One of Golf Digest Magazine’s Best Young Teachers joins one of northern Michigan’s top resort destinations.

Jason Guss, a rising star among the country’s young PGA golf instructors, has joined the team at Otsego Club & Resort in Gaylord where he will launch the resort’s new golf academy.

Jason comes to the Otsego Club after 11 years working with Rick Smith, one of the games top instructors. Guss was on staff at Smith’s golf academies at the nearby Treetops Resort in Gaylord, and Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.

He’s earned national honors from one of the most influential publications in the game, as Golf Digest magazine listed Guss among its Best Young Teachers in 2010. He was also twice selected by Golf Digest as one of the top 20 teachers in America under the age of 40, the only teacher in Michigan to earn that prestigious recognition.

Guss is also one of three instructors selected by the magazine to create their first set of hour-long instructional DVD’s called The Golf Digest Clinic.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to take my professional teaching knowledge and swing philosophies and start my own golf academy with Otsego Club”, Guss said. “The Otsego Club is a world-class resort destination and I am looking forward to providing a world-class golf academy experience for guests and members.”

With his addition to the Otsego Club, Guss joins the Osprey Recreation group, one of the state’s leading golf course operators and the owners of the Black Forest and Wilderness Valley courses on the western outskirts of Gaylord. The Black Forest course was designed by renowned architect Tom Doak and has earned national recognition as one of the top courses in the country and the state.

Jason said his apprenticeship with Smith, and Smith’s top assistant, Henry Young, was invaluable.

“My years working with Rick and Henry gave me the opportunity to work with some of the greatest players in the game, and learn about the golf swing from one of the best in the game,” he said. “It was truly an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Guss often assisted Smith, while Smith coached such elite players as PGA Tour stars Phil Mickelson, Rocco Mediate, Lee Janzen, and Jerry Kelly to name a few. In addition, Guss also taught at the Brett LeBrocque golf academy in Melbourne, Australia, one of the best golf schools in that country.

“Jason Guss is truly one of the most talented and elite young golf instructors in the country. We are very excited to be able to have someone of his experience start developing golf academy programs for Osprey Recreation and the Otsego Club,” said Phil Cutting, Director of Hospitality and Recreation for Osprey Recreation.

In the coming season, the Otsego Club and the new golf academy will offer a variety of instructional programs including one, two, and three-day sessions, on-course instruction, as well as individual lessons for beginners to elite players.

There will be a variety of programs for junior players with special instruction for those with ambitions to play collegiate golf. A program tailored for women will also be a feature of the new academy.

“I am looking forward to sharing my swing philosophies with golfers of all levels as well as growing the game,” Guss said. “Regardless of your playing ability, whether you’re a beginner or an elite player looking to take your game to the next level, our golf academy will provide the tools and opportunities to improve your golf game.”

Guss has been a keynote speaker for the Michigan PGA Section, sharing his own insights into the golf swing. He filmed four Golf Channel Academy instructional pieces, and appeared as a guest on Michigan Golfer Live.

Founded in 1939, Otsego Club & Resort has been a prominent fixture in northern Michigan and is the oldest operating private ski club in America. The resort’s two 18-hole courses are complimented by Doak’s Black Forest course, and the original 18-hole layout at the Wilderness Valley complex. In addition, the resort offers 117 lodge rooms, suites, and condominiums. There are more than 24,000 square feet of meeting space, and three restaurants, including the award-winning Duck Blind Grille and The Pontresina, a multi-year winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Visit www.otsegoclub.com for more information.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Otsego Golf Club and Resort Gains New Instructor

Related posts:

1. Treetops Resort – Great Fall Golf Have you ever watched the Par 3 Shootout on ESPN...
2. Boyne Highlands Golf Resort As we continue on our tour of golf courses designed...
3. Bayside Resort Golf Club Bayside Resort Golf Club has officially opened and has ushered...

This is a Guest Post brought to you by David L. Felker, PhD, the Inventor of the Polara Ultimate Straight Golf Ball.

The new Polara Ultimate Straight and Ultimate Straight XS golf balls are able to correct hooks and slices by up to 75% … but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Golf has been around in one shape or form in Scotland since 1457 and maybe even since 1297 in the Netherlands.

Golf equipment has evolved tremendously since the old days

In 1976 a couple of non-golfer scientists came up with the original Polara golf ball. Its unique dimple pattern caused the ball to correct hooks and slices in flight.

The company almost immediately sold 100,000 dozen balls. The USGA’s testing concluded the Polara ball did correct hooks and slices, and then promptly passed the “USGA Symmetry Rule”, making all balls like the Polara golf ball non-conforming according to the USGA Rules of Golf.

This was considered to be an ufair business practice, so  Polara sued the USGA. The parties  settled before the trial for approximately $1.4M in favor of Polara and then Polara went away.

Enter Aero-X Golf, Inc (owner of Polara Golf) and David Felker, PhD, the original VP R&D for Callaway Golf Ball Company, who was also the guy behind the Rule 35 ball in 2000 and a lot of the Callaway’s golf ball technology.

After leaving Callaway, David went to work as a consultant with Aero-X Golf and worked to improve upon the Polara design. As a result, in November 2010 the new Polara Ultimate Straight golf balls were brought to market and are currently available on Polara’s website. These golf balls work so well that they come with a full money-back guarantee.

A Totally New Golf Ball Dimple Design

The new Polara Ultimate Straight ball’s dimple design is completely different and is almost the opposite of the original Polara ball.

Instead of 3 rows of deep spherical dimples on each side of the equator, the new Polara has 3 rows of shallow truncated dimples on each side of the equator.

Instead of having shallow truncated dimples on the poles, the new Polara Ultimate Straight balls have deep spherical and added tiny dimples on the poles.

Based on wind tunnel testing done at Princeton University, the new Polara dimple design has three types of dimples, each designed to perform a specific function and the result is a ball that now corrects up to 75% of hook and slice dispersion.

The special dimple design creates a principle axis of inertia (this is the axis that the ball naturally wants to rotate about) and when rotating about this principle axis the ball generates much lower lift and drag forces.

The lift force is what is responsible for the off center-line flights of slice and hook shots.

Because the ball generates substantially lower lift, it is recommended that golfers tee the ball high and even use a high lofted driver – this will provide a lot of extra distance over using a low loft driver (8 or 9 degree driver) with the ball teed down low.

Polara Golf’s slice and hook reducing performance claim is backed up by independent robot tests performed by Golf Laboratories of San Diego

The independent testing reveals that the Polara Ultimate Straight balls can actually correct over 80% of the off-line flight caused by some slice shots.  This means if you hit a shot with a normal golf ball and it travels 100 feet off center, the new Polara Ultimate Straight ball will fly as little as 20 feet off center.

The difference is like being in the fairway of the hole you are playing versus being in the adjoining fairway of the hole someone else is playing!

Now, the Polara Ultimate Straight is still not approved for play in USGA sanctioned events like the US Open, but take heart, not all of us will play in the US Open or nor do all of us follow every last USGA rule.

In fact there is a good argument being made by some of us who want to help grow the game of golf, that a new set of rules need to be used for recreational golfers and these rules should allow the use of equipment based on technology advances that make the game a little more fun for people.

There will still be the challenges of water hazards, long puts, reading the greens, avoiding and getting out of the sand.

And if someone wants more challenge from slices and hooks, they can always play a regular golf ball and even use an old persimmon wood driver.

It should be up to each of us how we want to enjoy our four hours on the course. Golf is a tough game, it’s not easy to learn, it’s time consuming, has a high drop-out rate and golfers need some help.

The Polara Ultimate Straight golf balls will correct the number one problem in golf – the slice

If your game includes drawing and fading the ball at will, the new Polara ball is not for you. You will not be able to draw and fade the Polara ball like the ball you are used to playing. But, if you’re that good, I still recommend you purchase a dozen Polara Ultimate Straight golf balls for this reason: Put them in your bag and the next time the foursome in front is holding up play looking for lost balls, offer them as a gift. It will improve the pace of play and everyone will enjoy that!

The Polara golf ball is designed for the average golfer who has trouble with slices and hooks. I’m a 26 handicap golfer with a bad slice. I played golf a few weeks ago with a friend and using the Polara Ultimate Straight XS I hit every fairway. I never did that before!  It was a lot more fun than my usual round where I lose many balls in the rough and woods.

Had Polara been around in the days of Mark Twain, instead of quipping, “Golf is a good walk spoiled”, Twain might have exclaimed, ‘Golf is a lot more fun from the fairway!”

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Will The New Polara Golf Balls Change The Way You Play Golf?

Related posts:

1. Cobra F-Speed 3 Wood – Love At First Blast Off ! I recently bought a new Cobra F-Speed 3 Wood with...
2. Will New Golf Balls Help My Game? So I’m crusin’ the ‘net and checking out golf ball...
3. New Golf Balls From Maxfli I just got an email that was all crunked up...

Do you play golf in Wisconsin?  If you do, you absolutely must check out the Birdie Book.

The Birdie Book is Wisconsin’s statewide discount golf book and it was first released in 2010.

The 2011 book will be printed in mid January and will incorporate over 180 great Wisconsin golf courses.

It’s a full color $20.00 book and it features a minimum of 2 aggressive tee time specials per golf course so you can save big bucks no matter where you play golf.

It’s also a great way to get out & try a new course without breaking the bank.

No more expensive discount golf cards or expensive packages, My Birdie Book has it all.

In fact they also have local golf shops offering aggressive coupons.  Nevada Bob’s in Madison & The Golf Headquarters in Onalaska both have 20% off their merchandise.

If you need a set of clubs or even just a wedge, definitely check in to the Birdie Book before check out.

At its minimal $20.00 price point you can’t go wrong even if you’re going to
play just once or twice.

They have just about every golf course in the Wisconsin Dells area and hundreds of others that will challenge your game.

Swing by the Birdie Book’s official website for a complete list of their participating courses and specials.  You won’t be disappointed and you can pre-order the book today!

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Do You Play Golf In Wisconsin?

Related posts:

1. Phil Bundy’s Quest To Play On The PGA Tour I just added a new entry to my golf blog...
2. Play Golf In Mesquite, Nevada Mesquite is more than a great wood to grill over....
3. Tales from Q School: Inside Golf’s Fifth Major I was recently sent a copy of this book and...

Name dropper isn’t something I’m usually called, but after this post, I’m sure the name’s gonna fit like a fresh, new golf glove.

Rancho Manana. Eagle Mountain. Gold Canyon – Dinosaur Mountain. Estrella. Las Sendas. The Raven. Superstition.

By the way, The Raven Golf Club at South Mountain may be my favorite Phoenix golf course.

Las Sendas kicked my butt on a 118 degree day back in 2002. Tough, tough track, but beautiful scenery and very fair if you can hit it where you’re looking, which I couldn’t do the one time I was there. <sigh>

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. I’ve played some great golf courses in Arizona and I’ve played some good golf in Arizona

The Arizona golf courses I’ve played have always been in fantastic condition. Above and beyond is an easy way to describe the lengths they go to with regard to manicuring their golf courses in Arizona.

The facilities have always been superb as well. Never before had I witnessed Men’s locker rooms that were bigger and nicer than most apartments I rented when I was young.

The people you meet are always dang friendly. Willing to pair up and willing to take you along for the ride.

The food in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Tempe and all the towns in between is out of this world good.

And while I’m thinking about it, if you’re going to play any of the Tucson golf courses, make sure the words Starr Pass or Saddlebrooke is in the name and if it is, you can’t go wrong.

Make sure you play early. Get done before noon and then enjoy a great lunch.

If you like great rates, go back and get a speedy 18 in just before dark and soak in the beauty and serenity of the desert right at sundown.

Then go soak in a pool til dinner time!

Trust ol’ Mike and head out to Arizona for some golf, some scenery, some food and some memories!

Tell ‘em I sent you. They remember me too

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Great Golf = Arizona Golf = Great Golf

Related posts:

1. Legacy Golf Resort – Arizona The Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, Arizona is nestled at...
2. Palm Valley Golf Club – Goodyear, AZ Here’s a great little golf couse that my friends Bob...
3. Gold Canyon Golf Resort Here’s another high desert golf course I played the last...

I know you’ve seen it on TV and I know you want to see it in person, dontcha?

What?

You know I’m talkin’ about the Harbour Town Marina lighthouse.

We’ve seen it in the background on the weekend golf telecasts and we want to know if it really has red and white stripes all year round.

Do they just paint it like that for the golf tournament?

Okay, so the truth is yes, it’s really red and white all year round.

I was stationed in South Carolina during part of my Army years and I travelled a wee bit around the state whilst I was there.

From the swampy marshes to the sandy beaches to the brick streets, South Carolina is a travellers and golfers dream come true.

From Alexander’s to the Wreck of the Salty Dog, the dining on Hilton Head can only be described as “All-American Southern Fare with some BBQ, Greek, Italian, French with a little Chinese and Japanese thrown in and stirred up to create a dining paradise surrounded by water”.

But here on this site we mostly talk golf, so let’s get all concentrated on the premier golf destination of the entire eastern seaboard – Hilton Head Island.

And most importantly, since it’s been hovering around 100 degrees here in Kentucky the last three weeks, let’s talk about something else that sizzling hot … Hilton Head golf.

From the Ocean Course to Harbour Town Golf Links. From Arthur Hills to Fazio to Robert Trent Jones.

Did I mention that Hilton Head is one of the most family friendly places to play golf?

Did I mention that it may well be the best place on earth for the ladies to play along with their guys?

Tremendous courses, tremendous designers, tremendous conditions and amenities. Water, sand, breezes and more await you on Hilton Head Island, so head over and get you a few Hilton Head tee times … you won’t be sorry and you can thank me later, after you tell ‘em Mike sent you

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Hilton Head Golf Is At The Head Of My Class

Related posts:

1. The Sea Pines Resort- Hilton Head, S.C. Do you recognize that Lighthouse ? I knew immediately where...
2. Free Golf With Stay At Hilton Garden Inn If you’re a road warrior like me, and happen to...
3. South Carolina and Golf Love Each Other My buddy Pete, from Columbia, SC, say’s to tell y’all...

Courtesy Princeville Makai Golf Course

Are you old enough to remember Blue Hawaii, the “Elvis movie”, as they’re called today?

I was two years away from being born when it was filmed in 1961, but I’ve seen it, several times. I love Elvis movies.

Right now I’m blue because I’m not in Hawaii playing golf, feeling that Kona breeze and soaking up the rays as they can only be soaked in Hawaii.

Think of it this way … there are golf courses and then there are Hawaii golf courses.

From the Old Blue Course at Wailea Golf Club, to Royal Ka’anapali to King Kamehamea there’s just no other place on earth like the Hawaiian islands and there’s just no other place on earth with the amount of championship golf courses like there is in Hawaii.

Mountains, plantations, lush tropical scenery, rain forests, big blue sky, sunshine, beautiful blue water, surfing, clean sandy beaches … I could go on and on about all there is to see and do, but you already know this, you just need to something about it, like head over right now and make travel plans, get some tee times and pack your shorts, sandals, polo’s and clubs.

Even the good folks at Travel+Leisure magazine have called Kauai #2 in their survey for World’s Best Island. Galapagos was #1 and when I was there there were no golf courses.

Travel+Leisure editors calculate the awards on reader input, ranking five qualities: natural attractions, activities and sights, restaurants and food, people and value.

One thing you can count on is that when I finally get a chance to head over to play Hawaii golf and need a Hawaii tee time, I know exactly what website I’ll be using and that’s HawaiiGolf.com.

And I think you should too, so head over, check ‘em out and tell ‘em Mike sent you.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Wishing I Was Golfing In Hawaii

Related posts:

1. Who Else Wants To Play Golf In Hawaii ? Did you happen to watch the Mercededs-Benz Championship from Kapalua...
2. Champions Tour Plays Turtle Bay Resort In Hawaii Hale Irwin, Defending Champion This week the Champions Tour was...
3. Golfing One Of Georgia’s Finest Would you like to golf at one of the finest...

Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa kicks off the start to the 2010 golf season with the Annual Spring Golf Tee-Off on Saturday, April 10, 2010, on the resort’s North Course. Join ESPN Madison 100.5 Sportscasters Jim
Rutledge and Gabe Neitzel as they broadcast live at the resort from 3-5 p.m.

Golfers can take advantage of the low golf rate at $60 per round of golf and $10 off any golf package per person, valid April 9-11, 2010 to mark this special weekend. On Saturday, April 10, 2010 golfers will have the chance to win a new 2010 Jeep Patriot in a challenging putting contest and the chance to win $10,000 cash in a hole-in-one contest along with other giveaways throughout the day.

One lucky listener of the Roe Conn Show on Chicago’s WLS 890 AM will win a trip out to the resort to play with News Anchor Jim Johnson on Saturday, April 10, 2010 to help kick-off the start to the golf season. Visit
www.wlsam.com for details on how to listen and win!

To make a tee time or book one of the golf packages for the weekend, please call the resort at 800-892-2269 or visit www.eagleridge.com for more details.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Chance to win 2010 Jeep Patriot, $10,000 and more on Saturday, April 10, 2010!

Related posts:

1. Cape Fear National Launches Grand Opening Celebration on April 19 Cape Fear National in Wilmington, N.C., will open its doors...
2. Patriot Golf Day and Dan Rooney I got an email about this event and then the...
3. One Last Chance At Golf Gifts! Hey, Travelling Golfers! Here's a reminder about Mike Pedersen's holiday...

Cape Fear National in Wilmington, N.C., will open its doors to the public on Monday, April 19, 2010.

The highly-anticipated 18-hole premium golf club is managed by Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports and will serve as the centerpiece of the Brunswick Forest master-planned community.

Grand opening events will take place on April 19 and include remarks from golf course designer Tim Cate, an interactive demo day with Callaway, Ping, Nike and Titleist club testing, a $1 million charity hole-in-one opportunity for five local television personalities and local charity representatives. The day’s events will be highlighted by a driving range demonstration and clinic by former PGA TOUR winner and TV golf analyst Bobby Clampett. Festivities start at 9:30 a.m. and the entire day is open to the public.

“Cape Fear National will serve as a source of pride for the local community and we look forward to bringing exceptional golf to the coastal Carolina area,” said Cape Fear National Director of Sales and Marketing Brad Walker.

In addition to Monday’s grand opening festivities, golfers are encouraged to join in the week-long celebration with daily shotgun-start outings taking place April 20 – April 23, with daily 10 a.m. tee times.
Golfers can make history by being one of the first players to experience all 18 holes at Cape Fear National by calling 910.383.3283.

Cape Fear National is an 18-hole, Tim Cate-designed course that opened for preview play in November 2009. The course layout features a rippling landscape mixed with cypress, pine, maple, oak and magnolia trees. Multiple holes are intertwined throughout with preserved wetlands and scenic lakes to make for a natural and enjoyable walk through the course. Additional property amenities for guests include a golf shop,
spacious banquet and meeting rooms and bar and grill.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Cape Fear National Launches Grand Opening Celebration on April 19

Related posts:

1. Chance to win 2010 Jeep Patriot, $10,000 and more on Saturday, April 10, 2010! Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa kicks off the start to...
2. Grand Slam of Golf Phil Mickelson joins Tiger Woods, winner of The Masters &...
3. Have You Visited The 19th Hole Lately ? Just in case you’re one of those who like to...

As I sit here wondering where to take my next golf vacation to, I notice the Food Network in on the TV in the next room and my wife is watching an old Iron Chef replay and one of her favorite Iron Chef’s is cooking some kind of French-fusion cuisine.

Hmmm….maybe France would be a nice place to play golf, do a wee bit of fine dining and travel by train. Sounds pretty durn fine now, don’t it?

And if you’re gonna play golf someplace you’ve never been, why not play the best of the best?

So I did a little investigating and I found the 5 best golf courses in France and found out a little more about them.

Here’s what I found:

1) Morfontaine – This course dates back to about 1913, when the Duke of Guiche obtained permission from his father to transform an old polo pitch in the park of Vallière into a 9-hole golf course for the pleasure of the Duke and his friends.

The opening ceremonies included professional golfer James Braid, who played against French champions Jean Gassiat and Arnaud Massy.

Pretty snazzy beginnings and even today it’s mentioned in the same breath with Royal Lytham & St Annes and Ballybunion, so I’m sure it would be a great golf experience.

2) Les Bordes – Private since about March of ’08, so you can only get so much info, but I did find that Les Bordes was the brainchild of Baron Marcel Bich.

It was designed by Texan, Robert von Hagge, and it’s been said that when he designed this beast he was at his most wickedly creative.

Les Bordes opened for play in 1986 and it’s a supreme challenge. The unforgettable Jean Van de Velde holds the current course record of 71 (one under par) so don’t show up with your fake 6 handicap and try to tell them you’re gonna set the fairways on fire.

Les Bordes has a slightly American feel to it, both in terms of the design and impeccable conditioning but it leaves no doubt that you are in France. There is more style here on this tournament condition layout than just about any other course in France.

3) Golf de Chantilly – One of the most beautiful courses in all of Europe and set amongst the forest of the Ile de France, about 30 miles north of Paris.

It was originally built 1909 and has played host to numerous French Opens, including the 1913 French Open.

The very best have golfed their ball here at Chantilly, including the great Bobby Jones from long ago and The Golf Channel’s Nick Faldo from recent memory. Faldo even won the French Open.

The whole Chantilly experience is very traditional and it’s said that it has a very distinct British feel. With 36 holes (Le Vineuil and Les Longères) and a clubhouse that is very reminiscent of that at Sunningdale, you may doubt that you are indeed in France?

So there you have a great start to planning a European vacation and getting ready to play golf in France.

There’s no way I can cover it all in one blog post, but I hope it’s got you thinking about the possibility of some very fine French cuisine, some very stylish golf attire, some very friendly people and some darn good golf.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

The Top 3 Golf Courses in France

Related posts:

1. Golfweek’s Best Courses Of 2006 Golfweek Magazine recently released its annual list of Best New...
2. Adventurous Golf Courses I just read an ad spread in Golf Magazine. It...
3. Georgia ( Golf ) On My Mind Today’s link goes to the Peach State. You can have...

What is the one thing a golf equipment manufacturer could ask, tell, show or give you that would cause you to buy a new golf club?

Leave you answer in the comments section below this post.

One man’s (or woman’s) question is another man’s answer.

One single thing.

The one most important to you.

One thing.

Let’s tell ‘em what we want and make ‘em beg to give it to us!

It’s that time of the golf season for most of us.

The time when we sit back and wait for the manufacturers to bombard us with the new features of their new golf clubs.

They always have features, but they never have benefits.

High C.O.R? Who cares. What will it help me do? Drive the ball farther into the weeds?

Higher Moment of Inertia? Who cares? Will it really take 3 strokes off my game? Id so, why didn’t it do it this year?

Thinner face? Thicker topline? Whoop-de-freakin’-do!

Features, features and more features.

I need benefits. It’s all about me. Tell me what it’ll help me do and then SHOW ME how to do that.

Money back if it doesn’t work will be nice too.

Then YOU GUYS have some skin in the game and not just me.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Please Give Me Your Advice on Golf Equipment

Related posts:

1. Need Some Golf Equipment? We all need golf equipment and we need someone who...
2. How To Protect Your Golf Equipment On Airplanes If you’re thinking about taking a golf vacation to beautiful,...
3. Travelling Golfer Blog Scores Major Coup ! We here at Travelling Golfer are excited and proud to...