Check out our website for the upcoming events as well as the dates to save in your diaries! We look forward to seeing you out on the course. Please reference the Sawgrass CC ForeTees page for upcoming events and full tournament detail. With the improvements being made to the West Course bunkers, this is a good time to review “bunker courtesy”. |
There is little doubt that each golfing member at Sawgrass Country Club has experienced mysterious footprints, curiously placed pitch marks, and even small craters while in a bunker. These obstacles are difficult to navigate and have a negative effect on the golfing experience. These un-repaired areas are symptoms of a bigger issue, a lack of courtesy to fellow members. The USGA Rules of Golf open with the section on Etiquette. One of the sentences in the Introduction states:
“The overriding principal is that consideration should be shown to others on the course at all times.”
Consideration should also be extended to the course itself. Look also at the section on “Care of the Course” in the Etiquette section.
There have also been some comments made about the look of the bunkers, specifically the bunker faces. Sawgrass has adopted what is becoming known as the Australian Method of bunker maintenance/raking. The concept is to leave the faces smooth yet as firm as possible by not subjecting them to daily raking by the maintenance team. The purpose is to promote the balls rolling into the floor of the bunker where it has been raked, especially those shots that fall or bounce into the bunker from the edge. While this can appear to be unattended to, it is being left this way by design. If you find you need to play from on of these “unraked” areas, please refill the pitch area and footing then use the back of the rake to smooth the surface after play. By following a few key points, an excellent golfing experience for all can be achieved.
Remember when playing from a bunker: - When possible, enter a bunker from the “low side” of the bunker. This helps maintain the bunker faces.
- Locate a bunker rake before you go into a bunker and bring it into the bunker with you.
- After playing from the bunker, rake to smooth the sand in the bunker. Try to make it look like no one has disturbed the sand since the maintenance staff groomed the bunkers that morning.
- Follow your entry path in as you exit.
- After exiting the bunker, remove the excess sand from your shoes by lightly tapping the sides of your shoes with a club or gently stomping your feet on the ground. This prevents sand from being “tracked” onto the putting green.
- Finally, place the rake in the direction of play, outside the bunker, on the low side of the bunker or the side away from the putting green.
Bunkers can be difficult enough for players. Having uneven conditions only makes it harder for the next players. Please take a moment to condition the bunkers as a courtesy to your fellow members.
Sawgrass Country Club West Nine Bunker Project June 4th-August 14th Project Update The shaping of the West bunkers is nearly complete, and the capillary concrete is scheduled to be poured in the coming weeks. Despite the weather, the project remains on schedule. Those interested in learning more about the trip are invited to attending a special meeting on Wednesday, July 25th at 5:30pm. Sawgrass Member, Matthew Barnes and Director of Golf, Ron Philo will share some more details regarding the trip and be available to answer any questions.
Refreshments (beer and wine) are available to attendees.RSVP with the Golf Shop; walk-ins are encouraged. British Open Golf Trip 2019 The Golf Professional Staff at Sawgrass Country Club would like to announce a trip to Scotland and Northern Ireland in July 2019 for the British Open Championship. This trip provides a fabulous opportunity to visit bonnie Scotland and the Emerald Isle and witness their beauty up close, as well as a chance to play on some of the most famous courses in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Your final two days on tour will be spent at Royal Portrush Golf Club to experience the 148th OPEN Championship. | Congratulations to this week's leading point earner, Eileen Hanna! She finally captured a flight win with 36 points after lurking near the top in two prior rounds. In the Second Flight, Pat Rutski and Connie Triano had matching point totals of 33. The match of cards went to the former, helping Mrs. Rutski into a tie for third in the season points list.
With only two regular events left, we hope you will join in to take a late stab at the points list. Hop on to swga-summer.golfgenius.com to sign-up for these, Closing Day (registration just opened!), and see complete results from today. | | | The Sawgrass Professional Staff is playing to grow awareness and raise money for the Folds of Honor Foundation on August 28th & 29th. Staff members are joining together to play golf for 24 consecutive hours around the Sawgrass Country Club golf courses. Each pair of two will work together for six hours with one member of the team walking and playing as many holes as possible. The non-playing professional serves as a caddy to assist in finding the ball, raking bunkers, providing yardages, shooing off alligators and the like. Members: support the cause by pledging contributions based upon holes played (our target is 324 holes during the 24 hours of play), eagles made, birdies made, pars made, bogeys made, doubles or greater made, balls used, or total shots taken. All proceeds raised add to the Club’s Patriot Golf Day efforts on Labor Day – September 3, 2018. Folds of Honor raises money to support the educational endeavors of family members of service men and women who have fallen in the course of their duties. Learn more about Folds of Honor by clicking the following link. If interested in pledging, please contact a member of the Professional Staff at (904) 273-3720. | | At the end of July, we will be experiencing the second of the two maintenance closures at the Golf Course. These closures ensure we have excellent playing conditions throughout the year and have gone very well thanks to the efforts of Matt Durkee and his team led by Bill Schmit. To accommodate member play, we have been in touch with area clubs. The list below provides information on the times and rates they are extending. Please remember we are all guests when visiting these clubs and adhere to any and all club policies and rules regarding play while taking advantage of this opportunity. The Professional Staff has a roster of course closures for the area and to help match and guide you to a good fit. Tee times are available on most days based on a space available basis and those times will be filled on a first come first served basis. All clubs require the Professional Staff at Sawgrass Country Club to make your arrangements and will not entertain personal calls from club members. Members may make play requests 7-days in advance. However, the Professional Staff can only make reservations at most other facilities only 3-days in advance. The Professional Staff will log requests until the call can be made. Once the Professional Staff receives confirmation with the host facility, the member is contacted. Thank you for your cooperation and please refer to the attached sheet for guidelines regarding booking your summer play. Monday, July 30th - Thursday, August 9th All Courses Closed; Driving Range reopens Monday, August 6th When requesting a tee time, please provide the following information: 1. Date and time you prefer to play 2. Number of times to reserve 3. Player names and mix of member and/or guests 4. Time frame in which you would like to reserve a time 5. Contact phone number and/or e-mail address Please contact the Golf Shop for all reservations Direct Line (904) 273-3720 proshop@sawgrasscountryclub.com | | New programs are now available to get you and your game in shape! Ladies' Golf Clinics - Monday Afternoons - 2:00-3:00pm - OR - 3:30-4:30pm Improve your game on Monday afternoons with teaching professional, Laura Baugh. Each week will highlight an aspect of the game to get you scoring better! Suggested class size is 6 ladies. Sign up in the Golf Shop - $20 per session. Men’s Golf Clinics - Tuesday Mornings 9:30-10:30am Spend Tuesday morning with Head Professional Mike Broderick to tune up your skills or get a quick refresher on the basics of the game. These sessions are opportunities to discuss one element of golf that may be causing trouble in your own game. Instructional Clinics Cost $15 per session. Contact Mike Broderick by phone (904) 273-3720 or by email (mbroderick@sawgrasscountryclub.com) to register. "Girls Only" Junior Golf Clinics Girls ages 7-15 are encouraged to learn all aspects of the game in a fun, hour long clinic. All Clinics will be held Tuesdays from 4:30- 5:30pm (new time!). Equipment will be provided as needed. The cost for each clinic is $10/junior. Please contact Laura Baugh in the Professional Shop at (904) 273-3720 or by email (Lbaugh@sawgrasscountryclub.com) for further information. | Junior Clinics - Wednesday Afternoon & Saturday Morning Each Wednesday through the school year and each Saturday morning throughout the year our Assistant Golf Professionals will host junior clinics for juniors of all ages (5-15 years of age) and abilities. Clinics will focus on a short game and a long game aspect each week. Saturday Clinic: 9:00-10:00am An additional weekday clinic begins on Wednesdays through the school year. Coming soon in August. The cost for each clinic is $15/junior. Please contact the Golf Shop to register at (904) 273-3720 or by email (proshop@sawgrasscountryclub.com) for further information. |