McConnell Golf, The Magazine — Summer 2021 by McConnell Golf

Summer 2021

The Magazine

New Chapter in a Storied History

Sedgefield Hosts The Wyndham

Tennis Nets Brotherly Love in Asheville Athletes Give It the Old College Try Family Escapes to the (Holston) Hills

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LETTER FROM THE CEO

The crowds are back! WHAT A GREAT SCENE golf enjoyed at the Wells Fargo Championship in May, with thousands of people in attendance and the vast majority not wearing face masks. With Rory McIlroy winning for the third time there, one of the top players in the world was back on top. And how can you script this past PGA Championship any better than to see the large crowds on Kiawah Island cheering for Phil Mickelson as he became the oldest player in history to capture a major at age 50? Personally, I hope a 70-yearold does it in the future as well! Golf is indeed having a great 2021 so far. Hideki Matsuyama became the first Asian to win the Masters and I am certain he is now a national hero in Japan, a country that adores golf. With all the outcomes we have witnessed this year, there is no doubt in my mind that our upcoming Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in August will have a compelling storyline as well. Good news: The crowds and hospitality venues will be back in full force for all of us to enjoy this long-running event. Perhaps the winner will be Akshay Bhatia, our McConnell Golf Scholarship player from Wakefield Plantation. His win at Sedgefield would eclipse the current record-holder, Jordan Spieth, as the youngest PGA Tour winner by four months, so what a unique outcome that it would be. Watching the players being challenged during the PGA Championship, I fondly recalled a conversation I had with the late Pete Dye, who designed The Ocean Course. I was playing golf there in a Coaches vs. Cancer event that many college basketball and football coaches support. Before teeing off, I called Mr. Dye and asked for any advice he might

offer to help me on this very difficult golf course. His reply was a classic: “Mr. McConnell, if I were you I would stay in the clubhouse.” Obviously, after playing with me in Florida as well as North Carolina, he had sized up my golfing ability very quickly. With the vaccine success our nation has delivered, it is exciting to get back to almost normal operations at our clubs. We are certainly very busy and hopeful that our members will continue to use the clubs as much as they did during the pandemic’s heavily impacted months. Memberships are at a record high for our company and we greatly appreciate all the referrals we receive from our awesome members and supporters. We have quite a few projects going on this year at various clubs — some you will see physically while others may not be as visible. The new shortgame and driving range project at Porters Neck will add significate golf enhancements to this club. The Water’s Edge has a new fitness upgrade with plans to redo the interior of the clubhouse starting in November. Raleigh Country Club has a young membership of professionals who may not wish to go to their company offices; we added a high-tech office environment to one of our rooms so members can work in a beautiful setting while still on the job. Musgrove Mill has a new clubhouse porch and new paint, including the cabins. The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation has a new poolside bar and grille area for members to enjoy this season. I am showcasing these projects as a way of stressing our ongoing commitment to facility improvements to enhance our membership amenities. We are never bored, nor do we wish to be complacent in this

business. Whether it is being one of the first clubs to offer electric car hookups or finding great wine to brand, we are constantly trying to improve our operations and add value. However, without great employees we could not achieve our goals, and we are blessed to have many working at McConnell Golf. I encourage you to thank them on a routine basis as their jobs are never easy. The summer is here and let’s celebrate being free to live life without masks, social distancing and wiping down counters by the minute. College football will be back soon as well, and I can hardly wait to jump once again to “Enter Sandman” by Metallica as the Virginia Tech football team enters Lane Stadium. I, along with most of you, will never take health and personal freedom for granted again.

John McConnell, CEO & Founder

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

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Contents MCCONNELL GOLF LOCATIONS MAP 7 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT A growing passion

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Escape to the Hills

FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN Members and staff give back

CLUB COMMUNITY A compilation of highlights across the clubs

SNAPSHOTS 22 Member-submitted photos COLLEGIATE 26 2021 athletes in tennis, golf and swimming THE BACK NINE William McGirt talks victories, injuries and comebacks

CLASSIC COCKTAILS 48 Fresh, fun sips just in time for summer FITNESS 54 Keep your cool to prevent, treat heat-related illness TENNIS 58 Game of tennis nets strong family bonds SWIM 60 RCC Stingrays swim through a fun, fast summer KIDS 62 Q&A with Carys & Holden Carson KIDS 64 Q&A with Isabella, Tasia & Sienna Draper KIDS 66 Q&A with Kristen, Kayla & Christopher Krantz MEMBER BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Features A DECADE OF EXCELLENCE 32 McConnell Golf brings new chapter to Wyndham’s storied history DISHING WITH THE CHEFS 42 Getting to know the new faces in McConnell Golf kitchens Porters Neck Country Club

M SIGNATURE SERIES 51 Exclusively bottled for McConnell Golf www.mcconnellgolf.com | Summer 2021 3

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT by Diane Jackson

A GROWING PASSION Debbie Fitzgerald marks silver anniversary of bringing color to the course

“My job is providing visual diversity and designing a beautiful environment for members to enjoy.”

THE SEED FOR Debbie Fitzgerald’s career was planted early. “Oh, I’ve been growing things since I was knee-high to a bullfrog,” says Fitzgerald, who was raised on mcconnellgolf.com a tobacco farm in the tiny town of Bailey, North Carolina. “Tobacco was CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND FOUNDER our cash crop, but we also grew corn, JOHN MCCONNELL cotton, soybeans, plus a huge family garden.” CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER are so many possibilities and I’m always The chores were hard, but the CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS excited about trying new things, mixing childhood was happy, she says, “and it up, keeping it fresh.” COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR here I am now, still growing things.” mcconnellgolf.com FAITH INMAN Fitzgerald pours her artist’s heart “Here” is Raleigh Country Club, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER into horticultural design. “I find it so AND FOUNDER where Fitzgerald has worked as a CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JOHN MCCONNELL gratifying to work with really pretty horticulturist for the past 25 years. The ALLISON EVANSCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER plant material. My job is providing visual line from cash crops on the farm to CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS PATRICK GOMMEL diversity and designing a beautiful colorful creations on the golf course mcconnellgolf.com DIANE JACKSONMAGAZINE SALES & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES environment for members to enjoy.” wasn’t straight, but it ultimately planted CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ASSISTANT JOHN JETER AND FOUNDER Off the job, Fitzgerald spends a lot KASEY OLIVE her in a place she adores. JOHN MCCONNELL BRAD KING of her free time … growing things. “My COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR “I took a lot of different paths,” the William Noblitt has big plans CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER JOHN MAGINNES CASEY GRIFFITH CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS garden is beautiful — I cannot have 69-year-old says. “My greatest interest for Providence Country Club STEPHANIE TROTTER MAGAZINE SALES & CONTRIBUTING WRITERS enough plants at my house,” she says. is art. I love color — I love working with MEMBERSHIP SERVICES MEREDITH DONAHUE ASSISTANT CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS “I make sure to surround myself with color and texture and shapes — and CHAD FLOWERS KASEY OLIVE WILLIAM NOBLITT KNOWS TENNIS. EARNING ALL-ACC HONORS JOHN GILLOOLY/WYNDHAM beauty.” BRAD KING that is what drew me into the William plant COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Noblitt has big plans during his time at N.C. State University, the record-holder is considered JOHN MAGINNES CHAMPIONSHIP CASEY GRIFFITH When she isn’t playing in the dirt, world, which is different than farm life, one of the greatest tennis players in school history. But beyond his MATT MCCONNELL for Providence Country Club MEGAN KIME PHOTOGRAPHY otherhe hobbies include painting and and has CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ANNA PLYLER talentsher as a player, understands the needs of his members but the same principles apply.” ambitious goals for his tennis program. MEREDITH DONAHUE MICCICHE PHOTOGRAPHY MIKE PURKEY drawing. Despite a quarter-century One twist in the road included a CHAD FLOWERS In his current role at Providence, Noblitt oversees the club’s 14 tennis LAUREN THEDIECK IVY REYNOLDS/BUTLER WILLIAM NOBLITT KNOWS TENNIS. EARNING ALL-ACC HONORS on golf courses, doesn’t BRAD KING including 12 clay courts, and the she pro shop. His largest duty howcouple of gigs as a backup singer in a courts,working during his time at N.C. State University, the record-holder is considered CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER MAGINNES UNIVERSITY ever is play. tennis “I instruction, which indeed thrill of com- JOHN can hit at the ballhe hard —excels. but IThe can’t of the greatest tennis players in school history. But beyond his rock ’n’ roll band. “We weren’t one famous,” CHIP HENDERSON petition was certainly a factor in his success as a collegiate athlete and MATT MCCONNELL talents as a player, heaim understands needs of his members and has ANNA PLYLER it,” thetheleft-handed horticulturist that same competitive spirit now helps him teach and inspire others. says Fitzgerald with a laugh. “But oh ambitious goals for his tennis program. MIKE PURKEY Noblitt’s favorite Noblitt part of oversees his job? Doing what loves every day. confesses. In his current role at Providence, the club’s 14 he tennis my, we had a lot of fun!” LAUREN THEDIECK go toand work my knowledge and courts, including“I 12get clayto courts, theand proshare shop. His largest duty how-passion for a sport Fitzgerald and her husband Patrick CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Today, she still sings while working a that has been a part of my life since I was six years old,” he says. “I love ever is tennis instruction, at which he indeed excels. The thrill of comseeing have members improve and hope to instill son and acollegiate soon-to-be petition was certainly a factorone in his success as aalways athlete andthat same lifelong CHIP HENDERSON job she describes as a true passion. love of the sport.” that same competitive spirit now helps him teach and inspire others. daughter-in-law, Jackloves and Maegan, Fitzgerald designs, installs andNoblitt’s favorite Caption TK majority of of hisday job?for Doing whatishe every PUBLISHED BY An part average Noblitt a full one. Heday. spends the “I get to go to work and share my knowledge and passion for a sport as well as an 8-year-old collie-lab mix PUBLISHED BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS with private lessons, maintains the decorative beds on the his time on the courts. In the morning, he’s busy that has been cardio a part of my life since Iand was ladies’ six years old,”clinics. he says. “Ithe love DESTINATION CREATIVE GRO tennis clinics, team In afternoon, he’s PUBLISHING GROUP named Murphy. golf courses and around the clubhouses seeing members improve and always hope to instill that samelessons lifelongand clinics. 5710 W. GATE CITY BLVD., STE working with junior players through private 581 PERRY AVENUE love of the sport.” Reflecting on year her at silver anniversary GREENSBORO, NC 27407 at several McConnell Golf properties. Looking back on his first Providence, two events stand out. In GREENVILLE, SC 29611 Caption TK majority of An average day for Noblitt is a full one. He spends the 336.601.1271 2018, the Make-A-Wish Pro-Am fundraiser and Alex’s 864.679.1200 with Golf, Fitzgerald saysLemonade StandPUBLISHED BY Her home base is Raleigh Country Club, his time on the courts. In theMcConnell morning, he’s busy with private lessons, Foundation’s Ladies Member/Guest were held at PCC. Noblitt was DESTINATION GROUP cardio tennis clinics, and ladies’ team clinics. In the afternoon, he’s PRESIDENTCREATIVEPRESIDENT she plan tomembers retire — eventually and she spends a couple of days per fortunate to does work alongside these events,— enjoying a fun 5710 W. GATE CITY BLVD., STE. 237 working with junior players through private lessons and for clinics. STEVE MITCHEM MARK B. JOHNSTON dayonofhis tennis while funds and awareness for In important causes. GREENSBORO, NC 27407 but now, “I still wake upstand excited to week at The Country Club at Wakefield Looking back firstfor year at raising Providence, two events out. steve.mitchem@icloud.com Looking ahead, Noblitt has big plans for the Stand future of PCC’s thriving336.601.1271 the Make-A-Wish fundraiser and working Alex’s Lemonade GENERAL MANAGER goPro-Am to work … and outside, in Plantation. She does seasonal 2018, design EDITOR tennis Member/Guest program. Foundation’s Ladies were held at PCC. Noblitt was MARTHA-PAGE ALTHAUS SUSAN SCHWARTZKOPF PRESIDENT the fresh air and sunshine, keeps me “My goal is to create a fun, enjoyable atmosphere where people fortunate to work alongside members for these events, enjoying a fun work at Brook Valley Country Club and STEVE MITCHEM day of tennis while funds importantincauses. wantraising toyoung.” come outand andawareness play, andfor participate what we have going on,”steve.mitchem@icloud.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Treyburn Country Club as well as the ahead, Looking Noblitt hasjunior big plans for theinfuture of PCC’s thriving I want to build. DESIGN DIRECTOR LYNN GIANINY he says. “The program particular is something EDITOR KRISTY ADAIR tennis program. When day does come, though, family residence of John McConnell, I believe that with the the facilities we have and the staff in place, we couldMARTHA-PAGE ALTHAUSCOPY EDITOR “My goal ishave to create a fun, enjoyable atmosphere where people one of the best junior programs around.” LANCE ELKO her vision of the ideal retirement President/CEO of McConnell Golf. MANAGING DESIGN DIRECTOR EDITOR want to come outAand play, and participate in what we have going on,” vision for program enhancements, coupled with the addition of LYNN GIANINY he says. “The junior program in particular is something I want to build. includes volunteering with Habitat “We have our hands full all the new clinic offerings, social events, and tournaments, is a recipe for the DIANE JACKSON I believe that with the facilities we have and the staff in place, we could continued success and growth of the tennis program at Providence. COPY EDITOR for Humanity to build decks and time. We are a busy crowd,” she says, have one of the best junior programs around.” LANCE ELKO Heading into his second year at the club, Noblitt serves up a winning program enhancements, coupled with the addition of porches and, of course, install beautiful crediting the beautiful results toAavision forprogram with no sign slowing down new clinic offerings, social events, andoftournaments, is aanytime recipe forsoon. the landscaping. crew she calls “family” and expressing continued success and growth of the tennis program at Providence. Heading into his second“It’s year at club, Noblitt serves up a winning sotheimportant that people have a delight at the opportunity to be program with no sign of slowing down anytime soon. lovely, peaceful place to live,” she says. endlessly creative. “With plants, there

Serving up

Success Serving up

PHOTO: MACKENZIE KING

Success

Summer 2021

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT by John Jeter

Escape to the Hills Country club provides plenty of opportunities to unwind

YOU MIGHT SAY KEVIN TEETERS has taken a dogleg or two in his career — from scoring birdies to becoming a legal eagle. Today, he and his family are members at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he worked as an assistant golf pro before heading to law school and becoming an assistant district attorney. “It’s the atmosphere, the people. I’ve made a lot of good friends at Holston Hills over the years,” says Teeters, who continues to play golf as much as he can, in part to unwind from long days at the Knox County DA’s office. When he says, “over the years,” he means 27 of them. From 1994 to 1999, the then-PGA golfer worked at Holston Hills as a club pro. Then he earned his college diploma at the University of Tennessee. The DA’s office hired him immediately after he earned his law degree from UT in 2006. “Playing golf is the way I get away from what I do,” Teeters says. “That’s my relief.” The Teeters family lives just 15 minutes away from the country club, where daughter Kendall says she especially enjoys the pool; she relaxes there even though, as a competitive swimmer, she spends two hours a day, six days a week in the water. “I can work on some small training things that I might not be able to work on in practice because it’s 10

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

“It’s the atmosphere, the people. I’ve made a lot of good friends at Holston Hills over the years.” – Kevin Teeters, Former PGA Golf Pro and Current Member at Holston Hills Country Club

less hardcore,” says the youngest Teeters. “But, yes, I do go there for fun. I love the facility so much.” So does mom Allison, a Knox County Health Department inspector who gets away to Holston Hills now and then to enjoy family time, to dabble in a little painting, among other club activities, and for gatherings with girlfriends. “The social aspect is great. We get together for birthday nights and get to mingle with other couples,” she says. Then, with a nodding smile toward her husband of nearly 19 years, she says, “Most of us are not as into golf as some of the others.” Through the past year, Allison has used her health and environmental expertise to help the club. Inspecting Holston Hills’ facilities would be a conflict of interest, she explains, so she advises staff about guidelines for dining room operations, mask-wearing and the like. Now, she offers recommendations about vaccinations. Meanwhile, daughter Hailey grabs an occasional lunch with her father

and, like Kendall, relaxes at the pool during the summers. “When I have time off, it’s like my escape from my day job,” says Hailey, a Knox County juvenile-probation officer who, incidentally, was born when her dad worked at Holston Hills. Seems her father can’t escape from golf — not that he ever would. Teeters is the 2020-2021 secretary of the Tennessee Golf Association and serves on the board of First Tee Greater Knoxville, a nonprofit network that introduces the game to some 5.3 million youngsters nationwide. Most recently, he served as committee chairman of the Korn Ferry Pro-Am tournament at Holston Hills. Oh, and he belongs to an especially exclusive club: Teeters has scored two holes-in-one — once in 2019 and again in 2020 — on Holston Hills’ 11th hole, a 200-yard par 3 on the Donald Ross-designed course that Golf Magazine consistently ranks among the country’s top 100 links. He lauds McConnell Golf’s recent renovation of the clubhouse and grounds —“It just looks like a fabulous facility,” he says. He also appreciates the fact that members can play at other properties within the McConnell Golf portfolio. “I would just encourage every McConnell Golf member to make the trip over to East Tennessee and visit Holston Hills Country Club,” Teeters says. “I think they will be pleasantly surprised.”

Kevin Teeters at the Visit Knoxville Open, Holston Hills Country Club

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

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FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN

Footprints on the Green MCCONNELL GOLF is a driving force in all its local communities, hosting a variety of charity events and donating to many more. Footprints on the Green is a companywide effort that encourages members and staff to give back in fun, creative and, of course, meaningful ways. Here are a few examples of this initiative in action.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

RED NOSE DAY Red Nose Day is a campaign to end child poverty by funding programs that keep children safe, healthy, educated and empowered. This organization supports initiatives that address immediate needs as well as those that foster long-term change. This year, McConnell Golf clubs contributed to the Red Nose mission by hosting unique fundraising events involving yoga, creative food and drink specials — including cherries jubilees — and more. At Porters Neck Country Club, members did not let the weather rain on their parade during a St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun Run. Brook Valley Country Club, Raleigh Country Club and Country Club of Asheville hosted various golf challenges with some friendly competition between members. Chef Kenric at Brook Valley prepared a special

grouper salad with proceeds going to Red Nose Day. CCA’s Director of Tennis, Bill Barber, hosted a pickleball clinic while Providence Country Club held a pickleball round-robin tournament. Members at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation and Country Club of Asheville worked out for the cause during Red Nose-themed boot camps. The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation also hosted a March Madness Tailgate party with food trucks, cornhole boards and a special raffle. Kudos to our hard-working fitness and activities team for organizing a fun and successful Red Nose Day fundraiser. Thanks to their leadership and a great effort by members, children from all over the world will benefit. McConnell Golf clubs raised $9,060 in total this year, with plans to grow this Footprints program even more in 2022. www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE McConnell Golf’s annual Polar Bear Plunge is a popular, jumpin-the-pool fundraiser to benefit the World Wildlife Fund’s efforts to protect nature for generations to come. This initiative helps create solutions that address the needs of wildlife, people and the planet. Participating clubs include Brook Valley Country Club, Country Club of Asheville, Raleigh Country Club, Sedgefield Country Club, Treyburn Country Club, Providence Country Club, Holston Hills Country Club, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation and Porters Neck Country Club. Year after year, McConnell Golf members show up and take the plunge to support the World Wildlife Fund; in 2021, they raised $4,203, the largest donation since the partnership began in 2018.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

UPCOMING EVENTS McConnell Golf strives to empower our staff and members to give back and participate in various projects that help deserving communities year-round. Without the support of our members, this program would not be where it is today and we are always open to new ideas for future opportunities to help those in need. Be on the lookout for upcoming Footprints on the Green events, including the following initiatives:

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

FOLDS OF HONOR GOLF MARATHON

McConnell Golf clubs have a doggone good way to close the pools at the end of the summer: In late September, they partner with local animal shelters to collect pet supplies while also allowing members to bring their pups to the pool for a day of fun. It has become an annual tradition that members, and their pets, enjoy.

Founded in 2007, Folds of Honor’s mission is to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. The organization’s motto says it best: “Honor Their Sacrifice. Educate Their Legacy.” To display McConnell Golf’s commitment to these families who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, members of the professional golf staff at each of our properties are participating in a golf marathon from sunup until sundown on select dates this summer. Stay tuned for updates on how much money was raised for this great cause.

TOYS FOR TOTS The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program collects new unwrapped toys and distributes them to less-fortunate children during Christmastime. Each year during November and December, McConnell Golf clubs join forces to collect toys to support this worthy mission throughout each of their regions. Are you interested in writing about a community event involving your club to be featured in McConnell Golf, The Magazine? We would love to hear from you and highlight an initiative that you or someone in our membership participated in that involves Footprints on the Green. For more information, contact Faith Inman at finman@mcconnellgolf.com. www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

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Summer 2021

CLUB COMMUNITY

Club Happenings GRANDE DUNES MEMBERS CLUB KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY There was plenty of fast fun on Saturday, May 1, as Grande Dunes members gathered for a Kentucky Derby-themed party. The culinary team prepared prime rib, roasted chicken and grouper with a variety of delicious sides and desserts for everyone to enjoy. Nearly 88 people were in attendance for the festivities, many of whom dressed up and wore fun hats for the occasion. The race was streamed on the big screen in the ballroom and members cheered Medina Spirit on to victory.

THE CARDINAL BY PETE DYE PAR 3 CONTEST Although Augusta National did not host its Par 3 Contest this year due to social distancing protocols, the team at The Cardinal by Pete Dye decided the show must go on and hosted their own version of the event. Nearly 44 participants gathered on Wednesday, April 7, to compete in a 9-hole competition, with winners crowned in gross and net divisions. After golf, the group enjoyed appetizers, cocktails and fellowship in a socially distanced manner on the veranda.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB SCGA TRESCOTT CHAMPIONSHIP & PRO-AM In late April, a trio of Musgrove Mill members won the 37th SCGA Trescott Championship & Pro-Am at Thornblade Club in Greer, South Carolina. The Trescott Championship — one of 21 Major Championships organized by the South Carolina Golf Association — is a unique event where three amateur members from a club combine their aggregate scores from each hole to compete for the Trescott Cup. Yancey Johnson, Walter Todd Sr., Walt Todd Jr. and Musgrove Mill’s Head Golf Pro, Greg Krasinski, represented the club. The Pro-Am was conducted with the three amateurs and their club professional using the best two gross balls per hole. Musgrove Mill’s foursome had a total score of 217.

HOLSTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB MOM PROM Holston Hills Country Club hosted its first Mom Prom — a mother-son dance — in April. Last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic, so everyone was extra excited to participate in 2021. Mothers and sons of all ages were encouraged to attend the prom, which included mystery puzzles for the boys to solve throughout the night along with dinner, music, dancing, ice cream and cookies, and photo ops with a chandelier backdrop.

COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE MOTHER-SON ‘DATE KNIGHT’ Hear ye, hear ye! Let it be known that all knights were summoned to attend a special feast this spring at Country Club of Asheville. Young squires escorted the fairest maidens in their lives — their mothers — to the event. After feasting, attendees stepped outside to cast their eyes upon a comedic act featuring fire juggling and unicycle tricks, along with the typical antics of a jester.

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

SNAPSHOTS

MEMBER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS 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.

John Bly, Musgrove Mill

Judy Hardy Smith, The Water’s Edge

Allison Luckadoo, Porters Neck

Elaine Lamb Cudnik, Brook Valley 22

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Byron Caulk, The Reserve Golf Club

Mindi McGlynn, Country Club of Asheville

SNAPSHOTS

Matthew D. Cleary, Raleigh

Meredith Shrinmanker, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation Rhonda Foster, The Water’s Edge

Sigrid Alergria Hernandez, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation

Brooks Barwick, The Cardinal by Pete Dye

Kyle Perry, Providence

Becky Loomis Snyder, Holston Hills www.mcconnellgolf.com

Erin Wright, Holston Hills |

Summer 2021

SNAPSHOTS

MEMBERSUBMITTED PHOTOS

Kathleen Riordan, The Water’s Edge

Kenny Ridgell, Musgrove Mill

Chung Yi, Musgrove Mill Barb Dietz Lee, Porters Neck

Tim Myers, Treyburn 24

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Kimberly Leatherman, Old North State Club

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

COLLEGIATE

McConnell Golf’s Collegiate Athletes in Tennis, Golf and Swimming COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE

HOLSTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

Ana Tsiros Women’s Golf at James Madison University Class of 2024

Aaron Johns Men’s Golf at Carson-Newman University Class of 2023

Ryan Roegner Men’s Tennis at Butler University Class of 2024

Alyssa Montgomery Women’s Golf at Virginia Tech Class of 2023

Will Tamplin Men’s Golf at University of Richmond Class of 2021

BROOK VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB Adam Hathaway Men’s Golf at Sandhills Community College Class of 2024 Austin Wood Men’s Golf at Sandhills Community College Class of 2024 Carter Rains Men’s Golf at Southern Wesleyan University Class of 2023 David Langley Men’s Golf at Sandhills Community College Class of 2024

Annie Rimmer Women’s Swimming at University of Tennessee Class of 2024 Ashley Holland Women’s Golf at Carson-Newman University Class of 2025 Bennett Noe Men’s Golf at Tusculum College Class of 2021 Bogle LaRue Men’s Golf at Belmont University Class of 2021 Cooper Hayes Men’s Golf at Lipscomb University Class of 2025

Heidi Lawson Women’s Golf at Tennessee Tech University Class of 2023 Jackson Tyler Men’s Golf at Carson-Newman University Class of 2025 Jake Mynatt Men’s Golf at Carson-Newman University Class of 2022 Jonathan Nielson Men’s Golf at Carson-Newman University Class of 2024 Kennedy Noe Women’s Golf at University of North Georgia Class of 2025 Luke Scealf Men’s Golf at Carson-Newman University Class of 2021 Michael Ray Men’s Golf at Gardner-Webb University Class of 2024

MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB

Emory Chamberlain Men’s Golf at Roane State Community College Class of 2025

Carolina Martin Women’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2022

Kris Jackson Men’s Golf at Barton College Class of 2023

Ethan Rimmer Men’s Golf at CarsonNewman University Class of 2023

Chad Nash Men’s Tennis at Furman University Class of 2024

Nic Brown Men’s Golf at East Carolina University Class of 2022

Hannah Holland Women’s Golf at Carson-Newman University Class of 2023

Charlie Tate Men’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2022

Davis Fisher Men’s Golf at Birmingham-Southern College Class of 2023

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

COLLEGIATE Connor Patterson Men’s Golf at Lander University Class of 2023

Nick Srinivasan Men’s Golf at Lander University Class of 2025

Graham Chase Men’s Golf at Temple University Class of 2023

Emily Dunlap Women’s Golf at College of Charleston Class of 2023

Phoebe Carles Women’s Golf at UNC Asheville Class of 2024

Hannah Lindemann Women’s Golf at Radford University Class 2025

Hannah Stephenson Women’s Golf at Lander University Class of 2023

Sophie Carles Women’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2025

Keri Kenkel Women’s Golf at UNC Wilmington Class of 2021

Harry Reynolds Men’s Golf at Indiana University Class of 2022

Taylor Gardner Women’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2022

Madison Moosa Women’s Golf at Furman University Class of 2021

Jack Wofford Men’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2025

Thomas Hollingsworth Men’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2024

RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB

Jimmy McCollum Men’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2024

Trey Howard Men’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2025

Jodee Tindal Women’s Golf at College of Charleston Class of 2022

Rafe Reynolds Men’s Golf at University of South Carolina Class of 2024

Kelli Kragh Women’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2024 Mason Whatley Men’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2024 Matt Teaster Men’s Golf at Wofford College Class of 2023 Nat Simkins Men’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2022 Nathan Franks Men’s Golf at University of South Carolina Class of 2025

Blake McShea Men’s Golf at UNC Wilmington Class of 2021 Biggs Hawley Men’s Golf at UNC Wilmington Class of 2024

OLD NORTH STATE CLUB

Frank Gillam Men’s Golf at Presbyterian College Class of 2024

Michael Baker Men’s Golf at University of Richmond Class of 2021

Justin Poole Men’s Golf at Barton College Class of 2021

PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB Caroline Cahill Women’s Golf at UNC Wilmington Class of 2021 Cohen Sechrist Men’s Tennis at Belmont Abbey College Class of 2024

PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB Dillon Gooch Men’s Tennis at UNC Wilmington Class of 2022

Preston Ball Men’s Golf at Loyola University Class of 2021

SEDGEFIELD COUNTRY CLUB Madison Isaacson Women’s Golf at Western Carolina University Class of 2023

TREYBURN COUNTRY CLUB Jessica Spicer Women’s Golf at Virginia Tech Class of 2021 CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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Summer 2021

COLLEGIATE

THE BACK NINE by John Maginnes

A Fighter’s Fighter William McGirt talks victories, injuries and comebacks

WILLIAM MCGIRT BECAME an overnight success in 2016, a dozen years after turning professional. Some things take longer than others. He will smile at that line mostly because winning the 2016 Memorial Tournament and shaking hands with tournament host Jack Nicklaus on the 18th green didn’t change McGirt one bit. Certainly it changed his career, but he’s the same guy now as he was on the mini tours for five years before getting through to the Nationwide Tour in 2010, and then finally the PGA Tour in 2011. In the world of professional golf that is dominated by the heavyweight knockout punchers, McGirt is a fighter’s fighter, relying on guile more than power and speed to get the job done. He is one of the more underrated ball strikers on the PGA Tour and there is still some fight in him yet, even with his recent 42nd birthday. I caught up with McGirt on an off week in late spring — he was doing chores at his mother-in-law’s house — to discuss his career and his life. JM: Let’s start at home. The vast majority of the PGA Tour is in Florida, Texas and Arizona. Why did you stay in the Carolinas? WM: Well it’s home and it’s [my wife] Sarah’s home. I grew up in North Carolina and went to school here [Wofford College]. She is from Spartanburg and this is where her

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

“… all of a sudden a few putts started going in and you know how that goes. When a few go in, you can make a bunch.” family is, so it just made sense to stay here. The Greenville area has been great. We are actually down in Bluffton now … it’s quite a bit warmer in the winter down there. We are at Berkeley Hall, which has a practice facility that may be second to none. When people are building a practice facility they come look at that one. JM: You’ve been off the tour for awhile. How is your health? WM: Good, the hip feels good. I was out for 22 months [following left hip surgery in the fall of 2018]. But it feels better now than it has in a long time. I can swing to my left side without pain rather than some sort of reverse pivot and throwing my hands at it. So physically I am good. I still get tight on cool mornings, but that is something that I am going to have to deal with going forward. JM: How hard was it to be out? WM: For the first few months it wasn’t hard at all. The only tournament that I watched was Tiger

win the 2018 Tour Championship, which was cool, and the Ryder Cup in France (which was not). But then I didn’t watch any golf for a long time. In 2019, I took my son to Augusta for the first round of The Masters. He had been a little too young to care much when I played a few years before. Of course he wanted to follow Tiger, along with 30,000 other people, so we are beside 15 tee where you can look down on 10 green. Tiger comes through and two putts from 30 feet or something like that and my son looks at me and says, “I want to go practice.” We climbed the hill back up toward the clubhouse and drove back to Greenville, and I took him to the range. JM: How has the comeback been? How is your game? WM: My game is interesting because I haven’t been putting well. I feel a lot like it did before I won at Memorial. I had been hitting it great but not making anything and all of a sudden a few putts started going in and you know how that goes. When a few go in, you can make a bunch. But then there is the whole medical exemption on the PGA Tour and figuring that out. Trying to decide when to play so that I don’t use it up too fast. You get so many starts but when I reach 375 points, the starts go away so I have to manage that. So I’ll have to figure that out based on how I am playing.

JM: You have spent a lot of time at a place that as a McConnell Golf member, I have never been to but am dying to go. Tell those of us who haven’t been to Musgrove Mill what we are going to find when we get there. WM: An incredible place! First of all, it’s out in the middle of nowhere on a beautiful piece of land and it’s so good. Mr. Palmer carved the golf course out and I think it’s a masterpiece. The green complexes are just awesome and it’s been a great place to play and practice. But the best part are the people and it starts with Jeff Tallman, the head pro. There aren’t many better in the business, if any. They make everyone feel at home whether you are a member who’s been there a thousand times or a guest seeing the place for the first time. It’s just a great place all around.

John Maginnes is a former PGA Tour player; the current co-host of “Katrek and Maginnes on Tap” on Sirius XM as part of the PGA Tour Radio; and an analyst for “PGA Tour Live.”

William McGirt

Summer 2021

GOLF

by Brad King

A Decade of Excellence McConnell Golf brings new chapter to the Wyndham’s storied history

2011 Wyndham Champion Webb Simpson

THE WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP IS ONE OF THE PGA TOUR’S MOST HISTORIC EVENTS. Now contested annually at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Wyndham was founded in 1938 as the Greater Greensboro Open. Eight decades of rich history later, the popular Triad tournament is the sixth-oldest event on the PGA Tour, excluding the major championships. In its early years, the tournament alternated between two Greensboro-area clubs: Starmount Forest Country Club and the current home course at Sedgefield. In 2008 — after 31 years at Forest Oaks Country Club — it moved back to Sedgefield. The former GGO enjoys a storied history and an impressive list of winners such as Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and

Seve Ballesteros. A whopping 18 former champions are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 2010, the Wyndham Championship received a significant boost when McConnell Golf purchased Sedgefield Country Club, helping to spearhead a new decade of excellence during which the Wyndham has truly hit its stride. McConnell Golf acquired Sedgefield with the intention of restoring the club to its original glory. Several major upgrades were made prior to the 2011 Wyndham, while others have been made in subsequent years, including construction of the “Wall of Champions” overlooking the 9th green. In 2011, for the 16th time in tournament history, the Wyndham

produced a popular first-time winner in Raleigh native and Wake Forest University alumnus Webb Simpson, who would then go on to win the 2012 U.S. Open Championship. “There’s no way I would have won the U.S. Open if I hadn’t won at Sedgefield,” Simpson would later say. Following Simpson’s victory in 2011, McConnell Golf President/ CEO John McConnell decided to convert Sedgefield’s green complexes to Bermuda grass, a significant investment and improvement. “With Bermuda greens, Sedgefield becomes one of the great golf courses on the PGA Tour,” according to Simpson. Former champion Davis Love III was equally pleased about the decision. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Summer 2021

GOLF

From left: Mark Brazil, John McConnell, Tiger Woods, Franz Hanning, Chris Paul and Stephen Holmes at the 2015 Wyndham’s Pro-Am.

“Changing the Sedgefield greens to Bermuda grass is great news for the members at Sedgefield, but it’s also great for the Wyndham,” said Love. “The new greens allow the course to be played the way Donald Ross intended most of the year.” Bobby Long, chairman of the Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation Board of Directors, agreed. “People tend to think the greens should be soft so a player can scream a low 3-iron into a green and have it stick, but that is not what Donald Ross had in mind when he designed this golf course.” Every aspect of the club has been elevated in the past 10 years, according to Tournament Director Mark Brazil, from the golf course to the clubhouse to the “first-class” activities building. “And all the little touches around the golf course — the tee boxes, the 34

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

beautiful landscaping, the benches and the bridges — McConnell Golf’s just done it right,” Brazil said. “Bobby Long always talks about how we need an A++ course. Well, we’ve really got that now.” On those new greens in 2012, with a fill-in caddie carrying his bag, future Masters champion Sergio Garcia claimed a two-stroke Monday win in a water-logged Wyndham Championship for his first victory on tour since the 2008 Players Championship. The enigmatic Spanish sensation has always enjoyed Sedgefield and had staged some near-misses in years past — including squandered opportunities to win the Nike Greensboro Open there in 1998 and the Wyndham Championship in 2009. Finally, it all came together for Garcia, who carved up Sedgefield with rounds of

67-63-66-66 to finish at 18 under. Afterward, all anyone could talk about were Sedgefield’s new green complexes. “I was surprised how quick [the greens] were,” Garcia said. “Even after all the rain. My first three putts — I couldn’t believe it. They did an awesome job getting the course [ready]. The course looked better than it’s ever looked.” Two-time major champion John Daly, who made his first trip to Greensboro in 1991, described the greens as perfect. “They’re beautiful, awesome,” he said. “The greens are perfect,” echoed future U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland. “They’re rolling great. You get above the hole, and they’re lightning fast. Keep it below the hole, you can make a putt.” In 2013, a pair of future Masters

champions, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth, battled down the stretch, with Reed capturing a sudden-death playoff on the second extra hole. Both players parred the first playoff hole at No. 18 when Spieth rolled in a 30-foot effort for par while Reed missed his birdie putt. On the second playoff hole, No. 10, Reed played a miraculous second shot from the trees on the right side of the fairway to 7 feet with Spieth already safely on the green. Spieth narrowly missed his birdie putt and posted a par. Reed converted his uphill putt for birdie to earn his first PGA Tour victory at 23 years of age. The Wyndham Championship celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014. Former champions Rocco Mediate (1993 and 2002) and Davis Love III (1992 and 2006) played in the tournament, while Bob Goalby (1958), Dow Finsterwald (1959) and Lanny Wadkins (1983) made special appearances. Weldon Fields, a tournament volunteer at the inaugural

Greater Greensboro Open in 1938, returned shortly after his 100th birthday to take part in the festivities. The tournament field included 21 major championship winners and multiple international stars like World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els. Colombian golfer Camilo Villegas captured that historic 2014

tournament, becoming the third international golfer in the previous five years to win the Wyndham. More tournament history was made a year later, when Love won his third Sam Snead Cup — 28 years after his inaugural PGA Tour win in 1987. Only the man for whom the trophy is CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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Summer 2021

GOLF

Tiger Woods at the 2015 Wyndham Championship

GOLF named has more victories — eight — at the event. “[Winning] means a lot here at Greensboro,” said an emotional Love. In 2015 — the first time Tiger Woods played the Wyndham — the overall economic impact of the “Tiger Effect” on the Triad was staggering. When Woods committed to the event, organizers immediately printed 49,000 extra tickets. While a typical tournament would have, at best, 90,000 people for the week, in 2015 more than 143,000 spectators came through the gates. Woods told John McConnell — one of his partners during the Pro-Am, along with Los Angeles Clippers superstar Chris Paul — that Sedgefield’s greens were the best he played all year. “The people are just absolutely incredible,” Woods said, after his finalround 70 left him four strokes behind Love and tied for 10th. “The support that they showed, to come out in

2017 Wyndham Champion Henrik Stenson

droves like this … it was very special playing in front of them.” In 2017, Swedish golfer Henrik Stenson captured the Wyndham Championship and became the tournament’s 19th international winner. Stenson entered the tournament ranked ninth in the Official World Golf Rankings and moved to sixth with the win — setting the tournament scoring mark at 22-under par. Two years later, bolstered by a supportive throng of family, friends and fellow Western Carolina University alumni, Hickory born-and-bred J.T. Poston made some Wyndham history of his own, wrapping up a bogey-free week by firing a scorching, Sunday 62 to hold off Simpson by a stroke. Poston’s performance equaled the lowest mark for a final round in

“The greens are perfect. They’re rolling great. You get above the hole, and they’re lightning fast. Keep it below the hole, you can make a putt.” 2012 Wyndham Champion Sergio García

— Gary Woodland, U.S. Open Champion

tournament history, set by Love at Forest Oaks Country Club in 1992. He became the fifth North Carolina native to win the tournament in its 80-year history, joining Raymond Floyd, Scott Hoch, Love and Simpson. “I haven’t had that many bogeyfree rounds this year,” Poston said, following his final-round fireworks at Sedgefield. “To be able to do four in a row is pretty special, and finish it off with a 62 on Sunday is pretty awesome. To be able to do it here in North Carolina with a lot of friends and family, I don’t think I could have drawn it up any better.” The Wyndham Championship has benefited from recent PGA Tour calendar changes. Three years ago, the tour unveiled a revamped tournament schedule highlighted by significant championships every month, all culminating with the FedExCup Playoffs in August. The Wyndham Championship now holds an important position on the PGA Tour schedule, as it represents the final opportunity for some players to move into the top 125, thus securing exempt status for the following season and qualifying for the FedExCup, while those already qualified for the playoffs can improve their seeding.

“I think most of the guys love coming here because it rewards good tee balls and gives you the opportunity to make birdies.” — Brandt Snedeker, Two-Time Wyndham Champion

If there’s any tournament on the PGA Tour where prize money takes a backseat, it’s the Wyndham. As the schedule’s final regular-season event, players aren’t as concerned about picking up a few extra grand coming down the Sunday stretch. Instead, they’re thinking about earning a few additional FedExCup points. There’s also the recently implemented $10 million Wyndham Rewards payout awaiting the FedExCup Top 10 following the Wyndham Championship. Last year,

Justin Thomas had already claimed the $2 million top payout, but Simpson and Sungjae Im entered the final week with a shot at the $1.5 million second-place bonus. In 2020, with no paying spectators, no TV towers or grandstands lining Sedgefield’s greens and fairways, the 81st Wyndham Championship was a visibly different affair. Yet in many ways, the COVID-19 edition of the Triad’s long-running event ranked among its most memorable. Four former World No. 1s, including Brooks Koepka and Spieth, and plenty of impressive international talent arrived for the final week of the Tour’s regular season. As always, there was plenty of local representation. Three North Carolina natives — 2011 Wyndham champion Simpson, up-and-coming talent Doc Redman and fan favorite Harold Varner III — all were in the mix late Sunday afternoon.

2020 Wyndham Champion Jordan Spieth

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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2013 Champion Patrick Reed at the 2020 Wyndham

In the end, the 2020 Wyndham Championship teed up one of the most exciting duels in recent tournament memory. The dark-horse journeyman, a 42-year-old former club pro named Jim Herman, held off familiar Wyndham contender Billy Horschel and a host of others down the stretch in a thrill-a-minute finish. Herman and Horschel traded punches throughout a gripping afternoon. Herman backed up a career-best 61 on Saturday with a final round 7-under 63. His weekend total of 124 matched the lowest final 36-hole score by a winner in PGA Tour history. Horschel closed with a 65 — the 23rd consecutive round of par or better at Sedgefield for the 2014 FedExCup champion. The tournament wasn’t decided until Horschel’s final chance to tie on the 72nd hole, an 8-foot birdie putt, slid left of the cup. Third-round leader and 2016 Wyndham champion Si Woo Kim shot 70 to tie for third at 18 under with Simpson (65), Redman (68) and Kevin Kisner (64). More than anyone, Herman took advantage of Sedgefield’s flawless

THE

WINNERS Wyndham Championship Winners during McConnell Golf’s Tenure at Sedgefield Country Club

2020

Jim Herman

2019

J.T. Poston

2018

Brandt Snedeker

2017

Henrik Stenson

2016

Si Woo Kim

2015

Davis Love III

2014

Camilo Villegas

2013

Patrick Reed

2012

Sergio Garcia

2011

Webb Simpson

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Bermuda green complexes, which have become among the most popular on Tour. He drained 444 feet of putts for the week, which equates to making a 6-footer on every hole. He gained a Herculean 6-plus strokes on the field by deftly employing his Bettinardi Inovai 5.0 Tour mallet nicknamed “The Hermanator.” So many golfers praise Sedgefield Country Club, the Wyndham Championship and the Triad in general. “Greensboro will always be a special place to me,” said two-time Wyndham champ Brandt Snedeker, who shot 59 in winning the 2018 event. “I think most of the guys love coming here because it rewards good tee balls and gives you the opportunity to make birdies. And there’s only two

par 5s. Everybody in the field can reach them, so distance here is not an overriding factor. It’s kind of nice to come to a place and know you can make some birdies and get some good stuff going.” Simpson, who hasn’t missed a weekend at Sedgefield since 2009, adores the Wyndham so much he named one of his daughters after the event. “I love the holes,” Simpson said of Ross’s old-school, rolling parkland layout. “I love the shot shapes … I’ve had some good finishes here. My first win here. I’m close to home where I grew up, close to where I live now and obviously a short drive to where I went to college, so I love being here.” A sentiment that’s shared by many.

WEBB SIMPSON

BRANDT SNEDEKER

HAROLD VARNER III

August 11-15, 2021

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To purchase McConnell Golf member ticket packages and for more information, contact Angela Ayers at aayers@sedgefieldcc.com.

CULINARY

Dishing WITH THE Chefs WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Raleigh, North Carolina. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CULINARY INDUSTRY? 15 years.

There are a few new faces in McConnell Golf kitchens — or old favorites working at new clubs — so we pulled up a chair and asked some get-to-know-you questions.

IF YOU HAD NOT BECOME A CHEF, WHICH PROFESSION WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN? Helicopter pilot.

WHICH MCCONNELL GOLF CLUB DID YOU WORK FOR PREVIOUSLY? I was a sous chef at Raleigh Country Club. WHAT’S THE FIRST DISH YOU LEARNED TO MAKE REALLY WELL? Clam chowder. WHAT’S THE GREATEST THING ABOUT BEING A CHEF? The team atmosphere. NAME FIVE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS IN ANY KITCHEN? Salt, pepper, butter, oil and cream. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE INGREDIENT TO COOK WITH? Thyme. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN TOOL? Chef’s knife. WHAT’S YOUR FIRST MEMORY OF BEING IN A KITCHEN? Sitting on a stool, scrambling eggs when I was 5 years old. IF YOU COULD PREPARE A MEAL FOR ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? My kids—because they are the hardest people to impress. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY TV CHEF ON SPEED DIAL, WHO WOULD IT BE? Mario Batali. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD? Chicken and pastry. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEAL TO PREPARE? Beef tenderloin. HOW DO YOU GET YOUR COOKING INSPIRATION? Loving to eat and wanting something different. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO ORDER FROM A RESTAURANT MENU? Reuben sandwich. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHEN YOU COOK? Classic rock.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

John Crawford

Executive Chef at Providence Country Club

CULINARY

Greg Lyons

Executive Chef at Raleigh Country Club

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO COOK THE MOST? Breakfast for my kids. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN TOOL? Vacuum sealer and sous vide machine. WHAT FIVE INGREDIENTS ARE NECESSARY IN THE KITCHEN? Kosher salt, bacon, blue cheese, sherry vinegar and onions. IF YOU COULD PREPARE A MEAL FOR ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? My grandfather. He passed away years before I ever entertained the idea of getting into the culinary field. I would love for him to see what I’ve accomplished. IF YOU COULD HAVE A MEAL WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Mario Lemieux [of the Pittsburgh Penguins]. He was my childhood idol — and hockey players have the best stories. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY TV CHEF ON SPEED DIAL, WHO WOULD IT BE? Sean Brock. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEAL TO PREPARE? Pork and sauerkraut. It was a New Year’s Day tradition growing up and I carried on the tradition when I started my own family. WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

FINISH THE SENTENCE: BEING A CHEF MEANS … being a teacher.

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CULINARY INDUSTRY? 20 years.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST WINE-FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATION? Can’t really comment on wine, but Point Reyes blue cheese and IPAs are a match made in heaven!

WHAT EXPERIENCES BEST PREPARED YOU FOR BECOMING A CHEF? I grew up watching my mother and father get up every morning to go to work to provide a great life for me and my brothers. You need that hardworking mindset to survive in a kitchen.

HOW PRECISELY DO YOU FOLLOW A RECIPE? Not very precisely at all. I read it, get an idea of the process … and then do it.

WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHEN YOU COOK? I love prepping to punk rock and cooking to The Avett Brothers. IF YOU HAD NOT BECOME A CHEF, WHICH PROFESSION WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN? Actor. I graduated college with a BFA in professional acting and got a job in a kitchen with the goal to save up money to move to New York. Fell in love with being in a kitchen and the rest is history. CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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Summer 2021

CULINARY

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Born in San Diego, California, but grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CULINARY INDUSTRY? Since I was 15 years old — so 21 years and counting. WHAT EXPERIENCES BEST PREPARED YOU FOR BECOMING A CHEF? At a young age, I was always in the kitchen with both of my grandparents and great grandparents. Those moments are the reason I wanted to cook my whole life. WHAT’S THE FIRST DISH YOU LEARNED TO MAKE REALLY WELL? Golumpki (Polish stuffed cabbage). WHAT’S THE GREATEST THING ABOUT BEING A CHEF? Simple: being able to make people happy with food. WHAT IS YOUR BEST WINE-FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATION? Short ribs with either Domaine Charvin from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and CanetValette from Saint-Chinian, or my favorite Bin 128 shiraz from Penfolds. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CULINARY CAREER? The greatest gift that you can give to yourself and others is passionate cooking. Make sure every dish that you cook is like cooking for yourself. Be proud of the plate you make.

Michael Dontigney

Executive Chef at The Water’s Edge Country Club

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE INGREDIENT TO COOK WITH? I am a huge fan of leeks and parsnips. But my favorite spice is probably cardamom. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN TOOL? Most chefs would probably say a chef’s knife but mine is the micro plane. IF YOU COULD PREPARE A MEAL FOR ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? My grandmother, if she was still alive. She was always my biggest supporter growing up and I would be honored to show her how all the hard work, dedication and cherished words of wisdom she gave me have paid off.

IF YOU COULD HAVE A MEAL WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Without a doubt my favorite chef, Thomas Keller. I just love his technique and food pairings. His style is like no other. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEAL TO PREPARE? Christmas dinner for my family. It is usually a huge feast with lots of different offerings from main course all the way to holiday family cookies.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD? Wood-fired pizza. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHEN YOU COOK? The Roots’ jazzy-style music. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO ORDER FROM A RESTAURANT MENU? Chef’s special (if available). CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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CULINARY

Anders Benton

Executive Chef at Sedgefield Country Club

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? High Point, North Carolina. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CULINARY INDUSTRY? 15 years. WHAT’S THE FIRST DISH YOU LEARNED TO MAKE REALLY WELL? Biscuits. WHAT’S THE GREATEST THING ABOUT BEING A CHEF? The opportunity to connect to people through creativity and passion. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE INGREDIENT TO COOK WITH? Root vegetables, from beets to turnips. I love their versatility. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN TOOL? The humble spoon. There are endless things that you can do with a spoon, from decorating a plate to turning a piece of protein in a hot pan.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

WHAT’S YOUR FIRST MEMORY OF BEING IN A KITCHEN? When I was in Scouts and had to prepare raw chicken — and I passed out. IF YOU COULD PREPARE A MEAL FOR ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? It would be my Grandma Tutterow. She was always supportive of my curiosity and creativity. Unfortunately, she passed away before I started to get my rhythm as a chef. IF YOU COULD HAVE A MEAL WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? My wife. We do not get to enjoy a meal together often enough. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD? Persimmon pudding. EASIEST MEAL TO IMPRESS SOMEONE? Pasta. There are so many great prepared products out there that you can doctor up to make a meal that blows the socks off of people.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEAL TO PREPARE? Thanksgiving! My extended family all gathers together and it’s always a good time helping everyone finish their dishes and carve the bird. WHAT MUSIC, IF ANY, DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHEN YOU COOK? It all depends on my mood—everything from classical to low-fi hip-hop beats. WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG CULINARY TREND? One of the next trends is cooking over open fire. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO ORDER OFF A RESTAURANT MENU? Octopus. WHAT EXPERIENCES BEST PREPARED YOU FOR BECOMING A CHEF? One experience was my study of classical guitar. It taught me how to give and receive feedback in a constructive way.

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

COCKTAILS by Patrick Gommel, Lead Bartender at Providence Country Club

Classic COCKTAILS

Fresh, fun sips just in time for summer Elderflower Old-Fashioned In a mixing glass, add ice and pour 2 ounces Elijah Craig Small-Batch Bourbon, ½ ounce orange oleo saccharum* and ¾ ounce St. Germain Liqueur. Stir thoroughly, then strain into a bourbon glass over a big ice cube and garnish with a dried orange peel.

* How to Make Oleo Saccharum: Peel the skins of 2

oranges and 1 lemon, add a heaping ¼ cup granulated sugar and muddle the sugar into the skins. Let stand for 6 hours, then remove the skins; the orange syrup that’s left behind is orange oleo saccharum. Keep refrigerated.

Blood Orange Margarita Fill a shaker three-quarters full of ice, then add ½ ounce fresh lime juice, 1 ½ ounces Lunazul Blanco Tequila, ½ ounce Cointreau Orange Liqueur, 2 ounces fresh blood orange juice (available at most grocery stores) and ½ ounce simple syrup. Shake for 15 seconds, then strain over ice into highball or wine glass and garnish with a blood orange peel.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

WINE WINE

WINE

E XC LU S I V E LY B OT T L E D F O R M CCO N N E L L G O L F IN VINO VERITAS… … a Latin phrase that means “in wine, there is truth.” Well, I couldn’t agree more, and similar phrases exist across cultures and languages. Growing up in Europe, I had an early start in the “world of wine.” Throughout my hospitality career, I have been fortunate to taste some of the finest wines from the world’s major viticultural regions. These include the Chateau Margaux 1990, Latour 1990, Chateau La Mission HautBrion 1982, Petrus vintages 1982, 1989 and 1990, the Joseph Phelps Insignia 1990, Dominus 1991 and 1994, Dunn Cabernets from Howell Mountain, the Mondavis, BVs and Berringer Private Reserves, the Penfolds Grange and many more. The few growers/producers who have continuously received five-star ratings are indeed those who make the world’s finest wines. They have been selected because: • They make the greatest wine of their particular viticultural region. • They are remarkably consistent and reliable, even in mediocre and poor vintages. Then, there is the Robert Parker Rating System, a scale from 50 to 100. Any wine that Parker rates above 85 is very good to excellent and any wine that Parker rates 90-plus will be outstanding for its particular type. Parker uses specific standards for wines sold to consumers — standards that full-time wine professionals recognize, and these are benchmark wines

to which others are judged. However, today’s wine-rating systems found on labels are not any different from screening ratings from Amazon, Netflix, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Vudu. It is simply “Corky” and very dangerous. The rating systems are not only for marketing purposes, but also shape consumers’ tastes as to what is to be considered good, excellent and outstanding. Wine has made major contributions to the quality of life in many societies of the world for millennia, and it continues to do so. It has always had its critics, some misinformed, others genuinely concerned. Cut through the noise; experience, keep an open mind and, most of all, enjoy! There is much to be enjoyed and appreciated. If wine and food combinations perplex you, your best strategy may be to learn some of the greatest pairings, as well as some of the worst. Remember that in the final analysis, a good wine served with a good dish to good company is always a good taste — “à votre santé!” McConnell Fine Wine LLC was founded upon the simple principle of introducing single, small vineyards and innovative winemakers to our membership under one private label, presented as the M Signature Series. This private label is only offered through our clubs and

the winemakers are selected for the following reasons: • They produce some of the greatest wines from a particular region. • Their wines are remarkably consistent and reliable. • They are innovative — and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. This year, McConnell Fine Wine introduces exclusively from the following winemakers and vineyards: • Chris Corley, Knollwood Vineyards: Right Bank Red Blend • Juslyn Vineyards: Pinot Grigio • Kerr Vineyards: Cabernet Sauvignon Our Right Bank Red Blend is nothing short of a perfected blend of MerlotCabFranc-Cab that can only be experienced at Pomerol, Bordeaux. Although nowadays Pomerols are 100% Merlot, Chris Corley remained a traditionalist and it paid off. My notes: Experience this wine with dinner (anything grilled with sautéed vegetables or rosemary roasted baby potatoes). You will be pleasantly surprised just how powerful this creation is with dinner, trust me. In closing, there are many exceptional wines to experience; I mean truly exceptional ones. These resemble experiences such as playing golf at Pine Valley, Cypress Point, St. Andrews or Shinnecock Hills, but there are also many more varietals, blends and crafts that are part of our civilization. I encourage you to be bold and explore the beauty of vino — it is truly rewarding! Christian Anastasiadis Chief Operating Officer, McConnell Golf www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

WINE

Knollwood Vineyards

Knollwood Vineyards: Right Bank Red Blend The Corley family operates some of the finest vineyards in the world, with wine production of singular distinction. The 80acre Monticello Vineyards Estate in Napa Valley, California, includes five vineyards, a winery and tasting room as well as culinary and hospitality facilities. It has been a destination for oenophiles from around the world since the 1980s. The Estate and Knollwood Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District is planted with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah varietals. Masterfully crafted by renowned winemaker Chris Corley, the 2018 blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon was exclusively bottled for McConnell Golf. The grape varietals were hand-picked, then destemmed and berry-sorted on the crush pad. The wine was aged in new 1/3 French oak barrels for 26 months. The primary blend was assembled at 12 months, with secondary blending at 18 months and final blend-strokes at 26 months. This blend has dark, luscious aromas and flavors of blackberry, anise with 52

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Chris Corley, Knollwood Vineyards

undercurrents of lightly toasted oak and hints of vanilla. There is a hint of pepper, and nice waves of ripe dark berry fruit on the palate.

Juslyn Vineyards: Pinot Grigio Juslyn Vineyards, owned by Perry and Carolyn Butler, is located in the prestigious Spring Mountain District AVA, one of the most highly regarded mountain

appellations in Napa Valley. The British ex-pats arrived in California in the 1980s to launch a high-tech company in the San Francisco Bay area. After routine 80-hour work weeks, the couple relaxed during weekend trips to Napa Valley, where they were bitten by the wine bug. Dreams of hightech dominance soon turned into thoughts of returning to the land and producing the best wines possible. In 1997, their dream became a reality when Perry and

WINE

Cristie Kerr, Kerr Cellars

Carolyn sold their computer business and founded Juslyn Vineyards on a site overlooking the renowned Spring Mountain Winery. The 2019 Juslyn Small Lot Pinot Grigio is 100% Pinot Grigio and 100% Mendocino County grown. This wine is sourced from one of the most famous vineyards in the Anderson Valley. A wine offering enticing pear and floral aromas leads to rich peach and lively tropical fruit flavors. It pairs nicely with seafood, light pasta and various cheeses, and it is perfect to enjoy while sitting around the pool on a warm summer’s day.

Kerr Vineyards: Cabernet Sauvignon

Perry Butler, Juslyn Vineyards

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Cristie Kerr began playing golf at the age of 9. Establishing herself as a prodigy, Kerr was the topranked player in Florida, playing on the men’s team, from the same tees. She also had one of the most successful amateur careers in

the history of the sport. Kerr joined the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour in 1997. Since her maiden victory in 2002, Kerr has been one of the top players in the game with more than 170 top-10 finishes, 20 victories and career earnings over $19 million. In 2012, Kerr launched Kerr Cellars, a limited production fine wine collection with award-winning winemaker Helen Keplinger. The Reserve, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc wines were received with rave reviews and scores in the 90s, with the 2013 Reserve receiving 98 points on its initial vintage. Wine Spectator named Kerr Vineyards a “Winery to Watch” in 2016. At Kerr Cellars, a meticulous attention to detail in winemaking is their labor of love. Their small batch wines are produced from the finest and most exclusive vineyards, and each vintage is expertly handcrafted. This Cabernet Sauvignon is garnet purple in color with an explosive nose of satsuma plum, graphite and melted Valrhona cocoa. The palate is drenching and structured with luscious blueberry, musk and coldbrew coffee. This wine is balanced with supple yet chalky tannins and finishes with assertiveness, bright acids and polished oak. It is hand-harvested in the early morning throughout October and aged 12 months in 60% new French oak and 40% 1-year-old French oak; it is a blend of 78% Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Oak Knoll Merlot and 5% Sage Ridge Petit Verdot.

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

FITNESS

by Allison Evans, Wellness Director at Porters Neck Country Club

SOUTHERN

Comfort Keep your cool to prevent, treat heat-related illness IT’S SUMMER in the South, and as temperatures rise, our awareness of exertional heat-related illness needs to rise, too. While you enjoy outdoor activities around the golf course, tennis court and pool, it’s vital to pay attention to heat and its potential impact on your performance and health. Learn how to prevent exertional heat-related problems — everything from mild cramps to severe heatstroke — and know the signs and symptoms to look for in case they occur. CHECK THE HEAT INDEX Preventing a heat-related injury is much easier than recovering from one. Prevention requires being aware of your environment. Use extreme caution during physical activity in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Rescheduling or postponing activities on extra-hot days is a wise decision. Use a heat index chart, like the one shown on the facing page, to determine the what-it-feels-like temperature on a hot, humid day in order to make informed decisions about outdoor activities.

WATER HYDRATION TIMING WHEN AMOUNT Before Exertion

2-3 hours before: 16 ounces 15 minutes before: 8 ounces

During Exertion

4 ounces of fluid every 15-20 minutes (2-3 gulps)

After Exertion

16-20 ounces of fluid for every pound lost due to perspiring

TIP: If you are an extreme sweater, weigh yourself before and after exercise. This will help you gauge how much fluid you are losing through sweat and how much to replenish.

FITNESS ALLOW YOUR BODY TO ACCLIMATE If you have been participating in outdoor activities through the spring and into the summer, your body has naturally been acclimatized to the increasing heat and humidity. If you have out-of-town guests participating with you, keep in mind they may not have the same tolerance you have for the Southern climate. ADJUST YOUR WORKLOAD A heat-related event can happen when physical effort is unmatched to physical fitness, because effort is exacerbated in the heat. Be aware of how strenuous an activity feels and make workload adjustments accordingly when exercising in an outdoor group class, for example, or during a tennis match. Workload adjustment includes modifying an exercise that’s easily performed inside to account for the increased demands of the heat outside; taking more frequent breaks to cool off during a tennis match or round of golf on hotter, humid days; and increasing hydration.

HYDRATE, AND THEN HYDRATE SOME MORE Drink fluids and replace electrolytes on a regular basis, throughout the day, but especially before and during physical activity in the heat. Thirst and/or sweat are not always dependable gauges for adequate

National Weather Service Heat Index Chart Temperature (°F)

Relative Humidity (%)

98 100 102 104 106 108 110

97 101 105 109 114 119 124 130 136

96 100 104 109 114 119 124 130 137

99 103 108 113 118 124 131 137

97 101 106 112 117 124 130 137

95 100 105 110 116 123 129 137

98 103 108 114 121 128 136

95 100 105 112 119 126 134

97 103 109 116 124 132

94 100 106 113 121 129

90 96 102 110 117 126 135

93 100 108 117 127

100

95 103 112 121 132

98 105 113 122 131

Likelihood of Heat Disorders with Prolonged Exposure and/or Strenuous Activity Caution Extreme Caution Danger Extreme Danger

fluid intake, especially for older adults. Be sure to begin any outdoor activity in a well-hydrated state and then maintain hydration throughout the activity. Staying hydrated has health benefits such as minimizing injury and muscle cramps, and improving your ability to recover more quickly after being physically active outside. Staying hydrated will also allow you to perform better. Side note about sports drinks vs. water: Individuals who exercise intensely for longer than 60 minutes will benefit most from sports drinks over water. Sports drinks are designed to rehydrate, provide energy and replenish electrolytes, especially sodium which is lost as sweat. If you are an especially salty sweater, they can help during prolonged exercise. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM We all need a little help from our friends. When exercising in the heat, use the buddy system to watch out for red flags associated with signs or symptoms of heat-related problems such as sunburn, heat craps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. This can CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

FITNESS Any individual regardless of age, gender or health status can develop heat-related illness.

be essential to ensure action is taken immediately. Several factors can increase your risk of suffering a heat-related illness: AGE: Your ability to cope with extreme heat depends on the strength of your central nervous system. In the very young and adults over 65, the central nervous system is less able to cope with extreme changes in body temperature. MEDICATIONS: Certain drugs affect your body’s ability to stay hydrated and respond to heat. These include medications that narrow your blood vessels (vasoconstrictors), regulate your blood pressure by blocking adrenaline (beta blockers), rid your body of sodium and water (diuretics) or reduce psychiatric symptoms (antidepressants or antipsychotics). HEALTH: Certain chronic illnesses like heart or lung disease can increase your risk of heatstroke. So can being

HEAT ILLNESS Learn the signs and symptoms of various heat-related illnesses — and what action to take if one occurs. ILLNESS DESCRIPTION

ACTION

Heat Cramps

Painful muscle spasms, usually in the legs and abdomen. Possible heavy sweating.

Apply firm pressure on cramping muscles, then gently massage to relieve muscle spasm. Hydrate.

Heat Exhaustion

Heavy sweating, weakness, pale and clammy skin, nausea, low blood pressure, rapid pulse, fainting and possible vomiting.

Stop exertion, move to a cool spot and hydrate. Seek medical attention.

Exertional Heat Illness

Stunned or confused appearance, tired, nausea with possible vomiting. Unsteady gait, heavy perspiration, high body temperature (up to 104°F), often accompanied by headache, rapid respiration and pulse.

Cease exertion and promptly cool body exterior. Hydrate with water. Seek immediate medical attention.

Heatstroke

High body temperature (105°F or higher), altered mental state, hot and/or dry skin, nausea and vomiting, flushed skin color, rapid breathing, racing heart rate and headache.

This is a very severe medical problem — call 911 and don’t delay. Move victim to cooler area and reduce body temperature with whatever means available (Examples: Cold wet cloths, fan, ice packs) and remove excess clothing.

obese, sedentary or having a history of previous heatstroke. Other risk factors include poor physical fitness, prolonged exertion, lack of sleep and illness. Heat-related illness can be serious, and potentially fatal. Being educated on prevention, risk factors, signs and symptoms can help us all stay healthy as we enjoy summertime activities. Remember, heatstroke requires immediate treatment — your club’s staff is trained with an emergency action plan to help if needed.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

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Summer 2021

TENNIS

by Stephanie Trotter

Blake and Ryan Roegner

Brotherly Love Game of tennis nets strong family bonds

WHEN THE ROEGNER BROTHERS take to the tennis court, opponents are lucky to move beyond love. With an aggressive style of play and towering imposition, the 6’3” duo always seems to get the last hit, with a semi-western grip. Ryan Roegner has just wrapped his junior year at Butler University, representing the Bulldogs in the Big East Conference. Little brother Blake Roegner is heading into his senior year of high school, hoping to play Division I tennis as well. Both boys learned to work hard — and dream big — under the 58

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

tutelage of Bill Barber, Director of Tennis at the Country Club of Asheville in Western North Carolina. “Bill Barber is the best coach I’ve ever had in terms of strategy and the culture he brings to the court,” Ryan says. “And he always has your best interest at heart. He always puts me on a path of being the best player I can be.” Ryan’s best is pretty darn good. At one point, he was ranked No. 1 in North Carolina and top 10 in the South. He’s had a great run during college, playing both singles and

“[Bill Barber] makes it fun for the boys, but pushes them hard, and that’s a great combination.” – John Roegner, Member at the Country Club of Asheville

doubles, with one year remaining. Blake’s journey to the top has been a bit different. He strayed from tennis to sample baseball and golf, but returned in recent years to serve up aces. As a freshman in high school, Blake was No. 2 in doubles in Illinois (where the family

TENNIS Naperville, Illinois. So while relocating, they decided to maintain their Asheville home and CCA membership, returning as often as possible to work with a coach they describe as instrumental in helping Ryan and Blake reach their tennis — and life — goals. “It’s about the relationship. There are plenty of pros out there, but there’s another level to being a really good coach,” Anne Roegner explains. Her husband concurs, adding, “He makes it fun for the boys, but pushes them hard, and that’s a great combination.” In connecting with kids, Barber recognizes many players will never swing a racket for a college, high school, nor Ryan Roegner middle school for that matter. moved several years ago) and he “Tennis is a way of life, but it’s not recently won the state high school your life,” John Roegner says. “Bill doubles championship. In USTA always puts that into perspective, play, he’s ranked in the top 10 in the Prairie State. Their coach has enjoyed watching the siblings grow up. Not only did Barber witness their action between the lines, but down the street, as they once lived in the same neighborhood in Asheville. “Ryan was a wild little kid,” jokes Barber. “He was very intense, but you could tell he loved playing tennis. Blake just continues to get better. It’ll be exciting to see where he lands for college.” The boys’ parents — Anne and John Roegner — were concerned about leaving Coach Barber behind when work, and relatives, Bill Barber lured the family from Asheville to

and encourages the kids to do their best on the court and in class.” Barber also runs clinics on character. “Tough love,” Ryan recalls, reminiscing about the time Coach Barber kicked him out of a lesson. “He sat me down and told me to take some time off, and to come back ready to work hard. At 13 years old, other coaches would have given up on me. But he made the right choice. I worked hard and got better.” Ryan returned to rank in the top 75 in the United States among high school seniors in 2018, according to TennisRecruiting.net. After 21 years at the Country Club of Asheville, Barber has ushered hundreds of players through the junior’s program — one he’s built from the ground up. “It’s super rewarding,” the director of tennis says. “It’s cool to see kids you coached at 5 and 6 find success, graduate and get married. Tennis is the sport of a lifetime; one you can play the rest of your life. I’m Peter Pan out here and it’s great to see the Lost Boys move on and give back to the sport we love so much.”

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer2021

SWIM by Stephanie Trotter

EAT MY

Bubbles RCC Stingrays swim through a fun, fast summer

FLASHES OF BLUE and red crest the water, as a fever of Stingrays warm up. Young, sun-kissed ’Rays share a Sharpie on the pool deck, tattooing teammates’ arms and backs with the battle cry: “Eat My Bubbles!” Their coach, Noah Hensley, is on the deck at Raleigh Country Club in Raleigh, North Carolina, doublechecking heat sheets and relay team lineups. “I’m so glad we’re getting to have meets this year,” confides Hensley, noting that last year’s summer swim season was a washout due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Swimming brings an

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element of fun, competitiveness and lifelong friendships. Those three things brought me into this sport and kept me going for like 20 years. Now I want these kids to do the same.” Hensley grew up swimming just outside Orlando, Florida. He followed his brother onto the team at Florida State University, but transferred to North Carolina State University, where he swam for four years. Now age 24, the butterfly and backstroke specialist assists with coaching NC State’s Wolfpack Elite as well as the Raleigh Country Club Stingrays. “It’s a bit of disparity, coaching very elite athletes and kids just starting the sport,” he says. “I decompress after leaving NC State, then I come here and just have fun.” Summer coaching has taught him plenty about getting from one end of the pool to the other. “You never stop learning when you’re a coach,” says Hensley. “What I learn from a 6-year-old is equally as important as what I learn from a 24-year-old who thinks they know everything.” This is Hensley’s second summer with the Stingrays, working alongside co-head coach Makayla Sargent. Both look to longtime swim parents Jim and Ellen Baker for advice, guidance and support. The Bakers have watched Raleigh Country Club’s

Jim and Ellie Baker

aquatics program almost double in size since their daughter Ellie first stood on top of the blocks at age 6 (she’s now 22). Jim Baker swam in college and wanted to pass his love of the water on to his children. About 10 years ago, he created a big splash when forming the Raleigh Area Country Club Swim League. The ripples continue to traverse the region today. “It’s not as structured as some of the hardcore swim leagues,” explains Ellen Baker, noting the season runs May through the end of June. “We wanted it to be more relaxed. It’s a compact season, so families can go on vacation for the Fourth of July, and children can go to summer camp. It’s a fun way to meet lots of families.” The league pits RCC’s Stingrays

“Swimming brings an element of fun, competitiveness and lifelong friendships.” — Noah Hensley, Swim Coach at Raleigh Country Club

against teams from Carolina Country Club, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, North Ridge Country Club and MacGregor Downs Country Club. Swimmers 4 to 18 years old race against each other in designated age groups across a full discipline of strokes, basic freestyle to the grueling IM — an individual medley that’s one lap each of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Ellen Baker pulls out old team photos of freckled-faced swimmers. “It’s fun to watch the children grow up,” she says. “To see them start out little bitty and scared to get in the water, and then they’re the first one across the pool, and so excited to get a popsicle, or win a first-place ribbon.” Hensley is happy to see so many kids bobbing along in his wake. “Swimming is about safety, but it’s also about a lifestyle,” he says. “People who learn how to swim at a young age will most likely be healthier throughout their lives. It’s also very personable. You can make friends and have a lot of fun. Those are the two biggest things we try to incorporate at RCC.” Good health and good friends. Two big bubbles few can pop. www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

KIDS

Q & A

with Carys & Holden Carson THE CARSONS — a family of golf enthusiasts — have lived in Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville, North Carolina, for seven years. Jamin Carson is a professor at East Carolina University and Carol Carson is an elementary school PE teacher and water aerobics instructor who also works as a real estate agent with Aldridge & Southerland Realtors. Their children Carys, 13, and Holden, 11, love hanging out with neighborhood friends in between school and extracurriculars such as sports and music. Carys describes herself as studious while her brother is an adventurous spirit who loves re-telling a good joke. We caught up with the Carson kids this summer to chat about life in Brook Valley. THERE ARE SOME WOODS AND A CREEK TO EXPLORE BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YES?

HOLDEN: I don’t have a favorite — I like swimming all of the strokes.

HOLDEN: We go there more in the fall when the snakes are hibernating. We like to explore. We build forts in the woods and there are a lot of trees to climb.

TELL US ABOUT THE KIDZONE AT BROOK VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB.

WE HEAR YOU’RE BOTH GOOD GOLFERS. TELL US ABOUT OPERATION 36. CARYS: I really like golf! We just finished our third semester of Operation 36 and the season went well for my brother and me. There’s practice every week and a 9-hole event every other week. When you get to par, you move back a certain number of yards [in increments of 25]; I got back to 150 yards and so did my brother. HOLDEN: Operations 36 is fun because we’re playing with new people and getting better. CARYS: It’s fun to compete against other kids — usually we play with my dad … By doing Operation 36 we’ve started hitting it farther. My stroke has gotten better and my score has gotten lower. I’ll probably play golf when I’m in high school. WHERE ELSE DO YOU GOLF?

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN BROOK VALLEY? CARYS: We really like to go swimming. HOLDEN: Yes, swimming — and I like playing with my friends and riding my bike around. CARYS: There are a lot of hills here so it takes a while to ride through the whole neighborhood. It’s a lot of fun … there are a lot of junior golfers at the club and we like that, too. 62

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

CARYS: We do interclub in the summer and play at other courses — we’ve played at lots of places like [other McConnell Golf clubs including] Raleigh and Wakefield. AND IN SUMMERTIME YOU DO SWIM TEAM, TOO—WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THAT? CARYS: Swim team is always a great time to hang out with our friends, especially during the pandemic … My favorite stroke is backstroke — I like to fly through the water on my back!

HOLDEN: It’s been a while since we’ve gone there [because of the pandemic] but it’s a good place to go play tag and watch movies, do arts and crafts, play board games. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS LIKE TO DO IN BROOK VALLEY? HOLDEN: Go to the club and talk with their friends. DOES THAT SOUND FUN TO YOU? HOLDEN: Well, I wouldn’t talk all day. CARYS: They go to golfing events for the adults too [like Couples Golf and Ladies Nine & Wine]. SOUNDS LIKE A GOLF COURSE IS A PRETTY GOOD PLACE TO LIVE. HOLDEN: It is! We are on hole No. 13 and it’s called Paradise Lost. WHY? HOLDEN: They named it that because there are woods on one side and lots of golf balls get lost out there. CARYS: Oh, and it’s really fun when it snows so we can sled. HOLDEN: There’s a big hill next to the green that’s very good for sledding. CARYS: I like to go to my friend’s house, where we watch people tee off and we clap for them. They don’t expect kids to clap, but they like it when we do.

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www.mcconnellgolf.com

Summer 2021

KIDS

Q & A with Isabella, Tasia & Sienna Draper

MARINA AND DAN DRAPER have been members of The Water’s Edge Country Club in Penhook, Virginia, for 20 years. Their home-away-fromhome on Smith Mountain Lake serves as escape from the workaday routine in Chicago, where Dan is CEO of S&P Dow Jones Indices and Marina is a stay-at-home mom. Their girls — Isabella, 14; Tasia, 12; and Sienna, 7 — have spent literally every summer of their life at the lakefront club, learning to ride horses, swim, golf and more. We zoomed with the vivacious trio just before school ended, to chat about summertime on the loveliest lake in the Commonwealth. 64

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF SPENDING SUMMERS AT THE WATER’S EDGE? TASIA: I enjoy going out onto the lake and tubing. We love going to the club because the food is really good. SIENNA: Oh, yes, we love Sunday brunches there. And the diving board at the swimming pool. TASIA: That’s really fun because most pools don’t have a diving board. The water is so deep. We can play a lot of water games. ISABELLA: We like all the activities and camps. And we just love the horses. We love riding them and helping groom them at the farm. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER — WE HEAR YOU’VE BEEN GOING TO HORSE CAMP SINCE YOU WERE LITTLE. TASIA: There are lots of horses and they’re all nice. At horse camp, we ride and we also do crafts and games. ISABELLA: The crafts are fun — especially when we paint pictures of the horses. SIENNA: My favorite is a horse named Dixie — she is so soft and kind. TASIA: My favorite is Buttercup — I like her because she goes really fast. ISABELLA: The older kids get to stay later to do things like build campfires and roast marshmallows. TASIA: The trails we ride have lots of trees and sometimes we see deer. SIENNA: There are pigs there, too. ISABELLA: And a donkey named Jenny. SIENNA: Jenny is best friends with Dixie. HOW ABOUT BOATING ON THE LAKE? ISABELLA: I just got my boating license because I’ve turned 14, so now I can drive the boat and the Jet Skis on my own. GET TO DO THAT WITHOUT YOUR PARENTS?

WHAT SORT OF FAMILY ACTIVITIES DO YOU LIKE? SIENNA: We like playing golf with our dad. IS YOUR DAD A GOOD GOLFER? ISABELLA: We think he is, yes.

ISABELLA: Oh yes, that’s the plan!

TASIA: Our mom likes tennis more … Sometimes we play tennis as a family.

SOUNDS LIKE TASIA IS A KEEN WAKEBOARDER.

SIENNA: And we ride bikes together.

TASIA: I like to wakeboard — there’s a wakeboarding park near The Water’s Edge and that’s where I learned. IS IT HARD TO DO? TASIA: At first yes, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy. And fun. YOUR MOM SAID TO ASK ABOUT THE CLUB’S PIZZAS. ISABELLA: Yes! The club had a kids camp with lots of activities. One of them was making pizza.

ISABELLA: We have a dog, so we all go on lots of walks with her. SIENNA: Her name is Chelsea. WHAT DO YOU TELL YOUR FRIENDS IN CHICAGO ABOUT SUMMERS ON SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE? SIENNA: We say we are having so much fun. We tell them about the pool and our trampoline out in the lake, and about golfing and riding horses. ISABELLA: We tell them how lovely it is.

TASIA: You could make different shapes with pizza dough, too — they didn’t have to be just round.

TASIA: Sometimes our friends from Chicago and from overseas come to visit us — some of them have never ridden a horse before so we get to show them how. Our grandpa likes to fish, so when he comes visit we go fishing a lot.

ISABELLA: And we also learned to flip the pizza.

ISABELLA: We love entertaining guests.

SIENNA: You could put any topping you wanted on them.

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Summer 2021

KIDS

Q & A

with Kristen, Kayla & Christopher Krantz THE KRANTZ FAMILY joined Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, eight years ago. Parents Daniel and Shawnett love golf, whether competing in club tournaments or playing a round of couples golf, which they say is a great way to meet and enjoy conversations with other members. Their kids — Kristen, 12; Kayla, 6; and Christopher, 4 — participate in a variety of activities including Kids Club, Operation 36, tennis lessons and more; they love summers best because they’re at the pool every day. The family spends lots of quality time at the club’s Greenside Café, where the younger Krantzes enjoy grabbing snacks or drinks before jumping into the pool. We checked in with the kids on Memorial Day weekend to chat about all things Sedgefield, and they gave special shout-outs to Pierce Hoover, Sedgefield’s Tennis Director, and Craig Adolff, PGA, Assistant Golf Pro at the club.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT KIDS CLUB? CHRISTOPHER: I like Kids Club because we get to watch movies. KRISTEN: I like drawing, coloring. I like to do scratch art. We do arts and crafts, sometimes we do crafts, and then sometimes we get to draw — we get to draw anything — and sometimes we get coloring sheets, depending on the theme. YOU MENTIONED TENNIS AND PIERCE HOOVER. KAYLA: We do tennis with him, and we play “Copycat” — what’s it called again? KRISTEN: “Alley Cat.” Pierce will hit some balls, and we have to move so we don’t get tagged. Pierce is good. He teaches us to play tennis, and sometimes he just does fun games with us. SHAWNETT: He’s really great with kids. He got Christopher into a little bit of tennis for a little while … KRISTEN: … but then [Christopher] just decided not to play because he was retired from tennis.

TELL US MORE ABOUT KIDS CLUB. KAYLA: I like Kids Club because we do arts and crafts, and color. We make snowflakes and watch movies. KRISTEN: I love the arts and crafts theme at Kids Club. At Easter we did some Easter Egg crafts that were very cool. CHRISTOPHER: We do eggs at Kids Club, but that isn’t until Easter.

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WHAT ABOUT THE SWIMMING POOL AT SEDGEFIELD COUNTRY CLUB?

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT CRAIG ADOLFF AND GOLF? KRISTEN: He works the pro shop. He does the golf camp every summer. We play Operation 36, which is golf lessons with some other people. Each week, we will do something different: one week we will do putting, another week we will go to the chipping green or go to the driving range. And then we have, like, these shotguns, where we get to play golf with some people, and we play nine holes. Craig is nice; he helps us with golf and anything we’re having trouble doing. HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO TO KIDS CLUB OR OUT TO PLAY TENNIS OR GOLF? KRISTIN: Almost every Friday to Kids Club. We do tennis twice a week. And lots of golf. Last Saturday, Kayla putted a 15-footer! I putted a 25-footer! MAKING SUCH A LONG PUTT MUST HAVE BEEN AMAZING! KRISTEN: It felt good to finally, well, not make history but at least do good in golf. It felt good to kind of make history — my mom broke the record.

KAYLA: We have so much fun jumping off the diving board and going down the water slide.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT THE COUNTRY CLUB?

KRISTEN: I like swimming in the shallow end — not the kiddie pool, the 3-feet. I’ll sometimes jump off the diving board and swim in the deep end.

CHRISTOPHER: We love going to Sedgefield!

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McConnell Golf, The Magazine — Summer 2021

Articles inside

KIDS

SWIM

KIDS

KIDS

TENNIS

DISHING WITH THE CHEFS

M SIGNATURE SERIES

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

CLUB COMMUNITY

FITNESS

THE BACK NINE

FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT