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About UsHi, our names are Bill Satterfield and Mike Sutorius and we're golfaholics. "Hi Bill and Mike" should have been your knee-jerk response to that intro if you've attended Golfaholics Anonymous classes too. If you haven't attended any classes, but need to, both of our wives host them every other Wednesday night after PTA meeting. In Alcoholics Anonymous' 12 steps to recovery program, the first step reads; "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable." Substitute golf in for alcohol, and that pretty much epitomizes our lives eight months out of the year.
As the self named Golf Gurus, we love golf; the challenge, the comradery, and the flat out beauty. Golf courses represent some of the most beautiful, well manicured places on earth. Renowned golf course architect Jim Engh once said, "Golf is the only art form whereby the viewers of the art can not only move within the artwork but also 'compete' against it." We concur. We love the individuality, the challenge, the architecture, the sanctuary, and the beauty - both natural and created.
One the keys to any successful website is having fresh content. Whether it is new pictures, course reviews, or just a fresh look; the Golf Course Gurus website will frequently feature something new to look at or read. We also relish a good list - golf-related or otherwise. Every medium publishes them, and everyone with an opinion loves them. Top 10 This, Top 50 That, Greatest 100 of All Time, etc., etc. Lists inspire thought, instant debate, strong opinions, and renewed or initial interest. Golf lists are no exception. GOLF COURSE GURUS QUICK BIOSBillTo support my golf addiction I sell real estate for a living. I represent the fourth generation of Satterfield's that have sold real estate in Pocatello, ID and am an Associate Broker at Re/Max Country Real Estate. I didn't pick up golf until age 21 but was able to develop a single digit handicap after playing for a few seasons. In general I play a draw off the tee and tend to hit all of my clubs higher in the air than they are probably designed for. During the non-golf season I stay active by playing basketball, soccer, running on the treadmill, and playing video games. Playing video games to stay active? Sounds odd, but I actually play Madden NFL Football while logging a few miles in on the treadmill to try and stay in shape. I also enjoy doing P90X workouts with my wife, Stacy. Beyond those things my life stays plenty busy while Stacy and I try to keep up with our four beautiful daughters and two sons.
Quick Facts:
MikeI support my golf habit by working as a salesman in the electrical distribution business. In 2007 I relocated from the "value golf" capital of the world, Salt Lake City, UT (see Featured Articles) to Pocatello, Idaho. Bill and I now live on the same street, 4 doors down, where our combined 8 girls could not be happier! I began golfing in high school where I admittedly was a non-factor on our golf team, but it was enough to give me the golf "itch." I play to a single digit handicap where my biggest strengths are finding ways to save par from troublesome lies as well as knocking down testy five and six footers. But the first thing people seem to notice, and subsequently comment about my game, is the big windup I take with my driver - Bill keeps track of how many holes it takes for any new playing partner to comment on how hard I swing (generally 3 or less). Besides golf, I'm an avid sports fan that enjoys playing basketball, lifting weights, and busting out some karaoke.
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GOLF COURSE GURUS' ASSOCIATES QUICK BIOSSo those are the main players in this website. The blog section of the website will mostly focus on happenings during the golf trips Mike and I make together; however we'll occasionally make reference to other characters we golf with and thought this would be the perfect place to put some faces to the names. RickNot a golfer himself (yet), Rick (Bill's brother) is the programming genius that helps make this website possible. Rick earned a Master's Degree in Computer Science from Utah State and specializes in web design. Besides helping with the design of the Golf Course Gurus website, Rick is the mastermind behind Satterfield Realty's business website (www.SatterfieldRealty.com) as well as the popular www.LDSChurchTemples.com site. In addition to his professional web design skills, Rick cuts a mean rug on the dance floor where he used to compete nationally in ballroom dancing.
Steve (Dad)When we aren't golfing in just a twosome, there is a good chance Steve (Bill's Dad) is along with us. Bill and his Dad picked up the game together and used to play scrambles all the time so that they didn't get too frustrated with some of our "less than stellar" shots. Today, Steve is a steady player that counts on his deadly low iron game to get the job done. The most beautiful course he's ever played is Jim Engh's Club at Black Rock masterpiece in Coeur d'Alene, ID. His favorite all time course though is Columbia Edgewater in Portland, OR where the LPGA stops each August. Future rounds of golf with Steve will be in the Atlanta area where he will be living from July 1st 2009 to July 1st 2012. Now if he can just figure out an Augusta National connection while down there . . .
R.JayThe next character, and I mean character, you'll hear about on this site is Bill's good friend R.Jay Henderson. RJay is a jack of all trades that enjoys snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, basketball, water sports, and of course golf. For a living, RJay is a mortgage lender for Advantage Plus Credit Union and has been in the lending business for over ten years. His fondest golf memory is when he stuck his tee shot 26 inches from the hole and birdied the floating green at Coeur d'Alene Resort. The next golf destination that he wants to make a priority to get to is the beautiful Oregon coast to tackle on the courses at Bandon.
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DarenBill has known Daren Almond for several years since Bill played basketball with Daren's younger brother, Ryan, from 6th grade on through high school. Prior to becoming a mortgage lender at Idaho Central Credit Union, Daren earned his Rocky Mountain section PGA card in 2000 while shooting his qualifying rounds at Ridgecrest Golf Course in Nampa, ID. Daren plays a high draw off the tee and can always count on his knock-down iron shots to come through when the wind and the pressure rises. Daren has joined The Gurus on a couple of trips to courses like Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Olympic Club, San Francisco GC, Riviera, and Sherwood to highlight a few.
JayIf there is a nicer person on the planet than Jay McMillin, then the Gurus have yet to meet that individual. Jay is a native of Nebraska that found his way to Idaho after his college basketball career (Nebraska Wesleyan) by taking an assistant coach position at the University of Idaho. He eventually worked his way south in the state and landed at Idaho State University where he has been an assistant coach, Executive Director of the Bengal Foundation, and is currently serving as the Director of Major Gifts. Jay plays to a single digit handicap where his long, fluid swing launches huge drives while keeping him in perfect balance from start to finish. Jay's first 'Guru style' golf trip was impressive after he landed a tee time at Sand Hills. The trip consisted of 36 holes at Sand Hills, a round at Ballyneal and Sanctuary, and 1800 miles of driving all in under 64 hours. If that isn't golf trippin' Guru style I don't know what is!
RichBill has golfed with Rich Shipp for a few years now and to this day Bill has only witnessed Rich miss the fairway with a tee shot twice. While that is a bit of an exaggeration, it isn't a huge stretch! Rich is the definition of consistency and his smooth, tempoed swing produces consistant results which keeps his handicap around scratch. A native of central Utah, Rich graduated from Utah State University before finding his way to Idaho where is he employed by ON-Semiconductor. Rich is an easy going guy that loves the competition and strategy of golf and takes pleasure in 'kindly' kicking your tail in a match!
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TroyBill and Troy Bell have been great friends since junior high school and were next door neighbors from 2004-2009 so it makes it really convenient to get together for some golf. Troy picked up golf in his 20s after he finished earning his Health Care Administration degree on a football scholorship (running back) at Idaho State University. Naturally athletic, Troy has developed a solid swing and relys on a high fade to get around the course in an efficient fashion. During the summer you are sure to find Troy at Highland golf course teeing off at 6:00 AM getting a quick round in before showing up at the healthcare facility he owns, Tanabell.
TomTom Stoddard married Bill's younger sister (Shelly) and is therefore Bill and Mike's brother-in-law. Tom is a natural athlete that excelled in baseball, football, and basketball in high school and has now obtained the golfing "bug", much to Shel's dismay. Since graduating from Idaho State University, Tom has taken golf more serious where the lefty can get frustrated by the fact he can't test out any of our right-handed golf equipment and visa versa. Tom is a mid-handicapper that plays a fade off the tee and counts on his efficient iron game to score well.
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HeathHeath Mitchell and Bill are long time friends that grew up together playing baseball, wiffle ball, shooting hoops, and some occasional games of Jeopardy! on the computer. At age 12 Heath moved up to Shelley, ID and attended Shelley High School where he played golf and baseball before proudly graduating as a Russet (after all, we DO live in potato country!). Heath has since moved back to Pocatello and works at Zions Bank to support his wife and two kids. Heath was broken into the Gurus' golf trip lifestyle with a 36 hour, 72 hole, jaunt over to the Treasure Valley in Boise, ID.
SpencerSpencer Ellis is a easy-going guy that served as missionary companions with R.Jay in Hungary in the early 1990s. Spencer is one of the few people we've come across that is as big of a BYU fan as the Gurus are. Currently employed in the Planned Giving Office of LDS Philanthropies at Brigham Young University, Spencer had the unique opportunity to balance life between being at work and being a fan! His first taste of the Guru golf life was when Spencer, R.Jay, Tom, and Bill were able to tee it up at the new Victory Ranch golf course outside Park City, UT in October prior to attending the BYU vs TCU football game. His most recent Guru road trip included rounds at Coeur d'Alene Resort, Gozzer Ranch, and Black Rock.
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StacyAbout 10 times a year Bill manages to get his sweet wife Stacy out for a round of golf. She'd love to play more but is quite limited due to the amount of time it takes raising a family of four girls who were all born in a six year time period. Stac has a naturally athletic swing which will help her become a good little golfer once she has more time to dedicate to it. One of the best things about Stac though is her super positive attitude about Bill's golfing addiction and supports him in everything he does.
NikkiAhh, Nikki; what a phenomonal gal. How wonderful is Nikki? Wonderful enough that our wives let us take her on every outing which has made golf trippin' better than ever. Before your mind wanders too much we should explain that Nikki is the Gurus' Garmin Nuvi 260 GPS unit. Mike named her Nikki (short for Nicole Kidman) after Bill selected the option to have the unit speak with a female Austrailian American accent. Nikki has over six million points of interest programmed into her so that getting to golf courses, restaurants, and motels is now stress free.
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Mike Sutorius (Platt Electric Supply, Pocatello)