Divot Digest

in this ISSUE

FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT DOC HOLLIDAY

4 5 6

FROM THE HEAD PROFESSIONAL BLAKE BERRY

CHAMPIONS’ CORNER MATCH PLAY & COUPLES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

12 13 14 16 18 19 20 21 22 24

HOLE IN ONE UPDATE

TOM’S JOURNEY TO HIS FIRST HOLE IN ONE

WHAT IS IN THE BAG?

HOME TOUR

TONTO TRAVEL: MINNESOTA

GROUNDS COMMITTEE & HANDICAP COMMITTEE

MGA

WGA

LNGA

LADY PUTTERS

FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT DOC HOLLIDAY

TIME FOR A CHANGE The Golf Calendar and the insistence by some members that golf events take place in November (as soon as CPO restrictions are lifted) have driven the over-seed process at TVGC over the years. This past season, the overseeding dates were moved to a later date, but we were still working around the November tournament/event dates. Tonto Verde experienced record high temperatures and longer duration, late September and early October (108 degrees). However, because of the golf calendar, we over- seeded the Ranch course during these conditions. With these conditions, forcing the Bermuda grass to go dormant is impossible. The Bermuda grass then competes with the fragile winter rye grass for the available nutrients and water, and the Bermuda grass wins! The result is that later in the season, when the cooler and cold temps hit, large areas where there is no winter rye grass appear. The Bermuda is now dormant, but the winter rye grass did not survive. We have the visual differences between over-seeding in high- temperature conditions and over-seeding during optimal conditions, comparing the two golf courses. The Peaks are lush, and playing conditions are great, while the Ranch simply is not. We are forcing this process so that we can play in golf events in November which is a very short-term

benefit and sacrificing having great conditions for 5 months.

IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE!

I have proposed that the Golf Committee work with the various Associations to free up the November golf calendar. The Grounds Committee is to work with the Director of Agronomy in establishing the best target dates for the over-seeding process, but with the flexibility to delay the start of that process as weather conditions dictate. All of this is an effort to provide the best playing conditions for the longest period for the entire membership. The over-seed dates would be directed by the Director of Agronomy and would be target dates, not dates itched in granite. Flexibility is the key aspect of this proposal. It is an attempt to have lush playing conditions on both courses for 5 months versus what we have at this point. The membership would have all the flexible dates communicated well in advance.

More to follow, Doc Holliday, TVGC President Doc Holliday

FROM THE HEAD PROFESSIONAL BLAKE BERRY

TVGC CLUB CHAMPIONS January and February were busy months with TVGC Match Play Championship and the Couples Club Championship. Huge congratulations to Alex Stamey for winning the Men’s Match Play Championship and to Claudia Pilot for winning the Women’s Match Play Championship. In the Couples Club Championship, David and Jill Amundson claimed the top honor in the gross division with a score of 74. Additionally, congratulations to Sam Kim and Tasha Leete for taking the net title. UPCOMING OPEN SHOTGUNS: 2/13 - Ranch & Peaks – 8:00 am 2/24 - Ranch – 8:00 am 2/26 - Peaks – 8:00 am These 8:00 am shotguns are the only option for play on these days. UPCOMING DEMO/FITTING DAYS: Callaway & Cleveland Friday, February 14th (10am-3pm) XXIO Thursday, February 20th (10am-3pm) Taylormade & Cobra Friday, February 21st (10am-3pm) Mizuno Friday, February 28th (10am-3pm) Ping & XXIO Thursday, March 13th (10am-3pm) Please sign up for appointments using your ForeTees App if you are interested in a focused fitting on a launch monitor.

IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION A reminder to all players that the “enter/exit” stakes located on the golf course have been deemed by the Golf Committee to be immovable obstructions. This means that free relief is granted to players if these stakes interfere with your area of intended stance or area of intended swing for a full description of our local rules. Click Here. DROP ZONE ON PEAKS #9 Did you know that there are two drop zones located on number 9 of Peaks? One of these areas is an additional relief option for the “right side” penalty area, while the other area offers additional relief for the penalty area located behind the green.

Click Here to view exactly where these drop zones are located.

All the best,

Blake Berry, Head Professional Blake Berry

STAMEY Alex

PILOT Claudia

Flight Champions 2025 MATCH PLAY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship COUPLES CLUB

GROSS WINNERS

NET WINNERS

H LE ONE in

JAN & FEB in

Nancy Sheppard Ranch 12 February 1st

Please submit your Hole-in-One photo to Somin at slee@tontogolf.com.

TOM'S JOURNEY TO HIS FIRST HOLE-IN-ONE

1947 FIRST ROUND

GOLF WITH JACK NICKLAUS

Tom was 10 years old when he had the distinct honor of lugging his dad's golf clubs around California Golf Club in Cincinnati. Sometimes, Tom would try swinging the clubs like he was Bobby Jones. 1957 CALL HIM “TOUR CADDY TOM” Tom caddied for Dick Mayer, who won U.S. Open qualifier at Cincinnati CC and went on to win the US Open. Dick Mayer once picked Tom up in his Cadilac at Tom’s house - Porky Oliver was also a passenger.

1952

Tom once played against Jack Nicklaus in high school. (He did not share who won that match.)

1960 NEW CAREER Tom got a job offer from a member, selling life insurance at Northwestern Mutual. He was really good at driving the ball, but selling a policy was a whole different game!

FINDING LOVE ON THE COURSE

BECOMES A TONTO FAMILY

1962

Tom met Ina at a CPA golf outing — she was a solid 10 (handicap) Tom was a total mess trying to keep his eyes on the ball instead of Ina!

2003

Tom and Ina join Tonto Verde to live their retirement dream.

FIRST HOLE IN ONE AFTER 78 YEARS

2025

Tom feathered his 3 wood for 144 yards on Peaks #15. None of the geezers saw it go in, but one guy was pretty sure it was headed towards the green. Tom says the greatest scene in his 78 years of golf was watching Rich Varda raise his arms and the flag stick - and yell, "I got your ball, Tom." TOM, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST HOLE-IN-ONE!

WHAT IS IN W

INTRODUCTION Both of our Match Play Champions, Claudia and Alex, have devoted significant time to refining their skills and ensuring that their equipment matches their playing styles. While examining the champions’ bags, I discovered some notable similarities in their configurations. Below are some interesting parallels I found in their equipment: PERFORMANCE OVER BRAND LOYALTY One of the first things that stands out is the absence of loyalty to any specific manufacturer. Both Claudia and Alex focus on selecting the right clubs for their games, regardless of the brand. Claudia shared her experience during her fitting for woods. She was surprised to find that the clubs that performed best were not all from the same manufacturer. Callaway 5 wood performed best, while the winners for the 7-wood and 9-wood Another noticeable aspect is the number of fairway woods and hybrids in each bag. The advancements in these clubs over the last couple of years have allowed players to hit them longer, with higher trajectories and softer landings. Claudia carries a 6-hybrid, 7-hybrid, and 8- hybrid, providing her with more forgiveness, a higher launch, and a bit more distance compared to the irons. Similarly, Alex has replaced all his irons with Cleveland's XL hybrid-irons. Due to their were made by TaylorMade. THE RISE OF HYBRIDS

Claudia’s Bag Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max 5-Wood: Callaway Rogue ST Max 7 & 9 Wood: Taylormade SIM2 Ma 6,7,8 Hybrid: Callaway Big Bertha B21 9 - UW: PXG Gen6 0311 XP Irons 52.10: PXG Sugar Daddy III Milled 56.10: PXG Sugar Daddy III Milled 60.10: PXG Sugar Daddy III Milled Putter – Taylormade GT Max

THE BAG? BAG?

overwhelming forgiveness, Alex has been playing with the 4-iron through pitching wedge in this model for the past five years. NEWEST CLUBS IN THE BAG: WEDGES When looking at Claudia's and Alex's wedges, it's noticeable that these are the newest clubs in their sets. Since wedges are used more frequently than fairway woods or hybrids, they tend to wear out faster. Worn grooves on wedges reduce spin, making shots harder to control. Given that both Alex and Claudia play many rounds each year, they prefer to get new wedges around every 1-2 years. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the examination of the bags of our Match Play Champions, Claudia and Alex, reveals interesting insights into their approach to the game. Their willingness to experiment with equipment from multiple manufacturers and embrace the latest advancements in club technology showcases their dedication to optimizing performance. Both players' choice of fairway woods, hybrids, and wedges highlights their strategic approach to enhancing forgiveness, launch, and distance. As they continue to refine their games, Claudia and Alex demonstrate that a well-curated bag is a key component of success on the course.

Alex ‘s Bag Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub-Zero 9° 3-Wood: TS2 – 15 deg 5-Wood: PXG Gen2 0341 X 4-PW: Cleveland Launcher HB 50.10: Cleveland RTX6 Zipcore 56.08: Cleveland RTX6 Zipcore 64.10: Callaway Jaws Putter: Odyssey WhiteHot OG DBL WD

Evan Wright, Player Performance Director Evan Wright

TONTO VERDE EXPLORE SIX BEAUTIFUL HOMES THAT OFFER A PERFECT BLEND OF CHARM AND ELEGANCE HOME TOUR

MARCH 28TH

FRIDAY 12 - 4 PM

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE LENDING CLOSET AT TONTO VERDE

Lending Closet

INTRODUCTION

Over 30 years ago, two visionary women from Tonto Verde, while hosting their grandchildren, recognized a need for temporary use of baby equipment. They had the brilliant idea of creating a Lending Closet offering all essential items. They believed it would be a valuable service to loan cribs, strollers, toys, and car seats to the residents of Tonto Verde at no cost. As the community evolved, it became apparent that other items, like crutches, walkers, and shower stools, should also be added.

LIST OF ITEMS IN KID’S CLOSET

Cribs Pack & Plays Car Seats Booster Seats

Strollers High Chairs Twin-Size Airbeds

LIST OF ITEMS IN MEDICAL CLOSET

Crutches Walkers Wheelchairs

Scooters Shower Chairs Toilet Seats

HOW TO SUPPORT LENDING CLOSET

You can support the Lending Closet by participating in events such as the Home Tour or by making a donation.

QUESTIONS ABOUT LENDING CLOSET?

Terry Uffelman terry.uffelman@gmail.com

Judy Dorwart judydorwart@gmail.com

MINNESOTA Play Top 100 Public Courses in US & Top 10 Public Courses in Minnesota JUNE 22-28, 2025

day 1

COCKTAIL PARTY

GRANDVIEW LODGE - THE PINES (TONTO VERDE MINNESOTA OPEN)

day 2

SPOTS LEFT 5 SIGN UP NOW!

day 3

TRAVEL NORTH

day 4

GIANTS RIDGE - THE LEGEND

THE WILDERNESS AT FORTUNE BAY

day 5

day 6

GIANTS RIDGE - QUARRY

CONTACT SOMIN BEVERSDORF FOR QUESTIONS

GROUNDS COMMITTEE

PRIDE take

in your golf courses

Replace alignment sticks when you’re done Clear balls from the chipping green when you’re finished Rake the practice bunker after use Don’t leave practice balls on the putting green in your practice facilties

Cigar and cigarette butts in the trash can not on the golf course Fill divots in fairways and on tees More important than ever as temperatures start to rise Fix ball marks Those playing after you deserve the best-putting surfaces possible Rake the bunkers Smooth footprints and your divot marks Keep golf carts out of the rough and all four wheels on the cart paths Observe entry/exit gates and on-course cart instruction signs Take your driving range divots in a line not a patchwork pattern

HANDICAP COMMITTEE

The Arizona Golf Association has released the total rounds posted for 2024 by each golf course in Arizona. Tonto Verde Golf Club cracked the Top 10 for Most Rounds Posted by ranking number 7 in the state. Our handicap committee decided to use this information to determine our club-wide score posting percentage. Tonto Verde Golf Club boasts a fantastic club-wide posting percentage of 85%. Congratulations to our golf club membership for being such an active community in regards to the total rounds played and score posting percentage.

MGA

Congratulations to Ed Laughlin, Ed Martens, Larry Pothast, and Tony Xouris for winning the Overall NET 4 Member event. Complete results are posted on the website. Congratulations to Alex Stamey, who won the TVGC Match Play Championship Flight. Spring Best Ball began Wednesday and continues on February 12 & 19. A full field of 144 MGA members enjoyed a beautiful Arizona day on our Peaks course. Since the last Divot Digest, the MGA has welcomed two new members, bringing the total membership to 416, including 29 new first-time members. Please welcome Steven Crees and Brian Hilton when you have the opportunity. For those few TVGC members who are not MGA members this season, be sure to consider joining the MGA next season when you receive the TVGC dues selection email. VERDES CUP 44.5 - 17.5 TONTO VERDE WINS THE

UPCOMING EVENTS

MGA MEMBER/MEMBER - February 24 & 26, 12:30 shotguns on both courses. There will be dinner following the final round. Visit our website to register and find more details. If you have not yet received your MGA 30th ANNIVERSARY GIFT and are a current MGA member, pick up your engraved bottle from the golf shop to celebrate the MGA’s 30th year. One per member, please. You can check MGA CUP point standings on the member website or the Foretees app. Tap on Golf Leagues - Results, and within the Men’s Golf Association, click on the 2024-2025 MGA CUP Spreadsheet. This year’s field has expanded to the Top 88 plus ties to compete in the MGA CUP flighted finals. The purse has been increased to $10,000 with each participant awarded a cash prize. The games will take place on April 16 & 23, with dinner and awards following the final round. Be sure to post all of your scores. The Handicap Committee has asked the MGA to help remind members of the importance of posting all their scores so that our handicaps are correct, fair, and current.

Jon Lynch, MGA Communication Jon Lynch 20

WGA

Hohokam Classic is looking for volunteers! Lori McCormick, chair of the event, has requested that any persons interested in assisting with registration or decorating please get in touch with her. If you are only available for an hour or two, your help would be greatly appreciated! WGA Nominating Committee consists of Janet Beam, Lynne Crowther, Karen Wilhelm, and Vicki Wolken. Anyone interested in participating on the board can contact a committee member.

Be Kind by Christie Gorsline, WGA President Be Kind to everyone playing behind you by keeping up with the group in front. Be Kind to the golf course by driving the cart only in designated areas and repairing ball marks and divots. Be Kind to your competitors by always posting your scores accurately. Be Kind by welcoming new members with a positive attitude. Remember that golf is a game. Enjoying the 4 hours is a way to Be Kind to your playing partners and to yourself. We’re halfway through the season, but the busiest time is now. Be Kind by signing up early and showing up on time.

Tonto Rio Mixer James Bond Experience was quite a success. Matt McKovich was our very own James Bond for the day. The winners were Marno Johnson, Jennie Becker, Rosemary Brown, and Candice Tidwell. Rio Verde will host next year’s event.

Congrats to Marilyn Blair and Nancy Sheppard on their recent holes-in-one!

See you on the course!

Barb Whittaker is looking for someone to assist her with the Spring Fun Day InterClub . Spring Fun Day InterClub is an opportunity to play non- competitive golf and have lunch at participating area courses during the months of May and June.

Viki Wilds, WGA Communication Viki Wilds

LNGA

The LNGA gals showed off their creativity with two stunning events. The first occasion was the Bring a Guest Day for Putts, Pearls, and Polka Dots on 01/14/2025. Quite a few golfers and a golf cart were seen showing off their pearls and dots.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Interclub group traveled to Troon Country Club for an afternoon of golf. The next outing will be at Rio Verde on February 18th.

LNGA East vs. West 02/18 sign-up is open (Reminder—East wear blue; West wear red) LNGA-WGA Mixer 02/25 is open LNGA Academy 02/12 sign-up starts 02/04/25; LNGA Academy 02/26 sign-up starts 02/18/25

A big thank you to MaryBeth Sorensen, Nancy Selleck, Lori Olson ,and Terry Uffelman for a great LNGA Couples event. “See You at the Movies” was a huge success, with most, if not all, participants dressed as cinematic characters.

Carol Noonan Communication Carol Noonan

LADY PUTTERS

L ve on the Green

Lady Putters are cool! Cool was definitely an appropriate way to describe putting weather in Late January or February -we had several cancellations due to heavy frost, cold temperatures, and icy winds. Judging by the outfits worn by some of those brave ladies who showed up to put on chilly mornings, one did have to question whether they were holding ski poles or putters! Despite the cool weather, Lady Putters were racking up Holes-in-One! Our putting coordinator, Jacob, assures us that putting weather is here to stay, so join us for our Valentine's Day event, , on Feb 12. Love on the Green Judith Potter, TVLP Communications Judith Potter

February 12th at 3:30 PM Check-in at 3 pm

Putting starting at 3:30 pm Putting will be followed by dinner and a cash bar. Come dressed in red and pink and accessorize with some fun Valentine’s gear Lady Putters is taking this special opportunity to spread love in our community by requesting members to bring along a DONATION OF FOOD for the Extended Hands Food Bank. (Non-perishable items such as peanut butter, jelly, canned tomatoes, pasta sauce and canned meals, such as beef stew or Spaghetti Os. Cash donations will also be gratefully received).

FEB/MAR 2025

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

MGA BEST BALL #2

LNGA WGA 4 MEMBER

WGA 4 MEMBER

Lady Putters

LNGA EAST v WEST WGA

MGA BEST BALL #3 Lady Putters

LADIES TEE TIME WGA Sonoran League

WGA Cactus League

LNGA + WGA MIXER

LADIES TEE TIME

MGA Member - Member

Lady Putters

LNGA

WGA LNGA

MGA WGA Past President Lady Putters

Board Meeting

WGA Cactus League

LADIES TEE TIME

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Divot Digest - February