Crystal Lake on the Upswing South Atlanta Standout ‘Best It’S Been’

GEORGIAPGA.COM GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM «« FALL 2012 Crystal Lake on the upswing South Atlanta standout ‘best it’s been’ By Mike Blum n real estate, experts like to say that it’s all about location. That also applies to golfI courses. But timing has become an equally critical ele- ment to the success (or relative lack thereof) of courses in the metro Atlanta area. The economic downturn of the late 2000s prevented a number of outstanding courses Crystal Lake's picturesque par-3 15th from getting off to financially sound starts. A number of those facilities are in the midst of come- sible for the design work of a sizeable backs aided by new ownership and/or managed by Affiniti Golf Partners, and management company’s daily fee courses number of outstanding courses management, which have helped get according to General Manager/Head in the metro area consistently ranked throughout the state (Brasstown Valley, them back on more solid footing. Professional Chris Busbee, “is the best among Atlanta’s best. all three courses at Chateau Elan, Among the top Atlanta courses to it’s been the last couple of years.” With the bulk of metro Atlanta’s Chestatee, Chicopee Woods, Georgia open during the mid-2000s is Crystal Busbee, who was Crystal Lake’s golf golfers and golf courses on the north Club, Georgia National, Georgia Vets, Lake Golf & Country Club, a semi-pri- pro when it opened in 2006, says the side, facilities south of the airport Old Union, River Pines, St Marlo). vate facility in Henry County that ranks club’s affiliation with Affiniti has pro- struggle for recognition. But the quality The layout at Crystal Lake is among as one the finest in the entire metro area vided the necessary resources to keep the of Crystal Lake’s layout and condi- Griffiths’ best in Georgia, and is one of and is considered by many to be the best course maintained to standards set in its tioning match that of the best daily fee the stronger tests in all of Atlanta, with daily fee design south of the city. early years. Being part of the Affiniti facilities on the north side. five nicely placed sets of tees providing Crystal Lake recently joined the family is also beneficial from a mar- Crystal Lake’s appeal begins with the growing list of metro Atlanta courses keting standpoint, with almost all the efforts of Denis Griffiths, who is respon- [ See Tour Crystal Lake, page 6 ] Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter @GolfFOREGeorgia 2 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 A GREAT WHITE SHARK HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN THE EXUMAS Free unlimited golf for butler guests. 2 free rounds of golf for all guests†. Golf Legend Greg Norman aka “The Great White Shark” has designed Sandals® Emerald Reef Golf Course; named one of the Caribbean’s best golf courses by Travel + Leisure Golf, at Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Greg Norman designed the Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Course, one of the most dramatic and challenging creations in the Caribbean. Weaving through scenic mangroves and featuring six signature holes edging a rocky coast, this 7,001-yard, par 72 championship course* is part of Sandals Emerald Bay–the award-winning Six Star Diamond resort in the Bahamas. From luxurious accommodations set along a pristine one-mile beachfront, to seven gourmet restaurants and a world-class destination Red Lane® Spa featuring Dermalogica® products, this secluded out-island retreat is an exotic private escape like no other. Who knows, you just might spot “A Great White Shark” on the back nine. Emerald Bay GREAT EXUMA, BAHAMAS Call your Travel Agent or 1-800-SANDALS • sandals.com MORE QUALITY INCLUSIONS THAN ANY OTHER RESORTS ON THE PLANET Free unlimited golf promotion available to Sandals Emerald Bay butler service guests of 4 nights or longer booked by 12/27/12 for travel now through 12/31/12. †Two rounds free promotion is available to Sandals Emerald Bay guests for new 3-night minimum stay bookings made by 12/27/12 or until further notice for travel now through 12/31/12. All golf promotions are available per person, per room and are non-transferable between persons in each room or to other guests. Use of carts and clubs available at an additional cost. All golf promotions must be redeemed on-property in the Golf Shop. To participate in these promotions, a tee time is mandatory and based on availability. Tee times must be booked at the Golf Shop between the hours of 8am - 5pm daily. Practice range is complimentary with these promotions only upon booking of tee times. Sandals Emerald Bay guests must use golf promotions during same stay. Golf offers may be combined with other accommodation saving promotions at Sandals Emerald Bay. Unused rounds have no cash value, are non-refundable and non-transferable. Golf promotions are applicable to new group bookings up to 35 rooms. Promotions are subject to availability and may be terminated at any time. Terms and conditions apply. *Green fees additional. Spa services additional. Sandals® is a registered trademark, and is represented worldwide by Unique Vacations, Inc. 2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 3 Instruction Fore You 3021 Kalah Place, Marietta, GA 30067 770-933-04GA / 770-953-6638 fax golfforegeorgia.com / [email protected] Send all press releases to: [email protected] numbers on the golf course, keeping track of PUBLISHER Set make-up changes normal, solid shots on windless days. Try to Golf Media, Inc. / John Barrett find your ball mark on the green, and after EDITOR Mike Blum you have repaired the mark, immediately WEBSITE/ FACEBOOK/ SOCIAL MEDIA OPERATIONS write down the yardage that club flew in the as swing speed slows HYPDMedia, Inc. / Ellen Marsau air, not how far it rolled. Do this over a SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICE & CONTENT number of rounds so that you have a suffi- Ellen Marsau / Alli Hunt By Danny Elkins cient sample to be confident of your data. If JUNIOR/COLLEGE GOLF NEWS COORDINATOR PGA Head Professional There are a couple of keys to you have compiled honest information you Lauren Freeman Georgia Golf Center maximizing your set make-up. might be surprised at the actual numbers. MARKETING & ADVERTISING National Sales: Ed Bowen/Bowen Group, The first of these is to match all Many players are shocked to find that they [email protected] Thirty years ago, back in my of the club specifications as have very small gaps, or at times NO gaps Local & Corporate Sale: John Barrett/Rick Holt, so-called prime, the clubs in my best you can. This does not nec- between some clubs. [email protected] bag consisted of a driver, a essarily mean that all clubs The rules allow us to carry 14 clubs with ART DIRECTOR Lori Montgomery three-wood, a one iron through must be the same brand. In fact, no restrictions on what you choose; you CREATIVE SERVICES Catalina Montana the sand wedge and a putter. I have six different brands in my could even carry 14 putters if you like. In CONTRIBUTORS Danny Elkins / Jeff Wallach / Bill Carpenter Boy, have times changed. bag. Matching really means that the reality this restriction forces most of us to Robert Matre / Steve Dinberg / Al Kooistra My current set make-up consists of a lengths and weights are similar enough make a choice at one end of the set or the driver, a three-wood, another three-wood that no club feels significantly different other. Either carry an extra long club, or carry GEORGIA SECTION, that I view as a four-wood, a five-wood that than the others. (For the record, my hybrid an extra wedge. PGA OF AMERICA OFFICERS is the equivalent of a three iron, a seven- doesn’t feel quite the same as my other After taking a close look at my game, I President Brian Stubbs, PGA / [email protected] wood that I view as a four iron, a 26° degree clubs, but I have not found a better alterna- recently made a change based on an Vice President hybrid I use as a five iron and then six iron tive, and it fills the gap nicely). obvious gap. For about four years I used a Mark Mongell, PGA / [email protected] through the pitching wedge, another The second consideration in set make- driver that I could hit very well off the Secretary pitching wedge bent to function as a gap up is to choose clubs that will leave you ground, flying it in the air just short of 230 Brian Albertson, PGA / [email protected] Honorary President wedge, and a sand wedge. And of course, manageable gaps between them. While yards. This allowed me to use a three wood Patrick Richardson, PGA / [email protected] a putter. the two sets noted above were very dif- that didn’t go very far, but enabled me to hit Why such a dramatic difference? Allow ferent in their makeup, they had one thing higher, softer shots from around 216 yards, a CHAPTER PRESIDENTS me to explain. in common; the gaps between the clubs in distance that worked perfectly relative to my Central Chapter President One obvious reason is that I’m 30 years each set were in a 10-12 yard range. And five wood, which flies 204. Mike Baker, PGA, [email protected] East Chapter President older and therefore have less clubhead here it should be noted that with slower When my driver broke as the result of my Josh Williams, PGA / [email protected] speed. Less clubhead speed means less swing speeds the gaps will be smaller, and golf bag falling off the back of the golf cart, I North Chapter President spin on the ball, less spin means that it is with faster swing speeds the gaps will be had a dilemma.

Load more