Nate McCoy makes it to the NCAA Tournament!

For the first time since the Regional format was implemented in 1989, Nate McCoy becomes the first Cyclone to play in the NCAA Championships. It maybe have taken McCoy four years to accomplish his goal, but he did it! His professional career will have to be put on hold. McCoy fired a 212 (73-68-71) to finish in seventh place. They take the top 5 teams and the first individual that is not on a team going already to the NCAA Championships.

McCoy is on pace to break the school's single-season scoring mark, produced eight top-10 performances and won two tournaments this season. McCoy expresses his excitement to go to LA and play on such a great  course. The tournament will be held May 29-June 3 at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

The team finished tied for 9th and only 10 shots back of the final team qualifier, Memphis.

Good luck to Nate and we wish you the best of luck from ISU! Go Cyclones!!!

ISU Golf teams are on a roll!

Have you been keeping up with the Iowa State Men's golf teams and notice how much they have been practicing lately?

After getting an invite to the 2012 NCAA Bowling Green Regional the ISU Men's Golf Team has extended their time in Ames. Don't forget to watch the men as they head to Bowling Green, Ky., May 17-19. The top five teams in the regional will then move on to the NCAA Championships, May 29- June 3.

Iowa State's senior, Nate McCoy just played in the Canadian Tour 2012 Q-school and received his Canadian tour status after Tieing for 5th. McCoy said he was keeping his amateur status to play with his team one last time. To read more about the tournament you can hear what Nate had to say after Day 3 of the tournament:
http://www.cantour.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?page=61449&clientID=3776&leagueID=0
and to see the final results:
http://www.cantour.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?page=61468&clientID=3776&leagueID=0

But don't forget about the Women's golf team who is currently in Erie, Colo. in 16th place after two rounds. The top 8 tops will advance to the NCAA Championships. Follow the girls on golfstat.com in the NCAA West Regional as they finish out their tournament this week.

Let's Go Cyclones!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

All you mothers, sons, daughters, husbands....EVERYONE!!!!  Bring a mom golfing on Sunday May 13th and she'll get complimentary green fees as long as she's playing with at least one paying famly member! 

I can't think of a better way to spend a Mother's Day than playing golf with the people who love mom the most, her family!  As crazy as this sounds, it's true, some moms are not golfers.  WHAT???  and some moms may not appreciate this.  However, for those moms that are golfers, used to be a golfer or would like to be a golfer, this is your day!!!

What ever you do on Sunday, enjoy the day, send lots of love, however you can to your mom and and any other moms you know!

Fore,
George

It's my Party!....and you can play for free if you want to!!!!

It's my Party Year! 75, you know....and I can do what I please.  So, in honor of that, we are kicking off the season with a FREE day!  Monday March 12, come on out to play the course for  FREE!  The clubhouse will not be open, carts will not be available, but you are welcome to come tee it up and get in the first rounds of the year at Veenker at no charge.  As of Tuesday, all will be back to "normal", so come take advantage while you can.
WELCOME TO THE 2012 GOLF SEASON AT THE VEENK!
Fore,
George

Cyclones are National Champions, AGAIN!

The ISU Cyclones WIN the GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl Championship, for the 3rd year in a row and for 12 of the last 14 competitions!  That is one tremendous streak!  We have come to expect no less of our 'clones, which I'm sure significantly ups the stress levels for our guys and the determination of the opponents.  Here's the scoop......

The 2012 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show was held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. A group of students from Iowa State University went “all in” and brought home the 2012 Collegiate Turf Bowl Championship. Shane Lohman, Senior from New Haven, Missouri; Isaac Mertz, Senior from Perry, Iowa; Casey Sheehy, Junior from Perry Iowa; and Dan Strey, Senior from Cherry Valley, Illinois formed the winning team from Iowa State. Graduate research assistant, Nick Dunlap, coached the teams from Iowa State.

The Turf Bowl consists of a 3 ½ hour test which includes a case study question and sections covering plant identification, growth and development, soil and soil fertility, weed identification and control, entomology, pathology, mathematics, irrigation, water, and business management. The test is facilitated by Leah Brilman, Ph.D., of the Turfgrass Breeders Association and Gwen Stahnke, Ph.D., who update and modify the exam each year.

The Turf Bowl Competition was again sponsored by John Deere Golf which awards a total of $10,000 in cash and prizes. The first place team receives $4,000 along with the traveling Turf Bowl trophy. This year’s competition had 87 teams participating from 44 colleges and universities across the country.

Here’s a rundown of the top 10 placing schools from the 2012 contest.

1. Iowa State University
2. University of Massachusetts-Amherst
3. University of Maryland
4. University of Wisconsin-Madison
5. University of Arkansas
6. Purdue University
7. University of Maryland
8. University of Connecticut
9. Purdue University
10. Penn State University



From left to right: Stephen Vincent, John Deere Golf; Nick Christians, Iowa State University; Nick Dunlap, Turf Bowl Coach; Dan Strey; Shane Lohman; Casey Sheehy; Isaac Mertz; and Robert Randquist, CGCS.

Thank you to Marcus Jones for all the information!
These guys certainly have a wealth of knowledge and experience that will benefit the golf industry in many ways in the future.

George

Seriously????

Dear Mother Nature,
I sincerely appologize for whatever wrongs I have done to you.  Please allow Spring to come to us, soon!
Sincerely,
George

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

....that is if you're a golfer in Ames, IA!  March Madness is upon us and golf season is on the doorstep.  Did you know that the year 2012 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Iowa State Golf Course?  In honor of this landmark year, we are celebrating new beginnings of many kinds.  It's the year of the Dragon folks and we're hoping to set fire to golf in Ames.  We're committed to the best possible golf experience we can provide at a reasonable price to you, our customers. You'll find a new look to our website, veenkergolf.com , a new Veenker logo, new tee markers are going to be installed, new flags designating front, middle, back hole placements are ready to go, new events are being planned and hopefully new personal records are going to be achieved on the course.  Let us know what other types of "new" things we can do for you and we'll do our best to accomodate.  Stay tuned for an annoucement early next week of "opening day" ~ it may be closer than you think!  Also, remember that the driving range will be open if it's 50 degrees or warmer even if the course isn't open yet.  Come on out and shake off the rust, so you're ready to go.  Oh, by the way, green fees and pass rates are staying "old" and not changing.  Now, let's get golfing!
Fore,
George

That Darn Ground Hog!

Phil, we here in Ames refuse to believe you this year.  We are so ready for an early spring that we just can't go with your prediction!  Besides, according to historical data, you're wrong more than you're right, so HA!

While we're waiting for spring to officially arrive, I'm here to suggest that we cheer on our Cyclone Linksters as they begin thier competitive NCAA seasons.  The teams have seen some dramatic improvement over the last few years and are a wonderful group of individuals!  The men will be opening their season this Sat Feb 4th in Arizona while the women's team will start next weekend in San Juan.  You can read all about the men, here:  Cyclone Men's Golf  and the women, here: Cyclone Women's Golf .

Fore,
George

January in Iowa! Driving Range OPEN!

You really just have to LOVE Iowa!  Once again, the driving range will be open at Veenker.  This will be the 5th day (so far) in 2012 that the range has been open.  Balls will be avialable in the clubhouse from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. 
As far as memory serves this is the 1st time in history that any portion of the course has been "officially" open in January!  Come on out and enjoy the day! George

Ages 9 - 90....The Best Game Ever!

So, let's just dive right in, or tee it up would be more appropriate!  Rather than try to start things out with a hole in one, let's just do some warm ups and try to keep it in the fairway or at least on the right course :)

Golf; you can't convince me that there is a better game.  Young and old, short or tall, any language, etc, etc....anyone can play this game and more than likely become addicted to it.   Some may say, golf is too time consuming or too expensive.  Seriously?  Isn't any hobby time consuming and expensive?  Golf is really not all that different from most other things that people do to recreate or get enjoyment out of.  Plus, the bonuses are incredible.  Being outdoors and getting the opportunity to experience beautiful pieces of land and so many types of nature, in all types of weather, while taking a walk (or a ride) and playing a game......what a wonderful way to spend a few hours.   You can play golf by yourself, with your friends, with your family, with your rivals, with your dog.....so many ways, plus it can be different each time.  I love this game!

Welcome one and all to the Veenker Blog.  I hope you will find some enjoyment from this sight.  Feel free to comment or give ideas for posts.  This will be an open forum where you will be able to find an eclectic range of information.  Some of the things I have planned are:  maintenance practices, future events and their results, golf tips, silly stories, historical tid bits, videos, trivia, links to other interesting golf sites and more, more, more. 

Thanks John for the idea for the innaugural post!
Fore,
George

#12 Cotton Woods