Local Golf events

Daily News staff

Febraury 11 , 2005

The first Tournament of Club Champions will be held on April 2-3 at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples.

The tournament invites both public and private golf clubs in the area to enter their men's and women's club champions in the event.

A pairings party will be held on Friday, April 1 at LaPlaya's beachfront resort. The field will be limited to the first 72 clubs who sign up their champions.

"The Tournament of Champions is a terrific idea whose time has come and LaPlaya is thrilled to be hosting the inaugural tournament," said A.J. Duncan, LaPlaya's director of golf.

The Naples Daily News and Organic-Gro are founding sponsors. For more information, contact Bob Curtin at 348-8533.

The Naples North Rotary Club's Million Dollar Hole-In-One Shootout is going on through March 6 every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Naples Golf Center at 7700 Davis Blvd. in East Naples.

Sponsorships are available on three levels.

The dollars raised will be used for academic or vocational scholarships in the Naples community. In 2004, over $40,000 was distributed to students. For more information, call John Brooks at 597-5551.

In support of Arnold Palmer's ongoing campaign to fight prostate cancer, The Glades Country Club held a fund-raising tournament on Jan. 15. A full field of golfers participated in a one-better-ball-of-two event. Over $1,000 was raised.

The Glades also will be having a golf scramble fund-raiser for breast cancer research on Feb. 13. All proceeds will be donated to Rally For The Cure. For more information, call 774-1443.

Naples' Carson Weinand finished second in the Future Collegians World Tour event in Clearwater over the weekend. Weinand shot 75-71 to place second in the boys 13-15 age group, three shots behind the winner. Naples' Courtney Figueroa was 17th in the girls 13-18 age group.

Eagle Creek Country Club reopened in mid-November after undergoing some renovations. Apparently one of those was making it easier for holes-in-one.

Arlene Cape got it started with an ace in mid-December. A month later, things really took off. Six aces were made in an 11-day period from Jan. 11-21. Nancy Soukup made one on No. 17 on Jan. 11. Then Paul Sherman did it on No. 12 on Jan. 15. Two days later, Ron Rueker had one on the same hole. Then Pam Richards aced No. 17 on Jan. 18. Siew-Ai Koh was next on Jan. 20 on No. 12. And James Grandolfo capped the spurt with one on No. 5 on Jan. 21.

"I've never seen anything like it," professional Dan Vona said.

Other upcoming golf events follow:

— 2005 Dodge Celebrity Invitational — April 27-May 1, Gateway Golf & Country Club, Fort Myers. Former pitcher and local resident Mike Trombley will join celebrities from the sports and entertainment world. For more information, call 888-256-5053 or go online to www.eclipsesportsmanagement.com.

— Tour qualifiers — The open qualifier for The ACE Group Classic is on Monday at West Bay Club in Estero. Participants must be 50 years of age or older. The qualifier is being conducted by the South Florida PGA Section. The section also is conducting open qualifying for the PGA Tour's Ford Championship at Doral on Feb. 18 and the Honda Classic on March 7. Entry information is available at www.sflorida.pga.com or by contacting the section office at (954) 752-9299.

— Tournament Players Association — Upcoming event: Saturday and Sunday at San Carlos Golf Club. Entry fee, $100. For more information on the Tournament Players Association or the tournament, go online to www.tpagolf.com or call 458-0754.

— Ave Maria University Founders Club's "Whole in the One" Golf League — Upcoming event: Wednesday, Feb. 16, Vineyards. Reservations must be made no later than Feb. 14. Cost is $78 and includes lunch and a short talk. Lunch is at noon followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Call The Glades pro shop at 774-1443.

— Fantasy Golfers Association/Michelob Ultra Golf Tour — The tour events are generally stroke-play formats following USGA rules, with one- or two-day events. Tournaments are flighted by handicap. Top finishers in each flight receive non-cash prizes. Awards vary depending upon size of fields. Events also provide optional skins games. In order to abide by USGA rules, no single or cumulative prize value will exceed $750. Call Jim Stockman at 593-3485 or visit www.ultragolftour.com.

— The Florida State Golf Association Rules of Golf seminars — Remaining area seminar: Friday at The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers. Seminars are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. FSGA committee members are admitted for $15. Others can pay $30 to attend. Golf professionals pay $50 and earn seven PGA continuing education points for attending. Golf professionals who bring three paying members will be admitted free of charge. Admission also includes a luncheon buffet and rule book. To register, visit www.fsga.org or call the FSGA at (813) 632-3742.

— Michigan State Alumni and Friends golf scramble — Monday, Feb. 21 at Quail West Golf & Country Club. A reception and dinner also will be held. Registration is at noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Reception dinner will be from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. A complete golf package is $275. Dinner only is $60. The entry deadline is Feb. 4. Seating is limited to the first 300. Call Terry Fossum at 517-432-4635 or fossumt@ath.msu.edu

— 12th annual Boston Children's Hospital Celebrity Classic — Friday, Feb. 25 at The Forest Country Club in south Fort Myers. The popular tournament, which features a field of nearly 300 players, has sold out every year since 1993. Net proceeds raised will help build a five-bed pediatric observation unit at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers. The facility costs approximately $800,000 will hold upward of 250 children annually. The entry fee is $250 and includes golf, cart, food, on-course beverages, team prizes, a gift bag, range balls and hole-in-one contest. For more information, contact Jill Smith at 985-3550.

— Notre Dame Club of Greater Naples Habitat for Humanity and Notre Dame Scholarship/Summer Work Program golf tournament — At LaPlaya Golf Club on Sunday, Feb. 27. The four-person shotgun scramble is being coordinated by Dick Murphy and Bob Salvino. The event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Collier County and the Notre Dame Club's local student scholarship fund and the student summer work program benefiting underprivileged children in Immokalee. The day starts with a barbeque lunch at 11 a.m., with the shotgun start scheduled for 12:45 p.m. A cocktail party, dinner, silent auction, raffle and awards presentation will follow. The entry fee is $200 and reservations are limited to 120. Call Murphy at 213-1311 or Salvino at 254-0464.

— The Curse Has Been Reversed Golf Tournament — Saturday, March 5 at Lely Hibiscus Golf Club. FoxBoro Sports Tavern is sponsoring with benefits going to Lely High School athletics. The four-person scramble is being coordinated by the Collier County Junior Baseball Association and Roger Shoemaker.

The tournament will have four divisions: pro, mixed, low handicappers and high handicappers. Registration is at noon with a shotgun start at 12:45 p.m. FoxBoro's will host food, silent/live auction, raffle and awards presentation after the golf. The entry fee is $500 per foursome, including a hole sponsorship. Individual or corporate sponsorships are available at $100 and can be designated to a specific sport at Lely. The field is limited to 128 prepaid golfers. Call Thom Popli at 530-2337 or Patti Moul at 377-2018.

— Boston College Alumni Club golf tournament — Benefits Eden Florida. Monday, March 28 at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. Shotgun start, 1 p.m. Entry fee, $150. A seated dinner also will be held. Eden Family Services provides lifespan services for children and adults with autism. Call Frank Garbarino at 514-0769, Dave Rafferty at 596-0290 or the Eden Foundation at 437-5335.

— Naples Philharmonic League Golf Tournament — At LaPlaya Golf Resort on Monday, April 11. The Philharmonic League is a volunteer group of approximately 600 members who raise funds for the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and youth music education programs. Members and non-members are welcome to participate in the one-day event. The fee for is $160 per person and includes a light breakfast, barbeque lunch and buffet dinner. Call 597-0652.

— 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.

— Southwest Florida Singles Golf Group — Sundays, ages 50-and-over. Call 597-7349.

— Greater Naples Golf Association — Senior division, ages 50-and-over, Wednesdays. Call 598-1261.

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

— Michelob Ultra Golf Tour — 2004 memberships are $150 annually and the tour will run through October. Events are flighted for scratch to 20-plus handicaps and include a senior flight. Men and women are invited. Call Jim Stockman at 404-8692 or John Stoltz at 293-1727.

— Southwest Women's Tri-County Golf Association — The association has monthly events. Call Rona at 793-6844.

— Southwest Florida Seniors Golf Group — Call Bill Dey at 936-2018 or Kathy O'Hern-Smith at 275-9749.

— West Coast Junior Tour — Age groups are 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18. The tour's membership fee is $100. Call Kathy Padgett or Tal Buchanan at 597-1761 or visit www.kathypadgettgolf.com.

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

— Collier County Women's Golf Association — All Collier County golfers with a handicap of 35 or less are eligible to join. Call Doris Roberts at 793-0644 or Sharon Nelson at 594-2269.

— 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 are being featured in top instructor Rick Smith's Golf Channel Academy shows. Willett and Via are part of three different episodes, all shot at Smith's academy at Tiburón Golf Club.

— Executive Women's Golf Association — The local EWGA chapter's host course is The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. The Beach Club offers sessions of instruction and hosts the chapter championship. For membership details and additional information, call 513-GOLF or visit www.ewga.com.

— Cypress Woods Practice Facility — Open to the public with a natural grass range, pitching and chipping area and large practice green. Adult and junior individual lessons and camps by perennial PGA award winner Tal Buchanan. After school junior group lessons starting now. Call 592-7860 or e-mail tal4golf@earthlink.net .

— 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 Lely Resort Golf & 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.

— Kids Golf Academy — At Arrowhead Golf Course and hosted by PGA teaching professional Ty Andersen, former director of golf at Little Thunder Kids Golf Course in Ohio. Andersen specializes in teaching kids and families together and is presently working a "growth of the game" initiative. Clinics are held every Sunday. Individual lessons, youth group and family packages also are available. Call 272-7086.

— Naples Golf Academy — Professionals Lauri Travers and Phil Grear lead a team of PGA and LPGA instructors at Naples Golf Center on Davis Blvd. The academy offers scheduled beginners, intermediate, and women golf schools. Saturday clinics, junior programs and private instruction are also available. Call 732-9944 or visit www.learninggolf.com.

— Tom Patri Golf School — At Naples Grande. Patri is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, and his staff works with all golfers of all ages and abilities. TPGS offers half-day golf schools, with and without nine holes of golf. The school without golf starts as low as $187.50 per person for up to four people. The school with golf starts as low as $300 for up to three people. Both schools offer four hours of instruction and a take- home video analysis. Private lesson packages available from as low as $75 per hour. Junior lesson packages available from as low as $45 per hour. Other specials available. Call Kathy Hanna at 455-9179 or visit www.tompatri.com.

— 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. Programs include Rick Smith Premier Sessions, conducted by Smith himself and two additional staff members. Along with private instruction, the academy also offers schools ranging from 1/2-days to a three full-day comprehensive school including on-course instruction. Ninety-minute golf clinics are being offered for $75, featuring full swing or short game instruction. Ladies clinics are scheduled throughout the year. Junior clinics available for golfers ages 7 to 17. 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.

— Gator Made Golf Academy — At Briarwood Driving Range on Radio Road in Naples. The academy has video lessons, ladies and couples clinics, a junior program, physically challenged instruction, and 1- and 2-day schools. PGA member John Stoltz is running the academy. Stoltz was on the National PGA Teaching Committee and National PGA Golf For The Disabled Committee. Call 293-1727.

— 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 — At Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. 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.

— 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 Learning Center at Quail Creek Country Club — Tom Stickney is director of instruction. Programs are open to the public and include individual lessons and group school for players of all levels and ages. Stickney was voted by Golf Magazine as one of the top teachers in the state and the Southeast in 2003. Call 597-2900.

— 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.

— Tom Manziano Golf Academy — At Pelican's Nest Golf Club in Bonita Springs. The academy features a staff of PGA professionals. Call 947-4600, ext. 224 or visit www.tomgolf.net.

— 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.

— Beach Club Golf School — Under the direction of Larry Gantzer, head professional, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. Private short game instructional area, video taping, playing lessons available. Call 435-2475.

— Dee Laughlin Teaching Program — At Bonita Fairways. LPGA teaching professional. Laughlin also conducts monthly tournament for Southwest Florida Women's Golf Association. Rates, more information, call 498-9486.

— Coral Isle Golf Center — Located 5 miles north of Marco Island. Offering 1/2-hour and 1-hour private lessons, men's and ladies clinics, golf school. Lights have been added extending hours until 10 p.m. every day except Sunday, when it's open until 9 p.m. Demos also available. Scott Moser has joined as a new teaching professional. Call 732-6900.

— Kimberly Thompson Lessons — At the Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort. Beginners golf clinic for women Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Clinics are designed for beginner and intermediate levels. Cost, $40. Thompson also has a golf school. Call 455-9498.

— Dennis Clark Lessons —A Golf Digest senior instructor and has an Advanced Specialty Certification in Golf Instruction. Call 250-6424.

— Steve Anderson Lessons — Director of instruction at Mirror Lakes Golf Club 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.