U.S. Junior Amateur Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur.  The event, which is scheduled for July 20-25, will take place at Colleton River Plantation in Bluffton, S.C.  The Golf Association of Philadelphia will be conducting a local qualifier on Thursday, June, 26 at Concord Country Club.

The William Flynn design has played host to numerous Association events, including the 2005 Joseph H. Patterson Cup and the 2009 U.S. Amateur Qualifier.

Golf Course Superintendent Greg D’Antonio and his staff have spent the off-season months making various changes to the course that should make for an even better playing conditions come the end of June.

To apply online please click on this link: https://champs.usga.org/index.html

Junior Spotlight – Peter Bradbeer

Peter Bradbeer, Merion Golf Club

 

With spring hopefully right on our doorstep the Spotlight shines brightly on the 2014 Graham Co. Boys 16-18 Player of the Year on the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour.  Peter Bradbeer of Merion Golf Club also had GAP success in 2014 with a tie for third finish in the Jock MacKenzie Memorial after his round of 73 at Sandy Run Country Club.  As you will see by Peter’s answers he has set some lofty goals this year and here’s hoping he achieves them through hard work.

1. Age: 17 years old
2. Hometown: Rosemont, PA
3. What high school do you attend and what year are you: I attend Friends’ Central and I am a junior
4. Home Course: Merion Golf Club
5. Handicap Index: 0.6
6. Golf Instructor: I have been working with Brian Quinn for about two years
7. Favorite course you have played and why: I had the opportunity to play Pine valley a year ago and it was everything I imagined. There’s a reason why it’s the number one course in the country because all the holes are perfect. The layout is fantastic and its not impossible but just hard enough to make you want to go play again.
8. Course you would most like to play that you haven’t yet: Medalist. I’ve heard it’s impossible so I’d really like to test myself against it, especially off the tee with all the water and unplayable thicket.
9. Golfing highlight so far: I played well in a lot of Philly Junior Tour events last year and ended up being the Player of the Year for the Philly PGA Section which was a pretty awesome label. It’s definitely a stepping stone for me to go out this year and play well and win some more tournaments.
10. Career low round: Shot 68 at Merion west (not the champ course unfortunately)
11. Holes in One: Been close a bunch of times but never made one
12. Amount of time spent practicing during a week in the summer: Over the summer I practice about 3 to 4 hours a day when I’m not playing but I couldn’t tell you and exact number for a week cause I’ve got tournaments every week.
13. If not on the course during the summer what could we find you doing: I love to fish and windsurf and I’ll play tennis occasionally but not much else I’m a golf geek and I try to play as much as I can.
14. If you could play golf with any three people who would they be and why: If I could play with any three people they would be Jordan Speith Ernie Els and Tiger Woods.  Jordan to learn his work ethics, Ernie to talk about rhythm cause I built my swing based on rhythm like his. And Tiger because I want to know how he stayed competitive for so long and what his mindset and how he was mentally sharp for a round.
15. What type of shot gives you the most trouble on the course: a little trouble with going for a par 5 in two if it’s beyond 240 having to hit my 3 wood is difficult for me but I work on it everyday to fix that weakness.
16. Favorite tournament you play in over the summer: I am fortunate enough to play in the Western Junior this year which is huge for me because this being my junior to senior year summer this is my last time to impress coaches before my last year of high school.
17. Tournament you’d most like to attend and why: I’m qualifying for the U.S. Junior this year and that is the one tournament that I really want to play in. I’m really building my game this summer thinking about that tournament because it would really give me confidence in all my other tournaments going forward knowing that I was able to qualify into the best tournament in the country.
18. Favorite TV show: Really love Family Guy, it makes me laugh every time
19. All time favorite movie: Caddyshack by far
20. Favorite person to follow on Twitter: Tiger Woods parody account is hilarious, totally worth a follow

Tools of the Trade – Brian Isztwan

Brian Isztwan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club

 

Our Tools of the Trade for the month of April focuses on a player who is starting to make a name for himself at a very young age.  Brian Isztwan of Huntingdon Valley CC might only be 14 years old but that has not stopped him from picking up victories.  In 2014 Isztwan, who also has two IJGT wins (14 and under division) under his belt, captured the Huntingdon Valley CC Junior Club Championship and won the Inter-Academic High School League Championship as a freshman at William Penn Charter School.

 

Driver: Titleist 913 D2 10.5°
The driver has usually been a shaky part of my game, as I am capable of hitting some wayward shots. This driver is perfect for my hitting pattern, and I got the shaft fit for my swing. As a result, I am able to drive the ball much straighter while still maintaining distance.

 

4-wood: Callaway X2 Hot Pro
I believe this is the “prettiest” club in my bag, as it has a sleek finish with no markings on the top of the head. Not only do I prefer the clean appearance of the pro version to the design on the regular version, the quality of well-hit shots is amazing with this club. It even sounds awesome when it’s hit well.

 

Hybrid: TaylorMade SLDR 3 Hybrid 19°
I have never really been a fan of hybrid clubs, but the SLDR hybrid presented a new look and feel for me. The versatility of the head allows me to play it from any lie in any circumstance and achieve a trajectory high enough to attack tight pins on longer shots.

 

Irons: Mizuno MP-64
Mizuno irons are always amazing, but these were extremely appealing to me. My irons are most definitely my favorite clubs in the bag. If I were to pick a club to hit in front of the whole world in a pressure situation, I would choose one of my irons. The blade-like feel of the MP-64s gives crisp feedback when hit well, but the face is also forgiving on mis-hits.

 

Wedges: Mizuno MP-T4 50°, 55°, 60°
Each of these wedges has a custom grind, allowing different amounts of bounce to be used for each wedge. This allows me to play a variety of shots using the club with an open or closed face with confidence around the green. I have my 54 degree wedge bent to 55 degrees to keep a consistent 5 degree gap between the wedges, eliminating the possibility of a large yardage gap.

 

Putter: Scotty Cameron California Del Mar
Although there might not much to say about a putter, this Scotty just feels right in my hands when I am putting. The head shape is just right for my feel on the greens and the weight and lie angle are perfectly fit for my stroke.

 

I play Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x (I don’t really have a preference between the two.) Most of the time I mark my ball with a red smiley face under the “Titleist” and the number.

 

Junior Spotlight – Kate Evanko

Kate Evanko, Radley Run Country Club

I recently blogged about Eric MacCluen, the Director of Instruction at Applecross CC, and his Girls Golf Revolution.  The March Spotlight shines on one of his most promising pupils.  Radley Run CC’s Kate Evanko is coming off a season where she was a finalist in the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia Junior Girls Championship as well as a representative of the Women’s Golf Association in the Junior Girls Inter-City Matches.

1. Age–17

2. Hometown–West Chester, Pennsylvania

3.  What high school do you attend and what year are you–I am a junior (Class of 2016) at Unionville High School in Kennett Square, PA.

4. Home Course–Radley Run Country Club

5. Handicap Index–1.8

6. Golf Instructor–Eric MacCluen

7. Favorite course you have played and why— My favorite course that I have played is the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda.  Every hole had a breathtaking view of either the clear blue ocean waters or the tropical flora.  It was difficult yet playable with hard, fast greens and some tricky approach shots.  Another course I love is Huntingdon Valley because of its pristine conditions and the strategy needed to score well there.

8. Course you would most like to play that you haven’t yet–Merion East.  I was a standard bearer there for the 2013 US Open and just walking it was amazing.

9. Golfing highlight so far–Qualifying for and finishing 11th in the PIAA AAA Championship this past year was the best part of my season since the competition in District 1 is so stiff.  My final round at Districts was probably the best I’ve ever played–I finished 3-under on the last 6 holes to shoot 75 and claim the last spot for Regionals.

10.Career low round–In a tournament, 74.  I had 17 pars and one double-bogey that day.

11. Holes in One–none, but I’ve had 3 eagles.  One of those eagles was nearly a double-eagle–I made the 6 inch eagle putt at Torresdale-Frankford Country Club in 2013 in the WGAP Junior Championship.

12. Amount of time spent practicing during a week in the summer–When I’m not playing in tournaments, I’ll probably practice anywhere from 2-5 hours per day.  I try to play at least a round every day in the summer.

13. If not on the course during the summer what could we find you doing–swimming, driving, eating, watching Netflix, and having fun with my friends.

14. If you could play golf with any three people who would they be and why–my three friends 🙂

15. What type of shot gives you the most trouble on the course–Tee shots on long par 3s are my least favorite shots because there is less control with longer irons and little margin of error on par 3s.

16. Favorite tournament you play in over the summer–the Junior Inter-City Team Matches has been the most fun event I’ve played in the past 2 years.  It is a team event that combines stroke play and match play, which is really cool, because I don’t have the chance to play match play very often.

17. Tournament you’d most like to attend and why–I would love to attend The Masters because it is one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments on one of the world’s most elusive courses.

18. Favorite TV show–I can’t pick just one!  Parks and Rec, House of Cards, and Modern Family are my top 3.

19. All time favorite movie–Argo

20. Favorite person to follow on Twitter–I love Twitter so I can’t just pick one!  These are my 3 favorites: @power__brunette, @weknowwhatsbest, @blake_hinckley (follow me!! @magic_k8_ball)

 

 

 

Tools of the Trade – Alex Butler

Alex Butler, Blue Bell Country Club

 

Blue Bell CC’s Alex Butler comes in to the 2015 season riding a wave of confidence.  This past October the St. Joe’s Prep junior, and his fellow Hawks, captured the PIAA Team Golf Championship.  Butler is also coming off a year in which he qualified for match play in the 100th Junior Boys’ Championship.  So let’s take a look at the clubs that have helped build Alex’s confidence.

 

Driver- Taylormade Black R1 (8.75* loft/Fubuki Extra Stiff shaft) – I’ve had this for about a year and a half now and it has worked great for me. Because of its custom fit from Club Champion Golf in Philadelphia, the club has kept up with my quick swing speed, which has helped me gain distance and control over the past year and a half. I like how well the club fits my game which is due to its custom fit for my swing.

3/5 Woods – Titleist 915 fairway woods(15°/19° loft) 80 gram shafts and stiff flex – I’ve had these clubs for almost two years now and they have worked great for me. These woods have helped me in situations off the tee when I need to keep it straight but also fly a long distance. 

Irons – Mizuno MP-59s with Dynamite Gold X-100 shafts – I’ve had these clubs for 3 years now and they are definitely my favorite clubs in my bag and the most solid part of my game. These irons have helped me get out of tough angles in trees, attack tucked pins, long bunker shots, as well as the routine shots from the fairways. With their soft sweet spots and workable qualities, they bring a lot of consistency, confidence, and control to my game.

Wedges – Edel wedges (53° loft/18° bounce) and (59° loft/22° bounce) – I just picked up these Edel wedges last week which were also custom fit from Club Champion Golf in Philadelphia. They are custom, hand ground wedges which improve turf interaction and reduce shot dispersion. I am extremely excited to start out this season with these new wedges and I am eager to see what the can do to help my game.

Putter – Black Select Newport 1.5 Scotty Cameron – I’ve had this putter for 3 years now and it is one of most lethal clubs in my bag behind my irons. This club is easy to build confidence with and it is hard to stop once the putts start dropping.

I am currently using the Titleist ProV1x ball and have been for the past year now. It is the only ball that I feel comfortable with knowing I will hit the ball a long way while also having great control around the greens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girls Golf Revolution Clinics return in 2015

 

Eric MacCluen, Director of Instruction at Applecross Country Club, will again be conducting FREE golf lessons for kids ages 5 – 13 this spring.  The clinics are scheduled for Saturday April 11th, 18th and 25th at the Marsh Creek Church in Exton, Pa.  There will be two sessions for girls (2:00pm and 4:30pm) and one session for boys (3:15pm).  Last year, as part of his Girls Golf Revolution, MacCluen offered Free golf instruction for junior girls and it provided me an opportunity to get my daughter started in the game.  Eric and the rest of his Applecross staff do a tremendous job and I am looking forward to bringing my daughter back this year to continue her growth.  To print off a copy of the registration form click here: 2015_Marsh_Creek_Clinics

 

My daughter Nora taking her first swings.

 

Tools of the Trade – Cassidy Gavaghan

Cassidy Gavaghan, Sandy Run Country Club

 

Sandy Run CC’s Cassidy Gavaghan is looking forward to a strong 2015, thanks in part to a new putter.  Let’s take a look at what other clubs Cassidy, a rising sophomore at Hatboro-Horsham HS, will be using this year in the first Tools of the Trade segment of 2015.

 

My driver is the first model of the SLDR series that came out in 2013. Coming through the ball it is a very solid feel and I am pretty consistent with it. I also love the trajectory of the ball and it tends to get a lot of roll. My average driving distance is around 230 yards.

Having the Ping G15 3 wood in my bag is a necessity. Although it is an older model I still find the best results with it.

My 5 hybrid is probably my favorite club in my bag. I can rely to hit it consistently from almost any lie with the reassurance that it will almost always travel 185 yards each time. This club was actually previously my grandmother’s and is a senior shaft and is extremely comfortable to hit.

My irons are the Callaway Apex Tour irons. I only got them last year and saw immediate results. My irons are a men’s stiff shaft and going from a senior to a stiff shaft was definitely a valid move for myself. My distance improved as soon as I started to practice with them. The feel of my irons through the ball are much more solid and I am more confident regarding my play with them.

The wedges I carry in my bag are all Cleveland wedges. I did not buy them altogether and have collected them over the past couple of years in an attempt to find the ones I am the most comfortable with. I use 60 degree, 52 degree, and 56 degree wedges. My favorite wedge to play with around the greens is my 60 degree wedge, I use it in green side bunkers and anywhere from 60 to 20 yards out creating a high trajectory on the ball. I use my 52 degree for low trajectory shots around the green and am very confident with the spin I can create with the club.

This past winter break I tested a few different putters to get the feel of which one I was most satisfied with it. I found the most consistency with the TaylorMade Sebring 62 putter out of the ghost series. It was the putter I seemed to make the most putts with opposed to the few other putters that I tried and I am looking forward to using it this season.

The type of ball I prefer to use is the ProV1 or ProV1x. I find that is the ball that travels the furthest for me and gets the most spin. I tend to mark it with a blue dot or my initials.

 

 

 

Junior Spotlight – Michael Reed-Price

Michael Reed-Price, Sunnybrook Golf Club

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The GAP Junior Spotlight returns for 2015 and first up is Michael Reed-Price of Sunnybrook Golf Club.  Last year Michael finished in a tie for tenth in the Harry Hammond Award Standings after rounds of 76 at Riverton CC (Junior Boys’ Championship), 72 and 78 at St. Davids GC (Christman Cup) and 77 at Sandy Run CC (Jock MacKenzie).

Age: 17

Hometown: Dresher, Pennsylvania

High School: I attend Upper Dublin High School and I am a junior.

Home Course: Sunnybrook Golf Club

Handicap Index: 0.0

Golf Instructor: Brian Farrell, an assistant pro at Sunnybrook, has been helping me with my game pretty much since I really got  into golf around 7th grade.

Favorite course I have played: Through junior golf I’ve been very lucky to play on numerous great courses but my favorite is Sunnybrook. It’s always in great condition and I think it is a very fair test. People will disagree but I’ve never played faster greens than there when they get them going. They said they reached 14 3/4 on the stimp meter last year. Since they don’t really have a junior program the adults there have sort of taken me under their wing and I am friends with people much older than me that I can play with all the time.

Course you would most like to play that you haven’t yet: I’ve never played Pine Valley I think the reason I would love to play there is because I know so little about it it’s almost like a mystery. All everyone ever says to me about is how its the greatest course in the world but if I was thrown on the first tee I wouldn’t even have any idea what to expect. I know a couple Pine Valley members and I make it a priority to be extra nice to them, even if it means missing an important putt on the 18th hole once in a while.

Golfing highlight so far: Although going to the State Championship individually was awesome, making the State Team Championship was more special. Achievements in golf are hard to come by and they’re even more rare when you go with a team. I got to hang out with some of my best friends and compete for a State Championship with them.

Career Low Round: 68 (-3) I had just turned 15 (which makes it a little sad). I started off with three pars, made a hole in one, then made 14 more pars.

Holes in 1: I have 2, my first came when I was 13. I was about a 15 handicap and I hit an accidental fade with my over the top swing using a 3 hybrid on the 150 yd 15th hole at Sunnybrook.  My second was when I was 15 on the fourth hole at Lulu Country Club. They were both complete luck but people find them really impressive so I laugh to myself whenever that’s the first thing someone asks me about golf.

Amount of time spent practicing during the week during the summer: My golf coach Brian wouldn’t be pleased with me for this  but I don’t practice all that much over the summer. I usually work with my swing more in the offseason. I like playing golf too much that I usually hit balls for 20 minutes then go play something like 36 holes. This year I’m going to try to turn over a new leaf and work on my swing over the summer instead of seeing how many holes I can cram into 16 hours of daylight.

If I’m not on the course during the summer what would you find me doing: I caddy at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club on the weekends. On regular days probably goofing off with my friends. When they’re away I play piano and sing which drives my parents crazy.

If you could play golf with any three people who would they be and why: I would play with Bubba Watson because I would love to see the way he works the ball in real life, Barack Obama because spending an afternoon with him would be quite a treat, and BIll Murray because there is nothing better than laughing for 18 holes straight, especially if it’s with a legend like him.

What type of shot gives you the most trouble and why: That’s a tough one. At times they all give me trouble. I think the one that has consistently given me the most trouble is driving when there is out-of-bounds tight on one side. I tend to push it or pull it a long way in the other direction which usually isn’t much better.

Favorite tournament to play over the summer: Probably the Christman Cup. Since its 36 holes you get to interact with pretty much all of the best junior golfers in the area. I’ve met so many good kids over the years that even when I don’t play my best I still have just as much fun because of my friends who are also playing.

Tournament you’d most like to attend and why: I think the Phoenix Open would be pretty cool. I could bring my non-golfing friends to sit in the stadium on the 16th hole and we could hang out like a football game but watch golf for hours.

Favorite TV show: I am a huge fan of the Daily Show with John Stewart. I have a series recording and I watch it almost everyday after school. (It often cuts into my practice time.)

All time favorite movie: I really liked Elf the first time I saw it. I love Will Ferrell and his juvenile humor has always made me laugh.

Favorite person to follow on twitter: I’m not a huge twitter fan but I like to follow Uber Facts. That’s really lame but I think they’re really cool.

IJGT Returns for Spring 2015

 

The IJGT is returning to the City of Brotherly Love on March 21-22 for the Philly Challenge at White Manor CC.  This fantastic Bobby Weed redesigned course, is home to the Villanova University’s mens’ golf team and was last year’s host venue for the BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship.

The IJGT is headed back to the Garden State for the Jersey Shootout at Greate Bay Country Club on April 4-5. Designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member and two-time British Open Champion Willie Park, Jr., Greate Bay is a Scottish links-style course that offers challenges for golfers of all skill levels. In 2014, it played host to our Open Championship Qualifier.  Greate Bay has hosted several professional events including the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

On May 9-10, the IJGT will be returning to “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” Hershey, Pa., for the IJGT Junior Open at Hershey Country Club. Juniors will be competing on the East Course. Hershey Country Club, which annually hosts the Pennsylvania State Golf Association’s Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls Championships, was also the site of the 1940 PGA Championship. When not playing, juniors and their families can explore all Hershey has to offer from Hersheypark to the Hershey Gardens. A family favorite, this is an event you do not want to miss.

To view the full IJGT schedule click here

2015 GAP Junior Schedule Announced

 

Gulph Mills Golf Club – Hole #3

 

As we usher in 2015 the Golf Association of Philadelphia is happy to announce it’s schedule of junior events for this year.  Below are some of the highlights…

The 101st Junior Boys’/Junior Team Championship is scheduled for Monday-Wednesday, June 22nd-24th.  The William Gordon-designed tract is no stranger to GAP juniors as it most recently played host to local qualifying for the USGA Junior Amateur back in 2013.

http://gapgolf.org/static/archive/2013_us_junior_amateur_qualifier_results.html

 

Indian Valley Country Club – Hole #13

 

GAP juniors will be in for quite a treat on Thursday, July 9th as Gulph Mills Golf Club welcomes The Christman Cup.  This Donald Ross gem turns 100 years old next year and it is wildly considered one of the finest golf courses in the Association (for what it’s worth, behind Pine Valley GC and Merion GC it ranks #3 on my unofficial rankings).  Gulph Mills GC, which last year played host to the Associations Middle-Amateur Championship, was the site of the Christman Cup back in 2005.  That year saw one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the event.  Eric Schmehl of Moorestown Field Club made eagle on the final hole to capture a one stroke victory over Jason Cohan of The ACE Club.

http://gapgolf.org/static/archive/2005_christman_cup_results.html

 

 

Opening tee shot at Gulph Mills GC

 

Gulph Mills GC – Hole #6

 

Gulph Mills GC – Hole #18

 

The 67th Junior-Junior Boys’ Championship is schedule for Monday-Wednesday, July 27th-29th at West Chester Golf and Country Club.  The club last hosted this event back in 2010 and some very familiar faces announced their presence to the GAP junior scene that year.  2013 Christman Cup Champion, Kevin Conners, Jr. of Whitford CC defeated Huntingdon Valley CC member Jack Quirk by a score of 2 and 1 to claim the victory.

http://gapgolf.org/static/archive/2010_JrJr_Boys_Final.html

 

West Chester G&CC – Hole #4

 

One of the largest and most fun events on the GAP calendar, the Father and Son (Younger), celebrates its 58th birthday on Thursday, July 2nd at Philmont Country Club.  This William Flynn masterpiece has played host to numerous GAP majors, most recently the 2008 GAP Open and the 2014 GAP Senior Amateur Championship.  Straight driving and deft putting will be keys to victory at one of the most difficult courses in the Association.

 

Philmont CC – Hole #5

 

Philmont CC – Hole #8

 

Philmont CC – Hole #12

 

It is again our Associations year to host a USGA Junior Amateur Qualifier.  Concord Country Club will play host on Thursday, June 25th.  The club, which was also designed by William Flynn, has spent the last few years undergoing a wonderful renovation/tree removal and should present a true test of golf to the areas best juniors as they attempt to qualify for the most prestigious junior event in the world.

 

Concord CC – Hole #1 before tree removal program

 

Concord CC – Hole #1 after tree removal

 

 

The Association is looking forward to a great year and more information on all our junior events can be found here:

http://gapgolf.org/eventjr.asp?pid=3&id=20