Golf Blog

On July 10th, our clinic "Tips From the Tour" focused on the moves and techniques that separate the golf professionals from... well... the rest of us. Studying the way Vijay, Boo, Camilo and J.B. Holmes play the game made for a great evening at the Harris Golf Discovery  School.

This Friday, starting at 5pm, we'll present the follow-up to that demonstration, taken straight from the pages of this month's GOLF Magazine. It's "Tips From the Tour, Part Two." This week we'll focus on players like Mike Weir, Nick Watney, and Rory Sabbatini. As well, demo day runs from noon to 4pm this Friday at the range.

As always, the clinic is free for our members and only $15 for non-members. Sign up in the pro shop by calling 824-4653.

Hi readers,

Today's blog post comes to us from guest blogger, and Sunday River Golf Club Professional, Peter Flint.

One of the most basic hallmarks of a good golfer is a solid, well-balanced finish, and nothing in golf looks better. Weekend golfers fight their bodies mid swing, which is almost always reflected in a less than perfect follow through. To help you better understand the finish positions of tour pros, i've included a few photos demonstrating this. If learning visually isn't your thing, come visit us at the club for one of many Harris Golf Discovery School clinics. Finish high and watch it fly!

Thanks Peter! 

Happy golfing,

Darcy

If you can't tell from my blog posts, I am a big fan of continuing education.  I think that regardless of where your skill sets are, you can always benefit from taking a lesson or a clinic.

I was discussing this with Greg Perry, Sunday River Golf Club's Director of Golf, and we both agree that the Harris Golf Discovery School makes learning completely accessible to all.  For starters, it's open to all abilities.  There are on-going clinics for adults and kids just learning the game, daily clinics to help you fine-tune skills (as well as learn new ones), not to mention more intensive programs like the Golf School Package that combines professional instruction from the Harris Golf Discovery School with two nights of lodging at one of Sunday River's Grand Resort Hotels.

Second, there are clinics at every price point.  Fifteen dollars buys you into the Club's daily hour-long clinic or you can go the distance and purchase a Golf School Package that includes more instruction with more time out of the golf course.  On-going clinics are a huge value and start at just $99 and come with additional vouchers to get you out on the course initially, and keep you there as you progress your game.

I have talked about the Women's Welcome to Golf clinic that I took, as well as some of the daily clinics that the Club has offered, but I haven't talked much about the Golf School Package we offer.

Here is the Golf School Package in more detail:

New this season, Golf School Packages provide golfers with a stay and play vacation that includes two days of professional instruction with the Harris Golf Discovery School.  Packages include two nights of lodging in the Grand Summit or Jordan Grand Resort Hotels including breakfast, daily lunch in the club house, five hours of daily instruction with video swing analysis and a 4:1 student to instructor ratio, use of demo clubs, and unlimited range balls.  Packages are available for $599 based on double occupancy and $699 single occupancy.  To make your reservation call 800-543-2754.

If you are serious about the game of golf, or know someone that is, this is a huge opportunity to tie into a mini-vacation the opportunity to progress your game.  Both of Sunday River's Grand Resort Hotels offer stunning views of Sunday River and house their own spa facilities should you need work done to your back or shoulder after a long day on course.

Happy golfing!

Here are some more pictures taken from the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament:

Happy golfing!

Darcy

Today marks the 20th Anniversary for the Bethel Area Chamber Scramble!  Businesses from all over New England are taking part in the event including Sunday River, Coca Cola, The Bethel Citizen/Sun Journal and Boston Globe Media.  Here are some pictures from this morning of everyone gathering for the event and thanks to everyone for playing and volunteering!

Team Sunday River: Brent Larson, Dana Bullen, Susan Duplessis and Jeff Rosenberg

Nice little prize!

Teams ready to go outside of the Sunday River Golf Club!

The weather today is absolutely gorgeous.  Even some of the younger players were out for a putting and chipping lesson.

Future LPGA-er

Happy golfing!

I know, I know...perhaps a little overkill and this isn't meant to jinx us going forward, but seriously how can you not get excited when you see this is the sky?!

The Sunday River Golf Club looks fantastic lit by today's sun!  I drove around the front nine to take some pictures of other people playing and like I have mentioned before, if you haven't book your tee time for the weekend, now is the time.  I also ran into Peter Flint, the Sunday River Golf Pro who is putting on tomorrow's clinic, Tips from the Tour, Part One.  Peter will be one of our Guest Golf Bloggers so look for his posts coming soon.  Until then, here are some pictures from my tour around the front nine - enjoy!

Happy golfing!

Darcy

They may not know it, but several of the best golfers in the world are actually pretty good instructors. They may not articulate their moves verbally, but in watching them play, there's a lot that we as wannabe-Tour pros can learn and pick up from their amazing abilities.

This Friday starting at 5 p.m., the Harris Golf Discovery School presents their latest demonstration taken straight from the pages of this month's GOLF Magazine. Called "Tips From the Tour, Part One," you'll get tips and learn techniques from players like Boo Weekley, Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas and J.B. Holmes, demonstrated by golf professional Peter Flint.

Tips from the Tour, Part One starts at 5 p.m., meeting up on the driving range. Sign up in the pro shop at the Sunday River Golf Club or by calling 207-824-4653. You may also e-mail Peter Flint to sign up. As always, the clinic is free for members and $15 for guests. Don't miss it!

Happy golfing!

Darcy

Interesting news on the LPGA front.  If commissioner Carolyn Bivens is asked to resign, what does this mean for the tour and its sponsors?

Per Golf Digest's Local Knowledge Blog:

When life, or the weather, hands you lemons, my best advice would be to plop that little piece of citrus into something to drink.  Lemonade or ice tea of course works, but so does a nice cool Blue Moon that pairs exceptionally well with any one of the Robert Trent Jones II Grill’s Back Nine Burgers which you will find at the Sunday River Golf Club!

While I was unable to play any golf this afternoon on account of the weather, I was able to enjoy a fabulous lunch at the Grille.  I went with the Oak Valley burger built with Swiss cheese, sautéed onions and peppers, lettuce, tomato and pickles.  I have never been a big mayo fan, so mine was dressed with the above delights just sans the "white stuff." It was perfectly cooked to medium and held together by a Sunday River flag (nice little marketing touch!).

A little history of my Oak Valley burger:  All of the items on the Grille menu are names after Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed courses.  The Oak Valley course is located in Seoul, Korea and is a 36-hole course.  Oak Valley was approved by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Sports and brought to Seoul to create a harmonious eco-tourist destination where nature, culture and sports converge.  And given the number of dressings that converge on my Oak Valley burger, I would add that it was certainly duly named. 

The Robert Trent Jones II Grill is situated in the Sunday River Golf Club and offers guests great deck seating for views of the putting green and Hole #1 and #18. Inside, there is a nice flat screen television located near the bar so you can sit and watch the golf tournament taking place that day.  As well, a two-way stone fireplace sits between indoor-seated and outdoor-seated guests, which makes for a great amenity on cooler evenings when you want to enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine. However, for today's occasion, I went with the classic pairing of a beer and burger.

All in all, the only thing that could have made my lunch any better would have been being able to play nine holes.  However, there is always tomorrow and weather forecast is calling for some sun – Whooo Hooo!

Until then…Happy golfing!

Darcy

Despite the recent weather, the Sunday River Golf Club course looks great.  If the rain has been good for anything, it’s been great for growing grass and keeping the course a lush shade of green.  I snuck out at noon today to snap some photos as it’s been awhile since I have posted any.  According to Director of Golf, Greg Perry, “the course is playing great and we’re looking at some more sunshine on Thursday and Friday.” If you haven’t booked your tee time yet, now is the time to do so!

Happy golfing!

Darcy