Junior Golf at Wilderness Ridge

This past week Wilderness Ridge completed the second Junior Golf Camp of the summer. Approximately 60 kids got lessons in putting, chipping and full swing playing various games like tic-tac-toe, hangman, and speed golf.

What's In My Bag: Tim Wacker

Driver:  Titleist 909D2 10.5

3 Wood:  Titleist 904F 15

5 Wood:  Titleist 904F 19

Hybrid:  Ping G10 21

Hybrid:  Ping G10 24

Irons:  Callaway Razr X Tour 5-PW

Wedges:  Cleveland CG 15 52 and 56

Putter:  Scott Cameron Studio Design 2.5

Favorite Club:  Ping G10 Hybrid

Must Have Item:  Sand Hills Golf Club Divot Repair Tool

Golf Ball:  Titleist Pro V1

Low Round at Wilderness Ridge:  74

Fun Fact:  First golf lesson was from Butch Harmon

2013 PGA Professional National Championship

The 2013 PGA Professional National Championship consists of 312 top PGA Professionals playing four rounds at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, OR. The PNC began in 1968 to provide additional playing opportunities for PGA Professionals. Past champions of the event include Sam Snead and Bruce Fleisher, both well know on the PGA Tour.

To qualify for the event, a PGA Professional must compete in one of the 41 PGA Section Championships that they are a member of. The Nebraska Section PGA has had multiple professionals qualify for the event.  You can follow Nebraska's PGA Professionals Bryan Hughett, PGA, Chad Lydiatt, PGA, Matt Nice, PGA, Chris Wiemers, PGA and Jim White, PGA MP as this championship will air live on the Golf Channel.

Coverage will air:

Monday June, 24, 3:30-6:30

Tuesday June, 25, 4:00-7:00

Wednesday June, 26, 4:00-7:00

You can also follow coverage at nebraskapga.com

The top 20 will qualify for the 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.

Wilderness Ridge Jr Golf Camp

Wilderness Ridge hosted their first Jr Camp of the season this past week. Sixty kids participated in full swing, chipping and putting stations. The camp ended with a competition day where the golfers played a number of different games including speed golf and golf tic-tac-toe.

There is limited availability in Session 2 of the Jr Camp.  Call the golf shop 402.434.5106 or stop in the sign up.

2013 US Open

The 2013 US Open returns to the East Course at famed Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA. Merion Golf Club was established in 1896 and the East Course was built in 1912.

Merion has been host to 18 USGA Championships, the most of any course. It held US Opens in 1930 (Olin Durta), 1950 (Ben Hogan), 1971 (Lee Trevino), and 1981 (David Graham).

The course measures almost 6,900 yards from the back tees which is relatively short for today's standards. The short holes at Merion and short but the long holes are really long (see the 521 yard par 4 18th). The defense at Merion is long rough and small greens. If the course plays firm we will see a tough to make pars US Open despite the length.

Instead of flags, Merion has wicker baskets on top of their pins. The course designer, Hugh Wilson, was on a trip to England and noticed that the sheep herders had staffs with wicker baskets. The baskets held their lunch so the sheep couldn't get to it. Wilson used the idea for the pins for Merion and the wicker baskets will be used for the US Open.

My predictions:

     -2 if the course is firm
     -11 if the course is soft

What's In My Bag: Chris Thomson, PGA

Driver: Callaway X-Hot, 9.5, Project X Stiff

Five Wood: Ping G5, 18, Ping TFC 100F Stiff (Favorite Club)

Hybrid: Callaway RAZR X Tour, 21, Stiff

Irons: Callaway RAZR X Tour, 4-PW, KBS Tour Stiff

Wedges: Callaway X Forged, 52 and 56, Callaway X Series Jaws, 60

Putter: Odyssey BACKSTRYKE 2 Ball

Golf Ball: Callaway HEX Black

Career Low Round: 67, Camelback, Scottsdale, AZ (-5)

Low Round at Wilderness Ridge: 71 (E)

Once made it through the first round of US Open Qualifying 

Must have item: Dinosaur Headcover that has been in the bag for 10+ years

"My only swing thought is to swing to balance. I know that if I have maintained my balance I have made a good swing. I emphasize this in my teaching as well."

Driver - 280 yards

Five Wood - 225 yards

Hybrid - 210 yards

4 Iron - 190 yards

5 Iron - 180 yards

6 Iron - 170 yards

7 Iron - 160 yards

8 Iron - 150 yards

9 Iron - 140 yards

PW - 130 yards

GW - 110 yards

SW - 100 yards

LW - Inside 75 Yards

NAIA Women's National Championship

Wilderness Ridge is set to host the NAIA Women's National Championship May 21st through the 24th. The Championship is a four-round tournament consisting of 27 teams of five players as well as nine individuals. The tournament field is cut after 54 holes and reduced to the top 17 teams and 40 individuals (including ties). Teams from all over the country and Canada are competing this week.

The 2012 Team Champion was the University of British Columbia and they have come to Wilderness Ridge to defend their title.

http://www.naia.org//SportSelect.dbml?&&DB_OEM_ID=27900&SPID=100298&SPSID=646853

Live scoring can be found at :

http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?DB_OEM_ID=27900&tournament_id=4434