OAK TREE NATIONAL
Tour hangout and writer's dream
E
nter the clubhouse at Oak Tree Golf Club back in the day and a smorgasbord of PGA touring pros could be found smiling and chatting over lunch at a huge round dining table at the far end of the room. John Rohde Spotting Doug Tewell, Mark Hayes, Danny and David Edwards, Bob Tway, Willie Wood or Scott Verplank was commonplace. Over at the practice range, you might see Dr. Gil Morgan casually giving swing advice to members on the tee box. No charge. Mosey into the locker room and perpetual touring pro/hustler Andy Dillard likely would be involved in another card game. You couldn’t walk 10 feet without bumping into a stud golfer. And if the aforementioned weren’t there in-person, chances are you’d find them on one of the many televisions scattered throughout the clubhouse competing in that week’s tour event. For media fortunate enough to be allowed past the front gate, the men’s club at Oak Tree (now Oak Tree National) has been a treasure trove of interviews and insight from golf’s elite.
Media rarely are given full access these and David Edwards stood side-by-sidedays, but the Oak Tree clubhouse has long by-side across the street from the No. 7 been carte blanche behind the curtain, pro- fairway along the Oak Tree Country Club East Course. (Tway and vided you tread lightly Wood built simultaneand respect their space. ously and shared the Oak Tree has served as same back yard.) A few a haven for high-profilers hundred yards away, who seek rarely obtainVerplank had a house able privacy – celebrities, near the No. 9 tee box pro athletes, football and on the East Course. basketball coaches, oil The tranquility and barons, CEOs, general seclusion at Oak Tree managers, et al. In the provided a unique opearly years, helicopters portunity to build refrequently would land in lationships with tour the clubhouse parking lot players, members and as a drop-off for an exguests. Sometimes these ecutive lunch or a quick chats were properly luround of golf. bricated with a “club Several touring pros special” concocted by a have built multiple houses in the Oak Tree Doug Tewell, left, and Mark Hayes. bartending mixologist addition. Morgan’s initial property occupied named Jimmy. Unwavering hospitality from Oak Tree Lots No. 1 and No. 2 near the OTN front gate. Danny Edwards resided close to the staff members through the years was a bymen’s clubhouse. Hayes and Tewell lived product of charismatic Oak Tree president side-by-side at No. 4 tee on the West Course. Hugh Edgmon, a human welcome mat who Once upon a time, the houses of served as chairman of the 1988 PGA Tway, Wood
The Oak Tree Gang, from left, Willie Wood, David Edwards, Scott Verplank, Bob Tway, Gil Morgan, Mark Hayes and Doug Tewell. 28
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