Tee Times April 2020

April 2020 Keeping Golfers Connected in TN, KY, MS, AL, NC

A Perfect Drive Mississippi’s DeSoto County is a golfer’s paradise Pages 2-4

Inside!! of the links: Dick 8 Legend Horton to be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

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3 nines just fine: Graysburg

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Not your dad’s clubs: Wilson

Hills has 27 distinct holes

Staff makes major push into market

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Your Next Golf Trip Desoto County, Miss., is a golfer’s paradise

By Justin Onslow Tee Times Associate Editor When golf is what matters most, there are few places better to visit than Desoto County, Mississippi.

Situated just a stone’s throw from Memphis, (technically part of the greater Memphis metro area) and Tunica, Mississippi, yet untouched by the daily hustle and bustle of city life, Desoto County offers golfers the opportunity to play rounds at a handful of tremendous – and tremendously affordable – golf courses without having to deal with extreme travel distances, overbooked tee times and overcrowded hotels. In other words, it’s a golfer’s paradise.

Make no mistake, though – Desoto County isn’t devoid of all the amenities and entertainment opportunities a true golf trip deserves. Memphis alone offers countless restaurants, sporting events, theaters and sight-seeing, and Tunica is renowned for its casinos.

But according to Kim Terrell, Executive Director of Desoto County Tourism, you don’t have to venture north or southwest just to pair your golf with the usual entertainment accoutrements.

“We have people come stay with us, and they’ll certainly go do other things in the area – they may go to Tunica, they may go to Memphis – but they’re staying with us because of a couple of things,” she says. “We have great restaurants. We have great hotel brands. We have now 44 hotels, and 21 of those are in Southaven. We have a Tanger Outlets, so it’s a shopping destination. It’s very family-friendly.”

If you’re looking for somewhere to get

Those are the peripherals, but a golf trip isn’t a golf trip without the golf.

Luckily, Desoto County has that in spades with a quartet of terrific public courses that each have their own charms, challenges and myriad reasons to go play a round or two – all wrapped up in southern hospitality and a small-town feel. away from it all, Desoto County has that. If you’d rather be right in the middle of it all, well, Desoto County has that as well.

“We’ve got two different scenic byways,” Terrell adds. “We have Hernando River Park – that’s where people can really enjoy a drive and really get away from it all.

And our Landers Center is right at Church and I-55, and it’s the building where there’s always something going on – a sporting event, a concert. This is a good central location people can come for a sports event or a concert.”

Entertainment? Check. Places to stay and eat and shop? Check, check and check.

(L-R) Keith Allen, Carol Allen - owners, Kimberly Allen - Office Manager, Cody Allen - GM and daughter Ella Allen

Cherokee Valley Golf Club OliveBranchGolf.com Located in Olive Branch, Cherokee Valley Golf Club is the kind of familyowned-and-operated course you’d expect to find in Desoto County, right down to the very last blade of finely manicured grass.

Keith and Carol Allen opened Cherokee Valley in 1996. The Allen family has a long history of operating golf courses in Desoto County, and their son, Cody, has been there from the very start.

“We’ve been in the golf business here since the 70s,” he says. “I played high school golf and got lucky enough to play state championships here. Since I could walk – my grandfather had what used to be Holiday Golf Club, which turned into Whispering Wood. We opened Plantation in 1990, which is now Timber Truss, and sold it in 2014.”

With a long history of owning golf courses in the area, the Allens know as well as anyone what the local golfing public wants. Their mission is to make Cherokee Valley an enjoyable experience for every single golfer who crosses their tee boxes, regardless of skill level.

“For the average golfer who wants to come out and have a really enjoyable time, we’re perfectly suited for that,” Cody says. “If you’re a scratch golfer and want to have a test, we’ve got enough tees to make it interesting for them.

“I think the enjoyability factor is what we hang our hat on. You can bring a whole group who are a different skill level and everybody can come out here and enjoy it.”

Roughly 6,700 yards from the tips, Cherokee Valley plays long enough to offer a challenge, but playing it forward gives golfers every opportunity to target the largest greens in the area – something the Allens are very proud of.

They’re also proud of their maintenance, especially as it pertains to their grass – greens, tee boxes and fairways all included.

“We’re always in good shape,” Cody says. “Champion Bermuda really thrives down here and Zoysia fairways is almost like teeing it up in the fairway.”

Simply put, Cherokee Valley is the kind

Jon Goin

of course everyone can enjoy from a playability standpoint, thanks in part to the versatility of the layout and in part because of how well the Allens maintain it.

“We’re accessible to every skill level,” adds Cody. “Whatever you’re looking for, you can pick a spot and go at it.”

Timber Truss Golf Course TimberTrussGolf.com Also in Olive Branch, and formerly Plantation Golf Club, Timber Truss took new ownership in May 2019 in the form of Jon Goin.

Goin has called the area home for 17 years, but not before stints in the golfing industry all across the country, from Phoenix to Seattle to Las Vegas, which allowed him to sink his teeth into all aspects of running a golf course.

When the opportunity presented itself, Goin had a hard time resisting the charm

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of what was then Plantation, and took the ownership plunge. One of his first actions was to rebrand the course around its signature covered bridge.

“To me, a logo has the potential of being iconic; something that people can relate to the golf course,” he says. “I had seen what previous logos had been for Plantation, and in my mind, this covered wooden bridge as you go from 13 to 14 was the logo – something that you drive through every single time you play Timber Truss. It’s something you see from around the golf course. It’s something you see driving up Germantown road in the distance.”

With that, Timber Truss was born, and it’s more than just a covered bridge that defines the 6,700-yard track. Not overly long, it’s an incredibly playable course that offers all golfers something different, depending on their skill level and style of play.

“When you look at a public golf course, whether you’re a better player or a higherhandicapper, I feel like the golf course is very user-friendly,” says Goin. “The par 5s are very reachable. They’re reachable for a better player and they’re reachable in regulation for a higher-handicap player, which makes golf more enjoyable.

“The par 4s are generally very playable and probably on the shorter side. Stretched all the way out, the golf course plays a little over 6,700 yards from our back tee markers. It’s not an overly long golf course in this day and age.”

What the course lacks in length it makes up for in overall enjoyment, no doubt aided by state-of-the-art vehicles you’re unlikely to find anywhere else within hundreds of miles of Timber Truss. One of the first things Goin did when he bought the course was order a fleet of Finn Cycles – singlerider golf carts that go fast and leave a very light footprint on the course.

“We’re the only golf course in the area that has a Finn Cycle,” he says. “We have eight Finn Cycles that give our customers the ability to play golf in about two to two-anda-half hours. You can ride them up on tee box. You can park them next to the green.

We’ve had an overwhelming positive response to being able to get out and play golf on a Finn Cycle.”

Goin has four more Finn Cycles arriving

April 2020 ward great shots as equally as it punishes bad ones. But it’s hard to have a bad experience regardless with a friendly, welcoming staff and impeccably maintained greens and fairways.

“Our greens are fantastic,” says Wells. “We switched from Bentgrass to MiniVerde Ultra Dwarf Bermudagrass in 2006 and that kind of changed the whole complexion of who we are. Our greens are really, really good. MiniVerde was not even heard of in this area at the time. We were kind of the first to have it. To the eye, most people wouldn’t even know the difference, but it’s a different grass. That’s the most defining thing about the course.”

And while maintaining the course is at the forefront of Wells’ vision for Wedgewood, it’s not all about strict rules and etiquette and course preservation, either.

“We want it to be a fun time,” he adds. “We want you to come have a fun, social time and play on the best greens you’re going to play on in the whole area.”

in May with plans to potentially expand the fleet in the near future. He says they’ve been great products for the course and even greater products for the people who choose to use them.

While Goin also oversaw sweeping changes to the clubhouse area (including updating flooring and adding an outdoor patio), he’s more focused on improving the oncourse product as much as possible, starting with the way people get around it.

“It’s a game-changer for us,” he adds. “Nobody else in our marketplace has them.

We were the first golf course in the entire southeast to get anything like this. If you want to play golf on a Finn Cycle, you are going to come to Timber Truss to be able to have that experience.”

Wedgewood Golf Club WWNCGolf.com The final course located in Olive Branch, Wedgewood Golf Club is the sister course to North Creek in Southaven (more on that later). While the two courses share the same ownership and management, they’re wildly different experiences from a golfing standpoint.

Wedgewood is somewhat traditional for what you’d expect from a Memphis-area golf course. There’s not much elevation change to be found, though tree-lined fairways are abundant, and you don’t have to go far to find trouble in the way of water and other hazards.

Wedgewood also has the distinction of being perhaps the most challenging of all the Desoto County tracks, though general manager John Wells doesn’t necessarily agree.

“We’re known as a very challenging course, which I personally don’t think of it that way,” he says. “If you want to test your game, you play Wedgewood, because it’s tight. It can be a challenge.”

With tight fairways and 6,863 yards of length, Wedgewood is a track that can re-

North Creek Golf Club WWNCGolf.com Wedgewood and North Creek have numerous commonalities, from ownership to management (Wells is the GM of both) to the meticulous care of the greens and fairways.

“In-season, they’re as good of greens as even TPC Southwind where they have the WGC event now,” Well says. “They’re really that good, and that’s hard to come by in a daily-fee golf course. Many people come and can’t believe how good they are. We use the exact same method at both courses on the greens.”

While the grass choice varies, the overall enjoyment factor does not, even though North Creek is massively different in style and layout than its sister course.

“North Creek has got such a unique layout,” adds Wells. “It’s so different from everything in the area. It’s links-style. I think it attracts a certain crowd that really likes it. People who like North Creek love North Creek.

“For the high-handicapper, it can play really short if you want it to. From the tips, it’s a really good layout, but it’s very fair to the high-handicapper from the up tees.”

What Wedgewood and North Creek offer separately is impressive. What they offer

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John Wells in unison is a chance for golfers to come to Desoto County for two different experiences wrapped up in one amazing trip.

“I think if you come to either course, you’re going to get treated with Southern hospitality,” he says. “You’re going to feel very welcome. I think there’s a vibe at both places where people feel comfortable. We want people to have a good time. We all want golf etiquette, but there’s going to be some people playing some music and having a good time and drinking some cold ones.”

And nothing says “good time” more than that.

Your Next Golf Trip All four courses listed above have the added benefit of being incredibly reasonably priced. Rates vary from course to course, but you’re not going to find a tee time among the four that goes for more than $45 on the weekend during peak summer months. At those rates, it’s hard to not want to play a round (or more) at each one. Come for the golf, stay for the golf.

Just ask Cody Allen, who has spent most of his life playing golf in Desoto County and the greater Memphis metro area.

“We’re in a competitive market,” he says.

“Not only Desoto County but the Memphis area in general. We’re in a golfer’s paradise down here. We’ve got plenty of options to choose from.”

Plenty of options, yes, and all of them great.

To learn more about Desoto County and what it has to offer, go to VisitDesotoCounty. com or call 662.393.8770.

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Bunker mentality: Gaylord Springs Golf Links getting makeover

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor After 30 years, the bunkers at Gaylord Springs Golf Links are getting a makeover. So is the practice tee.

Bunker work began on Feb. 6 on the front nine and should be completed by April 7, with the back nine renovations beginning immediately thereafter.

The difference between the front nine and back nine work is that while the front was done all at once, the back nine

will be done two or three holes at a time in order to have most of the course available for play.

“We are excited to make the golf course even better, more playable, as well as more scenic and beautiful,” Director of Golf Course Operations Harry Taylor said. “The design of the new bunkers will be a flat bottom sand bunker with a combination of grassed-faced bunkers along with some sod-stacked bunkers. This will enhance our links-style look. Also, the type of sand being used in the bun-

kers is tour angled, which is used in many PGA Tour golf courses.”

Golf course superintendent Chris Young said it was time to undertake the bunker renovation project.

“The time was due to completely renovate all of the bunkers on the golf course,” he said. “The golf course has been here for 30 years and the bunkers had reached the point where they needed to be completely renovated to keep with our long-term course improvement plans.”

Renovations include reshaping, resizing and positioning the bunkers in addition to upgrading the drainage and sand. The Better Billy Bunker method, which eliminates geotextile liners and allows for better, quicker draining, is being used in the renovation process.

Course architect Billy Fuller did

Harry Taylor

Chris Young

the design work. The renovations are being handled by Young’s crew along with Landscapes Unlimited – the largest golf construction business in the country.

“Every bunker on the golf course has either been eliminated, repositioned, or resized,” Taylor said.

Other renovations include the addition of nine new forward tees and a total redo of the practice tee. The new forward tees were added to accommodate women, juniors and senior players. The practice tee was laser-leveled and enlarged with a new hybrid Bermuda grass. Also, an artificial tee surface was added on the back of the practice tee.

Work was started in the winter when it would least affect play.

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From tHE Editor

By Gregg Dewalt

Golf House does its part to help tornado recovery Better times have to be on the horizon, don’t they?

On the heels of the deadly tornado outbreak in early March, now Tennessee and the rest of the country are coping with coronavirus (COVID-19) that has virtually shut down just about everything from restaurants and hotels to all non-essential businesses.

Scary times, indeed.

The bright light at the end of the tunnel, though, is that we will get through the recovery from both. And, we’ll emerge stronger from going through it.

One thing you can count on is that we all pull together when times get tough.

It shouldn’t be surprising then, that in the days following the tornadoes the golf community was coming together to help those in need.

“We have several different arms at Golf House to make this go, so we can organize very quickly to pull things off,” Tennessee Golf Foundation President Whit Turnbow said. “We were thinking about how to help with the tornado and use golf to do it. (PGA of America professional) Ned Michaels came along, and he and Darren Reese

PUBLISHER Joe Hall pgegolf@bellsouth.net EDITOR Gregg Dewalt ASSOCIATE EDITOR Justin Onslow SENIOR EDITOR David Widener widecard@aol.com

A man walks past storm debris following a deadly tornado on March 3, 2020, in Nashville, TN. Photo credit: Mark Humphrey, AP

Whit Turnbow

(director of communications) came to me with an idea for a golf-a-thon and things they wanted to do, and my text back to them was ‘Let’s go!’

“I knew that the people inside those organizations that we work with have a certain part, and they wake up every day trying to figure out how best to serve not only the kids of our state, but the PGA professionals of our state, the amateur players of our state. Everybody who plays golf has representation inside Golf House,” Turnbow continued. “So, when something like that happens, our response is how can we serve; how can we best help.”

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Among other efforts, a golf-a-thon was organized at Golf House Tennessee where lessons from PGA of America pros were offered for a donation and greens fees and range balls were $10, with all proceeds benefiting tornado relief funds. A gofundme page also was created.

Participating pros included Michaels, Matt Walter, Virgil Herring, Joe Hallett, Barney Alary, Buddy Harston, Zac Radford and others.

“We sent a little over $20,000 to the community foundation or Middle Tennessee to aid tornado victims,” Turnbow said. “That was all made through state donations, coming to play golf, coming to get a lesson that was free and they made a donation. There were so many people who got involved, I can’t even name them all. What you saw was all of the organizations coming together and pooling our resources to make some wonderful things happen. But that happens every day inside Golf House.”

Most are sanitizing high-traffic areas constantly and are offering single carts in an effort to promote social distancing. Some have raised the cups so that you don’t have to reach into the hole to retrieve your ball after holing a putt.

Most have removed water coolers, bunker rakes and ball washers.

It’s also a good time to walk instead of riding. Before going to play, check with your local course to make sure it is open.

Former Lipscomb golfer Ryan Terry won the Florida Azalea Amateur in Palatka played March 20-22. Terry, a financial planner in Nashville, shot rounds of 69-66-69 on the par-70 Palatka Golf Club to win by one shot over Steve Albright.

Terry won in dramatic fashion, holing a 15-footer for birdie on the final hole to win by one shot.

Registration for the Sneds Tour summer events was postponed until April 6-9. On April 6, full members for the past four-plus years can register. On April 7, full members for the past two to three years are eligible to register.

On April 8, full members for the past year can register, while new members can register on April 9. Go to Snedstour. org for more information.

Even amid the coronavirus pandemic, golf is still being played. Although the Metro Parks have shuttered their courses, there are opportunities to get out and enjoy the game when the rain lets up. Courses that have remained open have taken precautions to ensure the safety of the employees and customers.

Ryan Terry & Leah Fortune

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“Best Course You Can Play” - GolfWeek

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YOUR NEXT EVENT. Golf Outings • Social Events • Weddings • Complimentary Parking • Corporate Events Retreats & Team Building

For more information or to book a tee time: GaylordSprings.com

April 2020

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Opinion

By David Widener

Member Golf Writers Association of America

B

Don’t postpone the Masters, cancel it

y the time you read this there will be more deaths, warnings, cancellations, postponements, restrictions, and closures because of the coronavirus that is changing the way we live our lives. Things are basically at a standstill as we are confined in what we normally do.

It reminds me of ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’, a 1951 science fiction thriller movie where a UFO lands in Washington, D.C., bearing a message of peace to earth’s leaders. The message is ignored and all humanity stands still when a robot neutralizes all earth’s electric power that causes a 30-minute blackout.

Simply put, what coronavirus is doing has America shut down. It’s a pandemic. Sports are not immune. One of the first warnings issued was to avoid large crowds. That brought about numerous cancellations and postponements of major sports events. However, Augusta National, home to the prestigious Masters, remained silent more than a week before postponing the PGA Tour’s first major tournament of 2020. Why? Augusta does not share attendance figures, but it is estimated 250,000 visit the week of the Masters with about 40,000 on the course during competition and 50,000 during practice rounds and the Par-3 contest.

Those figures far exceed those recommended by The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which at first said no more than 500, but that number quickly went down to 250, then 50 and now 10. If you have ever attended a tour event you know how crowded it can be, especially around the greens and tee boxes.

With revenues at least $160 million for the four-day tournament, you can see why Augusta is reluctant to cancel the Masters this year. However, with no immediate end seen to the coronavirus it appears a cancellation and not just postponement is the right decision. Six-time champion Jack Nicklaus agrees because postponing it and working it in this year’s remaining tour schedule seems im-

Tiger Woods celebrates after winning the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Sunday, April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia

possible.

There is a small window before the Ryder Cup in September and pro Rickie Fowler thinks the players would be open to playing the Masters then, although that also is the time the tour’s wraparound season begins.

“It’s Augusta, it’s the Masters, why not?” he said. “But, life’s a lot bigger than golf.”

If moved to a later date, would it really be a Masters? A signature of the Masters is the beautiful azaleas, flowers that bloom in the spring and last several weeks. The 13th hole on the course is named Azalea. Since azaleas are a spring flower, they would be missing if the Masters was played in the fall unless the groundskeepers can come up with another trick.

That’s right, a trick. The one used for the April tournament is called “the ice theory”.

What the Augusta National groundskeepers do is pack the azaleas in ice to trick them into not blooming early.

Another problem in trying to reschedule the Masters are the travel bans in effect that would prevent international players from participating.

The Masters has been canceled only once when it took a three-year break (1943-1945) because of World War II. We are now in a world war against a deadly virus. Cancel the Masters. It is my favorite golf tournament, but the risks are too great for it to be played this year.

Amen Corner at The Masters at Augusta National

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Celebrating Tennessee’s legend of the game

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor Whit Turnbow is used to pressure.

As a player, as a coach and now as the president of the Tennessee Golf Foundation who took over for legendary Dick Horton nearly two years ago, Turnbow has always been able to handle it with ease and grace.

But this was a different type of pressure – plan a meeting with Horton while in the same building getting a surprise party together for a major announcement about Horton being selected to this year’s class of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

No pressure, right?

“Some representatives of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame reached out and said they wanted to do somewhat of a surprise announcement for him,” Turnbow recalled recently. “I had to call somewhat of a fake meeting between Mr. Horton and myself and our chairman of the board Jim Seabury to get him to Golf House and also give them time to set up downstairs and situated.”

The trick was keeping Horton occupied until everything was just right downstairs. Like making a clutch putt to win a match, Turnbow executed the surprise perfectly.

“It took a little legwork up front, but it went off perfectly,” Turnbow said, “He was certainly surprised when he came down steps to see all those friends and family to officially make that announce-

ment.”

Local media attended the event and there was a luncheon to celebrate the announcement.

Turnbow was relieved it went off without a hitch.

“It was a little hectic there for a little while but it went off very well and we had a great time,” he said.

It came as a surprise to many that Horton, who served in about every capacity there is in Tennessee golf, wasn’t already in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

Vince Gill, who was touring and couldn’t attend, sent a video tribute to Horton.

“I thought Dick had been in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame for about a thousand years,” he joked.

Turnbow was proud that Horton will be inducted, noting his many accomplishments and what he has meant to the sport in the state.

“I think back over the years of all the things he has contributed,” he said. “(Former Belmont basketball coach) Rick Byrd said it best - No person other than maybe Pat Summitt has done more for their sport in the state of Tennessee than Dick Horton has done for golf. I think that is absolutely right.”

Turnbow has known Horton since his junior playing days, having participated in the junior tours and attending camps.

Now, he’s carrying on Horton’s legacy.

Continued on page 10

Dick Horton will be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

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Hat tricks: Wallaroo hats will keep you looking good and protected from the sun

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor Stephanie Carter didn’t start out to be a mogul of headwear, it’s just where her career path took her.

Carter is the president of the Wallaroo Hat Company, an enterprise she came to quite by accident 20 years ago on a visit to Australia.

“My husband was Australian and I was on his parent’s farm and saw his mother gardening in one of the hats,” Carter recalled while manning a booth at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. “I brought one of the hats back to the United States and everyone who saw it fell in love with it. People in Australia love to wear hats and I recognized there was a huge need in the United States for some protective headwear that also looks attractive.”

And thus, the idea was born. Carter started working with a designer in Australia and came up with the concept and the company name.

Why the name Wallaroo, though?

“It’s the name of the road where my husband grew up on and we just started importing the hats. It just sort of took off,” Carter said.

Some 20 years later and Wallaroo Hat Company is going strong.

We now have a pretty substantial following,” she said. “We have about 4,000 retail accounts across the United States. We sell on Amazon. We have Wallaroohats.com where we sell our line.”

There’s a separate website for another line of Wallaroo hats – Carkella.com.

With an emphasis on skin care and style, Wallaroo Hat Company continues to grow.

Carter said sales were up 15 percent in 2019.

“I feel like hats are definitely on trend right now,” she said. “I think our combination of emphasis on skin care and fashion really speak to the people. That has really been a huge bonus for us in terms of us as a company.”

Carter didn’t dream she would end up owning a hat company. She began her professional career as an attorney specializing in family law and working a lot with indigent families.

“I frankly thought I would probably be doing that for the rest of my life,” she said.

“And then I just sort of happened into this hat business and the history of the company just sort of wrote itself, which has been really fun. It’s amazing to travel around the world and no matter where I go, I see my

Stephanie L. Carter left her law practice 20 years ago to start the Wallaroo Hat Company.

[PHOTO BY GREGG DEWALT]

evolution to come into golf because again 50% of the golf market is women,” she said.

“There’s a huge market for that. Then we started evolving in a men’s line as well. So now we do a huge men’s line. We’re starting to gain traction in the hats for men as

hats.”

Like last summer in Europe, where Carter was hiking and ran into some other hikers wearing Wallaroo hats.

“I was like, ‘that’s my hat.’ It was fun,” she said. “They were Americans who were traveling abroad. It’s been an interesting journey for sure.”

The Wallaroo Hat Company features men’s, women’s and children’s lines, and golf is just a small part of the company’s target audience, but it definitely has become a focal point given its emphasis on skin care.

Carter is proud that her company was one of the first to market hats that UPF rated.

Most are rated either UPF 30, which blocks up to 96% percent of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, or UPF 50, which blocks 97.5% - the highest percentage possible.

Carter admits golf was a spinoff from her original lines.

“We weren’t necessarily in golf when we started, but it was just kind of a logical

well.”

In addition to being stylish and offering maximum sun protection, Carter is proud that her collection is travel friendly – most of the line can be packed in suitcases or carry-on luggage and not be damaged.

“It’s super packable, lightweight and designed to be squashed up and put in somebody’s golf bag or in somebody’s purse,” she said. “You can put it in your travel carrier so you’re not always having to put it in the overhead department. That makes it hard to travel. People are always having to wear their hat. This makes it a little easier or accessible when they’re traveling.”

Even 20 years after starting the business, Carter still smiles when she can convince somebody to try one of her hats.

“I love getting somebody in a hat - like you wear the hat, the hat doesn’t wear you,” she said, smiling. “And men are like ‘I’ve never looked good in a hat.’ They try on a Wallaroo hat and they’re amazed at how good they look. So there’s always something kinda fun about that, just knowing that you’re transitioning people from non-hat wearers into hat wearers.”

For more information, go to wallaroohats.com

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Celebrating a legend of the game Continued from page 8

“He’s been so good to me,” he said.

“Now to be able to sort of follow in his footsteps and I am starting to get a deep dive into what he actually accomplished over the years - it was really astounding to me.”

Horton remains active at the TGF in an advisory role and continues as a mentor to Turnbow.

“He’s been so good through this transition,” Turnbow said. “When I first started, he was in there every day. There were meetings and notes and agreements and everything that had happened over the years and getting a feel for all of it.

You can imagine you do something for 30-plus years, everything they did was in his mind. To be able to relay that to me was so helpful. I was thrilled to get that call and know that he was going to be properly honored as one of the great individuals in sports of all time.

Horton isn’t the first legend Turnbow has followed. He followed Johnny Moore as golf coach at Middle Tennessee State.

“He’s a legend and in the hall of fame at MTSU,” Turnbow said. “He did a tremendous job as its golf coach and I stepped

Whit Turnbow, TGF Executive Director, and Dick Horton in the office of Tennessee Golf Foundation

into his shoes. I felt like I was prepared for taking over for somebody who had been around that long and done such

an amazing job. I have been fortunate to take over for two real legends in the game.”

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Graysburg Hills Golf Course – Three nines that will delight golfers

By David Theoret Tee Times Contributor Graysburg Hills Golf Course in Chuckey, Tennessee, sits nestled in the East Tennessee foothills, one of the most scenic regions in the area.

The course has been family owned and operated for over 40 years and is highly respected by locals and visitors alike for its maintenance standards: wellgroomed fairways and putting surfaces.

According to course superintendent Dave Stewart, one of the things that makes this course special is the maintenance staff; according to Stewart, their work ethic is unbeatable and the course patrons appreciate how hard they work.

From the moment you step through the front door of the clubhouse until the time you walk off the 18th green, you’ll notice the friendly atmosphere and personalized service; reasonable rates are just a bonus. At Graysburg Hills, what you see is what you get, great golf at an affordable price.

These are just a few of the reasons that Golf Digest Magazine has awarded Graysburg Hills a 4½ Star rating in their Places to Play Guide. It’s simple: great golf!

Graysburg Hills has 27 holes and opened for play in 1978. The Knobs and Fodder Stack Nines were designed by Rees Jones, one of the leading golf course architects in the United States. Fifteen years later, Larry Packard, who designed the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, designed The Chimney Top Nine.

The three nine-hole layouts at Graysburg Hills offer players a lot. Some holes have gentle, rolling Riviera Bermuda grass fairways framed by mature hardwood stands. Others straddle creek beds and ponds below steep hillsides, while others play past picturesque barns and farmhouses. Bentgrass greens, 100 bun-

kers and six water hazards add to the challenge. Graysburg Hills has created a strategic design using the area’s beautiful mountain topography; it’s a course that is both challenging and friendly, all year long.

The Knobs Nine plays 3,351 yards to a par of 36. If you take out the par 3, 8th hole and the par 4, 9th, you’d have a very nice links style golf course. But then you’d be erasing two of the most memorable holes and quite possibly the most memorable hole on the property. Number 8 is a par 3 that plays about 100 feet downhill and requires a few clubs less than the stated 195 yards from the Championship tees.

To complicate matters, it has a peninsular green and more often than not the wind is in your face. If you can’t find the green, finding the sand around the green is a lot better than finding the water!

Number 9 is a short, dogleg left par 4 with water running down the right side; this takes driver out of the hands of many players. Should you try and cut the dogleg, make sure you take enough club to clear the bunkers. The green is surrounded by three bunkers and has some gentle undulations.

The Fodder Stack Nine plays 3,509 yards to a par 36. Two holes stand out: No. 2 and No. 3. The 2nd hole is a dogleg left that plays 369 yards from the White tees, with water coming into play if you hit it too far straight. Too far left off the tee and you’re likely to find the sand. Regardless of where you hit your tee shot, you’ll have to carry the water on your approach and avoid the bunkers that surround the green, which slopes back left to front right, down to the water. It’s a very picturesque hole.

If the holes had names, the third would be called “Be Brave.” It’s a dogleg left par

The Fodder Stack - No. 2 4 with a pair of bunkers that require a carry of about 210 yards. By being brave and going over the bunkers, you’ll leave a short chip shot into an elevated green with lots of undulation.

The fourth hole is where you start to see more dramatic elevation changes; it’s a 385-yard par 4 straight uphill that probably plays over 400 yards.

The Chimney Top Nine is the hilliest nine, which is evident from the start. The first hole is a 347-yard par 4 that plays straight uphill. The 4th and 5th holes clearly steal the show on Chimney Top and exemplify mountain golf. The fourth hole is a 481-yard par 5 with a steep drive to the White tees. The narrow fairway is lined with trees on both sides, but the good news is your tee shot plays downhill, so you’ll definitely get some extra roll. A good drive will leave you with a choice: layup or carry the lake in front of the green. Good scores can be had here.

The 5th hole starts with a tee shot from an elevated tee box over a valley and then a partially blind approach shot slightly downhill to a large green protected on the left side by a large trap.

The Chimney Top Nine is built around

The Knobs - No. 8

the Chimney Top community. Within this evolving neighborhood, there are 60 fully restricted lots with an average size of 1.2 acres. The entire Graysburg Hills development encompasses 1,100 acres, of which more than half are for future development. The impressive views of the surrounding mountains and foothills are unspoiled by any industrial or commercial development. And, since just about everything you see as you survey the area is part of Graysburg Hills, you can rest assured that these beautiful views will be preserved for many years to come.

Eighteen-hole greens fees are very modest: $35 with a cart, $20 to walk on the weekends.

Graysburg Hills has partnered with the Hampton Inn in Greeneville, Tennessee, to create stay and play packages that appeal to visiting golfers. There are several options for dining within minutes from the hotel and it’s only a 15-minute drive to the golf course. Packages include a night’s lodging at the Hampton Inn including their Breakfast Bar, 18 holes with a cart, and all taxes. If you want to play more than 18 holes, it’s only an extra $8.00 per person for the golf cart per 9 holes during prime season. There’s no charge at all for extra holes during the off season. Rates start at $100 per person based on double occupancy. Depending on how the nines are paired together, golfers can enjoy three different and challenging 18-hole courses, enough for a weekend golf getaway.

No matter which nines you play at Graysburg Hills, you’re sure to be challenged. Take in the scenery as you play your round and you’ll realize that this is a special place. The staff is friendly and eager to ensure that you have an enjoyable time. For more information on Graysburg Hills or to book your next round, call 423-234-8061 or visit their website at www.graysburghillsgolf.com.

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2019 Tennessee Sectio

The Tennessee PGA held their 51st Suites in Franklin, Tenn., on Feb. 2 Car Awards L

Go

2020 Distinguished Career Aw Nancy Quarcelino, PGA

Bill Strausbaugh Award Lissa Bradford, PGA Tennessee Golf Foundation

Teacher of the Year

Jake Reeves, PGA Fox Den Country Club

Horton Smith Award

Mike Callender, PGA Centennial Golf Course

Youth Player Development Award Matt Walter, PGA Vanderbilt Legends Club

Richard Eller Growth of the Game Award Adam Jacob, PGA Toqua Golf Course

Assistant of the

Dave Ambr Belle M Countr

April 2020

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on Awards Announced

Annual Meeting at the Embassy 24 in conjunction with the Club Luncheon.

olf Professional Of The Year

ward

t Golf Pro e Year

rose, PGA Meade y Club

Chris Dribble, PGA Holston Hills Country Club

“The awards luncheon is consistently my favorite part of the year as we recognize the men and women who continue to excel at their clubs and in their communities. Their passion and commitment to excellence is infectious and this day is an opportunity for us to shine a light on their accomplishments. Congratulations to all of the chapter award winners and the Section award winners!”

– Clayton Hromadka, Executive Director

Merchandiser of the Year - Private Brent Ratliff, PGA Windyke Country Club

Merchandiser of the Year - Public Chris Pierce, PGA Hermitage Golf Course

Omega Player of the Year AND Assistant Player!

Casey Flenniken, PGA Tanasi Golf Course

Omega Senior Player of the Year Jared Melson, PGA Bear Trace at Tims Ford

Tennessee Golf Foundation Associate Scholarship Caleb Jurkonis Nashville Golf & Athletic

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2020 Nashville Golf Show Recap February 14 - 16, 2020 The 2020 Nashville Golf Show was held at the new Expo 3 Fairgrounds Nashville February 14, 15, & 16th and it lived up to it’s expectations as a new venue and future home for the annual golf show. The attendees, exhibitors and volunteers applauded the choice to have the show there for the future. The Nashville Golf Show would like to thank the exhibitors, presentors, sponsors, donors, attendees, volunteers and the staff at the Nashville Fairgrounds for a fantastic show. We look forward to being back next year with some very special announcements for the 2021 show.

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Simmons Bank signs on as new title sponsor for Nashville’s Korn Ferry Tour stop Tee Times report In February, tournament officials announced Simmons Bank as the new title sponsor for the tournament formerly known as the Nashville Golf Open.

The tournament’s new name is the Simmons Bank Open for The Snedeker Foundation. The bank has agreed to an eight-year sponsorship for the tournament, which has been played annually at the Nashville Golf and Athletic Club in Brentwood.

This year’s event, which featured a purse of $600,000, was scheduled for April 30-May 7 before it was canceled.

“We are excited to announce this partnership with Simmons Bank as we continue to build on the first four years of Korn Ferry Tour golf here in Nashville,” Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin said in a release. “This is an important market not only for our Tour, but also for the PGA Tour business. This announcement will allow us to invest in this tournament with a tremendous partner as we look to create one of the premier stops on our schedule.”

The Snedeker Foundation, which has partnered with the event since 2017, will continue to be the tournament’s official charitable beneficiary.

“Our goal at the Snedeker Foundation is to better the lives and futures of kids across Middle Tennessee, and today’s announcement with Simmons Bank will allow us to strengthen those ongoing efforts,” Snedeker said. “Golf has a tremendous history of giving back, and through this tournament we’ll continue to work tirelessly to ensure we leave a lasting impact in our community.”

Since August 2015, the Snedeker Foundation has distributed over $600,000 in scholarships and donations to various charities in Middle Tennessee. The Foundation supports a variety of efforts on both the social and athletic fronts,

including Our Kids, which provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling services in response to concerns of child sexual abuse, while also working to increase community awareness, education and training about child maltreatment.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Simmons Bank,” said George Makris, chairman and CEO of Simmons First National Corporation. “With a motto like ‘Dreams: Realized,’ we are committed to providing the people and the communities we serve with opportunities to achieve their goals.

This is what the Korn Ferry Tour is all about – helping players to be more than they ever thought possible. We are honored to partner with the Korn Ferry Tour, and with the Snedeker Foundation, to make a difference here in middle Tennessee.

Through the Tennessee Golf Foundation, the Snedeker Foundation annually supports the Sneds Tour, which puts forth a year-round junior golf tour in Tennessee aimed at allowing kids to learn, play and enjoy the game of golf,

Brandt Snedeker

while also making competition more affordable through lower entry and registration fees.

Simmons Bank concluded the announcement by presenting Our Kids with a $25,000 check from the Simmons First Foundation in honor of Mandy and Brandt Snedeker.

“We appreciate the personal support of Mandy and Brandt, and we’re proud to honor their efforts with this contribution to Our Kids,” said Makris.

The Simmons Bank Open for The Snedeker Foundation is managed by TOUR Vision Promotions. TOUR Vision Promotions also operates the Visit Knoxville Open in Knoxville, Tennessee, as well as the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance in Evansville, Indiana.

For more information about the Simmons Bank Open for The Snedeker Foundation, including tickets and volunteer opportunities, go to SimmonsBankOpen.com.

April 2020

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Wayne Evans

Superintendent of Sports/ Golf Clubhouse Operations

Other Parks courses spared

We are looking forward to a great season in the Metro Parks Golf Courses.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic our clubhouses are temporarily closed but you can still play golf if you follow some basic guidelines.

Practice social distancing. Stay 6 feet apart. Play in groups of no larger than 4 people. This is customary in golf and maintains the pace of play so that groups do not bunch up.

We have removed all flags, rakes, ball washers and coolers. Play to the center of the green, lift, clean and place in bun-

kers and bring your own water bottles.

Please respect the course and other golfers. As we are open to walk-up groups, please take turns teeing off in the order of who was there first.

Please pick up any trash you bring with you and take it home with you. Respect the course and do not damage it.

We hope to get back to normal operations soon, but in the meantime, with your help, we can all enjoy the outdoors at this wonderful time of year and still be safe! Thank you.

In addition to praying for the end to this

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We Love Our Golfers!!!

Around Nashville Fairways

Shelby Park Golf Course takes direct hit

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national health scare, we also want to send our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the devastating tornado that ripped through Davidson, Wilson, and Putnam counties March 3. We realize that the loss of life, homes, and irreplaceable items are much more important that any damages we had at our facilities.

We were very fortunate in regard to damages at the golf courses. Two Rivers didn’t miss the path by much, and Ted Rhodes was only a few hundred yards from being in the path of devastation.

Shelby Golf Course was not as fortunate. Shelby, the oldest and most historic public golf course in Nashville, took a direct hit from the powerful tornado. The course will remain closed until the crews have a chance to clean up the hundreds of trees that were uprooted and shredded on most of the golf course. But crews are working seven days a week to help restore Shelby back to playability as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, even with all of the crews and extra manpower being brought in to help, it will be weeks until it will be playable again.

Fortunately, we have five other outstanding courses for our customers to play while we await Shelby’s reopening. I hope that when our residents have some free time from the recovery process, that you get a chance to get out and enjoy our excellent golf courses.

- Wayne

Harpeth Hills

2424 Old Hickory Blvd. • 615-862-8493

McCabe

46th & Murphy Rd. • 615-862-8491

Percy Warner

Forrest Park Dr. • 615-352-9958

Shelby

20th & Fatherland • 615-862-8474

Two Rivers

Two Rivers Parkway • 615-889-2675

Ted Rhodes

1901 Ed Temple Blvd. • 615-862-8463

VinnyLinks

2009 Sevier Street • 615-880-1720

Nashvillefairways.com

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Tennessee Strong: We’ll get through this G

olf season is here and all of a sudden, the Masters is on indefinite hold along with the rest of professional golf.

For those of us in middle Tennessee, we still are reeling from the loss of life of our friends and neighbors, as well as the terrible destruction of property to those who were in the path of the recent deadly tornadoes that cut a large swath across the region.

As in the past, we have again shown that we are Tennessee Strong. The unbelievable outpouring of support from neighbors and friends, and the many organizations that have pitched in to help get us on our feet again is again a show of strength.

There are so many stories of giving that it makes us all stop for a moment and take a good look at our surroundings, and thank our lucky stars that we live in such a great state. As in the past, we will get through this as we have other disasters that have come our way. There are many ways to give—do so if you can To add to all of this, we now have the coronavirus (Covid-19) added to our lives. As of this writing, cancellations abound for sporting events, schools, and other large gatherings and the answers are down the road a bit. Hopefully, officials are gaining more of an understand-

The deadly EF-4 tornado that swept across Putnam County, TN. killed 13 adults and five children, and injured at least 88 more. 400 structures damaged, 100 completely destroyed.

Speaking of tournaments, The Dogwood at Montgomery Bell, will again open the Tennessee golf season and is scheduled for April 25-26 Call Darrell Hartsfield, Kelly Hosie, or Bryson Hammond at the pro shop, (615)797-2578, to see about entering. Montgomery Bell is always in good condition and this year is no exception thanks to superintendent Jeff Kuhns and his staff. It should be a great event.

Tennessee State Parks is on the verge of re-opening our renovated Lodges at Montgomery Bell State Park and Pickwick Landing State Park. Montgomery Bell will have a soft opening in April with full facilities opened before the end of May with newly renovated rooms, a new restaurant and bar, and updated meeting rooms.

Pickwick Landing should be open 30 days later and we will keep you updated on our progress. Plan ahead for golf packages at our resort courses by calling the golf pro shops, the Lodges, or on line at tngolftrail.net.

X Being on the golf course might be the safest place to stay healthy—a little sunshine goes a long way and can brighten your day in a lot of different aspects, so get out to the Tennessee Golf Trail and have some fun when you can spare some time. You are always welcome at the Tennessee Golf Trail and Tennessee State Parks.

Stay safe, - Mike

ing of this pandemic and we eventually can get a grip on it and return to some sense of normalcy.

Take precautions and use common sense to stay safe.

The TGA tournament schedule is out, so The Lodge At Montgomery Bell 1000 Hotel Avenue, Burns, TN 37029 those of you that like to compete should give it a look and see where you might Phone: 615-797-3101 Additional Phone: 1-800-250-8613 want to play this year.

Dogwood Classic Golf Championship April 25-26 Montgomery Bell State Park Golf Course

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Tennessee Golf Association 2020 Championship schedule

Busy schedule on tap at the Legacy in 2020 While the early spring has been dominated by rain, severe weather and the coronavirus, the advent of warm weather brings hope for better times ahead for golfers across Tennessee.

There’s plenty of news at the Legacy as we plan for the rest of the year.

Renovations are continuing on the course. A planned bunker renovation of five bunkers should be complete later this spring or early summer. Also, renovations to some of the existing cart paths that needed repairing should also be complete in the same time frame as the bunkers.

Out golfers will enjoy riding in the latest in E-Z Go carts, as a new fleet was delivered in March.

As usual, the Legacy tournament schedule has several events set for 2020.

Here are the dates, and for more information call the Golf Shop at 615-384-4653.

April 8 – Par 3 tournament May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8 – Couple Scramble Series, Nine and Dine, 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 29-30 – Legacy two-man scramble championship The Legacy has a strong junior program as we continue to help grow the game. There is a PGA Jr. League, with junior camps scheduled for June 22-25

and July 6-9.

The Robertson County Junior Golf Association clinics are scheduled for June 1-4; June 8-11 and June 15-18.

Also, the Men’s Golf Association has 10 events scheduled for this year, beginning in April and concluding in October.

Of course, we are looking forward to having everyone come play the Legacy, whether it is in a tournament or a casual round with their friends. The Legacy is also a great place to host your corporate or fundraising event in middle Tennessee.

- Chet and Kevin

May

12-15

Senior, Super Senior Match Play, Country Club of Morristown

2-4 9-11 16-19 23-25

Tennessee State Open, Greystone Golf Club Tennessee Women’s Amateur, Tennessee National Senior, Super Senior Four-Ball, Chickasaw Country Club Tennessee Boys, Girls Junior Amateur Championships, Three Ridges Golf Course

7-10

14-17

23-25

Tennessee Match Play, Lookout Mountain Golf Club Tennessee Four-Ball, Fox Den Country Club Golf Capital of Tennessee Women’s Open, Stonehenge Golf Club

4-7 24-27

Tennessee Amateur, Hillwood Country Club Tennessee Women’s Senior and Mid-Am, Richland Country Club

15-17 22-23

Senior, Super Senior Amateur, Foxland Links at Tennessee Grasslands Women’s Four-Ball, Oak Ridge Country Club

1-3

Tennessee Mid-Am, TPC Southwind

June

July

August

September October

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GOLFTEC Instructor profile - Josh Beacon Josh is from Jacksonville, Florida and joined the GOLFTEC Cool Springs team as a coach in December 30, 2019.

Josh chose GOLFTEC because he believes its teaching principals are the best in the industry.

Before launching his career in golf, Josh served in the United States Air Force as an aircraft mechanic for

seven years. After his military service he attended The Golf Academy of America in Orlando, Florida where he earned a specialized Associates Degree in golf management.

Josh received his first golf club when he was 3 and he loves the game. His passion to help others play better golf comes from his own experiences with

golf instruction.

A patient demeanor coupled with his attention to detail and desire to help every student to improve ensures a high level of instruction. Josh is currently a level 1 PGA Associate and is dedicated to earning his PGA Class A membership.

our booth with the GOLFTEC Headquarters outfitted and the attendees ents technology enjoyed by our stud booth was PGA e som awe our up ding loved it. Hea onal marketing regi rs’ arte Professional C.J. Perry, headqu personal rea le-a hvil Nas the with g specialist, alon stores. ngs Spri Cool and coaches from the Brentwood

(L-R) Nashville Golf Show MC, Ned Michaels, GOLFTEC Brentwood’s Paul Brannon, and GOLFTEC Headquarters C.J. Perry

the Big Stage and we GOLFTEC was pleased to sponsor of presenters from were in great company with the list ent. The Nashville ipm equ and courses, instructors, tips It was great to see .

Fairgrounds Expo Hall was amazing Ping, Renegar ore, SeeM e ther rs so many manufacture no and Tour Mizu Wedges, Callaway, Honma, Titleist, coming soon is er cent ning trai new Edge. Stay tuned, our er.

Cent to the Nashville West Shopping ector Instruction/ - Paul Brannon, Center Manager/Dir GOLFTEC Brentwood

Josh Beacon

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April 2020

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Rebirth of a brand: Wilson Staff looks to gain traction with new products

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor True fact – long before Callaway and Ping and TaylorMade were in the game, there was a brand of golf clubs called Wilson Staff, and it was iconic.

If you played golf in the 1960s and 70s, at one time or another you probably hit Staff irons or used a Staff putter. Classic designs, superb results – Wilson Staff had it all.

Eventually, though, the brand’s exposure lessened in the United States.

It all but disappeared from the stateside professional tours. That was then, however. This is now, and the brand is coming back better than ever, and with a Tour presence to boot.

Yep, that was Gary Woodland repping Wilson while winning last year’s U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach. In addition to maintaining its lengthy relationship with two-time major champion Padraig Harrington, Wilson has added Kevin Streelman, Kevin Tway and Brendon Steele to its staff. Back in the day,

Sam Snead played Wilson Staff irons.

More importantly, Wilson is committed to getting back in the game, so to speak, with a new collection of irons, wedges and balls that brand officials are confident can gain back an important market share.

Eastern Regional Sales Manager Billy Nestel recently spoke about the compa-

ny’s push to get a better toehold in the highly competitive clubs and ball market.

“We haven’t gone anywhere,” Nestel said on a cold, rainy day at the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta where he was meeting with golf retailers and green-grass course operators. “We are still based in Chicago and we are 106 years old. We probably haven’t been in the consumer’s eye as relevant as we used to be. A lot of that has to do with the industry and changes within ownership of the company. The last seven to eight years when we joined the Amer Sports portfolio and made a commitment to relaunch the Staff brand, it’s been a fun ride.”

Wilson officials are touting their lines of irons featuring the Staff Model, FG Tour V6 and D7, in addition to the new D7 Forged irons.

Woodland and Steele have the Staff Model irons in their bags which are adapted from the classic Wilson DynaPowered irons.

Harrington and Streelman play FG Tour V6 irons that have a muscle-back feel.

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Golf Packages

The D7 line is Wilson’s game-improvement iron that looks like a player’s iron but has the benefit of game-improvement technology.

The new line of D7 Forged combines the look and feel of a forged blade with game-improving distance.

The selling point for the D7 line is that players will increase their swing speed and carry distance.

Wilson is also touting its line of Duo golf balls, which testing indicates outperform the other top-selling brands.

The three-piece Duo Professional is a Continued on page 23

Burkesville, KY  866-903-7888

Flexible golf packages allow you to choose your length of stay, lodging, and golf options. And don’t forget to take in the views.

Package pricing and course information at parks.ky.gov/golf.

For details on Kentucky State Park lodging, camping, dining, events, and activities visit parks.ky.gov.

#kystateparks

“the nation’s finest”

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April 2020

College golf: Commodores, Vols post wins before shutdown; Gilliam sizzles at Mississippi State

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor

tain Intercollegiate.

Led by individual champion John Augenstein, who shot 63 in the first round on the way to a six-shot win, Vanderbilt was the only team to finish under par in the tournament. The Commodores finished at 842, while fellow SEC foe

Unfortunately, the college golf season came to an abrupt end when the NCAA canceled all if its spring sports championships due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Whether any further competition will be allowed remains to be scene, but the SEC has suspended all activities until at least April 15.

Most college teams got in a couple of tournaments before the plug was pulled.

Here’s a quick roundup of the last tournaments played by some of the state’s top men’s and women’s teams.

Leading the final tournament charge was VanderVandy’s John Augnestein shot 15-under to win individual bilt’s men’s team, which honors at the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate. [PHOTO soared to first place by 24 COURTESY VANDERBILT ATHLETICS] shots in the Desert Moun-

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Vanderbilt’s men’s golf team won its final event of the season, capturing the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate. [PHOTO COURTESY VANDBERBILT ATHLETICS] Mississippi State finished second at 866.

Lipscomb finished tied for fourth at 888, led by Paul Swindell who tied for fourth place at 211.

The Tennessee men’s golf team won its final tournament before things were shut down, taking a four-shot win over Arizona State University at the Lamkin Grips San Diego Classic.

The Vols finished with a three-round total of 856, thanks to a T5 finish by Rhys Nevin and Byrce Lewis, who finished T14.

Although she doesn’t play for a team in Tennessee, Manchester’s Ashley Gilliam led Mississippi State to a record-setting win at the Westbrook Spring Invitational. Only a freshman who played at Tullahoma High, Gilliam shot a 54-hole total of

203 to finish tied for second in the individual standings.

As a team, Mississippi State shot 32-under par, the 12thlowest score in relationship to par in NCAA women’s golf history. Gilliam broke two school records with her 13-under total, and it was the best finish ever in relation to par by an MSU player and was named SEC Women’s Golfer of the Week for her performance.

Oklahoma finished second, one shot behind Mississippi State’s 832 total.

Chattanooga’s men’s golf team finished tied for 11th place at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Jason Dufner in Auburn, Alabama. Will Porter led the Mocs by tying for eighth place at 214.

Chattanooga’s women’s team finished seventh at the UNF Collegiate in Jacksonville, Florida, as Dorota Zalewska finished tied for 10th place at 224.

Also, Mikayla Bardwell led Tennessee to a seventh-place finish at the Florida Gators Invitational. Bardwell finished tied for 14th with a 219 total.

Vandy’s women’s golf team struggled to a 12th-place finish at the Darius Rucker Invitational in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Auston Kim led the Commodores with a 10th-place finish with a 220 total.

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April 2020

Rebirth of a brand: Wilson Staff looks to gain traction with new products Continued from page 21

60-compression ball that is as long or longer than any of the other three-piece balls on the market. The Duo Soft+ is a two-piece ball featuring VelocitiCor that helps enhance ball speed by an average of 2 mph and carry distance by 4.8 yards over Titleist’s ProV1 line in average testing done with a 7-iron.

The challenge, Nestel said, is to get Wilson products into the hands of the consumers that ultimately will lead to the success of the products. Doing that is easier said than done, but Wilson has a comprehensive plan to maximize its exposure.

“There is a fine mix there – you put together a tour staff, you put together a world class product, which those are there, then it becomes how do you get to the masses?” he said. “It becomes an almost grass-roots process. We need to be where people play. It would be great to be in every golf course in the country, but you have to pick and choose. We know that 80 percent of premium golf balls and 80 percent of premium hard goods – like irons, wedges and drivers – are sold at retailers. There is a heavy focus on retail.”

Wilson is conducting a number of what it calls Insider Days where reps from local retailers and are courses like the one held recently in Atlanta, test the equip-

ment and the balls to get a feel for the results the product can provide.

“If we are going to get it to the consumer, we have to go through the large retailers and getting their staff and employees to believe the product is good enough to get into the consumer’s hands,” Nestel said. “E-tail is more powerful than ever before and I don’t see that going any-

where anytime soon. You take it all into consideration and the gentlemen you saw in this room will have the biggest effect on it. When we do these events, we have already seen a 55 percent growth in these stores. We know they are impactful.”

Wilson territory manager Patrick Knutson, who is based in Atlanta and has Alabama and Georgia, knows his main job is to get the Wilson brand in the hands of the consumer. Once he does that, Knutson is confident Wilson Staff’s quality will sell itself.

“It’s hard for us in terms of marketing dollars to compete with some of the other brands, but if we can get the club and the ball in the hands of the consumers, we perform well,” he said. “We are confident in our product and we think it can really be a game-changer. The most important thing anybody can do is see it, feel it, touch it. The more we can do that, the more we see somebody switch.”

Nestel agrees.

“If they haven’t tried it in a while, go try it,” he said. “If they want to hit it farther, if they want to hit it straighter, I know those are cliché words in golf, but this is what we see every day. Get out to a retailer or their course and ask for it and try it. I’m not telling them to go buy it. If it’s not better than what they have, then get something else. But at least give it a try.”

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The Tennessee Golf Trail— a great place to play and stay!

Come enjoy warm Tennessee hospitality and beautiful scenery at these nine courses located within lush Tennessee State Parks.

Pick your choice of a hotel, cabin or camping stay, and make new memories this summer!

To learn more, and make your reservations, visit

Cumberland Mountain

tngolftrail.net

Warriors’ Path

Montgomery Bell

At press time, our state is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and the importance of slowing its spread with efforts that may impact travel and gatherings. Please call before visiting any of the courses on the Tennessee Golf Trail, to ensure that the course of your choice is ready for your visit.

Paris Landing

1 All courses are Audubon International Certified and are Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries.

*

Annual passes available.

2

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* Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses

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The Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain State Park 407 Wild Plum Lane Crossville, TN 38572 931-707-1640 The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay State Park 8919 Harrison Bay Road Harrison, TN 37341 423-326-0885 The Bear Trace at Tims Ford State Park 891 Wiseman Bend Rd Winchester, TN 37398 931-968-0995 Golf Getaway Package

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The Golf Course at Fall Creek Falls State Park 626 Golf Course Road Spencer, TN 38585 423-881-5706

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The Golf Course at Henry Horton State Park 4358 Nashville HWY Chapel Hill, TN 37034 931-364-2319 Stay and Play Packages

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The Golf Course at Montgomery Bell State Park 800 Hotel Avenue Burns, TN 37029 615-797-2578 Play and Stay Packages

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The Golf Course at Paris Landing State Park 285 Golf Course Lane Buchanan, TN 38222 731-641-4459 Stay and Play Packages

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The Golf Course at Pickwick Landing State Park 60 Winfield Dunn Lane Pickwick Dam, TN 38365 731-689-3149

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The Golf Course at Warriors’ Path State Park 1687 Fall Creek Road Kingsport, TN 37663 423-323-4990