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This Week's Video Golf Lesson - The Off-Green Putt

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This Week In Golf - by Kevin Ferrarotti, Owner of the Premier Golf Academy

Ben Curtis had to pack a flotation device to handle the wet weather at the Booz Allen Classic. If everything goes according to plan, Ben will be recording his victory in some time this week. The event lacked many of the game's top names, but with the talent of Ben Curtis and charges by Padraig Harrington and company, the event still drew some excitment.

Across the tours, Kyle Reifers in his professional debut won the Nationwide event on the first playoff hole. John Harris took the winner's trophy on the Champions Tour, as the ladies crowned Jeong Jang at the LPGA's Wegman's Classic.

This week is a great week to be a golf fan in southern New England as the Ladies will play their US Open at Newport CC in Rhode Island, and the PGA Tour returns to Connecticut for the Buick Championship.

Weekly Golf Update for June 24, 2006 by Professional Golf Champion Mike Colandro

The golf season is in full bloom, after the U.S. Open and now the Women’s U.S. Open and the Buick Championship in the same week both in Southern New England. I will be covering both events along with competing in the Portland Open Senior Division in Maine. My health is great and that has a lot to do with taking an all natural supplement “Ultimate Performance” from In The Zone Technologies. It is giving me the mental focus and stamina to play better golf along with writing for the website in a more productive way.

Last week I played in the Harry Nowabilski Memorial Celebrity Amateur Golf Tournament at Tallwood Golf Club in Hebron. John Nowabilski, the Pro at Tallwood, runs a great event in memory of his dad and this year he raised over $17,000.00 for the Connecticut Section PGA Junior Golf Foundation. Each group had one celebrity and four amateurs, and we played a Shamble style event. I played as a celebrity and had 7 birdies, and my teammates, Joe, Jen, Jack and Randy had a great time. Jen did make a net 1 on the 15^th hole but did not get the skin money. The winning team had a net score of 43, but did they play all 18 holes?

I caught up with some old friends and celebrities such as: Gerry Brooks – NBC (30) anchorman; Bruce Berlet – Courant golf writer; George Blaney – UConn Assistant Basketball Coach; Beasley Reece – Superbowl Champion and Sportscaster, along with many other players. It was a great event and hats off to John Nowabilski for putting it all together. My energy was fantastic throughout the day and after the event, I somehow found the energy to give Beasley Reece a lesson along with two more lessons at the range until 9:00 p.m.

This Week's Golf Tip by Professional Golf Champion Mike Colandro

I saw my good buddy Beasley Reece at the Celebrity Golf Event at Tallwood Golf Club and it was good to catch up. He has taken his desire and passion for football and given it all to the game of golf. Beasley is still in great shape, however, not as bulked up with muscles as in his Superbowl Champion football days. Living in Philadelphia and working for the CBS affiliate, he frequently gets back here to Connecticut to play some golf and visit some old friends.

After the event, we got talking about his game and he needed some help so we went right to the range. Beasley and I always had a good rapport with each other since he appeared on my TV show Golforeveryone in the late 90’s. He was confused as to what swing thought he should have during the swing. I told him to have no swing thought over the ball and redirect your conscious mind to anything else but golf. He really liked it because it worked effortlessly.

I also shared with him something that I was fortunate to have acquired from Tom Watson at the British Open a few years ago. Tom showed me the importance of staying loaded with your hands at the start of the downswing. I shared this with Beasley and being a world class athlete, “Beas” picked it up immediately, as you can see in each photo. Notice how his club is still pointing towards the sky on the start of the downswing. This allows him to release the club aggressively without hooking the ball. Byron Nelson showed this to Tom Watson early in his career and Tom still credits Byron for helping him become the champion golfer in the past and now as a senior pro. Beasley is a great student of the game, and I look forward to working with Beasley to take him to that next level. Visit Beasley Reece on-line at www.BeasleyReece.com

Golf in the Business World by Professional Golf Champion Mike Colandro

Part II

PGA Tour Stays in Connecticut

In Connecticut, the big news is that the PGA TOUR event formerly known as the Insurance City Open and Greater Hartford Open, and most recently known as the Buick Championship, will remain in Connecticut for at least four more years. Buick having concluded its run as title sponsor at this year’s event, June 26 to July 2, the Tournament has now been renamed “The St. Paul Traveler’s Championship.” The Tournament is Connecticut’s longest running major league sporting event – celebrating its 55^th year in 2006. While sponsors are crucial to any major golf event, the relationship between St. Paul Travelers and the Tournament is unique: St. Paul Travelers has been a Tournament sponsor for the entire history of the Tournament. That relationship demonstrates the business-generating value of the many marketing and hospitality opportunities offered this and every year by the Tournament at the TPC at River Highlands. With major renovations planned for the Clubhouse and the practice range, the future for the Tournament and its sponsors only looks brighter.

The Greater Hartford Jaycees have coordinated the Tournament since its inception in 1952. As the Jaycees’ only major fundraiser, the Tournament is a mammoth task. Mitzi Koninis will be Tournament Chairperson for the 2007 St. Paul Traveler’s Championship that will be played the week after the U.S. Open. Mitzi says, “Her five years with the Jaycees and the past four years on the Tournament’s executive committee have been a rewarding.” She is extremely happy that the PGA Tour is staying here in Connecticut. As for her time with the Greater Hartford Jaycees, Mitzi says, “The best part about being a Jaycee is the people you meet and the feeling you get when you are out there helping others in the community. I have met some of the greatest people who have become great friends and part of my extended family.”

See you on the course!

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