By Ron Parish

You enjoy the game. Whether the economy is good or bad you golf. You play. You practice. You watch it on TV. Most likely you watch the golf channel late at night and sometimes at the start of the day. Don’t forget the perusal of the top industry magazines that are kept by your bedside.

Beside those are a few dozen instructional books that you’ve collected over the years. Five fundamentals. Golf My Way. Little Red Book. Pelz putting, and more. When the British Open is on TV in the summer you will get up at 6AM to watch it live right? Yes. You know who you are. The game is part of who you are and whether you shoot good or bad you are a part of it.

You are what we call a CORE golfer. The courses count on you. The casual golfer isn’t teeing it up right now. Things are too tight. So that makes you important to the game and to the industry. So I ask a question with an obvious answer, “Do you want to help keep the game great?” Of course you do.

So the following are three simple “Resolutions” for 2012 from your Pro here at Lone Tree. These will help keep the game great and help others enjoy the game we love:

#1: Give an invite and bring someone new to the game. Be honest,when was the last time you did this? This year? Five years ago? The courses need ambassadors to grow the game and you are a perfect fit for the job. You’ve got someone at work, next door, a family member, or friend from church, that you can easily help get into the game. It means a lot to them. They may want to already be playing but they don’t know where to start and most likely are intimidated about finding out (no one wants to look foolish). Chances are they already know you are a golfer and you can help them get going. They would love to get an invite. It can be simple:

• Ask them to come out to the range and hit a bucket of balls with you. They can find out what it is like to hit a golf ball, (often getting an “Oooo” or “Awww” experience for them which is memorable for you to be a part of). You can also give them a few pointers while you are out and pick up information about instructional programs. Lone Tree’s range has just added lights so the evening hours are an option now for area golfers to give this invite.

• Ask them to join you in a league of some kind. Couples golf, Ladies league, Wednesday games, Men’s club, Senior’s day, Junior programs (“The First Tee” at Lone Tree), or recently formed our Tuesday Night Range league. Leagues are simple and great vehicles to give an invite and get someone new into the game and meeting others who golf.

• Ask them to play in a scramble with you. What better way to bring someone in the game. Scrambles (select the best shot of all shots hit from the tee, pick up the others and play in the same manner for the next shot and until the ball is holed). This takes the pressure off of a new golfer but gets them exposed to the excitement of being a part of a team and posting a score. Usually scrambles are the format of play for many fundraising tournaments, so you can support a cause while introducing them to the game. Take a look around your golf shop or ask the Guys at the counter. They’ll know about events you can sign up for.

• Ask them to come out late in the afternoon to play a round. The course isn’t crowded at this time, and it is the perfect time for a new golfer to get acquainted. Most courses offer “Super Twilight” rates that keep this as affordable as ong to see a movie.

#2: Keep a good pace of play: Nothing makes people want to go bowling more than a 5 hour+ round. We got to pick up the pace CORE golfers because for the last few years more people have been leaving the game then taking it up. From my position of managing a golf course, only a small percentage of CORE golfers really know what it is to keep a good pace, I would estimate 20%. Some tips for the pace challenged CORE golfers to help pick up the pace are as follows, but please remember this, the number of swings don’t really matter when it comes to pace it is the habits that are in between the swings that are slowing things up.

Tips are:

• Get out of the cart. Sitting in the cart and watch your buddy hit his shot. Golfers should leave their buddy at his ball and either drive over to your ball to hit your shot or grab three clubs and walk over to hit your shot.

• Quicken the pace around the green.

o When your playing partners are putting, put your ball on your mark if it is not on his line and get ready for your turn to putt. Especially take a look at your line from behind your ball while he is putting; don’t wait until it is your turn. Figure things out while playing partners are putting and be ready.

o Story time is not while everyone is putting. Save the jokes and the quips until your are leaving the green, or while riding the cart to the next tee. There will be plenty of time to get a “zinger” in, but while on the green keep things moving and take care of business.

• Hit a provisional: For Serious competitions and you think your ball might be out of bounds or lost? Hit a Provisional ball. Declare the ball provisional to your playing partners and remember you can’t hit a provisional for water hazards. But take advantage of this rule that helps with pace of play and, if you find your original ball, guess what? You got an extra practice swing in during your round allowed by the rules of golf (hmmm J).

• Skip the honors: The Guy who hit it tight and is putting for birdie is often the last one to putt and leave the green. The first Player in a foursome to putt out should head to the cart, while the others in the foursome are putting out, find his/her driver and start working their way to the next tee. As soon as the Guy putting for birdie has hit his putt, you’re the first to arrive to the next tee and you are swinging away as soon as you are there. Let’s take the “wait” out of the game.

• Don’t mark the scores on the scorecard until you are at the next tee. Drive cart to next tee first, mark scores second. If you sit and wait by the putting green, so does your partner and you are delaying both of you.

• Put your clubs in the bag at the next tee. Out of the box here. Come off the putting green, keep the clubs in hand, and drive to the next tee. When you get the driver out at the next tee put your putter and wedges away. Seem extreme? Try it and you will start to recognize how much time is lost by the greens while golfers put their clubs back in the bag.

• Learn from Senior Amateurs and get it done with your swing routine. We host 4 different NCGA Senior Amateur tournaments per year at Lone Tree and the Senior amateurs blaze the course when it comes to pace of play. They have learned that being decisive to a target is the best thing you can do to hit a good shot. These Senior Am’s take one practice swing (some just a ½ swing/waggle), walk in briskly and set up to their target and hit. They get it done.

• Let groups play through if you can’t keep up. If you are more then half a hole behind the group you teed off behind, and you can’t catch back up so you are within a half a hole, allow following faster groups to play through and then stay within half a hole of those groups.

• Change your thinking and get rid of the dilly dally. In the USA we often think of a good pace at 4 hours, or 4.5 hours; if that is where we set the bar, then no wonder we get a 5 hour plus round when a little trouble pops up. To a degree, we have lost respect for our fellow golfers by not putting enough priority on pace. In Scotland an acceptable pace is 3.25 to 3.5 hours at most; and the Scots are generally walking. What do they know that we don’t? They take pace of play more serious and they don’t dilly dally.

I often go out in the late afternoon with an assistant from the golf shop or two, and we will play nine holes in 60-70 minutes. Yes the course is wide open, but we are trying to get our holes in and we just keep moving. Nobody is running. We have conversation. We have a good time. We keep things moving. If you are the first tee time of the day, challenge your playing partners to see if you can play the round in 3 hours. I bet you can and you will enjoy yourselves. Let’s change our thinking and it starts with the first tee time.

#3: Honor the number of players on your reservation and call the golf shop as soon as you know you have fewer players. Core golfers play with other Core golfers. It’s a great thing. And standing tee times are a common practice, that’s one of the ways the golf course honors your loyalty and patronage. But if you are the Friday game at noon and you always have three tee times, but you found out at 10:00 am that one foursome isn’t going to make it. Call the course to let them know you are only two tee times as soon as you know instead of waiting to get to the course to let them know. This really makes a difference. The same goes if you are a foursome and you are only going to have two players. The tee sheet is all a golf course has to sell and it is a limited resource. If you book four and only show two, you cost the course as much money as you made it. With technology these days, golf courses can fill vacant tee times in literally minutes. And starters keep waiting lists and field phone calls all day long as to openings that pop up. Courses in this economy are having a tough time financially so just give a call and help them out. It makes a difference for them and will probably help keep affordable golf for you.

Core golfers thank you for all you do for the game. Know that the industry needs you in 2012 and be sure to extend an invite, keep things moving on the course, and give the shop a call right away to adjust that tee times when needed. Easy resolutions that can make a difference for this game we love. Let me know your thoughts or comments at ronparish@lonetreegolfcourse.com.

By Allen Payton

After being in the catering business for 20 years, including handling crab feeds for political campaigns like Councilman Brian Kalinowski’s run for County Sheriff, last year and for the Deer Valley Youth Football, Michelle Robison and Oliver Hodges started thinking about opening a restaurant.

They began looking for a location, last year, and in July of this year, they found it. It’s on the corner of 9th and A Streets in Antioch, the site of the former, locally famous Panther Drive-In from years gone by.

First-time customer Carl Fill of Martinez, who stopped by after returning from his boat that he berths in East County, said “I love the location. In this county fish houses are hard to find.”

They call it Oliver Fish House – since Oliver is a family name on both sides. Oliver’s parents and grandparents are from Louisiana and Mississippi – which influenced his tastes. Michelle’s father Jimmy Robison is a part owner.

They serve fish, including catfish, oysters, prawns, gumbo, crab cakes and chicken wings, as well as salads and delicious desserts, including 7-Up cake, caramel cake, sweet potato pie, pecan pie and peach cobbler – all home made.

“This is the best I’ve had since I was home in Louisiana,” one patron told this writer.

“I like their gumbo,” said Antioch resident Cory Davis. “I’m here Friday or Saturday of every week.” But it was Tuesday, so he ordered fish and prawns, with hot sauce, instead.

Michelle’s background as a nurse for 27 years, gives her the personal touch when dealing with customers. Oliver likes to make people feel very welcome and at home.

“We want our customers to be satisfied,” he said. “We treat everybody just like they’re family.”
Oliver’s is a place to eat, watch TV and socialize. So stop in and have some good old Southern
cookin’ at Oliver Fish House, today.

Christian comedian and singer Mark Lowry will perform at Golden Hills Community Church’s Brentwood campus, this Thursday night during his Unplugged & Unplanned tour.

Lowry’s unique presentations have been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. His latest show has a very laid back “living room” feel which goes behind the scenes and explores some of Mark’s favorite songs, friends, and experiences from the road and from his lengthy career. The project includes a contribution from his mother, Bev “Mama” Lowry.

Lowry, who has performed with the Gaither Vocal Band and at Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, will be joined by Stan Whitmore at the piano.

Tickets are $17.00 Advance ($20 at door) and $25.00 Artist Circle (up front closer section to stage). Children 12 & under are free (except in Artist Circle Section). To purchase tickets online, click here.

The church is located at 2401 Shady Willow Lane at Lone Tree Way in Brentwood, across from the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center.

For more information about Mark Lowry, click here. For information on Stan Whitmore click here. For more information about Golden Hills Community Church, visit www.GoldenHills.org or call 925-516-0653.

BART “Freedom” trains will once again carry riders from throughout the Bay Area on Monday, Jan. 16, to Northern California’s largest celebration honoring the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“As in past years, BART is providing 5,000 special 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. BART flash passes to the event Organizing Committee to distribute free to groups or individuals who make reservations,” BART Board President John McPartland said.

This year’s events incorporate the theme ”Renewing the Dream,” and will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco from 10 am – 5 pm on Monday. BART riders attending the event can go to the Powell Street or Montgomery Street stations, and then take a short walk to the Yerba Buena Center. BART will operate on a Saturday schedule on Monday, January 16 with service beginning at 6:00 am.

BART COMMUNITY EVENTS

In addition, BART is cosponsoring the 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Musical Tribute at the Oakland Paramount starring Mavis Staples, PopLyfe, Oakland’s Interfaith Choir and more on Sunday January 15. For tickets and more information on the Oakland event, visit www.mlktribute.com.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee will be honoring Dr. King at noon in the Kaiser Auditorium (2nd floor). The honorable Willie Brown will be the keynote speaker and BART Board member Lynette Sweet will act as Mistress of Ceremonies. This program is free and features spoken word by local youth and a performance by the Afoutayi Dance and Drum Company.

How to Get a Free Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Train Flash Pass
· Go online at www.norcalmlk.co.cc/
· Check your email for a confirmation email
· The email confirmation will advise you the station to go to for your pass
· MLK volunteers will be stationed at select BART stations during the hours of 8:30 am – 10:30 am on Monday, Jan. 16, to distribute reserved passes.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced the seventh grant of the 2011-12 season from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund. The Foundation will be distributing a grant to the Antioch Police Department.

The Antioch Police Department will purchase a dual purpose canine, trained in patrol procedures and narcotics detection, so that an 11-year-old veteran canine can retire.

Antioch Chief of Police Allan Cantando said, “We are truly honored to have been selected by the Foundation as a grant recipient and are excited about the long-term benefits this grant will allow our canine unit, the Antioch Police Department and the City of Antioch to enjoy for the years to come.” Cantando added, “These grant funds will be used to purchase a new dual purpose canine to ensure the continued success of the unit.”

During the 2011-12 NFL season, The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation will be distributing grants to K-9 units of police and fire departments in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers.

The Foundation will also distribute several grants to the Pittsburgh area and will consider grants to any two cities in the United States if the Steelers make the playoffs. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their needs.

This marks the fifth season that the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation has distributed grants to K-9 units. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation seeks to support K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States with a particular emphasis on support for service dogs in Pittsburgh, PA.

In commenting on why the mission of the foundation is so important to him, Roethlisberger said, “We’re very fortunate to be in the position that we are able to help these K-9 units. The work that is performed by the dogs and their handlers as well as the bond that is formed is incredible. We’re just thrilled to do our small part.”

For more information about the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation or The Giving Back Fund, please contact Stephanie Sandler or visit www.bigben7.com or www.givingback.org.

About Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger is in his eighth season as quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and already has secured his place in the record books. At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, he is aptly referred to as Big Ben, and has become known for big performances and a humble approach. Roethlisberger is one of only 10 starting quarterbacks to win two or more Super Bowls. In 2009, he led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa with a thrilling touchdown pass in the final seconds. In 2006, Roethlisberger became the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Detroit. Roethlisberger was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2007, and already holds most of the passing records for the Steelers. He is the only quarterback to lead his team to the conference championship game in each of his first two seasons. He was the unanimous Rookie of the Year in 2004, breaking Dan Marino’s rookie records for completion percentage and passer rating, and was the first quarterback in NFL history to compile a 13-0 regular season record as a rookie.
Roethlisberger was raised in Findlay, OH and was a three-sport star at Findlay High School. He went on to set nearly every quarterback record at Miami University (Ohio) prior to foregoing his senior season and becoming the 11th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2004 NFL Draft. Roethlisberger resides near Pittsburgh with his wife Ashley and his two dogs, Zeus and Hercules.

About The Giving Back Fund
The Giving Back Fund (GBF) is a national public charity that creates and professionally manages charitable foundations and other philanthropic programs for athletes, entertainers, business entrepreneurs, and corporations. Since our founding in 1997, GBF has created an important niche in expanding and diversifying philanthropy, particularly among young people, women and people of color. Our unique structure allows donors to direct more of their charitable dollars to causes they care about and less to administrative overhead. To date, The Giving Back Fund has provided philanthropic consulting, management and programming to more than 200 athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and other high net worth individuals. GBF has overseen the distribution of more than $30,000,000 in charitable grants within the United States and other countries, and has developed dozens of unique scholarship, mentoring, medical, arts, and other philanthropic programs. For additional information, please visit www.givingback.org.

Jan. 14 – MLK 2012 Spoken Word Celebration
Souljahs Building, Prizes for High Schcol (HIV AIDS) and Open (Protecting Our Women & Children) divisions. 564 West 10th St., Pittsburg, 6 p.m.

Jan. 16 – City of Antioch Martin Luther King Observance
City of Antioch MLK Observance will be held at Antioch High School’s Beede Auditorium, 700 W. 18th Street, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Jan. 16 MLK March & Celebration
A march will begin at Pittsburg City Hall at 11:15 a.m. and end at Marina Vista Elementary School. Speeches, program, awards. Program starts at noon and features information booths and special guest speaker, author Marvelyn Brown.

Jan. 16 – Martin Luther King holiday
County offices closed.

Jan. 17 – Martin Luther King Celebration
Martin Luther King Celebration at the Board of Supervisors’ chambers, 651 Pine Street in Martinez includes Humanitarian of the Year Awards, entertainment and refreshments. Starts at 11 a.m.

Join the fun and your fellow 49er fans at Humphrey’s on the Delta and watch the Niners play (beat) the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs, on Saturday, January 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Humphrey’s is located at 1 Marina Plaza, at the foot of L Street, overlooking the river in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown. Get there early for the best seats, then stay for a victory dinner!

By Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Elizabeth Thompson
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Public Affairs

KABUL – Walking around Camp Eggers, contracted linguist Rafia Yusuf is flooded with pleasant memories of the pre-soviet Kabul she grew up in, a Kabul that she hardly recognizes now.

She remembers when Camp Eggers, home to U.S. military and coalition forces at NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A), was a residential area where she once got a privileged glimpse of King Mohammad Zahir Shah driving his Rolls Royce through the city.

“That was a big impression on me to see the king and have him wave to me,” Yusuf said with a smile. “I think about that all the time.”

According to Yusuf, women wore European clothing and it was not unusual to travel at night to see movie without a male escort. She also had no problem getting an education, graduating from Malalai School with a degree in history and geography.

When the Soviets invaded Kabul, she witnessed a drastic change in civil liberties.

“Once Russia came over it all stopped. No one could go out. Nothing. We were just inside the houses,” remembered Yusuf. “It made me very upset. Why did these things happen? We did not know the consequences of these actions on our future and the future of the country.”

At 20, Yusuf, her husband and both of their families left Kabul. After spending four years in a camp on the border of Pakistan, they immigrated to the U.S. The family lived in Southern California for a few years and Yusuf lived in Sacramento before moving to Antioch, Calif.

Sept. 11, 2001, ignited a desire for Yusuf to return to Afghanistan even though the timing in her life was not ideal.

“My son was too young on Sept 11th to come over but since then I wanted to come,” Yusuf explained. “I do remember that I was at work, and I said to my coworkers, ‘I want to go.’”

Last year Yusuf got her chance to return. She was hired by Mission Essential Personnel (MEP) as a linguist and received an assignment to Kabul as an NTM-A interpreter. Nothing could prepare Yusuf for her return to Afghanistan. After she was picked up at the airport, her first drive through the city she once called home was described as a “shock and disappointment.”

“When I first came here they drove me through the city at night, and I saw all of the dust and the carts and poverty,” said Yusuf. “I heard the news that there were a lot of changes that happened here, and I expected a lot but not this much. This was too much … I couldn’t believe that this was the capital that I grew up in.”

That first impression did not stop her desire to be a part of positive change within Afghanistan.

“I have been here one year and now I see the coalition countries come here and try to train the military and police and work to clean up the country,” Yusuf said. “No one can blame [the Afghans] that they grew up in this situation…They need direction on how they are suppose to go.”

During Yusuf’s time with NTM-A, she has seen the Afghan government’s proactive approach to improve vehicle security and traffic by implementing advanced vehicle search techniques and plans to one day install traffic lights throughout the city.

She also comments that sanitary conditions are better throughout Kabul. When she first arrived, food vendors let fruit and meat spoil outside their shops by being exposed to the weather and pollutants from highly trafficked streets. Throughout the year, the government has worked with store keepers to improve overall health standards.

But Yusuf believes that more can be done by the government and Afghan people.

In an office of approximately 12 Afghan linguists, she is the only Afghan American. She believes that it is important for all Afghans, living in Afghanistan and abroad, to be involved in the country’s future and one-by-one people can make a difference.

“All of us cannot be the president, all of us cannot be the vice president, all of us cannot be the ministry, all of us cannot be the general; everything starts from ordinary people,” emphasized Yusuf. “Once they put hand-to-hand together and they are shoulder by shoulder; then we get victory. That’s the main thing.”

Yusuf’s coworkers enjoy sharing their experiences with her and feel comfortable asking her for personal and work related guidance.

A former Afghan National Army (ANA) dentist and now linguist for NTM-A’s Medical Command and Inspector General, Shokrya is optimistic with Yusuf’s encouragement to make positive changes within Afghanistan. Shokrya was dismissed from the ANA when her hospital tried to force her into a job she was not properly trained for and now she works with the IG who is responsible for correcting those kinds of problems within the ANA medical community.

“Sometimes when she has time, and I have time, we talk about personal issues,” said Shokrya. “She also gives us advice like Afghan people should serve their country because this is Afghanistan and Afghanistan needs improvements.”

Nabiullah, also a linguist with NTM-A, is also recovering from an IED attack that claimed the lives of four U.S. service members he considered friends while working as their interpreter in the Paktika Province. Nabiullah suffered major injuries that still affect his speech abilities, but he is very thankful to be alive, to continue working with U.S. and coalition forces and to have caring coworkers like Yusuf.

Working with other Afghan linguists, has been rewarding for Yusuf. She is glad coworkers feel comfortable enough to open up and talk with her but believes more could be done by her colleagues outside the office.

“[My Afghan colleagues] are young, educated, they can think clearly and are not scared,” stressed Yusuf. “Every day, I ask them and tell them if you guys have time, when you go home, relax a little bit and then clean up your street. This is going to start with five or six people and then grow to hundreds if they make a group or organization.”

A source of inspiration for Yusuf is a quote by Robert Frost, which was re-quoted by President Kennedy and says, “The woods are lovely, dark, and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.”

Yusuf completed her one year contract with MEP in December and renewed her contract to work with NTM-A for another year. June 2011, she was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police-Combine Training Advisor Group for her work with the Afghan National Police. December 22, she was presented with another certificate of appreciation from MEP and given a thank you letter from the company.

Currently, Yusuf is enjoying some vacation time to relax and enjoy time with her family stateside but looks forward to continuing her work in Afghanistan. She hopes one day to be a cultural advisor for the Afghan government and encourage others to work together to re-build the country.

“Everything starts from zero,” comments Yusuf about the power a community can have if people are willing to band together to create positive change. “Nothing starts from hundreds; it starts from zero and then goes to the millions.”

NTM-A is a coalition of 37 troop-contributing nations charged with assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) in generating a capable and sustainable Afghan National Security Force ready to take lead of their country’s security by 2014.