This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
From the Executive Director


By Ed Gowan


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS PRESIDENT..................................................................................Dick Haugland 1ST VICE PRESIDENT .............................................................................Bill Lich 2ND VICE PRESIDENT ............................................................Paige Peterson SECRETARY ............................................................................................Jeff Zieky TREASURER ...........................................................................Mike McWilliams


Winter season brings tourists, T-birds and collegians


T


he return of cooler weather and over- seeded fairways is always a welcome addition to desert golf. Many Arizona Golf


Association members are making the annual migration from snowbird country, welcome of course, but with tourists beginning to crowd courses, golf becomes for some a less-often excursion. Although it could be a negative, to


me the volume of interest in Arizona golf’s varied offerings insures great conditioning for most everyone, and I look forward to extraordinary games even if a little less often. The recent Charles Schwab Cup was


a start for the spectator season, while 100,000 people a day will be looking forward to the Waste Management Phoenix Open on the newly re- designed TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. Watching the grandstand construction that’s been on-going for some weeks already reinforces the special place golf has here, especially among the sponsoring Thunderbirds. The LPGA’s return for the Founders


Cup is only a few months away. And the Champions Tour is making its debut at Tucson National in March. Yes, it’s going to be a great winter for golf. Also on our horizon in late


December is the Patriot All-America at the Wigwam. For that event the Mavericks, the local community group


10 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2014


in the West Valley, will host a “corral” adjacent to the 18th


green with food


and entertainment, open to the general public. Come watch 84 of college golf’s best challenge the Wigwam’s iconic Robert Trent Jones Gold Course. For those who may have missed the first three Patriots, it begins with an impressive Opening Ceremony where the collegians are presented with PING golf bags for the event, each carrying the name of a fallen soldier whom they represent in the competition. We’ve experienced several very


special and touching moments over the years where the college players have come to know friends or family of their honoree. Of course, all of the festivities are capped off through the involvement from Luke Air Force Base — a must-see for the golf fan. Once the Patriot All-America is complete, the bags are auctioned to benefit Folds of Honor Foundation through our partnership with the Golf Coaches Association of America. Plan on joining us at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28 for a truly moving opening to the fourth Patriot All-America. For the 80,000 AGA and AWGA


members, and the other 250,000 active golf lovers living here in Arizona, have a great winter golf season. Hope to see you on the links! n


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Tim Brown, Bill Burgesser, Lee Decof, Mike Langston, Bob McNichols, Bill Phipps, Rick Rarick, Mike Saladino and Matt Witzke


AGA STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR....................................................................Ed Gowan ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ....................................Lorraine Thies DIRECTOR OF HANDICAPPING & COURSE RATING. ..............................................................Derek McKenzie DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING .....Brian Foster* DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES. ................................Ginger Monroy DIRECTOR OF RULES AND COMPETITION ......................... Jim Franko DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS .........Chris Montgomery TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR .........................................................Alex Tsakiris CORPORATE SALES MANAGER ............................................Brian Powell* MANAGER OF PUBLIC RELATIONS .......................................Joe Ferroni* CLUB PROGRAMS MANAGER ............................................Michelle Evens TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS MANAGER ................Courtney Smyser ACCOUNTING.......................................................................... Betty Saltzgiver RECEPTIONIST................................................................Maureen Zagerman PJ BOATWRIGHT INTERN ...........................................Monique Wantland


*Denotes independent contractor


THE AZ GOLF INSIDER STAFF PUBLISHER.....................................................................................Mark Nothaft EDITOR-IN-CHIEF .........................................................................Bill Huffman DESIGNER............................................................................Carl Bezuidenhout AGA EDITOR .................................................................................Lorraine Thies SENIOR EDITOR ................................................................................John Davis AUTOMOTIVE EDITOR ..................................................................Bob Golfen FOOD EDITOR ................................................................................Carey Sweet GENERAL ASSIGNMENTS .......................................................... Jeff Heisner PHOTO EDITOR .........................................................................Jane Zarzynski SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER .......................................................Dennis Scully SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER ........................................................Wade Moran CONTRIBUTORS ................Ed Gowan, Lorraine Thies, Scott McNevin, .............................Robyn Noll, Joe Passov, Hugh Smith, Sandey Tenuto ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER ................................Ryan Chackel ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER .................................Jeff Martinez ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER ........................................Steve Copas For magazine inquiries, email us at AZGolfInsider@cox.net


BACKSPIN MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT.......................................................................................Bill Huffman GENERAL MANAGER ................................................................Mark Nothaft BackspinMediaGroupUSA@gmail.com


AZ GOLF Insider, is published four times a year by the Arizona Golf Association. It


is supported by members’ dues, utilizing $3 per


member per year. We welcome all editorial submissions, including letters, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. They will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Views expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or official policies of the Arizona Golf Association. No part of this magazine is intended as an endorsement of any equipment, publication, videotape, golf course or other entity. No part of this magazine may be reproduced for use as an advertising, publicity or endorsement item without written approval of the AGA. AZ GOLF Insider is offered on a subscription basis for $12.95 annually. Individual copies may be obtained by forwarding $5 to the address below.


Arizona Golf Association 7600 E. Redfield Rd., Suite 130 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (602) 944-3035 (800) 458-8484 In-State Line www.azgolf.org


www.azgolf.org


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46