and enjoy the challenges this course has to offer. While not painstakingly long, it is very challenging at over 3500 yards from the gold and almost 3300 yards from the blue. Long enough, especially if the ocean breeze is blowing. The beautiful par- three fifth starts an incredible four-hole journey along the cliffs and crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. Although the carry is not as long as that of the sixteenth hole at Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula, it takes a good golf shot from the back tees to clear the booming surf and rocky inlet. The next three holes run right along the craggy coastline just like Pebble Beach’s ninth and tenth holes. There is not a lot of bail out to the left as off the fairway is scrubby desert-like terrain that may eat the golf ball too. The fairways slightly slope towards the sea and holes seven and eight are liberally bunkered through out as well. Finishing on Oceano is a lot like finishing at Cypress. The last hole is all- uphill and gives you a slightly blind view of where the pin may be on the large three- tiered green. A mistake in club selection may cost you. However you finish, you will definitely enjoy the panoramic view of the Pacific behind you.
All three nines are in good condition. Eddie Mena is a veteran green superintendent coming from Shadowridge Country Club with ten years of experience. Mena has done a great job keeping the course in good condition considering the difficulty of keeping the salt out of the water. The greens are bent with poana and the fairways are a bermuda mix. There is not a lot of rough on this course, mostly you will find yourself in the rough terrain and natural habitat of the rugged coastline should you miss the fairway. However, you will find some rough around the aprons and areas surrounding the greens. There is more area to miss than in the past, and because of the multiple tee configurations, you can reach the fairways if you play the appropriate tees. However, hit it crooked and you will pay. Just off the fairways on most holes are a lot of cactus, brush and bushes, which are described as baranca and played as a lateral hazard. Personally, I like the natural terrain and the less manicured look once you venture off the fairway.
Even if there are many golfers playing Bajamar, it often feels like you have the whole course to yourself since no two fairways are side by side. Play can be slow at times on the weekend with rounds taking five hours or so (no more than most public facilities), but with the beautiful views one does not seem to mind as much. Green fees are reasonable with weekend rates at $80 per player including golf cart. During the week, the green fee is $65. If you come and stay at the Sierra Plaza, there is a stay and play rate of $87 available with double occupancy. There are group rates and the facilities are perfect for corporate outings and special occasions.
The haciendas are charming and there is a beautiful courtyard for entertaining. In addition to all of the great golf, the resort also has a wonderful restaurant and tower for golfers to enjoy panoramic views of the course as they enjoy delicious Mexican cuisine. The surroundings are simple and very quiet and offer a perfect get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is a short trip (about an hour) from the San Diego Port of Entry, yet without the hassles of exotic travel, you feel like you have gone a long way from home. Bajamar is a great place to take a golf vacation, or just to hang out for the day. Plan your time of travel well so that you are not caught up in the congestion at the U.S. border crossing. The roads to and from the Bajamar Resort are toll roads (costing you $2.25 at two different tollbooths) and help make the trip easy, convenient and less stressful for those less comfortable entering Mexico. Our neighbors to the South are great hosts and everyone speaks English at the Resort making it a great get- away destination.
Jacqui McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players, along with Johnny Gonzales. She played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour and currently is an avid supporter of the golf community in northern San Diego county, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site.
However, that was then and this is now. The Bajamar Ocean Front Golf Resort spans over 1,600 acres and has some of the most majestic views a golfer can find. The newest nine, Oceano, is spectacular. For those golfers privileged enough to have played Pebble Beach, it is a beautiful reminder of how incredible it is to play along side the crashing surf. For those who have never played Pebble Beach, and may never do so due to the escalating green fees (around $400), Bajamar is a great opportunity to play golf in one of the most gorgeous natural settings on the West Coast.
Patrick Shaw, a PGA professional, has been the Head Golf Professional at Bajamar for two years. He encourages players of all abilities to come down and enjoy the facilities. “The course has new owners and is under new management. We are not a five star resort, but the atmosphere is so relaxing. It is a different world down here – there is no pollution, no traffic, and it is very quiet.” Shaw, a native Bostonian, feels like he has a bit of Cape Cod to offer. “This course reminds me of some of the East Coast Ocean front golf I grew up playing. Yet, you get to enjoy playing year round. It’s like the old days for me, riding my bike to work!” Shaw says. There are four sets of tees, which allows any level of player to enjoy their round. All three nines have their own distinct personalities and present their own set of challenges. You literally have an ocean view on every hole on the course whether it is from the tee box, the fairway or the green.
The Vista course, the first course built for this property, was designed by Percy Clifford in 1976. The Vista, “The View”, is super challenging. The gold tees are 3605 yards and from the blue tees, it plays 3316 yards. The course is more manageable for the middle to high handicapper from the white tees as it plays just over 3000 yards. There are several blind tee shots on this nine where a little course knowledge goes a long way.
The Lagos course is named appropriately “The Lakes” since four of the nine holes have lakes that come into play. The ninth hole is a challenging par 3 coming into the clubhouse with water surrounding the green. Shaw describes this nine as the “fun nine”. There are many dog- legs and a lot of target golf shots over water. This nine has three par 3’s making par 35. The yardage is considerably shorter than the other two courses from the blue and white tees, possibly setting a player up for some lower scores, but from the gold tees, holes 6,7,8, and 9 are extremely challenging. A player may find it difficult to carry the trouble on a couple of these holes should they decide to play from the tips. The Lagos nine was part of the original course, but was re-designed by David Fleming in 1991.
The Oceano course is magnificent with a stretch of four holes hugging the rugged coastline. Carlos Moreno has been an assistant professional at Bajamar for three years. His description is perfect. He said, “the terrain and the design of the golf holes fit like a glove. You really can’t picture anything else being there.” Shaw, Moreno, and anyone else who plays the scenic course usually agree, “you put this golf course anywhere else and you would pay two and three times the green fee you pay now.” Oceano is a little longer than Vista from the white tees, but is still very fair for the middle to high handicapper. The low handicap player definitely should play either the blue or the gold tees and enjoy the challenges this course has to offer. While not painstakingly long, it is very challenging at over 3500 yards from the gold and almost 3300 yards from the blue. Long enough, especially if the ocean breeze is blowing. The beautiful par- three fifth starts an incredible four-hole journey along the cliffs and crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. Although the carry is not as long as that of the sixteenth hole at Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula, it takes a good golf shot from the back tees to clear the booming surf and rocky inlet. The next three holes run right along the craggy coastline just like Pebble Beach’s ninth and tenth holes. There is not a lot of bail out to the left as off the fairway is scrubby desert-like terrain that may eat the golf ball too. The fairways slightly slope towards the sea and holes seven and eight are liberally bunkered through out as well. Finishing on Oceano is a lot like finishing at Cypress. The last hole is all- uphill and gives you a slightly blind view of where the pin may be on the large three- tiered green. A mistake in club selection may cost you. However you finish, you will definitely enjoy the panoramic view of the Pacific behind you.
All three nines are in good condition. Eddie Mena is a veteran green superintendent coming from Shadowridge Country Club with ten years of experience. Mena has done a great job keeping the course in good condition considering the difficulty of keeping the salt out of the water. The greens are bent with poana and the fairways are a bermuda mix. There is not a lot of rough on this course, mostly you will find yourself in the rough terrain and natural habitat of the rugged coastline should you miss the fairway. However, you will find some rough around the aprons and areas surrounding the greens. There is more area to miss than in the past, and because of the multiple tee configurations, you can reach the fairways if you play the appropriate tees. However, hit it crooked and you will pay. Just off the fairways on most holes are a lot of cactus, brush and bushes, which are described as baranca and played as a lateral hazard. Personally, I like the natural terrain and the less manicured look once you venture off the fairway.
Even if there are many golfers playing Bajamar, it often feels like you have the whole course to yourself since no two fairways are side by side. Play can be slow at times on the weekend with rounds taking five hours or so (no more than most public facilities), but with the beautiful views one does not seem to mind as much. Green fees are reasonable with weekend rates at $80 per player including golf cart. During the week, the green fee is $65. If you come and stay at the Sierra Plaza, there is a stay and play rate of $87 available with double occupancy. There are group rates and the facilities are perfect for corporate outings and special occasions.
The haciendas are charming and there is a beautiful courtyard for entertaining. In addition to all of the great golf, the resort also has a wonderful restaurant and tower for golfers to enjoy panoramic views of the course as they enjoy delicious Mexican cuisine. The surroundings are simple and very quiet and offer a perfect get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is a short trip (about an hour) from the San Diego Port of Entry, yet without the hassles of exotic travel, you feel like you have gone a long way from home. Bajamar is a great place to take a golf vacation, or just to hang out for the day. Plan your time of travel well so that you are not caught up in the congestion at the U.S. border crossing. The roads to and from the Bajamar Resort are toll roads (costing you $2.25 at two different tollbooths) and help make the trip easy, convenient and less stressful for those less comfortable entering Mexico. Our neighbors to the South are great hosts and everyone speaks English at the Resort making it a great get- away destination.
Jacqui McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players, along with Johnny Gonzales. She played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour and currently is an avid supporter of the golf community in northern San Diego county, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Johnny Gonzales Loves the Game of Golf
The road to achievement is not always the straight one and rarely an easy one, but a road with unusual turns, key crossroads, and many detours. Johnny Gonzales, PGA Professional the Golf Operations Manager and Academy Director for the Singing Hills Country Club at Sycuan has traveled a unique and interesting path thus far in his golf career. Gonzales is a husband, father, teacher, and businessman with great passion and love for all of the fore mentioned.
The position at Singing Hills is only the last one added to an already chalk full resume which currently lists him as part owner in three other interesting and exciting businesses within the golf world. Before telling you about all of these exciting business ventures that Gonzales has helped start and continues to serve, let’s go back thirty-three years to where his love affair with the game of golf really began.
Johnny Gonzales was born in New Mexico to Juan and Toni Gonzales. He is one of three children and wasn’t introduced to the game until he was ten years old. “My Dad and uncles played a bit. Conrad Hilton had a tournament every year at the course where they played. Back then there was a caddy system and my dad talked them into hiring me as a “C” caddy. Of course the “A” and “B” caddies were always chosen first, but one time a young man from the military service couldn’t afford one and, unknown to me, Dad told the guy that if he would hire me, Dad would pay the $10 fee. I was only 10 when I got that first caddy job. That job changed my life because I fell in love with the game,” said Gonzales. “My Dad didn’t tell me until I was 33 that he paid for those services!” he laughed.
Gonzales grew up on a farm and developed a strong bulldog mentality early on. “He has always been small in stature, but the more someone told him he couldn’t do something, the more determined he became to prove them wrong. He was always told by high school teachers and counselors to never consider college because he wouldn’t make it. They said he better pick a trade,” says Mary Jane, his wife of nineteen years.
Gonzales worked real hard on his golf game, and attended the New Mexico Military Institute and then proved he had different aspirations as he earned a scholarship to United States International University (USIU) in San Diego. He never had a golf lesson until he got to USIU.
He golfed at USIU in 1981 and 1982 and it was in the last part of his senior year that he met Mary Jane. She was taking 24 units that semester – so it seems to reason that he is not the only go-getter in the family. “Actually, Mary Jane has been so instrumental in my success. She really helps me, directs me, and is a great support in all that I do.” Gonzales said.
The two married in April 1985 and right away Gonzales was in he PGA of America. He worked at Chula Vista Golf Course as a first assistant initially. He then became the General Manager and Head Professional for nine years. In that time however, he may have learned more about business operations, people and teaching, but his aspirations of playing the tour were still too strong to deny giving it a chance. In 1992 he walked away from the security of his PGA job and put a partnership together with some sponsors so that he could try to make it out on tour. After three years and seventeen professional tournaments he didn’t qualify for the PGA tour. He and Mary Jane had two small children by now, so they decided that he now needed to go back to his career with the PGA. This time, however, he decided to become a full time teacher at Stadium Golf Center. “ My time at Chula Vista had been great, but I realized after playing tournament golf for three years my true love was teaching,” Gonzales said. Not only was he teaching avid golfers at Stadium at this point in his life, he was also in the process of introducing his own small children to the game he loved so much. He and Mary Jane have two children – Elizabeth (who is now 16) and Steve (who is now 15).
An incident when they were just learning he game may have yet been another one of those defining decisions that affects your life’s path. “I had taken the kids to a small course near our home in La Mesa to teach them more about the game. We went to Sun Valley for a fun day of golf, but the day turned out to be a disaster. I remember stepping over a dog to pay our green fees and then there were balls whizzing over our heads as we played and no one yelled ‘fore’. I thought the course had real potential and probably at one time had been a real fun course for beginner golfers and for families,” Gonzales recalled.
What happened next probably best describes why Gonzales has been so fortunate to have success in all of his business ventures. Although he was extremely frustrated with his family’s experience at Sun Valley, he calmly phoned the city of La Mesa, explained his experiences and then asked if the Sun Valley Golf Course was for sale. “I was told it wasn’t, but that if it ever came up for lease my name could be added to a list of people who would bid for it. I told them to put me on that list!” Gonzales said.
Barry Mahlberg, a successful businessman who was instrumental in developing Stadium Golf partnered with Gonzales and helped them acquire Sun Valley. “When we took over Sun Valley I knew it would be a great fit for Johnny. He loved kids and we both wanted to make it a family atmosphere,” Mary Jane said.
Mike and Johnny’s was born not too long after that. Gonzales partnered with his friend and fellow PGA professional Mike Nokes to form an organization for youngsters just taking up the game. Sun Valley was the perfect place for the mostly 12 and under crowd to test their skills and learn about tournament golf. Sun Valley had new life and Mike and Johnny’s continues to grow. After several years of Mike and Johnny’s, Gonzales realized that his now older kids and other talented youngsters 13-17 needed quality events to play in during the school year. “I was giving lessons to some students and was shocked to find out some parents were spending $10,000-$20,000 a year traveling around the country playing in National events and on the AJGA,” said Gonzales.
Here was yet another need and Gonzales quickly formed the California Junior Tour with partner Bernie O’Brian. “The California Tour is a weekend tour that holds events September through April during what is usually a down time for the competitive player,” Gonzales said. “ When we first started, we were not sure we would have enough quality players to make it work, but it has been amazing to see how many good players the tour is attracting,” O’Brian said. He continued, “We do not get a real good deal at most of the courses. We usually pay an adult tournament rate because we are playing on the weekends, but we are still providing competitive fields at a much lower cost than most of the national tours. Also, our players like the fact they are much closer to home when they have to be back in school Monday morning.” O’Brian said that it is easy to be partners with Gonzales “because everybody likes Johnny!” Both men are thrilled with the success and the level of play out on their California Junior Tour after three full seasons and are excited to see six more events in Northern California added to their schedule next year. “It is great to be able to provide this opportunity for these talented players. We fill a void between the expensive national tours and the summertime local tournaments- we are more regional,” said Gonzales.
Creating a new successful tournament tour for developing golfers is just one more stepping stone along this already diverse golf career. His main dream is now being realized as he starts an Academy at the Singing Hills Country Club at Sycuan. He is officially the Golf Operations Manager and will oversee all golf operations. The Academy is still in the developmental process, but he has a ton of ideas from his years of experiences. Mary Jane said, “We have been so blessed because people believe in him. He wants to make people life long lovers of golf. Johnny enjoys every level of teaching and his students are very important to him. This game has been very good to him- and he wants to give back.”
Those teachers many years ago didn’t realize two very important qualities about young Johnny Gonzales- attitude is everything and although he may have been little in stature, he was big in heart.
Jacqui McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players, along with Johnny Gonzales. She played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour and currently is an avid supporter of the golf community in northern San Diego county, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site.
The position at Singing Hills is only the last one added to an already chalk full resume which currently lists him as part owner in three other interesting and exciting businesses within the golf world. Before telling you about all of these exciting business ventures that Gonzales has helped start and continues to serve, let’s go back thirty-three years to where his love affair with the game of golf really began.
Johnny Gonzales was born in New Mexico to Juan and Toni Gonzales. He is one of three children and wasn’t introduced to the game until he was ten years old. “My Dad and uncles played a bit. Conrad Hilton had a tournament every year at the course where they played. Back then there was a caddy system and my dad talked them into hiring me as a “C” caddy. Of course the “A” and “B” caddies were always chosen first, but one time a young man from the military service couldn’t afford one and, unknown to me, Dad told the guy that if he would hire me, Dad would pay the $10 fee. I was only 10 when I got that first caddy job. That job changed my life because I fell in love with the game,” said Gonzales. “My Dad didn’t tell me until I was 33 that he paid for those services!” he laughed.
Gonzales grew up on a farm and developed a strong bulldog mentality early on. “He has always been small in stature, but the more someone told him he couldn’t do something, the more determined he became to prove them wrong. He was always told by high school teachers and counselors to never consider college because he wouldn’t make it. They said he better pick a trade,” says Mary Jane, his wife of nineteen years.
Gonzales worked real hard on his golf game, and attended the New Mexico Military Institute and then proved he had different aspirations as he earned a scholarship to United States International University (USIU) in San Diego. He never had a golf lesson until he got to USIU.
He golfed at USIU in 1981 and 1982 and it was in the last part of his senior year that he met Mary Jane. She was taking 24 units that semester – so it seems to reason that he is not the only go-getter in the family. “Actually, Mary Jane has been so instrumental in my success. She really helps me, directs me, and is a great support in all that I do.” Gonzales said.
The two married in April 1985 and right away Gonzales was in he PGA of America. He worked at Chula Vista Golf Course as a first assistant initially. He then became the General Manager and Head Professional for nine years. In that time however, he may have learned more about business operations, people and teaching, but his aspirations of playing the tour were still too strong to deny giving it a chance. In 1992 he walked away from the security of his PGA job and put a partnership together with some sponsors so that he could try to make it out on tour. After three years and seventeen professional tournaments he didn’t qualify for the PGA tour. He and Mary Jane had two small children by now, so they decided that he now needed to go back to his career with the PGA. This time, however, he decided to become a full time teacher at Stadium Golf Center. “ My time at Chula Vista had been great, but I realized after playing tournament golf for three years my true love was teaching,” Gonzales said. Not only was he teaching avid golfers at Stadium at this point in his life, he was also in the process of introducing his own small children to the game he loved so much. He and Mary Jane have two children – Elizabeth (who is now 16) and Steve (who is now 15).
An incident when they were just learning he game may have yet been another one of those defining decisions that affects your life’s path. “I had taken the kids to a small course near our home in La Mesa to teach them more about the game. We went to Sun Valley for a fun day of golf, but the day turned out to be a disaster. I remember stepping over a dog to pay our green fees and then there were balls whizzing over our heads as we played and no one yelled ‘fore’. I thought the course had real potential and probably at one time had been a real fun course for beginner golfers and for families,” Gonzales recalled.
What happened next probably best describes why Gonzales has been so fortunate to have success in all of his business ventures. Although he was extremely frustrated with his family’s experience at Sun Valley, he calmly phoned the city of La Mesa, explained his experiences and then asked if the Sun Valley Golf Course was for sale. “I was told it wasn’t, but that if it ever came up for lease my name could be added to a list of people who would bid for it. I told them to put me on that list!” Gonzales said.
Barry Mahlberg, a successful businessman who was instrumental in developing Stadium Golf partnered with Gonzales and helped them acquire Sun Valley. “When we took over Sun Valley I knew it would be a great fit for Johnny. He loved kids and we both wanted to make it a family atmosphere,” Mary Jane said.
Mike and Johnny’s was born not too long after that. Gonzales partnered with his friend and fellow PGA professional Mike Nokes to form an organization for youngsters just taking up the game. Sun Valley was the perfect place for the mostly 12 and under crowd to test their skills and learn about tournament golf. Sun Valley had new life and Mike and Johnny’s continues to grow. After several years of Mike and Johnny’s, Gonzales realized that his now older kids and other talented youngsters 13-17 needed quality events to play in during the school year. “I was giving lessons to some students and was shocked to find out some parents were spending $10,000-$20,000 a year traveling around the country playing in National events and on the AJGA,” said Gonzales.
Here was yet another need and Gonzales quickly formed the California Junior Tour with partner Bernie O’Brian. “The California Tour is a weekend tour that holds events September through April during what is usually a down time for the competitive player,” Gonzales said. “ When we first started, we were not sure we would have enough quality players to make it work, but it has been amazing to see how many good players the tour is attracting,” O’Brian said. He continued, “We do not get a real good deal at most of the courses. We usually pay an adult tournament rate because we are playing on the weekends, but we are still providing competitive fields at a much lower cost than most of the national tours. Also, our players like the fact they are much closer to home when they have to be back in school Monday morning.” O’Brian said that it is easy to be partners with Gonzales “because everybody likes Johnny!” Both men are thrilled with the success and the level of play out on their California Junior Tour after three full seasons and are excited to see six more events in Northern California added to their schedule next year. “It is great to be able to provide this opportunity for these talented players. We fill a void between the expensive national tours and the summertime local tournaments- we are more regional,” said Gonzales.
Creating a new successful tournament tour for developing golfers is just one more stepping stone along this already diverse golf career. His main dream is now being realized as he starts an Academy at the Singing Hills Country Club at Sycuan. He is officially the Golf Operations Manager and will oversee all golf operations. The Academy is still in the developmental process, but he has a ton of ideas from his years of experiences. Mary Jane said, “We have been so blessed because people believe in him. He wants to make people life long lovers of golf. Johnny enjoys every level of teaching and his students are very important to him. This game has been very good to him- and he wants to give back.”
Those teachers many years ago didn’t realize two very important qualities about young Johnny Gonzales- attitude is everything and although he may have been little in stature, he was big in heart.
Jacqui McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players, along with Johnny Gonzales. She played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour and currently is an avid supporter of the golf community in northern San Diego county, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Friendship and Golf are Always Universal Amongst Teens
Golf is such a great game, a game for life. It is a game for all ages. Golf is played around the world and doesn't need translation. However, the four teenagers and their two chaperones that visited Taiwan earlier this year were really grateful they had translators when they landed in the Far East.
This has been the fourth time top San Diego Junior golfers have been invited to Taiwan to play in what is now officially called “The San Diego- Friendship Matches”. Founders of the matches, Jack Liu and Ernie Huang, decided to sponsor the event for San Diego County Junior Golf Association’s top players. Huang said, “ We wanted to show appreciation to the organization for a job well done in running its Callaway Junior World Golf Championships.” Huang and Liu, both residents of Rancho Santa Fe, Ca. and successful businessmen have helped Taiwanese players over the last several years adjust to the American way of life when the top players venture over to prepare and play in the Callaway Jr. World Golf Championships. The logistics of getting the kids settled in lodging, the different diet, and the language barrier all can take their toll on these players. “Many wonderful families in the Taiwanese community in San Diego help us out. Jack was really responsible for this support group. None of us could do it alone, but we have joined together to help these youngsters from our native country. It’s a team effort.” Huang said. “The golf part is easy for the kids once you handle all the rest of the stuff.”
The group that went to Taiwan this year couldn’t agree with them more.
Jason Walters, the team captain and the SDCJGA’s Director of Tournaments, along with Carole Duncan, the SDCJGA’s Administrative Manager, were thrilled with the opportunity to take two young men and two young women to Taiwan. “ It was wonderful because we did not have to worry about any of usual traveling challenges. We always had someone with us who could speak the language. Our hotels were wonderful and we had someone who drove us around- he always knew where he was and where we were going. Meals were taken care of. Everything was first class everywhere we went,” Duncan said “These young people will always remember this trip and we all grew as people because of the experience,” Walters added.
Duncan, mother of 15 year old team member Shane Mason said, “It was so much fun to watch the kids experience this extremely different culture and it was equally amusing to see the shocked looks on the Taiwanese as these four Californian kids strolled down the ancient streets of Tainan.” Chris Freeman, 17, the oldest of the players sent over is a senior at Clairemont High School. Freeman, the 2003 Player of the Year in San Diego who has committed to attend and play golf for San Diego State University in fall 2004, was always providing entertainment for the locals as well as his fellow teammates. “Chris had such a great attitude the entire trip and really was a great ambassador. He tried everything and kept us all laughing,” said Walters. Freeman who also has a passion for surfing cruised around in his native attire most of the trip: swim trunks, a towel, flip flops and a casual bucket hat. “I think he enjoyed the contrast of culture he represented,” said Duncan. “Fast times at Ridgemont High” with a Taiwanese twist?
Freeman and Mason made up half of the team while the other half was made up of SDCJGA’s 2003 Player of the Year, 16 year old Amber Lundskog of Scripps Ranch and 16 year old Kimberly Silber of Bonita. All of the kids qualified by being top players in the Championship Division in the 2003 season and by maintaining good grades in school. Lundskog said, “It was absolutely unbelievable! We are so lucky to have had this opportunity. The people there were so gracious. Everyone went out of their way to make our trip terrific!” Walters and Duncan agreed, “The hospitality was phenomenal and every day all of our needs were met. They took time every day to make sure we had some special sight seeing trip. The kids just didn’t see the hotel and the golf course. They saw so much more.”
The group had Paulus Hong as a full time host for the entire 10- day trip. Hong and a private driver took them to the usual museums, temples, culture centers and historical sites of Taiwan, but they also shared the local hangouts, markets and things the typical tourist would never have been exposed to. “I felt really safe on the trip because everything was so well planned,” said Lundskog. “We were able to see so much more than the average visitor.” Mason said, “Even though there were a lot of people, a lot of hustle and bustle, it is more laid back than the States. They take time to socialize more. Meals are times to gather, where we are always on the go.” They were treated every evening to elaborate meals- many with “strange” delicacies. “The boys challenged their palates and were a little more brave than us girls,” said Lundskog. Walters said they were all good sports, “The kids were very polite and respectful when offered things they may have preferred to pass on.” Freeman said, “We tried a lot of new, different foods. I even ate the jellyfish and octopus. It wasn’t that hard for me to eat their food.”
Everyone on the trip found it interesting that McDonalds, 7-11s, Subway restaurants, Gap clothing, HBO and CNN were simple reminders of how small the world is. Somehow they were connected by these common conveniences. During one round there was a long delay between nines, Freeman and one of his playing partners ventured off to a nearby 7-11. “No slurpees though,” Freeman reported. The teenagers all said they saw subtle similarities between America and Taiwan, but were shocked by how different the culture was. They all are also very appreciative that Huang, a native of Miaoli, Taiwan, a small town north of central Taiwan, moved to the United States in 1973. It wasn’t until 1993 that a Japanese business partner introduced Huang to the game of golf. “It must have been difficult to adjust to American life at first,” said Lundskog. The kids agreed that golf was their universal language.
“At the golf course it was fun because they saw 150 Taiwanese junior golfers compete in a four day tournament,” Duncan said. “Something these kids do routinely every summer.” The Friendship Matches were a small part of a tournament put on by the Golf Association of the Republic of China. Huang said, “We try to coordinate the San Diego kids going over with one of Taiwan’s big tournaments so they get a feel for what junior golf is like in Taiwan. Freeman, Mason, Lundskog and Silber, each with the courses’ traditional women caddies, teed it up with their Taiwanese counterparts and watched them as they tried to qualify for a spot on the Taiwanese team that will come to San Diego in July. The four Americans actually played stroke play against four of the top juniors in the already scheduled event. Mason finished the event at four under and he and Freeman beat their new friends William Liu and Henry Lee 589-598. The girls didn’t fare as well, losing to Ruby Tseng and Joann Yeh 609-642, but look forward to seeing them again this summer for a “friendly rematch” at Torrey Pines.
Nanpao Country Club in Tainan hosted the tournament. “It was a nice club. The greens were a little slower than normal and it was really long- some 6500 yards, so that was tough,” said Silber. “It was cool, very tropical with lots of bamboo,” added Mason. “For the most part the golf was just like golf in the states- no two courses are the same. Golfers have to adjust,” said Lundskog. The teenagers were also shown how different every course could be when they were invited to play the pristine Sunrise Country Club in Taipei on the last day of their trip. “That course was amazing!” said Lundskog. “It was a palace!” said Mason. The Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course and its 400,000 square foot clubhouse are something these teens will always remember. “It even had a bowling alley and a movie theatre in it,” Lundskog continues.
Huang was not able to make the trip with the San Diegans this year. The Accenture Match Play World Championships were being played at La Costa Resort and Spa and he was being the gracious host at home to the international rules officials and some media while they were in town working the event. “The officials are often the unsung heroes,” Huang said. “This year I had to share the kids’ trip by DVD. They made a really nice disc for me so I could get the feeling of their experiences. I am glad they enjoyed it so much.”
Mason summed it up nicely for the group, “I never would have dreamed up this kind of experience. I think seeing the cultural differences, you become a better person and have a better understanding of other parts of the world. Sometimes in the U.S., we get in our own little world. We think that everything we do affects other people. I don’t think that anymore.” Huang said, “ It is a thrill to be able to provide such wonderful memories. Over the last ten years I have fallen in love with the game of golf and have been fortunate to have met some wonderful people through the game.” Huang gives a lot to others and sees it as a privilege to be able to help others realize their dreams and goals in the game. “More than the game though, I enjoy seeing these young, talented people get an opportunity to see the world with a new perspective. It is special to see them interact with others in a different culture.”
It’s obvious 37 years ago John Brown, Norrie West, and Lou Smith, the founders of the Callaway Jr. World Golf Championships were on to something- when kids from around the world share the language of birdie, par, bogey, no more needs to be said. Volunteers are always needed for this wonderful event every July. Players compete on eight separate courses around San Diego County. Let us be equally gracious and show golfers worldwide how hospitable Americans in Southern California can be.
Jacqui McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players, along with Johnny Gonzales. She played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour and currently is an avid supporter of the golf community in northern San Diego county, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site.
This has been the fourth time top San Diego Junior golfers have been invited to Taiwan to play in what is now officially called “The San Diego- Friendship Matches”. Founders of the matches, Jack Liu and Ernie Huang, decided to sponsor the event for San Diego County Junior Golf Association’s top players. Huang said, “ We wanted to show appreciation to the organization for a job well done in running its Callaway Junior World Golf Championships.” Huang and Liu, both residents of Rancho Santa Fe, Ca. and successful businessmen have helped Taiwanese players over the last several years adjust to the American way of life when the top players venture over to prepare and play in the Callaway Jr. World Golf Championships. The logistics of getting the kids settled in lodging, the different diet, and the language barrier all can take their toll on these players. “Many wonderful families in the Taiwanese community in San Diego help us out. Jack was really responsible for this support group. None of us could do it alone, but we have joined together to help these youngsters from our native country. It’s a team effort.” Huang said. “The golf part is easy for the kids once you handle all the rest of the stuff.”
The group that went to Taiwan this year couldn’t agree with them more.
Jason Walters, the team captain and the SDCJGA’s Director of Tournaments, along with Carole Duncan, the SDCJGA’s Administrative Manager, were thrilled with the opportunity to take two young men and two young women to Taiwan. “ It was wonderful because we did not have to worry about any of usual traveling challenges. We always had someone with us who could speak the language. Our hotels were wonderful and we had someone who drove us around- he always knew where he was and where we were going. Meals were taken care of. Everything was first class everywhere we went,” Duncan said “These young people will always remember this trip and we all grew as people because of the experience,” Walters added.
Duncan, mother of 15 year old team member Shane Mason said, “It was so much fun to watch the kids experience this extremely different culture and it was equally amusing to see the shocked looks on the Taiwanese as these four Californian kids strolled down the ancient streets of Tainan.” Chris Freeman, 17, the oldest of the players sent over is a senior at Clairemont High School. Freeman, the 2003 Player of the Year in San Diego who has committed to attend and play golf for San Diego State University in fall 2004, was always providing entertainment for the locals as well as his fellow teammates. “Chris had such a great attitude the entire trip and really was a great ambassador. He tried everything and kept us all laughing,” said Walters. Freeman who also has a passion for surfing cruised around in his native attire most of the trip: swim trunks, a towel, flip flops and a casual bucket hat. “I think he enjoyed the contrast of culture he represented,” said Duncan. “Fast times at Ridgemont High” with a Taiwanese twist?
Freeman and Mason made up half of the team while the other half was made up of SDCJGA’s 2003 Player of the Year, 16 year old Amber Lundskog of Scripps Ranch and 16 year old Kimberly Silber of Bonita. All of the kids qualified by being top players in the Championship Division in the 2003 season and by maintaining good grades in school. Lundskog said, “It was absolutely unbelievable! We are so lucky to have had this opportunity. The people there were so gracious. Everyone went out of their way to make our trip terrific!” Walters and Duncan agreed, “The hospitality was phenomenal and every day all of our needs were met. They took time every day to make sure we had some special sight seeing trip. The kids just didn’t see the hotel and the golf course. They saw so much more.”
The group had Paulus Hong as a full time host for the entire 10- day trip. Hong and a private driver took them to the usual museums, temples, culture centers and historical sites of Taiwan, but they also shared the local hangouts, markets and things the typical tourist would never have been exposed to. “I felt really safe on the trip because everything was so well planned,” said Lundskog. “We were able to see so much more than the average visitor.” Mason said, “Even though there were a lot of people, a lot of hustle and bustle, it is more laid back than the States. They take time to socialize more. Meals are times to gather, where we are always on the go.” They were treated every evening to elaborate meals- many with “strange” delicacies. “The boys challenged their palates and were a little more brave than us girls,” said Lundskog. Walters said they were all good sports, “The kids were very polite and respectful when offered things they may have preferred to pass on.” Freeman said, “We tried a lot of new, different foods. I even ate the jellyfish and octopus. It wasn’t that hard for me to eat their food.”
Everyone on the trip found it interesting that McDonalds, 7-11s, Subway restaurants, Gap clothing, HBO and CNN were simple reminders of how small the world is. Somehow they were connected by these common conveniences. During one round there was a long delay between nines, Freeman and one of his playing partners ventured off to a nearby 7-11. “No slurpees though,” Freeman reported. The teenagers all said they saw subtle similarities between America and Taiwan, but were shocked by how different the culture was. They all are also very appreciative that Huang, a native of Miaoli, Taiwan, a small town north of central Taiwan, moved to the United States in 1973. It wasn’t until 1993 that a Japanese business partner introduced Huang to the game of golf. “It must have been difficult to adjust to American life at first,” said Lundskog. The kids agreed that golf was their universal language.
“At the golf course it was fun because they saw 150 Taiwanese junior golfers compete in a four day tournament,” Duncan said. “Something these kids do routinely every summer.” The Friendship Matches were a small part of a tournament put on by the Golf Association of the Republic of China. Huang said, “We try to coordinate the San Diego kids going over with one of Taiwan’s big tournaments so they get a feel for what junior golf is like in Taiwan. Freeman, Mason, Lundskog and Silber, each with the courses’ traditional women caddies, teed it up with their Taiwanese counterparts and watched them as they tried to qualify for a spot on the Taiwanese team that will come to San Diego in July. The four Americans actually played stroke play against four of the top juniors in the already scheduled event. Mason finished the event at four under and he and Freeman beat their new friends William Liu and Henry Lee 589-598. The girls didn’t fare as well, losing to Ruby Tseng and Joann Yeh 609-642, but look forward to seeing them again this summer for a “friendly rematch” at Torrey Pines.
Nanpao Country Club in Tainan hosted the tournament. “It was a nice club. The greens were a little slower than normal and it was really long- some 6500 yards, so that was tough,” said Silber. “It was cool, very tropical with lots of bamboo,” added Mason. “For the most part the golf was just like golf in the states- no two courses are the same. Golfers have to adjust,” said Lundskog. The teenagers were also shown how different every course could be when they were invited to play the pristine Sunrise Country Club in Taipei on the last day of their trip. “That course was amazing!” said Lundskog. “It was a palace!” said Mason. The Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course and its 400,000 square foot clubhouse are something these teens will always remember. “It even had a bowling alley and a movie theatre in it,” Lundskog continues.
Huang was not able to make the trip with the San Diegans this year. The Accenture Match Play World Championships were being played at La Costa Resort and Spa and he was being the gracious host at home to the international rules officials and some media while they were in town working the event. “The officials are often the unsung heroes,” Huang said. “This year I had to share the kids’ trip by DVD. They made a really nice disc for me so I could get the feeling of their experiences. I am glad they enjoyed it so much.”
Mason summed it up nicely for the group, “I never would have dreamed up this kind of experience. I think seeing the cultural differences, you become a better person and have a better understanding of other parts of the world. Sometimes in the U.S., we get in our own little world. We think that everything we do affects other people. I don’t think that anymore.” Huang said, “ It is a thrill to be able to provide such wonderful memories. Over the last ten years I have fallen in love with the game of golf and have been fortunate to have met some wonderful people through the game.” Huang gives a lot to others and sees it as a privilege to be able to help others realize their dreams and goals in the game. “More than the game though, I enjoy seeing these young, talented people get an opportunity to see the world with a new perspective. It is special to see them interact with others in a different culture.”
It’s obvious 37 years ago John Brown, Norrie West, and Lou Smith, the founders of the Callaway Jr. World Golf Championships were on to something- when kids from around the world share the language of birdie, par, bogey, no more needs to be said. Volunteers are always needed for this wonderful event every July. Players compete on eight separate courses around San Diego County. Let us be equally gracious and show golfers worldwide how hospitable Americans in Southern California can be.
Jacqui McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players, along with Johnny Gonzales. She played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour and currently is an avid supporter of the golf community in northern San Diego county, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Your 15th Club
In every sport you hear players talk about “staying mentally focused”, “keeping their head in the game”, or “visualizing the success” among a myriad of other such quotes. These quotes are all different and individual ways to explain the process of mental visualization, which is a product of mental training.
How important is mental training? It has been proven over and over again that the mind is the winning difference. Not only is it the winning difference for top amateurs and professional athletes, but it could be shat is missing from you reaching pinnacles of success at whatever level you strive toward.
First of all, “What is mental training?” Mental training is the discipline of mental practice, imagery, visualization, and positive self-talk; all being used separately and collectively to rehearse your best golf. Mental practice simply means repeating a task in your mind without any movement from your body. Just think about practicing your putting, bunker play, irons, and driver sitting quietly in a room.
Two major reasons come to mind as to why we don’t spend more time doing this. First, many of us have a hard time truly believing psychological practice can as much as physical practice. In recent years this topic has gained more notice. More books and talk show programs have provided more exposure and increased our awareness. I have found that most people just do not understand how to do it, and the discipline it takes to do it.
Second, most of us have a hard time finding the time to sit quietly. The world just seems to get faster and faster. We are always dashing from one appointment to the next. Our schedules are tight, and we have commitments in every direction. We are programmed for action. Go here, do this, hit balls, run errands, etc. Sound familiar? Even with a hectic schedule there are many opportunities throughout the day we could do some mental training. Here are just a few examples: waiting at the Dr.’s office, in line at the grocery store, at the DMV (or any waiting for that matter), first thing in the morning after you wake up, just before you go to sleep (and there is real power in this), in the bath or the sauna, on your way to work in that dreaded traffic (you might find it therapeutic), or maybe just before, during, or after a meal by yourself. Make it a habit and you will reap the rewards.
Imagery is a very specific and a focused type of mental practice and it uses all of the senses to create an experience in the mind. Visualization is just one part of this experience. Close your eyes and picture yourself in the 1st tee of your favorite course. Create your group – who are you playing with? What is the weather like? Can you smell your playing partner’s cigar? See yourself confidently walking up to the tee, bending over and teeing it up, picking out your landing area, taking a smooth relaxed practice swing, then set up, repeat the feel, and then smack!……. an arching drive right down the middle 275-280 yards. It takes some time to create a picture of yourself that you’ll be able to repeat over and over. In the beginning it helps to imitate a favorite player with whom you may identify. Remember the great thing about mental practice is that you are the programmer.
Imagery becomes the key to the learning process. Many athletes imitate or model the actions of other athletes, and use this for their own “mental film”. Imagery is based upon memory and we can create what we want from whatever pieces of memory we chose.
Let’s consider how important the memory is. You have just gotten the fourth tee after “suprisingly” paring the first three holes. You suddenly remember last week you got to this hole and then proceeded to knock two tee shots out of bounds right. Now, what are your chances of making a smooth effortless tee shot here? Your memory, your imagery is not going to be real positive. That is because that’s all you have on your “mental film”. Now if during the last week, you would have reprogrammed your memory and practiced hitting great tee shots off this tee box, your odds have just switched to your favor. You would have a greater likelihood of a successful outcome with the more positive mental imagery in place.
One further note, and just as dangerous of an activity, is the practice of verbalizing a negative experience – and particularly in a repetitive nature. For instance, following the example above in the previous week you probably told someone about your “stupidity”, or “bad luck” and graphically described how “you were even par after three and then proceeded to blow two O.B……etc”. It is human nature that we share all our negative, and we usually are fueling our memory with lots of emotion as we do it. This is very destructive and just increases the difficulty of improving and reinforcing the “good” shots and feelings you are trying to implement.
I strongly recommend you try to avoid the temptation of describing the ugly, and only repeat what you did well. Emotionalize only the positive, and only allow the positive to be at the forefront of your memory. This takes incredible discipline and practice at first, but you will eventually reap the rewards. It will be of much more value than spending another $400 on a new driver. You may not have a lot of time to practice, but if you use what little time you do have wisely, you will hit better golf shots and improve your game.
Happy Golfing!
Jacqui McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players, along with Johnny Gonzales. She played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour and currently is an avid supporter of the golf community in northern San Diego county, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site.
How important is mental training? It has been proven over and over again that the mind is the winning difference. Not only is it the winning difference for top amateurs and professional athletes, but it could be shat is missing from you reaching pinnacles of success at whatever level you strive toward.
First of all, “What is mental training?” Mental training is the discipline of mental practice, imagery, visualization, and positive self-talk; all being used separately and collectively to rehearse your best golf. Mental practice simply means repeating a task in your mind without any movement from your body. Just think about practicing your putting, bunker play, irons, and driver sitting quietly in a room.
Two major reasons come to mind as to why we don’t spend more time doing this. First, many of us have a hard time truly believing psychological practice can as much as physical practice. In recent years this topic has gained more notice. More books and talk show programs have provided more exposure and increased our awareness. I have found that most people just do not understand how to do it, and the discipline it takes to do it.
Second, most of us have a hard time finding the time to sit quietly. The world just seems to get faster and faster. We are always dashing from one appointment to the next. Our schedules are tight, and we have commitments in every direction. We are programmed for action. Go here, do this, hit balls, run errands, etc. Sound familiar? Even with a hectic schedule there are many opportunities throughout the day we could do some mental training. Here are just a few examples: waiting at the Dr.’s office, in line at the grocery store, at the DMV (or any waiting for that matter), first thing in the morning after you wake up, just before you go to sleep (and there is real power in this), in the bath or the sauna, on your way to work in that dreaded traffic (you might find it therapeutic), or maybe just before, during, or after a meal by yourself. Make it a habit and you will reap the rewards.
Imagery is a very specific and a focused type of mental practice and it uses all of the senses to create an experience in the mind. Visualization is just one part of this experience. Close your eyes and picture yourself in the 1st tee of your favorite course. Create your group – who are you playing with? What is the weather like? Can you smell your playing partner’s cigar? See yourself confidently walking up to the tee, bending over and teeing it up, picking out your landing area, taking a smooth relaxed practice swing, then set up, repeat the feel, and then smack!……. an arching drive right down the middle 275-280 yards. It takes some time to create a picture of yourself that you’ll be able to repeat over and over. In the beginning it helps to imitate a favorite player with whom you may identify. Remember the great thing about mental practice is that you are the programmer.
Imagery becomes the key to the learning process. Many athletes imitate or model the actions of other athletes, and use this for their own “mental film”. Imagery is based upon memory and we can create what we want from whatever pieces of memory we chose.
Let’s consider how important the memory is. You have just gotten the fourth tee after “suprisingly” paring the first three holes. You suddenly remember last week you got to this hole and then proceeded to knock two tee shots out of bounds right. Now, what are your chances of making a smooth effortless tee shot here? Your memory, your imagery is not going to be real positive. That is because that’s all you have on your “mental film”. Now if during the last week, you would have reprogrammed your memory and practiced hitting great tee shots off this tee box, your odds have just switched to your favor. You would have a greater likelihood of a successful outcome with the more positive mental imagery in place.
One further note, and just as dangerous of an activity, is the practice of verbalizing a negative experience – and particularly in a repetitive nature. For instance, following the example above in the previous week you probably told someone about your “stupidity”, or “bad luck” and graphically described how “you were even par after three and then proceeded to blow two O.B……etc”. It is human nature that we share all our negative, and we usually are fueling our memory with lots of emotion as we do it. This is very destructive and just increases the difficulty of improving and reinforcing the “good” shots and feelings you are trying to implement.
I strongly recommend you try to avoid the temptation of describing the ugly, and only repeat what you did well. Emotionalize only the positive, and only allow the positive to be at the forefront of your memory. This takes incredible discipline and practice at first, but you will eventually reap the rewards. It will be of much more value than spending another $400 on a new driver. You may not have a lot of time to practice, but if you use what little time you do have wisely, you will hit better golf shots and improve your game.
Happy Golfing!
Jacqui McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players, along with Johnny Gonzales. She played professionally on the Japan LPGA Tour and currently is an avid supporter of the golf community in northern San Diego county, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site.
A Dream and Vision Fulfilled
At first it was a dream, now it is a vision and soon it will be a reality. Pro Kids Golf Academy and Learning Center in San Diego will soon have a beautiful new 7,700 square ft. clubhouse to call home. The address hasn’t changed, but the old dilapidated, run down 3,000 sq. ft building they called a clubhouse has been replaced with a state of the art dream clubhouse that will be instrumental in helping the kids build their confidence and self esteem. They will be proud to call Colina Park “home”.
Pro Kids was founded only seven years ago, to help get kids off the streets and onto the fairways. A small group of San Diego businessman wanted to expose more inner city children to the game of golf. Colina Park was a city run 18 hole pitch and putt course right in the heart of City Heights, a section of San Diego better known for its’ gangs and drug dealers. Although the gangs and the drugs are still prevalent in the this part of town, Pro Kids Golf Academy is doing its best to educate kids not only about golf – but about life. Chip Bolden, the Director of Golf at Pro Kids sums it up best stating “ It is our mission to give these kids who are not necessarily given many chances to succeed, a safe environment to develop life skills, to set goals, and dream big dreams. We want the kids to excel socially, academically, athletically, and to become productive leaders of society with integrity, strong family values, and a commitment to community.”
Most golfers realize golf and life parallel each other more than we would like to admit. Golf is a sport that teaches honesty, integrity, discipline, determination, patience, and sportsmanship. Kids – all kids – of every ethnic race imaginable, and with no regard to economic status, are provided the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to succeed in all areas of their life.
The Academy and Learning Center will provide the safe environment kids need to develop. The programs will empower them to dream about their future, establish goals, build confidence and self esteem, help them with family relationships, and create a sense of belonging to a stable community. All of the programs established at Pro Kids enable the kids to develop skills that will help them socially, intellectually, and physically. The kids are truly given an incredible opportunity to develop into adults with a passion for life, desires to help others, and hope for the future.
Pro Kids has had great success achieving their goals in regard to its youth golf programs, and is now a model program for The First Tee, a national initiative of the World Golf Foundation. The World Golf Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing affordable and accessible playing and learning opportunities for beginner golfers. The Tiger Woods Foundation is also involved with Pro Kids in that it donates money that is specifically earmarked for education - namely computer education.
Chip Bolden is quick to point out that the progress they have made over the last six years has been realized because of the incredible generosity, and tireless efforts of many, many, people. The new $1.3 million dollar clubhouse would have been a mere dream if it were not for the $900,000 that BIA Cares of Kids has raised - and donated – for the building expenses. “The Building Industry Association has given us an incredible start, IBM has donated computers for the 20 station computer learning center, and the Golf Writers Association of America has donated the library. Many people have contributed and helped improve our golf center, and now our dream center is under development. Pro Kids appreciates all of the support and will continue to create measurable goals for all components of our programs Improving the golf course will be our next phase of development.”, adds Bolden proudly.
One of the measurable goals Bolden refers to is the return rate. Many children are exposed to the programs through direct outreach programs and elective P.E. programs, but Pro Kids wants to measure if these kids are returning to use the facilities and services on their own. “ It is one thing to choose golf for P.E., just because you don’t want to run the mile and quite another if a child chooses to invest his/her free time here with us. We want the percentage of kids who return to us to use the programs, and then to be certified to move to the next level to grow each year.”, Bolden emphasized.
Colina Park had less than 10,000 rounds being played per year in 1994 as a city run facility. Now, six years after Pro Kids purchased the facility, Colina Park now has over 40,000 rounds per year – albeit most of the 30,000 round increase is not generating revenue because they come directly from the Academy kids. There are now over 5,000 kids enrolled in some aspect of Pro Kids Golf. The programs are open to any kid from around the county. But, the majority of the orientation goes out to the local area kids who are non stereo typical of the golf population as a whole, and are those kids who normally would not be exposed to the sport. The goals have expanded from introducing minorities to the sport, to targeting at-risk kids so that Pro Kids may positively influence their lives in areas outside of sport. Main areas of focus are: staying in school, grades, mentoring, and community leadership.
Parent involvement is encouraged, but Bolden says there are all types of scenarios and kids participating. “There are many kids who have parents who are very active with our programs and we have kids whom we have become their surrogate parents.” Pro Kids are constantly challenged and the can be rewarded in many ways – one of which is scholarship award money. In 2000 Pro Kids gave out about $40,000 in scholarships and there are many Pro Kids alumni now who have returned to the facility to encourage the kids and edify the programs. “One day some of these kids will come back and they will be board members, and that’s awesome!”, Bolden beams.
Jacqui Nicoletti McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players (Mansion Grove House), along wtih Johnny Gonzales. She played on the Japan LPGA Professional Tour and is currently an active supporter of her local golf community in San Diego, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site in northern San Diego County.
Pro Kids was founded only seven years ago, to help get kids off the streets and onto the fairways. A small group of San Diego businessman wanted to expose more inner city children to the game of golf. Colina Park was a city run 18 hole pitch and putt course right in the heart of City Heights, a section of San Diego better known for its’ gangs and drug dealers. Although the gangs and the drugs are still prevalent in the this part of town, Pro Kids Golf Academy is doing its best to educate kids not only about golf – but about life. Chip Bolden, the Director of Golf at Pro Kids sums it up best stating “ It is our mission to give these kids who are not necessarily given many chances to succeed, a safe environment to develop life skills, to set goals, and dream big dreams. We want the kids to excel socially, academically, athletically, and to become productive leaders of society with integrity, strong family values, and a commitment to community.”
Most golfers realize golf and life parallel each other more than we would like to admit. Golf is a sport that teaches honesty, integrity, discipline, determination, patience, and sportsmanship. Kids – all kids – of every ethnic race imaginable, and with no regard to economic status, are provided the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to succeed in all areas of their life.
The Academy and Learning Center will provide the safe environment kids need to develop. The programs will empower them to dream about their future, establish goals, build confidence and self esteem, help them with family relationships, and create a sense of belonging to a stable community. All of the programs established at Pro Kids enable the kids to develop skills that will help them socially, intellectually, and physically. The kids are truly given an incredible opportunity to develop into adults with a passion for life, desires to help others, and hope for the future.
Pro Kids has had great success achieving their goals in regard to its youth golf programs, and is now a model program for The First Tee, a national initiative of the World Golf Foundation. The World Golf Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing affordable and accessible playing and learning opportunities for beginner golfers. The Tiger Woods Foundation is also involved with Pro Kids in that it donates money that is specifically earmarked for education - namely computer education.
Chip Bolden is quick to point out that the progress they have made over the last six years has been realized because of the incredible generosity, and tireless efforts of many, many, people. The new $1.3 million dollar clubhouse would have been a mere dream if it were not for the $900,000 that BIA Cares of Kids has raised - and donated – for the building expenses. “The Building Industry Association has given us an incredible start, IBM has donated computers for the 20 station computer learning center, and the Golf Writers Association of America has donated the library. Many people have contributed and helped improve our golf center, and now our dream center is under development. Pro Kids appreciates all of the support and will continue to create measurable goals for all components of our programs Improving the golf course will be our next phase of development.”, adds Bolden proudly.
One of the measurable goals Bolden refers to is the return rate. Many children are exposed to the programs through direct outreach programs and elective P.E. programs, but Pro Kids wants to measure if these kids are returning to use the facilities and services on their own. “ It is one thing to choose golf for P.E., just because you don’t want to run the mile and quite another if a child chooses to invest his/her free time here with us. We want the percentage of kids who return to us to use the programs, and then to be certified to move to the next level to grow each year.”, Bolden emphasized.
Colina Park had less than 10,000 rounds being played per year in 1994 as a city run facility. Now, six years after Pro Kids purchased the facility, Colina Park now has over 40,000 rounds per year – albeit most of the 30,000 round increase is not generating revenue because they come directly from the Academy kids. There are now over 5,000 kids enrolled in some aspect of Pro Kids Golf. The programs are open to any kid from around the county. But, the majority of the orientation goes out to the local area kids who are non stereo typical of the golf population as a whole, and are those kids who normally would not be exposed to the sport. The goals have expanded from introducing minorities to the sport, to targeting at-risk kids so that Pro Kids may positively influence their lives in areas outside of sport. Main areas of focus are: staying in school, grades, mentoring, and community leadership.
Parent involvement is encouraged, but Bolden says there are all types of scenarios and kids participating. “There are many kids who have parents who are very active with our programs and we have kids whom we have become their surrogate parents.” Pro Kids are constantly challenged and the can be rewarded in many ways – one of which is scholarship award money. In 2000 Pro Kids gave out about $40,000 in scholarships and there are many Pro Kids alumni now who have returned to the facility to encourage the kids and edify the programs. “One day some of these kids will come back and they will be board members, and that’s awesome!”, Bolden beams.
Jacqui Nicoletti McSorley is co-author of Golf Guide for Parents and Players (Mansion Grove House), along wtih Johnny Gonzales. She played on the Japan LPGA Professional Tour and is currently an active supporter of her local golf community in San Diego, as she started an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site in northern San Diego County.
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