Ed Tabor took over as golf professional and superintendent in 1943. Early on, Ed did much work on the golf course and continued giving lessons for his entire life. The way Tabor and John Davidson sculpted these greens would put a smile on Leonardo DaVinci’s face; it’s an absolute treat to play golf at West Shore.

Now the club has a fine bloke from down under to maintain Tabor’s engineering. This master of moss can make these greens so smooth and fast, they would scare away a saltwater crocodile. Chris “Crocodile Dundee” Braun won the club championship last year along with the Harrisburg District Golf Aassociation Senior Individual at The Country Club of Harrisburg.

Another player to contact if you need advice is the maestro himself, Scott Christie, who holds 16 club championship titles. The golf course has not changed much over the years. Just try to avoid the newly positioned fairway bunkers on a few holes. If you find one, you’ll need a piece of PennDOT equipment to expedite your escape.

PGA Professional Bob Nickey has run the shop since 1980, along with his lovely wife, Annette, and assistant, Todd Love. You won’t find a better team anywhere.

Before you play anywhere this season, be sure to sharpen your short-game skills. Harvey Penick always advocated to his pupils spending more time on the practice green than working on the full swing. I couldn’t agree more. It’s a miniature swing in essence, and so important to lowering scores. The biggest fault I’ve found with poor chippers is “scooping” at the ball — breaking the wrists before impact. I like to practice with just my left arm (I’m right-handed); it forces you to keep the left wrist firm, which is essential to consistently chipping well. If you learn to chip better, it will filter into your full golf swing.

I’ve always made my short game practice fun, but not sloppy. Normally, I’ll chip two balls onto the green and then putt them into the hole. I make each shot count. If you drop 50 balls down and chip from one spot, it’s easy to get sloppy.

Next week, we’ll golf Florida. Let’s talk about the World Golf Hall of Fame, Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Hammock and a gem on Sanibel Island. It’s a fore F overload.

WSCC Fore F Rating 5.5 Stars

In Memory of Todd Tabor

Scott Stoner is in his 33rd year teaching technology education at Cumberland Valley Eagle View Middle School and has coached the Cumberland Valley High School golf team for 21 years, winning seven championships. He advanced to the Final 64 in the 1979 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship in Cleveland.