DeKalb courses offer Father’s Day special

Special moments await a golfer at every tee box.

This summer the Golf Insider will feature special courses, programs, players and tips to enhance your summer golf experience.

The weekly column gets started with an examination on how to play a four-hour round, get a junior golfer involved in a lifetime sport and offer a suggestion on how to improve personal fitness all while saving a few bucks.

Golf Course Spotlight

Quality time on the golf course with Dad comes at a discounted price this weekend with the Buena Vista and River Heights golf course Father's Day special.

With a father's green and cart fee, junior golfers ages 4 to 18 play for free on either one of the DeKalb Park District courses. Junior rental clubs are available for free if tee times and club requests are made in advance with the pro shop.  

DeKalb Park District marketing director Scott de Oliveira expects a busy morning with fathers looking to get in a loop before the final round of the U.S. Open.

"Brothers and sisters getting out to play golf with Dad is a great way for some family bonding," de Oliveira said. "It will be nice to get outside and be int eh fresh air on the golf course with dad."

The early season warmth gave golfers an early start to their season and, despite needing "a little rain," de Oliveira said both courses are in great shape.


On the Green

The Junior PGA Golf Academy, Pee Wee Golf Lessons and Junior Golf Leagues are summer highlights for the DeKalb Park District.

Visit the golf link at www.dekalbparkdistrict.com for more information.


VIEWS: Golf 101

Time is precious for golfers in northern Illinois.

We're only guaranteed a few moths in which we can expect consistently solid playing conditions. Let's maximize our time on the course this summer and establish playing habits to ensure the four-hour round.   

To keep a four-hour pace for an 18-hole round, former Genoa-Kingston golf coach Steve Stirlen has a few solid suggestions. Stirlen led the Cogs for 16 years, and his advice should speed up your round and potentially lower scores.

He suggests players always play ready golf rather than waiting for their playing partners furthest from the hole. Carry that onto the tee box, too. Don't worry about who has the honors. When it comes to going on a safari for a ball struck into tall weeds, Stirlen suggests a quick look for the ball. If there's a "zero chance" of finding it; play another shot.

Approach shots can pose the longest wait if a group plays slowly on the green.

"As you approach the green think about he putt before you even get there," Stirlen said. "Look at the green as you walk up and start to read the breaks so when you get to the ball you are ready to putt. And, if you miss a 2- or 3-footer, don't mark it and walk away. Step up and hit it in the hole."

Golf can be enough of a mental grind. With Stirlen's advice it shouldn't last five hours. 

"Golf is recreation for most of us," Stirlen said. "It's ridiculous for a round to take more than four hours. It boils down to players not being ready and then overthinking things by standing over the ball and taking too many practice swings. You've got to get up to the ball and already have an idea of what to do so you can be ready to go."

Which seemingly would make golfers want to milk every minute available.


TIP OF THE WEEK

If the course will let you, ditch the cart.

Grab a pull cart or ditch the rain gear and extra dozen balls to lighten the load and carry your bag. A golfer covers anywhere between five and eight miles walking 18 holes. Factor in swings and the effort required to pull or carry a bag and that's a pretty solid workout.

"I think if we got rid of carts we'd have a healthier society," said Stirlen, who will register 12-13 miles per day on a pedometer when he golfs. "I always walk. I love the game, love being outside and getting the exercise that comes with it."