You may not notice it driving through Rush, but there is a hidden jewel that is located just after the bend in the road on 15a. This hidden jewel is known as Wild Wood Country Club.

There are many appealing qualities that Wild wood has to offer. The greens are beautiful, the course is challenging, and the staff is very courteous and accommodating. Wild Wood offers all new electric golf carts and the pro shop provides great products. Make sure you pick up the course guide which includes a layout of each hole.

3 Reasons That Make this Course Shine

Beautiful Hole Layouts – This is a beautiful course containing many large tree’s, very luscious green grasses and challenging water hazards. The back nine of Wild Wood has some of the most beautiful holes in the Rochester area.

One of the best holes includes number 15. It has a sharp dog-leg with water that streams up the entire left side of the fairway and surrounds the green.

Improved Irrigation and Drainage

Wild Wood has improved the irrigation system and drainage allowing for a drier course but keeping bright green fairways and greens. The course has a creek that winds its way through the back nine making water in play on every hole except the 10th and 18th. Putting in a state of the art drainage system was key to keep this area dry. Wild Wood also added cart paths throughout the course.

Mike Sweazy the Head Golf Pro mentions that “Some area golfers believe that our course is wet after it rains but in reality we have one of the best drainage systems in the area. This spring we never had to close the course or not allow carts out on the course.”

Challenging Golf for a Great Price

Wild Wood is right up there in the caliber of golf as other top public golf courses in Rochester. If you have a flexible golf schedule you can find some great deals to play this great course. For example you can play 18/w cart Monday-Friday anytime between 8am-12pm for only $30 and that includes lunch. That is a fantastic deal!

A Couple Tips You Must Remember

Don’t be scared to layup – You must play smart or you can be in trouble very fast. Because the course has many large trees and many water hazards you cannot bomb drivers or crush irons. Every shot you take must be precise as there is not much room for error. Hitting straight is key to this course. The course rewards you for choosing the right club and staying in the fairways.

Do not hit over the greens – If you hit over many of the greens on this course you will be in a difficult spot. Hole #1 is the first of these holes that has a very steep slope off the back of the green that goes right into the woods. With a shot over this green you will have a large number on this hole.

This is a challenging course and simply gorgeous. Make sure you take the short drive to Rush and play Rochester’s Hidden Jewel.

Photos of Wild Wood Country Club

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View photos from the round 4 of the 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY.

Photography Staff: David VanScott, Jesse Horning

View photos from the round 3 of the 2011 LPGA Wegmans Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY.

Photography Staff: David VanScott, Cody Dalton

View photos from the round 2 of the 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY.

Photography staff: David VanScott

View photos from the first day of the 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY.

Photography staff: David VanScott

Paula Creamer is once again finding herself near the top of the leader board at the 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club. Creamer carded a 5 under par 67 in her opening round to find herself 1 stroke back of 1st round leader Yani Tseng.

Creamer, aka the Pink Panther had 5 birdies and no bogey’s, opening with birdies on 3 of the first 4 holes. Since joining the LPGA in 2005, Creamer has 9 LPGA tour victories and is currently ranked 11th in the world.

Over a year ago Creamer had a surgically repaired left thumb and wondered how it would hold up. Her thumb is fine and her game is even better. Creamer is looking to move up the rankings with a strong finish this weekend and hopes to be in the same sentence as #1 ranked Yani Tseng and #2 ranked Suzanne Pettersen.

Photos from Day 1 of the Wegmans LPGA Championship

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Video of Paula Creamer after 1st round

Currently ranked 39th on the LPGA Tour Beatriz Recari is looking to have a break out year in 2011. She has earned just over $100,000 in 9 events this year with 8 cuts made and a best finish of 11th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Here scoring average has dropped almost 10 strokes since 2007 and is currently at 67.30 this year.

Beatriz started playing golf at the age of 11 and credits her father as the individual who influenced her career the most. Recari enjoyed her amateur career by winning the 2004 Spanish Amateur Championship, the European Team Championship with Team Spain and in 2005 she won the French Amateur Championship.

In 2005 Beatriz decided to turn professional. She competed on the Ladies European Tour (LET) from 2006 – 2009, and won the Finnair Masters. Her game really started to come together in 2009 when she finished 10th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. In 2010 Recari became a Rolex First Time Winner at the CVS/Pharmacy LPGA Challenge, tied for 7th at LPGA Tour Championship and tied 9th at the Sybase Match Play Championship and the Sime Darby in Malaysia.

Beatriz had her best finish, a tie for 11th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2011. Other finishes include 15th, 18th, 35th, 37th and 43rd respectively. When Beatriz is not playing golf she enjoys listening to music, reading, playing tennis, working out at the gym and cross country skiing. Some of her sponsors include Daily Sports, Tech Nutrition and ProStance.

Beatriz will be opening her round on the front 9 of Locust Hill with playing partners Mina Harigae and Amanda Blumenherst. If you want to learn more about Beatriz you can visit her website at www.beatrizrecari.com or become a friend on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/beatrizrecari.

Yani Tseng is one of the youngest players in the LPGA , yet she is ranked No. 1 in women’s golf. Following her in the Rolex Rankings is Cristie Kerr at No. 2 and Suzann Pettersen at No. 3. They will all be going for the championship title this week at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. Tseng has won three majors already and will go for her 4th. She won the 2008 LPGA Championship, 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship and the RICOH Women’s British Open in 2010.

Tseng has proven she is a great golfer, and in 2010, she claimed the title as the 2010 Rolex Player of the Year. This title had been held by Lorena Ochoa from 2006-2009 and Annika Sorenstam from 2001-2005. This title is awarded based on a formula in which points are awarded for top 10 finishes and are doubled at the LPGA’s four major championships and at the season-ending Tour Championship.

The winner of the Wegmans LPGA Championship will have a big impact on the 2011 rankings and if Christie Kerr can defend her win from last year she could move to the top of the board. It is going to be a great week of women’s golf in Rochester, NY.

Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis are two of the most popular women in the LPGA and will be playing this week at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. They both bring to each round a great show of talent and fan appreciation.

Binghamton University freshman Bryce Edmister has earned his way to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship to compete along with the best amateur golfers in the country. The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship is one of the top amateur events of the year and will be held this year from June 27 to July 2 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.

This event started in 1922 by James D. Standish Jr. who convinced the USGA Executive Committee to allow public-course players to compete for a national championship.

To be selected for this event, Bryce Edmister played in a qualifying tournament at Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor, NY. He shot a 71 and a 72 to be one of the 2 to qualify.

“I felt lucky to get some big breaks because I never get those big breaks. At Ravenwood, the first break I got was on my 5th hole. I hit a putt that caught the left edge of the hole and circled the cup completely and then dropped in. I was fortunate to receive some good bounces around the greens leaving me with putts for birdie.”

Loss of a dear friend brings determination

The day before the qualifying event, one of Bryce’s best friends unexpectedly passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Caton, N.Y. Timothy Decker was the Athletic Director for the Corning Painted Post School District and mentored Bryce in golf and other sports.

Bryce recounts, “Tim was always willing to do anything for me. If I needed something, Tim would not hesitate to help.”

Even with all the emotions and loss of a dear friend, Bryce used his determination to play good, consistent golf. Winning the qualifying event was bittersweet for Bryce after losing his dear friend, but Bryce knows Tim would have been proud.

Hard work and practice help Bryce qualify

Another mentor in his golf career has been his dad, Jim Edmister. Jim has been the head pro at Mill Creek Golf Club for the past 3 years and has been helping Bryce improve his swing and golf game since he was 3 years old.

“Wow it is awesome! What a great venue for Bryce to play in. The winner gets an invite to the Masters.” says Jim.

To help prepare for the qualifying event, Jim helped Bryce stay focused and encouraged him to practice his putting. “Bryce loves to practice. You will find him more often on the practice green then actually playing a hole.”

“Bryce also prepared by taking lessons with Joe Lusardi. Joe helped Bryce improve his swing and technique a lot during the winter months.” says Jim.

Jim caddied for Bryce in his win to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Public Links. Jim recalls the last day “It was so hot and the course was in U.S. Open conditions. Bryce and the rest of the players were trying to fight fatigue. Making pars was key.” Jim knows his son’s game and that day proved to be a success for Bryce and his dad.

Bryce is now headed to Oregon to play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. Golf Local along with all of his family and friends wish Bryce good luck in this upcoming tournament.

Help support Bryce

Please help support Bryce with travel expenses as he travels to Oregon to play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links. The proceeds of this fundraiser will allow Bryce to participate in this year’s tournament. To help support Bryce, you can purchase raffle tickets for a great golf package.

Golf package includes:

• A Foursome at Mill Creek Golf Club (18 holes, cart included)
• Lunch at the Mill Creek Tavern
• A dozen golf balls for each player
• Free lesson from Mill Creek Golf Club Professional Jim Edmister (lesson is prior to tee time)

Anyone who wishes to enter the raffle it is $5 per ticket or 5 tickets for $20. If you would like to enter, you can e-mail me at bedmist1@binghamton.edu.

Q&A with Bryce Edmister

What clubs do  you have in your bag?

I have Callaway X-forged Irons, Callaway Diablo Tour Fairway Woods, TaylorMade R9 Supertri Driver, and a SeeMore putter

What is your favorite club?

My favorite club is my putter because that is the club that has the most impact on your score.

What is your favorite course in the Rochester area to play?

There are many great courses in the Rochester area, however I would have to say that my favorite is Mill Creek. It offers many different golf shots; depending on the wind direction and how hard the wind is blowing, the course can change dramatically day to day. Also, there are great practice facilities at Mill Creek including two driving ranges, two different chipping greens, putting greens, and a 9 hole par-3 course.

When your not golfing what else do you enjoy doing?

When I am not playing golf, I usually am working. I caddy at Oak Hill and also help run the par-3 course at Mill Creek. When I am not playing golf or working, I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends.

Some high school accomplishments include

Won the Western NY Jr. PGA Championship at Triple Creek Golf Course (2009)
Recorded a top-20 finish at the NYS High School State Championship (2009)
Tallied a second place performance at the NYSGA Junior Amateur Championship (2008)
Advanced to the final round in the match play portion of the International Junior Masters (2008)
Carded consecutive rounds of 72 to claim the NYSPGA Junior Championship (2008)
Participated in qualifiers for the Monroe Invitational and prestigious Porter Cup over the summer (2010)