at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

This is certainly much longer than most posts on this blog, but there are some good links and information here for the avid golfers out there.

Where can you find exceptional golf and excellent value? The answer is the Lake of the Ozarks, Central Missouri’s premier resort and golf destination. An easy drive from practically anywhere, the shimmering Lake, with 1,150 miles of shoreline, is the centerpiece of a naturally scenic and vibrant area featuring attractions and activities for all ages, luxurious to economical lodging, delectable dining with panoramic Lake views—plus fantastic GOLF along the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail, a real value for golfers who book a customized Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail Package.

The Golf Trail features 13 member courses, including designs by Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, Fred Farley, Ken Kavanaugh, Roger Null and Von Hagge/Devlin. Renowned for their stunning natural beauty, courses along the Golf Trail are carved out of rock bluffs and forests, and set on the shores of the glistening Lake of the Ozarks. They challenge both experienced and novice players, plus they offer first-class amenities and services. Best of all, Lake-area weather is golf-friendly most of the year…and with courses located less than 30 minutes apart, golfers can easily play two a day.

In addition to excellent golf courses, the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail features 11 outstanding member lodging properties. Choose a full-service or family-owned resort, or a vacation home or condo (several are located right on golf course fairways), ranging from economical to luxurious accommodations. An additional 25 Lake-area lodging properties also book Golf Trail packages.

The best way to stay and play in this golfer’s paradise is the convenient and money-saving Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail Getaway Package. With just one phone call, you can reserve a double occupancy room in the lodging you want, plus guaranteed tee times, green fees and shared cart rental for 18 holes a day (36-hole rates also are available)—all for one special price that’s less than you’d pay for booking a room and golf separately.

The first step to Golf Trail savings is simply to call the participating lodging facility of your choice to arrange your getaway package. "The lodging facility can guide golfers to courses that match their skill levels or desired location," says Paul Leahy, president of the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Council. "It's one-stop shopping that saves you a lot of time and offers significant money savings, too."

One of the most popular Golf Trail resorts is the Dogwood Hills Resort Inn in Osage Beach, which books more Golf Trail packages than any other Lake lodging property, about 1,500 a year, says Motel Manager Betsy MacLaren. Her father, Bob Maxwell, built the adjacent Dogwood Hills Golf Club in 1962, making it the Lake of the Ozarks’ first golf course. The golf club features gently rolling terrain that provides variety for golfers of all skill levels. Amenities include the Lake’s only lighted driving range, a large chipping area, putting green, pro shop and the renowned Mitch & Duff’s Restaurant. The resort offers spacious motel rooms as well as 2-4 bedroom villas with fully equipped kitchens and private balconies and patios overlooking the golf course. Golfers also enjoy the resort’s ou! tdoor pool and whirlpool.

Dogwood Hill’s Golf Trail packages are completely customized, and typically include lodging, meals, beverages and range balls. “Golf Trail packages make a golf vacation effortless,” McLaren says. “We take care of all of your lodging, all of your golf, all of your tee time bookings and that adds up to a stress-free vacation. Plus, you will save money.” She adds, when you use the Golf Trail Package you can book tee times up to 60 days in advance, which is especially helpful when there are a lot of tournaments in the area.

Many Golf Trail-ers are longtime fans of Dogwood Hills, like Ted Fahs of Manchester, Mo., who has been booking golf packages through the resort for 17 years. He comes with a group of five couples. “My wife and I were looking for a place to spend our anniversary where we could play golf. I started looking around and ran across the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail package, and Dogwood Hills, and it sounded like a great combination of convenience and value,” Fahs says. “This year we will stay in the villas and I will get all the credit, although Betsy does all the work.”

Fahs’ group has played every golf course at the Lake at least once, he says. “This year we will play Dogwood Hills again, plus Indian Rock and Seasons Ridge,” he says. “We usually try to play a relatively middle of the road course the first day, something experimental the second day, and on the third day we usually go to Seasons Ridge, Witch’s Cove, Osage National or Old Kinderhook.” In addition, the group enjoys dining out and going to a movie during their Lake golf getaway.

Pat Harman of St. Louis, Mo., plus three of her golfing pals also appreciate the convenience and savings of the Golf Trail package. The ladies have been golfing together—and staying at Dogwood Hills in May and September--for nearly 20 years. “Dogwood Hills just feels like home,” Harman says. “It’s clean and friendly and we love the food at Mitch & Duff’s. We’re happy there so we never have stayed anywhere else.”

Harman discovered the Golf Trail package through a friend. “At first it was me and just one girlfriend,” she says. “Then we happened to see a lady dining alone at Mitch & Duff’s. We started talking to her and we asked her if she wanted to play with us. Playing with three was great, but we thought having a fourth would be even better. So when my friend and I got back home, we decided to put together a foursome for our next trip to the Lake – so we asked two more of girlfriends if they would be interested. It’s been the four of us now for many years!”

The ladies are experienced golfers so they prefer more challenging courses like Seasons Ridge, Osage National and Old Kinderhook.

“Betsy makes all the arrangements for us,” Harman says. At the Lake, the group also enjoys shopping at the 110-store Osage Beach Premium Outlets, going to a movie and dining out. “It’s a golf getaway but also our special ‘girl time’ when we can relax and laugh,” she says.

Lone Oak Point Resort in Sunrise Beach is another Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail lodging member (since 1997) that books plenty of Golf Trail Packages. “The Golf Trail Package is all about savings and convenience. One call does it all!” says owner Terri Humphrey.

“Our resort is in a peaceful, natural setting. There’s not a lot of concrete, but there is blacktop road to the front door of every unit,” Humphrey says. Amenities include a variety of accommodations, outdoor grills, a Lakeside deck or patio, indoor and outdoor heated pools, saunas and spas, fishing, billiards and a fitness room. “We are very price-competitive and we host all kinds of golf groups, from a couple to a group of 32 guys from the Kansas City area who are coming in September!” Humphrey says. “Usually golfers know where they want to play but we can advise them and provide all kinds of information about area courses.”

Iowa golfers start appearing at the Lake of the Ozarks in early April—including Dave Roll of Marion, Iowa, and his group of up to 12 men, who have been saving money with the Golf Trail package for 14 years—and staying at Lone Oak point for 10 of those years. “It’s quiet and convenient there and the condos are comfortable,” Roll says. “If you’re playing Indian Rock or Old Kinderhook it’s a great location.” Roll’s group also plays The Golf Club at Deer Chase and courses at The Lodge of Four Seasons. “We play 27 to 36 holes a day, then we like to go back to the resort and grill and enjoy the outdoors,” he says.

Roll adds, “The Golf Trail package is all about simplicity. We just let Terri take care of it! We especially like that we can play a $100 course for $69. That makes our four-day adventure more affordable.”

Gregg Bennett of Liberty, Mo., and his group of six golf buddies recently experienced the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail package and Lone Oak Point for the first time. “We registered for a golf vacation weekend and were contacted by various properties,” Bennett says. “We wanted a 3-bedroom condo on the Lake and Lone Oak Point offered that at a great price. Plus, Terri made all the arrangements at the courses we wanted to play.” Those included Old Kinderhook, Osage National and The Oaks course at Tan-Tar-A. “The value was great and we’re planning to come back with a bigger group next year,” Bennett says.

"The Lake is not just a golf destination," Leahy says. "There's something for everyone here." If you bring your family along and they’re not golfers, there's plenty for them to do while you're out on the golf course. Kids will enjoy indoor and outdoor water parks, miniature golf, go-carts, show caves and arcades. Shopping includes Osage Beach Premium Outlets, and numerous antique, specialty and souvenir shops. Luxurious day spas serve women as well as men (some feature soothing after-golf treatments). Plus there's live music playing somewhere at the Lake practically every night of the year, including family music shows.

In addition to the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail courses, Lake-area courses also include two exciting signature courses at The Lodge of Four Seasons: The Cove, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and the private course, Porto Cima, designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Following is a list of Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail courses and lodging properties.

Golf Trail Courses

Bear Creek Valley Golf Club, Lake Ozark (public). This 18-hole championship course has rolling, tree-lined fairways leading to large greens, amid Ozark forests and hills. (573) 302-1000. www.bearcreekvalley.com.

Golf Club at Deer Chase, Linn Creek (public). Designed by Roger Null, this 18-hole course offers a challenging track through the beautiful Auglaize River valley and surrounding hills. (573) 346-6117, (866) 6DEER71. www.deerchasegolf.com.

Dogwood Hills Resort & Golf Club, Osage Beach (public). Nestled in wooded hills adjacent to the Lake, this 18-hole course features generous Bermuda grass fairways and gently rolling terrain. Carts are allowed on fairways. (573) 348-3153. www.dogwoodhillsgolf.com.

Eldon Country Club, Eldon (semi-private). This 18-hole course is set amid a backdrop of woods, hills and creeks. (573) 392-4172. www.eldoncountryclub.com.

Indian Rock Golf Club, Laurie (semi-private). 18 holes on 300-plus acres with concrete golf cart paths and the signature #17 hole featuring a majestic rock outcrop in the back and a deep clearwater lake in front. (573) 372-3023. www.indianrockgolfclub.com.

Lake Valley Country Club, Camdenton (semi-private). This uniquely challenging 18-hole course features an unusual balance of six par threes, six par fours and six par fives with generous fairways and slick, demanding greens. (573) 346-7218. www.lakevalleygolf.com.

The Club at Old Kinderhook Country Club, Camdenton (semi-private). Tom Weiskopf designed this 18-hole course, where each hole captures a special aspect of the terrain. (573) 346-4444. www.oldkinderhook.com.

Osage National Golf Club, Lake Ozark (public). Designed by Arnold Palmer, the course offers three 18-hole combinations within a tranquil setting of woods, rolling terrain, lakes, creeks and bluffs that create a challenging golf experience. (573) 365-1950. (866) 365-1950. www.osagenational.com.

Rolling Hills Country Club, Versailles (semi-private). This 18-hole course offers a park-like setting with mature Ozarks woodlands lining Bermuda fairways resulting in a varied and fun-to-play setting for all golfers. (573) 378-5109. www.playrollinghills.com.

The Ridge Course (The Lodge of Four Seasons), Lake Ozark (semi-private). Golf Digest rated this 18-hold course in the Missouri top 10 1996 because of its panoramic Lake views, 180-foot elevation changes, natural rock walls and spring-fed lake. (573) 365-3000. www.4seasonsresort.com.

Sycamore Creek Golf Club, Osage Beach, (public). Built around a working aquaculture habitat, this 18-hole course has been featured in Golf Magazine, Kansas City Magazine and Midwest Living. (573) 348-9593. www.sycamorecreekgolfclub.com.

Hidden Lakes Course (Tan-Tar-A), Osage Beach (public). This Jim Lewis-designed, par-35 course is ranked by USA Today as one of the best 9-hole courses in the nation. (573) 348-8527. www.tan-tar-a.com.

The Oaks Course (Tan-Tar-A), Osage Beach (public). Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge carved this 18-hole course out of the natural Ozark hills with undulating bentgrass greens, breathtaking elevation changes and scenic Lake views. (573) 348-8522. www.tan-tar-a.com.

Other Lake of the Ozarks Golf Courses

In addition to the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail courses, Lake-area courses also include two exciting signature courses at The Lodge of Four Seasons: The Cove, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and the private course, Porto Cima, designed by Jack Nicklaus. (573) 365-3000. www.4seasonsresort.com/golf.

Golf Trail Lodging

Al Elam Vacation Rentals/The Knolls Condominiums, Lake Ozark. Offers more than 100 private vacation homes and condos throughout the Lake area. Al Elam, (800) 356-2311, ext. 2. www.homeatthelake.com. The Knolls, (800) 648-0339, www.knollsresort.com.

Dogwood Hills Resort Inn, Osage Beach. Full-service golf resort offers 59 units plus Fairway Villas. (573) 348-1735. (800) 220-6571. www.dogwoodhillsresort.com

Inn at Grand Glaize, Osage Beach. Centrally located Lakefront resort offers 149 rooms and 4 suites, plus Spa La Tierra, pool, indoor hot tub, marina, restaurant and lounge. (800) 348-4731. www.innatgrandglaize.com.

Lake Ozark Vacations, A PMG Company, Osage Beach. Offers the largest selection of condo and home rentals in the Lake area. (800) 237-3434. www.lakegolfvacations.com.

Lone Oak Point Resort Condominiums, Sunrise Beach. Beautiful Lakeside resort condos with great amenities. (877) 374-7992. www.loneoakpoint.com.

Old Kinderhook Golf & Marina Community, Camdenton. Features 1-4 bedroom cottages, villas, patio homes and lakefront residences designed to accommodate up to 10 guests. (888) 346-4949. www.oldkinderhook.com.

The Pines Condominiums, Lake Ozark. Located on the stunning grounds of the Arnold Palmer-designed Osage National Golf Resort, with 2BR, 2BA condos, pool, fitness center, driving range, practice green, stocked pond and Eagle View Sports Bar & Grille. (866) 365-1952, ext. 20. www.osagenational.com.

Point Randall Resort, Lake Ozark. Lakefront 1-3 bedroom cabins and units with all the conveniences and attentive service. (573) 365-2081. www.pointrandall.com.

Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach. The world-famous resort features golf, a marina and indoor waterpark plus beautiful accommodations on 420 lush acres. (573) 348-3131. (800) 826-8272. www.tan-tar-a.com.

The Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark. One of the Lake’s premier full-service resorts, the award-winning Lodge offers more than 300 luxurious guest rooms, suites and condos. (573) 365-3000. (800) THE-LAKE. www.4seasonsresort.com.

The Resort at Port Arrowhead, Lake Ozark. Offers more than 200 comfy guest rooms plus the AAA 3-diamond-rated Portside Restaurant, pools, hot tubs, spa, free mini-golf, kids activities and much more. (800) 532-3575. www.theresortatportarrowhead.com.

An additional 25 Lake-area lodging properties also book Golf Trail packages.

Get the ball rolling…enjoy exceptional golf and a money-saving getaway along the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail. For more information about booking Golf Trail packages, please contact the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Council at (800) 490-8474 or visit www.golfingmissouri.com.

For general visitor information and to learn more about the Lake of the Ozarks, contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at (800) FUN-LAKE or visit www.funlake.com.

To learn more about regional transportation needs and to reach out to the citizens it serves, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will hold the remainder of its 2010 monthly meetings in seven cities located throughout the state.
The commission road tour kicks off June 2 with a meeting at the Lee’s Summit City Hall and ends Dec. 1 at the Hyatt Regency in St. Louis. Here are the other stops along the way:
July 1 Missouri Western State University St. Joseph
Aug. 4 City Utilities Springfield
Sept. 1 Hawkins Theatre Shelbina
Oct. 6 Ketcham Center Trenton
Nov. 3 Country Club Plaza Marriott Kansas City
The commission typically meets in Jefferson City, home of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s headquarters, when the state legislature is in session – January through May. For the past several years, the commission has taken its business on the road from June to December to better serve state taxpayers.
“We want our meetings to be easily accessible to interested Missourians,” Commission Chairman Rudy Farber said. “Traveling to other areas of the state offers communities a better voice in transportation issues and also helps us be more informed when making transportation decisions.”
Additional information about the commission, including meeting agendas and minutes, can be found on MoDOT’s website, www.modot.org.

Lake Regional Health System is accepting applications for the 2010 Summer Nursing Camp, scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26-30, at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach. This semiannual camp is designed for high school students and adult learners who are interested in pursuing nursing careers.

Participants will gain an understanding of nursing fundamentals as they visit nursing units, job shadow experienced nurses, learn about state-of-the-art equipment used daily by nurses and interact with staff. They also will receive CPR training and will gain hands-on nursing experience in the interactive skills lab.

In addition, participants will learn about emergency management using Lake Regional’s mass casualty incident trailer. They also will be given scenarios and will follow a mock patient through treatment to learn about the continuum of care in a hospital setting.

The camp is free, but class size is limited. To request an application or more information, contact Beth Pettitt, R.N., at 573-348-8060 or bpettitt@lakeregional.com. Applications must be postmarked by Friday, June 18.

Lake Regional Health System currently employs nearly 400 nurses. The system operates seven primary care, 14 specialty clinics, an urgent care clinic and home health services.

Hope is Not a Plan

"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."

- Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Taylor, May 28, 1816

The Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee is now working on our version of what will be the budget for the State of Missouri in Fiscal Year 2011. The House passed their version of the state budget for the next fiscal year beginning June 1, 2010, last week.

Unfortunately, the House passed a budget that contains $300,000,000 of Federal FMAP money that has not come to the state (and it is questionable that it will come this year or at all). This puts the Senate Appropriations Committee in the position of having to reduce our state budget around $500,000,000 in order for us to reach a balanced budget. The challenges for the next budget year and the year beyond continue to pile on.

While the talk of large numbers and lots of zeroes can be somewhat arcane and "inside baseball," this does affect each of us - after all it is our money. So bear with me in this update.

I am sure readers of this column know that most of my writings are on the budget issues. Although sometimes boring, it is the most important thing that the state legislature does and it’s a very tough thing to do when we are in partnership with a federal government that has no concept of the laws of economics and passing balance budgets.

This year Governor Nixon proposed a budget totaling $23,857,795,551. Included in that budget is $900,000,000 of one-time, federal dependency money that is being used to pay for ongoing operating expenses of state government. Also included in his budget proposal is $300,000,000 of federal dependency money that is "promised" by the federal government, but has not yet been approved by Congress - we may or may not receive these funds.

Dependence on both of these revenue sources is problematic at best and, at worst, disastrous in future years. The General Assembly needs to reduce the Governor's recommended budget by at least $650,000,000 to $750,000,000 to begin fixing the structural imbalance of dependence on one-time revenues from the federal government that end this year.

Since the agreement on the consensus revenue estimate in January, we have learned that revenue collections are continuing to decline with year-to-date revenue collections as of February being down 12.7%. This is about $610,000,000 less than what was expected in order to meet the budget.

Governor Nixon has responded to these declining revenues by withholding more money from the existing budget. He is asking the legislature to revise downward his recommended budget for the next fiscal year by removing the $300,000,000 that has not been approved by Congress and reducing the general revenue estimate by $200,000,000 to correct an overly-optimistic consensus revenue estimate - both prudent recommendations. These suggested reductions to the Governor's recommended budget total $500,000,000.

Unfortunately, the House only reduced the budget by about $225,000,000 and included the $300,000,000 of “maybe” money.

These recommended steps, and more, are necessary to resolve the structural imbalance that currently exists in the state budget. The over reliance on one-time, federal dependency money has put our state budget at risk in the coming years.

This $1,200,000,000 of one-time, federal dependency money will not be available in the next budget year, meaning that the fiscal year 2012 budget will start with a $1,200,000,000 hole. The necessary cuts that will have to be made next year will be unlike anything we have seen in recent years, even topping the cuts that were made in fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005.

The significance of the shortfall in revenue that we face this year and next cannot be underestimated. This is the time when the Governor, the House, and the Senate must work together to fix the structural problems in our state budget. This will require very difficult decisions, courage, and realism - it is not a time for gamesmanship and politicizing.

The recently released unemployment numbers continue to suggest a national unemployment rate of 9.7% with Missouri's unemployment rate holding at 9.4%. These rates are not expected to change in the near term. Without more people becoming employed, we cannot reasonably expect income tax and sales tax collections to turn upward to fill the hole created by the one-time revenue sources.

The Missouri Senate must now contend with an unbalanced budget. We can no longer hope that better times will come. State government must live within its means just like the rest of us.

Unlike Congress, we must have a balanced budget. The state of Missouri can't print money to satisfy unrestrained and politically-motivated spending habits - even in an election year. We can either jump off of a ten-foot cliff today or choose to jump off of a hundred-foot cliff tomorrow.

This is the time to make difficult decisions. Having hope in a greater, more prosperous future is great motivator - I have that hope myself, but hope is not a plan.

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. I can be reached in Jefferson City at (573)751-1882, e-mail to chuck.purgason@senate.mo.gov or by regular mail at 201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 420, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Sharing a View of the State

Chuck Purgason
State Senator 33rd District

Health Care and Obligations of Citizenship

"The States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore … never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market." - Thomas Jefferson, letter to Judge William Johnson, June 12, 1823

As the national debate on health care continues in Washington, D.C., several states across the nation are taking steps to protect themselves and their citizens in their state constitutions. Missouri is one of those states. This week a public hearing was held on Senate Joint Resolution 25, which is essential in securing the rights of patients to make their own health care choices.

Even before the events in Washington, D.C., the question of patient rights has been bubbling to the surface as an issue important to those interested in keeping the relationship between patient and doctor in tact.

The essence of the proposed constitutional amendment is this, "To preserve the freedom of citizens of this state to provide for their health care, no law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly or through penalties or fines, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system."

The proposed amendment ensures that:

"Each Missouri citizen has the right to pay for health care services with their own money,
"Health care providers may accept direct payment for services rendered by Missouri citizens,
"The purchase and sale of health insurance shall not be prohibited by law or rule, and;
"No person will be required to pay fines or penalties if they choose to purchase their own health care and accept payment for providing health care services.”

In other words, an individual cannot be forced to participate in a health care system without their consent and individuals have the freedom to participate.

Think about it, there are two general obligations for citizenship in America: paying taxes and the draft. Proposals in Congress today would add a third obligation of forcing each American to purchase health insurance. Never before has the federal government used the force of the federal government to compel every citizen to purchase a product or service.

We can have the debate about whether it is responsible for someone to go without health insurance, but that is a completely different conversation than saying that every citizen must, by the force of law, purchase health insurance or enroll in a government program thereby binding them to the will of faceless bureaucrats.

Some argue that such an amendment to a state constitution is unconstitutional. They argue that the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution trumps state actions. It is time that we consider another constitutional principle, that of federalism. As a constitutional principle, it is important not only to the appropriate division of powers between the federal government and the states, but also the ever important pursuit of individual liberty and limited government.

Traditionally, states have been considered laboratories of democracy and innovation. The states were able, even expected, to develop policies reflecting the widely varying local conditions of our great land, and that is especially important in health care. Today, the federal government is asserting, if not amassing, it's authority over the American life in regards to health care, imposing a "one size fits all" policy. Now is the time to reassert the proper constitutional role of federalism so that future power grabs become more difficult and less likely.

We should allow the people of Missouri to vote on this proposed amendment, allow us to voice our belief in liberty, allow us to direct the future of our state, allow us to direct the future of health care, allow us to retain the freedom that we already enjoy. If a constitutional challenge arises, then let's have that discussion, but let us not be intimidated into silence and inaction with threat of litigation.

Federalism is all about keeping government within the reach of the people, about keeping government in its place. Health care is personal, it is about us, each of us, and we deserve our rightful place in making health care decisions. The Health Care Freedom Act which Senator Jane Cunningham and I, along with several of our colleagues, have sponsored keeps government in its place. As Alexander Hamilton proclaimed before the New York ratifying convention, "Here, sir, the people govern."

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions, and concerns. I can be reached in Jefferson City at (573)751-1882, you can e-mail me at chuck.purgason@senate.mo.gov or you can write to me by regular mail at 201 WEST CAPITOL AVENUE, ROOM 420, JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101.