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• Local golf: Old Collier superintendent receives award from national association
• Jim Suttie: Getting a grip on your game: Grip adjustments
• Local golf: Holes-in-one

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NAPLES — Naples’ Mary Jane Hiestand participated in the Southeastern Women’s Amateur Championship at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Pearl River, Miss., from Oct. 21-23.

Hiestand and the Florida Team was victorious with 12 points in a Ryder Cup format.

Hiestand, a Hideout Golf Club member, and Taffy Brower won in four-ball, 4 and 3, over Maggie Scott and Linda Mullins from Tennessee.

In foursomes, Hiestand and Meghan Bolger defeated Kathy Binkley and Sharon Barham of North Carolina, 7 and 6.

And in singles, Hiestand beat Melissa Sage of North Carolina, 4 and 3.

* * *

Fort Myers’ George McNeill almost got a second title with Frys.com in it. McNeill was in second place going into the final round of the Frys.com Open on Sunday, but shot a 71 and tied for 11th.

It was McNeill’s second straight top-15 finish.

Naples resident Rocco Mediate tied for 29th.

McNeill is in the field for this week’s Ginn sur Mer Classic at The Conservatory in Palm Coast.

* * *

Gary Hallberg, a golf ambassador for West Bay Club in Estero, tied for 20th on Sunday in the AT&T Championship in San Antonio.

Part-time Miromar Lakes resident Chip Beck and 2008 ACE Group Classic champion Scott Hoch, who has a residence at Quail West, tied for 30th.

Part-time Tiburon resident Wayne Levi and part-time Naples resident John Harris, a Calusa Pines Golf Club member, tied for 50th. Naples National member Fuzzy Zoeller tied for 69th.

Hal Sutton, the PGA Tour consultant on the TPC Treviso Bay, also tied for 61st in his second Champions Tour debut.

Hoch is in the field for this week’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

* * *

Fort Myers’ Justin McCarraher, a former Florida Gulf Coast University golfer, and Marco Island’s Tee McCabe both missed the cut in last week’s Miccosukee Championship on the Nationwide Tour.

McCarraher, who had qualified for the field, shot 78-73/151. McCabe shot 76-76/152.

He dropped three spots to 57th on the money list. The tour is off this week.

* * *

Bonita Bay Club resident Catriona Matthew tied for 28th on Sunday in the Grand China Air LPGA Classic.

Matthew is in the field for this week’s Hana Bank KOLON Championship in Korea.

* * *

The team of David Oswalt (Naples Heritage), Dick Liden (Stonebridge), Pete Stien (Country Club of Naples), and Jack Clark (Classics at Lely Resort) won the Men’s Summer Interclub final event of the season on Oct. 24 at Country Club of Naples.

* * *

The Bank of America City of Palms golf tournament was postponed due to weather on Friday and has been rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 14 at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero.

Registration is at 11 a.m., with a 12:30 p.m. start time. Funds raised go toward the Bank of America City of Palms Basketball Classic at Bishop Verot High School from Dec. 18-23. Lunch included. Visit www.cityofpalmsclassic.com or call Ron Riley at 671-9347.

* * *

The Florida State Golf Association named David Johnson, 21, of Palm Bay as the Player of the Year. Johnson scored 1,440 overall points and is a member of the University of Central Florida men’s golf team.

Rick Woulfe, 58, of Fort Lauderdale won his fourth straight Senior Player of the Year Award. Ernesto Marin, 18, from Miami won Junior Player of the Year.

* * *

Other upcoming golf events follow:

• 2008 Merrill Lynch Shootout — Dec. 10-14 at Tiburon Golf Club. Tickets are on sale. Weekly grounds, $75; 18 Green Reserved Seating, $60; Tournament daily grounds, $25; Pro-Am daily grounds, $20. Taste of WCI, $110, include a weekly grounds pass, plus over 50 vouchers at 12 different courses. Visit www.mlshootout.com, Alf’s Golf Shop on the corner of Immokalee and Airport-Pulling, or call 888-66-SHARK or 254-9770.

• Executive Womens Golf Association — Weekly play days have been set up on Thursdays at Tiburon (593-2201), Wednesday evening at Glen Eagle (353-3699), and any day and any time at Arrowhead (596-1000), The Quarry (304-0172), Del Webb at Ave Maria (304-2835), Spanish Wells, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club (435-2475, ext. 3) , LaPlaya, and Old Corkscrew; and Tuesday through Saturday at Pelican’s Nest. Upcoming events: Saturday, fifth annual Pink Flamingo Tournament Weekend, Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club, noon registration, 1 p.m. shotgun start. Format, four-ball match play vs. Palm Beach Chapter. Entry fee, $110; Sunday, After the Pink Fun Scramble, $62 per person, 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, Lely Flamingo Island Club; Thursday, Nov. 6, Social/Education event, Club at TwinEagles clubhouse.

For more information on the chapter, contact Jeanie Bicanich at jbicanich@aol.com, call 254-8285 or go to the Chapter’s Web site at www.naplesewga.com.

• Greater Naples Golf Association — Annual dues have been lowered from $65 to $50.

The schedule — Thursday, Nov. 6, Cypress Woods, $49 entry fee; Thursday, Nov. 13, Arrowhead, $49; Thursday, Nov. 20, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, $54; Thursday, Dec. 4, Cypress Woods, $49; Thursday, Dec. 11, Arrowhead, $49; Wednesday, Dec. 17, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, $54; Thursday, Jan. 11, 2009, Arrowhead, $69.

For more information, call 598-1261. Dues may be mailed to P.O. Box 770103, Naples, 34107.

• Tournament Players Association — Upcoming events: Turkey Classic, Pelican Preserve, Nov. 29-30. Call 458-0754 or e-mail tpagolf@msn.com for more information.

• Golf Channel Amateur Tour Fort Myers/Naples — The largest amateur tour in North America has a local tour. To join, go to www.golfchannel.com/amateurtour or call local tour director Jim Stockman at 593-3485. Membership is $199 per year. Preseason event: Sunday at Eastwood Golf Course, Fort Myers, 12:15 p.m.

• American Singles Golf Association — The Southwest Florida Chapter meets the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 at Pelican Sound Golf & River Club. The association offers regular events at various golf clubs in the area. Contact Kathy Sloan at kesloan2@gmail.com, call 233-2482 or go to the Chapter Web site ww.southwestfl.singlesgolf.com.

• South Florida Pro Tour — Tournament entry fees are $225 for members for one-day events and $350 for two-day events. Membership fees are $125, with a $25 discount for PGA professionals. The tour will run through October and has some events set up at www.sfprotour.com.

• Southwest Amateur Series — Conducted by the Florida State Golf Association. Traveling men’s circuit for Southwest Florida, and features 36-hole individual competitions with four flights by handicap. Annual membership is $100 and includes FSGA membership. Current FSGA members can join for $55.

The entry fee for tournaments is $125, with a $750 gift certificate to the first-place finisher. Upcoming tournaments: Dec. 6-7, The Quarry. To enter, go to www.fsga.org.

• First Tee of Naples/Collier — Play Golf Day every Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. at Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort.

The chapter is for ages 8-18 and is free. Registration is required to participate.

Through Dec. 12, the First Tee Life Skills, teaching the program’s nine core values through the game of golf, will be every Friday, also for ages 8-18.

High school: Vineyards Country Club, 3-5 p.m.; Middle school: Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort, 4-6 p.m.; Elementary school: Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort, 4-6 p.m.

An afterschool program starts today and goes through Nov. 22, with five-hole matches starting at 4 p.m. with six players participating from each school’s team. Matches will be played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, usually two matches per week. Transportation to the match is the responsibility of the player. The cost of the program is $50 and includes a golf shirt with a school logo.

Registration applications for all of these can be found at www.thefirstteenaplescollier.org. E-mail tftnaplescollier@aol.com for more information.

• South Florida PGA Junior Tour — The tour has a $25 membership fee, as well as a $69 fee per tournament. Age divisions are boys and girls 12-13, 14-15, 16-18; For more information, call 954-752-9299 or go to www.sflorida.pga.com.

Remaining schedule: Nov. 15-16, Junior Tour Championship, PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie.

• Florida Junior Tour — The Florida State Golf Association has announced the 2008-09 schedule. The tour started Sept. 13-14 and continues through May 2009. For more information, go to www.fsga.org.

• Naples Grande Golf School Afterschool Junior Clinic — Sessions will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. Players of all skills are welcome.

The program is available to junior golfers ages 7-15. Enrollment is limited to the first 12 players each week. Cost is $20 per junior, per session. All instruction will be given by Naples Grande Golf School staff and will include rules of golf, etiquette, short-game basics, and swing fundamentals. Contact Mark Durland at 784-2208 or mark@durlandgolf.com.

• Rodney Bungartz/Arrowhead Golf Club Junior Afterschool Clinics — Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Clinics are from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. and cost $12 per junior per session. Clinics are open to ages 7 and up. Students 6 and under must have prior approval. Call 348-5929 or e-mail rodney@naplesgolfinstructor.com.

• Rick Smith Golf Academy — High school afternoon program: One hour is spent at the academy, and another hour on the course at Tiburon. The program has started and goes from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $50 per week, per student; Elementary and middle school: Ages 7 and older will meet on Mondays from 4-5:30 p.m., through Dec. 15. Middle school students will meet on Wednesdays from 4:30-6 p.m. beginning today and going through Dec. 17. The cost for either program is $190 for a four-week session. Call 593-1111.

• Zonta Club of Bonita Springs HallowSwing Tournament — Friday, Oct. 31 at Bonita Fairways Golf Club. The event benefits the House Shower project in Rosemary Park, which is affordable housing.

Entry fee, $60. Sponsorships start at $500. Registration, 7:30 a.m. Shotgun start, 8 a.m. Contact Patty Gift at 273-9901 to register or for more information.

• Baby Brady Golf Tournament — Saturday at The Club at The Strand. Shotgun start, 9 a.m. Entry fee, $125,includes breakfast and lunch. The lunch will be at Pelican Larry’s Uptown on Immokalee Road. Contact Ken Colbert at 293-0596 or kcolbert@bradycolbertfoundation.com.

• Lifeline Family Center’s Birdies for Babies Golf Tournament — Monday at LaPlaya Golf Club. The birdie-fest/pro-am will have 18 five-member teams, including one professional per team.

Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Registration, 12:30 p.m. Shotgun start, 1 p.m. Awards ceremony, 5:30 p.m. Registration, $250. For every $1,000 in flat pledges or $100 per birdie pledges, a total of $50 will be taken off a golfer’s registration fee. Pros should call Scott Richardson at 254-5001. Amateurs or sponsors should call Lifeline Family Center at 242-7238 and ask for Nanette Scoville.

• Country Club of Naples “Golf Fore Health’’ charity tournament — Wednesday, Nov. 5 to benefit the Neighborhood Health Clinic, a nonprofit organization that serves the uninsured working poor of Collier County.

There is a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The entry fee is $125 ($100 is tax deductible) and includes golf, prizes, cocktails and a buffet dinner at 5:30 p.m. Contact Angie Hodges at 261-1032 for more information.

• Shell Point Golf Open — Friday, Nov. 7. Funds will be raised for the Memory Care Unit at Larsen Pavilion, which offers care to individuals with memory needs in the Southwest Florida area.

Registration is at 7:30 a.m. The entry fee is $125 per person, and includes breakfast and lunch. Call Linda Driver at 466-8484.

• Take Stock In Children charity tournament — Friday, Nov. 14 at The Club at TwinEagles’ Talon Course. Lunch and registration is at noon, with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Entry fees are $250 for individuals, $450 for twosomes, and $800 for foursomes. Contact Kenia Velez at 643-4755 or keniavelez@educationforcollier.org.

• Windstar Golf Club pro-am — Celebrating its 25th anniversary with a pro-am on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Windstar has pledged $25,000, to coincide with the anniversary, to the Boys & Girls Club to support their service to over 1,300 at-risk youth daily at their four sites. Windstar on Naples Bay is located on a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Contact Jennifer Johnson at 775-3400, ext. 220 or jjohnson@windstarclub.com.

• Arrowhead Golf Club adult class -- Starting on Oct. 29 with teaching pro Rodney Bungartz. Session schedule — One: Putting, rules, etiquette; Two: Chipping, putting; Three: Full swing set-up, irons; Four: Full swing woods; Five: Greenside bunkers; Six: Fairway bunkers, rules, on-course club selection and strategies. The time is 5-6 p.m. each Wednesday. Cost is $99 for the six-session class. Call 348-5929 or e-mail rodney@naplesgolfinstructor.com.

• Valencia Golf Fall/Winter 9-Hole League -- Starting on Nov. 6. The league will play on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. and run through March. For more information, call the pro shop at 352-0777.

• Naples Grande Golf School -- Conducting a holiday food drive for St. Matthew’s House. The golf school is offering half-price lessons for food donations from Nov. 1 through Dec. 20. There is a limit of one lesson per student, and it is not valid with lesson packages, clinics or golf schools. The mission of St. Matthew’s House is to provide housing for the homeless, food for the needy, and an opportunity to change lives. For more information, contact Mark Durland at 784-2208 or mark@durlandgolf.com.

• Coral Isle Golf Center -- Ladies clinics each Tuesday and Wednesday, men’s clinics each Thursday, a mixed clinic each Wednesday at 2 p.m., and a mixed clinic each Saturday. All clinics are at 10 a.m., other than the Wednesday mixed clinic. Junior clinics also are offered from 3:45 p.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Call 732-6900 for more information.

• Eagle Lakes Country Club -- Hosting a clinic every Saturday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., covering a new topic every week. PGA professional Phil Grear will conduct the clinic. Cost is $25 per person.

The club is offering ½-day and three-day golf schools with a 3-to-1 student/teacher ratio. Individual lessons are available. There will be clinics every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., addressing a different topic each week. There will be an emphasis on learning shots within 100 yards of the green.

The club staff has a total of 45 years of teaching experience. Michael Jachemack and Vanessa MacKinnon also are on the staff. Call 732-5108 or 732-0034 for further information.

• Greater Naples Golf Association — Accepting new members for its senior division. Interested golfers can contact Harry Sauchelli at 598-1261 for an application.

• Naples Recreational Golf — Singles 45-65 on Sunday mornings. Call 594-0661.

• Golden Gate Women’s Golf Association — Accepting members for a Thursday morning golf league. Call 774-3031.

• Arrowhead Golf Club — Weekly scramble, Wednesdays. Shotgun start, 5:30 p.m. Call 596-1000 at least two days in advance to sign up.

• Southwest Chapter PGA — For more information, go online to www.sflorida.pga.com and click on "Chapters."

• Body Balance For Performance of Naples — Mike Willett and Mike Via have their own golf/physical therapy show on Comcast Channel 35.

• Play Golf America programs — Rodney Bungartz is now running the Play Golf America adult programs previously coordinated by Ty Andersen.

Adults clinics are Mondays from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6-7 p.m Cost for each session is $20. Private lessons are also available.

For more information on any of the Play Golf America Programs offered including family, buddy and private lessons call 348-5929 or visit www.naplesgolfinstructor.com

• Arrowhead Golf Academy — PGA professional Mike Dopslaff, a four-time Southwest Florida PGA Player of the Year, provides instruction. Individual, group lessons. Call 596-1000.

• KISS Golf For Women Golf Schools — At Royal Poinciana Country Club. LPGA teaching professionals Lorie McCabe and her staff offer two- and three-day golf schools for women. Private instruction also is available. Call 1-888-451-KISS or 354-3633. The school’s Web site is www.kissgolfforwomen.com.

• Gary Bower Lessons -- Teaching professional Gary Bower, former host of the television show “Golf Tips’’ and inventor of the 2-Way Putter Alignment System, will be giving playing lessons in Southwest Florida from December through March.

Each 9-hole playing lesson will cover woods, irons, chipping, putting, sand shots and golf course strategy. The cost is $85 per golfer. For more information, call 614-527-9527 or visit www.websitetelevision.net.

• Tom Patri Golf School — Patri is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, and he works with all golfers of all ages and abilities. TPGS offers half-day golf schools, with and without nine holes of golf, and also offers fitness programs geared to golfers. Visit www.tompatri.com. Patri is at Friar’s Head in New York during the summer.

• Rick Smith Golf Academy — At Tiburón Golf Club. Smith, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and rated the No. 5 teacher by Golf Digest, has a staff of PGA instructors at Tiburón Golf Club. The academy has its lowest rates of the year through Sept. 30 for all 2:1 ratio schools. A school may be one half day up to three full days. The three-day class includes 18 hours of instruction, including video analysis and a launch monitor session, plus a round of golf at Tiburon. Private lessons also are available. Students may receive 2 for the price of 1, 3 for the price of 2, or 4 for the price of 3. Call 593-1111 or visit ww.wcigolf.com/ricksmithacademy.

• Dr. Jim Suttie Golf Academy — at The Club at TwinEagles. New studio with state-of-the-art technology. 2000 PGA of America Teacher of the Year. Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Rated No. 11 by Golf Digest. Instructional programs include 2- and 3-day schools as well as private lessons. Call 866-817-7729 or visit www.jimsuttie.com. Suttie currently is at Cog Hill in Lemont, Ill., for the summer.

• David Leadbetter Golf Academy — At LaPlaya Beach & Golf Club. Leadbetter is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Academy programs include three-day golf schools and players’ schools, and a one-day mini-school. Private instruction and playing lessons also are available. Call 592-1444.

• Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools — Now at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero. Full and half day schools are offered. Instructional packages are one, two or three days. All instruction is by appointment only. Private instruction and playing lessons also available. Thirty-five years of instructional experience. Call 482-0900 or visit www.webgolfdoctor.com.

• Bourne School of Golf — At Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. Bob Bourne is a master professional with the PGA of America and a former tour player with 35 years of experience in the game. The Bourne School of Golf at Miromar Lakes is open to members and non-members. One of Bourne’s keys is instructional follow-up for all students. Call 482-7644.

• Naples Golf Academy — Located at the Hibiscus Golf Club. Lauri Travers leads a team of instructors that offers private lessons, golf schools, clinics and playing lessons. Specialty programs geared toward women and beginner golfers are available year-round. Visit us at LearningGolf.com or call 239-732-9944 for more information.

• The Nick Faldo Golf Institute — At Marriott’s Marco Island Resort. Instruction programs are based on the teaching philosophy and techniques developed by Faldo. A three-day improvement school ($1,175-$1,295 per person), two-day weekend/short game school ($675 to $895), and a two-day selection session package ($500-$595 per person) are among the packages. Call 1-888-GO-FALDO for prices and information.

• The Golf Institute — Club fitting program includes evaluation based on series of tests, including frequency check and lie and loft angle. Putting evaluations also are available. Call 643-5895.

• Dennis Meyer’s Golf School — at Quality Inn Suites & Golf Resort in Golden Gate offers two-, three- , and four-day schools. Playing lessons included in full-day golf schools. Half-day options are available as well. Private lessons available. Call 1-800-445-4554 or 267-4652.

• Steve Anderson Lessons — Director of instruction at Greentree Resorts in Lehigh Acres. 2000 Teacher of the Year by the Southwest Chapter. Awarded Advanced Specialty Certification in Instruction by PGA. Call 369-1997.

• John Jacobs Golf School — at Lely Resort. Staffed by local PGA and LPGA professionals. School offers 5-day week and 2-day weekend sessions, plus corporate days and private instruction. Discounted rates for junior golfers. For more information, call 1-800-472-5007 or visit www.jacobsgolf.com.

• America’s Favorite Golf Schools -- At Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort. Three-, four- and five-day schools are available. Commuter rates are available. Steve Driscoll, a United States Golf Teachers Federation, leads the instruction. Schools run through May 15. Call 1-800-365-6640.

To submit an item for the golf column, e-mail gshardwig@naplesnews.com or send a fax to 263-4816.