Max Reis Wins WPGA Future Tour Event

Youth Golf Academy participant Max Reis won a WPGA Future Tour event at Hawk's View Golf Club on Thursday, July 21st. He ended the round birdie birdie par to a shoot 59 (par 54). Max is the son of Jake and Kerry Reis. Great job, Max!

• WPGA Future Tour Results

Stimpmeter and Green Speeds

By Golf Superintendent Ben Larsen

One of the most significant aspects of a golf course is the uniformity and/or consistency of its putting greens.  Variations in speed, whether from one green to the next or on different parts of the same green, can negatively impact a player’s score.  The best way to monitor the consistency of green speeds is the use of a stimpmeter.  Manufactured by the USGA, the stimpmeter is a simple, accurate tool that allows one to make a standard measurement of, and place a numerical figure on, the speed of a putting green.

Pictured above are the tools needed to measure the speed of putting greens: a tee, 2 golf balls and a stimpmeter with a ruler etched on its side.

Faster is not necessarily better, nor should it be the goal.  This especially holds true for everyday play because putting greens that are too fast will slow play.  Determining an appropriate green speed varies considerably from each golf facility and is dependent on many factors, some of which include: turfgrass species, putting green architecture and construction method, budget, time of year, weather, knowledge and golfer ability.  As for GBCC, the appropriate green speed is maintained between 11’ and 11.5’ on the stimpmeter.  However, speeds may increase/decrease for special events per the request of: Golf and Grounds Committee, Board of Directors, Proshop and/or event attendees.  Lastly, to give you a comparison of our maintained speeds to this week’s PGA event, The RBC Canadian Open; their greens speeds are 11.5’ on the stimpmeter.  

Teaching kids technique, etiquette & the definition of friendly rivalry

WGBA Channel 26 covered the Northeast Wisconsin PGA Jr. League Championship at GBCC last night. GBCC won the match vs. Oneida 9.5 to 2.5.

2016 Men's Member/Guest "The Hawk" Champions

Mike Jacques & John Fitzgerald are our 2016 Men's Member/Guest "The Hawk" Champions.
Congratulations gentlemen!

Lucas Hana Receives WPGA Award

(March 29th, 2016, Green Bay, Wis.) Lucas Hana, director of instruction at Green Bay Country Club, was recently awarded the Player Development Award by the Wisconsin Section, Professional Golf Association (WPGA).

The professional organization announced the 2016 WPGA Special Award winners at a reception on February 29^th at Blackwolf Run in Kohler Wisconsin. Annually, the WPGA gives out 10 awards in different categories to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of Wisconsin PGA Professionals on and off the course.
Lucas Hana is the recipient of the 11th WPGA Player Development Award. The award marks the fourth time that Hana has been recognized by the Wisconsin PGA. His other honors include the Assistant Professional of the Year in 2005, Junior Leader in 2008 and Teacher of the Year in 2011.

Hana has been on staff at Green Bay Country Club for the past 15 years and is currently their director of instruction. Elected to PGA membership in 2002, he is a graduate of the New Mexico State University’s Professional Golf Management Program. During his tenure at Green Bay Country Club he also was able to dedicate time to being the UW-Green Bay women’s golf coach from 2007-2014.

Hana commented that he is proud of the programs he has helped to plan and grow at Green Bay Country Club. He has worked with members of all ages – they affectionately refer to him as “Dr. Swing.” He has developed programs for the ladies membership, instituting programs such as weekly clinics, the Green Bay Packer wives clinic and free lessons for moms on Mother’s Day weekend.

Although his work with the adult members at Green Bay Country Club is very impressive, Hana said it is the junior golf program that he takes the most enjoyment from. The junior program, the Green Bay Country Club Golf Academy for Kids, includes 90 different junior golf classes throughout the summer. The program offers some sort of offering five days a week. Hana was honored for his work with kids in 2011 when he was named a US Kids Top 50 instructor.

The highlight of his 2016 season with the juniors was his work with their PGA Junior League program. He coordinated the club team to the area championship and also was given the opportunity to lead the NE Wisconsin All Star squad.

“I share this award with my students, my facility and everyone who shares my passion for the game and helping others,” Hana said.

About Green Bay Country Club
Green Bay Country Club, established in 1995, is the epitome of what a country club should be: a fun, friendly, comfortable golf and tennis facility where everyone feels special. Our nationally recognized 18-hole course, designed by Dick Nugent, challenges players of every level. It's the kind of course you'll want to play again and again as you strive to master all of its nuances. We offer a full calendar of exclusive events, both on and off the course, creating a congenial atmosphere in which to meet and socialize with fellow club members. Our two full-service clubhouses, with their wide range of amenities, enhance your overall club experience. We are member-owned and operated; all regular members have voting privileges. An elected Board of Directors, composed of members, sets, maintains and enforces our standards of excellence. To learn more, please go to www.greenbaycountryclub.com.

Green Bay Country Club Garners National Honors

(November 19th, 2015, Green Bay, Wis.) Green Bay Country Club (GBCC) has been selected as a 2015 Golf Range Association of America Top 50 Range, Private Category.

The award comes to the GBCC after the successful completion of several practice facility improvement projects over the past year. The Club has improved the range by enlarging the size of their practice tees, range and targets, and adding target greens at various distances. They have also developed a short game practice area.

The practice facility at GBCC features:

• A range with numerous raised target greens, bluegrass rough area, bentgrass fairway areas and bunkering. Hitting grounds on both ends of the range help simulate different conditions and angles. 
• A putting green complex and a short game chipping green area to work on different elements of the short game.
• A six-hole, par three Quarry course

“At Green Bay Country Club, we are constantly growing the game of golf by offering a practice facility that encompasses all parts of the game, for every age and playing ability level,” commented interim Director of Golf Lucas Hana. “We are pleased to receive this national recognition of our facility!”

About the Golf Range Association of America
The Golf Range Association of America’s mission is to harness the combined power of all golf range owners, operators and staff at all types of facilities to grow their revenues, enhance their careers and help grow the game of golf. They publish the world’s leading trade magazine in golf, PGA Magazine; the country’s leading regional golf publication, The Met Golfer; and golf’s leading trade website, PGAmagazine.com.

About Green Bay Country Club
Green Bay Country Club, established in 1995, is the epitome of what a country club should be: a fun, friendly, comfortable golf and tennis facility where everyone feels special. Our nationally recognized 18-hole course, designed by Dick Nugent, challenges players of every level. It's the kind of course you'll want to play again and again as you strive to master all of its nuances. We offer a full calendar of exclusive events, both on and off the course, creating a congenial atmosphere in which to meet and socialize with fellow club members. Our two full-service clubhouses, with their wide range of amenities, enhance your overall club experience. We are member-owned and operated; all regular members have voting privileges. An elected Board of Directors, composed of members, sets, maintains and enforces our standards of excellence. To learn more, please go to www.greenbaycountryclub.com.

Veterans Enjoy Outing at Green Bay Country Club

We received some wonderful feedback about the Veterans Golf Outing held here on Monday, October 5th:

Yesterday I participated for the first time in the veteran's appreciation golf outing at your country club.  I just wanted to say how much your and Jerry's efforts in putting this outing together was appreciated.   Your support of the veterans is a far cry from what we experienced coming back from overseas during the Viet Nam war.  Our young troops today receive the respect and thanks from the country that they rightly deserve.  That is something that we did not experience then, but your efforts in today's environment have really made me feel more appreciated for my service than I have felt in a very long time.

During the flag ceremony, I was impressed to learn of the large amount of money that you raise for veterans organizations and how you distributed it among the many veterans groups.  This is very generous of your country club and I know that it is very much appreciated by the veteran groups that you support.  Thanks for all that you do for us veterans.

As a first-timer at your golf outing, I did not know what to expect from your golf course.  All I knew about the course was that it was private.  As private courses are a step above the public courses,  I saw the veteran's golf outing as an opportunity to play a course that I would not normally been able to play.  I have played at private courses in many parts of the country so I know how nice private courses can be.  I've also played on PGA tour courses such as Doral, TPC Sawgrass, Medina and Olympia Fields.  As much as I enjoyed the challenge of those courses, I found your golf course to be just as challenging, but I think that your course has a far superior layout compared to any those PGA tour courses.  Every hole was just as beautiful and challenging as the one before it!  It was truly a great pleasure to play your course.  My golf partner was probably tired of hearing me tell him how beautiful and wonderful I thought your course was.  You have a real gem up there in the Green Bay area.

Thanks again for opening your club to us veterans and putting on this wonderful golf outing for us.  I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to play your fantastic course and I am looking forward to the outing next year.  I already have my calendar marked for the first sign-up day next year.

With much thanks and appreciation for all your efforts,

The event was also covered by WBAY: