WHICH COURSES DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?

Golf Card is committed to adding new, quality courses to its nationwide network. If there is a course you would like to see accept The Golf Card, please let us know by E-mailing office@golfcard.com. We will do our best to contact these courses and enroll them. Or have the course call us at 1-800-321-8269.

REGISTER NOW FOR FALL MEMBER-GUEST @ WOODLOCH

Close to 80 players have already registered for The Fall Member-Guest Tournament to be held at The Country Club at Woodloch Springs on Wednesday, October 17. With more than six weeks left, we're expecting a healthy field of 100.

The Woodloch tournament has been a hit with Golf Card members and guests since it began two years ago. The combination of a scenic 4½ star course that winds around hazards, across ravines and over gorges dressed up in beautiful fall colors and serviced by a staff that look after every detail all adds up to fulfilling day.

There's still time to get in on the fun. Just call 1-800-321-8269 to register. It doesn't matter if you're one, two, three, four or more - we can accommodate any amount of players. The entry fee is $79 and includes golf, cart, dinner, prizes and awards.

Please note the starting time is a 11 a.m. shotgun.

TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT - Fall Foilage

September and October can be the prettiest months of the year in much of the United States. With your Golf Card, it gets even better as many of our affiliates are located in prime foliage spots. Below is a state-by-state summary of what colors you can expect to see, the peak times and some suggestions for recommended courses that should brighten your day.

Alabama

Peak time: northern mountains (early October); rest of state (late October to early November)
Colorful course: Twin Bridges GC (Gadsden) 256-549-4866; twinbridgesgolf.com

Arkansas

Dominant colors: gold, orange, red and purple
Peak time: Last few days of October and first few days of November
Colorful courses: Tannenbaum GC (Drasco) 866-876-8269, tboxgolf.net; Turkey Mountain GC (Horseshoe Bend) 870-670-5252, turkeymtngc.com

Colorado

Dominant colors: yellow and gold
Peak time: all of September is ideal but the color is fleeting, lasting only about a week in most places.
Colorful courses: Granby Ranch (formerly Headwaters GC) (Granby) 970-887-2709, granbyranch.com; Rifle Creek GC (Rifle) 970-625-1093, riflecreekgc.com

Connecticut

Dominant colors: yellow, orange and red
Peak time: mid-October through early November
Colorful course: Simsbury Farms (West Simsbury) 860-658-6246, simsburyfarms.com

Georgia

Dominant colors: orange and gold
Peak time: early to mid-November
Colorful courses: Innsbruck GC (Helen) 706-878-2100, innsbruckgolfclub.com; Stonebridge GC (Rome) 706-236-5046, romestonebridge.com

Illinois

Dominant colors: yellow and red.
Peak time: mid-October to early November
Colorful courses: Prairieview GC (Byron) 815-234-4653, prairieviewgolf.com; Piper Glen GC (Springfield) 217-483-6537, piperglen.com; Coyote Creek GC (Bartonville) 309-633-0911, golfcoyotecreek.com

Iowa

Dominant colors: yellow and red
Peak time: northeast mid-October; southern (late October)
Colorful course: Brooks National GC (Okoboji) 712-332-5011, brooksgolfclub.com

Kentucky

Dominant colors: yellow, orange and red
Peak time: late October to early November
Colorful courses: Drake Creek (Paducah) 270-898-4653, drakecreek.com; Bardstown CC at Maywood (Bardstown) 502-348-6600, bardstowncountryclub.com

Maine

Dominant colors: red, purple and yellow
Peak time: north and west (late September to early October); south and coastal (mid-October)
Colorful courses: Nonesuch River GC (Scarborough) 888-256-2717, nonesuchgolf.com; Kebo Valley GC (Bar Harbor) 207-288-3000, kebovalleyclub.com; Brunswick GC (Brunswick) 207-725-8224, brunswickgolfclub.com

Maryland

Dominant colors: yellow and red
Peak time: south and central (late October to early November)
Colorful courses: Wisp Resort (McHenry) 301-387-4911, wispresort.com; Oakland GC (Oakland) 301-334-3883, golfatoakland.com; Hog Neck GC (Easton) 800-280-1790, hogneck.com

Massachusetts

Dominant colors: orange, yellow, and green.
Peak time: west and southeast (first week of October); central (mid-October); east (end of October)
Colorful courses: Crumpin-Fox Club (Bernardston) 413-648-9101, golfthefox.com; Hickory Ridge CC (Amherst) 413-253-9320, hickoryridgecc.com; Blackstone National GC (Sutton) 508-865-2111, bngc.net

Michigan

Dominant colors: red and orange
Peak time: far western quarter of the upper peninsula (mid-September to early October); all other areas in the upper peninsula (late-September to mid-October); lower peninsula (late September to late October).
Colorful courses: A-Ga-Ming Resort (Kewadin) 231-264-5081, a-ga-ming.com; Lake Doster GC (Plainwell) 269-685-5308, lakedostergolf.com; Grand Haven GC (Grand Haven) 616-842-4040, grandhavengolfclub.com; Mistwood GC (Lake Ann) 231-275-5500, mitswoodgolf.com; The Quest GC (Houghton Lake) 866-422-4516,

Minnesota

Dominant colors: red and orange Peak time: northern third (mid-September-early October); central third (late September-early October); southern third (late September-mid-October); Colorful courses: The Summit GC (Cannon Falls) 507-263-4648, summitgolfclub.com; Green Lea GC (Albert Lea) 507-373-1061, greenlea.com; Greystone GC (Sauk Centre) 320-352-3860, greystonegc.net; Tianna CC (Walker) 866-482-2465

Missouri

Dominant colors: orange, yellow and red Peak time: mid-October Colorful courses: Eagle Springs (St. Louis) 314-355-7277, eaglesprings.com; Bent Creek GC (Jackson) 573-243-6060, bentcreekgc.com; Dogwood Hills GC (Osage Beach) 573-348-3153, dogwoodhillsresort.com

New Hampshire

Dominant colors: yellow and red Peak time: far north (end of September); White Mountain region (beginning of October); south (mid-October). Colorful courses: Eastman Golf Links (Grantham) 603-863-4500, eastmangolflinks.com; Beaver Meadow GC (Concord) 603-228-8954, beavermeadowgolfcourse.com; Crotched Mountain GC (Francestown) 603-588-2923, crotchedmountainresort.com; Androscoggin Valley CC (Gorham) 603-466-9468, avccgolf.com)

New Jersey

Dominant colors: yellow and red
Peak time: inland New Jersey (mid to late October); coastal (late October to early November).
Colorful courses: High Bridge Hills (High Bridge) 908-638-5055, highbridgehills.com; McCullough's Emerald Golf Links (Egg Harbor Township) 609-926-3900; mcculloughsgolf.com; Town and Country GL (Woodstown) 856-769-8333, tcgolflinks.com

New York

Dominant colors: red, orange, and yellow
Peak time: Adirondacks and Catskills (late September-mid October); metro NY area (late October).
Colorful courses: Villa Roma Resort (Callicoon) 845-887-5097; villaroma.com; Apple Greens GC (Highland) 845-883-5500, applegreens.com; 908-638-5055; Tarry Brae GC (South Fallsburg) 845-434-2620, tarrybrae.com; Copake CC (Craryville) 518-325-4338, copakecountryclub.com; Rome CC (Rome) 315-336-6464, romecountryclub.com

North Carolina

Dominant colors: red and orange
Peak time: inland (mid to late October; coastal regions (late October-early November)
Colorful courses: Oak Valley GC (Advance) 336-940-2000, oakvalleygolfclub.com; The Pit Golf Links (Aberdeen) 910-944-1600, pitgolf.com; The Neuse GC (Clayton) 919-550-0550, neusegolf.com; Eagle Chase GC (Marshville) 704-385-9000, eaglechasegolf.com; Bayonet at Puppy Creek (Raeford) 910-904-1500, bayonetgolf.com; Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation (Wilmington) 910-383-0999, magnoliagreens.com

Ohio

Dominant colors: yellow and orange
Peak time: mid-October
Colorful courses: Oak Shadows GC (New Philadelphia) 888-802-7289, oakshadowsgolf.com; Salem Hills GC (Salem) 330-337-8033, salemhillsgolf.com; Chapel Hill GC (Mount Vernon) 740-393-3999, chapelhillgolfcourse.com; The Players Club at Foxfire (Lockbourne) 614-224-3694, foxfiregolfclub.com

Oregon

Dominant colors: yellow and red
Peak time: mid to late October
Colorful courses: Salmon Run (Brookings) 541-469-4888, salmonrun.net; Juniper GC (Redmond) 541-548-3121, junipergolf.com; Meriweather National GC (Hillsboro) 503-648-4143, meriweathergolfclub.com

Pennsylvania

Dominant colors: red, orange and yellow
Peak time: north (early October); central (mid-October); southeastern (last two weeks of October).
Colorful courses: Woodloch Springs (Hawley) 570-685-8102, woodloch.com; Penn National GC (Gettysburg) 717-352-3000, penngolf.com; Center Valley Club (Center Valley) 610-791-5580, centervalleyclubgolf.com; Stone Hedge Championship GC (Factoryville) 570-836-5108, stone-hedge.com; Carroll Valley Golf (Fairfield) 717-642-8211, carrollvalley.com; Hideaway Hills GC (Kunkletown) 610-681-6000, hideawaygolf.com; Shawnee Inn (Shawnee on Delaware) 570-424-4050, shawneeinn.com; Grandview GC (York) 717-764-2674, golfgrandview.com

Tennessee

Dominant colors: red and yellow Peak time: northeastern mountain region (last two weeks of October); across the state (mid-October to late November) Colorful courses: Eagle Bluff (Chattanooga) 423-326-0202, eaglebluffgolf.com; Landmark GC at Avalon (Lenoir City) 865-986-4653, avalongolf.com; Jones Creek GC (Jackson) 731-425-8620, jonescreekgolf.net; Andrew Johnson GC (Greeneville) 423-636-1476, andrewjohnsongolf.com

Vermont

Dominant colors: orange, purple and red
Peak time: northern (last week of September and early October); southern (early to mid-October)
Colorful courses: Green Mountain National GC (Killington) 802-422-4653, gmngc.com; GC at Equinox (Manchester Village) 802-362-7870, playequinox.com;
CC of Barre (Barre), 802-476-7658, ccofbarre.com

Virginia

Dominant colors: yellow, orange, purple and red
Peak time: inland (mid to late October); coastal (late October to early November)
Colorful courses: Packsaddle Ridge GC (Keezletown) 540-269-8188, packsaddle.net; Shenendoah Valley GC (Port Royal) 540-636-2641, svgcgolf.com; Bryce Resort (Basye) 540-856-2124, bryceresort.com; Colonial GC (Williamsburg) 757-566-1600, golfcolonial.com

Washington

Dominant colors: yellow and red
Peak time: mid-September to mid-October
Colorful courses: Eaglemont GC (Mount Vernon) 800-368-8876, eaglemontgolf.com; North Bellingham GC (Bellingham) 360-398-8300, northbellinghamgolf.com; Kahler Glen GC (Leavenworth) 509-763-4025, kahlerglen.com

West Virginia

Dominant colors: orange, yellow and red
Peak time: late September to late October
Colorful courses: Mountainview GC (Morgantown) 304-594-1412, lakeviewresort.com;

Wisconsin

Dominant colors: orange and yellow.
Peak time: early to mid-October
Colorful courses: Trappers Turn (Wisconsin Dells) 608-253-7000, trappersturn.com; Christmas Mountain Village (Wisconsin Dells) 608-254-3971, christmasmountainvillage.com; Turtleback GC (Rice Lake) 715-234-7641, turtlebackgolf.com; Old Hickory GC (Beaver Dam) 920-887-7577, oldhickorycc.com

WHAT HAPPENED? - Mike Weir

In 2003, Mike Weir won three tournaments including The Masters. He won $5.2 million and ranked fifth on the PGA Tour's money list. From 2001-2005, he was in the top 10 in the World Rankings for 110 weeks. He was clearly one of the game's best players as well as one of its most likeable.

In 2007, as Tour players are wont to do, he tried to "get even better" and changed his swing, going to the new "Stack and Tilt" technique which was gaining popularity among his peers. For awhile, Weir responded well, winning the 2007 Fry's. In 2008 and 2009, he had solid years placing in the top 30 each year.

Then it all started to unwind for Weir. In 2010, he tore a ligament in his right elbow. After sitting out much of the year, he tried to come back in 2011 to no avail. He then opted for surgery and look to 2012 to come back. Though he has been pain free, Weir has missed 12 straight cuts in 2012 and watched his scoring average balloon to 75.6. Dating back to 2011, he has missed 22 of 23, has made just $23,000, dropped to No. 1443 in the World Rankings and has lost his exempt status on the PGA Tour. That means he will have to rely on sponsors (which isn't likely considering the state of his game) or his status as past winner to get into tournaments the rest of the season. In 2013, it's likely he will invoke a special exemption reserved for players in the top 25 in career earnings.

He says that's what he's gearing for."I'm really looking to next year," Weir said. "This is three months into the process with Grant and if I play some great golf, that's a bonus. But I'm taking the process... (and) I'm really looking down the road here."

Weir was referring to his new swing coach Grant Waite, a former PGA Tour player himself. Despite the long range optimism, Weir admits his game is at rock bottom. "The state of my game hasn't been very good at all," Weir says, who is averaging just 259 yards off the tee. "It's been poor. But I'm a worker, that's what I do. (Improving) doesn't happen by osmosis, you've got to get out there and put the work in.

"As expected from the mild-mannered and affable Weir, he is taking his prolonged slump in stride and trying to put his defogger on. "I think if this would have happened maybe when I was 30 years old, it (might have been) a little tougher," said Weir, a father of two. "But you know, I think you gain perspective when you get a little older and you have children and you're home. And even though I'm working hard (and struggling), I'm able to go to soccer games and do all those things and enjoy my life.

"And golf, I love the game and I enjoy working at it. It means a great deal to me, but it's not everything to me."

JUST SAYIN' - Ken Cohen

Do we really need a Ryder Cup and President's Cup? Don't get me wrong. I like the idea of team matches more than anyone. The top players, the match-play format, the intensity, the pride and the strategy all make for a truly unique and dramatic golf event. But something is always missing - one of the teams. The European team from the Ryder Cup and The International team from the President's Cup never get a chance to compete against each other - only against the United States.

Wouldn't it be better if all three teams competed simultaneously in a triangular match? That way all the best players are accounted for and there are no what ifs. Triangular matches between golf associations are common at the regional level. Simply, team members are playing two matches at one time. There might have to be some adjustments made for the best-ball matches so they don't take too long. But alternate shot and singles pose no time problems.

There will come a day when the Ryder Cup and President's Cup lose some of their allure because the top players won't be playing - especially when you throw the Olympics into the mix starting in 2016. It will just be too much golf. The reason the Ryder Cup suddenly appeared on the radar was because players like Faldo, Langer, Woosnam, Ballesteros and Olazabal were major winners among the top players in the world. The European team was actually stronger than the American team and appears to be loaded again this year. But it was just 10 years ago when the European team had only two players among the Top10 in the world and only one had won a major. It can and will happen again that one team will be clearly stronger than the other.

A competition among all three teams would guarantee star power year in and year out - even in Olympic years. That will sustain interest and keep the team-match concept popular with the public.

RULES SCHOOL - Playing Wrong Ball

After hitting her second and third shots on a hole, Denise discovered she hit the wrong ball on both shots. She goes to play the correct ball but can't find it. How does she proceed and what is the penalty.

A. Once Denise discovers she hit the wrong ball, she must correct the mistake by playing the correct ball. In her case, since she couldn't find the correct ball, she has to go back to the tee and play the first ball as a lost ball. Once she concludes the hole, she then must add two shots for playing the wrong ball. Two strokes is the maximum penalty no matter how many strokes are taken with the wrong ball.

MEMBER'S TEE - Driving the ball longer

I simply want to hit the ball longer off the tee, but with some kind of accuracy. What can I do?

Golf Card Instructional Staff

There are various ways different instructors will offer to hit the ball longer. Perhaps the simplest is going to a longer shaft. But from an actual swing standpoint, you want to increase extension so you feel the club is still moving down the target line well after impact. It's what some pros call "chasing after" the golf ball. To get this type of extension, try the following:

1. Have arms free at address (no tension).
2. Turn shoulders on the takeaway - do not take club away with your hands.
3. Make sure the shaft is parallel to the ground after impact.

If you have a swing problem or other flaw with your game, e-mail us at memberstee@golfcard.com. Please include a brief description of what your tendencies are, what you want fixed and our Instructional Staff will consider your submission for response.