By Ed Townsend
SULLIVAN COUNTY — August 30, 2002 – The Concord Resort & Golf Club is the home of the World Famous “Monster” Golf Course which is rated by Golf Digest as one of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
But, the “Greatest” alone is not enough to bring Tiger Woods and a PGA Tour event to the Catskills.
Rumors and media reports a little over a year ago noted that a group was working to bring professional golf to The Concord Monster and reports were that a BUY.com event might lay the groundwork to attract a PGA event.
It was reported that between $300,000-$400,000 in sponsor money is needed to run a BUY.com event and that these events are a major undertaking.
Concord & Grossinger’s Director of Golf Todd Barker this week said there were no professional golf tournaments in sight for the Monster or Grossinger’s mainly because of the need for sponsor money. He noted that as the area grows and all the financial and building plans fall in place then there would be the possibility of attracting a major tournament.
“It’s a few years down the road,” Barker said.
The Monster just completed playing host to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) National Tournament, a 5-day event for youths ages 13 to 18 from all across our nation. This 99-player limit tournament may possibly be returning to the Monster next year.
Golf Course Architect Joseph S. Finger of Houston, Texas designed the Monster which has been labeled as “The World’s Greatest Golf Challenge.” Assisting Finger in the design were Jimmy Demaret and Jackie Burke Jr.
At 7,650 yards from the “Monster Tees,” this par 72 challenges every player with length, extensive bunkering, and a variety of water hazards.
This world class golf experience features a full service pro shop, 2002 fleet of Club Cars, ProLink global positioning system (which allows the golfer to have accurate yardage throughout the course), a driving range, overnight accommodations, meeting rooms, restaurant and bar, large catering and banquet facilities (all under the management of Bill Sipos of Mr. Willy’s fame), individual and corporate memberships, a golf school and a PGA staff for all golf instruction programs.
Overnight and play and stay guests are accommodated in their 42 spacious rooms with half of the rooms overlooking the breathtaking sunsets of the Catskill Mountains in the Monster Clubhouse.
This beautiful course is maintained by Course Superintendents Mike McNamara and Chris Hummel.
Course information and tee times are available by calling 1-888-448-9698 or 794-4000, ext. 7005.
Truly a golfer’s delight, the front nine of the 18-hole course offers many challenges, beautiful surroundings and a great experience for any golfer.
Hole No. 1 is a 567-yard par 5 which requires a good straight drive right down the middle of the fairway. There is a slight dogleg to the right on the second half of the fairway. Traps are on the front left section of the green with two traps in the rear of the green. A long first hole, but with a good drive and another good fairway shot this hole can go in the par column.
Hole No. 2 is a 466-yard par 4 with a dogleg to the left on the second half of the fairway. Stay away from the pond on the right side of the fairway. Best tee shot is center left which makes for a better approach shot to the green. Two traps are on the right and one left front of the green.
Hole No. 3 is a 473-yard par 4 with a dogleg to the right and a pond on the right. Stay left center. A ditch run along the fairway on the left with trees lining this side of the fairway. There is one sand trap on the left front section of the green.
Hole No. 4 is a 632-yard par 5, the longest hole on the course, and it requires a tee shot to the right center portion of the fairway. There is water on the left side and you should take your second shot over the pond with a dogleg left. Traps are located in the center and left and right sections of the green. Some good consistently long tee and fairway shots are necessary on this hole.
Hole No. 5 is a 233-yard par 3 with the green surrounded by traps. The fairway opens up more as you approach the green. Club selection here plays a big role in hitting and staying on the green with your tee shot.
Hole No. 6 is a 386-yard par 4 with a dogleg to the left. There is a tight fairway nearing the green and a trap in the back of the green.
Keeping the ball straight and in the fairway helps in recording a par.
Hole No. 7 is a 248-yard par 3 with a huge trap in front of the green and another trap on the back right side of the green. There is a deep slope in the back of the green. Again on this hole club selection plays a leading role in getting the ball to the green and keeping it on the green and away from the sand traps. A pretty par 3 hole.
Hole No. 8 is a 454-yard par 4 which requires your tee shot to stay left center in the fairway. There is water on the left of the green and sand traps on the right side of the green. Stay away from the trees on the right some 130-yards from the green.
Hole No. 9 is a 458-yard par 4 which requires you to take your tee shot to the right center of the fairway. There is a dogleg left on the second shot and a trap on the left side of the fairway some 200 yards from the tee. Traps are right front and rear of the green. This is really a nice finishing hole on the front nine and one that most golfers can record a par on.
Next week, the back nine of this famed “Monster” course.

Golf Tip
By Robert Menges
The Flier: Have you ever hit a shot from wet grass or light rough and been surprised when the ball flies well over the green?
If you have and couldn’t understand what happened, it’s time to become educated about the “flier.”
A flier is a shot hit with reduced backspin that goes quite a lot farther than normal for the club used. It is the result of friction reduction. When grass or water gets between the clubface and the ball at impact, backspin and control of distance are minimized.
Also, because this shot will have less backspin, it will run a great deal when landing instead of checking up and stopping quickly.
One way to recognize a flier is to see how much grass is around your ball. If the grass is high enough to get between the clubface and ball but not so high as to reach the top of the clubhead when you address the ball, you are more than likely going to get a flier. The ball will jump out of there.
Once you recognize the conditions that create a flier, you can either make some mechanical adjustments in your swing or simply allow for the added distance. The simplest response is to take less club and swing at the ball with less than a full effort. You don’t want to bash the ball out of a flier lie.
Another adjustment would be to steepen the arc of your swing so you can make clean contact – or to catch the ball first.
The flier’s unpredictability is one of the hazards of the rough and yet another incentive for driving the fairway. Still, understanding this shot will help make you a more complete golfer.
Robert Menges is a golf pro at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club, Roscoe Hankins Road, Roscoe. He’s available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 1-888-561-3935 or 607-498-5502 or e-mail at bbkgolf@catskill.net

Golf Events
• Callicoon Kiwanis Tournament, Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. Event will begin with a 1 p.m., shotgun start. Information on this tournament may be obtained from Club Pro Bob Menges at 1-888-561-3935.
• The Monticello Kiwanis Ben Golden Golf Tournament will be held at the Concord “Monster” Golf Course on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Various starting times are available. Cost is $300 per foursome which includes lunch.
Information may be obtained by calling Ray Browne at 583-5377 or writing to 2814 State Route 55, White Lake, NY 12786.

Have Golf Info?
Send It To Us!
If you have golf information regarding a tournament, league highlights and standings or any other golf- related information, please send it to Ed Townsend, P.O. Box 116, Livingston Manor, NY 12758, fax it to 1-775-659-8659 or e-mail the info to bowlgolf@warwick.net