McConnell Golf, The Magazine - Fall/Winter 2023

CELEBRATING

McConnell Golf the magazinc

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a letter from John McConnell

Wow, how could 20 years go by so quickly? I marvel thinking McConnell Golf was created in 2003 when we acquired Raleigh Country Club. It seems like only a few months ago that we agreed to invest in our first property. Now, we own 15 clubs and manage two more. This was not an easy business to create monetary value, as most of our clubs were struggling financially when we added them to our portfolio. In hindsight, this has been an awesome experience and a fun ride with my staff, who have made it successful by building a solid business model and operation. We look forward to the future and many more years of fun as we continue our efforts of “Building clubs of the future.”

I am sure each of you has had numerous experiences and memories that you have witnessed over the past 20 years as well. Certainly, some of those may not have been pleasant, but life is always interesting. For the past two decades, I have had many great times and some that I wish had not happened. I witnessed the birth of my fourth son who now attends my favorite university, Virginia Tech. My oldest son passed away in 2013, which is a parent’s worst nightmare. However, our family has been blessed with the addition of six grandkids, of which five are girls! I love seeing them all dressed up in cute outfits and growing more beautiful each day.

Managing country clubs is not a business that is easily mastered. The capital needs are enormous to maintain and enhance the facilities that members enjoy. Staffing is challenging, but we are thankful to have many long-tenured employees who make great things happen on a daily basis. Our national economy contributes greatly to membership growth or decline. That is usually out of our control, so we have to plan

carefully for “storing our nuts” for those leaner years.

Before I purchased Raleigh Country Club, I was pretty naïve about running a country club. Having been a member of three other memberowned clubs, I always wondered why the food prices were the same as the restaurants down the street since we were a non-profit. And why did we have all these events and weddings that filled up the parking lot? Well, experience has shown that if we break even in food and beverage, we consider it a good year. Our patrons are a much smaller group to draw from than the typical restaurant operation, so our volumes are less. But we have to provide a full range of menu items and staffing, not knowing if we are serving 20 or 200 members each day.

The golf course maintenance budgets at our courses often exceed over a million dollars per year. Storms and very cold weather create much damage to these courses and most of that is not covered by insurance. I am thankful and amazed that our dedicated staff always finds ways to get them back into play quickly, despite the hurdles.

What would I change if I had a magic wand at our properties? I would love to see no ball marks on our greens, sand traps always raked, fairway divots filled in after each shot, and no practice balls on the courses!

No matter the challenges, I love this industry and our members. We have over 8,500 members now that support us, and we value their commitments. Our member turnover rate averages 8% a year. This extrapolates to a tenure of over 12 years in which most of our members remain at their club, and this certainly creates a longterm relationship.

I cannot wait to see the finished product of the course at Old North State Club. This renovation will not only enhance playing conditions but also the overall membership experience and draw people back for more fun on Badin Lake. Finally, Wilson Country Club is seeing newmember growth. With clubhouserenovation projects currently in the works and plans to improve other amenities, we can continue to build on our strategic vision.

The first of my two most exciting experiences each year is when “Enter Sandman” plays at the beginning of Virginia Tech football games and the 65,000 fans jump to the music as the team roars onto the field. The second big-time event is at Sedgefield Country Club for the

Wyndham Championship. I enjoy seeing the Goodyear blimp hovering about the course and watching Jim Nantz and his teammates walk to their broadcast stations.

This year, Lucas Glover, who entered the Wyndham tournament at number 180 on the FedExCup standings, won, and then won again the next week. So for all of us who sometimes feel our best days are behind us, we need to act more like Lucas. I truly believe our next 20 years at McConnell Golf will be even better than the first ones and look forward to continuing our journey.

John McConnell, CEO & Founder

John McConnell with his grandchildren Jacquelyn, Mary Charles, Gray, Olivia, Harper and Colt.

Jorge Fernández-Valdés celebrates his 2023 UNC Health Championship victory at RCC

McConnell Golf the magazinc

6 Trio of Tournaments

Rich history makes the grass that much greener at McConnell Golf’s PGA events

15 Making their Mark

McConnell Golf Scholars make their mark at golf’s highest levels

22 Silver Celebration at The Reserve

Legacy members reflect on time well-spent on the coastal course

26 Employee Spotlight Porters Neck Country Club's Rafa Toro

30 Gorgeous Greens

Old North State Club course renovation

42 My Club Experience

44 Growing McConnell Golf

COO shares perspective on the origins and development of McConnell Golf

64 Member-Submitted Photos

68 Winning Wyndham

Lucas Glover bests persistent opponents to claim Wyndham Championship victory

78 A New Deal

Wilson Country Club wins a new lease on its private life

87 Member Business Directory

FROM THE

TO THE COAST

by John Jeter

Trio of

Tournaments

Ross’ last design happened to be Raleigh’s, located at what is now known as Donald Ross Drive as McConnell Golf commissioned the city of Raleigh to change the street name in the early 2000s.

Each summer as many as 15,000 fans walk that history at McConnell Golf’s PGA events, which draw 156 top-of-their-game players pursuing million-dollar prizes.

Chris Kleinschmidt, Assistant Superintendent at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, says the tournaments require months of preparation.

His staff of nearly two dozen, along with contractors, spent weeks setting up stands and portable toilets, marking irrigation lines, and the like, working as many as 70 hours a week

when Wakefield hosted the REX Hospital Open last year, he says. The tournament is now the UNC Health Championship. Oh, and he points out, “There’s a lot of detail work just pushing to get the course where you want it by early June.”

Adam McLaughlin, Raleigh CC’s Director of Golf, notes another grass-is-much-greener advantage that McConnell Golf’s courses have throughout the PGA: support from sister courses’ agronomy experts.

“They put in long hours and do some pretty cool things,” he says.

Outside of McConnell Golf, preparing a star-studded stage takes a full year.

Just ask Brian Krusoe, Tournament Director for the UNC Health Championship,

Above: McConnell Golf staff mows the 18th Fairway at Sedgefield CC. Below: Cristóbal del Solar and caddie look toward the green on No. 18 at Raleigh CC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN BARNETT/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

which sponsors the Korn Ferry Tour event that moved to Raleigh CC last June from another McConnell Golf property, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation.

“The transition to Raleigh was pretty seamless,” he says, “and that’s because we have such a good partnership.”

Arguably, the most important partners include club members, who, after all, give up their beloved playing time for eight days a year, even a week or so before.

“One thing that might go a little under the radar is the amount of support it takes from your membership,” says Chris Dibble, Holston Hills CC’s General Manager and Director of Golf. “It’s a small burden on them and they’re very supportive and understanding as to the status of these events that we’re hosting.”

Holston Hills CC - Visit Knoxville Open

Dibble, who has worked there for 31 years and belongs to the Visit Knoxville planning committee, goes on: “Our membership has been really good about just jumping in and trying to help and support the event.”

McLaughlin, who previously served as Director of Golf at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, notes yet another member benefit.

“They see the winner make this putt, a 20-foot downhill putt,” he says, and next thing they know, they’re standing in the very same spot.

And the pride. As Debbs puts it, “You’re proud of your club because you’re putting your best foot forward. It’s kind of a bragging right that you know your course was worthy to host the tournament.”

Kleinschmidt echoes what McConnell Golf’s other backstage pros experience at each tourney’s end.

“We see our courses every day, in and out, and we have a tendency to probably look at more of the flaws day-to-day than the good stuff,” he says. “It gets really, really rewarding at the end of the day. It’s a lot of work, but it really pays off, watching some pros play tournament-level conditions.”

Chad Culver is Senior Director of Sports Commission & Convention Sales at Visit Knoxville, which sponsors the Visit Knoxville Open. He gets even more, namely the branding bonanza at world-class links.

“Every year, it just gets better,” he says. “You go walk around Holston Hills Country Club, if you’re a golf fan or a sports fan in general—to walk around that place, I mean, you’re not going to find many places more beautiful.”

“One thing that might go a little under the radar is the amount of support it takes from your membership. It’s a small burden on them and they’re very supportive and understanding as to the status of these events that we’re hosting.”

Chris Dibble

View from the green during the UNC Health Championship at hole No. 6 looking back toward the clubhouse at Raleigh CC.

Visit Knoxville Open winner, Rico Huey, and Holston Hills CC staff

From left, some of the agronomy staff during the Visit Knoxville Open: Blake McCarty, Arthur Knight, Brady Ackermann, Dave Warner, Elijah DeBusk, Caleb Hill, Stephen Hill & Dylan Hatfield.

“You’re proud of your club because you’re putting your best foot forward. It’s kind of a bragging right that you know your course was worthy to host the tournament.”

Kerrie Debbs

MCG: On average, how many people does it take to maintain our courses for tournament-level conditions?

SHOUN: During Wyndham week, we send out around 70 to 75 employees and volunteers for all shifts. For the tournaments in Knoxville and Raleigh, we staff around 30 to 35 employees for each event. This includes staff from the host courses and 10 staff members from sister properties that are closest to the region of the course hosting each event. Staff who are located west of Greensboro normally travel to work the tournament at Holston Hills, while staff who are east of Greensboro travel to Raleigh. The shifts are mornings from 4:30 a.m. until 8 a.m. and afternoons around 4 p.m. until we finish around 8 or 9 p.m. These times change if we have any weather-related issues.

MCG: How is the pin placement determined?

SHOUN: The PGA TOUR rules officials determine all pin locations for our tournaments. They use historical data from previously held tournaments to get basic locations on the greens, then these officials go out to each green every day and roll balls and putt to the areas they feel are fair but challenging. They also use data collected by the Tour Agronomist on firmness of the greens and stimpmeter speeds to better help understand how the greens will play. The

PGA Meteorologist that is on-site for the tournament also gives information of the expected weather to help better understand how the course will play, which helps the rules officials determine pin locations (pin process shown below).

MCG: How many McConnell Golf properties send tournament support?

SHOUN: Two employees from the majority of other McConnell Golf courses come for support, unless they have an event at their home club.

MCG: How involved is the PGA in agronomy operations?

SHOUN: The tour agronomist (Bland Cooper) arrives the Monday of the advance week and stays with us until the last putt drops on Sunday. He plays a very integral part in all decisions made for maintenance during the event. Mowing heights, greens speed, irrigation cycles, and mowing schedules are discussed with Cooper and we work as a team to give the best conditions as possible. Bland also makes several trips during the rest of the year to walk the course and help with any issues that need attention. We are lucky that Cooper is our agronomist for all three of our PGA events, including Raleigh, Knoxville, and Greensboro.

Michael Shoun, McConnell Golf’s VP of Agronomy, gives an inside look at just what it takes to get a course ready for a PGA tournament.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RYAN BARNETT/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

by Brad King

Making theirMark

McConnell Golf Scholars make their mark at golf’s highest levels

Raleigh-area native Akshay Bhatia earned a McConnell Golf Scholarship when he was 15 years old.

“This is one of the most exciting and rewarding programs in which we’ve been involved,” McConnell Golf Founder John McConnell said. “Our company is committed to amateur and junior golf. Some of the best junior golfers do not have access to practice facilities and good courses. Our goal is to provide this access and supervision in hopes of helping these talented young players move to the next level of play, and possibly allow them to elevate to the point where golf can become a means of helping them receive financial assistance for higher education and even play beyond the collegiate level.”

Bhatia, who was born in California, moved to Wake Forest with his family when he was an infant. He fell in love with golf at a public course just down the street from his house. But it was the McConnell Golf Scholarship that Bhatia credits with propelling him to one of the best amateur careers in recent memory. He dominated numerous junior events, finishing runner-up in the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur and competing on the winning U.S.

Akshay Bhatia competes in the 2023 Wyndham Championship.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN BARNETT/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

MCG SCHOLARS

Akshay Bhatia competes in the 2023 Wyndham Championship.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN BARNETT/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Walker Cup team in 2019. Homeschooled, he elected not to play high school golf, and instead of college, he chose to chase his dream and turn professional at age 17.

“I was very fortunate to get that scholarship,” Bhatia said during the 2023 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club. “(John McConnell) offers junior golfers the ability to go play at some country clubs, which is great, and he owns so many now. You could go wherever, or you just call and you could go play. I was very fortunate to get that.”

“I grew up five minutes from a golf course from my parent’s house. But to get to that next level, I was able to start playing with a couple PGA TOUR players, a couple Korn Ferry players as a 15, 16-year-old. So, it was definitely nice,” Bhatia said. “And

now I’m an honorary member at Wakefield Plantation, which is very special because they’ve treated me like family and to have that when I come back and not worry about where am I going to practice or where I’m going to play is a nice feeling.”

Bhatia’s first breakthrough came in January 2022, just before his 20th birthday. During his first official and sixth overall start on the Korn Ferry Tour, the lanky left-hander eased away down the stretch to win the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic by three shots. Along with the $135,000 winner’s check, Bhatia became just the third teenage winner on the tour, along with future PGA TOUR stars Jason Day and Sungjae Im.

Bhatia did not qualify for the PGA TOUR for 2023 but made it into the Puerto Rico Open in March and

“I was very fortunate to get that scholarship. (John McConnell) offers junior golfers the ability to go play at some country clubs, which is great, and he owns so many now. You could go wherever, or you just call and you could go play. I was very fortunate to get that.”

Akshay Bhatia

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION

A young Akshay Bhatia during a CGA event.

MCG SCHOLARS

finished second for a $414,200 payday. That earned him special temporary membership status on the TOUR. After a ninth-place finish at the Barbasol Championship, Bhatia won his first PGA TOUR event in July at the Barracuda Championship in Truckee, California, played opposite of the Open Championship.

The 21-year-old ended up with four top10 finishes on the PGA TOUR this season, including three top-4s, earning just shy of $2 million. “I’ve had a lot of ups, a lot of downs,” said Bhatia, who is now a full-time member of the PGA TOUR for 2024. “But I knew I was going to get here. It was just a matter of time.”

Grayson Murray received a McConnell Golf Scholarship in 2008 and two years later, when

he was 16 years old, became the secondyoungest player to make the cut in a Web.com Tour event when he played the weekend at the REX Hospital Open, at Wakefield Plantation. By 2016, the former Leesville Road High School golfer had earned his fulltime PGA TOUR card by finishing among the top 25 money winners on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour.

“I received the McConnell Golf Scholarship in the eighth grade, and it was perfect timing. It elevated my game so much just getting to go out to Raleigh Country Club every afternoon after school,” said Murray. “Learning how to play that course. Putting in the hours out there was huge. I don’t think I would have been the player I am without that scholarship. Five years at Raleigh Country Club was huge.

Grayson Murray competes during the 2023 UNC Health Championship.

“I received the McConnell Golf Scholarship in the eighth grade, and it was perfect timing. It elevated my game so much just getting to go out to Raleigh Country Club every afternoon after school.”

Grayson Murray

That’s a place where you can really improve your game. It was good preparation for college and then the pros for sure.”

“In all honesty, I don’t think Grayson could have made the type of progress he’s made in such a short period of time without the McConnell Golf Scholarship,” his father, Eric Murray, said. “It has provided him with a fantastic environment for him to practice in and to play.”

“I can’t tell you how much it has meant to Grayson,” says Murray. “We couldn’t have continued to put Grayson in the national

tournaments he needs to play to keep his game moving forward, and also belong to a club of that caliber.

It’s been really, really nice to be able to go over a world-class facility like Raleigh Country Club and practice. It’s been a dream, really.”

Murray recorded seven top25 PGA TOUR finishes in 2017 and ’18, along with his first PGA TOUR win at the 2017 Barbasol Championship, earning more than $1 million each season. While Murray has experienced some lows during the past few years, the past season appears to have brought him some light at the

ROOFING

A young Grayson Murray at Raleigh Country Club in 2008.

end of the tunnel. In May, the 29-year-old won the Korn Ferry Tour’s AdventHealth Championship and he also had a pair of top-10 PGA TOUR finishes.

“I probably haven’t reached my prime yet,” Murray told the Golf Channel. “I can get on a good solid 10-year run and that’s what I plan on doing. I’m in such a good spot right now where I don’t want to change anything I’m doing.”

One of Murray’s high school golf teammates was Raleigh native Carter Jenkins, a 2010 McConnell Golf Scholarship recipient. In 2011, Jenkins earned a spot in the REX Hospital Open after winning a local qualifier to earn a spot in the field as an amateur. He made more waves in the fall of 2012 by shooting a course-record 59 at Wildwood Green.

Jenkins had outstanding success in amateur golf, winning eight Carolinas Golf Association titles, including the 2015 North Carolina Amateur and three consecutive Carolinas Amateurs. He became the first player in 92 years to win the Carolinas Amateur for three straight years. He played one and a half seasons for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill golf program after beginning his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. He won two events for the Spartans and earned All-Southern Conference and SoCon Rookie of the Year honors.

At UNC, Jenkins earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2016 after leading the Tar Heels in stroke average (72.09), rounds under par (14 of 32), rounds in the 60s (seven) and percentage of rounds counted (30 of 32, .938). In 2016, Jenkins decided to forego his final year of collegiate eligibility and turn professional, making his pro debut on the Mackenzie Tour in British Columbia, Canada.

After going back and forth between the PGA Canada and Korn Ferry Tours, Jenkins finished T39 at the Final Stage of Q-School

“Golf is a game of life, and just like in life, nothing is going to be perfect. Trying to be perfect on the golf course is only going to make yourself frustrated. You’re just going to get in your own way.”

Carter Jenkins

Carter Jenkins with his dad (caddie) Bob at the 2011 REX Hospital Open.

last fall, earning his first full campaign on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023. A tie for 14th at the seasonopening The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay set him on the right path, and he’s gone on to add three more top-20 finishes. His professional golf experience has given Jenkins, who lives with the neurological disorder epilepsy, a more positive outlook on the game—and life. “These past couple of years have been good for me in terms of the way I’ve approached the game from an emotional and mental perspective to bring myself a lot of peace and calm,” he said. “Golf is a game of life, and just like in life, nothing is going to be perfect. Trying to be perfect on the golf course is only going to make yourself frustrated. You’re just going

to get in your own way. I’m just trying to play with a calm over me, accept variables and adversity, and move forward.”

All three professionals credit the McConnell Golf Scholarship Program for allowing them to reach their full potential.

“I am very proud of this program that started in 2008 and seeing how well all the juniors have developed and matured both on and off the golf course,” said McConnell Golf Vice President of Golf Operations Brian Kittler. “These players were all talented and accomplished golfers when they entered the program, but having access to our courses, instruction and practice facilities, they were able to take their game to the next level.”

Carter Jenkins putts during the 2023 UNC Health Championship.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

by Stephanie Trotter

at The Reserve Golf Club Silver Celebration

Both of the Butts grew up playing golf in a country club environment; Frank in West Virginia and Linda in Pennsylvania. After taking time off to focus on careers and kids, they’re back in the game with each maintaining a 22 handicap.

Go ahead and take a few extra practice putts on the 14th hole at The Reserve Golf Club. Odds are you’ll hear Frank and Linda Butts celebrating in their backyard. The retired couple joined the club in 2007 and built their Reunion Hall home, bordering the fairway, in 2009. After permanently settling here from Richmond, they’ve embraced golfing their way through retirement on Pawleys Island in South Carolina.

“We started coming down to the Lowcountry in the 1980s,” Frank says. “When it was time to start thinking about this next chapter, we decided to build down here. We couldn’t be happier.”

As the Greg Norman-designed course celebrates 25 years in the Grand Strand, the Butts are proud to have been here for most of that. “This is a beautiful club that has established a culture of hospitality,” the retired audiologist says. “It has exactly what you’re looking for in a club: the idea of a well-maintained course, a respect for the terrain and a respect for members. That’s what you’ve got here.”

“Oh, Linda beats me with great regularity,” Frank confesses with a chuckle. “She’s more athletically inclined. When I returned to golf, my game didn’t come back with me, but the pleasure of playing exceeded the frustration. Sometimes, golf is like a marriage to a bad woman. You don’t know why you do it, but you keep hoping it will get better.”

Linda looks on with a knowing smile. “We enjoy the sport together,” she says. “I played with ladies for a while, but now Frank and I will play two to three times a week. Sometimes it’s just the two of us, and sometimes we’ll pick up other members and play with them.”

Her life and golf partner scans the horizon of the 7,200yard course that hugs the terrain, links fairways with charming bridges and showcases Grand Strand beauty. “We hold a natural preservation designation because of what the club has done to preserve the wildlife that surrounds us,” he explains. “We’re right next door to the most famous botanical gardens in the region: Brookgreen Gardens.”

Legacy members reflect on time well-spent on the coastal course

“When it was time to start thinking about the next chapter, we decided to build down here. We couldn’t be happier.”

Frank Butts

Linda & Frank Butts at The Reserve Golf Club.

He marvels at the ingenuity Norman used to create the course that complements 160 acres of natural wetlands. “It doesn’t have tricked-up water hazards. It was designed with Augusta National in mind. The greens are all domed, without heavy rough. There are fairways and pine straw. It’s fair and doesn’t beat you up, but if you have a tight lie and not a lot of talent, it will give you a speech impediment.”

The Butts enjoy reciprocity with other McConnell Golf clubs, most recently having played Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, The Cardinal by Pete Dye and Country Club of Asheville. Yet their favorite course is The Reserve, especially when all the kids and grandkids come to play. And their favorite hole? Frank sums it up best; “It would be No. 14. It epitomizes my relationship with golf. It’s beautiful. It’s home.”

“It has exactly what you’re looking for in a club: the idea of a well-maintained course, a respect for the terrain and a respect for members. That’s what you’ve got here.”

Frank Butts

Peyton (grandson) & Linda Butts visit The Cardinal by Pete Dye.

Frank & Linda Butts

visit Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech.

by Stephanie Trotter

Everything’s Sunny inPorters Neck

Tennis & Pickleball Director Rafa Toro luminates a growing program

“OK, who’s ready to hit?” Rafa Toro steps onto the court, carrying his racket and pushing a cart full of balls. The glow from his face broadcasts his arrival. Members are continually amazed with the coach’s positive demeanor and sunny disposition—more powerful than a Djokovic serve.

Yona Bar-Zeev has watched Toro since he first arrived seven years ago. “He is always with a smile,” the senior player says. “You never catch him without a smile and that’s very important.”

Toro, a Miami native, says he’s just sharing his love of tennis. He grew up playing with his older sisters in an “extremely competitive” environment. “My parents didn’t play, but they put us in tennis and we stuck to it,” Toro recalls. “We played four to five hours a day, tournaments on weekends. We were all top-5 as juniors in Florida. Tennis was 24/7. We breathed, ate, and slept tennis.”

The singles phenom declined offers to play in college, preferring to coach instead. Years later, when looking for a change, Toro started as a head professional at Porters Neck and sliced his way into the director position when his predecessor retired. “I knew he was going to retire when I came and was able to start making changes right away,” Toro says. “I tried to inject energy into the atmosphere and ambiance. I added more events, a ladder, and a Junior’s Program.”

That Junior’s Program has exploded off the baseline, jumping from a handful of kids to more than 70. Adult membership is on the rise as well, with the addition of more clinics, round robins, and league play.

“I take lessons from him on a personal basis. The guy is good. He’s good,” Bar-Zeev says with a chuckle. “If I don’t get better, it’s not because of him!”

The two have worked side-by-side, as the club hosts the Jersey Mike’s Porters Neck UNCW College Tennis Tournament, to help the Seahawks. Toro has also partnered with Make-A-Wish, to host the Swing for the Stars tournament at PNCC. In 2022, the event raised more than $60,000. Bar-Zeev says, “You don’t hear ‘no’ from him. If there’s an

EVOLUTION OF COACHING PHILOSOPHY:

“When I first started, I wanted to make everyone the best possible player. But that’s not realistic. I’ve realized the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy themselves. Whether you’re juniors or adults, whatever stressful thing you’re facing, when you step on the court, forget about everything and enjoy yourself. It’s like a therapy session.”

issue he can’t fix, he’ll go higher up to get it fixed. You’re not going to find anybody who will say anything bad about Rafa.”

From left: Rafa Toro, Alexis Wall, Chris Winters and Janice Netherland (Make-A-Wish).

“Growing up I had a two-handed backhand. But it’s easier to teach with a one-handed backhand. It’s now one of my favorite shots.”

Rafa Toro

Not one to settle in no-man’s land, Toro has added pickleball and bocce ball to club activities. “Pickleball started slowly, but last year, it really took off with the younger crowd and golfers,” he explains. “We put in a bocce court two years ago, wondering what would happen. And now, we’re entering season six with 150 players! We have about 40 teams and it’s pretty cut-throat and intense. It’s become a thing. They even had me make shirts.”

A new thing in Toro’s life as he approaches 40: a baby. His first child is due to arrive in September—a son. He plans to teach him tennis. “This is unlike any club I’ve ever worked at,” he shares in closing. “This is home. I hope my son can grow up here and jump on the court to play with people and love it as much as I do.”

4 pickleball courts

8 clay tennis courts

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTY AERIALS

Expertise

Gorgeous Greens

by Chad Flowers

New grass, bunkers, and tee work elevate play at Old North State Club’s golf course

When it comes to North Carolina golf courses renowned for their surroundings, Old North State Club should be at the top of most lists. Golfers can enjoy the stunning views of Badin Lake and the surrounding Uwharrie Point peninsula, wildlife, and nature—but it’s no secret what the main attraction is: the golf course.

Opening in 1991 and designed by award-winning architect Tom Fazio, the course perennially enjoys a top-10 ranking in the state and remains a favorite of many golfers today. Large and undulating Bentgrass greens—the standard in the area when growing new greens 30 years ago—adorned the course until this year when McConnell Golf funded a $3-milliondollar project to replace all the green structures with Bermudagrass. The project also included rebuilding all the bunkers on the golf course, tree work, cartpath repairs, and some tee work, which added approximately 160 yards to the course.

Old North State Club grand opening, 1991

AGRONOMY

To ensure all of the encroached Bermudagrass was removed prior to sprigging the new strain, four inches of material was removed from the surface and replaced with a substrate of 80% sand and 20% organic peat materials. A minimum of 20% organic material is required for the applied chemicals to adhere to the substance. All of the material that was removed from the old greens was kept on-site and will be used as needed for other projects such as top-dressing fairways after aerification.

What is “sprigging” in the turf world?

Most warm-season grasses must be established through sodding or sprigging. Sprigs are small plant parts, which usually contain rhizomes otherwise known as horizontal underground plant stems that produce root systems of a new plant. Sprigs are produced from tearing turf into plant parts. Once sprigs are planted, new plants are developed from the nodes that start to grow and produce roots. The young plants develop additional plants, and as they mature, a sod-forming turf occurs.

Watering is critical for successful sprigging. From the immediate time when sprigs are cut in the ground, for about a seven-day period, watering is vital. The small plant parts can dry down and die quickly. Watering sprigs starts immediately after planting and may be watered as often as every 20 to 30 minutes. This is the time that most often dictates successful sprigging.

Fun Fact: A prepped green with organic matter down ready to sprig is referred to as a “rough float” in the agronomy industry.

North Carolina is considered the “danger zone” for Bentgrass greens. This grass historically loves the cooler weather of the spring and fall; however, prolonged hot summer days can wreak havoc on the otherwise almost perfect greens. According to an article by Carolinas Golf Association Agronomist Leon T. Lucas, bentgrass “shoot growth ceases when air temperature is above 90 degrees and root growth ceases when soil temperature is above 77 degrees.”

Given the struggles golf courses in the Carolinas have had with Bentgrass greens in the summer, and the fact that summer is when majority of the club’s play happens, the decision to transition to Bermudagrass was an easy one.

COOL SEASON ZONE

TRANSITION “DANGER” ZONE

WARM SEASON ZONE

Pre-renovation Bentgrass greens at ONSC.

PRE-RENOVATION GREEN

RESTORED GREEN SIZE

“Bermudagrass has come a long way over the past few years,” says McConnell Golf Vice President of Agronomy Michael Shoun. “Specifically at Old North State, we are using Tif-eagle Bermuda which is very hearty. This strain of Bermuda seems to have the least amount of genetic mutations and side effects from chemicals over time, whereas other types of Bermuda grasses can change over time.”

The process for growing the new grass is as simple as throwing sprigs on the greens and watering them, but prepping the growing areas takes months. “Many may not realize the greens had shrunk a good bit over the years,” continues Shoun. “The existing Bermudagrass on the collars of the greens had encroached the original greens up to 15 feet in some areas. Many members, especially those joining in the past few years, may be very surprised at the size of the ‘new’ greens which have been restored to original Fazio shapes and sizes.”

“Many members, especially those joining in the past few years, may be very surprised at the size of the ‘new’ greens which have been restored to original Fazio shapes and sizes.”

Michael Shoun

Overhead view of the eighth green.

As with the greens, building bunkers was done in a completely different manner 30 years ago. Most courses built in this era used a cloth/mesh liner at the bottom of bunkers to keep underlying soil separated from the sand. After many years of weather, hundreds of thousands of rounds of golf, and just general wear, thin areas of sand coverage in bunkers left these old liners exposed and vulnerable to rips and tears from golf club heads. Once ripped and exposed, there is little that can be done to repair the damaged liner. And, as the liners fail, the sculpting of the areas around it, especially those deep bunkers with faces up to 90 degrees, begin to fail.

For the project at Old North State, the product Capillary Concrete was used for the new liner. CapCon is a polymer-based and semipermeable hard surface that drains well. It effectively controls the moisture level in the bunker while holding the sand in place, eliminating washouts from heavy rain storms and plugged ball lies. McConnell Golf uses CapCon at other courses, such as Raleigh Country Club, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, Providence Country Club, and Porters Neck Country Club.

Before pouring the concrete liner in the new bunkers, all previous sand was removed (once again saved for future fairway topdressing) and extensive drainage work was completed to ensure the drained water is routed properly once it is through the liner. The greenside bunkers were completed first, since the greens were sprigged in early June and the irrigation there would be frequent, preventing the crews from working near them. Additionally, new Bermuda sod was installed around all the bunkers, benefitting from the frequent watering of the greens.

“I cannot wait to see the finished product of the course at Old North State Club. This renovation will not only enhance playing conditions but also the overall membership experience and draw people back for more fun on Badin Lake. It’ll be exciting to have the course return to its former glory with Tom Fazio’s original plan in mind.”

John McConnell

While tree removal on a golf course, or anywhere for that matter, can be a controversial subject, just over 200 trees were removed from the course for this project. Many of these trees were removed to provide adequate sunlight to reach the new greens as Bermudagrass requires much more sun and heat, especially in the winter, to remain viable. Returning visitors will notice a nice opening around the ninth green with a beautiful new view of the lake when standing on the tee box of the same hole.

Along with the big-picture items like greens and bunkers, various smaller projects were tackled to enhance the golf course and create a better experience. For example, multiple holes on the course had extensive tee work done, including hole numbers 1, 3, 9 and 14. Additionally, three bridges were replaced, one bunker was converted to two smaller bunkers, and a new greenside bunker was added to the right on hole 18, which was a recommendation of the master plan presented by Fazio a few years back.

Whether you are a scratch golfer, a beginner, or even someone who rides along simply to take photos as the sun sets over the most amazing finishing holes in the state, there will be no denying this renovation has restored this pillar of a track to its rightful place as one of the top courses in the state and region.

View from the ninth green following tree removal.

EXPERIENCE my club

WE ASKED THE QUESTION:

do you love most about your time spent with McConnell Golf at your home club?”

At McConnell Golf, we strive to provide our members with one-of-a-kind, memorable experiences. We also aim to get to know our members on a personal level, making them feel at home when they enter any of our properties. In honor of our 20th anniversary, we asked our members to highlight what they love most about their time spent with McConnell Golf at their home clubs—and they delivered a variety of answers.

SEDGEFIELD COUNTRY CLUB

“McConnell Golf is the ultimate golf experience. The quality of courses and the purist presentation make it second to none. The ability to host clients at all the different locations throughout the network makes it a wonderful value. Their investment in Sedgefield Country Club has made it a place to be proud of and a showplace for the best players in the world every August at the Wyndham Championship.” —

GREG GREESON

BROOK VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

“Brook Valley Country Club is a wonderful club to be a member of. I enjoy playing the occasional nine holes of golf with my husband on our beautiful course. Many of my closest friendships were formed through Brook Valley. It’s such a special time to join friends on the patio for drinks and laughs. Kicking off the weekend on Thursday evenings with the MGA golfers and wives is always a fun time. Golf, friends, food, and drinks all make Brook Valley a great place.” —

THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WAKEFIELD PLANTATION

THE CARDINAL BY PETE DYE

“When I first joined The Cardinal in 2000, I was happy to be part of a club with a membership that was willing to make me feel like an important member from the beginning. However, the club itself was not nearly as impressive as the other two clubs I had previously been a member of. When Mr. McConnell purchased The Cardinal, it all changed for the better. In my opinion, our club is one of the best clubs in North Carolina. It’s one you can play every day and not be bored with. It plays differently every time you tee it up. When Ross Jernigan was brought in as the Golf Course Superintendent, things got even better. He has done a remarkable job! Bottom line...I don’t think about the other clubs I once was a member of; I get to play our remarkable Cardinal golf course, which is a step above all the rest” — LARRY DEMOSS

“Being a McConnell Golf member is the best deal in town. John gives us the best golf courses to play with the right people. It’s almost like an extended family. The more courses he adds, the more people you get to meet. We were able to hang out with some great folks on the course at Sedgefield Country Club during the Wyndham Championship. It’s good to see someone who’s that successful give back and provide, not just value, but comradery to the members.” —

LARRY SNYDER

“What

CHARLENE LEE

PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB

“Since joining Porters Neck over a year ago, the club and its energy have become a part of my life in a pretty awesome way—a way that even surprises me at times. Whether it comes through in a lesson from Dana via Operation 36, the women’s golf league or nine-hole plays with my fellow working women, playing outside in such beautiful scenery makes golf so much fun. Derrick and Jordan are always there with an ‘atta girl’ and guidance. I also love it when I see friendly faces like Justine, Debbie or Jen at the restaurant—ready with a hug and my favorite cold beverage they know by heart. Mostly though, whenever I come to the club, the welcoming energy and feeling that folks are just so ‘happy to be there’ permeates through the space. And I am pretty happy to be there too.” —

SHANNON

SANDLIN

PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB

“I joined Providence Country Club in 1997 and have been a member there for 26 years. When McConnell Golf purchased PCC, I truly believe it was one of the best things to happen to our property. Having access to all the other McConnell Golf clubs is fantastic. Also, the money that’s been put into the property has made the course that much better, and it’s been a great fit. My wife is taking up golf again and the staff has really helped her elevate her game.”

— JOHN CAPECCI

MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB

“We have been blessed to be full golf members at Musgrove Mill since the early 2000s. We have seen the ups and the downs but if I’m being honest, nothing can take away the feeling of being “home.” When you pull through the gate, it just seems like you are in a world of your own. Between Will and his grounds crew, Randy’s support, the pro shop team, and Cookie in the bar and grill (one of our group’s favorite hangout spots), they all make you feel welcome. Jeff Tallman is someone who is irreplaceable. He makes you feel so welcome and always has nothing but positive vibes. Jeff is just an amazing person. He makes this home for almost anyone he knows and most often people he has never met. Musgrove is a golf course with a great practice facility and fun getaway cottages without all the extras. This makes it a great escape to go to a quiet place and relax and just play golf.” LEA VENABLE

OLD NORTH STATE CLUB

“I have been a resident, full golf member of Old North State Club since November 1999. The most impressive thing about Old North State Club was the former Director of Golf, Tom Ducey, and his entire staff. That tradition of excellence and customer service has been carried forward and built upon by Justin Mathers and his staff. I can’t imagine a more welcoming club! With our recent golf course renovation, I am confident the club will continue to be one of the best courses in North Carolina.” —

GLENN MILLER

THE RESERVE GOLF CLUB

“Barry and I immediately felt such a warm welcome when we joined The Reserve Golf Club three years ago. Donald Clement has a special way of treating members like family, and his entire staff models his example! He oversees every detail of our club, making our golfing experience such an incredibly happy time for us.” —

JILL LIEBERMAN

TREYBURN COUNTRY CLUB

THE WATER’S EDGE COUNTRY CLUB

“We feel extremely fortunate to have been a part of The Water’s Edge Country Club from the beginning in 1988 and have enjoyed watching the club grow. The small membership at the start made for a very close-knit community. As it has grown, we have made lifelong friends and feel The Water’s Edge is a wonderful place to enjoy golf and love life. As we travel more in our later years, we always feel blessed to return to our gorgeous neighborhood.”

— MIKE & JANE TURNER

“As a former PGA professional, joining Treyburn Country Club was a no-brainer for my family and me. With everything John McConnell continues to put in place at TCC, there is no doubt that it will remain a top-ranked course in North Carolina. Ryan Vance and Dalton Rich have enhanced our golf operations, making our member events more fun, unique, and well-attended. Treyburn has been the biggest blessing to my family, as my kids are encouraged to be at the club and can play golf and learn at their own pace while developing their game. I feel very blessed to be a part of such an elite club with our Tom Fazio course, as well as McConnell Golf.” —

MATT DIETZ

RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB

“Absolutely fantastic, the McConnell Golf staff does it again! The course at Raleigh Country Club is superb, especially with the Bermuda fairways really popping from the sunny and hot summer days. The greens are outstanding and challenging, a true Donald Ross masterpiece! Kudos to Frank and Chef James at the 19th hole. Frank mixes a fabulous old fashioned and James makes some of the best soups and chowder in the Triangle. Great work and a job well done to all the folks at RCC who really make this club special.” —

BJ JOHNSON

Growing

McConnell Golf

by Christian Anastasiadis

COO shares his unique perspective on the origins and development of McConnell Golf

It was one of Raleigh’s finest turf galas when the master of golf course architecture himself, Donald Ross, visited the City of Oaks in 1947 and sketched what would become his final design. Raleigh Country Club’s legendary founders commissioned Ross to build the finest golfing facility. The canvas for Ross’ art was a stretch of land east of downtown, known as the Poe Dairy Farm. This adventure also signaled Raleigh’s growth east of downtown, giving way to its first “modern” planned development, known as Longview Gardens.

Just after work on the layout began in the early spring of 1948, Ross passed away. The legendary architect, whose style of course design was known as naturalness—a philosophy that did not require much earth moving—would be no more. Ross was survived by his widow, his brother Alec, who won the 1907 U.S. Open, two sisters and a brother in Scotland, as well as a daughter and stepson. The funeral was held at the Newton Centre in Massachusetts and was attended by many seasoned professional and amateur golfers. Construction at the Raleigh course stalled, but despite rumors to the contrary, the task of finishing Ross’ design moved forward.

A Legacy of Golf

Seventy-five years ago, in late April of 1948, Ellis Maples was called up to finish the design of his late employer, Ross. The Maples family is nowadays considered to be one of the first families of golf course design and construction. Beginning with James Maples Jr., who was born in Pinehurst in 1856, four generations have earned their living in the golf business. Three of James’ sons—Frank, Angus, and Walter—worked with Ross when he built Pinehurst No. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Ellis, Frank’s oldest son, who had learned plenty during his apprenticeship with Ross, finished the construction project on time. He also was the club’s first superintendent and head golf professional before becoming a legend in golf design, building famed courses like The Country Club of North Carolina and Grandfather Golf and Country Club.

Raleigh Country Club opened for play in 1949 and major pros like Sam Snead and Lloyd Mangrum were on hand for the kickoff. The same year, those two golf icons issued a book called “The Golf Clinic.” So, as you step on the No. 1 tee box at Raleigh Country Club, you will feel a strong sense of being in an authentic place in the game’s history. Throughout the years, RCC was home to many professional and sectional events including the LPGA Tour from 1966 through 1974, Nike Tour, and finally today, the Korn Ferry Tour’s UNC Health Championship.

RCC Course Map by Gene Hamm

“Whether it was fate or a lucky coincidence, it is one of the best stories to be told, and I am just glad for having been a part of the journey.” Christian Anastasiadis

Donald Ross

Images from the Raleigh Country Club Archives

(Top Photo)

The Ellis Maples-taught RCC “Par Chasers”

(Right Photo) RCC Clubhouse, 1953

Fast Forward to New Opportunities

The New Year in Houston in 2003 was celebrated without its usual flair. The city’s roaring ’90s came to an unexpected halt with Enron’s collapse just 14 months prior. The city was in shock, and it did not matter that the Texans became the first expansion team to win its opening game against the Cowboys in September of 2002. The criminal investigation into Enron was a dampener that year.

In contrast, Goose Creek Country Club, located just east of the city limits, had much to celebrate. A small club, which experienced greatness during the ’60s through the ’80s, had since been staring into the abyss. I arrived at the club in 2000 and by December 2002, the club had successfully rechartered, recapitalized, and installed an entirely new board, which they now entrusted to lead them into the new millennium. Sadly, just like the previous board, the club was never on comfortable terms with the forward-turned face of time and retrograde club board politics became futile, staring at another dead end despite having just averted painful bankruptcy. My usual February vacation days would soon set in, and I desperately needed some fresh air. I needed to hear the distinct melodies from my home country, Austria.

I enjoyed slipping into many solitary paths through lovely city parks, majestic squares, and medieval alleys. I felt at peace surrounded by the simplicity and charm of yesteryears. Oddly enough, I was at a critical point in my life. I would either continue to serve the club that was cogently opposed to changing its ways, or look for new challenges. I was an ambitious 40-year-old lad who wanted to be known as the Steve Jobs of the club industry. My résumé read like this at the time: “A passionate leader with 13 years of private club experience. I can read balance sheets, I know valuations, I have learned to write legal club documents and I have no problem dissolving a club board if needed. I led a private club through financial uncertainties yet provided value to its membership while avoiding bankruptcy. I am your guy. Want to hire me?”

Anastasiadis speaks at the 2020 RCC course re-opening.

I returned to Houston with a clear mind and my chest out in early March, just days before the shock-and-awe campaign launched against Saddam Hussein’s regime. French fries were renamed to “Freedom fries” in stark protest to France’s stand on Iraq. In 2003, Facebook was yet to launch, and there was no YouTube. AOL’s “You’ve got mail!” and Yahoo! connected one to the web, entertainment, and businesses. Sending résumés written meticulously on beautiful stationery was the accepted norm in applying for a job.

Determined to leave the club, I informed certain members of the board of my intentions, and it was the first step toward detaching me from the club. “Quiet quitting” was never in my DNA. I had learned of a managerial private club opportunity in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was already getting dark that evening when I carefully crafted my résumé and application documents for mail. It was a nerve-wracking sensation that set in once the heavy-duty white envelope was sent off.

Life changed on the day I received a call from Raleigh Country Club. It was Todd Sullivan, a fine gentleman—not yet a partner of the law firm he was working for—who vetted me on the phone. Sullivan was wellversed in labor matters and negotiations, so he got right to the point noting the club that I applied for was in bankruptcy. Open-eyed and quite awake after this unexpected statement, I could have politely declined. But the important thing for me was to get back to work. My response to Sullivan was probably as unexpected to him as his disclosure of the club’s bankruptcy was to me. I said, “Many clubs are facing tough times or are in bankruptcy these days. This is not new to me or discouraging. Let me have a look—I love a challenge.”

It was a different sort of arrival to Raleigh in mid-April 2003. One looks with different eyes at a city in which one intends to remain, as opposed to a city in which one enters merely as a visitor. Sullivan did not hide anything and took me down Poole Road, entering the club on Peartree Lane from St. Joseph Catholic Church.

At this point, I had seen the club’s financials. I had seen the neighborhood and read through all the legal documents filed in court. It felt like I stood alone in a strange land, exactly as I had 13 years earlier, when I arrived in the U.S. The answer to the question as to why I agreed to take on the challenge was made clear once I stepped out onto the back deck of Raleigh Country Club, looking at absolute beauty. It was clear to me that the course was pure in its design. It was simply miraculous. It took me a moment to collect myself. The club, represented by Jerry Oliver and David Tucker, and I mutually agreed to terms subject to court approval.

“I stepped out onto the back deck of Raleigh Country Club, looking at absolute beauty. It was clear to me that the course was pure in its design. It was simply miraculous. It took me a moment to collect myself.”

Christian Anastasiadis

MCG20

Permeated with the belief that everything would be fine, I boarded the plane to Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport and called my employer, giving notice, before the plane took off. It was an hour after I landed in Texas when I took a call from Oliver, informing me that the club’s bank note had been sold at a discount that very afternoon to a private investor, eyeing a vast development on 110 acres east of Raleigh’s downtown. The zoning was R-6 and it was a low-price investment for a real estate development of such size. Now what? Anyone who knows how bankruptcy proceedings work knows it can be an uphill climb with the new majority creditor smiling down at you. It was a repulsive, yet profitable contract made between a bank that made a bad loan to a club that should not have expanded beyond its means.

With a pseudopious excuse that I screwed up, I could have easily rescinded my resignation and stayed on with my then-current employer in Houston. The expression of shock lasted all evening that day. At that time, I was reminded by someone, the person who has been standing faithfully by my side for 23 years, that pluck and boldness often count for more. Signifying character and dependability, I returned Oliver’s call and told him that I would be in Raleigh to start my new job on May 1, 2003.

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Red Dawn

Everything had its norm in May 2003, and I can only convey its fullness from my point of view, as I am sure that every member has stories of their own. Nevertheless, the chief executive of the club’s stability was the bankruptcy court, holding the rights which it granted to continue to operate. We had a fixed budget and knew how much we could spend. We had a certain profit margin to meet. We invariably had to report progress and theses as to how the club would be able to find an emergency stage that the court and creditors could agree upon in the end. This was no small task. The longer the uncertainty, the more staff members were nervous. To everyone’s surprise, however, the club gained close to 100 callable memberships during the first six months that year. This gave us a glimmer of hope. Despite the propriety of this view, there was a dangerous arrogance in this touching confidence. Honestly, it was rash optimism. But even though it seemed a delusion, it was a wonderful one, and there was something in me that prevented me from walking away.

Thank goodness for the enthusiasts and the obsessives. If everyone took a balanced view of everything, nothing would ever get done. In the summer of 2003, someone made a call to someone and connected that someone with none other than John McConnell. He knew of the club’s struggles through the media. To this day, John loves the game of golf and at the time had just returned from a golf trip at Oakmont Country Club. Taking another look at Ross’ last design, and seeing what RCC could become, was the moral force of the argument for John to join talks with our team of lawyers, board, and staff.

When meeting with John, I never asked him about hard truths or what led to his decision. I now know John has a love for classic layouts and a Donald Ross footprint. He once was quoted saying, “Golf is not supposed to be an endurance test. It’s supposed to be a fun walk. Donald Ross courses are like that.”

MCG20

The membership and staff were all in, but we still had to bring it over the finishing line in court. Pretending it would all be just fine, I energized the staff, but the reality was we had limited resources day in and day out as we operated on COD and were trying to make payroll every other week. It was a long road to Dec. 1, 2003, the day that ultimately led to the court approving the plan of reorganization and a new beginning at Raleigh Country Club.

The Cinderella story could have stopped on this date, but not so fast. Raising operating standards and the fortuitous acquisition of certain land parcels between King William and Queen Ann included the entire tract of today’s driving range facing west, adding to the unique maturity of RCC as it is known today. Building upon the legacy Ross and Ellis built, 75 years after its founding, RCC boasts a strong foundation on which McConnell Golf set its roots. It has found an enthusiastic audience in the City of Oaks. I still say that you must be a 15 handicap or less to fully enjoy this great course, but I can also tell you we have all the resources in place to make anyone a great golfer.

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“Golf is not supposed to be an endurance test. It’s supposed to be a fun walk. Donald Ross courses are like that.”

John McConnell

Images from the Raleigh Country Club Archives

(Pictured Above) Christian Anastasiadis and Brian Kittler with the 2006 RCC Junior Champion

(Pictured from Left to Right) McConnell Golf mascot, “Chippy,” circa 2013 2004 Practice Facility Renovation

A New World

The sun shone full and strong when I left Treyburn Country Club in the late summer of 2006. Due diligence was completed and an offer to purchase the property was about to be drafted. Having just acquired Cardinal Golf and Country Club in June of that year, which had become our first addition to the portfolio, I was aware a new company was about to be born. How different from those days in 2003 but how different was I, too, from the inexperienced young man of that time.

Fast forward to today, McConnell Golf boasts a tremendous portfolio of properties spanning from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coasts of the Carolinas. Born out of thunder at the twilight of Raleigh Country Club, McConnell Golf has since emerged as a mature family business. The company is a pillar in the game of golf, as it has set new standards in building clubs of the future. If asked how to best describe this meteoric rise from a small club 20 years ago to one of golf’s most recognized names, I would sum it up as follows: In everything we do, we believe in thinking differently and being more innovative. We believe in pure golf for the true golfer. We believe in operating environmentally responsible and we believe in investing in our employees. To this day, we are simply focused on generating long-term value for all our stakeholders.

What an awesome 20-year voyage. I would like to thank our fantastic staff and each and every one who has made an impact on this journey, contributing to this great story.

Thank you all.

Christian Anastasiadis Chief Operating Officer | McConnell Golf

McConnell Golf Creed

In everything we do, we believe in thinking differently and challenging the status quo.

We are innovators in the club industry.

We believe in ‘Building Clubs of the Future’ with our members and staff being a club’s true product. We believe in being environmentally responsible and a pillar in our communities.

We believe in being more inclusive than exclusive.

We believe in pure golf for the true golfer and that every day is an opportunity to make a difference.

Evolution of the Magazine

Pictured here is the first edition of McConnell Golf, The Magazine which debuted in July 2008. At the time, McConnell Golf owned four properties: Raleigh Country Club, Cardinal Golf & Country Club, Treyburn Country Club and Musgrove Mill Golf Club. The purchase of Musgrove Mill marked the first expansion outside of North Carolina, and added Arnold Palmer to our portfolio of distinguished architects. The quality of these pristine courses further expanded our members’ ability to quench their passion for pure golf with a single membership. Since its inception, the magazine has matured into one of the finest private club publications in the industry.

For the Members, By the Members

Member advertising and referrals have largely funded each issue of McConnell Golf, The Magazine. Each edition is truly a community effort with staff and member story submissions spanning the McConnell Golf network, over 60 contributing writers and 150 advertisers funding its pages since the first issue.

For story submissions and advertising inquiries, please contact Faith Inman, McConnell Golf Communications Director, at finman@mcconnellgolf.com.

MAKING MEMORIES

THROUGHOUT MCCONNELL GOLF

Share your moments and memories from the club! Use #McConnellGolf in your social posts and email Faith Inman at finman@mcconnellgolf.com to submit photos for McConnell Golf, The Magazine.

Steele Wright, HHCC Bill, Abigail & Nykky Harper, HHCC Hudson & Meg Dorsay, PCC

WP members Dean & Gail Jordan with SCC members Nora & John Swofford

Jeff & Jake Fuller, CG

Frank Washburn, PDRC

Joan Peppers, WECC

Tyson Haefele & Moe Hinson, MM

Amanda & Clem Venable, SCC

Rebekah McConnell, WECC

PNCC member Jacob Garner and his son Braxton Garner with Matt Kuchar (PGA)

Lux Deegan, CCA

Kip Henley & Ford Hooks, RCC

Hayden, Mary & Candace Garland, BVCC

Kari Gaffé, Melanie Schaffer, Michelle Schneider and Beverly Marler, SCC

Megan Parker, WCC Member-Guest

Tripp Stoneburner, Beau Plyler, Fenley Plyler & Hughes Hambrick, WECC

Adair Allen, HHCC

MAKING MEMORIES

THROUGHOUT MCCONNELL GOLF

Share your moments and memories from the club! Use #McConnellGolf in your social posts and email Faith Inman at finman@mcconnellgolf.com to submit photos for McConnell Golf, The Magazine.

Savannah, Lauren, Harper & Harland Bower, TCC Charles Barth, WCC

Enrique Alzate & Juliette Celin, PCC Byron Caulk & Michael Williams, RS

Leah Edwards & Jenna Kim, CG

Yuliya Babenko, David Wilhoit, Michael Hofmann, Linda Hofmann, Madelene Trolle & Ken Trolle, SCC

Collin O’Berry & Matt Michum, CCA Olivia & Kadie Moore, BVCC

Jeff Ross & Scott Stone, PCC

Collins, Emery, Ruby & Leah, WP

Betty Lee, ONSC

Phillip Childers & Dahmen, SCC

Cooper Hayes, HHCC Rylan, Becky, Kolby & Chris Sanders, BVCC

Emily Wareham & Wilson Teague, CCA

Roya Merryman & Rebecca Hussey, WECC

Dan Jess Sr., Nancy Jess and Dan Jess Jr., RCC

Kris Ludtke, Kelly Hepner, Mary Flinn, Jane Hambel, Ruth Ruppe, Tara D’Alessandro & Nina Vance, PNCC

by Brad King

WyndhamWinning

Lucas Glover bests persistent opponents to claim Wyndham Championship victory

GOLF

Former U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover overcame a late, two-hour-plus rain delay, a dogged-yet-unlucky Russell Henley, and a fast-charging Byeong Hun An to win the 84th Wyndham Championship at Greensboro’s Sedgefield Country Club. Glover clinched the twostroke victory with a final-round of 68.

The Wyndham, which is the seventh-oldest event on the PGA TOUR schedule excluding the majors, tees up plenty of excitement due to its pivotal position as the final event before the TOUR’s season-ending FedEx Cup Playoffs. Intensifying the pressure, this was the debut season of a reimagined playoff format, where the starting field was reduced to 70 players, down from the longtime 125 number.

Lucas Glover embraces his children, Lucas Jr. & Lucille.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN BARNETT/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

“I’m too old to be on the road this much. I’ve been busting my hump to be with them, be with my wife. I’m so happy.”

Lucas Glover

Entering the Wyndham, Glover—an honorary Musgrove Mill Golf Club member who captured the 2009 U.S. Open on the daunting Black Course at New York’s Bethpage State Park—needed a two-way T2 or better to qualify for the playoffs. He bettered that with his 20-under total while earning his fifth career PGA TOUR victory.

The 43-year-old Greenville, South Carolina, native vaulted from 112th to 49th in the FedEx Cup standings, punching his ticket into the lucrative postseason with an exclamation point. In the final year of his winner’s exemption courtesy of his 2021 John Deere Classic victory, Glover was the only player to move inside the top 70 at the Wyndham. Austin Eckroat, who missed the cut, fell from 70th to 74th.

Glover’s two young children, Lucille and Lucas Jr., sprinted out to the green following his winning putt as a beautiful rainbow appeared over Sedgefield. “Daddy, you won!” Lucas said, while Lucille— sporting an orange Clemson shirt for her father’s alma mater, where he was a two-time AllAmerican and led the Tigers to a pair of ACC Championship titles (1998 and 2000) at Old North State Club—was in tears.

“I’m too old to be on the road this much,” an emotional Glover told CBS Sports’ Amanda Renner. “I’ve been busting my hump to be with them, be with my wife. I’m so happy.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN GILLOOLY/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

RUSSELL HENLEY

Glover used the momentum he gained in Greensboro to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship in back-toback weeks, becoming the first player to win consecutive tournaments on TOUR since Tony Finau in 2022 and the oldest to do so since Vijay Singh in 2008. It was Glover’s first two-win season since joining the TOUR in 2004. He entered the Wyndham Championship No. 117 in the World Golf Rankings and finished the season at No. 30 after his back-to-back wins and advancing to the TOUR Championship.

Justin Thomas was a central bubble figure throughout

JUSTIN THOMAS

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN BARNETT/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Wyndham week, ultimately finishing in a two-way T12 for an agonizing No. 71 finish on the FedEx Cup. Thomas fell to the ground in disbelief after his birdie chip on the 72nd hole hit the base of the pin but wiggled out, leaving Thomas out of the playoffs by the same small margin that kept his ball out of the cup.

A two-time major champion after winning the 2017 and 2022 PGA Championships, Thomas missed the postseason for the first time as a TOUR pro, leaving Matt Kuchar as the only player eligible for the playoffs every year since 2007.

“I did everything I could,” Thomas said. “I fought as hard as I could. I played as well as I could this week, and I gave myself a chance.”

After missing the Wyndham cut, TOUR rookie and Chapel Hill native Ben Griffin spent an anxious weekend monitoring the projections before ultimately securing the 70th and final FedExCup Playoffs spot.

Despite a final-round 63, former Masters champ Adam Scott fell just shy of qualifying for his 17th consecutive FedEx Cup Playoffs. Scott began the week at No. 81 and moved up to No. 72 with a tie for seventh at Sedgefield. Like Thomas, Scott finished one shot away from the postseason.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN GILLOOLY/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

ADAM SCOTT

LUCAS GLOVER

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN GILLOOLY/WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Glover, whose five PGA TOUR wins are separated by 18 years, was recently inspired by Scott to transition to a long putter while battling the yips. The move paid off as Glover seemed to jar every important putt at Sedgefield.

After Sunday’s final round of play was suspended for more than two hours due to dangerous weather, 13 players, including Glover and Henley who were tied for the lead at 20-under with four holes to play, returned to complete their final rounds.

Glover—ironically one of the few PGA TOUR pros who does not wear a glove— finished with four pars, taking advantage of a fortuitous break on the finishing hole when his tee shot bounced off a security cart keeping it out of the trees.

Henley, a former Georgia Bulldog who took the lead with a two-putt birdie on the par-5

15th, had the opposite of Glover’s luck, leading to a bogey-bogey-bogey finish. “Just didn’t do a good job of handling the restart,” said Henley, who also let the 2021 Wyndham title get away from him.

A pair of former University of California golfers, Byeong Hun An and Michael Kim, added to the best seasons of their professional careers with top-10 finishes at the Wyndham.

An, 31, tied for second place with Henley at 18-under, two strokes behind Glover. It was An’s fourth top-10 finish this season and his highest finish in a PGA event since tying for second at the 2018 Canadian Open.

Kim, 30, finished in a tie for fifth place with Webb Simpson at 13-under, seven strokes off the pace. It also was Kim’s fourth top-10 finish of the year and his payday of $293,550 pushed his career-

best earnings total for this season to just under $2 million.

An, who turned professional in 2011 after one season at Cal, never had a chance to overtake Glover, who took charge with a third-round 62 to take the lead into the final day with Billy Horschel, who finished fourth at 16-under. Glover pocketed the winner’s check of $1,368,000.

“It’s huge, obviously,” said Glover, who added that he has felt very comfortable at Sedgefield since his childhood days.

“Pretty close to home and had a lot of family here when I was growing up, spent a lot of time here at Sedgefield actually,” he said. “I had a couple uncles that were members and came up here a good bit. I remember the pool and thought it was the best pool ever because it had a high dive, I remember that.”

Like legendary course designer Donald Ross, Dr. Lyle is of Scottish descent and honors his heritage by incorporating the thistle, the national flower of Scotland, into his practice’s logo.

THE WATER’S EDGE COUNTRY CLUB

GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT: R.F. Loving Jr.

LOCATION:

The course is nestled alongside the Smith Mountain Lake shoreline, 38 miles southwest of Roanoke, 34 miles northeast of Martinsville, 57 miles southeast of Lynchburg and 45 miles northeast of Danville.

OUR COURSE:

“Our family has continuously enjoyed the dream that became The Water’s Edge Country Club. Many others also found this special place and together we have become a community of very good friends. John McConnell was one...and now we are blessed to be part of an even bigger family, McConnell Golf, expertly run by the team John has built these last 20 years.”

– Bill and Karen Kite, members at WECC

INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS:

The signature par-3 island green on hole No. 7 and the neighboring holes are by far the best views on the golf course. You can take a photo at the top of the tee box on No. 6 as it looks down the fairway. It’s always a great view with a backdrop of the lake and mountains. Past the green on No. 7—with the lake all around you—is a very good shot in almost every direction. There’s also a nice lake view standing at the green on No. 8 and looking back at the tee boxes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Members can enjoy views of Smith Mountain Lake on 15 of the 18 holes on the course. Additionally, in August of 2005, Michael Jordan played four and a half rounds (81 holes) of golf in two days at The Water’s Edge.

A New Deal

Century-old country club wins a new lease on its private life

The day after Michael Sargent was elected president of Wilson Country Club’s Board of Directors last spring, he found himself in a situation he had been hoping for: he would soon lose his volunteer leadership position, and the private club would be saved.

The day before, a Tuesday, Sargent recalls, a much-hoped-for call came from John McConnell, CEO of McConnell Golf, which, at the time, owned 14 premier private clubs throughout the Southeast.

“He contacted me and asked if we were interested in selling, and I told him absolutely we were,” says Sargent, who had sold his 30-year autobody shop business in 2021 and has been a Wilson member for nearly 20 years, while Anne and Conrad Odden, his wife’s parents, have belonged since 1973.

But why would members want to sell their private club, which had been operating since 1915 in a small North Carolina town?

Well, the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009 pummeled the club, leading to the loss of a third of its membership. That then added to its rising maintenance and operational problems and mounting debt, which created an even bigger problem: enlarging membership.

“We were in a rowboat with one oar instead of two,” says Chuck Barth, who was board secretary alongside Sargent. “We weren’t sinking yet, we were slowly going to the waterfall with one oar.”

Leadership had been reaching out to McConnell for five or six years, they say, but McConnell Golf was busy with other acquisitions.

In 2019, Wilson Country Club refinanced its debt. “The writing was on the wall,” Barth says. “Unless there was a total change in the economy and the club itself, I think we probably had about five more

years before we were in trouble, in big trouble—probably bankrupt.”

Finally, last spring, McConnell Golf met with board leadership. Sargent took the deal to its members, now just around 400.

Meanwhile, Barth had been visiting McConnell Golf properties, including Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville, North Carolina. He didn’t go to play golf. Rather, he would drop in as a potential member to look around the facility and chat with staff and restaurant employees.

“If your staff ain’t happy, your guests aren’t gonna be happy,” he says.

He found happy staff. More importantly, someone in the golf shop told him something to share with his fellow members: “He said something very profound to me, something that I was trying to

M.A. Tyson, Richard Sargent, Michael Sargent, and Jim Wagamon

think of as a way to explain this to our members. He said, ‘If you don’t have the money to do the necessary things, then you’ve already lost control of your club.’”

Two town halls later, Barth and Sargent say, members overwhelmingly accepted the deal. Dr. Jerry Woodard, who retired after 40 years as a gastroenterologist and has been a Wilson member since the Willow Springs days, already knew McConnell’s reputation. He had played—and still plays—The Reserve Golf Club at Pawleys Island,

South Carolina, and Country Club of Asheville and Treyburn Country Club in Durham, the latter two in North Carolina.

Of the deal with the company whose brand has bloomed through 20 years, Woodard says, “It was positive because I am very much well aware of McConnell Golf’s history and what they’ve done in various places.”

The acquisition has energized membership and created a buzz in the community. “Locals are talking positively about what is

“It was positive because I am very much well aware of McConnell Golf’s history and what they’ve done in various places.”

Dr. Jerry Woodard

Kim Clark (tennis professional) with WCC members Sherry Bridgers, Jude Holbrook, and Anna Appert.

happening,” says Wilson Country Club General Manager Isaac Davis. “I have recently received numerous business inquiries about membership and our planned renovated banquet facilities.”

The enthusiasm extends to the staff, who are delivering a heightened standard of service. “While golf may be the driving force of the club as in the past, we are currently improving the service, quality, and experience for members and guests in all areas with a current focus on food and beverage,” Davis says.

Coalter Paxton III appreciates the changes the new ownership is bringing to the club where his father, Coalter Jr., and his son, Coalter IV, are members, too.

McConnell Golf has instituted new—and welcome—rules. For instance, members must change their shoes in the locker rooms, not in the parking lot, and men aren’t permitted to wear hats in the clubhouse—just as, he says, “a lot of upscale, up-brand golf courses do.” “Overall,” Paxton adds, “I can say that the future is very bright for Wilson Country Club because of his involvement.”

The former board president began seeing one particularly important improvement from Day 1 of McConnell Golf’s ownership.

“I guess the morale is the biggest, the morale of the employees, the atmosphere of the club, it feels successful versus feeling burdensome,” Sargent says, “and I’m just really happy I’m a

NOTABLE MENTIONS

• Wilson Country Club boasts a No. 6 spot under the North Carolina Golf Panel’s Eastern Regional Rankings.

• Wilson Country Club is the official home course of Barton College’s men’s and women’s golf teams and the annual host of Barton’s Intercollegiate Golf tournament, featuring 10-12 colleges within Conference Carolinas.

• Wilson Country Club has hosted eight Carolinas Golf Association majors: 2010 NC Men’s Amateur, 2009 NCWGA Ladies’ State Amateur, several U.S. Open qualifiers and Korn Ferry Tour qualifiers.

member again and not having to run a board of directors trying to keep the place, to survive.”

Hill echoes the sentiment and says in his 25 years at Wilson Country Club, he’s never seen members so enthusiastic. “We’re the only fullservice country club in Wilson that provides banquets, tennis, golf, and pool amenities. We’re the package deal.”

“I guess the morale is the biggest, the morale of the employees, the atmosphere of the club, it feels successful versus feeling burdensome and I’m just really happy I’m a member again and not having to run a board of directors trying to keep the place, to survive.”

Michael Sargent

GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT:

Donald Ross

LOCATION:

CCA is just north of downtown Asheville, 28 miles northwest of Hendersonville, 34 miles northeast of Waynesville and 60 miles southwest of Morganton.

OUR COURSE:

“The greens are immaculate, the course is well defined from the fairways to the first cut and into the rough. The fairways are like carpets! Unbelievable that Brandon gets this done with what appears to be a small staff. His direction is clearly showing with the results he and his staff have achieved.”

– Rod Pennington, member at CCA

INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS:

On a course that is nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, incredible views are not hard to come by. From the smokiness that descends upon its surrounding peaks to the illustrious sight of blossoming rhododendrons, Country Club of Asheville does not fall short on breathtaking landscapes. The most memorable view out of all 18 holes can be found at the 15th green. From here, golfers can see the Asheville skyline while tracking their birdies and pars.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since the club’s inception in 1894, CCA has had several locations, with the first location being in the Malvern Hills area in present day West Asheville.

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LATORRE INSURANCE

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BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE REAL ESTATE

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LODGING AT MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB

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