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spring2024golf-trevorhislop · 23 days

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Scottie Scheffler, Feature Article

Trevor Hislop

Professor Spurrier

Writing for the Media

04/28/2024

Scottie Scheffler’s recent run in the PGA tour has been one for the ages to say the least. Scottie has won back-to-back Masters, and is on pace to keep up and surpass some of the game's greats such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Through his first ten starts this year, he has won four tournaments. This is unheard of considering that two of them were well known big tournaments. Pro golfers have a great year typically if they win one tournament, if they win two, that puts them in an elite category, but four? Practically unheard of in this day and age. Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh both have nine in one season and that was at a time where the competition wasn’t nearly what it is now. Scottie is through four and we aren’t even halfway through the season. This includes the Master’s and The Players Championship which are very prestigious tournaments. Scottie stands out because he has finished in the top ten in the last nine starts. This consistency is unbelievable, his average finish is 4th and this is right behind Tiger Woods when he had his great year in the year 2000. Scotties dominance has resulted in a pretty hefty sum of money that has come his way in the last few years, just under 62 million dollars is that number.

Scottie’s dominance is rare but why is he doing so well? The key to going low has been his distance, accuracy and consistency. Scottie has a relatively wonky swing, but it works well for him. His 75% green in regulation percentage is the best on the PGA tour right now. His fairway percentage is also 75%. Though he is only the 92nd best putter on tour. He is ranked number one due to these two stats. I did some research and one of the best articles I have ever read was with the blog “SportsPsychologyGolf”. They emphasized trusting your shot. “I knew exactly where I wanted to put the ball and if I was to miss it, which side of the golf course I could be on to where I could still get it up-and-down… I think I just stayed patient and trusted myself” says Scottie.

This resonates well with me as a golfer. From my personal experience I know it is very unlike other sports. I played most sports growing up, including football, tennis, golf, basketball, soccer, baseball and more. Though I can’t speak for every sport, golf is the most I have ever had to trust myself. You have to think positively, you can’t just take your anger out on the other team such as a sport like football, because each sport has its own slumps. Golf is the only sport that you don’t have a teammate to rely on, but there is also no “perfect” in golf. You can win every point in tennis, you can make all of your shots and win a basketball game, but you will never make a hole in one on every hole or birdie every hole. It hasn’t ever been done, golf is a sport that your emotions are a roller coaster and Scottie is very good at not showing his emotions at all, win or lose, bad hole or good hole. He maintains the same emotion, the only time I have caught him smiling is if he had just won the Masters. He is a fierce competitor and someone you can’t count out considering that most of his wins have come from behind or even him holding off other top players and not getting nervous. Scottie exemplifies traits that will only propel him in the right direction going forward and have been the reason why Scottie is so dominant on the PGA Tour today.

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spring2024golf-trevorhislop · 26 days

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Michael Litke, Interview, Writing for the Media:

Michael Litke, an 18-year-old golfer from from Glastonbury, Connecticut, possesses remarkable golf senses for his age, excelling on the junior golf circuit. He understanding of the game and his own golfing skills are truly one of a kind. In our recent conversation, Michael shared insights into his thought process before, during, and after a round.

Providing context to my friendship with Michael, we became friends during my junior year of high school, and we shared our passion for golf by practicing, living, and working together.

In the world of golf, where precision meets practice, let me tell you the story of 18-year-old Michael Litke from Glastonbury, Connecticut, who’s golf career has unfolded with an impressive swing. Beyond his years, Litke excels on the junior golf circuit shows young talent destined for greatness.

A high-performer on and off the golf course, Litke's journey is more than just a tale of birdies and bogeys; it's a narrative of discipline, resilience, and passion for the game. It started with his transition to Ethan Allen Prep in Ridgefield Connecticut in where he went for his first 3 years of high school. This was a hour drive from his home. My recent conversation with Litke, a friend I connected with during my junior year in high school, rooming with him offered a glimpse into the mindset of Michael and his golf game.

Navigating the balance between academics and competitive golf was something that was taught at Ethan Allen Prep, the school is focused on building the golfer, athlete and student. The school's approach stands out. They work one on one with you and help you organize and personally put together a workout plan, meal plan and academic plan. His commitment to both realms showcases a maturity beyond his years as he landed himself a 4.0 GPA. Our shared passion led to countless hours of practice, shared living spaces, and collaborative work, forming a bond that goes beyond the course.

During our interview, Litke shared insights into his pre-game rituals, emphasizing the importance of finding a calm and focused mindset on the first tee. His thought processes during both successful and challenging rounds shed light on the mental toughness required in the world of golf.

Litke's highlight is his exceptional performance at the 2023 Connecticut PGA Junior Championship, where he achieved his best tournament score of 76,74. The secret to his composure during the crucial moments? Staying focused on the process and trusting his abilities.

As Litke prepares to transition to collegiate golf at Endicott College, he is not only refining his technical skills but also honing his mental game at the Golf Performance Center. The interview explores his dedication to elevating his short game and building mental toughness in preparation for the competitive collegiate environment.

Beyond the course, Litke shares valuable advice for young aspiring golfers at the Golf Performance Center, advocating for a balanced approach, disciplined work ethic, and a positive mindset. His journey is a testament to the opportunities that arise from setbacks, turning them into stepping stones for future success.

As Michael Litke’s journey continues, a young golfer whose passion and dedication are propelling him towards a promising future in both academics and athletics.

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spring2024golf-trevorhislop · 26 days

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Hole by Hole Breakdown, Rock Ridge Country Club

Trevor Hislop

Professor Spurrier

Writing for the Media

04/16/2024

Rock Ridge Country Club, 9 Hole Walkthrough

My name is Trevor Hislop and in this review assignment today, I will be discussing a rundown of the nine holes on Rock Ridge Country Club’s golf course. I will go in depth using statistics and personal experiences to give you the best possible outlook of not only what the course looks like but how to play it in the eyes of a pretty good golfer.

The first hole at Rock Ridge Country Club starts out with a straightforward par four. When you step onto the Tee Box you will notice a group of trees to the left and one big tree to the right. There is also a sand trap farther out on the left for the better golfers to worry about. This course has four different tee boxes to play from, white being the easiest and gold being the hardest. I will be giving my perspective from the gold tees. When you line up and aim, the better players will try to hit it over the big tree on the right side, this gives you the best opportunity to make a birdie as it has the most room to miss and closest yardages to the green. Less experienced players will aim for the fairway on the left side and have about 150 yards in if the drive is good. Around the green there is a bunker to the right and a bunker to the left. Short is better than long as there is nothing in front of the green. Behind the green, it slopes down into a valley. Not hitting the ball too long on this hole is crucial when players approach shots at Rock Ridge Country Club. This first hole’s green slopes back to front. Other than that, it is a pretty standard opening hole for a golf course of its caliber.

Hole 2 is a short par 4 but has its fair share of challenges, but can also be a very scorable hole if played right. You have a few different options off the tee… You can hit an iron or about a 200 yard shot, this will leave you with minimal risk other than a small bunker to the left or getting blocked out by trees to your right. Big hitters might be able to reach the green. Though for the rest of us, we have to worry about the bunker to the right on top of the hill, the group of trees to the left and a small little creek that comes in from the right side. From personal experience, I would just hit the 200 yard shot. When approaching the green, you will notice a steep dropoff in front of the green, this contains three really deep bunkers that are a pain to hit out of. Behind the green is not much better though as it has a hill that makes it hard to stop the ball after chipping it down. This green also slopes back to front with it also sloping left to right. The green is fast, you almost can just tap it when putting downhill and it will be one of the fastest putts you will have ever hit.

Hole three at Rock Ridge Country Club comprises a dog leg left, this means the hole turns to the left. There is a big tree in the middle of the fairway, your goal is to hit it over it and you will be in a prime position. On your left there are bunkers, trees and a pool full of swimming kids, so don’t miss left or you will be making the walk of shame over there. You can miss right of the tee, but this will leave you with a long approach shot. The green is very narrow, the narrowest on the course but it is one of the longer greens. On each side of the green there are two deep bunkers. It is a fast green and putting it down hill is awful. The goal is to hit the ball to the front of the green.

Hole four at Rock Ridge Country Club consists of a short 320 yard hole which was the shortest Par Four on the course and also rated as the easiest according to the Ghin handicap index. This has a road to the left but it is relatively open. The right side has a big group of trees and some really long grass. Golfers who attempt this hole need to hit a relatively straight ball off the tee. Big hitters can even get close to the green. From here if you hit a straight ball you will be looking at under 100 yards in which is a simple chip shot to a big green which is surrounded by bunkers, but this shouldn’t be a problem for a good player. This green slopes back to front but is visibly pretty easy. This hole is typically the easiest hole for beginners, and professionals as they can typically score on this hole

This is the first part three on the course and it is the hardest one of the two. This par 3 is 170 yards with wind usually heavy in the face. In front of the green there is a deep bunker and to the left and right of the green there's a deep bunker with a valley behind the green, so there is very little room for error. The green slopes from back to front and it is relatively predictable.

Hole six at Rock Ridge is a downhill, narrow hole, with a small river trickling down the right side of the fairway, the left is woods and a neighborhood. The people at Rock Ridge always say to aim at the tallest tree in the distance. This line is perfect for the average player and excellent players. I hit my 3 iron usually and it is my consistent club. Once I hit the fairway with the 3 iron, I look towards the green, there is a lake to the right, and bunkers surrounding the green. The best idea is to hit the ball at the front of the green and let it roll up to the flag. The note of thumb is the green breaks towards the water. So aim away from the water and you will rock hole six.

Hole seven is known as the hardest on Rock Ridge Country Club's Golf Course, it is the longest par four, it is a dog leg left, with woods all up the entire left side of the hole. It is not an easy Drive as the Fairway is very narrow and if you go right you get blocked out by trees so you don't have a shot in. On this hole I aim at the middle of the Fairway and just hope to god I hit it. Now when I do hit the Fairway, then I am faced with a longer iron shot which is almost just as tough as the drive. There are sand traps on both sides of the green as well as long grass surrounding it. The green itself is relatively easy with very few bumps and curves, but this Beast of a hole is rated as the hardest hole on the course.

This hole is the longest one on the course and is rated as the second hardest due to its narrowness, length, and random obstacles that you face throughout this hole. When you step onto the Tee Box, there is water to your left and trees to your right. Fun fact, this Fairway is the narrowest Fairway On a par 5 in the whole state of Connecticut. This allows for very little mistakes to turn into big costly ones. If you hit a good Fairway shot then you are faced with a relatively easy approach shot with a big landing area, you do have Woods far to the left and openings to the right but be careful of the big tree on top of the hill. The tree at the top of the hill is the biggest on the course and it is actually what the Rock Ridge logo is based off of. This tree seems to swallow every ball that comes into it and spit it out right back at the player. Once you've made it past the big tree then you deal with a big green bunker surrounding it with four. It is the most on the course. The green is flat and easy, if you hit two good shots, you may be able to even get there in two.

The final hole at Rock Ridge Country Club is hole nine. It is the shortest hole on the golf course and it is only one hundred and thirty yards.The only major thing between you and the hole on hole nine is the water. As you can see in the picture there is a big water hazard/pond, right in your way. Even if you get past that there are two deep bunkers on each side and will get really tough if you fly past the green. If you hit the ball on the green you are looking good with an easy putt.

In summary I hope to have given you a good rundown about Rock Ridge Country Club, and what each hole looks like from my perspective.

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spring2024golf-trevorhislop · 26 days

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PHOTO ESSAY

Trevor Hislop

Professor Spurrier

Writing for the Media

03/26/2024

Rock Ridge Country Club: Photo Essay Overview

Rock Ridge Country Club, located in Newtown, CT, is a private country club ideal for families which boasts several awards for best family country club in Fairfield County. It enjoys a convenient proximity to Brookfield, Bethel, Danbury, Easton, Monroe, New Milford, and Redding. This is where the majority of members live, some live in NYC and come up on weekends and others live just off the course. Initially the course was just three holes, it served as the weekend retreat of a notable New York City physician. Later, the property was acquired and transformed into Pine Tree Country Club. Shortly thereafter, the property was purchased by a group that included numerous founding members of the club. They maintained the club's signature pine tree logo and established Rock Ridge Country Club in 1954. 70 years later, Rock Ridge offers several different amenities as a country club, featuring a stellar nine-hole golf course, Har-Tru tennis courts, an L-shaped swimming pool, and recently constructed pool cabana and clubhouse. The clubhouse includes a charming outdoor patio and fire pit strung all with string lights in recent years, serving as the central gathering point for the club's social events during the summer months. This year Rock Ridge added a beautiful top of the art golf simulator, a putting green and an upgraded driving range.

Here are some of the pictures from the Patio/Fire Pit and the Range

The Head Pro at Rock Ridge is a PGA Pro named Brian Hussey and I had a quick talk with him and asked him a little more about the club and a more in depth look. We talked about the tournament structure at Rock Ridge. The Espresso Cup which is a long-standing tournament started by the original members of the club. This is a team event between the Italians vs the rest of the club, since about half of the original club population was from Italy. I personally have always watched this event and rooted on my dad and team USA, the men always dress up in their country's colors and spirit and play each other in a matchplay golf event. This event usually starts the year.

The main three tournaments are the Club Championship, Member Guest and The Nassau. The Member Guest is our biggest money maker and where we hold our staff, members and guests to the highest standard, this is how they promote the club, find potential members and there is a huge payout for the winner. The formatting of the member guest is pretty self explanatory as members will bring a guest and compete in a two day tournament where they are arranged by skill level and ultimately play using handicap to determine a grand champion. I personally have also watched this event growing up, it has always been basically a giant party for Rock Ridge members and their guests.

Next, is Nassau, this is the big money tournament of the year. 18 teams of four, which are randomly drawn, play in an ABCD format. For those of you who don’t know golf, this is basically where the 18 best players are listed as A’s, the next best 18 players are B’s and so on until you get to the D category. This is the biggest buy-in for a tournament all year and the most money on the table, this is only open to Men’s Club members and this is typically the most competitive of the year. Each player doesn’t want to let down their team and this event typically has the most nerves because using handicap, each player is on an even playing field. This makes all teams just about even.

The last is the club championship, which is a single elimination tournament with all members usually trying to qualify, there is no handicap. It is to find the 16 best players at the club and annually they will do a single elimination bracket until there is one left.

In Conclusion Rock Ridge Country Club is the ultimate destination for families and individuals seeking fun, relaxation, and social connections. With its impressive facilities, including a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool, and clubhouse, there's something for everyone to enjoy. From exciting activities and tournaments to peaceful moments by the pool, Rock Ridge is more than just a country club—it's a place where memories are made and friendships blossom.

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