The Golf Guide, Summer 2017

Accommodations & Packages

SUMMER 2017 49

Accommodations & Packages

50 GOLFGUIDEINC.COM

Accommodations & Packages

SUMMER 2017 51

Accommodations & Packages

52 GOLFGUIDEINC.COM

Accommodations & Packages

SUMMER 2017 53

Shanks & 3–Putts

USGA–R&A Changes the Rules!

Mike Ahrnsbrak — Golf Guide Senior Writer
PGA Professional, Lexington Golf & Country Club
So it looks like the USGA and R&A are serious about simplifying the rules,
shredding the old book, and reducing the number of rules. I would like to see them
redefine the penalty imposed for signing a wrong scorecard, also known as the Lexi
Thompson rule. Lexi was penalized four shots at the LPGA’s ANA Inspiration Golf
Classic, a major, and lost in a playoff. A viewer on tv called in after Lexi’s round
on Saturday and noticed that she had marked her ball but didn’t put it back in the
exact same spot. The rules officials reviewed the videotape and assessed her two
two-shot penalties: one for improperly marking and not replacing her ball, and
one for signing an incorrect scorecard. The impact armchair rules officials should
have on our sport can be debated as a separate matter. But penalizing a player
for signing an incorrect scorecard when the penalty was not assessed until after
the round is complete is asinine. When she completed her round and signed her
scorecard, her score was correct. Time to get that one right.
There are 30 proposed changes under review and comment that will take effect in
2019. A recap of some of the proposed changes with colorful commentary follows.
• Ball moved on the putting green: No penalty for accidentally moving your
ball or ball marker. Also known as the Dustin Johnson Rule
• Deciding why a ball moved: A new standard to determine if you caused
your ball to move. Also known as the USGA stupid decision rule
• A player’s reasonable judgement will not be second guessed based on later
evidence. Also known as the “we think you cheated, but we can’t say you
cheated, but the preponderance of evidence shows that you caused the ball
to move, and you knew it – cheater”
• Ball can now be dropped from any distance above the ground, instead of
shoulder height. I really like this one – should help speed up the game too!
• Ball now must come to rest within the fixed 20/80-inch areas, instead
of additional distance given outside drop area. Look for 20 and 80 inch
alignment poles in every bag.
• Time allotted for ball search shortened to three minutes from five. Will
really speed up the game!
• Use of distance measuring devices now allowed, unless a local rule has
been adopted to prohibit. Look for the first ever laser rangefinder with
measuring tape and stopwatch features coming soon to a Golf Channel
infomercial!
• Ball played hitting unattended flagstick in hole no longer a penalty.
• You can now repair almost any damage to the putting surface including
spike marks and animal damage. Ye gads man. What are spikes?
I’m glad to see golf’s governing bodies changing the rules. Taking away ambiguity,
simplifying the rules, and speeding up play are all good things. I applaud them for
being forward thinking, something the USGA and R&A have seldom been accused
of doing. Now, why does it take almost two years to implement?
Happy Golfing everyone!

54 GOLFGUIDEINC.COM

C

Senior Day Tuesday (55+) 20% off Retail Price of any Golf Hat in stock
Buy 3 Golf Gloves at Regular Price,
$30 Get the 4th FREE
50% off range balls
Green Fee, Cart, & Hot Dog
Mon-Wed (No Holidays) Limit 1 bucket special per visit

Seniors & Ladies Day Four Play for the Price of Three
Every Thursday
(regular rates)
$29
Anytime Monday through Friday
Unlimited Green Fee & 18-Hole Cart Weekends and Holidays after 11 AM

FREE GREEN FEES FREE Dozen Srixon
Marathon Golf BALLS
Pay Cart Fee Only
With Paid Regular 18 Holes Greens Fee And Cart
Monday-Friday after 10 am

Saturday-Sunday after 12 noon

NORTH & SOUTH COURSES 20% off Retail Price of any Golf Hat in stock
Buy 3 Golf Gloves at Regular Price,
Weekdays (Monday – Friday) Get the 4th FREE
50% off range balls
$25 after 11 am
Mon-Wed (No Holidays) Limit 1 bucket special per visit
Weekends (Saturday – Sunday)

$35 after 11 am

Fox Hollow Golf Course Packsaddle Ridge Golf Club
Timonium, MD Keezletown, VA
410-887-7735 540-269-8188
packsaddle.net
baltimoregolfing.com

50% off range balls good Monday through Wednesday Good for up to a foursome. Cannot be combined with any other
excluding holidays. Expires 9-30-17 offer or used in tournaments or special events.
Expires 10-31-17
Mountain View Golf Club
Fairfield, PA Shenandoah Valley Golf Club
717-641-7380 Front Royal, VA
mtviewgc.com
540-636-GOLF (4653)
shenandoahvalleygolfclub.com

Not valid with any other specials, leagues, or outings. Offer valid Thursdays only, excluding holidays.
Expires 8-31-17 Cart rental and soft spikes required. Up to 4 players.
This offer is not valid in combination with any other offer.
Heritage Oaks Golf Course Expires 10-31-17
Harrisonburg, VA
540-442-6502 Meadows Farms Golf Course
Locust Grove, VA
heritageoaksgolf.com 540-854-9890

meadowsfarmsgolfcourse.com

Must present coupon at time of use. Excludes holidays. Includes MUST be a threesome or foursome to use this offer and cannot
cart, riding only. Cannot be combined with any other coupon or be combined with any other special or offer.
group packaging. Expires 8-31-17 Expires 9-30-17

Greystone Golf Course Bowling Green Country Club
Whitehall, MD Front Royal, VA
410-887-1945
North 540-635-2024 South 540-635-2883
baltimoregolfing.com bowlinggreencountryclub.net

50% off range balls good Monday through Wednesday Must present coupon at time of use. Coupon is good for entire
excluding holidays. Expires 9-30-17 foursome. May not be combined with any other specials or
discounts. Expires 8-31-17

4 Play/ 3 Pay Buy 1 Get 1 Free Green Fee
Green Fee and Cart
Monday-Friday
Monday thru Friday Anytime
Weekends After 10 am Good for up to a foursome

Play Three Rounds Monday-Wednesday $35 anytime
Receive One Round Free! Saturday-Sunday After 12 Noon $40

17 Premier Courses Green Fee and Cart

One Card . . . Endless Opportunities

IRON FORGE COURSE 2 FOR 1 GREEN FEE
FOUNDERS COURSE 7 Days a Week!
Good for up to a Foursome
Seniors 60+

$55 Green Fee and Cart

Monday – Thursday

20% off Retail Price of any Golf Hat in stock $20.00 OFF
Buy 3 Golf Gloves at Regular Price, Regular Rates
Get the 4th FREE Green Fee & Cart
50% off range balls Monday thru Thursday

Mon-Wed (No Holidays) Limit 1 bucket special per visit

Sly Fox Golf Club The Gauntlet Golf Club
Middletown, VA Fredericksburg, VA
540-635-7814 540-752-0963
slyfoxgolf.com golfgauntlet.com

Offer good Monday through Friday. Cart rental required. Good Good Monday through Friday anytime and weekends after 10
for up to a foursome. MUST present coupon at check-in. am. Price includes cart and is not valid with any other offer or
Expires 9-30-17 discount programs. Expires 10-31-17

Augustine Golf Club Raspberry Golf Trail
Stafford, VA 17 Premier Courses in VA, MD, DE, PA
540-720-7374
raspberrygolftrail.com
augustinegolf.com

Good for up to 4 players. Green fee and cart. Must present All players must be Raspberry Golf Trail card holders (purchase
coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount online or at the course same day). Not good with any other
special. Valid 7-1-17 through 8-30-17 offers, discounts, league or outing play. Redemption windows
strictly enforced. Check raspberrygolftrail.com or specific club
Front Royal Golf Club websites for eligible times. Expires 10-31-17
Front Royal, VA
540-636-9061 Penn National Golf Club & Inn
frontroyalgolf.com Mont Alto, PA
800-221-7366
penngolf.com

Good 7 Days a Week. Cart Rental Required. Coupon good for Price includes cart and is not valid with any other offer. Good for
up to a foursome. Offer good 7 days a week. up to four players. Expires 10-31-17
Expires 9-30-17

Maryland National Golf Club Diamond Ridge & The Woodlands
Middletown, MD Windsor Mill, MD
301-371-0000 410-887-1349

marylandnational.com baltimoregolfing.com

Offer good Monday thru Thursday. Good for up to a foursome. 50% off range balls good Monday through Wednesday
Not Valid for twilight, winter, or senior rates. Must present excluding holidays. Expires 9-30-17
coupon. Expires 10-31-17

Mondays – Thursdays 39Unlimited Greens Fee w/cart $

Foursome for $140 34Senior 55 and older Greens Fee w/cart $
Green Fee & Cart
Save more than $10 per golfer Monday – Friday Anytime and
Weekends after 11 am

Coupon #891a

20% off Retail Price of any Golf Hat in stock $42 Midweek
Buy 3 Golf Gloves at Regular Price,
Get the 4th FREE Any Time Monday thru Friday
50% off range balls Excludes Holidays

Mon-Wed (No Holidays) Limit 1 bucket special per visit

Midday Special Senior MONDAY Special

$5 OFF 55 yrs. and older

18 HOLE GREEN FEE & CART 25$ Green Fee and Cart

10 am - 2 pm Monday thru Thursday PLUS a Free Hot Dog and Fountain Drink

$43 per player Foursome Special $100

Monday thru Thursday Green Fee & Cart
Good for a Foursome!
Monday thru Friday Anytime
Weekends After 11 am

Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club Cacapon Resort State Park
Front Royal, VA Berkeley Springs, WV
540-631-9661 304-258-1022
cacaponresort.com
blueridgeshadows.com

Unlimited greens fee w/cart available Monday thru Friday Valid Monday through Thursday excluding holidays. Must
anytime and after 1 pm weekends. Seniors 55 and older greens present coupon before play. May not be combined with any
fee w/cart available anytime Monday thru Thursday. May not be other offer. Expires 9-30-17
combined with any other offer. Expires 9-30-17

Whitetail Golf Resort Rocky Point Golf Course
Mercersburg, PA Essex, MD
717-328-4169
golfatwhitetail.com 410-887-0215
baltimoregolfing.com

Price includes cart and is not valid with any other offer or used 50% off range balls good Monday through Wednesday
in tournaments or special events. Good Monday thru Friday excluding holidays. Expires 9-30-17
excluding holidays. Must have coupon to receive this offer.
Expires 10-31-17

Locust Hill Golf Course Lakeview Golf Club
Charles Town, WV Harrisonburg, VA
304-728-7300
locusthillgolf.com 540-434-8937
lakeviewgolf.net

Must be 50 years or older for green fee, cart, hot dog, and drink Good 10 am - 2pm Monday through Thursday. Good for up to
special. Cannot be combined with any other offer or used in foursome. Cannot be combined with any other offer or special.
tournaments or special events. Expires 9-28-17
Expires 9-25-17

The Vista Links Rock Harbor Golf Course
Buena Vista, VA Winchester, VA
540-261-GOLF (4653) 866-273-1934
thevistalinks.com
rockharborgolf.com

Includes green fee and cart. Good Monday through Friday Green Fee and Cart. Offer good Monday through Thursday. No
anytime and on weekends after 11 am. Not valid on holidays holidays. Good for up to a foursome. Not valid with any other
or in events. Cannot be combined with any other offer or offer, special or promotion. Must present coupon when checking
promotion. Expires 10-31-17 in for golf. Expires 9-28-17

Pro’s Corner

How to Take Your Golf Swing
from the Driving Range to the Golf Course

Bobby Lopez, PGA Teaching Professional
Pendleton Golf Club, Ruther Glen, Virginia

Transferring your perfect driving range swing to the golf course frustrates many
golfers. You kill it on the range, everything seems perfect. You’re convinced your
best round ever looms over the horizon, and then ... right on the first tee, you yank
it out of bounds! Some golfers can play well for the first three or four holes only to
lose their rhythm on the fifth hole and throw away a great start. Others play like
a dog the first four holes until they finally relax and start to play better. Does this
sound like you? If so, let me help.
Before anything, you need to see your swing by way of video analysis with a PGA
golf professional to reveal any major swing flaws that might be making it difficult
for you to control your swing on the golf course. With that said, a technique can
help any golfer control their swing tempo on the golf course. You MUST be willing
to get to the golf course at the very least 45 minutes before your tee time. If you’re
the kind of golfer that gets to the golf course rushing through the parking lot, then
flying to the first tee, there’s no hope for you!
The proper warm up will prepare you to perform your golf swing consistently on
the golf course. I like to begin my day with the short game warm up first. I start
out with very short putts of six feet or less. I find no use hitting my best golf shots
without the ability to get the ball in the hole from only four feet away. Then I roll
some 40 foot putts hoping to lag those within my four foot circle. I then move on
to chip shots. I head for the driving range and allow at least 20 minutes to spend
there. I hit some wedges about 50 to 70 yards, since I consider my wedges as
my scoring clubs. Once I’m convinced my short shots are accurate, I move up the
bag to my nine iron then seven and so on. I am careful not to get my rhythm too
fast, too early. If my swing does NOT feel right, I go back to my eight iron and
swing slowly until all the moving parts start to work together. When everything
feels right, I go to my driver and concentrate on rhythm and centeredness of hit.
I MUST hit the ball in the center of the club face consistently to control distance
and direction. My last swing with my driver gives me just enough time to get to
the first tee comfortably. Make sure it’s a good drive or hit another one until it is.
I want my last swing to be the first thing I can relate to or remember when I tee it
up. Leave the practice range on a positive note!
You need to understand that when you hit a good shot, all the mechanics of your
swing must have all come together at just the right time or sequence at impact.
If that’s the case, then you need to maintain that same specific rhythm or swing
speed you had on the range. At the first tee, picture in your mind that exact
swing speed or rhythm you had on the last great tee shot you hit at the range only
moments ago. If anything, attempt to swing the golf club a notch or two slower
than you did on the range.
If you have any questions about your game, give me a call (804-378-7456) or
send me an email ([email protected]). I just may be able to get you to
playing better again.

SUMMER 2017 61