Glimpse of a: Golf Nut

Subject: Ray Alfonso

Profession: IT Manager
Age: 45
Hometown: Teaneck, NJ

Most recent endeavor: Crandon Park Golf Course in Key Biscayne, Florida (a brutally tough course 148 slope/74.5 rating); I shot a 73 and left there very happy!
Other interests: Saltwater fishing, photography and fine dining.

Your intro to the game of golf: One night a friend took me to a driving range in August of 1997 and I immediately became hooked. I practiced about 3-5 days a week in the beginning and was completely addicted! I had watched Tiger Woods win the ‘97 Masters and watched a decent amount of golf before going to the range that night, but never actually picked up a club until that time.

Favorite clubs: My Ping Rapture Driver equipped with an Accra SE80 M5 shaft—straightest driver I’ve ever used by far. I also love my Sonartec MD hybrid, which replaced my 2 iron/5 wood. It’s straighter and as long as either my 5 wood or 2 iron with the added benefit of being more versatile than either of those clubs. I’ve done everything from chipping to putting to punch shots with that club.

Other equipment you can’t live without: My Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport II Pro Platinum putter, which has been in the bag for 10 years now; my Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Oil Can 58 degree wedge; and my golf towel. I can’t stand putting a dirty ball or hitting with dirty irons.

Best Score: 70 for 18 holes/32 for 9 holes.

To upgrade your game: Need to work on my short game. Making that one additional 6-foot putt or hitting a 30-50 yard pitch inside a 6-8 foot circle more often would probably knock 1-3 strokes off my score on an average round.

Most frequented course: Overpeck Golf Course in Teaneck, NJ

Dream course: St. Andrews in Scotland

Dream Team (the foursome of your choice): Tough question, but if I had to pick it would be Tiger Woods, Ernie Els (I can’t think of two swings that I would rather watch over 18 holes) and my good friend Vornel Walker who introduced me to the game. I don’t think it could get much better than that!