Champs Repeat

by Brad King

Longtime Treyburn Country Club member

Kathy Porter is a former field hockey and lacrosse coach. So, she is naturally energized by competition, particularly team competition.

That’s one of the reasons she is such a fan of McConnell Golf’s annual Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup competitions between clubs.

“The (two cups) provide an opportunity to compete with your friends and bring the team dynamic to a game that is typically an individual sport,” she said. “It’s also a chance to expose our wonderful golf course to other McConnell Golf members.”

During three beautiful days last July, Porter and her Treyburn CC team hosted the Solheim Cup in Durham for the first time. Eleven clubs from across the company sent one golf professional and seven female members to compete in the 36-hole rung event. Treyburn, the 2018 champions, managed to hold off Raleigh Country Club with a score of 67.5 points to 64 points.

“Dalton Rich paired our team well both days,” Porter said. “He had us pumped to play the entire weekend, displaying positive energy to us all. Susan Owens, our club champion, always plays a steady game and came through as usual. Sally Burke had her best round ever on Saturday (while playing with Porter). Ann Amlin and Harriet Portnoy complemented each other as partners with Ann leading the charge to close out their match. Debbie

Pitman, who was playing in her first Solheim Cup, was paired with Kathy Pittman on Sunday and piled on the points.”

“Treyburn is a challenging but fair course,” said Owens. “If you hit the ball well and stay out of trouble you can score low. However, the penalty for a miss hit can be severe and take a mental toll when you have lots of golf left to play.”

“One of our ladies, Harriet Portnoy, modifies her annual family vacation so that she can play. Debbie Pitman was our rookie this year, stepping up at the last minute when one of the ladies had to drop. She really embodied the spirit of the competition, she played hard and won points while still having lots of laughs. Sally Burke, Kathy Porter, Ann Amlin, Kathy Pittman, and Susan Owens are veterans and know each point in the rung-and- ladder format is important and does make a difference. Dalton Rich did a great job of pairing the ladies to maximize our individual strengths and creating teams that could carry one another when needed. We grinded when we needed to and cheered when that long putt fell.”

All the competitors complimented Treyburn Superintendent Mark Snell and his staff, who had the course in superb condition. “Being our home course, local knowledge did help a lot with some of the more difficult pin placements you only see during a competition like the Solheim Cup,” Owens said. “We knew we were doing well, but held our breath until the winners were announced.”

“Our head chef, Sean O’Neill, planned three days of extraordinary meals to feed the competitors,” said Porter. “The all-important desserts were outstanding!”

“The food was outstanding,” echoed Owens. “It’s always fun to see how creative and tasty the food is for these events. I love it that the chefs really showcase their talents and make the meal and presentation very memorable. The special drinks are a big hit too. The band and music were a perfect ending to a great day of golf and dining. Our ladies have some moves!”

2022 RYDER CUP MARKED BY COMPETITION, CAMARADERIE

For the 2022 men’s competition in mid-November, another host club, The Reserve Golf Club, captured its second consecutive McConnell Golf Ryder Cup. “Everyone played well,” said Reserve member Dennis Wahl, who has played in four Ryder Cups including the past two consecutive wins for The Reserve. “Pretty much the entire team finished in the top half every day with a number of guys first or second, which is why we won.”

Wahl turned 72 years old last August, yet averages playing more than 300 rounds per year including 332 rounds (mostly walking) in 2021. He runs the men’s group at The Reserve on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and his own group on Wednesdays and Fridays. He’s also the Senior Interclub Captain, as well as the Handicap Chairman.

Wahl played two days during the 2022 Ryder Cup event with Bob McLemore and Tom Tyndall, whose son, Ryan, was also on the team. “We have a lot of very competitive guys at the club which is one of the things that appeals to me,” Wahl said. “I certainly am a big part of that competition culture.”

“What rang out was that the team was solid from the participating pro on down to the highest handicapper,” said McLemore. “Everyone on the team played hard and punched their weight, scoring points that added to the overall total. It was a true team event.”

Before moving south, McLemore spent many years racing sailboats. He compared The Reserve’s effort to a successful nautical side. “I learned early that you can win a regatta without ever winning an individual race,” he said. “You just keep banging away at your competitors, and that is what we did.”

McLemore was a member of The Reserve’s 2018 winning team (a 10-man team then versus an eight-man team now) and he was also on the squad in 2010 — the very first Ryder Cup that The Reserve played. “It was held at Musgrove Mill,” he recalled. “Back then, The Reserve was new to McConnell Golf and we couldn’t field a competitive team of scratch players, so we were given a pass and all played in the net division. No matter, we got creamed anyway, but carried on.

The Origins Of The Solheim And Ryder Cups

With history and pride as a foundation, the inaugural McConnell Golf Ryder Cup event was played in 2008 at Musgrove Mill Golf Club between the four McConnell Golf clubs at that time — Musgrove Mill, Raleigh Country Club, The Cardinal by Pete Dye, and Treyburn.

Following two days of heated competition, Raleigh and Musgrove tied at 81.5 points apiece. It took a sudden-death playoff before Raleigh CC emerged as the inaugural Ryder Cup champion. In 14 years of competition, The Cardinal has won five Ryder Cups, while Raleigh CC and The Reserve have each won three times.

Once the McConnell Golf portfolio and its female membership began to grow, the Solheim Cup was added in 2012 at The Reserve. It has been played at several McConnell Golf properties through the years.

The Reserve has captured a trio of Solheim Cup victories followed by Raleigh CC and Treyburn with two each.

Despite their competitive nature, the two cups are viewed across the board as a fun way to meet new friends, get reacquainted with old, and enjoy some fun competition on McConnell Golf’s outstanding courses.

“It’s really all about meeting people and about having fun and just building McConnell Golf and building everyone’s enjoyment of all the other courses,” said Raleigh CC member Elly Matteis, who has played in all 10 Solheim Cup competitions (the 2020 Solheim Cup was canceled due to COVID).

“The big party is Friday night, but … it’s really a party all weekend.”

“The Solheim Cup is always a much-anticipated event for the women at Treyburn. I have been lucky to be able to play this event for several years now. I have always been encouraged to play even though my handicap is quite high. It is definitely a team event with everyone having a chance to contribute. The competition was challenging but Treyburn pulled off the win in 2022 which was awesome! The chance to meet and get to know the women and golf professionals from all the other McConnell Clubs is always a lot of fun. The events are always well planned and organized. Thanks to all the staff for a great time!”

Sally Burke

Susan Owens; Front row, left: Dalton Rich, Kathy Pittman, Sally Burke, Harriet Portnoy.

BOTTOM PHOTO – Team Reserve, front row, from left: Ben Dunn, Ryan Tyndall, Donald Clement, Dennis Wahl; Back Row, from left: Maxwell Opper, Rich Weston, Bob McLemore, Derek Ausherman, Tom Tyndall, Justin Morris