McConnell Golf The Magazine SPRING 2017
Transformation in Asheville A Return to Ross’ Vision
Country Club of Asheville
Musgrove Mill hosts the Men’s ACC Championships, April 21 - 23
In Full Bloom AS I AM WRITING THIS ARTICLE, the robins are flying all over my yard and there are dozens of them. This is my usual glimmer of hope that spring is on its way. However, this winter has been a welcome relief from the cold and ice we had in 2016. We’ve experienced many pleasant days for our members to enjoy activities at their clubs, so we are hopeful for a banner year at McConnell Golf. Last year was our best year as an organization and it appears that our brand is growing in popularity both in our markets as well as nationally. We certainly are proud that our member retention rate is 92 percent versus the national average of 90 percent, and we will continue to focus on enhanced member facilities and services at all properties. Needless to say, we cannot wait for the newly renovated golf course at Country Club of Asheville to reopen in April. It is going to be one of the best courses to play in our state. Donald Ross designed a gem — and our renovation has protected his original concepts. The updates have taken it to a whole new level, with state-of-the-art green complexes and sand traps. Asheville is a thriving area and makes for a great short vacation from all our club locations. And after playing this course, take a short drive over to Knoxville to play Holston Hills, which still may be the most original Donald Ross layout in the nation. McConnell Golf owns more Donald Ross golf courses than any entity in the world,
including the Pinehurst Resort. Speaking of the Country Club of Asheville, it has the honor of being the oldest private club in our state. Established in 1894 as a fox hunting club, the club later added a few holes of golf. The Vanderbilts were early members. The club moved to the Grove Park Inn location in 1913. The membership later sold that location to the hotel in 1976 and purchased its current location, which then was Beaver Creek Golf Club, and built a new clubhouse. This club has a wealth of history and many notables have played there including Bobby Jones, Dinah Shore, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer. The view from the grille patio after a round of play is as good as it gets. I certainly would be remiss if I did not mention what a great addition that Providence Country Club in Charlotte has been to our organization. They have an outstanding membership and we are so excited about the new fitness center and other updates, including an upcoming course renovation. As we begin the 2017 season, we encourage you to make this the year that you spend more time at your club. When I look back on my life, the memories that jump out most are the fun times playing golf with my family and friends. Those competitive games of golf remind me that this game is very special. I hope each of you come to enjoy and love it as much as I do. It is certainly news when the sport’s two
governing bodies are looking for ways to make the rules more simplistic. The one that I hope they eliminate at some point is loss of hole in match play if you hit the wrong ball! We have many exciting events planned for our clubs in 2017. We are planning for our upcoming ACC golf championships to be held again at our clubs and the Masters is almost here. It’s time to enjoy your membership, along with those robins building their nests. Best wishes,
John McConnell, CEO & Founder
www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2017
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Contents #MCGDREAM18 The next round of holes in the lineup EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT It’s all about the members for Musgrove Mill’s director of golf MAP 12 properties from the mountains to the coast ASK A MEMBER Two members reflect on their near-daily rounds CLUB COMMUNITY Latest happenings FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN The Toy Story gang comes to Providence Country Club AGRONOMY Nature is buzzing at Wakefield GOLF Tournament of Champions Gallery CULINARY Brook Valley chef builds community DRINK Old North State Club’s surprising cocktail TENNIS USTA winners THE BACK 9 A conversation with Kris Spence MEMBER BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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Features TRANSFORMATION IN ASHEVILLE WEEKEND GETAWAY: THE RESERVE REMEMBERING ARNOLD PALMER Treyburn Country Club in Durham
RUN FOR LIFE
www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016
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SOCIAL By Brad King
McConnell Golf Dream 18 OF THE 12 MCCONNELL GOLF PROPERTIES AND 225 HOLES, we’ve nominated the top holes to play. Vote for your favorites to help us decide what the par-72 MCGDream18 will be! Log into the McConnell Golf members-only website to cast your vote. Then share your photos and thoughts with us on social media using #MCGDream18. And the spring nominations are …
OLD NORTH STATE CLUB, NO. 18 568-yard Par 5
OLD NORTH STATE CLUB, NO. 2 400-yard Par 4
The downhill tee shot on this short, dogleg left requires little more than a 3-wood, but can prove to be difficult given the marsh land and large bunker just left of the fairway. The green is protected by a water hazard along the left that also extends behind the green. Any shot not dialed in to the correct distance needs to be extremely lucky to stay in play.
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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE
ONSC’s signature hole is a dogleg left that requires precise shots from beginning to end. The tee shot is quite intimidating since the fairway is very narrow and Badin Lake looms on the left. Thick rough and a steep side hill lie will punish any bailout to the right. Whether you decide to go for the green in two or layup, you are forced to cut the corner of the lake; so any mishit will be in the water. The luxurious clubhouse looks down onto the green, which offers another amazing view of Badin Lake. The 18th hole at ONSC completes North Carolina’s best finish in golf.
OLD NORTH STATE CLUB, NO. 16 427-yard Par 4
This short but dangerous hole begins the beguiling finishing stretch alongside Badin Lake. The tee shot requires a solid strike to navigate between woods that creep in quickly on the right and a large fairway bunker on the immediate left. The approach shot is one of the most difficult on the course. The green is narrow — any mishits will find deep rough on the right or the bottom of Badin Lake on the left.
OLD NORTH STATE CLUB, NO. 17 197-yard Par 3
It’s beautiful yet treacherous, with a green that is large but protected by bunkers on the right and in the back, and by Badin Lake on the left. The green undulates severely and is multi-tiered, so once on the green, your work is far from over. Standing on the green provides a spectacular view out over the lake that often leaves golfers speechless.
THE RESERVE, NO. 13 530-yard Par 5
For long hitters, the only par 5 at The Reserve that is reachable in two shots will happen only if you can avoid a waste bunker on the right side of fairway. For shorter hitters, the shot is a layup to the right center of the fairway with another waste area to avoid on the left, then a short iron or wedge shot back to the left, and a third shot that is almost a dogleg left to a big, fairly flat green. If there’s a birdie hole at The Reserve, it’s No. 13.
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SEDGEFIELD DYE COURSE, NO. 3 301-yard Par 4
This wonderful, short par 4 gives you several options. With Brush Creek left, No. 3 demands accuracy off the tee. An iron or hybrid drive will leave you with just a short iron to the green. With an elevated green surrounded by bunkers, an accurate second shot is a must. If you decide to drive the green, missing to the left will leave a tough approach from one of the many bunkers protecting the green. No. 3 may be small, but a player trying to do too much can end up making a big number.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND FOUNDER
JOHN MCCONNELL
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS MAGAZINE SALES & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ASSISTANT
KASEY OLIVE
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
CASEY GRIFFITH
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AT PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB
MATT MCCONNELL
PUBLISHED BY PACE 1301 CAROLINA ST., GREENSBORO, NC 27401 PACECO.COM | 336.378.6065 PUBLISHER
STEVE MITCHEM steve.mitchem@paceco.com
THE RESERVE, NO. 18 600-yard Par 5
To everyone except Myrtle Beach native Dustin Johnson, The Reserve’s finishing hole is a three- (or four-) shot hole. To avoid a waste area off the teeing area on the left, your tee shot should be middle to right side. Then execute a layup shot with fairway metal or long iron for most, trying to hit the ball center or center left while trying to avoid a right waste area about 150 yards out, and finally a mid- to shortiron shot to the largest green on the golf course — avoiding water front and right of the green.
EDITOR
MARTHA-PAGE ALTHAUS DESIGN DIRECTOR
ERIN LUCAS
SENIOR EDITOR
LAUREN EBERLE COPY EDITORS
LAURA BURKEHART LANCE ELKO
SEDGEFIELD DYE COURSE, NO. 12 220-yard Par 3
None other than legendary architect Pete Dye said No. 12 was the “hardest par 3 I have ever designed.” Indeed, the 12th at the Sedgefield Dye Course will challenge even the most skilled players. This hole demands one of the most accurate shots on the course. With water all down the left and Brush Creek running the length of the hole on the right, you’ll find very little room to bail out. If you do miss the green, hopefully you will find one of the two bunkers protecting the right side of the putting surface.
ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR
KIMBERLY SIMPSON VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION
JAMES A. DECATA
PRODUCTION MANAGER
SHARON LINDER
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT By Lauren Eberle
Family Ties
It’s members first for Musgrove Mill’s director of golf.
WHEN JEFF TALLMAN WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, his mother would often drop him off for the day at a golf course. “If it was sunny and summertime, I’d be out there,” he recalls. “I loved every minute.” Years later, Tallman still gets a thrill out of spending his days on the golf course. But as the Director of Golf at Musgrove Mill Golf Club, actual golf is just a portion of his job. In addition to running the day-to-day operations of the club, he works to make guests feel like family, spending time with each group that comes to play. Tallman got into the golf business out of school, starting at a couple of clubs in Indiana. After he married, he moved to Augusta, Georgia and worked as an assistant golf pro. A few years later, a position opened at Musgrove Mill Golf Club. The Tallmans, who had an eight-month-old at the time, saw great appeal in Clinton, South Carolina’s tight-knit community and soon made the move. “Musgrove Mill’s intimate setting helps us stand out,” Tallman says. “We really take the opportunity to connect with our members.” Tommy Parrish is one of Musgrove Mills’ original members, and says Tallman is a people person who has done great things for the club: “You’re always glad to see him, and he’s always glad to see you.” It was spring when the Tallmans first arrived to Clinton. “The azaleas were blooming, Presbyterian College was abuzz, and we found a home in the center of town,” recalls Tallman, who is the father of three nearly-grown girls. “It’s been a true pleasure raising a family here.” Family is a theme that motivates much of his business practice, too. “We’re golf professionals; we’re not professional golfers,” he explains. “We can play good golf, but what we’re always thinking about is our members — not our
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game. What can we do to make their day better? Every time they pull in through the gate, they can enjoy what we call the ‘decompression chamber.’ They can reconnect, relax, and refocus.” Seeing the sport change over his time in the business, Tallman says he still hates to hear folks say golf takes too long. “I like to think of golf as quality time you can’t get back,” he says. “The four hours someone spends with their dad or mom on the golf course — they’re some of the best times of their lives.” His father was an avid golfer, and would take Tallman along from the time he could walk. In high school, he had a particular fondness for golf. His college team even finished 16th in the NCAA. “I got into the golf business for the golf — but I don’t think this is a business that you can just acquire a taste for,” Tallman explains. “I think it has to be in your blood. You have to love getting up and out there ... And you have to have a family that understands all of that. This is a service business and it takes a lot of give. You either have it or you don’t — and I’m so glad I do.”
A TIP FROM THE PROS YOUTUBE.COM/MCCONNELLGOLF Weighing a situation’s risk-reward is one of life’s many trials, and this certainly holds true on the course. In the latest video of the series, Tallman shares strategies for approaching a challening hole — whether aiming to triumph or just survive.
MEMBER’S CORNER By Martha-Page Althaus
Wilma Lathrup
Ask a Member These two McConnell members each played some 300 rounds of golf in 2016. (That’s 5,400 holes!) Their goal for 2017? Play even more. Wilma Lathrup Treyburn Country Club Wilma Lathrup, a retired teacher, moved from New York to Treyburn in 1999. And she hasn’t looked back since. “That move was the best thing I ever did,” she says. “My big passion in life is to be outside, and I can do that here.” Lathrup began golfing when she was nine years old with her parents. “And I hated it!” she recalls. “I couldn’t wait till I was old enough to stay home and not golf with them.” But she eventually developed a love of the game; in 2016, she averaged more than 300 full rounds played. “It’s just what I do,” she says. “I get up. I take care of my cats. I get on the treadmill. Then I go play golf.” What part of your game have you been able to improve the most over this past year? I would like to say my short game, but that’s wishful thinking. Probably my ability to drive the ball. What’s the most memorable round you played in 2016? I scored a hole-in-one on No. 13 at Treyburn. Are there any heartbreaking near-misses or blooper scenarios you’d like to share? A few years ago, I flew to Florida to play golf with my mother. I was so excited, as she was quite elderly. I knew I wouldn’t have many more times to golf with my mom. I
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went to put my golf shoes on at the first tee, and I realized I brought two left shoes with me! I gave the cart boy my credit card and gave him instructions: Go into the pro shop, buy a pair of ladies white golf shoes size 6.5, and bring them straight here. He did it, and I was good to go! You grew up golfing with your parents. Who do you golf with now? I have six grandchildren and I’m determined that one of them will play with grandma! My youngest grandson, Pablo, is 14 … at that age, you just give them a ball, any ball, and something to hit it with, and they’re happy. They just want to hit it, and hit it far! So right now, Pablo is the one that plays with me. I’ve played quite a few times with him and his dad. It’s so nice. That’s three generations of us on the course. What else can three generations do together and enjoy? Pablo was dying to outhit me, so on the 9th hole, I let him outhit me. I wanted him to go home happy! And he went home happy, wanting to do it again. That’s what it’s all about. What’s your post-golf ritual? I take my shoes off and forget about it. I just blank it out of my mind. It does me no good to go over the round and have regrets. I don’t ever think “Oh, I should have made that putt.” It’s forgotten. And the next time I play, I have a clean slate to start all over again.
Left to right: Mr. Willis, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Wahl, and Mr. Kelliher at the 2016 Reserve Cup
Dennis Wahl The Reserve Golf Club When Dennis Wahl retired as a Vice President at Merrill Lynch, playing more golf was at the top of his to-do list. “I’ve been golfing since I was 30 years old and I’ve always had a passion for it,” says Wahl, who joined The Reserve in 2012. “I was able to retire a year early, at age 64, and now I’m having the time of my life.” How do you find the time to play so often? It helps that I’m retired, but I always played a lot even while I was working. As of this past February, I’ve played 44 rounds this year. And counting. I’m on pace for another 300 rounds this year. I can play 18 holes in three hours … four hours, tops. I like that a great deal. Are there days you don’t feel like playing but decide to do so anyway? Why? Not very often. It’s part of who I am. It’s in my DNA. But sometimes, Mother Nature says to take the day off. What part of your game have you been able to improve the most over this past year? I’ve gotten better because I’ve played a lot. I walk 98 percent of my round. Walking has made me a better golfer. I’m in better shape. I think the game was made to be walked.
What’s the most memorable round you played in 2016? I broke eighty 58 times. I’ve shot 74 once or twice in 2016. This year, in February, I shot a 73. Our group shot 30 under par that day. We all shot under our handicap. It was a pretty good day. It’s a lifelong goal to shoot my age. Maybe I’ll get there soon. Any heartbreaking near-misses or blooper scenarios that you’d like to share? Not shooting 72 in that round that I shot 73! I missed two 5-footers. Could’ve easily been 71. That’s as heartbreaking as it gets. Who golfs with you most often? And can they keep up? There’s a group of us at The Reserve called The Wheaties, and we play once a week. We play from the tournament tees, at 6,500 yards. The Reserve, from those tees, is very difficult. But everyone in this group can hit the ball. Everyone in this group has, at worst, handicaps of 12 or 14. I’m an 11. It’s nice to play with these guys. Almost all of us are in our 60s or 70s. What’s your post-golf ritual? I go into the clubhouse, have lunch or a beer. Every time I play, I eat lunch there. A member of a club needs to support their club. It’s about more than just playing golf.
www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2017
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