FEBRUARY 2012


FORE! • SMOKE SIGNALS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT “Players can receive individual and clinic lessons every week. Each Professional has a different approach to fit your preferences in teaching styles.” the latest news, and upcoming events! Golf Operations: the staff,


ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY BIG CANOE GOLF PRO STAFF


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ig Canoe Golf Operations is excited about the upcoming 2012 golf season! The Professional staff has worked with the MGA, WGA, and Couples Golf Committee in setting a great schedule for tournaments. Look for new teaching schedules on the website and in the Golf Shop, including an introductory men’s clinic this season. If you or your group would like to set up a special event, please do not hesitate to contact the Professional staff for pricing and date availability. The golf course conditions continue to improve every year and are arguably the best they have ever been!


Golf Shop Hours of Operation n December - February: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00


p.m., first tee time at 9:00 a.m. n March and November: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00


p.m., first tee time 8:30 a.m. n April and October: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00


p.m., first tee time 8:00 a.m. n May-September: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., first tee time 7:30 a.m. n Questions? Please call the golf shop at 706-268-3323


Merchandise News For 2012 the Big Canoe Golf Shop will


transform from solely a golf shop to a golf and gift retail shop for the convenience of property owners and guests. The shop will continue to carry Callaway and Taylor Made clubs and products, and a wide assortment of men’s, woman’s and kid’s apparel. In addition to the regular assortment of gifts, the shop will be adding new lines of fun and exciting products for everyone. A few examples include Ditz Co. for stuffed bears, Ash City for men’s and woman’s clothing and outerwear, and Oxford Golf for traditional menswear. The shop will also begin to carry convenience items like greeting cards and sunscreen — a one stop shop for your golf and gift needs. Please remember Golf Amenity Members receive 20% off and Property Owners receive 10% off all purchases except for golf equipment.


Teaching


Golf instruction at Big Canoe offers many different opportunities. Players can receive individual and clinic lessons every week. Each Professional has a different approach to fit your preferences in teaching styles. Lessons are available at the practice facility and on course to fit all your lesson needs. Please contact the Golf Shop to schedule a lesson with one of the PGA or LPGA Professionals. (706) 268-3323 Mark A. Johnson, Director of Golf,


PGA • With 5 years of fulltime teaching and 19 total years of teaching experience (over 5,000 lessons given), our Director of Golf finds that helping students enjoy golf and become excited by the game is one of his greatest joys. Mark has taught a wide variety of golfers, including ladies, juniors, seniors, touring pros, and physically challenged individuals. His teaching philosophy focuses upon simplifying and creating an efficient swing while taking advantage of a student’s natural ability. Mark also believes that working on mental aspects of the game is important for golfers of all abilities. Course management is also a critical facet of the clinics, and important to helping improve your overall game. Mark looks forward to seeing you on the lesson tee! Joseph Finemore, 1st Assistant


Professional, PGA • Over the last 14 years Joe has been directly involved with golf.


Joe


fell in love with the sport in high school while playing on the golf team. Following high school, he played four years of college golf leading the team his junior and senior years as captain. The previous four years, Joe spent working at Bonita Bay Club in Naples, FL giving lessons to a wide variety of golfers, including ladies, juniors, seniors, professionals, and physically challenged individuals. His


teaching philosophy focuses on what he likes to call simple golf and having fun. He feels that the game can be taught to all in different ways and looks forward to bringing his experience of the swing and course management to all of his students. Joe looks forward to seeing the smile on your face as your golf game improves with the help of his lessons. D. Zack Robison, 2nd Assistant


Professional, PGA • With eight years experience teaching juniors, women, men, seniors and adaptive learning Zack has developed a way to make golf enjoyable for all diverse groups. His teaching philosophy focuses on the principles and fundamentals of the golf swing with practice by you to improve


your game. While all swings are unique and different, each student can get to the impact zone with improved confidence. Zack looks forward to seeing you on the lesson tee to improve and enjoy your golf game. Joan Delk, Teaching Professional,


LPGA • Joan Delk comes to Big Canoe with an enthusiasm and a love for teaching kids, ladies, and men of all ages. Her goal as a teacher is to provide the beginner and the experienced player with the knowledge of how the golf swing works so that when you leave the lesson tee you know exactly what you need to work on. Joan holds weekly clinics for the Fullswing, Short Game and On Course Strategy where we go on the course and we talk about shot selection, course


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Big Canoe’s PGA Golf Professionals, Joseph Finemore, Mark Johnson, Zack Robison (Joan Delk not pictured).


management, pre-shot routine and mental strategy. Joan has an extensive resume as a player and as a teacher. As a player, Joan was both the Florida Junior and Women’s State Champion. She was an accomplished college player at Furman University and she played 10 years competitively on the LPGA Tour. While she was playing, she also had the fun job of being a TV Golf Analyst for ESPN for the LPGA and NCAA Women’s Golf. After finishing her full-time participation on the LPGA Tour, Joan embarked on a new career in teaching. During the last 15 years, she has held various teaching positions including Teaching Professional and Head Professional at Gold Creek Golf Club, Teaching Professional at Accelerized Golf (an indoor computerized video teaching facility) and Teaching Professional at Crystal Falls Golf Club. Joan looks forward to helping you make “2012” your best golfing season ever!


Junior Golf Camp.


2012 Junior Golf Program All of the golf professionals at Big Canoe are dedicated to providing the best available golf instruction to Juniors of all ages. The purpose of our program is to offer all Junior Golfers the opportunity to have a positive introduction and experience unlike any other game. Whether they are just beginning or have been playing for a while, we are sure that we offer something that matches the skill and interest levels of all junior golfers. Sessions are open to everyone ages 5 – 15 years old. Please feel free to contact the golf professionals to sign up your child. If you think it would be more appropriate for your child to learn through private instruction, all of the Professionals here at Big Canoe teach individual junior lessons. We are offering several opportunities for junior golfers to learn the game of golf throughout the spring and summer. These will not only be great learning experiences, but also a great deal of fun. The space is limited so sign up early and join us for some fun learning.


Big Canoe Junior Camps Jamey Smith cutting a cup for the Juniors.


Tuesday to Friday, 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Join us for a four day long camp. This camp will cover all aspects of the game including etiquette, rules, swing fundamentals, and course management. Open to all junior golfers regardless of gender or ability. The level of instruction will be fit to all golfers and we will make groups for different levels of playing ability.


the campers. This is a great way to introduce your children to the game of golf. Schedule of Events: Tuesday and


Wednesday the campers are on the driving range, putting green, chipping area, and golf course from 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Thursday is skills challenge day from 8:00a.m.-10:30a.m. and on the golf course from 10:30a.m.- 12:00p.m. Friday is an Adult-Child Scramble, which is a 9:00a.m. shotgun start. All juniors must have a Big Canoe Property Owner Sponsor to attend. Cost is $ 200 a week per junior. June 12th – 15th, June 26th – 29th, July 17th – 20th, July 24th – 27th. Maximum of 36 Students.


Joe Finemore giving a lesson to Doug Barr.


Lunch is included every day for


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