Winter 2013/14
Free - Take One!
In this Issue: + Upgrade your Golf for Less + Big Plans for Beverly Park + A Healthy Swing for Spring + High School Golf Part II
Play-It-Again Sports Owners Jon and Larry Olive
+ Golf News Winter Tour
Plus:
Ask Chuck
Makin’ the Rounds
Course & Cocktails
Findings from the Fairway
Table Of Contents :
Contributors : Glenn Makin Chuck Cavalaris Andrew Henderson Gina Childs Curtis Johnson
Page 4 / Santa’s Wishlist Page 5 / Sevierville Golf Club, 2-Man Title Page 6 / Course & Cocktails : Eggnog Page 7 / Big Plans for Beverly Park
Designers :
Page 8 / Effective Golf Instruction Page 9 / Play It Again Sports
Michael Goldsborough
Page 10 & 11 / High School Golf : Part II
Advertiser Index :
Page 12 / A Fashionable Game Page 13 / Makin’ the Rounds with No Fakin’ Page 14 / Centennial Golf Course’s Renovations Shine Page 15 / Keep Your Swing Strong Page 16 / Findings from the Fairway Page 17 / Ask Chuck : Thankfulness Page 18 / The Country Club 2-Man Page 19 / The Annual Dandridge 2-Man Shootout
For Advertising Inquires and Rates call 865-385-9725 or email golfnewstn@gmail.com
Three Ridges Golf Course - pg. 3 Golf Tec - pg. 10 & 11 Quarter Mile Strings - pg. 13 Fitness Together - pg. 15 River Island Golf Course - pg. 16 Play It Again Sports - pg. 17 DOC’s All American Grille - pg. 20
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The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of The Golf News of Tennessee or it’s publisher Michael Goldsborough. All content contained here-in is under copyright and may not be used with out express permission from both the aurthor and The Golf News of Tennessee. For inquires, please contact Michael Goldsborough @ golfnewstn@gmail.com
A Note from the Publisher
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n keeping with tradition, my family and I are traveling to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving. This means we’ll be in Knoxville for Christmas - which also means the chance for a white Christmas is greatly reduced (and this is 100% fine by me.) College football is on its way out as we settle in to (and look forward to) winning on the hardwood floor of Thompson-Bowling Arena.
The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is full of wonderful meals, great family and friends, and warm fires...don’t also let it be when your swing falls apart. Make sure to visit Golftec and take advantage of their winter special to keep your form. In addition, Fitness Together has some great pointers on keeping your back strong to keep your swing strong. Finally, while you’re putting the finishing touches on your tax paperwork, making your resolutions for 2014, and shopping for your loved ones, remember to be thankful for everything that makes life worth living. Enjoy this issue, support our advertisers, and always make sure to shoot low. Michael Goldsborough Publisher
The Club Hole-in-One and Double Eagle
Sam Bounds of Knoxville. Dandridge Golf Club, 11/23, Hole #7, 108 yds, Gap Wedge.
Boddie Bible of Knoxville. Dandridge Golf Club, 11/23, Hole #4, 325 yd Par 4, Driver.
Kathleen Metcalf of Knoxville. Fox Den Country Club, 8/18, Hole #16, 151 yds, 7-iron.
Santa’s Wishlist (Spoiler alert - Santa is discussed openly in this column. Young children should be excused from the room.)
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ell, the holidays are upon us once again. Time to trim the tree, plan the recipes, and write the Christmas cards. By show of hands - who still writes Christmas cards? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Yet another joy Facebook has robbed from me. Burn, Mark Zuckerberg! Personally, I love receiving Christmas cards. I think it’s a long-standing tradition that is rapidly taking a backseat to social media. I enjoy seeing pictures of people throughout the year on my smart phone, but come December I want a card in the mailbox. I feel the only letters I get these days are from bill collectors and my mother. I have many bills and only one mom, so the odds that I want to actually walk to the mailbox are very slim. Last year, Americans purchased 1.5 billion Christmas Cards. I got 37. I feel that’s fair, as there are well over 100 million households in America, and I’m not terribly greedy. Plus, this stat doesn’t take into account the millions of letter kids write Santa Claus each year. I stopped writing Santa two years ago, but the idea of Santa still makes me happy. Do you know the Four Stages of Santa Claus? Stage 1.) You believe in Santa Claus. Stage 2.) You don’t believe in Santa Claus. Stage 3.) You are Santa Claus. Stage 4.) You look like Santa Claus. When I wrote Santa as a child, it was with the mindset that if I put it down on the paper with my crayon, it would appear under the tree. Simple enough. (Hey, isn’t it interesting that we write letters to Santa about what we want, but we don’t write thank you notes back to him? Do you think this feeds into the “expectant attitude” Americans have now?) We didn’t have the internet back then, so we would get ideas on
Curtis Johnston
what we wanted from Santa by looking through the biggest, best book in the whole world – The Sears, Roebuck & Company Christmas Wishbook. Oh, I remember what a special day it was when this 500-page literary masterpiece would arrive in the mail. (This was back when I enjoyed getting the mail...back before car payments and student loans.) I couldn’t wait to look through it. I would need complete privacy as I submerged myself into another world. There were Batman vehicles with movable wheels and opening doors (for use with figures sold above). I’ll need that. Flash Gordon and his inflatable rocket ship, which parents could air up and suspend on a string from the ceiling. Amazing! Transformers and Go-Bots made the catalog in 1985, waging their own war for the attention of the youngest generation. I don’t have to tell you who won that major conflict, as today no one owns the Go-Bot Trilogy on Blu-Ray. Over the years, I lost track of the Sears catalog. By the time I was in high school, I was looking at the ads for stereos and these new computers everyone kept talking about. My “Wishbook” eventually turned into real cars and real life, but I look fondly back on the afternoons I spent on the shag carpet circling wishes with a magic marker. So, what’s in your grown-up wishbook? If you had a magic marker, what would you circle? You know, if you write it down with a crayon and expectation, you just may get it under the tree. Merry Christmas. Curtis Johnston lives in Farragut with his wife and is currently a Stage 3 Santa. He welcomes your feedback at curtis.johnstonjr@gmail.com
Matt Poff and Nick York Team Up to Win Glenn Makin
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GA apprentice at Sevierville Matt Poff, teamed with Nick York to win by 3 shots over three teams and three more teams in 5th two shots back. The duo played at Tusculum in Greeneville and took on the field including a couple LMU teammates Eric Kennedy & Tyler Davis.
Kennedy & Davis started 2 shots out and at the bottom of the Championship Flight. Fortunately, they improved to an 8 under on Sunday and moved up the list to finish tied for second with locales Sexton & Nichols along with Campbell & Parker.
Results
Championship 1st Matt Poff, Nick York - 126 2nd Eric Kennedy, Tyler Davis - 129 2nd Will Sexton, Greg Nichols - 129 2nd Jeff Campbell, Hank Parker - 129 5th Luke Fullen, Eddie Harmon - 130 5th Eric Russell, Danny Dipple - 130 5th Scott McGaha, Jay Wise - 130 First Flight 1st Tony Wallace, Chuck Campbell - 127 2nd Danny Gillispie, Stacy Gillispie - 130 2nd Sam Bounds, Robert Wright - 130 4th Robby Howard, Steve Knight - 131 5th Steven Ball, Lucas Tabor - 132 Second Flight 1st Tony Wallace, Chuck Campbell - 127 2nd Danny Gillispie, Stacy Gillispie - 130 2nd Sam Bounds, Robert Wright - 130 4th Robby Howard, Steve Knight - 131 5th Steven Ball, Lucas Tabor - 132
The question coming into the weekend was weather. With the first hard cold snap of the season, the frosty greens held up play for a couple hours, and the brisk winds kept wind-chill in the lower 40’s to high 30’s. Playing the Highlands Course on Saturday, a 70-par with tricky par-3’s and well undulated greens kept the competitors close together. On Sunday, every team in the field had an opportunity to make a move as the temperatures became sunny and mild in the 50’s for the round on the River Course, a much longer par-72 with tighter fairways. This was due to the unusual occurrence of scores staying close in both the championship and the last flight. The Championship Flight moved back to the tips, stretching 7,215 yards, while the other flights remained on the next tee box. The course was in superb condition and the greens, running at a speed of 11 to 12, held their line on the smooth and true surface. The medalist round of the tournament belonged to Tony Wallace & Chuck Campbell with an 11-under 61. Chuck laid claim to a couple 40-foot putts to account for their low round and win in the First Flight. Brad Milligan & Shane Freshour made good on the only skin of the day on Saturday with a birdie on the 219 yard par-3 16th hole on the Highland Course.
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Course
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Cocktails: Eggnog Michael Goldsborough
ggnog. Brings back memories doesn’t it. For some, these are wonderful, joyfilled occasions of going to grandparents and having a cup of silky smooth, flavorful nog. Perhaps your pop-pop let you sip some from his mug that was laced with spiced rum. For others, it’s an awful nightmare starting off at a party with a few glasses of cheap whiskey spiked nog and ending with your face in the bowl as a dare, only to curse yourself in the morning. Also known as Egg Milk Punch, eggnog, is a dairy based drink consisting of sugar, cream, spices, and whipped eggs. It may or may not contain any alcohol, but traditionally it should. In commercially available eggnog, there are usually no raw eggs in the ingredients. Instead, they use guar gum and carrageenan as the thickener. One of my favorite stories about eggnog is the Eggnog Riot. At West Point in 1826. During the week of Christmas, a large amount of whiskey was smuggled into the barracks. For two days, Christmas and its eve, the rioting continued eventually involving more than one-third of the cadets and the court-martialing of twenty of them. The recipe I bring to you below is absolutely delicious. It does contain raw eggs and there really isn’t a substitute. However, as mentioned in last issue, most of the dangers are on the shell of the egg and as long as you wash it thoroughly, all should be okay. And, to make sure no one gets court-martialed, it isn’t an easy recipe. It takes time and your sober whits to construct properly.
The Recipe 3 large eggs 3/4 cup sugar 4 oz brandy 4 oz spiced rum 2 cups whole milk Separate the yolks and whites of the eggs. Add half of the sugar and yolks in a bowl and beat until smooth. Add remaining ingredients except the egg whites - mix until combined. In a separate bowl, mix the egg whites and the other half of the sugar until combined and a foam forms. With a hand mixer or immersion blender, mix the egg whites into the yolk bowl. Pour into 4 glasses and top with freshly-grated nutmeg Always be safe and consume alcohol responsibly, always have a designated driver, and I don’t mean the one you hit golf balls with. Cheers!
From the Cover:
Pearls of the Putting Green
Beverly Park Par-3 Gina Childs
Hall has Big Plans for 2014
Article and Photo by Chuck Cavalaris
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he life lessons George Hall learned during a lifetime in education helped form the foundation for the rebirth at Beverly Park. By George, if a golf course could talk ... this one would say thank you. “I taught school for 30 years,” said Hall, who was hired in March to bring the Par-3 layout back to life off Tazewell Pike in North Knox County. “In education, you learn how to deal with people. Golf is no different ... it’s also a people business.” This journey didn’t happen overnight. Before he retired as a teacher and coach at Halls Middle School, Hall worked parttime during the summer or weekends at Three Ridges with pro Mark Brown. It turned into a full-time opportunity as a PGA apprentice, and Hall
eventually earned his Class A professional status. It helped to have a great boss, but Hall made a difficult transition appear easy. “I coached basketball, baseball, softball and golf for almost 30 years,” Hall said. “That experience taught me how to work with various age athletes and to break a skill down to parts that can be learned more easily.” Hall was the candidate of choice when the Tennessee Golf Foundation and regional director Chad Anderson needed someone to revive the Beverly Park course and golf programs. The local golf community is fortunate to have such strong financial backing and moral support for juniors and adults. “The golf course is still owned and maintained by Knox County,” Hall said.
“The TGF is responsible for growing the game of golf all over the state.” Hall has given hundreds of lessons and will celebrate his first anniversary at Beverly Park in March. His plans for 2014 include a greens restoration and driving range expansion. It’s possible the course layout will change, too. Beverly Park was built in 1997 and served as a First Tee facility for many years but it suffered from a lack of direction and financial support for several years. Now it is back and it could be coming back in a big way. “A lot of the credit goes to the TGF and Chad Anderson,” Hall said. “The goal of the TGF is to grow the game. We are reaching out to junior golfers, beginners of all ages, and the adult golfer looking for an alternative.”
The partnership between the TGF and First Tee of Greater Knoxville includes Concord Park (West Knox County); Whittle Springs (North Knoxville); Oak Ridge County Club; WindRiver (Lenoir City); and Target Golf (Karns). Organizers like to stress that the emphasis isn’t only on juniors; that just happens to be where the future is. “A large number of adults enjoy the Beverly Park course each week, too,” Hall said. “Where else can you play for $7, take less than an hour and feel good about your game?” There’s also a model First Tee program at Williams Creek near downtown Knoxville. Log onto www.knoxvillegolf.org for more information. Chuck Cavalaris is a licensed realtor and award winning freelance writer that has covered golf in Knoxville since 1976.
Effective Golf Instruction : Common Issues Des Mahoney
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elow are insights into common issues that plague golfers everywhere. From seasoned and experienced to young and beginner, all have wondered why we do certain things and what needs to be done to correct them. The two addressed in this issue seem to be the most common of my students.
Coming Over the Top People come over the top when the downswing swing plane is significantly more vertical or steep than the backswing swing plane. Usually it’s an effort by the golfer to close the club face in order to avoid the slice. The order of correction is first to fix the open clubface and then to address the steep downswing. A neutral grip allows the wrists to hinge in a vertical manner. Half swings in front of a mirror are effective in learning that the hands and forearms hinge-rotate and then re hinge on plane in a correct golf swing. This will quickly produce a little draw on the golf ball. Learning a shallower on plane downswing is best accomplished in front of a mirror where the golfer can see that the forward shoulder needs to get behind the ball at the top of the backswing. This helps to establish the correct spine angle which allows the golf club to swing inside to square to Inside on the downswing.
Hitting it Thin or Fat When the golfer straightens up their spine on the downswing, their hands move toward the golf ball and the shaft gets stuck in a vertical angle resulting in a fat shot or a thin shot. The correction is to understand that in every good downswing the arms first drop approximately 12 inches and then swing around the body. This brings the shaft of the golf club into a more on plane angle at impact resulting in shallow divots. Swinging out on the downswing only aggravates the problem. A drill where the golfer crosses their arms over their chest and then turns back and forth teaches that the hips lead on the downswing. As the lower body opens the arms can separate from the shoulders setting them up to swing around the body. It feels over the top on the downswing ,but it is actually on plane. Contact becomes ball then turf instead of turf then ball. Des has been at Centennial for 13 years and received PGA teacher of the year honors in Tennessee and Hawaii. To contact Des at 865-919-2126 or desgolfer@ att.net.
Play It Again Sports: Upgrade Your Golf for Less Chuck Cavalaris
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t’s not just lip service at “Play It Again Sports” in West Knoxville when they tell you to “Save your receipt.” It is a prime example of the dedication to provide outstanding customer service. Why? Because if someone purchases used equipment or gear at Play It Again Sports, they have seven days to try it and make sure they like it. If they don’t like it, then for up to seven days from the date of purchase for used items, they can receive a full credit on an exchange at the family owned business in Windsor Square. “We know how important it is to have the right fit and that can be very challenging to do with golf equipment,’ said Play It Again Sports owner Jon Olive, who started the franchise in 1992. “Sometimes you have to get outside and try something to make sure you’re going to like it. The bottom line is getting it right.”
“When it comes to sports equipment, we know our stuff,” said Jon, who graduated from Bearden High School and was the shortstop on a championship baseball team. “Everyone here has been trained to provide the best possible fit that people need to enjoy the games they love to play.” The store has earned the reputation for having the best selection of golf clubs under $30 in East Tennessee. There is usually more than 60 sets of irons and there is also an impressive selection of golf bags, drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, wedges and putters. “We’re also proud to be an official Taylor Made dealer for new equipment, too,” Jon Olive said. The selection features such top manufacturers as Adams, Callaway, Cleveland, Muzino, Nike, Ping and Titleist. “Many people have found this to be the perfect place to trade in and trade up,” Larry Olive said. Whether it is cleaning out a closet, garage or basement, or replacing equipment that children have outgrown, Play It Again Sports is the best place to bring brand name sports and fitness equipment to sell or trade.
Jon and his father, Larry, and brother, Stephen, and former Bearden High School golf standout Brad are available to provide expert advice. They have played several sports and can relate to beginners and experts alike.
After a value is determined, based mostly on name brand, condition and, similarly priced items, the customer can either receive cash or a credit towards a purchase that day. “We try and be as reasonable and as fair as we possibly can be,” Jon Olive said. This approach gives someone the chance to either get cash - or create their own discount.
“We obviously can’t buy everything, but we will buy a lot of quality sports equipment,” Jon Olive said. “And if we don’t have it, we usually know where someone can find it.” Play It Again Sports is located at 123 Seven Oaks in the Windsor Square Shopping Center off Kingston Pike just west of Cedar Bluff. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5. Call 865-531-7711 or email piasknoxville@comcast.net.
2013 Division II Class A State Golf Championships Glenn Makin
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fter capturing their respective Region Tournaments, the Alcoa Boys, Christian Academy Girls and Farragut Boys and Girls headed off to Willow Brook Golf Club in Manchester, Tennessee to challenge the other 7 Region Champions or the prized State Champions Trophy. With the completion of the 3 day state tournament, the Alcoa Boy’s Golf team claimed their TSSAA A-AA golf championship. In 2011 the team placed third in the state tournament, followed by a 2nd place finish last year. This year the team showed up to prove that they are the best in the state. The team celebrated their first state title by dumping water on Coach Rob Daugherty and then accepted their plaque in gold on the ninth green. Alcoa was led by Matthew Giles (Jr), Hunter Tidwell (Sr), Caden McLaughlin (So), Chris Ray (Jr) and Justin Hunter (Jr). Their 591 total strokes was 17 shots better than the runner-up Sullivan South. Playing as individual qualifiers Jeremy Fultz (Sr) of Carter posted a
3-under 141 for a 3rd place finish. Davis Shore (Fr) of C.A.K. tied for 5th at even par 144, and Blake Kinser (Sr) Greeneville was 10th at 146. Also in the A-AA tournament the C.A.K Girls team finished 3rd behind Sullivan South and Macon County, but the shining star for C.A.K. was Sophia Schubert (Sr), running away from the field and most likely moving on to the University of her choice, winning by 11-shots over the runner-up with scores of 73-68-141. In the TSSAA AAA golf championship Farragut Boys and Girls both won their Region Tournament and headed off to Willow Brook for the championship with coach Jonathan Cox pulling double-duty for the two days. Hendersonville outlasted Farragut’s hard charge on the final day as Admirals top two players improved by 17 strokes but fell 5 short of Hendersonville. Brian Clark (So), Tyler Johnson (So), Connor McKay (Jr), Mark Dalton (Jr), and Chip Thomas (So)
(pictured L to R, with Coach Cox in photo). “After looking back over all of our accomplishments and a great finish at the state tournament, I am very proud of this group of boys,” said Cox. he added, “There will be one goal at the top of the list next year, and hopefully we can improve so we can bring another state championship to Farragut.” With no seniors on this years team, the future appears to be a continuation of the same powerful program that has earned multiple championships over the past three decades. In the individual bracket, Ben Huskey (Sr) of Sevier County finished 3rd at even par. The Farragut Girls garnered 3rd place behind Science Hill and Rossview, holding off Warren County by one-stroke. Kayland Boling (Jr) led the girls with a 160 total, followed by Elizabeth Keeling (Jr), Rachel McMahan (So). And with no seniors on this years squad, they will certainly improve with another opportunity for a Region win and State Championship invitation.
Proud Sponsor of High School Golfers in East Tennessee
Alcoa Boys State Championss
2013 Class A-AA Region Golf Team Champions
2013 Class AAA Region Golf Team Champions
Boys Region 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Boys
Team
Score
Sullivan South Alcoa Boyd Buchanan Notre Dame Lipscomb Academy Christ Presbyterian Academy Milan Jackson Christian
290 296 322 295 299 299 322 330
Region Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Girls 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Sullivan South Christian Academy Knoxvville Boyd Buchanan Macon County Clarksville Academy Christ Presbyterian Academy Milan Trinity Christian
Dobyns Bennett Farragut Cookeville Lawrence County Hendersonville Brentwood Hardin Valley Houston
Score 309 300 317 305 297 300 328 295
Girls 144 154 169 158 154 160 141 190
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Science Hill Farragut Warren County Coffee County Rossview Ravenwood Brighton White Station
155 165 161 160 150 156 168 176
A Fashionable Game Article and Photos, Gina Childs
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hen Jenny Meidener was contacted about giving some of her expertise and advice on golf fashion, her response was, “I’m not sure my comments and suggestions were worthy of print.” But having watched her through the years, her sense of style and artistry in fashion has not only been a pleasure to observe but actually inspiring to those of us who simply throw on basic black skorts or pants and the mundane golf shirt. Here are her suggestions that I found very helpful and some pictures taken of various outfits that are certainly worthy of imitation. Jenny says: “Finding a cute, different golf outfit that actually is in the correct size is a challenge - and for me - sometimes becomes a mission. All of us that play golf know to shop country club pro shops, especially when we travel. Many of the well-known private clubs have a nice selection of women’s clothing. Unfortunately, I’m guessing that most of the purchasing for these shops are done by the male golf pros who know little about women’s clothing or the importance of stocking adequate sizes. Nevertheless, I still pop in any pro shop I happen to be near and hope for a special find. Sometimes I get lucky. I’ve also had occasional luck at the few available golf and sporting goods store chains that you can find in most cities: Golfsmith, Edwin Watts Golf, and Dick’s. I must admit, even though many women do not like to shop without trying things on, I have had the most luck lately shopping online. Here are a few of my favorite websites: trendygolfusa.com, Djbennett. com, dunninggolf.com, lorisgolfshoppe.com and travismatthew.com. When it comes to shorts, capris and sweaters, I have strayed from the “golf ” brands into regular clothing. I’m careful to look for the on-seam side pockets, slit back pockets and fabric content with a bit of stretch. You can find some great looking ankle length pants with these specifications in the Boden catalogue or at Boden.com. They also have beautiful coordinating cashmere and cotton sweaters available.” She ended by saying, “Unfortunately, I’m too old and unathletic to make any money playing the game of golf, but it does make me feel a bit better if I’m looking okay when I’m out there whacking the ball around.” Jenny’s neither old nor unathletic, but is a vibrant, beautiful woman that does play golf well, spends countless hours volunteering in numerous philanthropic causes in the Knoxville community and has been instrumental in the development of the women’s golf league at Fox Den Country Club.
Makin’ the Rounds with No-Fakin No Fakin’
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t’s always good to visit with friends at local golf courses. Most of my time is spent playing the weekend tournaments from Knoxville to the Lakeway Area. It may be just another competitive tournament to some of you, but to me its family. When I crack a joke, shake hands or use the “I don’t want your cold” fist bump, I really mean it. When a member of the golf family passes on to the perfect golf course in Heaven it hurts me personally. In fact, after close to 20 years of publishing the Golf News of Tennessee, I have watched many young juniors grow up to be awesome players, making their way through college, marring, and raising families. The young guys and dolls just keep coming, amazing how that is. Through those years I’ve spent every issue with the No-Fakin, Ya Know Wut Elts Makes Me Sic, alter-ego. Its been great making fun of just regular every day goofiness of my fellow golfers. Everything from golf swings to politics, race and gender, there is nothing that will get the conversation turning ugly quicker than talking about slow players. Because slow players don’t know they are slow, it’s always the other guy. The USGA claims they’re going to work on fixing slow play. Really? That’s like politicians “outraged” when the opposition does something illegal, but the outrage never turns into action.
As most know, the reigns of the Golf News were turned over to Michael Goldsborough. Okay, not exactly turned-over, more like, sold. For Michael this could be as
big as the Louisiana Purchase. That’s not a stretch, as Michael is the Real Estate Book publisher among other things. Ya just don’t buy off NoFakin, I’m here for the duration, along with a nice contract. Ya don’t think I’d do this for free, do ya?
Promo Spot 1 (insert here). My beautiful daughter and two of her Knoxville Youth Orchestra buddies formed a string trio about a year ago. You’ll see their business card ad in this issue for Quarter Mile Strings. They will make your wedding, reception, luncheon or golf tournament outing dinner or Christmas Party a memorable one. They began 4 yearsago playing in their school orchestra and individually they take lessons from Master Musician/Instructors, which escalated them in to the Knoxville Youth Orchestra at young ages. Besides the three performances each year at the Tennessee Theatre with the KYSO, they have performed well over 50 hours at receptions including the NGA Luncheon at Three Ridges, the Second Harvest Wine Tasting
Benefit, The Museum of Arts, a dozen local Nursing Homes for community service, and at two local Night Clubs. In short, they are excellent beyond their years. Call me at 865556-4653 for information on booking Quarter Mile Strings. They play movie themes, classic rock, folk, gospel and Christmas music all arranged for strings. You’ll read in this issue the results of the Dandridge 3-day 2-man Shootout. Absolutely uncommon to see double-eagles, they are more rare than hole-in-ones. I was fortunate to witness a double-eagle and an eagle during the tournament. Two holein-ones, two double-eagles along with two eagles, all in one tournament. WOW. I’ll leave you for now to read this issue of Golf News of Tennessee. Always on the look out for golf news as I’m “Makin The Rounds.” The next issue we will offer awards for great play by individuals, while the rest of the Golf News staff will count down the “Best of the Best” in golf courses.
Centennial Golf Course New Rennovations are Just the Beginning
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Photos and Article, Chuck Cavalaris entennial Golf Course in Oak Ridge has a new look that many golfers will applaud.
Look closely, and many of these golfers have sand in their shoes. “Over the last year, we have totally renovated our bunkers,” Barret Tanner said. “We removed, repaired and added bunkers around the golf course.” The 6,633-yard (par-71) layout designed by Gary Roger Baird opened to rave reviews in 1997. It’s easy to enjoy a journey through a forest in the East Tennessee hills. The course has wide Bermuda grass fairways and spacious Bentgrass greens -- along with numerous elevation changes and scenic views. The City of Oak Ridge built Centennial, a daily fee facility managed by Billy Casper Golf (along with Knoxville Golf Course and Whittle Springs). “We are delighted to unveil the upgraded experience for our loyal golfers,” said Brian Loveday, who is the general manager at Centennial and regional director for Billy Casper Golf.” We always strive to make it a fun and enjoyable day for all golfers.”
Along with improvements to Centennial’s restrooms and clubhouse, the renovation tried to change the maintenance and playability nightmare of deep bunkers. “One notable trend is that we made the bunkers more level,” Tanner said.” This gives a more player friendly design to an already difficult golf course.” It also can reduce maintenance issues and improve pace of play. The course is just as challenging as ever. This is always true of the downhill, par-4 18th hole that demands a precise tee shot and difficult approach over a ball infested gorge. “We call it the Oak Ridge Reaper,” Tanner said. “It has definitely taken a toll on our guests over the years.” At least now there are a few more rocking chairs on the back porch to sit back and watch the action on the finishing hole. If you can somehow manage to walk away with a par or better, it can be one of the greatest golfing feelings around. After all, there aren’t many chances to say, “I beat the Reaper.” For more information about membership packages at Centennial, email golfnewstn@gmail.com.
Keep Your Swing Strong and Your Back Healthy Andrew Henderson, M.S., FitnessTogether
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’ve seen a lot of trends come and go, but the increasing emphasis on core strength is one that will continue to rise. Equipment such as stability balls and programs such as Pilates classes clearly demonstrate this. Many well-meaning trainers (myself included) have coached their clients to do crunches, sit-ups, and other abdominal exercises. However, this “six-pack” training is giving way to training the entire core (the deep abdominal, the obliques, and the lower back muscles and hips). Some leading fitness experts recommend that sit-ups and crunches be eliminated altogether, citing that they can lead to premature deterioration of the discs. Rather, stabilization exercises like the plank, gentle twisting exercises using medicine balls or bands, and spine extension exercises have gained favor in the gym, especially for golfers. My trainers and I are certainly headed in that direction and getting great results.
Because the golf swing demands acceleration, it is crucial that muscles of the core be able to stabilize the spine. In this month’s column, I will focus on how to do an effective basic stabilization exercise, the plank. Try to hold this position for as long as you can, remembering to pull your stomach, squeezing your glutes together, and maintaining a straight back. See how long you can hold it, and try to add on five more seconds every day. In just a few weeks, you should feel much stronger in your core! Your back will thank you, and your golf buddies will want to know where you got the extra twenty yards on your drive from! Andrew Henderson is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and owns two Fitness Together franchises in Knoxville. He enjoys working out, spending time outside on the trails of East Tennessee, and spending time with his wife Sara, step-son Brody, and dog Koko. He has even been known to play a round of golf every now and then!
Findings on the Fairway: Women’s Only Design Flaw Gina Childs
M
y belief is that after God created Adam, He looked at him and thought: “I know I can do better than that.” And so, He created a woman. But even with His second attempt, He created women with a serious design flaw. Nowhere is that more evident than on a golf course. One of the things I’ve noticed is that women laugh frequently on the course, or at least they seem to laugh more frequently than the men. My writing desk overlooks a cart path, and even through closed windows and blinds, I can often hear peoples’ conversations. The men are typically in a serious conversation, while most of the time, I hear the women laughing. Some may be laughing at their pathetic play but also over something cute their grandkids did. Men, on the other hand, analyze the previous hole and whether an 8-iron would have been a better choice than the pitching wedge his ego chose. A male golfer once asked his caddy, “Can I get there with a pitching wedge?” to which the caddy replied, “Yes, eventually.” I’ve heard that one a hundred times, but it still makes me laugh. Like many women, I live to laugh and to hear others laugh. Laughter is a gift, and when paired with golf,
makes any day close to perfect for me. However, womens laughter on a golf course can accentuate our (only) design flaw. To put it nicely, laughter can lead to - well - the immediate need to relieve oneself. It’s simply a lot more complicated for women than men; God created men far superior in this area. For them, it’s a hop and a skip behind a tree and a few seconds later, the deed is done. On my home course, there are 7 holes where discrete solitude is a virtual impossibility. Not that I have ever had to actually relieve myself anywhere but a restroom. Finding privacy is just the beginning. Then there’s the daunting task of garment removal. For example, the slenderizing one-piece golf dress with attached shorts are a real bear. Not that I speak from personal experience or anything, but on a particularly hot, humid day one might have to actually ask a fellow player to come into the woods and help you hoist it back up. We older women have even more issues, too. To be tactfully southern-bladder control. And on a golf
course, it can become an issue to the point of possible disaster. Just this weekend, I played in a Southeastern Singles League tournament in Gulf Shores and was paired with two gentlemen named Billy
contributing to both their humor and my need for relief, but I don’t remember.
Bob and Jim. Yes, really. It was a perpetual, two-man comedy routine the entire, wonderful round and at one point I literally had to cross my legs, bend over, and scream, “You guys have to shut up until I can get to the woods.” They were confused. I had just been in the woods the hole before...and the one before that. There may have been some alcohol consumption
So, to all you golf course designers, please take God’s design flaw into consideration when deciding where to place those little wooden huts. One on each hole would be greatly appreciated, but if that’s too cost prohibitive, large pine trees carefully placed could possibly suffice. Women, after all, can laugh so hard - that tears run down their legs.
The worst story I’ve ever heard was from a fellow league member, who shall remain nameless, but she tells about “a friend” having a critical laughing moment in the middle of a fairway. Let’s just say - the dam broke. To make matters worse, she was taking a medication that affected the color of her stream. When she sat down in the cart on a white golf towel well - I won’t go into details but “Go, Big Orange!”
Ask Chuck : What are You Thankful For? Chuck Cavalaris
“L
et us be thankful for the fools. But for them, the rest of us could not succeed.” -- Mark Twain
“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say, `Thank you?’ “ --William Ward Right off the bat, I want to say thank you. There’s no doubt it is the season for that. So, thank you. Just think, a short time ago some of us were playing golf in shorts. Perhaps that was the year end reprieve for a spring time that had eight straight rainy weekends. Now that it’s winter, some people are thankful for plastic golf cart covers -- and portable heaters -- so their golfing fun can continue. Diehards. Hard cores. Ex-husbands. Call ‘em what you want. But if they are playing well and having fun, you can call me jealous.
It’s that time of year when tennis players and bowlers can crack jokes about the great indoors. You know they are thankful, too. I am thankful that I played golf almost 50 times this year. Yes, some people still conduct business on the golf course or ask clients if they have time for a quick nine. For instance, my golf bag has scorecards from Avalon, Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain, Beverly Park, Centennial, Concord Park, Dead Horse Lake, Holston Hills, Knoxville Golf Course, Lost Creek, Pine Lakes, River Islands, Royal Oaks, Ruggles Ferry, Sevierville, Whittle Springs, WindRiver, Williams Creek and Willow Creek. It is a collage of a year that was. Some are looking forward to a vacation in the sun while the folks back home are shivering. That certainly makes reaching a year-long business goal worthwhile. Golf, in say, South Carolina, sunny Florida, the Bahamas. or Cancun. Maybe even Las Vegas, too, but sometimes you may be taking
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a gamble on the, uh, weather there. But as we approach the traditional year end time of reflection -- yes, 2013 is almost over -- there must be a slight pause. Perhaps more. To be thankful. To be grateful. To realize just how lucky we are. For instance ... I am thankful for the men and women that have defended our freedom for so long. Thank goodness more and more of our soldiers are returning home. God bless you. I am thankful for music from the 1970’s ... I still don’t know the words to much else. I am thankful the moon is full every month or so and sunsets on a chilly day can be so incredible. (Rumor has it the sunrises are great, too, but I refuse to speak from experience.) I am thankful that Brandell Chamblee spoke his mind in a column for golf.com about the “cavalier” attitude of a certain Tiger towards the rules. I just wish I could have edited Brandell’s reflection to when he was caught cheating in the fourth grade or perhaps the grade of F for Tiger, seemed a bit harsh, don’t you think? I am thankful for my father, Charlie, who has been a cancer survivor since 1993. Talk about being strong as an ox.
Wise & McGaha Take Title Glenn Makin
J
ay Wise & Scott McGaha have enough championship wins between them to stock a trophy shop and they came out firing in Saturday’s round at The Country Club 2-Man in Morristown to set a brisk pace for the fellow competitors. With a 13-under (59) including a sweep of the skins pot with a chip-in eagle on the 15th hole. Rafael Jackson & Jonathan Moss were 3 shots back and kept it interesting on Sunday matching the leaders with an eight-under (64) but couldn’t cut in to the lead.
I am thankful that I sometimes get to sleep in on a cold and rainy day. Oh, what the heck: forget about being sick. Just call in well. I am thankful that Joe Taylor, Knoxville’s sharp dressed man, is helping people young and old learn how to play better at GolfTec in the Gallery near West Town mall. I am thankful for my new good friend, Jon Olive, and his family (Larry and Stephen) and Brad at “Play It Again Sports” -- because my golf equipment has improved tenfold, as well as my attitude about life. I am thankful for my foot doctor, Dr. Paul Rivard. I am thankful for a long range weather forecast that says it will be at least 50 and sunny with very little wind. Could we place an advance order for a few more unseasonably mild weekends, please? I am thankful I am still young enough to learn and old enough to know better. I am thankful for my family and friends. At this rate, 2020 will not only be a TV show; it will be the year we look back and reflect on the good ol’ days, way back there in 2013. Chuck Cavalaris is an award winning freelance writer and has covered golf in Knoxville since 1976. Send questions or comments to golfnewstn@gmail.com.
Results Championship 1st- McGaha & Wise 59-64-123 2nd- Jackson & Moss 62-64—126 3rd- Cranford & Kragel 64-65—129 4th- Campbell & Carroll 62-69—131 First Flight 1st- Minor & Minor 68-63—131 2nd- Greene & Moore 70-65—135 2nd- Makin & Seal 70-65—135 4th- Harrison & Johnson 69-67—136 4th- Rose & Murphy 67-69—136 4th- Scroggins & Damico 69-67-136
Campbell & Carroll were also three-shots back going in to Sunday’s round but got lost in the field allowing Cranford & Kragel to pass them for a 3rd place finish. In the First Flight the father/son team of John Minor Sr. & Jr. jumped out early and posted nine-under (63) to win by four-shots over Makin & Seal and Greene & Moore as they both started at the bottom of the flight and clawed their way to a tie for 2nd with seven-under (65) rounds. In the Second Flight it was Fred Cain & Mike Kitts winning by two-shots over Brad Lindsey & Dutch Krenzer.
McGaha & Wise with Head Pro Nate Blanchard
McGaha & Kennedy Win by 1 stroke at Dandridge Glenn Makin
T
he Annual 3-Day 2-Man Shoot-out at Dandridge Golf & Country Club brings out the best among the competition with three different formats: a lowball, scramble, and this year the final round was the modified alternate shot. Scott McGaha, coming off injured reserve after his second surgery to repair a hip joint, paired with Eric Kennedy to win the tournament. The Knoxville duo matched the Friday lowball score (59) of Boddie Bible & Jimmy Whittenburg but pulled ahead on Saturday with a scramble round of 11-under (61). Grady Daniel & Jimmy Moore made some noise on Saturday as they posted a 15-un-
der (57) to pull within one shot of the leaders. During the alternate round Sunday Bible & Whittenburg charged back to tie Daniel & Moore for the runner-up spot. While the top three teams were busy collecting birdies, other players in the field were making history with hole-in-ones and double-eagles and eagles on par-4 holes. Jeff Least posted a hole-in-one on Friday at the #4 hole on the Red course. On Saturday Mike Seal playing off of Russell Seals long drive, jarred his double-eagle from 135 yards on #13 on the White course. “Sounded like a cannon going off,” said Mike, as
the approach shot never touched the green but rattled and stayed in the hole. Also on Saturday, Chris Oldham made eagle on #3 on the Red course. On Sunday, Karl Hilton playing off of Glenn Pettits drive made a double-eagle on #9 of the Red course. Then Boddie Bible made his first hole-in-one on the par-4 #3 hole on the Red course. Four of golf ’s most cherished accomplishments happened in one tournament. They are extremely rare and delivered lots of excitement around the course. As typical of Dandridge, the course was in excellent condition, with Greg Kukla and his staff operating a smooth tournament.
Results Friday - Lowball Saturday - Scramble Sunday - Alternate Shot Championship 1st- McGaha & Kennedy / 59-61-68 - 188 2nd- Bible & Whittenburg / 59-64-66 - 189 2nd- Daniel & Moore / 64-57-68 - 189 4th- Miller & Ostby / 64-59-68 - 191 First Flight 1st- Patterson & Mills / 67-59-65 - 191 2nd- McMahan & Reed / 66-61-66 - 193 3rd- White & White / 67-61-66 - 194 4th- Wise & Wise / 67-60-68 - 195 4th- Ballenger & Ballenger/ 68-61-66 - 195 Second Flight 1st- Seal & Seal 2nd- Bounds & Wright 2nd- Adkins & Martin 4th- Love & Love
Kennedy & McGaha
/ 70-61-63 - 194 / 69-65-68 - 202 / 70-64-68 - 202 / 71-64-71 - 206
Third Flight 1st-Childress & Carmichael/ 73-61-64 - 198 1st- Campbell & Morris / 73-59-66 - 198 3rd- Dering & Buttry / 72-59-68 - 199 4th- Sennett & Shelton / 72-62-69 - 203
Daniel & Moore
Golf News Winter Tour (2013-14) Format: 2-person team, lowball gross and net Dates: Weekly 11/23 Shotgun @ 10am (warm up round) - 3/22 Scoring/Payouts: Individual and Team Gross and Net weekly, Mid-Season, Year-end championship rounds by division, Skins, Closest-to-pins, Hole-in-one pot and blind draw teams. Computer programmed for handicapping, league standings, and payouts. Cost: $40 per week (all golf fees, prize funds, and game payouts are included) Subs for teams are available on request. We assume not every player will be available every week and subs will fill in when needed. Subs will be available by email during the week and on site each week to fill in at the last minute.
Tentative Schedule November 23 - Dandridge November 30 - Patriot Hills December 7 - Millstone December 14 - Clinchview December 21 - Three Ridges December 28 - Morristown CC (Oscars) January 4 - Sevierville January 11 - Nolichucky January 18 - River Islands January 25 - Oscars Morristown February 1 - Millstone February 8 - Nolichucky
Results from each week will be emailed within hours of completion and payouts will be made the following week prior to the start. No need to hang around, play your round and go. This system has a 15 year proven track record with a summer league for TVA. It works and is good competitive golf.
February 22 - Clinchview
The tour is limited to 20 teams, so sign up now. If you are interested in joining the Winter Tour contact Glenn Makin at 865-556-4653
March 15 - River Islands
February 15 - Sevierville March 1 - Dandridge March 8 - Three Ridges March 22 - Patriot Hills