Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 19

i 1 ii "mi I i m'irififT(- w. tut Thursday, April 22, 1993 The Arizona Republic E7 golf Camelback has legacy of greatness Shits iff it jtf 'i 111 i s- i i -V--. w' By Bill Huffman The Arizona Republic Even though he no longer directs the show at Camelback Golf Club, the influence of Roger Maxwell remains. For 15 years, until he left in 1987 to become vice president of Marriott Golf in Washington, D.C., Maxwell demanded that Camelback's resort courses, known as Padre and Indian Bend, be second to none. Through his expert merchandising skills, as well as the pride and techniques he instilled in his assistants, Maxwell built a legacy that few directors of golf in the Valley ever have matched.

It is estimated that Maxwell produced 35 assistants who now are head pros or directors of golf. "Roger knew we had people coming in from all over the world to play golf at Camelback, and he wanted us to be the cream of the crop No. 1," said Joe Shershenovich, the current director of the Scottsdale club. "He was a great organizer, could do just about anything, and nearly went overboard to put on a great tournament. "Sometimes we almost felt we were in the entertainment business rather than the golf business, but our customers and members loved it They still talk about Roger and Johnny Bulla, who was the head pro here when Roger first started.

The stories border on incredible." Those who know Maxwell remember him as a driven man with a keen sense of humor. Practical jokes were his specialty, but none ever got in the way of business. Of course, no one can replace a dynamo like Maxwell, but Shershenovich and Co. have continued Camel-back's first-class tradition. The pro shop recently was honored as one of seven in Arizona to make Golf Shop Operations' 100 Best Golf Shops in America.

The club's "smiling camel" logo is one of the most unique and sought-after by world travelers. In addition, both courses have become better with age, the Padre being a traditional design and Indian Bend, more of a links layout, a solid sister act. Those factors figure heavily into why Camelback does about 90,000 rounds of golf a year, of which 30,000 to 40,000 come via tournaments. They Bend course at Camelback Golf Club has course. The par 5s on the Padre are especially well-done, all being long doglegs that let you gamble on cutting off some distance, but penalize anything but a perfect drive.

I especially like a stretch on the front side Nos. 6-9. The sixth and seventh holes are tough, par-4 doglegs; No. 8 a challenging, 215-yard par 3 across water; and the ninth hole a demanding, dogleg left with Camelback Mountain, as well as a beautiful fountain, as the backdrop. The Indian Bend course's forte is its water holes and par 3s.

Perhaps the best example of both of those themes is the 185-yard No. 15, with water down the right side, as well as in back of the green. The treacherous tee shot also must find its way past two well-placed bunkers surrounding the green. Both courses are solid golf in a beautiful setting that always includes lots of colorful flowers. I've played them both at least a dozen times, and I've never found the grooming to be anything but picture-perfect.

As I said, it all goes back to a very smart man named Maxwell. Once an inferior sister act, the Indian matured into a solid rival for the Padre IF YOU GO Camelback Golf Club WHERE 7847 N. Mockingbird Lane, just off Lincoln Drive near Scottsdale Road. PARYARDAGE: Padre: 71, championship: 6,559 yards; regular red: Indian Bend: 72, championship: regular, red: 5,917. GREENS FEE: Range from but will drop to Sunday, and to beginning May 23.

TEE TIMES: 948-6770. different in character." Personally, I prefer the Padre, which probably has to do with my Midwestern background. The huge pine, palm and eucalyptus trees give the course a shady, inner peace and provide hazards that I find more challenging than desert brush. ASU women's team has talent to win NCAA Championship Tournaments The 65 Roses Classic, which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, is Monday at Stonecreek. The event, which is played host to by Tom Chambers and Alvan Adams of the Suns, has an entry fee of $175.

Call 224-0068. Bashas' 1 1th annual Benefit Classic is April 29-May 1 at ASU's Karsten Course. The tournament, which has raised nearly $1 million for local charities, includes a banquet and is a 36-hole team event. Call 224-5456. The Douglas Copper King Classic is May 1 at Camelot, The scholarship fund-raiser has an entry fee of $50.

Call 966-6455 or 893-2196. The eighth annual Bill Kessler Memorial is May 14-15 at the Pomte Hilton on South Mountain. The event, which benefits leukemia research, has a $125 entry fee and includes a dinner and dance. Call 944-3870. The CIRS Helpline Invitational is May 14 at the Karsten Course at ASU.

The event benefits TEEN LINK and has 4 $125 entry fee. Call 253-3845. Clinics The TPC of Scottsdale will play host to its seventh annual Junior Clinic on May 2 from 1-5 p.m. Particicants til register first, with free instruction to follow. The afternoon includes a demonstration from the "Golfing Gorilla." and prizes and refreshments.

Cad 585-3939 or 585-4334. Holes in one Don Avey of Phoenix at Villa Monterey, 135-yard No. 5, 5-iron. Joe McVicar of Scottsdale at Rio Salado, 165-yard No. 7, 7-iron.

Charles Figurski of Phoenix at Papago, 167- yard No. 4. 5-iron. Kevin Herd of Peoria at Country Meadows, 123-yard No. 6, wedge.

Kent Rodriguez at Orange Tree, 147-yard No. 4, 8-iron. Frank Dean Lane of Glendale at Vistas Westbrook Village, 152-yard No. 13, 6-iron. Robert Snack at Sun City Country Club.

168- yard No. 11, driver. Bob Propheter at Ahwatukee Country Club, 171-yard No. 12, 4-iron. Items for the "Chip Shots" column can be phoned in to Bill Huffman at 271-8269.

or mailed to "Chip Shots," The Arizona Republic Sports PO Box 1950, Phoenix 85001. NOTE: Holes in one must be called in by courses and contain ail of the above information. Pioneer Ford '2600 Grand Venu Phoenix, AZ 85009 602 25M9JJ Sunset Ford 9 JO Sc.i Rd Peona, AZ 35345 7-8fttS8 liiiiliiiiwniilinif "tiiiiM- ttjii ittfcatfl i- Jf landscape, the Padre at Camelback Golf the Midwest. of the courses they play back home (in the East or Midwest)." Indian Bend was built in 1980 by Arthur Jack Snyder of Phoenix, whose most noted work is Wailea Resort in Maui. For years, Indian Bend was the inferior product, but that's changing, Shershenovich said.

"It's much more wide-open and longer (7,014 yards vs. 6,559) than the Padre," he said. "When I started working here seven years ago, there was clearly a preference for the Padre because of the immaturity of Indian Bend. "Today, it's a toss-up, keeping in mind the courses are completely And even more important to him, he's alive! Mind over matter Chuck Hogan is back among the red rocks, thinking optimistically (as always) and preparing for another Nice Shot! Golf School on May 27-31 at Sedona Golf Resort. Hogan, the golf expert for several PGA and LPGA players, is known for the innovative approach he uses to blend the mental and physical aspects of the game.

His state-of-the-art learning techniques go beyond the course into everyday living. The five-day session, which includes unlimited golf at Arizona's most beautiful course, is $1,195 and limited to 18 golfers. For information, call 1-800-345-4245. Sister act Phoenix's Dina Ammaccapane, younger sister of LPGA star Danielle, had her best outing as a pro last week, hen she won $14,190 for finishing eighth in the Atlanta Women's Championship. Ammaccapane, 24, jumped from 1 16th to 59th on the money list with $16,820.

Danielle, 27, didn't do as well, although it was reported in the Atlanta ConstitutionJournal that she has abandoned her new swing for the old stroke that won her four tournaments in six years as a pro. The story also quoted Danielle as' saying she's tired of her reported feud with Dottie Mochrie, and people criticizing her for her take-no-prisoners style of play. "I'm thinking I should stop doing interviews," she told the newspaper. Tap-ins Lynn Marriott, the 1992 LPGA Teacher of the Year, has been named director of instruction at the Karsten Course at ASU. Marriott also served as an instructor at the prestigious Golf University of San Deigo and on Hogan's SEA staff in Sedona And finally, R.W.

Eaks, who is among the headliners in the West Scottsdale Memorial Pro-Am on Friday and Saturday at McCormick Ranch, missed 20 putts from within 5 feet in the first two Nike tour events. But after finding out his contact lenses were giving him 20-60 vision, and having it corrected, he scored a 2-shot victory in the Nike Louisiana Open. With its traditional design and lush Club reminds one of courses found in also explain why Camelback is the largest site of the John Jacobs Practical Golf Schools. The Padre course was built in 1971 by Red Lawrence, who also created the spectacular Desert Forest in Carefree. Lawrence's trademarks of open-faced greens and fairways that flow naturally are everywhere.

"When a guest comes out here to play, they often compare the Padre with some of the Valley's other traditional layouts, such as the (Bilt-more) Adobe, the Palm and Pine courses at McCormick Ranch and the Wigwam Gold (in Litchfield Park)," Shershenovich said. "It reminds them Notes BILL HUFFMAN The Arizona Republic 80, and she's done a great job of accomplishing that." Now we'll just have to see if the Devils can get past No. 1 San Jose State, the defending NCAA champs, and No. 3 Georgia, which has the home-course advantage, at the NCAA showdown. "(The Bulldogs) played real well on their course last fall (in the Georiga Preview Invitational) and we finished second to them," Vollstedt said.

"Of course, San Jose has a great team, too. "But the way I feel is our girls are very strong and really coming on. I believe the NCAAs are going to be very close, and I've got a good feeling about this team." She's not the only one. Greatly exaggerated Last week in a course review on McCormick Ranch, I passed along some bad information about designer Desmond Muirhead dying while he was working on Muirfield Village. But thanks to Forrest Richardson, a local golf course architect, I stand corrected.

Muirhead only quit the joint project with Jack Nicklaus, according to Richardson. "Desmond told me that he simply didn't agree with Nicklaus' philosophy," said Richardson, who designed the Pointe Golf Course on South Mountain. "Shortly after that, he dropped out of sight and quit doing golf design, I guess because he was tired of it. "After that he went into the fine art business for a number of years until the Japanese talked him into coming back into the field." Today, Muirhead is most noted for his symbolism in golf course architecture. He also writes a column on the subject for Executive Golfer.

I 1 ix-; Something big is happening within the Arizona State women's golf program, and I'm not saying that just because the Lady Sun Devils won the Pac-10 Championship this week. Sure, it's too early to predict that second-ranked ASU will go on to win the NCAA Championship, which is May 26-29 at the University of Georgia. But if not this year, then next. guarantee it. Actually, I'm not as far out on a limb as you might think.

The Sun Devils are deep in talent, and barring defections to the pro ranks, they will be seasoned veterans next year. Then you add in Heather Bowie, the top recruit in the country out of Oklahoma, and you've got (believe it or not) a team with more potential than the one former ASU star Brandie Burton led to a national championship in 1990. "Things are coming together nicely, and the future looks good," ASU Coach Linda Vollstedt said in a bit of an understatement. "This year's team is right where we wanted to be at this point in the season, maybe even a little bit ahead. "We've got five good, solid players.

What's great is that any one of them can post a real low number at any time." Balance certainly helped the Devils win the Pac-10. Playing without senior sensation Tricia Konz, who is out because of an ankle injury and doubtful for the NCAAs, Wendy Ward, Emilee Klein, Tracy Cone, Linda Ericsson and Ulrika von Heijne were awesome, all finishing in the top 16. Ward, a sophomore who captured Pac-10 medalist honors, is rounding into the kind of powerful, dominating player she was billed as when she first arrived in Tempe. And Klein (freshman, tied for 10th), Cone (junior, tied for 13th), and possibly Ericsson (freshman, tied for 16th), have the games to eventually reach the professional level. But it's von Heijne (tied for 16th), the lone senior who has spent most of the season in the No.

6 slot, who has been especially pleasing to her coach. "I'm so proud of the way Ulrika has filled in for Tricia," said Vollstedt, who earned her sixth Pac-10 title Wednesday in 13 years at the ASU helm, "We needed her to start breaking Ford Taurus 1 Best-Selling Car in America Now save up to $1450 Ford F-Series 1 Best-Selling Truck in America Ford Preferred Care with every F-Series With 6 of fhe top 10 best-selling vehicles in America, it's pretty hard for a Ford to get lonely at the top. Vehicles like the F-150 have held the 1 position for 16 years running. And now, after years of hard work, the Ford Taurus has climbed the ladder of success to join the team as the 1 fop-selling car in America. Together all Fords stand as solid proof that Ford's commitment to excellence will be second to none.

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