Short subjects
September 4, 2009
Golfers in the Cape Region and throughout the United States will be chipping in for a wonderful cause during the entire Labor Day weekend.
From September 4 through 7, golfers at participating courses will be asked to contribute toward and play golf for the Patriot Golf Day, all for the benefit of the Folds of Honor Foundation.
The Foundation is a charitable organization, eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions, that supports the families of those in the military services who either died or were disabled while engaged in our nation’s defense. The money goes toward educational scholarships for the children and spouses of those who made these sacrifices.
The idea first came to Dan Rooney, a PGA professional and an F-16 pilot. In the last two years the Patriot Golf Day event has raised more than three million dollars.
Last year, more than 3,600 golf facilities participated in the charity event. For this year, the following Cape Region and Sussex County courses will be asking their players to make a contribution: Shawnee Country Club in Milford, The Peninsula Golf & Country Club in Millsboro, The Rookery Golf Course in Milton, Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View, and Heritage Shores Golf Club in Bridgeville.
For more information, as well as an opportunity to make your own contribution, click on over to patriotdaygolf.com. You can also contact the Folds of Honor Foundation at 7030 S. Yale, Suite 600, Tulsa, OK 74136 or call them at 918-591-2406.
Another Hole In One
After three straight weeks of reporting on holes-in-one from Shawnee Country Club, it’s time to recognize another Cape Region course for yet another summertime ace.
During the recent Member-Guest tournament at Kings Creek Country Club, member Gary Weitzman showed his playing companions how it was done, with a 7-iron on the 155-yard par 3 eleventh hole. Weitzman was particularly happy about the fact that another competitor-member had put his own shot within 8 inches of the hole for a tap-in birdie, which made this particular ace even more fun.
Pete Oakley’s European Adventure Continues
The Rookery’s Director of Golf is still plugging away on the European Senior Tour, as the 2009 season begins to wind down.
During this year’s British Senior Open in late July, the scene of Oakley’s 2004 triumph, he had a lot more trouble than he bargained for. Oakley shot a 71 the first day, but followed it up with an 80 on the second round, missing the cut for the weekend. Nonetheless, Oakley earned another 847.06 Euros for his troubles.
Oakley then traveled to the Golf Club at Bad Ragaz, in Switzerland, for the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, held August 7-9. He finished in a tie for 27th place, good for another 1,604 Euros.
His next event was the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open, held August 21-23 at Fairmont St. Andrews, in Fife, Scotland. Oakley’s 10-over par performance put him in a tie for 47th place, earning him an additional 865.78 Euros.
This weekend should find Oakley at the Duke’s Course at Woburn Golf Club in England, for the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters. At this point, Oakley is at 55th place on the Senior Tour Order of Merit. He’ll have to finish well at the Senior Masters and the three other remaining events on the European Tour calendar in order to secure his exempt status for the 2010 season.
Let’s Go to the Videotape
My bride gave me an HD digital camcorder last Christmas, and I’ve begun to shoot some video clips of my golfing friends during our Sunday matches.
Jim Hutchins says the AVI-format clips work well with his V1 golf video software, but he also says that it’s hard to tell much about one’s swing from watching the videos. As he put it, “You’ll see what you want to see.”
If you’ve had any experience with videotaping your swing and analyzing its results, send me an email. I’d like to know which type of video software you are using, and whether you think that watching these clips has been a help or a hindrance to improving your golfing skill