A Pet Project

If you would classify yourself as a ‘dog person,’ raise your hand. I see a multitude of hands in the air. Even if you don’t currently have a lovable canine in your house, most of us can’t help but melt like a snow cone on a warm day at the sight of a cute doggie.

To the right, you can see yours truly and Winston, the second soft-coated Wheaten Terrier we have made a part of our lives. Rescuing two dogs is an incredible experience… The joy they bring to our lives is amazing. One of my favorite memories with Bailey (our first rescue, who is now running around on the golf course in heaven) was when we went to my golf club during the winter, and watched him enjoy all that free space.

Winston has never actually been ON a golf course, but has visited many as I take him along in the car to the multitude of fabulous courses on Long Island. And yes, there is a longtime connection between dogs and golf. Many course pros and superintendents through the years have brought their friendly pooches with them to the course, and found that they can chip in to help as well, whether it be chasing geese or simply entertaining the members. This is our rather unique cover story for the issue you’re reading right now. From the legacy of dogs at Inwood Country Club to the friendly Fido’s elsewhere, these hard-working and precious pups are worth their weight in milk bones.

But there are other things to bark about in this issue of Golfing Magazine. Now that the colder months are here, we daydream about traveling elsewhere to enjoy time on the course. You’ll find travel profiles about places to play and stay in San Diego and Carlsbad, California, as well as a wonderful account of golf in Italy as provided by noted sports psychologist Dr. Tom Ferraro. Even our own “Breakfast Ball” hacker, David Weiss, recounts a memorable winter ‘buddies’ golf trip that included his own Mom.

We also bring you up close & personal to two women of golf – one of whom you’ve heard of, Natalie Gulbis, who spent some quality time on Long Island not so long ago … and someone else you will be hearing more of, Denise Martorana, who is one of the most talented and accomplished golfers on Long Island.

When it comes to on-the-course action, we have highlights of some of the most dramatic events of the 2011 season, including the Carey Cup competition at Bethpage, and the Nassau Invitational at Nassau Country Club – both of which featured incredible performances by the two best amateur golfers in our area, Joe Saladino and Mike Miller.

We also provide a recap of a wonderful golf gathering we called the “Golfing Magazine Extravaganza.” On a beautiful October afternoon at Cedarbrook Country Club, dozens of you joined us for a great day of golf, food, and fun. We plan to hold SEVERAL of these outings in 2012, so stay tuned for more information!

Of course, during the winter months, we’ll need to keep our minds on the game … and to do that, we offer valuable instructional advice from our stable of experts. This includes the importance of being custom fit for the most important club in your arsenal – no, not the driver. We’re talking about your PUTTER. For most high handicappers, it is the most overlooked stick in your bag.

Whatever the winter holds for us weather-wise, we can always stay connected to the game we love. We can start counting the days to the start of the 2012 golf season, with the promise that the best is yet to come.