The Golf Insiders 11-05-14

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Holly G and Rich Bianco are in the studio talking about the Cinnamon Inn in Mt Dora. Later in the Show, Holly and Rich gave away a free night at the Cinnamon Inn in celebration of Veteran's Day.

Holly also mentions that Ryan More successfully defended his CIMB Classic title and updated listeners on what has been happening in golf worldwide. 

The Golf Insiders' first guest is Mario Conte, Hurricane Golf Tour, calls in and talks about the success of the Junior Tour and introduces the Hurricane Pro-Am Series. The HJGT has grown from 3 states and barely 25 events and now they are up to 145 events and 16 states.  www.HJGT.org is where most kids sign up 

Hurricane Pro-Am Series first event will be in February 2015 in Palm Springs. Five-man teams best ball tournament. Four amateurs and 1 club pro. The Hurricane Pro-Am Series events are part of an all-inclusive package. Players will stay at luxurious hotels that feature world-class casinos, pools, bars, restaurants, spas, and much more. Pros fly free if they book their team early enough. HurricaneProAm.com 

ESPN.com Bob Harig, calls in to talk about Ryan Moore's success in the fall. The Top 50 in the World Rankings the WGC-HSBC Champions is this week coming.  They have 40 of 50 of the Top players are competing this year at "Asia's Major."  Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson are some of the PGA players who are playing in the event. This is part of the PGA wrap around season and the third of four final events on the European Tour. 

Bob gave a Dustin Johnson update ... even though DJ was reported to be suspended by the PGA Tour for a drug violation, according to GOLF.com, Dustin and his agent have said that DJ has taken a leave of absence and won't return until after Paulina Gretzky has the couple's baby in early 2015.  All of this just happens to take place during a 6 month time period.

Mike Bender, calls in to talk to Holly G and Rich B about the V1 systems and the Mike Bender Academy in Lake Mary, Fla.  Mike says at his Academy they teach at all levels. Masters Champ Zach Johnson is one of Mike's top notch students.  Mike and Rich talk about how the average viewer doesn't realize how detail oriented the PGA Pros are. Mike goes out on the Tours and visits the men and the women's pro tours. 

Vartan Kupelian, PGATour.com, calls in to wrap up the show talking about the Champions Tour that he covers. Vartan talks to Holly about how good the shot makers are on the Champions Tour like Jay Haas and Bernhard Langer. He feels sad that there are not more shot makers left of the PGA Tour. Vartan feels that most of the guys on today's PGA Tour just bomb the ball. The feeling used to be the ones who just joined the Champions Tour dominated at a younger age than their competition, but that is not the case anymore. The older players are continuing to have some of the best years of their careers.

Rich talks to Vartan about the Q School qualification going on for the Champions Tour around the United States and at Orange County National in nearby Winter Garden, Fla. Vartan said that there is only 5 spots that are available. This is the most difficult Q school out there. He said that 78 golfers is a full field. Vartan says briefly about the Ryder Cup that the U.S. got beat because the Europeans are just better. Vartan did a piece just recently on Fred Couples and feels the same way as Fred, the PGA has complicated the whole thing with this task force. Too much of a "show" and not enough about playing.