SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MEN'S AMATEUR- ROUND 1 AT EASTWOOD GOLF COURSE

Additional photos can be seen here

It’s way late, or way early, depending on how you look at it, for me to be playing golf. Typically my golf season runs from the end of April to the beginning of October, but I could not resist the temptation of the Southwest Florida 

Men’s Amateur in my own backyard, being played this weekend at Eastwood Golf Club and Fort Myers Country Club. Besides, it will be an excellent tune-up for my first foray into the world of West Florida Amateur Tour competition on 12/1.

You couldn’t ask for more ideal weather conditions with temperatures in the 70s on this crisp fall day in Southwest Florida. I wasn’t sure what to expect heading out to Eastwood for the first round, given my two practice rounds the days before the event. Playing most of my recent golf at The Hideaway, with its lush, carpet-like fairways and greens to match (the paspalum effect), one can develop a false sense of security.

Chipping and putting before teeing off this morning, I realized that reading and putting the greens at Eastwood was going to be a challenge. I practiced putting for 20 minutes, and didn’t feel any more comfortable when I finished than when I started. Oh well, maybe I’d hit it close and wouldn’t have to worry about it.

I guess I took that discomfort to me to the first tee, because I was first of the tee on No.10, our starting hole, and I proceeded to dump my first shot in the water. I will spare you the gory details of that opening hole, but the bottom line is that I began the tournament with a quadruple bogey 8! Uh, can you say, “Shell shocked?”

For the first five holes on the more difficult back side, including another quad on the par-3 13^th (another two balls in the water!), What I was doing out there did not resemble golf, and I had to struggle to get a grip on my mind and emotions. I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn’t how you started but how you finished that counted most. Hey, what else could I say to myself at that point? I had already shot myself out of the tournament.

Well, I was able to get my act together after Steph paid me a visit on the green on No.15 green. After playing the first five holes 13 over par, I managed to post nine pars on the final 13 holes, playing those holes just five over par, 

despite my continued discomfort on the greens. Oh, one of those strokes was due to moving my ball inadvertently. I guess if I don’t have at least one episode of mental flatulence in a tournament round, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.

Anyway, I had the best score of our group by two strokes on the second nine, but I had done so badly on the first nine that my 90 was still three strokes worse the third best score in our foursome. That third-best score was 

posted by Rick Petersen, who notched the best score on our first nine with a four-over 41. But Rick faltered a bit, coming in with a 46 on the second nine. He still sits in 6^th-place in our flight.

J. Keith Cramsey, my “quad-city” cart partner, holds 4^th place in our C-Flight (11 – 13 handicap) after shooting 86 despite two quadruple bogeys. He had a tough back side as well, shooting 46, but he had only three blemishes on his card on the front side. Perhaps most gratifying for Keith was his birdie on the final hole. He had had multiple attempts that scared the hole but refused to fall. He’s in the hunt, but six shots back of the leader.

Interestingly enough, Pete Soom’s 85 was the best score in our foursome…and he is in the D Flight (14 & up handicap). Guess the handicapping was a tad off target in this instance. In fact, our C-Flight leader (Mark Johnson) shot an 80, while the D-Flight leader (Tom Watkins) shot 77. Go figure. Pete, sits in 2^nd-place in D-Flight, courtesy of his back-side 45, and front-side 40. Frank Seiler and Daniel Johnson shot 87 to tie for third in Flight D.

As for the big hitters in the Championship Flight (0 – 4 handicap), Jake Sherwin and Mike Andre are tied for the lead with 3-under 69s. Both players posted six birdies that were offset by three bogeys. Griffin Hanson had just one bogey on his card, and was the only other player under par, shooting a 2-under 70. Rokki Rogan and Kaleb Johnson are just three shots off the lead with their even-par rounds.  

The A-Flight (5 – 7 handicap) was led by Matt Hight who posted a 7-over 79 and leads Phillip Everhart by two shots. Jo Jo Fortini is third, three shots behind the leader. B-Flight (8 – 10 handicap) leader James Cole posted a nifty 39 on the back side and a plus-two 37 on the front side. Toby Schwetje (79), John Phelps (80), and Ron Puder (80) round out the top-three in Flight B and are well within striking distance of the lead.

All in all, it was a terrific day of golf at Eastwood Golf Course and I’m looking forward to redeeming myself tomorrow at the newly renovated Fort Myers Country Club (FMCC). Most of the talk around the practice greens this morning was about the new look and feel of FMCC, and by just about all accounts, the renovation is a hit. I’m looking forward to playing something that looks and feels like golf before my sixth hole of the day! Until next…

2014-15 WEST FLORIDA AMATEUR TOUR SEASON ON THE HORIZON- I'M IN!

Ritz-Carlton Golf Club- site of season opener

If you don’t like seeing your name on a leaderboard, if you only like playing with the same foursome on the same golf course, with not much on the line except what you usually put on the line, then you probably won’t care much about what I’ll be writing about here. However, if you enjoy playing stellar new golf courses, competing against new golfers on a regular basis, with opportunities to bolster your 19^th-hole kitty, then I think you might want to read on…

My 15 minutes of leaderboard fame at the 2013 World Am

Listen, even before seeing my name atop the leaderboard at the 2013 World Amateur Handicap Championship, I was hooked on tournament play. Since that experience, I look forward to any opportunity to challenge myself on the golf course, and to that potential rush of seeing my name atop the leaderboard. Now I have such and opportunity right in my own backyard!

WFAT 2014-15 Season Calendar

I’m talking about the West Florida Amateur Tour (WFAT) based in Sarasota, which, under the leadership of new WFAT Director Ross Hanson, seems poised for takeoff during the 2014-15 season. The WFAT offers one-day quota/skins events, 2 – 4 times per month from December 1 through April 20. The addition of three two-man-team special events has increased the number of events from 12 last season to 15 this time around.

Despite my working-man’s schedule, I’m now a member of the WFAT and I’m going to shoot for one event per month through the end of the season. Yeah, it’s likely to cost me more in sacrificed lessons than I’ll make playing the events, but despite popular belief, money ain’t everything…golf is! Obviously I’m joking (at least a little) there, but I am a bona fide golf-a-holic, and the only program they have for that is the 18-hole program.

In any event, membership in the WFAT is just $50 and if you play just two events, you will have covered your membership cost. If you play more than two, well, now you are earning money by becoming a member…and that is over and above what you make playing golf on some very sweet tracks!

Golf goodies in Cypress Lake Country Club proshop

Seriously, although the prize money comes by way of pro shop vouchers at the host courses, you can surely make enough to cover that new driver or putter you might be craving. I’m thinking it’s worth the entry fee and travel, even though I have to travel an hour or so up I-75.

Larry Herman (left) gets winner's prize from Ross Hanson

For example, although I’m not sure how they used their vouchers, in the Ritz-Carlton Series at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in January, Larry Herman pocketed $300 for winning the Net Division, and John Vaccaro did the same for winning the Gross. Oh, Vaccaro also picked up more than $150 for winning two skins as well. 

WFAT Partner- Golfsmith

Entry fee covered? Check! Membership covered? Check! Think you could pick up something nice in the pro shop for that? Oh, how could I forget, having partnered with Golfsmith, the WFAT offers a $10 gift certificate for all participants in each event. More golf stuff on the horizon…

Lakewood Ranch: Cypress Links #10
(Palmer/Martz Design)
Photo courtesy of lakewoodranchgolf.com

Ah, but it’s not just the chance to pocket a few greenbacks that holds the most allure for a documented golf-a-holic. The anticipation of playing private courses designed by renowned architects like Tom Fazio, Donald Ross, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Rees Jones and Ron Garl really accelerates my pulse.

Ritz Carlton Golf Club
Photo courtesy of Ritz Calton website

For example, the first event of the season will be at the aforementioned Tom Fazio-designed Ritz Carlton Members Golf Club, and I can tell you from the experience that Steph and I had when we covered one of the West Florida Golf Tour’s professional events, that it is a lovely track that would tickle the fancy of any avid golfer.

Sara Bay Country Club- Photo courtesy of fsga.org

Or perhaps you are more of a history buff and would relish the chance to play on a legendary Donald Ross-designed gem that dates back to 1925 and saw the likes of Bobby Jones and Tommy Armour gracing its fairways and greens (they never saw any rough, right?). If so, then you would enjoy Sara Bay Country Club, another private venue open to WFAT members and tournament participants at the Sara Bay Series, the second Tour stop December 8.

Bradenton Country Club
Photo courtesy of bradentoncc.org

If you couldn’t make the 8^th, you get another crack at a Donald Ross design on the 15^th, when the Tour makes its third stop at the Bradenton Country Club. This masterpiece from 1924 in another track you wouldn’t have access to unless you were a member, but the WFAT offers you the key to this vaunted venue.

TPC Prestancia- Photo courtesy of golfersguide.com

In fact, in addition to the courses listed above, WFAT members and competitors will be welcomed at both courses (East & West, designed by Gary Player, renovated by Rees Jones) at Laurel Oak Country Club, two of the three championship tracks at Lakewood Ranch Country Club (Royal Lakes & Cypress Links- Arnold Palmer design), as well as the Ron Garl-designed TPC Prestancia in Sarasota.

Sara Bay Winners Justine Harper
 & Roc Irey  

Listen, if you enjoy the adrenaline rush of starting the back nine in contention, if you like standing over a four-foot putt that actually means something, go take a look at the WFAT website and see for yourself if it’s something you would enjoy doing. I guess I should mention that any guys afraid of losing to a woman should not enter, because women are welcome, AND have won on the WFAT! Yes, the women do play from a different tee than some of the guys, but so do the 60-plus men.

T. A. at River Strand

The bottom line is that whether you’ve just gotten back to sunny Florida or have spent your summer here, your golf game should be as good a shape as it gets, and there is a series of breathtaking challenges awaiting you and your golf buddies on the West Florida Amateur Tour. Oh, and just in case your game isn’t in tiptop shape, you still have almost a month to get ready for the first event.

Hideaway Quota/Skins Game players

I’m throwing out the challenge to all of the members of the Fort Myers Golf Club, to all the members at The hideaway Country Club, to all the golfers who played the Hideaway Quota/Skins game this summer: Come join me on the West Florida Amateur and lets have a great time on some great links, and pick up some pocket change while we’re at it. Are you in?

Chris Capps tees it up at Treviso Bay in Naples

I think my buddy Chris Capps is in for the season opener on December 1, and Steph and I will be photo-documenting our escapades, so stay tuned for more on our West Florida Amateur Tour adventure.

CELEBS ENHANCE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE 27TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC

Additional photos by Steph & T. A. can be viewed here &
Additional photos by Expose Photography can be viewed here

Fred Fredric, Founder of the Annual Fall Classic, shows off
appreciation award

Father’s often pass the baton to their sons, and hope that their son’s carry the baton as well or better than they did. Tim Fredric has certainly risen to the challenge, and as is usually the case when the baton is passed, he has carried it an extra mile in his first go round as Co-Chair of the 2014 Golf Committee for the 27th Annual Fall Golf Classic Tournament to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida.

Tim Fredric & Laura Ragain preside over festivities at
the award luncheon

There were a few new twists to the event as Tim Frederic stepped up to fill the ample shoes of his dad, Fred Fredric: Ryan Sherry came on board, the event moved to Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers (from Quail West in Naples last year), and a Celebrity Pro-Am component was added to the golf tournament.

Ryan Sherry and Chris Doleman chat with Sheriff's deputies

You know the saying that goes something like, “If you aren’t moving forward, you are falling backward,” or words to that effect? After observing the happenings at Fiddlesticks this past weekend (October 3 & 4), I believe it’s safe to say that the 27^th Annual was a giant step forward in the noble effort to support the invaluable charitable work done by the folks at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida.

A few of the event sponsors

I’ll get to some of the new event elements, but prior to that undertaking, let’s give loud shout-outs to some richly deserving entities. Arthrex stepped up big once again to serve as Title Sponsor of the Fall Classic, as it has done for the third consecutive year. Earl & Margie Holland, Martin-Brower, Turano Baking Company were all previous Platinum Sponsors who maintained their level of support this year. They were joined by Homewood Suites Fort Myers – Bell Tower, Scanlon Auto Group and Grampy’s Charities as top-level sponsors.

Sponsor signs dotted the grounds at Fiddlesticks

Other repeat sponsors included the Beasley Broadcast Group and Dr. Pepper, both displaying their community generosity yet again as Gold Sponsors of the event. Silver sponsors included Cameratta Companies, Gorton’s, Mortgage One, McDonald’s USA- Florida Region; and Coca Cola and the Tilted Kilt sponsored the Sponsor Party. There were too many generous contributors to name them all, but numerous community businesses did their part to make the event a success.

Fiddlesticks Director of Golf Jim Kurtzeborn
announces winners

What about the new elements of the event? Well, the Tournament Committee (Co-Chairs Tim Frederic, AJ Lurie, & Ryan Sherry), along with the other committee members (Teresa Beasley, Lee Bellamy, Leanna Gonzalez, Angela Katz, Diana Lurie, Laura Ragain), did a bang-up job in collaboration with Fiddlesticks Director of Golf Jim Kurtzeborn and his staff to make the event a successful and memorable one.

Fiddlesticks Clubhouse

As mentioned above, Fiddlesticks was a new venue, and from all the celebrity commentary during the practice round on Friday, as well as what was bantered about on Saturday, Fiddlesticks was an outstanding choice. 

George Vogel

The course, Long Mean, was in great shape, and the staff was as accommodating as one could hope for, from the Big Kahuna (Jim Kurtzeborn to George Vogel, the congenial attendant in the parking lot.

Nolan Henke (left) & Ryan Sherry

Moving to a Celebrity Pro-Am was a new feature of the Fall Classic, and that was courtesy of new committee member Ryan Sherry. Getting Sherry on board could be considered a stroke of genius, considering his prior experience with securing some of the biggest names in sports history for celebrity events (see a prior Sherry production).

Aaron Sherry, Tony Womack, Ryan Sherry, Chris Doleman
during Friday's practice round at Fiddlesticks

With Ryan working the phones, the 27^th Annual’s inaugural celebrity component included record-setting Olympians, NFL Hall of Famers, Super Bowl Champions, retired baseball stars, boxing World Champions, a golf long drive champion, and even a soccer star! Interestingly enough, some of those guys brought some game! NFL Hall of Famer Chris Doleman of my Minnesota Vikings, Tony Womack, a World Champion with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, and others showed some real golf prowess on the links.

Terry Jo Myers lines up putt while the Fredricks look on

But Fort Myers has its own “stars,” and they turned out in support of the Ronald McDonald House as well. PGA and LPGA Tour players Nolan Henke and Terry Jo Myers added their special touches to the festivities, and if you know anything about Terry Jo, you know she can be festive. Nolan, well, Nolan was Nolan: just nice and easy. Both were really good hosts though, and politely allowed other celebrities to claim the top prizes.

OJ Anderson's 3rd Place group

The celebrity member of the third-place group was O.J. Anderson, MVP of Super Bowl XXV in 1991 when playing with the New York Giants. You would have been hard pressed to find a more entertaining celebrity among the distinguished group. Not all celebrities get it, as far as interacting with the participants, and realizing that the event isn’t really about them, but OJ did.

2nd-Place team minus Victor Green

Victor Greene, a member of the New York Jets All-Time Four Decade Team, turned out to be a real golf fanatic, going back out to the links after the event was finished. His team took home the second-place prize. The top team of the 27th Annual Fall Golf Classic Tournament had a ringer as its celebrity. If you Google Lathan Atkinson you’ll find that he was touted as a professional golfer who was signed by Oakley Golf to endorse their product.  

1st-Place Lathan Atkinson Group

In any event, Atkinson, Rudy Garcia, Bill Bolling, Chris Cedric, and Brian Wischnak will go down in history as the winner of the Inaugural Celebrity Pro-Am component of the Fall Classic Tournament to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida.

Tiffany Lee tells her story

As much as the celebrities are worthy of the accolades and attention they received, the participants who made the cash contributions to the cause, who showed up to play Long Mean and mingle with those celebs are to be celebrated as well. Without them, there would be no event, and there wouldn’t be moments like there were when the crowded room heard from Tiffany Lee, a recipient of Ronald McDonald House generosity.

Andre Reed during Friday's practice round at Fiddlesticks

As Tiffany recounted her story, including what the assistance from the Ronald McDonald House had meant to her and her family, tears flowed freely…and they weren’t all hers. Somehow I believe she was inspirational in Andre Reed answering the call for additional funding with a $1000 pledge, and the similar response from other participants in the room.

Captain Carmine Marceno

If the number and quality of celebrities (for example, world and Olympic record holder Bob Beamon was in attendance), the generosity of the sponsors, and the sheer number of participants didn’t convince you of the magnitude of the event, perhaps the 

cooperation and participation of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office will. Captain Carmine Marceno and several deputies were on hand as the Sheriff’s helicopter dropped the golf balls for the Golf Ball Drop fundraiser.

Generous Jennifer Neilsen gets congrats

Jennifer Neilson was the lucky winner of the Golf Ball Drop, and she was ecstatic when Laura Ragain, Executive Director of the Southwest Chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities, called her name as the lucky winner. In a spontaneous expression of character, Jennifer promptly turned around and added the entire $2700 she had won to the monies raised by the event. How about that for generosity!

Geoff Chong, Adam Singer, Briana Hovis- Members of
Fiddlesticks golf staff

All in all, the collaboration among members of the Southwest Florida golf community, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, local businesses, the Lee County Sheriff, individual golfers, and the incredible staff of Fiddlesticks Country Club raised $30,500 during the 27th Annual Fall Golf Classic Tournament.

Laura Ragain- Executive Director of
Ronald McDonald House Charities of
Southwest Florida

Steph and I would like to add our voice to the Lees, and the hundreds of families who will benefit from the proceeds of the event in offering a HUGE thank you to all of the organizers, volunteers and participants of the 27^th Annual Fall Golf Classic Tournament to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida. Special thanks to Ryan Sherry for bringing the event to our attention! We'll be looking forward to next year's event, and I'm looking to get on Chris Doleman's team. Hey, he is a former Viking, and yes, however woeful, the Vikings are my team. Whadda ya say Chris? It is for charity :). Again, well done to all who contributed to the fantastic success of the 27^th Annual!

T. A. & Steph Niles