The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 19

THE CAPITAL TIMES, Madison, Weekend of May 21 1988 1 9 How mnich is too munch to pay for golf 4 By ROB SCHULTZ Capital Times Staff Writer KOHLER The folks who operate Blackwolf Run think, golfers who pay $63 for 18 holes and half of a cart there will get their money's worth. "When you look at the conditions, plus the setting you're in, plus the treatment you'll get here, I don't think we're asking too much," said Mark Hagenbach, the pro at Blackwolf Run, the state's newest course which opens to the public June 1. "You get a chance to play something special." Bunk, says Gene Haas, the executive director of the Wisconsin State Golf Association. Blackwolf Run, Haas says, is too pricy for Wisconsin golfers' tastes. "Absolutely," Haas said.

"They've priced it not for Wisconsin golfers. I hate to say it, but some Wisconsin courses do that The Americana Club in Lake Geneva does it. It's priced for the Chicago market. But down there 90 percent of their golfers are from Illinois. And it's still only 40 dollars and that includes a cart "But 60 dollars at Blackwolf Run? A husband and wife goes up there and it's 120 bucks.

Will I go up there once a year? I might for the challenge. Am I going to be regular? Absolutely not" Blackwolf Run established its rates a few months ago and they are, by far, the highest of any public course in the state. Greens fees are $51 for 18 holes, plus $12 for half of a cart, mandatory on weekends. Greens fees are $45 if you stay at Holder's American Club resort Golfers can also buy a 15-round card for $525. Students and senior citizens can purchase the same for $375.

Reservations may be made up to one month in advance. "So the cost of golf is escalating. Some increases are needed to be practicaL But the chances are if these courses didn't charge so much, the other prices wouldn't go up so much. Maybe I'm unjustified by saying this, but those courses are trend-setters." Haas said he feels sorry for the residents of Sheboygan and Kohler who were excitedly waiting for Blackwolf Run to open, only to find out they can't afford to play it "Can anybody in Sheboygan or Kohler afford to play there regularly? Just look at the income structure of the area. There's no way in the world," he said.

Still, Blackwolf Run, designed by Pete Dye, is billing itself as a big-league golf course. And those courses demand big bucks. Pebble Beach, Harbour Towne on Hilton Head, Innisbrook near Tampa and many others charge more than $100 for one round. Most of the courses that are part of Michigan's Golf Coast charge more than $50. So Blackwolf Run operators think golfers aren't getting robbed.

And they are prepared to handle any possible boycott from state golfers and their ultra-conservative pocketbooks. The course is located just a few miles off 1-43, which is the main artery from Chicago and Milwaukee. It's less than three hours from the Loop and less than an hour from downtown Milwaukee. It's about 2 hours from Madison. "We're definitely trying to attract the golfers from the major markets," said Hagenbach.

"We're right on the way to Door County from Chicago. We're the perfect stop-off point" Hagenbach just laughed at the assumption that their high prices cast the course in a bad light. "We're not bad guys," he said. "We won't have masks on when you come and see us." The sixth hole at Blackwolf Run, a 201-yard par 3, is the course's signature hole. It has one of the largest greens on the course, but a poorly played tee shot brings lots of trouble.

Haas feels the rates are bad for golf in this state, see Sentry World and Blackwolf Run charging so "All this has a backlash effect," he said. "The cost at much and keeping busy so they say, 'Why can't we Odana Hills or Milwaukee's Brown Deer Park is up our rates four or five bucks. We'll still be practi-eight bucks and the people who run those courses Frora Page 15 Blackwolf Strained shoulder sidelines Nieves like it and none will match its toughness. Although the clubhouse sits on one of the highest points of the course, a golfer cannot see one hole of the front nine in its entirety be Brewer notebook cause of the mounds and tions. The driving range is just a few hundred yards away but you can't see it You can't even see the clubhouse parking lot from the clubhouse.

"I remember that front nine when it was a flat prairie," said Gene Haas, the executive director of the Wisconsin State Golf Association. "Dye is an absolute genius at what he does." Although Dye will get most of the credit, Blackwolf Run is actually the creation of Herbert Kohler, the chairman and president of the Koh- lfr Pnmnanv whirh ic lnratori in yard par-4 5th hole on the Valleys Course. And the finishing (9th) hole is a real dandy. It's a 458-yard par-4 that requires a second shot to carry the Sheboygan River that guards the front of the incredibly long green. It's actually a 30,000 square-foot double green (like the Springs, only longer) because the 9th hole of the Rivers Course also finishes there.

But the 580-yard, par-5 7th hole on the Rivers Course may provide the best clue of just how difficult Blackwolf Run will be. If you're hoping to get a shot back with a birdie at a par-5, forget it here. Youll be lucky to escape with a par. The difficulty starts with its length. Although the final half of the hole sweeps downhill, it's ally impossible to reach in two due to the hazards.

A long, 130-yard pot bunker guards the left side of the tight fairway where most drives will land. Trees, the inevitable mounds and natural rough guard the right side. The green is guarded by an oak-sized apple tree and the Sheboygan River to the left and more trees, towering mounds and pot bunkers to the right. Meanwhile, the left and back side of the green goes like this: green, fringe, 12-foot drop into the river. "Somebody's going to fall off of that green lining up a putt I just know it" joked Haas.

tion was that pitchers were going to give up a lot of home runs, that got set in and that's what happened. "As far as the baseball being less lively than a year ago, it seems like that might be true, too. I've seen some balls hit pretty good that haven't gone anywhere. It seems like it either takes low liners to short porches or balls hit very well to get over the fences. I think they took some air out of the ball this year." LINEUP JUGGLING Trebel-.

horn made some changes in his; lineup to try and shake the Brewers out of their team slump. He elevated B.J. Surhoff from third in the order to the No. 2 spot, flip-flopping him with Robin Yount. Surhoff had just six RBIs this season batting; third.

"We've had some problems a tthe No. 3 spot," Trebelhorn said. "We're not getting the kind of production we'd like from that spot. Robin is the best candidate to improve that." The switch didn't have much immediate impact Friday. Surhoff hit the ball hard twice, lining out to second in the first inning and doubling to the right-center field in the third to drive in the Brewers' only run.

But he struck out with runners on second and third and one out in the seventh. Yount had an infield hit and walked twice. By DENNIS PUNZEL Capital Times Staff Writer MILWAUKEE Juan Nieves stiff left shoulder will get at least a few more days to loosen up. Nieves will miss his turn in the Milwaukee Brewers' starting rotation Sunday because of what has been diagnosed as a low grade strain of the shoulder. The current prescription calls for anti-inflama-tory medication and rest That rest could end as soon as Tuesday, but could extend a week or longer.

"Tuesday would be nice, but that might be optimistic," said manager Tom Trebelhorn. Nieves' start Sunday will be taken by Mike Birkbeck, who was skipped over Thursday when the Brewers had an of day. Nieves struggled in his last start Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, allowing five runs in 4 innings. He later complained of tightness in his shoulder. If that tightness persists, the Brewers might have to bring a pitcher up from their AAA farm team in Denver.

"We will not be caught short," Trebelhorn said. "We may have to dip into the minor leagues." The two top candidates to be promoted are right-handers Tom Filer and Don August Filer has a 4-2 record with a 2.10 earned run average. He has allowed just 40 hits and nine walks in 55 innings, while striking out 34. He has pitched two shutouts. August is 4-1 with a 3.20 ERA and leads the American Association with 57 strikeouts.

He has pitched 64 innings, allowing 70 hits and 12 walks DOWN ON THE FARM The hottest hitter at Denver is designated hitter Tim Pyznarski with a .314 batting average. He has five home runs and 30 runs batted in. Others enjoying productive seasons are third baseman German Rivera (.295, 6 HR, 19 RBIs), catcher Charlie O'Brien (.292, 1 HR, 11 RBIs) and outfielders Brad Komminsk (.276, 6 HR, 23 RBIs), Darryl Hamilton (.271, 0 HR, 19 Juan Nieves ward that trend. "A lot of cold weather early cut things down," Trebelhorn said. "And then the pitchers I think have improved their off-speed stuff.

I think they're a little more conscious of pitching tougher. "Those two things in combination started an early trend that pitching is going to be tough this year, and if that's what the hitters believe, that's probably what's going to happen. Last year I think the percep RBIs) and Darryel Walters (.266, 2 HR, 17 RBIs). On the other end of the spectrum, former phenom Billy Jo Robidoux continues to struggle (.196, 3 HR, 12 RBIs). Several pitchers who have been with the Brewers are struggling at Denver Jay Aldrich (1-3, 8.38 ERA), Mark CiardL since demoted to El Paso, (2-4, 6.57), Mark Knud-son (2-4, 5.48) and Alex Madrid (0-1, 5.56).

Former California Angel pitcher Ron Romanick also has experienced problems after starting the season with a 3-0 mark at Class A Stockton. In his first three starts at Denver, Romanick is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA. Nine players at El Paso are batting over .300. Leading the way are DH Mario Monico (.374, 2, 21) and utility man Fred Williams (.361, 5, 22). The top prospects at El Paso are shortstop Gary Sheffield (.302, 7, 26) and outfielder Greg Vaughn The most effective pitchers at El Paso are Jeff Peterek (6-1, 3.90) and Dan Scarpetta (5-1, 4.73).

One of the brightest pitching prospects in the organization is Jaime Navarro, who is 5-0 with a 2.23 ERA at Stockton. Shortstop Bill Spiers, last year's No. 1 draft choice, is batting .255 with one homer and 15 RBIs at Stockton. DEAD BALL ERA? It may be of little comfort, but the Brewers aren't the only team struggling to score runs this season. After last year's home run barrage and the lively ball controversy, pitchers have reasserted themselves throughout baseball.

Trebelhorn thinks there are a number of factors contributing to- The weather threw the Muskies a bad curve in April ClcDsCineo GDu(l rpenuainifj oy From Page 15 Saturday, May 21st Warner Park 2pm Game Time Muskies vs. South Bend Chisox Brewers the village that bears its name. The Kohler Company is best known as the famous manufacturer of plumbing fixtures. But it also owns a beautiful five-star hotelconference center called the American Club, a large indoor tennis center and a wildlife sanctuary. Kohler decided to build Blackwolf Run to perfect the ultimate Wisconsin resort and constructed it on part of the wildlife sanctuary.

Besides opening 18 holes this summer, another 9-hole Pete Dye creation will open next year, weather permitting. The three nines already have names. The front nine is the Rivers Course, the back is the Valleys Course, and the course under construction will be called the Meadows Course. The total cost of the course, according to sources, is expected to exceed $8 million. The first 18 holes took a long time to finish.

Everything followed schedule until the course was seeded a few years ago. Then the heavy rains arrived and washed out about $1 million worth of seed. The course will open nearly a year later than scheduled and it appears to be worth the wait There are a few thin spots, but most of the course's fairways and greens are as posh as the finest private clubs. But while marveling at the beauty of this rose, look out for the thorns. The undulations, the mounds, the water that comes into play on half of the holes, the deep pot bunkers where golfers will need an extension ladder to climb out of and the huge greens make this course immeasurably tough.

The first time Blackwolf Run pro Mark Hagenbach saw the course, he shook his head in amazement "Every time we got to a new tee, I was amazed at what kind of course (Dye) was putting in here," Hagenbach said. "From No. 1 to No. 18, there isn't a letdown on this course." Some holes stand out And, thankfully, there are no gimmick holes like the island green at the TPC at Sawgrass or huge sand traps like at PGA West There is a gimmick bridge, though. Continuing his love for trains and railroad ties, Dye constructed a bridge out of a flatbed railroad car with wheels between the 5th green and 6th tee of the Valleys Course.

The first hole of the River Course is a 535-yard par-5 with a narrow landing area for the drive and a blind second shot The third hole forces golfers to drive over a huge pot bunker that drops 27-feet straight down. On the Valleys Course which follows a more natural terrain than the artificially constructed Rivers Course golfers must shoot at a peninsula green surrounded by water and pot bunkers at the 390- New end batter Concessions! Check out the Special Economical Food Ticket LIVE! MUSKET RIDGE BAND Fortunately, Blackwolf Run has four sets of tees to make it easier for the higher handicap golfers. The course measures 6,943 yards from the championship tees, 6,651 from the intermediates, 6,061 from the regular tees and 5,098 from the front. Its temporary slope and course ratings have topped SentryWorld's as the most difficult in the state. Its championship slope rating is 148 (course rating is 74.9), compared to Sentry's 144 (74.5).

It's 143 (73.5) from the second-longest tees, 136 (70.7) from its third-longest tees and 129 (70.5) from the front tees. How does that compare to any of Madison's area courses? Maple Bluff, for instance, has a slope rating of 127 (71.6) from its championship tees and 123 (70.1) from its middle tees. The Springs in Spring Green is 132 (71.9) and 125 (68.9). Odana Hills' highest slope rating is 108. Hagenbach hopes Blackwolf Run's difficulty doesn't scare golfers away.

"I don't think it's as severe as I orginally thought," he said. For instance, as he stood out in the ninth fairway, he pointed to the vast landing area. As a matter of fact most of the fairways are 45 to 50 yards wide. "You can hit the ball off the line on some parts of this course," said Hagenbach. "But if you really miss a shot, you should be penalized." Hagenbach expects golfers to take pot shots at his course, "basically because there is nothing else like this in the state of Wisconsin," he added.

"But after people get out here and see and play it I think their perceptions will change." But even though Dye promises to make changes if some holes prove to be too tough or unfair, it will never be easy. A few centuries ago, the Sheboygan area was patrolled by a cunning and resourceful Winnebago Indian chief named Black Wolf. How fitting that Kohler named its course after him. You see, for a golfer to shoot his personal best at Blackwolf Run, he or she will certainly have to be cunning and Awara winmna urouD hvi Come Early for Fun! I DATTIKG HELMETS TO THE FIRST 1000 KIDS IN THE BALLPARK 4 special i-ieimet promotion Sponsored by Baseball Supporters VMS. me well before, so I was just happy to get out of it." Toronto built up what proved to be an insurmountable lead by scoring a run in each of the first three innings off Brewer starter Bill Wegman.

Wegman allowed two walks and a run-scoring single to George Bell in the first. A walk, a stolen base and a single by Rick Leach made it 2-0 in the second. Lloyd Moseby led off the third with his fifth home run of the seasoa After giving up a single and a double to the next two batters, Wegman was relieved by Paul Mirabella. Wegman later complained of tendinitis in his pitching arm and will be examined today. Mirabella, meanwhile, silenced the Blue Jays on two hits over the next five innings.

"You can't pitch any better than Mirabella did tonight" Trebelhorn said. Toronto manager Jimy Williams agreed. "We were fortunate to score early," Williams said. "Mirabella pitched great He threw a lot of strikes and changed speeds welL" But with no offensive support, it went for naught. "We're getting real good pitching," said Gantner.

"With any kind of hitting at all we'd be in a real good situation. We just have to start hitting in key situations. We're not going to win many games if we don't start hitting any better than we have ben the last two or three weeks. "When Mirabella came in and held them with runners on second and third and nobody out, that's great pitching. That was a pickup, but we didn't take advantage of it." Batting instructor Tony Muser said it becomes increasingly obvious that his hitters are feeling the pressure of their offensive shortcomings.

"We're pressing in those situations with guys on base," Muser said. "I think it's anxiety, wanting to get the job done and not sitting back and being able to relax. "I know when you're hitting good, you don't even know that there are runners on base. But when you're struggling as a ballclub offensively and not hitting well with runners in scoring position, every time you come up to the plate, the realization of Uiose runners being in scoring position becomes greater and it detracts from your concentration. "When you're swinging well and three or four guys on the club are hot the pressure isn't on anybody.

But this ballclub, when one guy goes cold, everybody goes cold. Everybody presses at one time. It's easy to see, it's easy to write down, but answers are hard to find." Booing, however, comes easily. WKOW-TV Corn Early! Uv Music 7 in the FREE Patio Garden No Extra Chargo for RMrvd Box Soots First come, first served. BY.

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