The Quarry One Minute Clinic #9

Fore Right!!!

Tips for taming that slice from Quarry Head Golf Pro Sean Etheredge

Sean Etheredge, Quarry Golf Club Head Golf Professional

Does your ball fly to the right of the target each time? Does it start right of your target and curve even further off to the right? Chances are—you suffer from a common ball flight problem called a “slice.” This means you are sacrificing both accuracy and distance in your quest to swing for the fences and outdrive your friends…Review the tips below to help banish that banana ball for good!

It is important to realize what causes the slice before we address how to fix it. This way, you can begin to understand everything you do with your grip and set-up impacts your swing, and therefore, your ball flight. Balls that slice by starting and curving right are caused by an open clubface and a path that crosses the target line.

Grip:

The first step is to check and make sure the grip is in a neutral to strong position. This means the creases formed between your thumb and index finger are pointing towards your right shoulder or just outside of it slightly. Check this in a mirror from the face-on position to be sure!

Set-Up:

In a standard alignment, you want to have the feet, hips and shoulders parallel to your intended target line. However, if you are already struggling with a slice, you need a bit more help with the path. The best way to start out feeling this is to set-up with your body lines pointed slightly right of the target. Start out by setting up parallel, then pulling your right foot, hip and shoulder about 6-8 inches away from the target line. Now when you swing along your stance line, it is aimed more from the inside to help the path, as opposed to across the target line.

The Release:

For slicers, the feeling needs to be more of letting the club head release or rotate through your downswing and into your follow through.  This means that the toe of the club must pass the heel, allowing the clubface to “square up” to hit the ball.  My favorite way to judge this is to feel like the right palm is in control. Imagine a card dealer who wipes his hand around the table laying out cards. The dealer’s palm is always facing down at the ground and rotating away from him. This is a great way to feel the rotation needed to square up the club and get those shots back on line. 

Visualization and Understanding the Concept:

To put this all together, it is sometimes easier to understand why things must happen and why they feel so different.  Well, I believe it is because most golfers try to swing “up and down a target line” instead of swinging around their bodies. When you go out to try these tips, try to imagine swinging around your body. Let the shoulders turn, let the arms swing and try to make that ball turn to the left!

Quarry Guest Services...more than just "bag boys"

From your car to the cart, our guys have your back and your bag--and they genuinely care!

Rick Weaver, guest services manager

Rick Weaver is our guest services manager. Rick and all of our outdoor guest service representatives take pride in contributing to each guest's Quarry Experience. Rick and the guest services staff take pride in the fact that they are so much more than "bag boys"--their ultimate desire at The Quarry is for every guest to chisel an incredible memory.

Guest services staff

"Customer service is what it's all about! I strive to proved 'best in class' service by providing personal preferences and recommendations so golfers can enjoy their experience at The Quarry Golf Club and in San Antonio," said Jacob Torans, a guest services representative. (Featured in the picture above, far left)

In addition to answering questions posed to him, Torans also makes sure to go the extra mile and offer golfers the things they may forget to ask about, like ice for their ice chests. Torans and all of our dedicated guest service representatives keep the golf carts cleaned and well-stocked with the necessities and bonus features The Quarry offers. "We have an on-cart ball washer, seven tees, a custom scorecard, an ice chest, two towels and sand bottles," said Torans.

In addition to the features of The Quarry golf carts, below is a list provided by Rick of what the customer can expect upon arriving at The Quarry Golf Club.

• a smiling face and helping hands to help you unload your bags
• a golf cart with your name prominently displayed in the front window (if you booked in advance)
• recommendations on merchandise, playing the course and local dining/shopping destinations (if requested)
• loading of fresh ice into the on-cart ice chest

We are proud of our guest/players services staff and we know you will appreciate their can-do attitude and work ethic, too!

The Quarry One Minute Clinic #8

Prepare yourself for windy fall conditions with the “knock-down shot”

Fall is certainly in the air this week and after Tuesday’s north-wind cold front, you might be wondering how to battle windy fall and winter conditions.

Here is a quick lesson on how to execute the lower trajectory wind shot, otherwise known as a “knock-down shot” or “punch shot.”

This shot is a favorite and a necessity among golfers wishing to score well on a windy day. The basic premise of this shot is to intentionally lower the trajectory of the ball flight in order to reduce the amount the ball spins and lifts into the breeze.

Adding this useful shot to your repertoire can save you valuable strokes in your game as it offers two things most golfers struggle with

·        solid contact and

·        control of the ball

The basic technique is as follows:

First, move the ball back in your stance. It is best to experiment with different clubs and ball positions to get the desired effect, but generally in the center of your stance is a good place to start.

Next, select one or two lower-lofted clubs than what you would actually need for the yardage (for example, choose a 7-iron instead of a 9-iron).

Lastly, the shape of the swing will be slightly shorter, as to reduce the spin here as well. Making this abbreviated backswing and follow-through helps you control the height of the shot as well as the direction.

Making these simple adjustments will help the golfer gain better control of the ball in the wind and will help to navigate those blustery autumn days.

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Thank you Sean Etheredge for this one minute clinic.

Quarry Marshal Selected for SA Sports Hall of Fame

Only five individuals are selected annually for the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame and The Quarry is proud to claim one of the elite members of the Class of 2012--our own Stan Bonewitz, current starter marshal for The Quarry and former basketball coach for East  Central High School.

"We are grateful to have Stan as a member of our staff," said Dustin Burell, general manager of The Quarry Golf Club.

"In addition to holding one of the highest records for the most hole in ones at The Quarry among our staff, he brings to the table wisdom and sage advice our young leadership team needs."

Bonewitz, who has had 3 hole in ones at The Quarry, has been a dedicated marshal at the course for 5 years and was a basketball coach at East Central High School for 24 seasons, Burell said. 

"I was honored and humbled by this announcement," said Bonewitz. According to Bonewitz, more than 100 people are nominated for the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame annually, those names are listed in the paper and then the process begins for culling that list down to the final 5.

"Just to be nominated is a huge compliment in and of itself; that compliment was catapulted to a new level when I received the notification that I am a 2012 inductee," said Bonewitz.

To read more about the SA Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012, check out KENS 5.

Congratulations, Stan! We're proud to claim you as one of our dutiful marshals and as a friend.

  

The Quarry One Minute Clinic #7: Decoding Golf Lingo

Golf Terms for Newbies: How to de-code the lingo!

Ok, so after having some conversations over the past few weeks with friends new to the game, I am realizing there are many golf terms the casual golfer may not be aware of. Sure, you have the basics down, right? You know to hit the ball, seek it out, hit it again and hopefully it ends up in the hole.

Nonetheless, golf like any other sports has its own lingo and the more you know the easier it seems.



Putting Green & Hole



• Putting Green: (also "green, putting surface, dance floor") the most closely-mown and smooth--hopefully--area on the course, which is specifically prepared for putting and on which the hole is placed
• Bunker: a depression in the ground usually--but not always--filled with sand
• Fairway: the closely-mown area between the tee and green
• Divots: a portion of turf ripped out of the ground by your club
• Ball marks: (also "pitch mark") the depression a ball makes when it strikes the ground. Usually, but not always, associated with the putting green
• Foursome: four players playing together in a group  
• Chip: (also "chip and run, chip and roll, bump and run") a shot designed to roll (run) farther than it flies (usually, but not always, from near the green)
• Grip: 1. the handle of a golf club (usually covered with rubber, leather, etc.)  2. the holding, or method of holding, a golf club
• Club head: the most massive part of the club at the bottom end (opposite the grip or handle) of the shaft (ideally the part of the club that makes contact with the ball)
• Shaft: the part of the club extending from the grip (actually all the way to the top of the club inside the grip) to the club head
• Sandbagger: (euphemism for "liar, cheater") a golfer who lies about their ability in order to gain an advantage in a match or wager, or posts (submits/enters/turns-in) artificially high scores in order to inflate their handicap
• Sand trap: (also "trap, bunker, sand bunker") another commonly used term for a sand-filled bunker -a depression in the ground filled with a prepared surface of sand or similar
• Sand save: (also "sandy, sandie") getting the ball in the hole in just two shots from a green side bunker (usually assumes making par or better)

Club Head

These definitions and more can be found at http://www.pgaprofessional.com/golf_glossary. This website was created and maintained by PGA Professional Mark Blakemore.

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This One Minute Clinic provided kindly by Sean Etheredge, former Quarry Golf Club Head Golf Pro. If you would like to see a specific topic addressed, e-mail your idea to clewis@quarrygolf.com

Supporting Eddie Moreno with Shetler Wade Jewelers

Shetler Wade Jewelers and The Quarry Golf Club are sponsoring an event on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, to raise money for Eddie Moreno, a high school athlete paralyzed in an accident last spring. 

Moreno was a senior at Alamo Heights High School and a point guard on the school’s basketball team when he was shot in a road rage incident. 

“We spent a lot of time figuring out the best way we could help Eddie and his family,” said Michelle Shetler, one of the owners of the jewelry store.  “We decided to do what we do best – create memorable and enjoyable experiences.”

Live music and complimentary refreshments will be available at the restaurant at The Quarry Golf Club beginning at 6:30 p.m. Special leather bracelets symbolizing a commitment to Moreno’s recovery along with jewelry and watches at all price points will be available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds from all sales will go to the Moreno family; however, no purchase is required.

“Our hearts go out to this family. We all live in this area, our kids go to school with the Moreno boys and we want to help,” Shetler added. 

Shetler Wade Jewelers is a boutique jewelry store that carries lines from top designers.  Owned by Michelle Shetler and Kelly Wade Fry, the store is located in the Quarry Heights Building at 7373 Broadway, Suite 106. 

The event is open to the public.  Please e-mail eddie@shetlerwadejewelers.com if you plan to attend.  For more information, contact Terri Herbold at 210-826-0660. 

Charity Tournament

Looking to play a round of golf and support a worthy cause?

You are cordially invited to participate in the Texas Chapter Paralyzed Veterans 3rd Annual Texas Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America Golf Tournament on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 at The Quarry Golf Club.

Proceeds benefit the Texas Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), a congressionally charered 501(c)3 non-profit veterans service organizaiton. TPVA is dedicated to representing and advancing the interests of veterans with spinal cord injuries/disease or multiple slerosis and serves to broadly benefit all other veterans and people with disabilities.

Registration and check-in: 8:30 a.m.
Tee Time: 9 a.m.
Awards, Luncheon and Silent Auction: 1:30 p.m.

Entry fee entitles you to :

• green and cart fees
• lunch
• drinks
• eligibilty to door prizes

It all goes down Oct. 10, 2011 at The Quarry.
Call 210.824.4500 to register, or arrive early.