in this ISSUE
FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT DOC HOLLIDAY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND TVGC DESERT MAINTENANCE
4 6
10 12 14 15 18 19
FROM THE PLAYER PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR EVAN WRIGHT “HOW TO RAKE A BUNKER” VIDEO
FROM THE MEMBER SERVICES SUPERVISOR CLINT OSTER
HANDICAP COMMITTEE
MGA
20 22 23
WGA
LNGA
LADY PUTTERS
FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT DOC HOLLIDAY
I wanted to take a moment to review the accomplishments from this past summer. Nearly all the projects were completed with exceptional results. The sand injection project from several years ago is now producing outstanding conditions for both the fairways and greens. Here is a brief summary of what the Club achieved this summer: A total of 3,400,000 pounds of sand was applied to both courses, building on the sand base created by the sand injection project. This will help with draining the heavy sodium content in our water away from the grass roots. Ranch greens were resurfaced and restored to their original sizes. New pin placements were established as a result of this restoration. We aerated the new green surfaces every week, leading to far more receptive surfaces. All the sand in the Ranch bunkers has been removed and replaced with new bunker sand. While this sand will initially be fluffier, it will quickly settle and provide excellent playability. Ranch 18's fairway has been redesigned by the golf architect, who removed the bunker from the center of the fairway. Two new bunkers have been added to make the landing area more welcoming while still presenting the challenges that a finishing hole should offer. South practice tee was expanded after creating a new, very large drainage system to the basin of the range. This added 8-10 additional hitting stall areas, and a new professional teaching tee was created. A new, large range storage building was installed and the entire area around this building relandscaped which will hide most of the fleet cart operational details. All fairways and cart path side roughs were “shock Waved” and sand described previously worked into the soil. The approved Scoreboard Patio Expansion Project was started and almost completed. The manufacturer of the pergola shipped the wrong totals of certain pieces needed to complete the project. The pergola is made of Alumina Wood and looks like all the wood trim on all the nearby building, except there is no maintenance. Approximately 2,000 square feet of additional space that is covered by the pergola was created. The manufacturer shipped in the custom material, but it was short 75 pieces of lattice work, so the pergola could not be completed. The manufacturer put the needed pieces into production and that will be shipped to us ASAP. Once it arrives, less than two days
4
FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT DOC HOLLIDAY
will be required to complete the structure. The new patio furniture has been delivered (2 pieces still to arrive) and we will still have the grand opening and welcome back event on the 15th. The comments on the results of this project have been rave reviews thus far. A new walking path was created on Ranch 17 on the North side fairway through the desert. A resident filed a complaint regarding this enhancement (unfounded and not supported by facts) and the TVA is taking this complaint into a closed session discussion and will report back to the club what must be done with this walking path.
Doc Holliday, TVGC President Doc Holliday
5
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND
I’m pleased to announce that the Cart Path Only restriction on the Ranch has been lifted and all carts can now access the fairways on that course via the enter/exit gates. The CPO restriction on the Peaks is scheduled to be lifted on Wednesday 11/13 for carts with medical flags and on 11/20 for all other carts. Remember to bring your seed bottles as we continue to walk out to the fairways on the Peaks. 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. Many of you have noticed a couple of new faces in the golf shop since we re-opened from overseed. We are excited to have Jacob Trimble and John Langlois join our team as seasonal Assistant Golf Professionals. Jacob will be serving as the Golf Shop’s Liaison to the Lady Putters this season. John will be working in tandem with Evan on couples events throughout the season. See the bios on the next page to learn more about Jacob and John. We have a large multi-vendor Demo Day coming up this Friday, 11/15. Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, XXIO, Srixon, Cleveland, Cobra, and Mizuno will all be on the South Range from 10 am-3 pm. Contact the Golf Shop if you’d like to schedule a free focused fitting
appointment. The New Patio Grand Opening will take place later in the afternoon (3-5pm) and will feature food trucks, no-host bars, and golf skills challenges as the Club celebrates this exciting upgrade. Our staff is frequently asked where to find updates on weather-related cart path-only restrictions and frost delay announcements. All of this information can be easily accessed via the ForeTees app or by navigating to the tee sheets on your computer through TontoVerde.org. Somin has put together a comprehensive video that shows you step by step how to access these important announcements.
6
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND
Random But Noteworthy
I regularly hear positive comments about the condition of the courses and too often they’re followed by remarks of frustration about unrepaired ball marks. Please be mindful of repairing at least 1 ball mark every time you step on a green as the widespread adherence to this practice gives us the best chance of keeping our greens looking their best throughout the season. Our margin for error in this process is thin as an unrepaired ball mark results in a dead spot on a putting green in less than 24 hours. The following infographic stresses the importance of pushing rather than prying to ensure a mark is properly repaired.
The Golf Committee has determined that the new enter/exit stakes will continue to be treated as immovable obstructions. Rather than moving these stakes golfers are entitled to a free drop when they interfere with your swing or swing path (not line of play). A minor tweak was made to the Club’s Hole-In-One Program. When a member makes an ace on a day when the Mesquite Grill is closed they will now receive a $200 gift card to the restaurant along with $200 in Golf Shop Credit. Click here for all the details on this program.
Until next time, fairways and greens!
Jeff Ostlund, Director of Golf
Jeff Ostlund
7
MEET OUR STAFF - JACOB TRIMBLE
Many of us are already familiar with Jacob’s smiley face, as he has been a part of the Tonto Team since 2021. Over the years, he has taken on various roles. He spent two years helping our members with the Outside Services team and then kept our members refreshed at the outside scoreboard bar. We are now excited to have him as the Assistant Golf Professional in the golf shop for this season. While working at Tonto, Jacob is also a full-time student at ASU, diligently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Business Communications. It’s an exciting time for him, and he looks forward to what the future holds! Born and raised in the beautiful Fountain Hills, Arizona, Jacob picked up his first golf club at just 10 years old. However, it wasn't until sixth grade that he began to play regularly, as his year-round club baseball kept him busy. After spending a couple of summers participating in junior tournaments around the valley, Jacob decided to join the Fountain Hills High School golf team, where he had an amazing experience playing varsity for all four years. 8
MEET OUR STAFF - JOHN LANGLOIS
JOHN Langlois
Meet John Langlois, originally from Lakeville, Minnesota. He has been passionate about golf since he first picked up a club at the age of three. John competed in five Minnesota High School Golf State Championships and finished third individually during his sophomore year. He continued his golfing journey at Winona State University, where he majored in Business Administration. Since 2021, he has been actively involved in the golf industry, working at Olympic Hills in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. John is currently enrolled in the PGA Management Program, aiming to become a PGA member, with the ambition of one day becoming a head golf professional. When he’s not on the course, John enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it's hiking or simply soaking up nature. He is also a huge sports fan and especially loyal to the Green Bay Packers! John is excited to spend his winter in sunny Arizona and looks forward to meeting all the wonderful members at Tonto Verde. 9
TONTO VERDE GOLF CLUB DESERT MAINTENANCE
Tonto Verde Golf Club has adopted specific policies and procedures relating to requests for trimming or removal of vegetation from the desert buffer between the grassed areas of the golf courses and resident lots. Both the policy document and the trimming request form are available through the Tonto Verde Golf Club and Tonto Verde Associations websites or click the link below.
TVGC Tree, Shrub and Vegetation Trimming Policy and Procedure
While the documents noted above reflect the entirety of the policy and procedures, following are certain key aspects of the policy:
On a routine basis, the TVGC Maintenance staff removes dead vegetation and debris, trims low hanging tree branches and performs minor thinning of ground vegetation on a rotational basis, covering each golf course approximately twice every 12 months. Typically, this routine trimming focuses on vegetation that presents a) golf course playability issues, b) fire hazards (as reflected in FireWise guidelines), or c) safety hazards. Consistent with long-standing TVA and TVGC policies, no “view corridors” are guaranteed, and trimming/removal requests to enhance, restore or maintain homeowner views will not be honored. No trimming or removal of vegetation by any party other than the TVGC Maintenance staff is permitted. The TVGC Board has established sanctions, fines and site restoration practices for any unauthorized trimming or removal, and private landscaping contractors working in the community have been specifically informed that any unauthorized work on their part may result in the revocation of their permission to service the Tonto community. Requests for trimming/removal beyond the level noted in 1. and 2. above must be requested via a request form available on the website or the following link (attach link), and any work agreed to by the TVGC maintenance staff will be subject to an established fee schedule that reflects a $100 start-up fee plus $50 per man hour for the
10
TONTO VERDE GOLF CLUB DESERT MAINTENANCE
requested work, including on-site work as well as debris removal and disposal. It should be specifically noted that a request for this fee-based service will not necessarily result in trimming or removal to homeowner specifications that are not compatible with the TVGC policy of maintaining an undisturbed natural desert corridor between the golf courses and adjacent properties. The final scope of any work requested will be in the sole discretion of the TVGC staff. Once a homeowner submits a request for work beyond the routine rotational work noted at 1. above, a member of the TVGC Maintenance team will contact the homeowner within 1-2 weeks to arrange an on-site meeting to review the request and agree on a plan of action, fee estimate and approximate timing for the work. The final fee will be based on the actual time required for the work (rather than the estimate) and will be billed directly to the homeowner’s TVGC or TVA account. Homeowners considering any trimming or removal are encouraged to read the full TVGC policy documents on the website.
TVGC Board of Directors
11
FROM THE PLAYER PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR EVAN WRIGHT
MAXIMIZING DISTANCE
12
FROM THE PLAYER PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR EVAN WRIGHT
Maximizing Distance: Key Factors and Tips: When it comes to increasing distance, understanding three key factors is crucial: launch angle, spin, and ball speed. Each of these elements plays a critical role in achieving those long, satisfying drives we all strive for. Launch Angle: This is the initial angle of the ascent of the golf ball immediately after impact, measured in degrees. Fine-tuning your launch angle can significantly influence your shots' trajectory and carry distance. Spin: Often misunderstood, spin is not always the enemy. The right amount of backspin is essential for maximizing carry distance. Players with slower club head speeds can benefit from higher spin rates, which help increase hangtime and overall distance. Ball Speed: While many factors affect ball speed, the most critical is the centeredness of contact. Striking the ball squarely with the clubface ensures maximum energy transfer and, consequently, higher ball speed.
From the Golf Instructor Launch Angle Tips:
From the Club Fitter Launch Angle Tips:
To dial in the correct launch angle, consider the amount of side bend at your address position. Too much forward tilt, the angle of attack tends to be steeper. Conversely, too much side bend away from your target will cause the angle of attack to be too shallow in the downswing. Spin Tips: To dial in spin, focus on the ball position at address. Moving the golf ball back in your stance contributes to higher spin rates due to steeper angles of attack, whereas moving the ball forward will help reduce spin.
I see players on a daily basis that have clubs that are too long! Clubs that are too long cause the path to steepen, resulting in low launch angles. Did you know the average PGA Tour driver length is 44.5 inches? How does that compare to the stock lengths of drivers sold to consumers? PING G430 = 45.75 inches Taylormade Qi10 = 45.5 inches Callaway Ai Smoke = 45.75 inches XXIO 13 = 45.5 inches Titleist GT2/3 = 45.5 inches
From the TPI Coach Increased Ball Speed Tips (Power): Deep Squat – Supported: Start by holding on to something for support at chest/shoulder height. Perform a squat while keeping your heels on the ground and hands in the same spot. Maintaining hand position as you squat ensures the chest stays tall for the duration of the squat. Push through your heels when returning to the starting position to engage glute muscles. Not only will this help develop power in hips and legs but will help increase range of motion in shoulders while keeping hands on your anchor point. 13
HOW TO RAKE THE BUNKERS
14
FROM THE MEMBER SERVICES SUPERVISOR CLINT OSTER
On behalf of the Outside Service Staff, I would like to welcome you all back home!
As you return, you may notice some dust on your carts, and possibly a flat tire or two. Stop by the outside service building, where we can clean up your cart and make it golf-ready. This is also a great opportunity to fill your sand and seed bottles with the proper mix for this season. Given the wet summer experienced across the country, your shoes might need a good cleaning or even some new spikes. As the saying goes, “Look good, play good!” Let us make your shoes look as good as you do! We are excited to announce that the J’s—Jack, Joey, and Jeremiah—have returned for another season. Additionally, we have three new team members: Austin Shoemaker, Kyle Gagnon, and Chris Kaufman, who have joined us from different parts of the country to be part of this special place we are fortunate to call our workplace. Come by, meet the new smiling faces, and say hello to the returning team members. We’d love to hear about your summer and discuss how we can make this season better than ever for you. We are thrilled to have you back and look forward to seeing you soon!
Clint Oster, Member Services Supervisor Clint Oster
Clint
Kyle
Chris
Jeremiah Austin
Joey
Jack
15
MEET OUR STAFF - KYLE GAGNON
Kyle Gagnon Introducing Kyle Gagnon from Blaine, Minnesota! A sports enthusiast from a young age, Kyle fell in love with hockey when he first laced up his skates. He played hockey and baseball throughout his childhood and high school, eventually helped coaching at Spring Lake Park High School. Kyle graduated from St. John’s University in 2024 with a degree in Global Business Leadership. During the summers, he worked at Victory Links Golf Course, where he enjoyed sharing stories with Jack Hiemenz about Tonto Verde. When a position opened up at Tonto, Kyle eagerly applied. He recently passed his Playing Ability Test (PAT) and is now enrolled in the PGA program to pursue his Class A certification. Kyle loves discussing sports, especially Minnesota teams. He is excited to be in sunny Arizona instead of the snow and looks forward to meeting all the members during the next 6 months! 16
MEET OUR STAFF - CHRIS KAUFMAN
CHRIS KAUFMAN
Meet Chris Kaufman! Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, he played baseball on competitive travel teams throughout high school. After moving to Arizona for college at ASU, where he studied biomedical engineering, Chris fell in love with golf, thanks to his roommate. He joined the maintenance staff at Troon North, working there for five years while honing his passion for the sport. Now, Chris wants to start his career in the golf industry and is planning to begin the PGA program this coming year. When he’s not on the course, you can find him cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals or enjoying the outdoors with his dog and girlfriend in beautiful Arizona. Chris is thrilled to join the Tonto Team and looks forward to meeting everyone—be sure to say hi and check out his fantastic mustache!
17
HANDICAP COMMITTEE
There are various circumstances that might result in a player starting a hole but not holing out. For example, when: The result of the hole has already been decided, a hole has been conceded in match play, a player’s partner has already posted a better score in a Four-Ball format and the player picks up, or a player has already reached their net double bogey limit on a specific hole. When a player starts a hole but does not hole out for a valid reason, subject to other provisions set out within the Rules of Handicapping, the player must record their MOST LIKELY SCORE or NET DOUBLE BOGEY , whichever is lower, as appropriate for the situation and depending on the format of play. MOST LIKELY SCORE Most likely scores should be determined on any hole in accordance with the following guidelines: If the ball lies on the putting green, and is no more than 5 feet (1.5 metres) from the hole: Add one additional stroke. If the ball lies between 5 feet (1.5 metres) and 20 yards (20 metres) from the hole: Add 2 or 3 additional strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green and the ability of the player
If the ball lies more than 20 yards (20 metres) from the hole: Add 3 or 4 additional strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green and the ability of the player.
NET DOUBLE BOGEY = PAR + YOUR STROKES + 2
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL DESCRIPTION
18
MGA
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Tonto Verde Men’s Golf Association (TVMGA), founded in 1995 by President Dick Lenox, Joe Dickson, Terry Waugh, and Fred Winkler. The MGA started with just 12 members. Today, seven members have been part of the Tonto Verde Golf Club for 30 years, including MGA members Past President Ed Carpenter, Lee Carlson, Jim Petricek, and Dave Sorlie, who joined shortly after the organization’s inception. Congratulations to all, and thank you for your support! For more on our history, check out “The First 30 Years” book and grab your complimentary copy at the TVA office if you haven't received one yet.
Remember to start planning for our 2025 Premier Desert Classic 3-Day Invitational Event, which will be on March 20-22. Sign-up opens December 1st at 7 AM. Historically, the field is full quickly, so sign up early. As a reminder, this is the last Divot Digest you will receive before December 1st, as they are now published once a month. We currently have 413 members and now have 26 new MGA members this season. Since our last Divot Digest, we are happy to welcome new members David Amundson, Mike Carr, Terry Childers, Barry Kiminski, John Sacia and Cliff Williams. Please welcome them when you have the opportunity. If you are not yet a member of the MGA and would like to join and participate in our events, please let me know. Jon Lynch, MGA Communication Jon Lynch
UPCOMING EVENTS
The annual One Day Member/Member 6/6/6 event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13th. There are 2 shotguns with dinner served after the 1 PM shotgun. The MGA Game Day event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20th, and the sign-up is open. Check the member website for information. The Fall Member/Member Eclectic on the Peaks Course will be held on Wednesday, December 4th, and December 11th. Both days have a double shotgun scheduled, one at 8:30 AM and the other at 1 PM. Our regular monthly dinner will follow the 1 PM shotgun on December 11th. Registration is open now. MGA Game Day event is scheduled December 18th with sign up opening on November 18th. Mark your calendars and sign up.
19
WGA
Welcome to the Tonto Verde Women’s Golf Association! We’re excited to kick off the 2024-2025 golf season while celebrating our 30th anniversary. Since our launch in 1995 with 12 members, we’ve grown to 212 ladies.
2024-2025 WGA Board and Committee Members We are grateful for our dedicated Board and Committee members who plan our weekly games and special events. Opening Day and General Meeting On November 5, we kicked off the season with 124 ladies participating in a step- aside scramble. Following the game, we held a General Membership Meeting where President Christie Gorsline welcomed everyone and discussed the FY’25 Budget, including requests for volunteers for Hohokam and updates on WGA Cup rules. The changes include increasing the number of players who qualify to play in the event; reducing Cup payouts and increasing Weekly Game payouts; revising the events/number of points a player can earn for participation; and changing the play dates in the 2024- 2025 calendar. The Cup will now be played April 15 and 17.
(front row, left to right) Glenda O’Neal, Secretary; Mary Ann Welsh, VP; Nancy Sheppard, Past President and InterClub Liaison; Christie Gorsline, President; Shelli Rosser, Handicap Committee. Middle Row: Barb Davis, co-Chair, Weekly Games; Nancy McEnroe, Golf Committee Liaison; Lori McCormick, Hohokam; Nance Larson, Social Committee; Chris Hickey, WGA Cup. Back Row: Robin Cole, co-Chair, Tournaments; Barb Smith, co-Chair, Weekly Games; Gail O’Brien, co-Chair, Guest Day; and Terri Kennedy, Tonto/Rio Mixer. Other representatives not pictured include Sue Molina, Treasurer; Georgine Hoffman, Tournaments; Barb Fortier, Guest Day; Raena Borth, co-Chair, Social; and Viki Wilds, Divot Digest Correspondent.
Welcome New Members We’re thrilled to welcome 12 new members this season! Please greet Jill Amundson (WI), Dian Bechter (CA), Ann Benschoter (IA), Sarah Berg (MN), Suzanne Blanchard (AB), - Becky Buffoni, Lynn Cabrera (AZ), Ann Carr (MN), Lori Childers (MN), Patti Milliken (WI), Carol Wallman (AZ), and Kathy Wilson (OR).
20
WGA
WGA InterClub Our InterClub teams began the season with golf and a taco dinner at Claudia Pilot's home. Matches are scheduled throughout November, and results can be found on the WGA website via ForeTees. Tonto Charity We are collecting donations for a basket to auction for TontoCares on February 14. Please ask for gift cards from your favorite places or donate items like wine. Jena Taylor is collecting donations; contact Christie Gorsline with questions.
Sign-Up Now
November 12- WGA Game Day (10 AM, Shotgun on the Peaks) November 19/21- Member/Member (Format: 1 of 2 Best Ball Eclectic; Shotgun on the Ranch) December 3- WGA Game Day and General Meeting (8:30 AM Breakfast and Meeting, 10 AM Shotgun on the Ranch) December 10- Guest Day (Invite a guest and sign up for “Life’s a Beach.” Format:
2 of 4 Net Stapleford; Shotgun on the Peaks)
Glenda O’Neal. Secretary Glenda O’Neal
21
LNGA
The votes are in! The Lady Niner’s Opening Day was a success with 85 participants. The theme was Team USA, and our ladies looked great in red, white, and blue as they kicked off the LNGA season.
We welcomed new Niners: Kathleen Allen, Suzanne Blanchard, Diane Bronson, Ann Carr, Lori Childers, Mary Gray, Karen Gozak, Julie Maas, Judy Meyer, Lynne Nelson, Jane Sacia, Maria Sampson, Kim Schulke, and Linda Smiley, bringing our total membership to 153! SENIOR SANTA GIFTS FOR VERDE CARES We are collecting gifts for seniors in Fountain Hills and the Verdes. If you would like to donate a throw, blanket, neck pillow, or 100-300 piece puzzle, please drop them off at Cindy Wetherbee’s home at 26911 Agua Verde Drive by Monday, December 16th. Volunteers Needed We need committee members to help plan and decorate for upcoming events such as East vs. West, Member & Guest Day, and the WGA/LNGA Scramble. Interested? Contact MaryBeth Sorensen at mbsorensen1@gmail.com. Reminders: Due to Thanksgiving, no event will be held on November 26th, but there will be Ladies Tee Times. Register for the LNGA Academy—November clinics are identical, so attend just one. Our Holiday Party is on December 3rd. More details will be in the Niners Newsletter!
Carol Noonan Communication Carol Noonan
22
LADY PUTTERS
Lady Putters had a wonderful opening day on Wednesday by kicking off their 18th season with the theme of “Celebrating the 2024 Paris Olympics”.The ladies showed up in their red, white and blue as well as outfits with some Parisian flair! After putting, they enjoyed a dinner buffet with some international influences including a yummy éclair for dessert and a Gold Medal Cocktail! Looking forward to a fun new season of Lady Putters!
23
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 24Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs