ORANGE COUNTY GOLF NOTEBOOK / MARTIN BECK and STEVE KRESAL : Overhaul Puts Fruhwirth Back on Course

Even for touring professionals, golf can be a struggle. Those who can fight through slumps usually have productive careers; those who can’t don’t.

Last year, Amy Fruhwirth, with her game at rock bottom, nearly came to the conclusion that she was in the latter group. She had finished her second season on the LPGA Tour, earning only $15,000 and losing her tour card.

“If I wasn’t going to have fun and be successful,” Fruhwirth said, “I was going to pack my clubs up and get a real job.”

Fruhwirth, a 1986 graduate of Cypress High, was accustomed to success. A three-time All-American at Arizona State, she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1991. She had a respectable rookie season on the tour in 1993, earning nearly $23,000 and retaining her non-exempt status, but her game went south in 1994.

During the off-season, Fruhwirth decided to recommit herself to golf. Steadily she overhauled her attitude, started a serious training program and improved her diet. She hired a new teaching professional and switched putters.

She played in tournaments in Australia and Asia and started regaining confidence. Improved strength helped boost her tee shots from 200 yards to about 225.

“I’ve worked really hard to be positive, healthy and strong, and that’s been the biggest change,” she said. “It’s like I’m a totally new person.”

And, lately, a totally new competitor. Fruhwirth has played in only five of the first 16 LPGA events. She finished in a tie for 77th in her first event, missed the cut in her second and then went on a tear.

Late last month, Fruhwirth finished in a tie for ninth at the Corning Classic in New York, winning the biggest paycheck of her career, $12,316. The next week she finished tied for 25th and Sunday tied for ninth at the tour stop in Brooklyn Park, Minn.

“Golf is fun again,” she said. “Everyone tells me, ‘Just ride the wave. Enjoy it while it lasts.’ I say, ‘OK, but don’t tell me that because you are saying that it’s going to end.’ And I don’t want it to end.

Fruhwirth, 72nd on the money list with $29,582, will try to continue her run in the Rochester International, which starts Thursday in Pittsford, N.Y.

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The U.S. Open, which starts Thursday at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, will include two amateurs from Orange County.

Cypress’ Tiger Woods, who qualified by winning the U.S. Amateur last summer, is playing in a group with defending champion Ernie Els and Nick Price. Placentia’s Chris Tidland, the low scorer from last week’s qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, is playing with Eric Meeks and Kelly Mitchum.

Guess who will get more TV time?

For the record: The last amateur to win the U.S. Open was John Goodman in 1933.

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Morgan’s Run: A new name isn’t the only thing new about Morgan’s Run, a 27-hole course and 100-room resort, about three miles east of the race course in Del Mar. The resort was formally known as Whispering Palms.

The first part of the restoration--all the rooms and the North nine--was recently completed.

Most of the major changes to the course, designed by architect Jay Morrish, were made around the greens and tee boxes. Many of the holes were extended and sand traps around the green were added or greatly improved by lowering the lips.

The biggest alterations were made to the sixth, seventh and eighth holes, no doubt because all are visible from the road.

The lake that sits among the three holes was almost tripled in size so it comes into play off the tee on the par-five sixth, on the approach shot to the par-four seventh and off tee on the par-three eighth.

Several of the greens were raised at least five feet, including the eighth, which plays at 205 yards from the blue tees and a much more reasonable 160 from the white tees. The lake cuts in close on the right side waiting to catch sliced shots by right-handed players.

Some mounds were added to fairways and a few holes, especially the ninth, has had depressions added to slow short tee shots. Trees also were added but mostly well off fairways.

“We now have more palms than when were were called Whispering Palms,” General Manager Doug Lode said.

There are plans to rework the other nines as well for the course that costs $50 (including a cart) Monday through Thursday and $60 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hotel guests and club members get first priority for tee times.

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Alan Ochiai, a PGA teaching pro at the Rancho San Joaquin Golf Practice Center in Irvine, was the first graduate of the Southern California PGA’s Specialized and Advanced Training Program, the SCPGA announced.

* The Orange County Golf Notebook will run regularly throughout the summer. Readers are encouraged to suggest items. Call (714) 966-5904 or fax (714) 966-5663.

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County Drives

Here’s a look at some of the features making one golf course hole in Orange County stand out:

* Course: Pelican Hill Golf Club

* Hole: No. 17

* Yardage: Golf tees, 543; blue tees, 527, white tees, 506; red tees, 483; yellow tees, 400

* Description: With its Toyon tree and ocean view, this par-5 is the most picturesque hole on either of the club’s courses. Longer hitters will be tempted to go for the green in two shots, but the margin for error is slim and errant shots are punished by thick natural vegetation on the left and a lake and a forbidding canyon on the right.

* Hint: Green appears to slope slightly away from the ocean, but everything breaks that way.

“It’s only tough because people make it so tough. If you go for it you can be rewarded, but there are a lot of things that can get you in trouble on the way.”

--Scott Willard, assistant professional