VICTORY AT LAST FOR ALEX ARAGON, A SELF-CONFESSED GRINDER

FROM THE US NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
 By John Dell, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent

The thrill of winning his first Nationwide Tour event was nice for Alex Aragon. So was seeing the biggest cheque of his pro career after winning the TPC Stonebrae Championship earlier this month.
But one of the best things about the week just outside of San Francisco was who gave Aragon the trophy.
"One of my heroes growing up was Jerry Rice and for him to be there was cool," said Aragon, 33, who grew up in San Diego but has been a die-hard San Francisco 49ers fan his whole life. "I actually played with nine holes with him a few years ago and I mentioned that to him. He was nice enough to say he remembered but I doubt he did."
Aragon, a 2001 Stanford University graduate, admits he's one of the grinders in pro golf who works hard, makes sure he's doing the right things to prepare for tournaments, and is usually a positive person. All of that came in handy when he fired rounds of 67-70-67-66 in the rain and fog-plagued TPC Stonebrae.
"It got a little crazy there and nobody really knew what was going in because of so many weather delays," Aragon said. "I just kind of let it all roll off my back and said whatever we need to do I'll do it."
There were times when Aragon thought the tournament would be reduced to 54 holes, but keeping his head down and playing paid rather large dividends.
"On Friday I hit one shot, and then play was called because of darkness," he said. "That's how crazy it was."
Earlier in his week of preparation Aragon went to Stanford to see old friends and former team-mates associated with the golf program there. He spent time practising at the golf facility and said it put him in a great frame of mind.
"It was pouring rain at the Stonebrae that Tuesday so I drove up and practised and played a little at Stanford and it kind of calmed me a little bit," said Aragon, who had the biggest payday of his pro career in taking home $108,000.
Aragon is a veteran of the Nationwide Tour and he also has one season (2006) under his belt playing on the US PGA Tour. Through his 11 years of being a pro, he says he's learned plenty but it's until you are in those moments that you learn the most.
He hadn't been that close to a victory in a long time, but on that final Sunday at the TPC Stonebrae he was ready.
"We didn't have to re-pair after the third round to the fourth round and I think that was beneficial to me," Aragon said. "On Sunday I was just ready for anything and no matter what happened I was going to be positive about it."
There were times during the week where it was hard for Aragon to be positive. He locked his keys in his car trying to make it to his tee time on Thursday but because there was a fog delay he didn't miss his tee time.
If not for the fog delay, Aragon would have missed his tee time and would have been disqualified. "Obviously the fog helped me out there," he joked.
He also was trying to get his taxes done while on the road, and he lost his wallet while stopping to get gas.
Despite those bad omens, Aragon remained in a good frame of mind.
"I kept saying to myself all day I was going to win the tournament," he said. "...I didn't want to play with anything else on my mind."
Aragon says he's lost count of how many times he's been to Q-school but figured it's probably nine or 10 times. And there were a lot of times in his career when he considered doing something else.
"I've thought about quitting a lot," he said. "But deep down I knew this is what I wanted to do."
After the biggest victory of his career he said he heard from a lot of friends he hadn't heard from in a long time. But he says the funniest voicemail he received was from one of his best friends.
"My one buddy said 'Hey, my computer must of broke because it says here that you won,'" Aragon said. "I couldn't help but laugh at that one."
One of the luxuries of winning is he's shopping for a new car. While he joked he was just breaking in his 1999 Ford Explorer with around 240,000 miles on it, he said it was time.
"I'm not used to spending any money," said Aragon who has made only $110,000 in his US PGA Tour career in 34 starts.
Aragon is playing in just his second full season on the Nationwide Tour. He played in 16 tournaments in 2009 but has mostly gone through Monday qualifying or had partial status for some seasons.
Early in his career he played various mini-tours on the West Coast and had mild success.
"I just kind of found my way out there and learned as I went along," said Aragon who has played in 41 career Nationwide Tour tournaments with both of his top-10 finishes coming this season.
He doesn't have to worry about status anymore on the Nationwide Tour because he's exempt for the rest of this season and is in good shape to earn his TOUR card for next season. He's fourth on the money list heading into this week's South Georgia Classic in Valdosta, Georgia.
One improvement Aragon has made is on his putting. He ranks fifth on the Nationwide Tour and despite missing the previous two cuts, came into the TPC Stonebrae rolling the ball pretty well.
"It hasn't changed my life or anything," Aragon said about the victory. "It's put me into position to where I feel I can get back to the US PGA Tour. It's a big confidence boost and it legitimizes my whole career so far."

SEVE'S SON PLAYS OVER COURSE WHERE HE MADE PRO DEBUT

The late Seve Ballesteros's 21-year-old son Javier is in the field for this week's Spanish Peugeot Tour/Alps Tour event on the same Sant Cugat golf course in Barcelona where his dad played in his very first pro tournament in 1974. 

Also in the field for the 54-hole tournament which starts on Thursday is Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol.

A law student in Madrid, Ballesteros junior has a handicap of 0.4 and has still to make a decision on whether to turn professional.

"I have to finish university - it is something my parents have always told me to do, specially my father," he said.

"I have no pressure for being Seve's son at all. I have nothing to demonstrate to anybody, just me."

GOLF TOURISM SWINGING UP AGAIN AFTER RECESSION

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY KPMG

Golf tourism is on the increase and is bouncing back from the economic downturn, a new survey by KPMG has revealed.

According to the Golf Travel Insights report, 60% of golf tour operators experienced an increase in the number of golf breaks booked in 2011, compared to 38% in 2010.

Similarly, just 12% of tour operators reported a decrease in bookings in 2011 compared to 54% the year before.

The survey, published by KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice, included the feedback of 90 golf tour operators in 35 countries, the majority of which are based in Europe. The results areseen as an indicator of the golf travel industry’s performance and outlook.

Spain and Portugal remained the most popular destinations, ahead of the UK and Ireland, while Turkey, as well as Thailand and Vietnam, continue to emerge as popular destinations for golf holidays, the report revealed.

However, Spain and Portugal saw an average price drop of 10-20% for golf holiday packages in 2011, while destinations in South East Asia increased prices by 30-50%. 

Turkey also experienced a price hike of 10-20%. However, most golf tour operators (51%) maintained similar prices in 2011 to 2010.

North African tourism suffered as a result of political unrest in the region, while Italy and Bulgaria, considered upcoming golf travel destinations, proved increasingly popular with golf tour operators.

While North America maintains a strong domestic golf travel market, Argentina and the Dominican Republic are becoming popular outbound tourism destinations for US citizens, tour operators reported.

Golfers from the USA and Canada, the UK, Scandinavia (predominantly Sweden) and Germany remain the biggest golf travellers. KPMG also found that golfers spend significantly more on a holiday than regular leisure tourists, typically €600-900 on a four to seven-night golf break. More than a third of these breaks (35%) are group bookings of 8-12 people.

Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice in EMA, said: “Our survey shows there is price sensitivity in the market and the popular destinations of Spain and Portugal have had to reduce their prices to maintain competitiveness.

“The quality of the golf courses is the most important factor for a consumer when choosing a destination, but the package price is now almost equally important.”

Andrea Sartori added: “The outlook among golf tour operators is generally positive, with nearly three-quarters of those surveyed anticipating growth in the coming year.”

For more information, and to download the report, visit: www.golfbusinesscommunity.com

BUBBA SAYS HE WOULD RATHER STAY AT HOME WITH BABY

FROM THE BBC SPORTS.COM WEBSITE

Masters champion Bubba Watson feels reluctant to return to the golf tour because he will miss his new-born baby.

Watson won his first major at Augusta on April 9, just two weeks after adopting one-month old son Caleb.

Ahead of defending his Zurich Open titLe, Watson said: "Pretty much every day I cry - I cried this morning when I was leaving my boy."

Watson also promised to keep on going for the 'miracle shot' like the one that won him the Masters.

"When it comes to creativity on the golf course, that's just who I am," he added.
"It thrills me because then I can pull off some shots. That's more exciting.
"If I was just playing with my buddies I'd want to pull that shot off.
"I'm just Bubba from Bagdad, Florida. I play golf because I love the game of golf, because it's fun.
"Where I grew up with plastic golf balls I just learned to hit in the trees, through the trees, over the trees, under the trees."
Watson, 33, faces tough competition in New Orleans, with world number two Luke Donald also in the field.
But, although he would rather be with his family, Watson felt unable to refuse the invite.
He added: "I would love to be at home right now watching my little boy and spending time with my wife.
"I felt like it was an obligation that I should be here. I think I should be honoured that I won here before."
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and England's Justin Rose have also entered the event.

Bubba Watson factfile

Born: 5 November 1978, Bagdad, Florida
2003: Turns pro after starring for University of Georgia
2005: Joins the Nationwide Tour and finishes 21st on the money list in his first season
2007: Finishes tied-fifth at US Open
2010: Wins first PGA Tour event, Travelers Championship, loses PGA Championship play-off to Germany's Martin Kaymer
2011: Wins Farmers Insurance Open and Zurich Classic of New Orleans
2012: Beats Louis Oosthuizen in a play-off to win the Masters

TRUMP TELLS SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WIND FARMS WILL DESTROY THE COUNTRY'S TOURISM INDUSTRY

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

United States tycoon Donald Trump told the Scottish Parliament today that wind farms will destroy the country's tourism industry.

Donald Trump made the remarks during a hearing at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh examining the nation's renewable energy targets.

Trump is an outspoken critic of wind farms and opposes a planned development of turbines just offshore from his golf course development on the Menie Estate, some 12 miles up the coastline from Aberdeen.

"Wind turbines, made in China, are going to be the destruction, almost a total destruction, of your tourist industry," Trump said.

He told the committee he supported other forms of renewable energy generation, such as wave and hydro power.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond defended his government's push for renewables and said he would not be moved by Trump's pleas for the Menie wind farm development to be shelved.

"We welcome investment in industry, in technology and golf courses. But just investing in Scotland doesn't mean you own the country. And, in particular, the energy policy of this country, so important for our future, that will be set by the people and the parliament of the country, not by anybody else," Alex Salmond said.

Trump added: "He (Alex Salmond) did want me to come to Scotland. He did want me to spend, as I said, tens of millions of pounds and he did think that was an asset. And it is an asset: I have created an absolute jewel for Scotland," retorted Trump, when asked about Mr Salmond's stance.
The Scottish government estimates that tourism generates £4 billion per year for the economy and a survey for country's tourism body suggested that 80 per cent of visitors would not be put off by wind farms.

MARTIN McNAE WINS SHAMASH TROPHY AT THIRD EXTRA HOLE

Martin McNae (Dumfries and Galloway) won the 36-hole Shamash Trophy open tournament at Dumfries and County GC at the weekend - and he had to play 39 holes to achieve his success!
McNae and Danny McConnachie (Dumfries and County) tied at the head of the two-round leaderboard on 135, both scoring 66 and 69.
McNae won the play-off at the third extra hole.
David Brodie (Newton Stewart) finished third on 137 with rounds of 68 and 69.

EUROPE LEAD IN BONALLACK TROPHY

Wins by Irishman Alan Dunbar and Welshman Rhys Enoch, first in the morning foursomes and then again in the afternoon four-balls proved to be the points difference in Europe's favour at the end of the first day of the Europe v Asia-Pacific amateur international golf match for the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy at Monte Rei golf course on Portugal's Algarve coastline today. Europe took a 4-1 lunchtime lead after the foursomes but that was the peak for them. It was a hard fight to add to that in the four-balls which Asia-Pacific took 3-2 with Dunbar. pictured, and East Tennessee State University student Enoch winning on the 18th green, by two holes, against Ben Campbell and Jake Higginbottom to preserve their 100 per cent record as a pairing and maintain Europe's lead into Day 2 of the three-day match. Thursday's programme is a repeat of today's. The final day will feature all the players in singles matches.  Day 1 results EUROPE lead ASIA-PACIFIC 6-4  European names first FOURSOMES (4-1) Jack Hiluta and Ben Taylor bt Chien-Yao Yung, Natipong Srithong 3 and 1. Daan Huizing and Moritz Lampert bt Cameron Smith and Jake Higginbottom 4 and 2. Thomas Detry and Jon Rahm-Rodriguez lost to Hideki Matsuyama and Seenappa Chikkarangappa 3 and 2. Alan Dunbar and Rhys Enoch bt Matthew Perry and Benjamin Campbell  4 and 3 Marcel Schneider and Robin Kind bt Soo-Min Lee and Khalin Hitesh Joshi 1 hole FOUR-BALLS (2-3) Huizing and Lampert lost to Smith asnd Perry 2 and 1. Dunbar and Enoch bt Campbell and Higginbottom 2 holes. Hiluta and Taylor lost to Matsuyama and Taihei Sato 2 and 1. Manuel Trappel and Kind bt Chikkarangappa and Joshi 4 and 3. Detry and Rahm-Rodriguez lost to Chang Woo-Lee and Soo-Min Lee 4 and 3.  ends .

RAIN REDUCES EUROPRO TOUR OPENER TO TWO ROUNDS

Rain played havoc with the opening day of the PGA EuroPro Tour at the Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley, Norfolk. Due to torrential rain that flooded parts of the courese, play was suspended from 10min after noon to 4pm and then, after it had been resumed, there was a further suspension from 5.44pm. So only 30-odd players in the huge field completed their rounds. Some have yet to start. Due to the amount of time lost, and with further bad weather forecast, the tournament has been reduced from 54 holes to 36. Round One will be completed on Thursday before a cut of the top 50 and ties. The final round will then take place as scheduled on Friday. Joint leaders on the par scoreboard at two under are former Scottish boys match play champion Paul Doherty (Vale of Glamorgan), pictured left, and Dale Marmion (Eaton GC). On level par are Wallace Booth (Comrie) and John Gallacher (Swanston), having played 15 and six holes respectiely. Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) and John Henry (Clydebank and District) are two over par. Saltman has played 15 holes, Hendry has played six. The best score in the clubhouse is a one-under-par 71 by Dan Seymour (Newbury Golf Centre). The best Scots who have completed their rounds are Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) on 74 - a shot ahead of Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw). Lloyd Saltman (Archerfield Links) signed for a 76, Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) a 77, and there were 78s by Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck). Stewart had double bogeys at the third and the 11th on his card. Ed Wood (Crow Wood) is five over par after nine and rookie Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) is nine over par after 15 holes.

Dan Seymour (Newbury Golf Club) had carded a round of five under through 15 before the first rain interruption but dropped four shots on his last three holes. Daniel Gavins (Wheatley Golf Club) and Shane Winstone (Saltford Golf Club) are also one under. Givens is through 12 while Winstone has completed three holes.

The Scottish Junior Golf Tour 2011-12 season is over. Below are the details of our Order of Merits for the season.

Handicap

1^st           Alexander Macrae (Milngavie)

2^nd          Ronan Higgins (Shotts)

3^rd           Sharan Maiya (Torrance)

Under 12

1st          Craig Jackman (Dunblane)

2^nd          Ewan Wheat (Royal Montrose)

3^rd           Daniel Gaines (Musselburgh)

Under 13

1^st           Keith Bowman (St Andrews)

2^nd          Darren Howie (Peebles)

3^rd           Jack Williams ( Sandyhills)

Under 14

1^st           Aidan Husenne (Haggs Castle)

2^nd          Keith Bowman (St Andrews)

3^rd           Rory Frannsen (Inverness)

Under 15

1^st           Niall McMullen (Lochgelly)

2^nd          Calum Fyfe (Cawder)

3^rd           Robbie Kemsley (Balmore)

Under 16

1^st           Stuart Easton (Irvine Bogside)

2^nd          Ally McDougall (St Andrews)

3^rd           Adam Fisher (Inchmarlo)

Under 18

1^st           George Burns (Williamwood)

2^nd          Jamie Savage (Cawder)

3^rd           Connor Syme (Dumfries)

To celebrate the end of our fifth season we are holding our first ever open competition at Rowallan Castle on Monday and Tuesday 4^th and 5^th June.

The event will be 36-hole strokeplay and include a variety of Junior Tour Skill Challenges.

There will be 5 Age Categories:
 Under-18, Under-16, Under-15, Under-14 and Under-13.

Non-members who wish to join the Junior Tour for the 2012/13 season will be very welcome at this event.

To enter email me at:    
Email: walter@scottishjuniorgolftour.co.uk

Walter Burns

Scottish Junior Golf Tour

Mob: 07951 103 827

Web: www.scottishjuniorgolftour.co.uk

PRINCE CHARLES PLANTS TREE AT BALLATER'S FIRST HOLE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY BALLATER GOLF CLUB

Ballater Golf Club invited HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay  to plant a tree in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II.  The tree was planted on the first hole, aptly named “Birkhall,” the holiday home of High Royal Highness and only a short car drive from the club.  The club were very honoured that His Royal Highness found time in his busy schedule to

visit the club.

Colin Smith

Secretary

Ballater Golf Club

Victoria Road

Ballater

AB35 5QX

013397 55567

http://www.ballatergolfclub.co.uk/

HSBC CHAMPIONS AT MISSION HILLS, CHINA AT END OF OCTOBER

NEWS RELEASE

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The International Federation of PGA Tours announced today that the 2012 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions will be played the week of October 29 – November 4 at Mission Hills Guangdong, China, on the Olazabal Course.

The first HSBC Champions took place in 2005 and quickly established itself on the global golf map. It was awarded the title of World Golf Championship in 2009, further enhancing its reputation as one of world’s biggest tournaments.

The previous seven editions of the WGC-HSBC Champions took place at Sheshan International GC, Shanghai with the following marquee players claiming the coveted title;  David Howell, YE Yang, Sergio Garcia, Francesco Molinari and Phil Mickelson – the only one to have won the title twice – and in 2011 Germany’s Martin Kaymer became the latest to join that impressive roll of honour.

Mission Hills hosted the 1995 World Cup, the first major international golf competition in China.  The longest among Mission Hills’ 12 courses at 7,320 yards, the Olazabal Course was designed by two-time Masters Champion Jose Maria Olazabal and also hosted more recent editions of the Mission Hills World Cup in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Developed by the late David Chu, Mission Hills is considered one of the first and most extensive golf and tournament facilities in China.

POWAKADDY EXTEND ENGLAND GOLF SPONSORSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLAND GOLF PowaKaddy, the number one name in electric trolleys, confirmed today that it has extended its successful partnership with England Golf as the ‘Official Trolley Supplier’ to the nation's brightest young golfing stars. The new multi-year agreement saw the England Men's Squad presented with a new fleet of electric trolleys ahead of the 2012 season, at a recent training session at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa.  Each player in the squad was equipped with PowaKaddy’s flagship PK SPORT model, featuring a whole host of innovative design features and performance boosting technologies to ensure they have the very best equipment as they take to the course. PowaKaddy has also customised the trolleys with all-white frames embossed with the striking, new England Golf logo to specifically match the national team colours. The agreement showcases PowaKaddy’s commitment to golf at all levels and Sales and Marketing Director, Simon Homer is looking forward to the next two years of the partnership, “We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial association with England Golf over the last few years. We are keen to support England Golf in a variety of ways, most notably assisting in the development of the stars of tomorrow, so naturally this was a relationship that we wanted to continue and strengthen.” Over the last two years beneficiaries of the PowaKaddy agreement have included many young players who have made the leap into professional golf, including the nation’s number one emerging star Tom Lewis.  Homer added, “As the most recognised electric trolley brand in the game we enjoy a very strong following amongst young amateur golfers, all looking to reap the health, fitness and performance benefits of our award-winning products.  Technology plays a key part in the game at the highest level and I believe our top-of-the-range PK SPORT model will give all the players an added edge to keep them one step ahead of the competition.” Newly appointed England Golf Director of Coaching and victorious 2011 Walker Cup Captain, Nigel Edwards commented, “Our job is to ensure that all of our team members are provided with the necessary tools to help them improve and fitness plays a key part in this, so I am delighted that they will have access to the obvious health and fitness benefits that using a PowaKaddy provides both in practice and in competitive play.”  “Golfers need to conserve as much energy as possible during the round as well as avoid injuries that may occur from carrying. The England and England Boys squad members often play 36-holes of competitive golf a day throughout the season so we want them to be at their best physically at all times.” The agreement covers far more than product supply for the England squad players. PowaKaddy will once again be pro-actively involved in England Golf amateur events, most notably as title sponsors of England Golf’s English Champion Club event. In addition, PowaKaddy will be participating in England Golf’s Membership Benefits scheme offering prizes throughout the year to members of the scheme.

Lynne FraserMarketing and PR ManagerEngland Golfhttp://uk.mc877.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=l.fraser@englandgolf.org

MARK HILLSON WINS £400 + GEAR CONTRACT

FORMER CRAIGIELAW AMATEUR  DOING WELL AS A TRAINEE PRO Former Craigielaw amateur Mark HIllson, who reached quarter-finals at Formby of the 2009 British amateur championship won by Matteo Manassero has won the last PGA South Region 2012 Winter Series event with a two-under-par 70 at the Titleist and Footjoy Assistants and Trainees better-ball pro-am at Farnham Golf Club, Surrey.. Hillson, pictured, on the pro staff at Tandridge Golf Club, Surrey, earned a cheque for £400, plus a valuable Titleist and FootJoy ball, glove and shoe contract to set him up for the rest of the season. In showery and blustery conditions, Hillson was the only player out of a field of 52 to break par. Three-under-par on the final tee, he pulled his drive a little and found it stymied behind a tree. Rather than do a Bubba Watson, he opted to take his medicine and chip out sideways back on to the fairway. Hillson's putt on the final green narrowly missed for a par. The Scot said later: "Going for something heroic from behind a tree when I had three shots in hand didn't seem like a particularly smart strategy! "I've been striking the ball well for a while now and I played pretty well today, very solid, no really bad shots and made two or three good putts around the turn to keep things going. "On the other hand I didn't birdie any of the par fives, and missed quite a few putts - I drove to 10 feet on the par four seventh hole, only to watch it lip out for an eagle! But no complaints, the greens were very good and it's nice to get an early win under my belt."

R AND A SPEND $16million TOUGHENING UP OPEN ROTA COURSES

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
LYTHAM ST. ANNE'S, England (AP) -- Royal and Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson says the St. Andrews-based organisation has invested $16 million in toughening and tightening all the courses used to host the Open Championship, including lengthening them for the 2012 and 2013 editions.
Dawson said a fund was created to bring the nine courses used for the Open "into the modern era."
He said an average of about $800,000 had been spent on each course, "but I would say it's money well spent."
And while Dawson earlier detailed changes to this year's host venue at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, he said Tuesday that changes have already been put in place for the 2013 Open venue at Muirfield.
"Everything has been done at Muirfield and it has been done for a few years now," he said. "There are quite a few changes, but they are very subtle."
Dawson said one of the biggest changes at Muirfield was a new back tee at the ninth hole, where 60 to 70 yards had been added to the hole. The 10th fairway has been moved about one-third of its width to provide more room at the practice ground.
"Almost all the changes at Muirfield, apart from the ninth tee, you would not notice them," Dawson said, adding that the course will play some 200 yards longer than when the Open was last held at Muirfield in 2002.
Dawson also said that while he was impressed with the new Donald Trump course north of Aberdeen, he said it would need to be commercially viable to the R and A to take golf's oldest major to the Martin Hawtree-designed course at Balmedie.
"It is a spectacular golf course and it was me who recommended Martin Hawtree to Donald," said Dawson. "As for an Open Championship being played, there we will have to wait and see. There is every indication the golf course is very strong, but let's see how it matures and I would say it has a long way to go yet."