Divot Digest
WE’RE READY FOR ANOTHER GREAT SEASON
FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND TODD HALL JEFF OSTLUND
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GOLF COMMITTEE
GROUNDS COMMITTEE
HANDICAP COMMITTEE
HOLE IN ONE UPDATE
WHAT IS IN THE SHOP?
FEATURED ARTICLE ON PROFESSOR MCCARTHY
CONGRATS TO MATT MCKOVICH
MENS PUTTERS
TONTO TRAVEL - MEN ’ S TRIP TONTO TRAVEL - MEN’S TRIP
MGA
TONTO TRAVEL - LADIES TRIP
WGA
LNGA
EVENT CALENDAR
FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL
Welcome Back to Tonto Verde – The 2025- 26 Golf Season is Here! The snowbird migration is almost complete, the TVA Welcome Back party last Friday evening was amazing thanks to Matt Samson, Chef Vito, and their teams, the desert air has that perfect crispness in the morning, and the fairways are greener than ever. Welcome home, TVGC family!
who’ve dialed in every detail for the season and gone above and beyond to get the range opened even though “Lake Tonto” made it a challenge, every single employee has outdone themselves. The turf will continue to get firmer and faster, and the green speeds will increase as the tender new grass gets its roots well established to withstand the stress of lower mowing heights and less irrigation. Please join me in giving a standing ovation to the men and women who make Tonto Verde the pride of the East Valley. Thank you, team—you’ve absolutely crushed it. Now let’s all do our part to keep it this way: please pick up after yourself, fill your divots, fix your ball marks, properly rake the bunkers, and keep all four cart tires on the path…and gently (or maybe firmly in some instances) remind your playing partners to do the same. Our motto is to leave the place better than we found it. To our newer members, you picked the perfect time to become part of this Club, and we can’t wait for you to discover the secret sauce that sets TVGC apart, our amazing golf groups. The member survey, completed last May, suggested our newer members, and some of our female members, might not be taking advantage of this unique experience. These aren’t leagues; they’re traditions rarely found at other Clubs. Enthusiastically organized by dedicated commissioners, there is a group for every skill level, schedule, and
There’s something special about stepping onto the first tee at Tonto Verde this time of year. Four Peaks rises beautifully from the Mazatzals, the ball jumps off the clubface like it’s got somewhere better to be, and every putt feels like it has a chance to drop. None of this happens by accident. Our courses are in pristine condition for this early in the season, and the entire property looks like it belongs on the cover of a magazine. This premier experience is a direct result of the tireless work of our incredible team. From Travis Blamires, and his team, who’ve heroically managed through the historical rains that tried to ruin the over-seeding, and continue coaxing every blade of grass to perfection, to Jeff Ostlund, and his team,
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FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT TODD HALL
personality. The games are numerous and varied and include 2-person best ball and individual quota to 4 and 5-player team games and many more…whatever your preference, there’s something for you! But here’s where the real magic happens: after the final putt drops, the fun is just getting started. The tradition continues with the players from your group converging on the beautiful new patio, cold drinks in hand, settling the day’s winnings (or in my case, losses), dishing out good-natured trash talk that only friends can get away with, and reliving a few of the miraculous and the occasional “unremarkable” shots of the round. The laughter is infectious, new friendships are forged, and inside jokes are born that will last for seasons. This post- round ritual isn’t just tradition—it’s the soul of Tonto Verde.
If you’re not already in a group, let’s fix that today. Stop by the golf shop, grab one of the staff, check out the Group Play link, or email me at TVGCBOD@TontoGolf.com. We’ll introduce you to the commissioner who matches your vibe, and before you know it, you’ll be part of the stories being told at the patio. Here’s to perfect lies, tap-in birdies, cold beverages on the patio, and another season of memories at the best club in Arizona. See you on the tee… and on the patio afterward! As always, if you have any questions and/or comments for me or the Board please send them to TVGCBOD@TontoGolf.com. Todd Hall, TVGC President Todd Hall
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FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND
On this Veterans Day , we extend our deepest gratitude to all who have served, honoring their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to protecting our nation's freedom. We recognize the immense personal sacrifices you have made, from time away from family to the risks you've taken for our safety and the well-being of our country. Your dedication does not go unnoticed, and for your service, we are profoundly thankful. I’m pleased to announce that the Cart Path Only restriction on the Peaks has been lifted, and all carts can now access the fairways on that course via the enter/exit gates. The CPO restriction on the Ranch is scheduled to be lifted on Friday, 11/14, for carts with medical flags and on 11/21 for all other carts. Remember to bring your seed bottles as we continue to walk out to the fairways on the Ranch. The driving range has returned to regular hours, with the South deck being open daily, starting a half hour before the first tee time until 3 PM. The North range deck is open daily until dusk. The registration deadline for Season-long Couples Match Play is coming up on 11/18. Couples will be flighted by combined team handicap index and play against 3 or 4 other teams (depending on field size) in a round robin format. Participants will be responsible for scheduling and playing all of their matches
before the end of March.
We have a large multi-vendor Demo Day coming up this Friday, 11/14. Callaway, TaylorMade, XXIO, Srixon, Cleveland, and Cobra will all be on the South Range from 10am-3pm. Additionally, a company called Proof3 will be here offering free physical assessments via their InBody scanning machine for those interested in improving their golf fitness. The following week, we’ll have a couple more fitting days with Titleist on Thursday, 11/20, and Ping on Friday, 11/21. We highly encourage you to sign up for fitting appointments with any of the aforementioned manufacturers through the ForeTees Club Central app or by contacting the Golf Shop.
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FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND
RANDOM BUT NOTEWORTHY Grill Out Fridays - On Fridays starting 11/14, Chef Aaron will be grilling burgers, brats, and hot dogs at the Scoreboard Patio from 11 AM - 2:30 PM. Fivesome Policy - During the months of November through April, the Club does not allow fivesomes to play in any tee times before noon. Member Only on Saturday Mornings - Saturday mornings are reserved for member play only unless space remains available on the tee sheet the day prior to play. The Fall Into Fun - Super Scramble event on Sunday 11/23 still has limited space available in the 8:30am shotgun. If you’re interested in this tailgate-themed 8-person alternate shot scramble, register your team now to avoid being waitlisted. The 5-Guy Scramble is a competitive employee/member mixer event coming up on Friday, 12/5. While participants from last year’s tournament have the first right of refusal to get into this field, a TBD number of spaces will become available on ForeTees starting on 11/15. Check out the event registration page for more details.
Footjoy Shoe Fitting Experience - FootJoy will be coming out onto our range on Thursday, 12/11, to offer a tour-level shoe fitting experience. While walk-up traffic will be accepted, priority will be given to those who register for 20-minute appointments through the Club Central app. The FJ FitLAB team will help you confirm your size by having you hit balls in their try-on shoes. Callaway Chrome Balls Promo - Callaway is currently running a $10 off/dozen promo on their Chrome family of golf balls. Take advantage of this great deal in the shop while supplies last. Golf Transportation Policy - The TVGC Board just approved an update to the Golf Transportation Policy to restrict home-made or otherwise fabricated vehicles from use on the courses. Click Here to view the amended policy document.
Until next time, fairways and greens!
Jeff Ostlund, Director of Golf Jeff Ostlund
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GOLF COMMITTEE
ARE YOU PLAYING FROM THE CORRECT TEES? One of the goals of your Golf Committee is to present ideas for enhancing the enjoyment of golf here at Tonto Verde. As a personal aside, I have noticed as I age past 70 that I am not driving the ball as far as I did when I was younger or even as far as I THINK I can. This has led to the need for me to use a fairway wood for many of my second shots on par 4s, and then many times chipping or pitching to the green in hopes of one-putting for a par.
PLAYING THE BALL FORWARD is the concept I am suggesting our ageing community embrace. This means picking a set of tees which will more realistically allow the golfer to use a mid-iron for a second shot into a medium-length par 4. The USGA, through research of more than 20,000 members, has developed the following suggestion for determining the appropriate tees to use to heighten the enjoyment of the game we love. Below is the chart of 7-iron distances and a suggested course distance based upon that.
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GOLF COMMITTEE
For example, I hit my 7-iron between 145 and 150 yards. Using the chart, it is suggested that I play a tee set which falls into a course distance of 5,900 to 6,100 yards. The tees I NOW play are Peaks – White = 5,892 yds, and Ranch – White/Green = 5,918 yds. And YES, I am enjoying golf from the Ranch – White/Green tees more than I did from the White tees at 6,199 yds! Try using this chart and play a few rounds from the USGA suggested tees. I think you will discover that you enjoy your golf rounds more frequently. It has been found that rounds play faster, which also helps speed of play for everyone at Tonto! Mike Cole, Golf Committee Chair Mike Cole
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HANDICAP COMMITTEE
To access a Peer Review for either yourself or another player: On your Phone On your Desktop Separately but also important, if you have been playing at another course over the summer and still have that course as your default home course in ForeTees, please pay attention to how you are posting your Tonto scores. Once you have posted a Tonto Verde score as a home score, the system should identify Tonto Verde as your default “Home” course. And pay attention to the tees you designate for each round! You may find that the tees from the last round you played are automatically assigned to new rounds as you post them, which can lead to inaccurate postings. Thank you for helping maintain the spirit of fairness and integrity that makes golf at Tonto Verde so enjoyable. We look forward to another season of great competition and camaraderie on the course. To reach out to the Handicap Committee, email handicapcommittee@tontogolf.com
Golf is a game of honesty and integrity. The WHS (World Handicap System) is designed to create a level playing field for all players to enjoy competing in the sport, and if properly used, ensures that tournaments are fair and players are legitimately handicapped. To avoid the appearance of impropriety all of a player’s rounds should be accurately posted in a timely manner (day of play). WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?? If a player wins money in a competition, their competitors may look at the winning player’s Peer Review Report. If they see a low posting percentage, they may feel missed postings are good scores not posted, skewing the competition in favor of the low- posting player. On the flip side, a player’s teammates may be disadvantaged by one of the team members who only posts their lowest scores, bringing their handicap down to a level that is unrealistic. This “vanity handicap” reduces the chances of a win for the entire team. The Tonto Verde Golf Committee recognizes that there are many situations where a posting can be missed. They recommend a minimum posting percentage of 80%, and the Handicap Committee provides a list of common posting inaccuracies and ways to avoid them. CLICK HERE to view.
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GROUNDS COMMITTEE
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY It’s great to see our members arriving at Tonto for the season, and even though we may have been out of sight/out of mind for a few months, there was a lot going on while you were away. Some of our activity will be fairly obvious, and some a bit more subtle, but here are just a few of the things that happened over the Summer and early Fall: New equipment – our new TurfRad moisture monitoring system and a new fairway slit- seeded arrived and were put into use, resulting in better water management and enhanced ability to address small trouble spots in our fairway overseed.
Walking Paths – A walking path through the wash on 17 Ranch has been completed, and the walking bridges between Ranch 13/14 and Peaks 5/6 are being replaced after being washed-out in the late September monsoon.
Silver Tees - Our silver tee markers are now actually silver instead of gray, and the teeing areas were overseeded in a way that should
make them pop when our Bermuda grass goes dormant for the winter.
New Seed Mix – Instead of a 100% ryegrass overseed for the fairways, we’ve used a mix of rye and creeping fescue for this season, as well as a slightly heavier application rate.It’s still a little early to be able to see the longe term benefits, but the heavier seed application rate and the spreading characteristics of the creeping fescue should provide a great playing surface and help reduce bare spots over the season.
Ranch Hole Markers – The new hole markers for the Ranch course have been installed. Their clean, classic look now mirrors the markers
on the Peaks, which were installed during the summer of 2024.
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GROUNDS COMMITTEE
South Practice Tee Smoothing – In order to eliminate the effects of years of heavy use, we scraped about ¼ inch of soil and thatch from the south range deck prior to overseeding. The result is a much smoother surface and even healthier grass. Improved Sight Lines – Most golfers won’t even notice some of the subtle clearing of sight lines on the right side of 9 and 10 Peaks and 18 Ranch, but they’ll notice when they try to follow slightly errant tee shots that our team is always looking to manage vegetation that obscures our golfers' ability to watch their shots from our teeing areas. Chipping Green Re-Design – Perhaps the most significant of the many activities over the summer is the Board’s approval for the re-design of the chipping green and practice bunker area, which will be undertaken during the summer of 2026. A better and safer practice bunker, a fairway bunker, a more usable green surface, and longer chipping options are the result. Drawings of the re-design will be posted in the Pro Shop in early 2016.
Flood Remediation – Those who have never seen a major Arizona monsoon event will have a hard time imagining the flooding on the golf courses and the whitewater flows through several of our washes from the two major rain events in late September and early October. While it’s never wise to wish for less rain in Arizona, both events took place at critical times for our Peaks and Ranch overseeds. The seed was moved, debris spread, lakes formed, and most club operations were shut down for several days. Because of the immediate hard work by our maintenance staff, the overseeding was saved, and everything has been returned pretty much to normal, making the flooding little more than a good story with minimal negative impact on our golf experience. Be sure to thank the team when you see them on the courses… they work their tails off all the time so we can enjoy great golf at Tonto. Always Working to Make Tonto Better
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H LE ONE in
OCT & NOV in
Pete Robinson Peaks 3 November 4th
Ann Carr Peaks 3 October 30th
2ND HIO IN 6 MONTHS!!
Please submit your Hole-in-One photo to Somin at slee@tontogolf.com.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH 10 AM - 4 PM Appointments are 20 minutes each. *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU BOOK AN APPOINTMENT SINCE THEY CAN ONLY HELP 1 PERSON AT A TIME. FIND THE PERFECT FOOTJOY SHOES CUSTOM SHOE FITTING EXPERIENCE
CLICK THE SHOES TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT
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PROFESSOR MCCARTHY
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Did you know that our member, Matt McCarthy, is a Professor of Information Systems at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University? His response to one of his students recently went viral, and here is the story. The student wanted the assignments. And the professor, as the kids say, understood the assignment. Could Matt McCarthy have replied to Boston Bracken’s email unhappily? Or briefly? Or left it unopened? He could have. But instead, he answered in the way we’re going to share below. It’s good. It may also make you wish he were your teacher. The response came after Bracken, a freshman on the Arizona State men’s golf team, messaged McCarthy, one of his professors at ASU, as Bracken was playing last month in the Wohali Classic at Wohali Golf Course in Utah. Under the subject line “Boston Bracken Missing Class,” that note read: Hello Professor, My name is Boston Bracken. I am on the ASU men’s golf team. Below is the travel letter for all of our tournaments. We are currently in Utah for the Wohali tournament. I will continue to stay on top of all the canvas work. If there is anything important that I need to be aware of please let me know! Thank you!! Kudos to Bracken for being responsible. Then came the response.
There’s golf in it. There’s humor. There’s support. Here it is: Hi Boston, Is anything important that you need to be aware of? Are you kidding dude!? Here, I’ll do Coach [Matt] Thurmond’s job for him: (Can’t believe you’re asking me, I’m only an 8 handicap, but here goes.) Wohali Golf Club is Long!: Over 7,500 yards means long holes, especially from the back tees. Requires distance off the tee, and solid long iron / fairway wood play. Adjust for Elevation / Terrain: Being in the Utah mountains / Wasatch Back, there’s elevation changes — uphill and downhill shots, uneven lies, potentially thin air if higher up. These make club selection more complex and require precision. Consider Design & Architecture: Woholi was designed by Dave Boyden, so the course has a mix of challenge and beauty. Holes vary quite a bit, with forced carries, visual hazards, and strategic elements. In the future, please direct your concerns to Coach Thurmond! A few more things: 1. Please tell your teammates to complete the Dirty Thirty! (It gives me anxiety.) 2. Find me when you get back if you need me to get you caught up. 3. GO DEVILS! From - Golf.com https://golf.com/news/are- kidding-college-golfer-professor-reply/?amp=1
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TO OUR ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL, MATT MCKOVICH ON TYING THE KNOT WITH
ARTIMISA ON OCT 3 , 2025 RD
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MEN’S PUTTING
Men's Putting has resumed on Thursday afternoons at 3 PM at the Tonto Putting Course. Arrive by 2:45 PM and bring along your putter, golf ball, and $5 for exciting competition and camaraderie with your fellow Tonto Verde community members. If you have friends or family
visiting, bring them along for the experience. Come out and meet your neighbors and enjoy the opportunity to "practice" your putting skills. This is a fun experience with lots of laughter. Questions? contact Jim Crego.
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MGA
The MGA 2025-2026 is finally underway, beginning tomorrow with the opening day buffet breakfast at 8AM, followed by the 9:30 shotgun golf event. The Opening Day Entry Fee of $10 per player will be covered by our dues revenue as previously announced. As usual, you will be responsible for your individual breakfast cost. The entry fee for future events will continue to be the members’ responsibility. All registered to play are automatically included in the breakfast unless you have opted out on a timely basis. Registration for the golf event closes today at 10 AM. The One Day Member/Member 6/6/6 event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19. Event details are on the member website. Sign up now with your partner or sign up as a single, and the Golf Shop will do its best to find you a partner. There will be dinner served after the 1 PM shotgun. To opt out of the dinner call or email Cindi Reuvers in the TVA office within 72 hours of the event. To attend the dinner only, register online under Lifestyle/Event Registration/“Food Only MGA” button, or call or email Cindi Reuvers. th The Fall Member/Member Eclectic on the Ranch Course will be held on Wednesday, December 3 & 10. Both days have a double-shotgun scheduled, one at 8:30 AM and the other at 1:00 PM. An Eclectic rd th
tournament takes the best scores of a team (best ball of partners) made on each hole over 2 rounds. Our regular monthly dinner will follow the 1:00 PM shotgun on December 10 . th The 2026 Desert Classic Committee, which this year is chaired by VP Doug Benschoter, is already meeting to make certain our premier event is the best ever. The Desert Classic is a 3-Day Invitational Event on March 19 , 20 , and 21. Get your special guest lined up for yet another fantastic guest event. See the member website “golf event registration” for details. Registration for this event starts on December 1 at 7AM . This event fills quickly with a waiting list, so don’t be closed out. This is the final reminder you will receive. th th st st Since our last Divot Digest, we are happy to welcome 4 new members, Jim Fullford, Duane Bailey, Steve Rafferty and Ror Simpson. Please welcome them when you have the opportunity, hopefully at our opening day on November 12 . If you are not yet a member of the MGA and would like to join and participate in our events, please let me know. th
Jon Lynch, MGA Membership Jon Lynch
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JANUARY 9-12 2026
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NIGHTS AT OMNI LA COSTA RESORT ROUNDS OF GOLF AT LA COSTA GROUP DINNERS
WGA
Viki Wilds, WGA Communication Viki Wilds The WGA board held its first monthly meeting on November 5. 2025-2026 WGA Officers seated in front row, left to right, are Secretary Glenda O’Neal, Vice President Mickey Shield, President Mary Ann Welsh, and Past President Christie Gorsline. Treasurer Sue Molina attended the meeting via Zoom. The full slate of officers, committee members, and interclub captains can be found on Foretees/Golf Leagues/WGA. th Interclub team competition has commenced for Sonoran, Roadrunner, and Cactus teams. These ladies do a great job representing our club at home and away matches!
Welcome to the start of the 2025-2026 season! WGA had a great turnout for the opening event and dinner meeting. The next event is the Member-Member Eclectic Tournament starting Tuesday, November 18 concluding Thursday, November 20th, with golf, awards, and a dinner meeting. Currently, there are 75 teams registered for the event, with registration closing on November 14th. There is still time to get a team together for this fun event. Good luck, everyone! th, Sign up for the December 2 business meeting, and game day is now open. The meeting starts at 8:30 AM, followed by golf at 10am on the Ranch Course. nd
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LNGA
The season has begun with a group of 16 new members, bringing the total membership to 164 since its inception twenty-five years ago. Now, it’s time to get this “Par-Tee” started! We started off the season with a Welcome Back party on November 10 and opening day on November 11 ! There is still a need for volunteers to assist the event chairwoman for the Member/Guest event, and we need a Chair and volunteers for the East/West event. If you are interested, please contact: th th Kate Schroeder
Carol Noonan, LNGA Communication Carol Noonan As a reminder, sign-up has begun for the first Academy of the season to be held on November 12 at 2 PM and 3 PM. This session will be for pitching and chipping. Sign-up has also begun for the Interclub to be held at DC Ranch on December 8 and for the Interclub at Anthem on December 11. It’s first-come, first-served, however, wait-listed gals are usually called to play to fill slots for other clubs, so don’t delay and sign up today. th th th For those ladies in the community who are not yet members of the LNGA, but are interested in joining, and would like to find out more about our group, please contact: Donna Christenberry, LNGA Membership donnachristenberry@gmail.com
kateschroeder21@gmail.com Kathi Chawla, LNGA President kwchawla@aol.com
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