Six to Be Added to the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 2010

The Iowa Golf Association is pleased to announce the election of six new members to the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame, including two individuals added under the Historical category.  The “Class of 2010” will raise the total membership in the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame to 49. Current PGA Champions Tour star Lonnie Nielsen of Belle Plaine and renowned PGA Tour instructor Mike Bender, a Waterloo native, will be joined by be two-time Iowa PGA Golf Professional of the Year Jim Hasley of Davenport and golf turf industry leader Steve Tyler of Waverly. In the historical category former Des Moines area club professional Jack Hall and 1920’s era Des Moines amateur Bob McKee will be inducted. The date and other details for the induction ceremony will be announced in the near future. Complete information about the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame can be found online at www.iowagolf.org.

Lonnie Nielsen
Nielsen grew up playing on sand greens in Belle Plaine and went on to attend the University of Iowa. He won several amateur events in Iowa, including the 1975 Iowa Amateur, and was named Iowa Player of the Year that year. He turned pro in 1976 and competed for a brief time on the PGA Tour highlighted by two top ten finishes before pursuing a career as a club pro. Nielsen was a dominant player in the Western New York Section PGA winning its Section Championship nine times and the Match Play Championship 10 times from 1984 through 2002 Lonnie has played the PGA Champions Tour full time since 2006 winning two titles and has amassed almost $5 million in winnings. Nielsen’s best year was 2008 when he finished 11th on the money list with over $1.2 million in cash.

Mike Bender
Mike Bender grew up in Waterloo and has had a distinguished career as both a player and a swing instructor. Bender was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American (1978-1980) and won the individual championship in 1979 and 1980 at California State University Stanislaus. In 1986 Bender was Iowa PGA Section Player of the Year and then played on the PGA Tour for three seasons (1987-89). He was North Florida PGA Section Player of the Year in 1995 and won the section Match Play Championship in 1998. But it is in teaching that Bender has found his true calling. He has achieved worldwide recognition as one of the game’s top instructors. His most famous students are 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson and two-time U. S. Open Champion Lee Janzen. He has also worked with LPGA tour winners Seon Hwa Lee and Joo Mi Kim. Bender was named one of the Top 10 Greatest Teachers in America by Golf Digest in 2007 and in 2009 he was recognized as the PGA of America National Teacher of the Year.

Jim Hasley
Jim Hasley has had a long and distinguished career as a club professional and has been named the Iowa Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year twice, first in 1985 and again in 2001. Mr. Hasley served as the Head Professional at Emeis Golf Course in Davenport for more than 30 years and stepped down from that position at the end of 2001. However, he stayed involved by taking over the 9-hole Red Hawk Golf Course in Davenport and was a key figure in the development of The First Tee Chapter of the Quad Cities at that location. Hasley’s love of the game shines through when he is on the lesson tee with the kids of The First Tee program. An indication of the esteem that Hasley has earned in his career is the fact that the Ryder Cup style matches held each year by the Quad Cities Amateur Tour between teams from Illinois and Iowa are named “The Hasley Cup Matches.”

Steve Tyler
Steve Tyler has been involved in the Iowa Turf Industry since he was a teenager. His first job was at Washington Park Golf Course in Cedar Falls. Tyler became a member of the Iowa Golf Course Superintendent Association (IGCSA) in 1967. In 1971 he took on the job of building Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls and became the Golf Superintendent for the City of Cedar Falls when the course opened in 1972. He was on the IGCSA Board of Directors from 1976-1979 and was President in 1978. Tyler was a Charter Trustee of the Iowa Turfgrass Institute (ITI) and served as its first President in 1980 and continued on the Board of Directors until1995. Tyler was awarded the IGCSA Distinguished Service Award in 1985 and in 2009 Tyler received the Iowa Turfgrass Institute Meritorious Service Award. Since 1981 Tyler has been the New Product Director and Regional Sales Manager for Standard Golf Company in Cedar Falls. His leadership in the establishment of the Iowa Turfgrass Institute helped unite Iowa’s turf related businesses and has resulted in the Iowa Turf Industry’s standing as one of the most respected in the country.

Jack Hall
Jack Hall devoted 41 years of service to golfers in Iowa and to the game of golf. Hall became a pro during the Depression in the 1930′s and was the head professional at Waveland Golf Course in Des Moines until 1955. He moved to Hyperion Field Club and served as head professional there until 1973. He served as Iowa Section PGA President from 1949-1950. Hall made his presence known as a player in Iowa winning the Iowa Masters three times (1944, 1948, and 1954). He also won the Waterloo Open in 1947. Jack Hall was a very dedicated and encouraging teacher who touched the lives of many golfers in the state of Iowa and earned the respect and admiration of his peers in the profession.

Bob McKee
Bob McKee was born and raised in Des Moines and is one of only two players to win the Iowa Amateur in three different decades. His entire family played golf so the game came naturally to him. His father Bert was the Des Moines City Champion in 1908 and both Bob and his younger brother Craig followed in his footsteps. Bob’s sister Lucille was also involved in women’s golf in Des Moines. McKee played golf at Drake University and led his team to a first round lead at the 1920 Intercollegiate Golf Championship in Greenwich, Connecticut. Later that year he won the prestigious Trans-Mississippi Championship and a year later he won the individual title at the Western Intercollegiate Championship in Chicago. McKee won the Iowa Amateur four times over a 12 year period between 1919 and 1931. He won the Des Moines City Championship six times.

Principal Charity Classic Discount for Hockey Game

The Des Moines Buccaneers hit the Ice Thursday, February 11 and they would like to extend a special offer.  All friends of the Principal Charity Classic will enjoy $6 tickets for the Bucs vs. the Omaha Lancers. Tickets must be purchased by calling the Buccaneers box office at 515-278-2827 x2106, or by e-mailing brant@bucshockey.com.  Please use the promotional code Charity Classic when ordering; online orders are not available for this offer.  All ticket orders will require a credit card at the time of purchase and all tickets will be available for pickup the night of the game.

For more information on The Principal Charity Classic, please visit www.principalcharityclassic.com or call 515-279-4653

The Principal Charity Classic to Sponsor Iowa Junior Tour

The Iowa PGA would like to introduce and welcome a new sponsor for the Iowa Junior Tour.  The Principal Charity Classic will be the title sponsor of the 2010 Iowa Junior Tour.  This is a great new partnership with this Champions Tour event and the Iowa PGA is excited to welcome The Principal Charity Classic as title sponsor of the Iowa Junior Tour.

The Principal Charity Classic, the only Champions Tour event in Iowa, was recognized nationally as the Tour’s “Best Event” in 2009, based on attendance records, community support and charitable impact. In its first three years, the tournament distributed nearly $1.7 million to five “FORE Our Kids” charities in Iowa, funding efforts that have benefited thousands of children across the state.  The 2010 tournament will be held May 31-June 6 and will be held at Glen Oaks CC in West Des Moines, IA.

This year will be the 13th year the Iowa PGA Junior Tour has continually offered quality tournament opportunities for junior golfers in Iowa and western Illinois.  Membership has grown to include over 750 juniors and will consist of over 60 events in 2010 that are held across the section from June through mid-August.  The Iowa Junior Tour continues to grow and enjoy great success thanks in part to Iowa PGA Section Professional who time and time again enthusiastically support junior golf.  Annual membership to the Iowa Junior Tour is $40.  Please CLICK HERE for more information on the Iowa Junior Tour and to register your junior today!

Dean Capesius on Teaching

Dean Capesius on Teaching

Make Your Indoor Facility Reflect the Outdoors
January 20, 2010; From PGA Best Practices: Teaching

Dean Capesius, the 2009 Iowa PGA Section Teacher of the Year, is the PGA head professional at Spring Valley Golf Course and the founder of Capesius Golf Academy in Livermore, Iowa.

Dean Capesius on the importance of bringing the outdoors inside:
Rather than letting my students stash their golf clubs in the closet for the winter months, I wanted the opportunity to continue teaching them year-round. About five years ago, I started an indoor practice facility that was renovated from an old school building. The facility is constantly being renovated and improved in order to replicate an outdoor environment. One key feature of the facility is an indoor bunker. We have a quarry nearby with crushed limestone that looks and acts as white sand. It gives the students a chance to get comfortable with the texture of the limestone, which we even use on the course. It’s nice to have students practice the different swings out of the bunker and how much sand they need to take because most of them rarely get to practice this, even during the summer. I teach a lot of high school students, so I feel comfortable knowing that they will go to their high school coach and won’t have to worry about bunker shots. We also have a large, indoor putting green. The greens run fast so that when they get outside there is nothing my students won’t be comfortable with. Other features include a chipping area and a launch monitor. The facility is open from December until the weather gets nice in the spring. We also offer seven-week clinics that the students have enjoyed because they are individually based and cater to their specific needs. When it comes down to it, golfers need good technique, solid fundamentals and sound mechanics – all things they should be able to work on indoors. This indoor facility makes it possible to learn these things.

Dean Capesius on the business impact of bringing the outdoors inside:
Last year we had 136 students using the facility per week, and we hope to eclipse 150 students per week this year. The indoor facility allows me to keep the golf club in my students’ hands longer, which helps my students to get better and retain what they learned in lessons and clinics. I leave the facility open seven days a week in order for my students to come in and work on their game on their own time. If they don’t practice what we’re teaching them, it will only go away. The better my students become, the more they will come back to me for lessons and the better it reflects on me as their instructor.

The Principal Financial Group Renews Tournament Sponsorship for 2011-12

The Principal Financial Group® has extended its agreement to remain the title sponsor of The Principal Charity Classic, keeping a world-class Champions Tour golf tournament in Des Moines through 2012.

“Our decision to renew this sponsorship reaffirms our ongoing commitment to the greater Des Moines community,” said Larry Zimpleman, chairman, president and CEO, The Principal®. “With the help of our employees, volunteers, community partners, and sponsoring businesses, we look forward to taking this charitable event to new levels. We’re proud and excited to keep this top golf event in Des Moines through 2012.”

The Principal Charity Classic, the only Champions Tour event in Iowa, was recognized nationally as the Tour’s “Best Event” in 2009, based on attendance records, community support and charitable impact. In its first three years, the tournament distributed nearly $1.7 million to five “FORE Our Kids” charities in Iowa, funding efforts that have benefited thousands of children across the state.

“This tournament is about more than golf,” said Mary O’Keefe, chair of The Principal Charity Classic Board. “It’s a chance for families, golf fans and young professionals alike to experience all that Des Moines has to offer. Most importantly, it’s a chance to give back.”

“It’s been a privilege to partner with The Principal over the past four years,” said Mike Stevens, president, Champions Tour. “It’s a great opportunity for our players to continue to bring such high caliber golf to Iowa fans.”

The 2010 tournament will be held May 31-June 6.

For more information on the charities and the tournament, visit www.principalcharityclassic.com.

Joshua Carter – January 2010 Profile

Name:  Joshua Carter, PGA
College/University: Western Illinois University
Year Turned Pro: 2004
Facility and Job Title: Davenport Country Club, Assistant Golf Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
Helping everyone enjoy the game. I thought it would be fun to make the game I love my business and career.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Being motivated to succeed each day! I try to convey my passion to members, guests and anyone else I encounter on a day-to-day basis.

Accomplishments (Awards, Certifications, and Tournaments.)
2009 Iowa Section Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.

What was your greatest moment in golf?
Playing the game – winning for the first time! Teaching the game – helping a local high school team qualify for the state tournament. Growing the game – being awarded the 2009 Assistant Professional of the Year.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
The PGA Professionals that I have had the privilege to work under as an Apprentice. Each has helped me develop as a leader and grow as a person.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Music – playing the drums, and hanging out with friends and family.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
Augusta National with my father who showed me how to play and with my grandfathers who each loved to play as well.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
My father. I would tell him to set up like a putt when he is chipping. Basically we would do a short game lesson – “a chip shot is like a putt with a flying start.”

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
Speed from the ball -– forward. Turn the club upside down and swing –- listen for the “whoosh.” Where does the speed happen? Often players will release the club too early and lose power. By moving the “whoosh” they can feel and hear how to gain more power.