It's the weekend, and this weekend that means a golf trip up to Saskatoon with my wife Katlyn in honour of our first anniversary. We're playing Dakota Dunes tomorrow at around 1:00. We haven't played there yet (brutal, I know) so we're really looking forward to it.
We'll be sure to take a ton of pictures to share with everyone when we get back.
Sunday is a toss up. Not sure where we'll play or if we'll play at all. We're thinking about possibly teeing it up at the Willows, or possibly driving halfway back to Regina and getting a quick nine in at the Regional Park golf course at Outlook. We'll see what happens.
Does anyone have any ideas about golf in Saskatoon? I've played Riverside, Willows, Saskatoon G&CC (private and public courses), and Holiday Park but not much else. There's so many courses up there, it really is embarrassing when you compare it to Regina.
I'll have a write up for you on the Dunes when we get back. Can't wait!
Let's Play Golf!
Showing posts with label Let's Play Golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Let's Play Golf. Show all posts
Friday, August 15, 2008
What's In The Bag? Sean Stefan of LetsPlayGolf.ca
So what's in my bag right now? Well, it's quite the potpourri. Some of the sticks have been in there for a number of years because I just haven't been able to find anything that works better to replace it with.Driver: 8.5 Degree Titleist 975J, UST Stiff Graphite Shaft
3 Wood: Callaway Steelhead, steel shaft
Hybrid: 16 Degree Taylor Made Rescue 2, steel shaft
3-PW: Mizuno MP-30, steel shafts
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Oil Can 54 and 58 degree, steel shafts
Putter: Taylor Made Rossa Lambeau Sport 7, centre shafted
Bag: Ping Hoofer 2
Preferred Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Like I said, some of the clubs have been around for a while. I'm pretty picky with what goes into my bag, so when I find something I like it takes something pretty remarkable to knock something out.
The driver is probably the next thing that will be replaced. The thing I love about the 975J from Titleist is the sound, it just sounds powerful. They've gotten away from the sound with their newer models so I don't think I'll be going with Titleist for my next pick. I'm leaning towards the Callaway FT-I driver - it looks goofy as heck, but I've hit it and it feels great. We'll see. The head cover on the driver is a Grand Canyon University 'Lopes Golf Team head cover from my brother Luc who red shirted there last year.
The three wood from Callaway is pretty trusty and I've had it longer than any club in my bag, probably going on 10 or 12 years now. It's great to use from the fairway or on tight/short par 4's.
The Rescue is the club from heaven. I can hit it in the neighbourhood of 225 yards most of the time, and it goes like an arrow. The shaft is nice and short so it's easy to control and the head is nicely shaped for forgiveness.
The Mizuno irons were an eBay purchase and I couldn't be happier with them. They came an inch longer than standard, but luckily I was working at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course at the time so I cut them down and regripped them myself. The MP-30's feel as good as a blade when you hit them well, but offer a bit of forgiveness on off centre hits.
I used to keep three wedges in the bag - a 52, 56 and 60 degree - but with the new irons I liked the 3 iron too much to take it out of the bag so I had to re-align my wedges. I decided on 54 and 58 degree Vokey wedges with the oil can finish because I love the way they feel. I found going to a two wedge system really made me focus more on creating a variety of different shots with the same club. Sometimes I think you can have too much choice in the short game, so having to create shots with two clubs actually works in my favour I think.
The Rossa putter sat in the golf shop at Deer Valley for the better part of a year before I decided to purchase it. I liked it from the moment I saw it, but the grip was put on goofy and the head wouldn't sit square. Finally I just bit the bullet and bought it, put a new grip on, and I was good to go. Love the centre shaft, don't think I'll be changing that any time soon. My putter cover is dalmation nicknamed Romeo after Tin Cup's caddy. I got it as a door prize at a tournament, used it and won the tournament as a junior so I've kept it ever since.
Ping makes a fantastic bag. My only issue with it right now is that there is a big hole in one of the pockets because it got caught on a sharp metal bag tag of a buddy's bag a few years ago. Other than that I just love it.
As far as the ball goes, the Pro V1 is the best ball on the market right now in my opinion. If any ball companies out there want to send me their products to sample I'd be more than happy to review them, but until that happens I'll be sticking with the old faithful Titleist.
Anybody have any suggestions on some equipment that I should be looking at?
Deer Valley Golf Course Player's Guide - Hole #16-18
Deer Valley #16 – Par 3Championship – 153
Back – 145
Middle – 120
Forward – 103
Rounding out the par 3’s at Deer Valley is the 16th. This hole was much more awe inspiring when the water was not overrun with algae, but it’s still a treat. Leave it short and you’re obviously in the water. Too long and you could run into trouble with the bunker behind the green.
#16 is a perfect hole to catch with your camera as it uses the water, the hill, and the brush to frame the green perfectly. Just forget about the water during your pre-shot routine and you’ll be fine.
Deer Valley #17 – Par 5
Championship – 515
Back – 505
Middle – 479
Forward – 431
Unlike the reachable par 5’s on the front, the back nine five pars are tough to get at. The slopes on the side of the green on number 17 make it undesirable to go at this green in two, so keep that in mind off the tee.
This par 5 presents a few options. The blue tee offers one of the most fun tee shots of the day with a significant drop in elevation. I usually take it over the right side, tempting the bushes below and ideally draw it back into the fairway just over the cart path. You can carry the trees on the right with a good hit, but beware the second set of bushes. The water and bunkers to the left are also in play for almost all players.
The second shot can be played short to a distance of 150-120 yards, or you can play more aggressively by hitting a long iron up the neck of the fairway just short of the green. Your shot into the green need to be extremely accurate. The edges of the green are severely sloped and will kick almost everything into the bush to the right, left, and back. Beware of the spine that runs up the middle of the green in multiple directions.
Deer Valley #18 – Par 4Championship – 435
Back – 413
Middle – 392/377
Forward – 339
The home hole at Deer Valley has made a mess of many a good round. The water to the left challenges every shot on the hole, but there is plenty of room to the right. Big hitters can carry the bunker on the right and leave a good angle into any pin placement on the green. The tent is often a good spot to aim.
Handle the left Sunday pin on the peninsula by letting it feed off the slope in the middle of the green. Trying to fly the shot right at that pin is tough because the green narrows quite a bit there, and with the angle, if you hit the water you’re pretty much guaranteed to be hitting one from the exact same spot again.
Make your putt and head up to the club house (with construction on a new one rumoured to be starting in October 2008) for a cold one.
Hope you enjoyed the run through of the Deer Valley Golf Course in Deer Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada, just outside of Regina and Lumsden.
Let’s Play Golf!
The rest of the Deer Valley hole summaries can be found by clicking the links below:
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #1-3
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #4-6
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #7-9
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #10-12
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #13-15
Deer Valley Golf Course Player's Guide - Hole #13-15
Deer Valley #13 – Par 4Championship – 321 (Out of commission)
Back – 294
Middle – 277
Forward – 236
The thirteenth hole at Deer Valley is probably my favourite hole on the golf course. You can make an eagle and walk off the green saying “well, that was easy”, or you can make a quick 6 and leave scratching your head.
When you’re waiting on the tee for the green to clear, have a look down at the 14th green and take notice how it appears heart shaped from up above. There’s also a beaver dam in the creek below. The 13th tee is one of my favourite spots to take pictures.
On most days I’ll take a three wood at the green. It plays a little shorter than the yardage and balls tend to pop up close to the green if they fall short, so there isn’t much point in hitting the driver because long is dead. Hit it right or left and you’re pretty much done too. You could just pull out a mid iron and put it safely in the middle of the fairway, but where’s the fun in that?
The green has quite a bit of undulation, so be sure to hit the right portion (as always at D.V.).
Deer Valley #14 – Par 4
Championship – 396
Back – 377
Middle – 349/344
Forward – 300
This hole is featured on the cover of the scorecard. Take note of the mounding on the left hand side with the bunkers as the designer tried to mimic the natural flow of the land.
My usual play on 14 is to take a Rescue 2 Hybrid or a 3 wood depending on the wind and lay it up between 150 and 100 yards in. The further you try to push it, the narrower the fairway gets. If you’re not careful, the bunkers can be carried on the left and you’ll end up in the trees. The creek also juts out on the right and has been known to swallow up a few balls.
There are bunkers guarding your approach shot into the green, so make sure you take enough club. But not too much, the creek is tight behind the green. So I guess the point is to hit the green. Short is more forgiving than long, but still leaves a tough shot from the bunkers. The green has some funky mounding, so you could experience some fun puts on this one.
Deer Valley #15 – Par 4
Championship – 406
Back – 392
Middle – 356
Forward – 330
For short hitters, you may choose to follow the fairway around the creek, but most players will be able to take their tee shots right over the lone tree on the other side of the creek. Long hitters can get greedy and cut more of the corner but the landing area becomes narrower. Don’t get caught up focusing solely on clearing the creek either as there is brush on the other side of the fairway waiting to steal your ball away.
The green is another two-tiered, wide and shallow green, albeit less dramatic than the others on the course. Approach shots coming from the right hand side of the fairway may have to content with one of the many large character trees on the course. There is also a large bunker that will collect anything that comes in contact with that tree.
When you’re waiting on the tee for the green to clear, have a look down at the 14th green and take notice how it appears heart shaped from up above. There’s also a beaver dam in the creek below. The 13th tee is one of my favourite spots to take pictures.
On most days I’ll take a three wood at the green. It plays a little shorter than the yardage and balls tend to pop up close to the green if they fall short, so there isn’t much point in hitting the driver because long is dead. Hit it right or left and you’re pretty much done too. You could just pull out a mid iron and put it safely in the middle of the fairway, but where’s the fun in that?
The green has quite a bit of undulation, so be sure to hit the right portion (as always at D.V.).
Deer Valley #14 – Par 4
Championship – 396
Back – 377
Middle – 349/344
Forward – 300
This hole is featured on the cover of the scorecard. Take note of the mounding on the left hand side with the bunkers as the designer tried to mimic the natural flow of the land.
My usual play on 14 is to take a Rescue 2 Hybrid or a 3 wood depending on the wind and lay it up between 150 and 100 yards in. The further you try to push it, the narrower the fairway gets. If you’re not careful, the bunkers can be carried on the left and you’ll end up in the trees. The creek also juts out on the right and has been known to swallow up a few balls.
There are bunkers guarding your approach shot into the green, so make sure you take enough club. But not too much, the creek is tight behind the green. So I guess the point is to hit the green. Short is more forgiving than long, but still leaves a tough shot from the bunkers. The green has some funky mounding, so you could experience some fun puts on this one.
Deer Valley #15 – Par 4
Championship – 406
Back – 392
Middle – 356
Forward – 330
For short hitters, you may choose to follow the fairway around the creek, but most players will be able to take their tee shots right over the lone tree on the other side of the creek. Long hitters can get greedy and cut more of the corner but the landing area becomes narrower. Don’t get caught up focusing solely on clearing the creek either as there is brush on the other side of the fairway waiting to steal your ball away.
The green is another two-tiered, wide and shallow green, albeit less dramatic than the others on the course. Approach shots coming from the right hand side of the fairway may have to content with one of the many large character trees on the course. There is also a large bunker that will collect anything that comes in contact with that tree.
The rest of the Deer Valley hole summaries can be found by clicking the links below:
Deer Valley Golf Course Player's Guide - Hole #10-12
Deer Valley #10 – Par 4
Championship – 417
Back – 403
Middle – 369/349
Forward – 345
The safe play here is to aim at the right 150 rock and bring it back into the fairway if a draw is your natural shot shape. If the fade is more your style, just follow the shape of the fairway with your tee ball. The longer hitters can take a more aggressive line just right of the fence line at the 150 marker and bomb it towards the green. Everything tends to run off the hill into the fairway if you hit it far enough, so you should have a short shot into the green.
Speaking of the green, the third two-tiered, wide and shallow green awaits at #10. There’s a little gulley in front of the green that makes shots sometimes look shorter than they actually are. This makes the green a bit elevated so you might need to club up.
Deer Valley #11 – Par 3
Championship – 202
Back – 186
Middle – 167/146
Forward – 98
*Note – The forward tee is pretty well out of commission, so the red tees often play to 146.
Probably the weakest sister of the par three’s in terms of aesthetics, this is the toughest par three on the golf course in my opinion. The hole plays long, so club up to make sure you get the ball to the green.
A quick tip on this hole for anyone who misses in the left bunker is to not worry about hitting your bunker shot too long, everything tends to run back towards you off the back hill.
This green can be quite the adventure. Everything slopes to the front left, but it plateaus from front right to back left. The hill on the left side of the green has seen many balls roll back down after failed attempts. You might have to get creative with your putts if you get caught on the wrong level.
Deer Valley #12 – Par 5
Championship – 537
Back – 522
Middle – 492
Forward – 474
The par five twelfth hole at Deer Valley is tight. The fairway is quite narrow with trees/brush waiting to gobble up your ball on either side. This is not a green that you want to go at in two because your second shot is blind and the green is not an easy one to hit to begin with because it is as narrow as the rest of the hole.
My favourite play off the tee at #12 is to take a 5 or 6 iron (or if the wind is into you, a Rescue 2 hybrid) to the fat part of the fairway just short of the bunkers on the left and the swale on the right. It’s another 5 or 6 iron to the top of the hill, which should leave you with a mid to short iron into the green. The green is a flipped version of the traditional wide/shallow D.V. green, offering a long and narrow two-tiered putting surface. Feel free to run your approach shot up from the front of the green.
The rest of the Deer Valley hole summaries can be found by clicking the links below:
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #1-3
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #4-6
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #7-9
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #13-15
Deer Valley Golf Coures Holes #16-18
Championship – 417
Back – 403
Middle – 369/349
Forward – 345
The safe play here is to aim at the right 150 rock and bring it back into the fairway if a draw is your natural shot shape. If the fade is more your style, just follow the shape of the fairway with your tee ball. The longer hitters can take a more aggressive line just right of the fence line at the 150 marker and bomb it towards the green. Everything tends to run off the hill into the fairway if you hit it far enough, so you should have a short shot into the green.
Speaking of the green, the third two-tiered, wide and shallow green awaits at #10. There’s a little gulley in front of the green that makes shots sometimes look shorter than they actually are. This makes the green a bit elevated so you might need to club up.
Deer Valley #11 – Par 3 Championship – 202
Back – 186
Middle – 167/146
Forward – 98
*Note – The forward tee is pretty well out of commission, so the red tees often play to 146.
Probably the weakest sister of the par three’s in terms of aesthetics, this is the toughest par three on the golf course in my opinion. The hole plays long, so club up to make sure you get the ball to the green.
A quick tip on this hole for anyone who misses in the left bunker is to not worry about hitting your bunker shot too long, everything tends to run back towards you off the back hill.
This green can be quite the adventure. Everything slopes to the front left, but it plateaus from front right to back left. The hill on the left side of the green has seen many balls roll back down after failed attempts. You might have to get creative with your putts if you get caught on the wrong level.
Deer Valley #12 – Par 5
Championship – 537
Back – 522
Middle – 492
Forward – 474
The par five twelfth hole at Deer Valley is tight. The fairway is quite narrow with trees/brush waiting to gobble up your ball on either side. This is not a green that you want to go at in two because your second shot is blind and the green is not an easy one to hit to begin with because it is as narrow as the rest of the hole.
My favourite play off the tee at #12 is to take a 5 or 6 iron (or if the wind is into you, a Rescue 2 hybrid) to the fat part of the fairway just short of the bunkers on the left and the swale on the right. It’s another 5 or 6 iron to the top of the hill, which should leave you with a mid to short iron into the green. The green is a flipped version of the traditional wide/shallow D.V. green, offering a long and narrow two-tiered putting surface. Feel free to run your approach shot up from the front of the green.
The rest of the Deer Valley hole summaries can be found by clicking the links below:
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #1-3
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #4-6
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #7-9
Deer Valley Golf Course Holes #13-15
Deer Valley Golf Coures Holes #16-18
Monday, July 7, 2008
Let's Play Golf!
Let's Play Golf!I'm passionate about golf. I'm also passionate about doing stuff on the Internet. So why it's taken me this long to combine the two, I'm not quite sure.
In the last couple years I haven't played nearly as much golf as I would have liked to, but I'm making an effort to dive back into it.
In the last couple years I haven't played nearly as much golf as I would have liked to, but I'm making an effort to dive back into it.
My first exposure to the game was at age 4 when my Dad Randy started working as the General Manager of the Emerald Park Golf and Country Club just outside of Regina. He did a bunch of other stuff in his role as GM like selling residential lots and managing a bunch of other properties, but the golf course side was the part I liked. I got to hang out in the pro shop, hit balls at the driving range, and chip and putt all day long.
By the time I was 12 years old I was spending so much time at the course that my Dad decided to put me to work. I took a couple shifts every week working in the back shop – picking range balls and stuff like that. I remember my first paycheque for $93, it was huge. 
It was about that time that I started playing competitively on the Saskatchewan Junior Golf Tour. I won a few one day tournaments, but nothing too major. Having said that, I have competed in a bunch of provincial and national tournaments and I think those experiences have really helped me understand the game.
When I was 16 my family picked up and moved to the other side of Regina, where my Dad was involved in the start up of Deer Valley Golf and Estates. I worked in the golf shop there for a few years where I really got to know a few things about all the different golf products out there. The only problem was that I was starting to work full time in the summer and got frustrated playing a much harder Deer Valley Golf Course. The confidence I had in my golf game dwindled and the scores I was shooting really showed it. Don’t let anyone tell you that golf isn’t mental. I went from applying to university golf programs in the U.S. to almost giving up the game. It just wasn’t much fun anymore.
That’s when I decided I needed a bit of a change of scenery. I headed out west to work at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course just outside of Calgary, Alberta. I met a bunch of great people (including my wife) and spent two of the best summers of my life there. In the process I learned a ton about the golf industry from one of the most successful operations anywhere in the world. I also learned how to enjoy the game again. Everyone was just pumped about playing golf every day, so we practiced and played all the time.
I realized that it didn’t matter if I shot 83 or 73 as long as I was trying to improve, but more importantly, as long as I was having fun. Now just about all of the golf I play is with my wife or with my family.
Luckily my whole family loves to play, with my younger brother Luc being the most successful (he just transfered to Minot State University golf team after spending a year red shirting at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix).
Long story short, I love golf and I hope to use this blog as a chance to spread that love around a bit. I'll use it to post golf course reviews mostly, but I'll also post about all other things golf. I'll try to use a good balance of text, photos, and video. Hopefully it's enjoyable for you, as I know it will be for me.
Hit it well.
Sean Stefan
LetsPlayGolf.ca
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