Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you well and enjoying a great fall although the cold temperatures arrived sooner than we had hoped in the Chicago area. Please allow me to wish you and your family a happy holiday season and to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share your golf journey. It is truly my privilege and joy to help each of you reach your golf goals, whatever they may be.
I’d like to briefly recognize two students. First, Seul Ki Park has earned playing privileges on the Duramed Futures Tour for 2010. We have worked together since her sophomore year at New Trier High School and throughout her college career at the University of Illinois where she garnered 2nd team All-Big Ten honors while earning a nursing degree. Also, congratulations are in order for Sue O’Connor who qualified for her third national USGA event, the US Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, where she made it to the match-play round.
As for my game, I again played the McDonalds LPGA Championship and also was fortunate enough to qualify for the US Women’s Open at Saucon Valley CC. Despite missing the cut, I consider myself very lucky to have been inside the ropes playing. Two highlights from the Open were a practice round with LPGA legend Rosie Jones and the hour and a half I spent on the practice tee with a very special young man, Kyle Lograsso and his father Jeff. You may have seen them featured on HBO's "Real Sports". Kyle is the very embodiment of the phrase "positive attitude" in addition to his ultra polite manners and warm personality. And, he happens to LOVE golf! You can learn more about Kyle and his battle with retinoblastoma at kylelograsso.org.
Many of you have already asked me about the winter trips for 2010. I have just finalized the dates and details to return to The Boulders Resort in Carefree, AZ. Visit the Winter Trips page for more information.
These getaways have been very popular and space is limited in each school to 8 students (with 2 teachers), so make sure to contact me early about signing up. (I will be happy to create a gift certificate if this is a holiday gift). Payment in full will reserve your spot.
I am currently scheduling indoor lessons beginning at the end of December at Buffalo Grove Golf Dome and at Conway Farms GC where we have created a putting studio. Every year I tout the benefit of winter lessons. I believe more strongly than ever that utilizing the winter to integrate a lesson and practice regimen without having to "take it to the course" immediately will ultimately lead to the kind of long-lasting improvements we desire.
One last item I want to share is the opportunity for you to purchase a 1-year subscription to Shot by Shot online statistics program. I used it in 2009 with some of you, and the feedback was very positive. The program is a great tool to help us identify the areas of your game which need the most improvement so we can create better lesson and practice plans. If you were to purchase a 1-year subscription on your own the retail cost would be $79. If you join my "group", I can offer you the annual subscription for $40. Joining my group simply gives me (not other group members) access to your stats online, plus it gives you a nice discount. Go to Shot by Shot to learn more about the program. Contact me directly to sign up. (You can also read an excellent article on putting statistics by Peter Sanders, the creator of Shot by Shot, in the December issue of "Golf Digest Magazine").
In closing, I wish you and your families a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010 and thank you again for being a part of my "golf family".
Warmest regards,
