Director of Golf, Dick Hyland gives Scottsdale golf courses Feedback

Before I talk  about the best golf course in Scottsdale, I once again want to offer to visit with anyone who has any constructive ideas, questions, comments or concerns. You are encouraged to come visit with me, call or email me. I have mentioned many times, there is no place for unfounded rumors at the Scottsdale golf club and it can be very destructive. 

I am anxious to hear from you. I can look in the mirror and know there are no hidden agendas from this professional staff, only the goal of meeting the wants and needs of as many golfers as possible with the hope they enjoy their round at Scottsdale golf courses

GOLF TALK:

Among the many things I have learned over time at the  best golf course in Scottsdale about the golf swing is there are no two of them that are absolutely identical.

There are many models that have been constructed based on sound principles, but there is no perfect swing.

There are a variety of different ways to swing but tried and true ones create a swing shape that is circular in nature and returns the club head to and through the impact area squarely so the ball can be hit toward your intended target.

There is no one swing that fits all as the physical makeup of most golfers is different and as well their athletic ability.

The only absolute you can make about golf swings is they are all at best similar, but not identical.

When I was learning there were some seemingly absolutes which to this day still hold true for everyone which are:

The placement of the hands on the grip of the club must be as critical as anything you do as it is all relative to the clubface being square through impact.

Too strong a grip promotes hooks and too weak encourages slices.

Add the path your club travels relative to your target line as another critical component to quality ball striking.

Your body alignment at the  Scottsdale golf courses should start with a line across your shoulders, hips, knees and feet should be parallel with your swing line.

These are good starting points which should last a lifetime.

What we would like to avoid is sacrificing correctness for comfort.

You don’t want to have to maneuver and force yourself to manipulate the clubface through the impact area with the club travelling as fast as it can possibly move.

Keep your swing thoughts to a minimum, eliminate the use of words and sayings as “swing hard to get more power” using “force and effort”

“I need to drive my legs” and” twist my hips” ‘I should keep my head down” and “lead arm straight”

These are misleading terms which would be disagreed with by most instructors.

Don’t lose sight of the matter at hand which simply stated it is we are trying to SWING the club around our body as I said in a circular motion based on our stature and athletic ability.

People then ask if they should slow their swing down and I say an incorrect fast swing shape slowed down is an incorrect slow swing.

We need all the pre swing fundamentals in place so we can SWING the club as fast through the impact area as possible and make solid contact as we stay in balance, simple enough????

For those leaving for cooler climates for the next few months, have fun hit it solid and straight and above all, stay safe!!! We will miss you here at the best golf course in Scottsdale.

Scottsdale golf club summarizes amazing season

 

It is that time of the month when I once again get to share some of my thoughts about the best golf course in Scottsdale and the game.

Some like the spoken word through videos, and others prefer the good old days of the written way. Personally, I like both but have no idea which gets to the most of you, so here we go with a few updates.

We will be hosting the local qualifier for the men’s US Open Championship at best golf course in Scottsdale this summer. We can always us more volunteers and if you would like to help out.

The golf shop will be closed on Mondays as well. The Scottsdale golf club shop hours of operation will also move to its regular summer schedule.

Our outside service team will take care of your needs in the later afternoon.

The Scottsdale golf club men's grill /locker room will get a face lift this summer and to do so, we ask that all men have their lockers cleaned out.

There are renderings of what it will look like after the improvements, on the board as you walk into the Scottsdale golf club men’s locker room for your review.

The locker room and grill will not be available until after overseeding in the fall. We recommend you utilize the locker room by the pool area during this time.

The Horseshoe will keep the same schedule as now with it being open on Tuesday and Sunday afternoons at 3pm for families and friends to walk the 9 holes. 

As you well know the course has been less active these past few weeks and which gives us an opportunity to hold some events once again at best golf course in Scottsdale

NINE AND DINE GOLF:

We will have our first 9 hole Nine and Dine couples this summer starting on Sundays. 

The format is one best ball of 4 on the par threes and two best balls of four on the par fours and fives.

The competition fee is $20.00 per player.

Pricing and additional details will be available on Foretees so please sign up quickly as teams are limited.

If you are hoping to play an 18-hole round, all times will be available until 1 pm that Sunday.

JUNIOR GOLF:

Please hear this all Junior Golfers, we will resume our Junior Golf Camps from June 1-30, filled with instruction , on course competitions and education regarding current rules of play ,course etiquette and Pride of Membership course repair.

Please contact Head Golf Professional JT Hamamoto for additional information as there could be a limit as to the ratio of instructors to students.

He can be reached jhamamoto@ccdcranch.com.

SUMMER AERIFICATION/ TOPDRESSING SCHEDULE:

Our summer aerification at Scottsdale golf courses will keep the course and practice areas closed from July 6th through the 15th ,to reopen on Friday the 16th. This will give the greens almost 10 days to fill in and heal before reopening, which should make them very good putting surfaces.

This schedule also gets all the course work done when most families are taking final vacations for the summer.

THE INFERNO:

Our men’s summer MEMBER GUEST named the INFERNO is scheduled to be held on Friday August 27th and Saturday August 28th,2021

The field will be limited to the first 60 teams to sign up to compete in this fun four format tournament.

We will have details available on Foretees as of June 1st,2021.

FALL AERIFICATION:

Please save the dates for Aerification Fall 2021.

The course and practice areas will close on Monday September 27th through Thursday October 21st and will have opening day Friday October 22nd, 2021.

TEE TIME EVALUATION PERIOD:

A subcommittee of the Golf Committee is being formed to do an evaluation of possibilities to see if there are better alternatives to make starting times than the way we currently make them.

We certainly experienced some challenges in these past months making times 7 days in advance at 7am and we have been asked to do some exploring of options.

We will keep you informed if the programming for change is being considered and when.

Over the many years of watching golfers at all levels at the best golf course in Scottsdale and asking them questions about their games, I am drawn to the conclusion the game centers around four areas we could work on to become the best golfer we can be.

These components are PHYSICAL, which is can I make a swing that will return the clubface through the impact area so we can make solid contact with the ball and have it go in the direction of our intended target as often as possible.

Next up is the MENTAL side of the game which is about making the correct decisions as we navigate our way around the golf course.

Have we picked the club that gives us the best chance for success? Sometimes I wonder what the mental process is for some players at Scottsdale golf courses

as they more often than not expect their best shot every time, and do not play to their strengths and within their capabilities.

Playing within yourself does not mean you are never aggressive when the odds are in your favor; it is a sign of proper course management. It means you have a clear understanding of your game and the shots you know you can execute and you engage the mental strength within you to play within your boundaries. Trust and commit to the shot at hand and execute within your capabilities. Lastly, try and eliminate negative self-talk when you play and replace it with positive self-talk.

It is just as easy to tell yourself what you want to do as it is what you don’t want to do. Negative talk is disguising fear when we play, replace it with courage at Scottsdale golf courses.

Next up is the EMOTIONAL side which is an art to master which says, “Can I handle the good shots and the bad ones just the same and not get too high or low with each outcome?”

Are you the player at Scottsdale golf courses

who has a great front nine and a bad back nine or vice versa and have no idea why  the inconsistency as we believe we are making the same swings each nine?

Maybe we are too outcome oriented and not process and plan driven.

As we all know it is an 18-hole game, so keep plugging along until the last putt drops and then add up your score, but not until then.

Are you a player who says to themselves, “if I just make two pars on these last two holes I will break???? for the first time ever???”

We all get caught in that trap and now that we know it, we should get back to what got us to that point and just keep making the best shots we can until the end on the best golf course in Scottsdale.

The last component to improving is EXPERIENCE. The more times we put ourselves in an environment on the course we are not familiar or comfortable with, the better we will be able to handle the outcome in the future.

One way I suggest you get out of your “comfort zone” is to play from the shortest tees available so you can hit more greens in regulation, thus having more birdie chances.

You shouldn’t wait until you are faced with difficult, unfamiliar situations during your game. You should test yourself as part of your practice sessions, and remember you can never score low enough.

When others ask what the best score you have ever shot, your answer should be ‘I haven’t shot it yet” and keep practicing.

There is no doubt we won’t see success at the best golf course in Scottsdale if we do not put in the time working on the correct things with our mechanics in both the long and short game. Just thinking about practicing will not get it done and warming up before we head to the first tee is not enough.

We need to dedicate private, uninterrupted time to our game to get better, and do our best to allocate time to work on our short game.

Why is it that players hit twice as many drivers when they practice and half as many putts, and when we play, we hit twice as many putts and half as many drivers? We need to re-prioritize our time management.

 

Scottsdale golf courses busiest season

I will eventually get to what I like to talk about best which is this great game of golf at the best golf course in Scottsdale. I must first continue to address what the club’s stance is going forward with the Covid-19 programs at the club which are quite simple. 

We are delighted many of you have had your two vaccinations already, as I have, but the Doctors I rely on say we should not be changing what we have been doing over these last twelve months until further notice, which is our best way to avoid anyone getting sick, and the club closing. 

If you and your family have been out of the country for a spring break, you will be required to Quarantine for a period of time before you are permitted to use any of the club facilities or amenities. 

We hope there could be changes on the horizon, but social distancing, sanitizing and wearing masks when not playing, practicing, eating or drinking is a club mandate. 

We will certainly inform you when the CDC or Governor’s office gives us the word, but I did read the vaccines are available to children 16 years old. 

You have heard via the frequent videos that the golf committee has recommended to the Board that we do not change the way we make starting times in the middle of the season. 

Contrary to what some believe, we in fact have worked with Foretees over the last few months on a number of other options to make starting times easier at Scottsdale golf courses and faster than the way we make times now. 

When I ask many members at Scottsdale Golf Club if it is more important to them the get the exact time they want or play near to their friends, the answers are overwhelmingly in favor of playing near the group. 

Other options suggest limiting the number of times an individual or family can play at Scottsdale Golf Club each week or per month, but we don’t like that option as much either. 

Should we find what we believe benefits and is fair to the membership at large, we will likely do a trial sometime this summer to determine if a change is the path we should take. 

What we do hope for in the near future is getting back to having you playing with and entertaining your friends at the best golf course in Scottsdale. We will let you know how soon we can get make that opportunity available to you. 

Some have asked if the summer reciprocal program with other private clubs will be available this summer. As of right now it appears to be suspended until further notice and we will update you as more information is available. 

Did you know everything we offered at Golf course in Scottsdale?

The best golf course in Scottsdale offer grab and go snacks at the turn window. Some of the current selections include cherry almond protein bites, chicken and tuna salad, hot dogs, hard boiled eggs, chopped chicken breast, along with a rotating assortment of salads and wraps. Next time you find yourself hungry on Scottsdale golf courses stop by the window and see everything we have available! 

The Ranch House at  the best golf course in Scottsdale is offering a grouper fish and chips special on Wednesday nights that includes steak fries, Mexican coleslaw, and lime aioli. Stop in for dinner or take it to-go by ordering on the DC Ranch app. 

Valet parking is now available at Golf course in Scottsdale. Our team is working hard to keep you safe and bring amenities back on line. Our valet team will be changing their gloves every time they get into a new car and will roll down the windows as they bring your car back to you. Don’t forget you can request your car from the DC Ranch app! 

Be on the look-out for some upcoming “pop-up events” at the Golf course in Scottsdale that will include grab and go breakfast, shake Saturday, and more. These events will take place in the Scottsdale Golf Club pool parking area or the valet circle. 

The best golf course in Scottsdale offers fresh pressed juices and protein shakes. We have three signature smoothies which include strawberry almond, greens, and peanut butter chocolate and banana or you can create your own! All of our smoothies use BiPro Protein powder or if you prefer, we also offer a vegan option. Order on the app or by calling 480.342.7277. 

The fitness center offers a variety of grab and go offerings including Wild Tonic Kombucha, Protein shakes, energy drinks, coconut water, DC Ranch made protein bites and more. Stop by and see the great selection! 

Best golf course in Scottsdale offers plenty of Ladies Golf Events for all levels

 

Scottsdale golf courses are all looking forward to the Spring Series of Ladies' Fundamentals Golf Clinics! The clinic schedule is posted on Foretees and is open for registration.

Looking forward to getting you all ready for Scottsdale golf courses Spring golf and for any tournaments/events you plan on playing in! As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the golf professional staff: (480) 342-7210.

Plus to make you feel great and look great on the Best golf course in Scottsdale we will be hosting our first spring trunk show with a fun line, Golftini. It will be held in the Courtyard.

Feel and powerful on Best golf course in Scottsdale with a fantastic new outfit. Women’s golf attire has come a long way. Now it is easy to look your best on Scottsdale golf courses.

High fashion meets functional appeal with premium ladies golf apparel from Golftini. Treat yourself to some new golf attire and see you on the Best golf course in Scottsdale.

Best golf course in Scottsdale see plenty of activity this Spring

As we move into the months of February and March we look forward to increased activity at the Best golf course in Scottsdale as we see more familiar faces join us after being away for the holidays.  We know that the amount of business has caused some strain on reservations at Scottsdale golf courses in many of our operations, most apparent in accessibility to golf tee times but we want you to know that we are continuing to look for ways to maximize the member traffic each and every day.  You may have recently heard about some of the change to guest play here at Scottsdale golf courses and adding morning and afternoon tee-times and we will continue to look for ways to help everyone enjoy your Club.  As you have heard from Dick and I on a consistent basis our goal is to keep the Club up and running each and every day and we will need your help and adherence to our protocols to make that happen.  While we feel like we are getting closer to the finish line we still are a few months out.  As we move into our traditional spring Scottsdale golf club events we aim to conduct most all of them albeit with a bit of a change from our traditional offerings.  Please stay tuned for further information on our events such as Easter, Taste of the Ranch, the Desert Diamond Classic, Roundup and Stampede just to name a few.  

It was wonderful to see many of you at the Scottsdale golf club annual meeting last month via Zoom.  This year we had record attendance through this venue and we look forward to having that be a part of our future presentations as we welcome all of the attendance and feedback.  Our interaction with the Scottsdale golf Club membership is vital to our future success and the Board and I recommend that if you have any questions, comments or concerns to reach out.   For those of you who couldn’t be at the Annual Meeting, I’d like to share the results of our recent election and to welcome this year’s Board of Directors. We have three new directors joining the board this year: David Wigler and Rich Baccaro who will be serving three and one year terms respectively.  In addition, Bob Kline was elected to an additional three years on the Board.  For the coming year, your Club President will be John Roussel who will be entering his first year in this role.    As John reviewed at the annual meeting, some of our main goals for 2021 are as follows:

• Restore all the Club experiences at Best golf course in Scottsdale that we love; at the highest level of service possible so that the Country Club at DC Ranch continues to be the finest Club in the Valley including a reputation for service, outstanding facilities and member satisfaction.

• Follow through with the needs as provided in the Master Plan for Improvement of Club Facilities – this summer will include a renovation to our Men’s Locker Room and Grille which are in need of updates. 

• Keep an ongoing line of communication with our Club members and fully utilize our Advisory Committees to ensure that our members are engaged at all times so that we can continue to improve in all that we do.

As I stated at the Annual Meeting, I truly believe that we are in a solid position with an experienced leadership team, a strong financial position and an engaged and supportive membership which will continue to generate a buzz in the market as we aim to achieve even higher levels in 2021 and beyond.

From a COVID protocol standpoint, I want to once again remind everyone of the need to continue to wear their masks at the Club, when walking through the Clubhouse and grounds as well as in the gym.  We all know that people are tired of wearing them but it is imperative that everyone play their part in respect to your fellow members and importantly our Club team.  In addition the Club will be requiring all members, guests and staff that has traveled internationally that they will need to get tested 3-5 days after travel and are required to stay home and self-quarantine for seven (7) days after travel.  If you don’t get tested, you must stay home and away from the Club for ten (10) days after travel.  Please keep in mind that these guidelines are provided by the CDC and we are simply following them as a Club.  Thank you very much for your cooperation in this as it is important that all rules at the Club apply to all members.  

With all this being said, we look forward to a busy next few months at Best golf course in Scottsdale and know that you will enjoy all that our team has planned during this time.  The calendar is packed with a number of golf, tennis and social events for your enjoyment.