Sedona Golf Resort unveils some cool, new player development initiatives

More enjoyment, better pace of play and introductory clinics are all part of a new plan recently unveiled at Sedona (Ariz.) Golf Resort to help make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

Among its new initiatives are new tees in an effort to promote the “Tee It Forward” campaign by golf’s major associations, something called “Express Lane Golf,” and a series of introductory lessons at bargain basement prices designed especially to help the new golfer enjoy the game more quickly.

The initiatives are part of a program put forth by OB Sports, which recently added this highly-ranked Gary Panks-designed resort to its portfolio.

In keeping with the PGA and USGA’s Tee It Forward program, which encourages golfers to move up a set of tees to better suit their driving distance, Sedona has installed a new set of tees (Red Rock’n Tees) with a total yardage of 3,631 yards.

“The purpose of the PGA Tee It Forward initiative is to set up the golf course at a length that encourages golfers to play the course that is best suited to their abilities,” said Jeremy Hayman, who was recently hired by OB Sports as general manager at Sedona Golf Resort. “As an example, if your driver distance is 150 yards the PGA recommends you play from a set of tees between 3,500 and 3,700 yards. This allows the golfer to have more fun and to maximize their enjoyment while playing and can potentially speed up play.”

Sedona Golf Resort also added the OB Sports Express Lane Tee Times to aid with pace of play efforts. The first hour of tee times each day is set aside for OB Sports Express Lane Tee Times, where golfers will agree to complete their round in 3:45 or less.

“Over the past few years many golfers have left the game because it was just taking to much time from the other things that they enjoy doing,” Hayman said. “So with the implementation of the new tees and our Express Lane Golf commitment we are actively doing our part to provide our golfers with a better pace and an overall better golf experience,” he said.

In addition, Sedona Golf Resort is now offering introductory group golf lessons at new affordable prices. The new offering costs just $50 per person for a series of five 90-minute golf lessons. Each group is limited to the first 10 people to sign-up. The sessions are one per week over a five-week period and are scheduled as follows: Wednesday clinics, Aug. 3-31, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m; and Saturday clinics, Aug. 6-Sept. 3, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Hayman’s experience, by the way, includes five years at another OB Sports property, Eagle Mountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz.; two years at the TPC Las Vegas in Nevada; and at the TPC at Heron Bay in Coral Springs, Fla.

In other news involving Sedona Golf Resort, Head Professional Gary Pearce raised $6,000 for charity when he completed the P.F. Chang’s marathon at the swift pace of 3:20.55, earning him an 18th place in his age division (50-54) and 382 overall amongst the 5,110 runners in this annual Arizona marathon. Through pledges leading up to the marathon, however, he raised $6,000 for Camp Soaring Eagle in Sedona. The amount raised will provide 12 scholarships to send children to the camp that provides children with serious and life threatening illnesses a special camp experience where they can forget about their illnesses and just be kids in a medically safe environment.

“We know you all have many choices when it comes to contributing your time, money and efforts to a number of worthwhile causes and we are grateful that you chose this effort to support the children of Camp Soaring Eagle that are faced with serious and life threatening illnesses,” Pearce said. “These children are very grateful for the opportunity to attend camp and for the chance to laugh and play and to just be child-like, our sincerest heartfelt thanks to all of you.”

Through a professional relationship that had developed between Pearce and Max James, the founder of Camp Soaring Eagle, Gary was struck by the Camp’s vision and James and his CSE staff’s mission. Currently there are more than 350,000 children in the Southwest living with fatal or life threatening diseases. Camp Soaring Eagle serves children from Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, all completely free of charge to the campers and their families.

For additional information on Camp Soaring Eagle, click here.

For more information on Sedona Golf Resort, visit SedonaGolfResort.com.