Tee Times June 2015

June 2015 Keeping Golfers Connected in TN, KY, MS, AL, NC

June 2015

The Rise of the Magnificent 7 Tennessee’s top pros visit Philadelphia for the Professional National Championship Pages 2-3

Loren Personett

Johan Kok

Inside!!

Audie Johnson

Henrik Simonsen

Scott Moran

Glenn Hudson

Jake Reeves

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Close shave ahead? Alabama’s Grand

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Young gun: High schooler Fai Khamborn

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Head for the mountains: Reno/Tahoe/ Truckee offers spectacular golf, scenery

National hosts 1st Barbasol Championship

wins Western Women’s Amateur

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June 2015

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Tennessee’s Magnificent Seven tackle The Cricket Club

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor Call it the ride of the Magnificent Seven from the Volunteer State.

Seven of the PGA of America’s Tennessee section professionals are headed to Philadelphia’s Cricket Club to compete in the 48th PGA Professional National Championship. If they play well enough to finish in the top 20, the Magnificent Seven will earn invitations to the PGA Championship in August where they’ll tee it up alongside of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and golf ’s other top names.

The Magnificent Seven consist of Fox Den’s Scott Moran, McCabe’s Loren Personett, McCabe assistant Audie Johnson, The Hideaway at Arrington’s Johan Kok, The Honors Course’s Henrik Simonsen, The Links at Kahite’s Glenn Hudson and Fairways and GreensKnoxville’s Jake Reeves.

Hudson and Reeves are making their inaugural appearance in the PNC. Kok logged a top10 finish a year ago in Myrtle Beach to earn a berth in the PGA Championship.

Tennessee PGA Executive Director Jeff Abbot said he is looking forward to seeing how the section professionals do at the Professional National Championship.

“We look forward to following our Tennessee PGA members competing at the esteemed Philadelphia Golf and Cricket Club,” he said.

“They outplayed our section’s top players to earn a spot in this national championship. We hope they play their best in their pursuit of playing in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights.”

Each of the seven is excited to play at one of the iconic A.W. Tillinghast course that opened in 1922. And, each is proud to be representing the Tennessee section.

players, and I’m really looking forward to playing the Philadelphia Cricket Club.”

Johnson also is playing in his sixth PNC. He won the 2014 National Rental Car Assistant Championship and is the first player to win player of the year honors in all three categories – assistant, regular, senior – in the section. He heads to Philadelphia off a win in the Guardian Enterprises senior professional division.

“I’m extremely proud to represent our section at the PNC,” he said. “We have a strong section with great players which make it a tough tournament to qualify for. The tournament in Philadelphia will be our national championship, and we club pros can experience like we were playing a tour event with our peers. I’m excited to be playing with my best friend, Loren. This is

Scott Moran mine each year.”

Personett, who tied for the Senior State Open Championship recently and will play in the PNC for the sixth time, calls it an honor to make it through qualifying. Playing in the PNC is the holy grail of tournaments for club pros.

“Our section has a lot of great players, and to be one of the seven guys to make it through our section qualifier last year at Holston Hills was a huge accomplishment,” said Personett, who will be joined at the Cricket Club by one of his best friends in Johnson. “The PNC is run just like a tour event with 312

So, who are they?

Moran owns three section titles (2009,

2012, 2014) and also won the 2014 Knoxville chapter championship. It’s his second trip to the PNC. “I’m looking forward to this year’s PGA PNC at Philadelphia Cricket Club and, with my six fellow PGA pros from Tennessee, to represent the Tennessee PGA Section,” Moran said.

“Qualifying for this championship is a goal of

Loren Personett

Audie Johnson my sixth PNC in the regular division, along with three in the senior division. How unusual is it for two players to come from the same club?”

Kok is one of the fortunate Tennessee section players to qualify for the PGA Championship by virtue of a top-20 finish in his first PNC. He missed the cut last year at Valhalla, but got some significant TV time with a long eagle putt on the 18th hole in the second round. He hopes to make it back to the PGA Championship again this year at Whistling Straits.

He admits his game is a little rusty as he recently moved to a new job as head pro at The Hideaway at Arrington.

“Looking forward to competing with my fellow Tennessee PGA boys,” he said. “I feel like we are

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Johan Kok

June 2015 ville’s Fairways and Greens, just earned his Class A card last year but is no stranger to the big stage of professional golf. He played in the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and also in the Greater Milwaukee Open. He has played on the Nationwide (now Web.com) Tour and was the leading money winner on the Hooters Tour in 2003.

“I am very excited to play in an event of this size,” he said.

“I played in a U.S. Open when I

sending seven of our best to PhilaHenrik delphia. With much of my attenSimonsen tion focused on our new course Hideaway at Arrington I have not been playing much, so I’m just looking to have some fun. Of course it is always great to qualify and as such, represent the Tennessee Section PGA.” This is the fifth trip to the PNC for Simonsen, the head professional at The Honors Course in Chattanooga. He said the PNC is the event he looks forward to the most each year.

“As we get towards the end of the summer and the Tennessee Club Professional Championship comes was a playing professional and would around, I enjoy the time to hone my game and not trade that experience for anything. try to qualify for the National Championship,” This is a great opportunity to repreSimonsen said. “At my age, it is a week where I sent the Tennessee PGA and play in get to catch up with all my fellow professionals another major.”

I have spent time with over the years, and allow The Magnificent Seven will encounfor great camaraderie. And, not to forget, top ter history at every turn when they 20 gets to play in the PGA Championship. “ Hudson, the head pro at the Links at Kahite, is excited for his first trip to the PNC. He’s a past champion of the Yamaha Players Championship and is a past assistant player of the year.

“It’s an honor to represent Tellico Village and the Links at Kahite,” he said. “Thanks to Glenn Jim West, Mike White, Jeff Harrington, Adam Jacob and the rest Hudson of the wonderful staff for the support and hard work to allow me to participate. Also thanks to the support of our membership for the gracious words of encouragement and support.”

Reeves, an instructor at Knox-

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Jeff Abbot Tennessee PGA Executive Director arrive at the Cricket Club, which boasts the Wissahickon 18 and Militia Hill. How much history is there? Tillinghast, one of the great architects, was a member at the Cricket Club and had his ashes spread over Wissahickon when he died in 1942.

Wissahickon was renovated to the original design in 2013. And now, it is hosting the Professional National Championship.

Jake Reeves “I have not played the Cricket Club yet, but have heard great things and look forward to the challenge,” Simonsen said.

“Instead of being disappointed, I used it as a learning experience to move forward,” said Moran, who missed qualifying for the PGA Championship in 2013 by two shots. “This event is a marathon with two practice rounds followed by four rounds of tournament golf. Only the mentally strong can survive.”

That’s a challenge Tennessee’s Magnificent Seven certainly can embrace.

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From tHE Editor

By Gregg Dewalt

A little course etiquette can go a long way I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to play some golf lately. Teed it up at some fine courses, both private and public. And, mostly I had a good time.

It’s not easy to get away from the real world, and when I do get the chance to play I try to make the most of the experience. It’s not so much dependent on whether my score at the end of the round is good or bad; it’s more about how enjoyable the overall day was.

That means taking time to take in the scenery and enjoy the camaraderie of those I’m playing the round with. It means soaking in the experience.

Obviously, the postgame hamburger or hot dog goes down a little better when the score on the card is good. But nothing ruins a round quicker than other players who are either oblivious to decorum or simply inconsiderate to other players.

Folks, it’s not the US Open, so speed up a little bit. I’m not asking for every round of golf to be played at warp speed – that’s not a lot of fun either. But can we at least play a semblance of ready golf?

One of my biggest complaints is that many players who ride in a golf cart feel like all of the walking they should do is from the cart to the green and back.

It’s OK to drive to one ball and the other player can walk over to his or her ball and get ready to play. But to ride to one ball, get out, hit a shot, get back in the cart, drive to the next ball and repeat the process can be frustrating to watch, to say the least.

In addition to generating revenue, carts were designed to speed up play.

Far too often, they slow down the pace of play simply because those riding in them fail to use common sense.

A little bit of walking on the course never hurt anybody. My advice? Take a little stroll to your ball while your cart buddy is playing his shot.

My second pet peeve from my recent play deals with bunkers -- specifically the lack of them having been raked by previous players. How many times have you hit an errant shot into a bunker and have it come to rest in a footprint or divot from a previous player, leaving you with no shot or an even more difficult shot?

It’s not fun, is it? It’s especially frustrating when the offender opted to ignore a

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GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jon Hamilton jonh2520@att.net

EDITOR Gregg Dewalt

SENIOR EDITOR David Widener widecard@aol.com

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DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan Lawrence

PRINTING Franklin Web Printing Company FOUNDER - Joey Smith

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rake sitting relatively close to where his footprints are or where he exited the bunker. Take a minute to rake where you played the shot and also your footprints to and from where you entered the bunker. Other players will appreciate the effort.

Finally, don’t forget to repair your ball marks on the green. The superintendent and other players will thank you.

Switching gears, if you have an extra two hours, pick up a copy of the recently released golf movie called “The Squeeze.”

Written and directed by Terry Jastrow, who owns seven Emmy awards and is a legendary television sports producer, the movie is a cross between The Sting and Tin Cup. The plot is about a small-town

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guy who gets caught in the middle of two gamblers in some high stakes golf matches. Eventually, it becomes a game of life or death.

The movie stars Jeremy Sumpter, Jillian Murray, Christopher McDonald and Katherine LaNasa, and one of the best things about it is that the actors actually know how to play golf so scenes shot on

the course don’t seem contrived.

It’s based on a true story, and notables such as Jack Nicklaus, Judy Rankin, Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson give The Squeeze a thumbs up. Released on DVD in early June, The Squeeze with worth watching.

Play fast, rake the bunkers and keep it in the fairway, Gregg Dewalt Tee Times editor

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Close shave on tap at PGA’s Barbasol Championship in Alabama?

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor AUBURN, Ala. – The PGA Tour is coming to Alabama for the first time in its history.

The Barbasol Championship is scheduled for July 13-19 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Grand National facility. The tournament was announced in 2014, and final preparations are underway for the inaugural tournament that will be played on the Lake Course.

Grand National and the RTJ Golf Trail aren’t novices when it comes to hosting big-time events. The Trail hosts two LPGA events annually, and Grand National has hosted the Web.com Tour Championship, an LPGA event and both the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships.

But hosting a PGA Tour event for the next four years takes Grand National to a much larger stage, said director of golf Scott Gomberg.

“It’s huge for the Trail and it’s huge for the state,” Gomberg said. “It’s huge for us. We’ve had the Nike Tour and the LPGA and the NCAA, but with the PGA Tour come the crowds.”

The Barbasol Championship will be played opposite the British Open, but it serves

as an official PGA Tour event and players will accumulate FedEx Cup points just as they do at any other tour event. The total purse is $4 million.

Although the field is not set, among the players expected to tee it up that golf fans will recognize likely to be in the field are:

Boo Weekley, Lee Janzen, Trevor Immelman, Billy Maiyfair, Mike Weir, Jonathan Byrd and Sangmoon Bae. Players in the field with Alabama connections include Jason Bohn (Alabama), Blayne Barber (Auburn), Glen Day (Mobile), Dicky Pride (Alabama), Heath Slocum (South Alabama) and Joe Durant (Montgomery).

Sponsor exemptions were awarded to Stanford’s Maverick McNealy, Alabama’s Robby Shelton, Jacksonville State’s Tomasz Anderson and Georgia Tech alum Richy Werenski, who won the Golf Channel’s Big Break.

The Golf Channel will provide live fourround coverage from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. daily.

The last time the PGA Tour pros played in Alabama came in the 1990 PGA Championship at Shoal Creek in Birmingham.

The same course hosted the 1984 PGA Championship as well. Other than that, the PGA Tour has never visited Alabama.

Gomberg’s staff has been working hand-in-hand with tour officials to prepare The Lake Course.

“We’re getting into crunch time,” Gomberg said. “This is a showcase for us.

The tour’s event staff was in a few weeks ago and we went over everything.”

Tour officials offer guidance on everything from lines for mowing the fairways to specifics on raking and edging bunkers in an effort to get the course as near to perfect as possible.

Gomberg hired extra staff and other RTJ Golf Trail staffers have been brought in to ensure everything runs smoothly the week of the tournament.

Grand National Lake Course hole No. 7 Grand National Clubhouse

Grand National No. 16

Estimates indicate as many as 50,000 golf fans will visit Grand National to watch golf. The tournament is expected to pump as much as $25 million into the local economy.

“I think there are two big groups who are going to come out and watch,” Gomberg said. “People who are golfers, well, this is right in our back yard and they are going to be excited about coming out. The other group is one that doesn’t really know what the PGA Tour is, and they are going to come out to see what it is all about.

“We’re doing everything we can to make sure we’re ready,” Gomberg added. “Every little nook and cranny will be on display, and we want to make sure it’s perfect.”

Tickets are available at https://events.cuetoems.com/ barbasol_2015/OnlineTicketSales. aspx

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Willis hangs on for 3rd SunTrust State Open victory Tee Times report Garrett Willis continues to make his presence known in the Tennessee SunTrust State Open.

Willis won his third State Open title in rollercoaster fashion recently, fashioning a 54-hole total of 205 at The Club at Fairvue Plantation.

His 11-under-par score was two shots better than veteran Tim Jackson of Germantown (207) and three clear of Tennessee-Martin sophomore Hunter Richardson.

Willis, of Loudon and the 2000 and 2013 champion, sizzled to a 10-under 62 in the second round to open a

three-shot leading heading into the final 18.

But Jackson took advantage of a triple bogey by Willis on No 10 to pull even with eight holes to play.

Willis answered with a birdie on No. 11 to regain the lead. He overcame a double bogey at No. 15, and capped the win with three straight birdies to close it out. Willis shot 73 in the final round, while Jackson shot 72.

Four players tied for fourth place at 207. A total of 21 golfers broke Hunter Richardson, a par in the tournament. sophomore at UT Martin came in third place

Tim Jackson

Garrett Willis

Hunter Richardson

Garrett Willis (L) pick us his third Suntrust Tennessee State Open. He is presented his winner’s check and trophy by Matt Vanderpool, Executive Director for Tennessee Golf Association

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Flenniken, Poe, Mays, Rice win Guardian Enterprises Pro-Am

Tee Times report The team of Casey Flenniken, Mike Poe, Rick Mays, and Bob Rice had a great two-days at the Millstone Golf Club, capturing the Guardian Enterprises Pro-Am title by three shots.

Flenniken, Poe, Mays, and Rice shot a 36-hole score of 113 – 31-underpar, to beat out the team of Braxton Hunter, Matt Penland, Mike Freels, Eddie Wyatt, who shot 116.

The Flenniken team opened with a 57 to claim a one-shot lead over the Reeves team, with several teams only two shots off the pace. But in the second round, the Flenniken team shot 28-28 for a 16-under 56 to pull away.

Audie Johnson led both days in the senior professional division, firing 8-under 136 that included a second-round 65 that clinched the title.

Jake Reeves won the regular professional division with a two-day total of 134 with a pair of 67s. He beat Chris Erwin, who closed with a 66, by one shot.

Lucas Tabor rolled to the regular amateur division title with rounds of 63-65 for a 16-under-par total of 128.

Steve Golliher shot 70-69 to win the senior amateur division.

Bobby Holcomb aced no. 5 in the first round, while Bob Rice aced No. 16 in the second round, playing the final three holes in 4-under.

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Lee wins Music City Invitational Tee Times report Philip Lee won the championship division at the recent Music City Invitational played at Harpeth Hills Golf Course.

Lee was joined in the winner’s circle by senior championship victor Doug Harris, member white tee division champ

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The tournament featured more than 150 players in four divisions, including approximately 100 in the championship and senior championship divisions. More than $13,000 in prizes was awarded.

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The 91st Tennesean/Metro Parks Schooldays golf tournament is in the book.

Previously known as the Schoolboys tournament, the name changed when it added a girls division.

The three-day tournament is open to any boy or girl ages 12-17 by June 3 and who live in the Tennessean’s primary coverage area.

Dr. G.Patrick Maxwell (L) played in the Schoolboys 1964 tournament as a Hillsboro High youngster and son, Julian is happy to follow in his footsteps.

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Nicole Page (L) Tennessean/ Metro Parks Schooldays girls runner-up and 2014 champ, with Hannah Powell, the 2015 champion

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McCabe PGA Professionals Audie Johnson (L) and Loren Personett flank boys champion Cooper Sears (center left), a 16-year-old rising junior at Mount Juliet High School, and runner-up Nathan Powell, a recent graduate of Warren County High School who will attend the University of the South, Sewanee.

The historic tournament always is exciting, and many players begin playing in it at age 12 and return each year until they reach age 17. Many lifelong friendships are formed at the Schooldays tournament.

One of the premier junior tournaments in the state, it attracts the best players around.

Adric Kimbrough (L) age 13, Boys 12-13 Champion, will be entering MBA this coming school year, PGA Professional Loren Personett, and Boys 1213 runner-up, Julian Maxwell, age 13, Ensworth 8th grader

2015 girls champion Hannah Powell poses with her brother Nicholas, the boys runner-up.

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Harris claims first Senior State Open title

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Tee Times report

par 144, missed a 10-footer for birdie on the last hole that would have clinched Doug Harris tapped in a short par putt the championship. He then had to watch on the 36th hole to claim the Senior as Stuart Smith missed a similar length State Open title recently at the Stone- putt to force a playoff. When Harris henge Golf Club in Crossville. tapped in his par effort, the championHarris, who shot 71-73 to finish at even ship was his.

He became the first amateur to win the championship outright.

Smith took the lead with an opening 69 in the rain-delayed first round. Walt Chapman shot 70 and Harris shot 71, but it was still anyone’s tournament going into the final round with 10 players within four shots of the lead.

Bob Rice tied for second at 145, while Frank Dial, who shot the day’s best round, a 2-under-par 70, finished fourth. Each of the top four finishers is an amateur.

In the Super Senior Division (ages 65-over), Stephen Kehrer shot a two-day low of 150. Kehrer shot 74 in the second round to grab the win and the $500 first-place check. Jim Brown David Olinger(l), director of tournaments for the was second at 152, while George TPGA offers congrats and the trophy to Doug Harris Newbeck was third at 153.

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Opinion

By David Widener

Member Golf Writers Association of America

Watson deserving of British exhibition A

nother golf legend will make his final walk across the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews Old Course next month when Tom Watson plays the 144th Open Championship (British Open) July 16-19 at St. Andrews.

He joins the likes of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, who made similar walks in the past, and there will be a special exhibition in the British Golf Museum in his honor that opens later this month and runs until the end of September.

It is only fitting that Watson be honored with such as he is a five-time champion of the Open, winning on his first attempt in 1975 and then again in 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1983. The exhibit includes his five Claret Jug trophies and winner’s gold medals along with important artifacts such as the putter he used in 1975 when he won at Camoustie. “I have so many wonderful Open experiences to remember,� Watson said recently. “I am so very grateful for all the years I have been able to compete and the success I have had in The Open. I hope those who visit the British Golf Museum will enjoy viewing the Claret Jugs and gold medals which reflect my five victories.�

Graeme Simmers, Chairman of the British Golf Museum, said: “Tom Watson is one of the finest golfers of the modern era and a firm favorite with British golf fans. It is fitting that the focal point of our newly expanded British Golf Museum is a special exhibition dedicated to celebrating the career of a special Open Champion.�

A video wall interview with Tom Watson, showing footage of his Open victories, forms part of the exhibition alongside other historic artifacts such as signed scorecards and rare Championship programs.

Admission to the museum, which is locat-

Claret Jug Watson hoists his 5th mpion as the 1983 Open Cha

ed across the street from the Old Course, is free for Open ticketholders and is a mustsee for those attending the Championship.

My wife and I attended the 2005 Open and enjoyed all the history featured in the museum as well as the tournament. St. Andrews is where golf had its beginning and is well worth a vacation destination for those who love the sport.

Tiger Woods won the Open that year by five shots over Colin Montgomerie. Watson shot 1-under-par for the tournament to finish tied for 41st. Nicklaus missed the cut with a 3-over-par score in his farewell to St. Andrews, but I have a feeling Watson will make the cut in his final appearance.

Watson is probably the greatest links player of all-time. In addition to his five Open victories, he just missed in 2009, finishing second when he lost in a 4-hole playoff to Alabama native Stewart Cink. Plus he has three Senior British Open Championships to his credit, winning it in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

The field consists of 156 players, including 20 past champions. Rory McIlroy is defending champion, but keep your eye on Watson, even though he turns 66 on Sept. 4.

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THE VINNY celebrates another successful tourney Tee Times report A star-studded and talented field of entertainers, golf professionals and professional athletes spearheaded the 23rd installment of The Vinny Invitational tournament at The Golf Club of Tennessee.

Topping this year’s event included professional appearances by Ben Crenshaw, Tom Lehman, Kevin Streelman, Ricky Barnes and Tennessee’s own Scott Stallings.

The roster of celebrity players included newcomers Will Hoge and Drew Holcomb, Tommy John, Ozzie Smith, Titans’ punter Brett Kern, Joe Don Rooney and

Steve Merrill, Tournament Director/The Vinny

Jay DeMarcus from Rascal Flatts.

Sandwiched between the two rounds of golf at The Golf Club of Tennessee, was a pairings party and auction starring Nashville’s Henry Cho and The Doyle and Donna Show, a three-hour “Vince, Amy (Grant) & Friends Concert” featuring many of the artists that played in the event, plus special guest, rock and country hall of fame legend Brenda Lee. Scott Stallings won the professional portion, tying Mark Brooks with a 66. Stallings won on a scorecard playoff to earn the Payne Stewart Trophy.

In the Celebrity Junior-Am, host Vince Gill’s team collected the victory with junior golfer Elizabeth Keeling and amateurs Mark Monroe, Bobby Brannon, Brett Arsta and Bill Wehby shooting 116.

The Junior-Am consisted of 27 top junior players.

“Every year, these junior Elaine Crockett, players amaze me with their Assistant golf skills and maturity and Tournament what’s great about it is that they Director have come from programs that

# 9 Peninsula Green

The Vinny supports across Tennessee,” Gill said.

Jerry Pate’s team won the Pro-Celebrity-Am net division, shooting 21-under-par 50. Pate’s partners included celebrity Will Hoge and amateurs Bob Perry, Stuart Tutler, Taylor Irwin and Doug Pearce.

Low gross team honors went to professional Tom Pernice, Jr., celebrity Dan Tyminski and amateurs Rob Cohen, Rick Glass, Whit Turnbow and Bill Trivett with a 15-under-par 56.

Benefiting youth development and junior golf programs across Tennessee, including its five First Tee chapters, the Vinny has raised over $7 million in its 23-year history. Funds will be distributed

Matt Vanderpool (L) Executive Director of Tennessee Golf Association and Dick Horton, Tennessee Golf Foundation enjoy their round

Should Pat Sellers have this much fun while caddying? Yes, when you are walking along side with Tom Lehman

to 20 programs through a formal grant program while the balance goes into an endowment that will support these programs for years to come.

More than 120 volunteers, many who have volunteered all 23 years, help make sure the tournament continues to be one of the best of its kind in the nation.

The Vinny Twenty-Fore! is scheduled for summer 2016 with exact dates coming in the fall.

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Course celebrates 40 years in shadows of Mount Mitchell Mount Mitchell Hole No. 18

Special to Tee Times BURNSVILLE, N.C. – Four decades of picturesque mountain golf is being celebrated this summer at Mount Mitchell Golf Club. The course opened for public play on June 6, 1975, in the Toe River Valley at the base of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi.

At the time, it was owned by business partners Jim Floyd and Lee King. Forty years later, Floyd and King are still at the helm. “We got together and thought this would be a magnificent place for a course,� Floyd said.

Indeed it was a magnificent place, a lush mountain valley framed by the highest mountains in the East. The owners hired British architect Fred Hawtree to design the course, which turned out to be the only course the esteemed architect ever routed in America.

Hawtree crafted a front nine along the valley

floor, bisected by the river with very little change in elevation. He routed in the back nine into a higher piece of the property, yet still kept it relatively flat for a course so high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. “It’s only about three miles to the top of Mount Mitchell as the crow flies. But the land rises 3,600 feet in those three miles, so it makes for a dramatic backdrop,� Floyd said. “It’s not the typical hilly mountain course. It’s flat for the most part.�

Floyd still remembers opening day. North Carolina’s governor, James Holshouser, was on hand for the festivities, as was legendary UNC football player Charlie “Choo Choo� Justice. Over the years, a lot of famous North Carolinians have played the course, including Dean Smith, Billy Joe Patton, Michael Jordan and Roy Williams. “We never had any visions of it being private and it has stayed that way from day one. The community now has 300 homes and about 40 condos and townhouses,� Floyd said. “It’s about the same as what we thought it would be, but we do have a larger clubhouse now and we’re more into the dining end of it and the packaging end of it. We have a lot of loyal customers who have been coming here for years in the stay-and-play packages.�

As part of the 40th year celebration, the club

World Class Golf Training!

The Middle Tennessee Golf Performance Center is just 30 minutes away !

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(615) 274-2301 www.championsrun.biz

The Middle Tennessee Golf Performance Center

Directions: 1-24E, exit 80 (Hwy 99W, New Salem Rd.) Go 12 miles and turn left onto Mt. Pleasant Rd. Course will be one mile on the left.

Clubhouse and mountains at Mount Mitchell

is offering stay-and-play packages all season that start at $99 per person for two rounds and one night of lodging. Three rounds of golf and two nights are available starting at $159 per person.

Another 40th anniversary special is on tap Labor Day weekend, when the rate for 18 holes with cart will be just $40. “It is a milestone. I can’t think of too many courses that have maintained the same ownership for that length of time,� Floyd said. “In fact, the trend in recent years has a lot of turnover. I didn’t really think about it 40 years ago that I would still be here, but I’m glad I am. I do take pride in an active management role.�

Floyd hopes this year will attract a lot of familiar faces from the last 40 years, as well as a few new ones. The course’s bent grass tees, fairways and greens are in excellent condition, and there’s plenty to do after golf, including fly fishing in trophy waters throughout the course. “It’s turned into somewhat of a resort. It’s not a full-blown resort because we don’t have all the amenities, but we do have dining and nice lodging on site,� Floyd said. “And we have progressed into the trout fishing part of

Mount Mitchell is the highest point East of the Mississippi River it. We have cultivated the waters and turned them into trophy waters thanks to a lot of volunteers who have gotten it to where it is.�

While many courses have come and gone in Western North Carolina over the last 40 years, Mount Mitchell has remained a place where golfers know they can expect superb playing conditions, friendly service, and reasonable prices. “We have a staff that has been with us for many years and they know what to do and how to treat people,� Floyd said. “They do a great job and that makes a difference. It really does.�

For information or to book a tee time, call the golf shop at (828) 675-5454, or go to: www.MountMitchellGolf.com.

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June 2015

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Heat, Bermuda and other notes from the Tennessee Golf Trail The summer is back and in full force, but Tennessee Golf Trail staff continues to work hard to keep its fairways and greens in optimal condition despite heat indexes rising above 100 degrees. Several of our courses feature Bermuda grasses – Pickwick Landing just outside of Savannah, Montgomery Bell in Dickson, Bear Trace at Tims Ford in Winchester, and Bear Trace at Harrison Bay just outside of Chattanooga

T

Montgomery Bell State Park Golf Course

– that are built for hot, humid temperatures. They all have 419 Bermuda fairways and Champion Bermuda greens, which love the heat. We’d love for you to come out and experience these courses, as well as the other five courses on the Tennessee Golf Trail.

Here are some other recent notes from the Tennessee Golf Trail: •Paris Landing State Park Golf Course started a new promotion, “Throwback Thursdays,” on June 18. Seniors and non-seniors can play all day for $26 and $30, respectively.

•Bear Trace at Harrison Bay Golf Course has also moved its twilight rates to begin at 1 p.m. from 3 p.m. Meanwhile, if you haven’t viewed the Eagle Cam recently, two of the eagles recently fledged!

•Henry Horton State Park Golf Course will be closed starting on July 6 for 10 weeks to install Champion Bermuda greens.

•Congratulations to Nashville-native Lou Graham on the anniversary of his U.S. Open victory in 1975

at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.

•Congratulations also to Mark Houser, Golf Professional at Warriors Path State Park Golf Course, who recently qualified for the U.S. Senior Open in Sacramento, Calif.

•Special thanks to David Withers, president of Jacobsen Worldwide, who recently paid us a visit at Montgomery Bell State Park Golf Course. Jacobsen, a leading worldwide manufacturer of professional turf care equipment and specialized turf care vehicles, has provided a number of Tennessee Golf Trail courses with high-quality, environmentally friendly equipment in recent years.

For more information about the Tennessee Golf Trail, or to schedule a tee time, visit www.tngolftrail.net.

(Left to right) Montgomery Bell Golf Professional Darrell Hartsfield, President of Jacobsen Worldwide David Withers, Montgomery Bell Greens Superintendent Jeff Kuhns, Greens Mower Specialist Mark Kelly

A golfer enjoys the Champion Bermuda greens at Pickwick Landing State Park Golf Course.

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Basic approach gets best results

By A.C. Watkins I have been playing golf for 60 plus years and have been teaching 35 years.

I try hard for the student’s sake to keep everything simple. I never force more than a few basics for fear of overwhelming them, especially the beginner.

Golf is a complex game but following basic steps, such as grip, stance, and good swing mechanics allows the golfer to meet the ball, and drive, chip or putt effectively.

A.C. Watkins

I have taught the beginner, the intermediate golfer and the advanced low handicapper, tweaking their swing to troubleshoot any problems they may be experiencing. Long ago I had the opportunity to follow great instructors Art Quick, and Johnny Warren.

I followed them closely and have meshed their teachings into my own technique. In fact, I have collected all of Johnny Warren tips over the years and share them with my students.

First, I ask the student to address the ball, but do not allow them to tee it up until I’m certain their swing is correct. We usually work with the driver and an 8-iron first. Every golfer has their own swing, so I work within what comes natural for them, to a certain extent. The golfer has to have their body, hips, shoulders and head working together to achieve an accurate swing.

After the first lesson, I give them exercises to work on, amplifying the lesson The golf ball is always controlled by the player. And good mechanics will allow the golfer to hit the ball long and straight and never make excuses for an errant shot again.

Follow a simple one step at a time approach and improvement will come.

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June 2015

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FYI

Gaylord Spring Golf Links

June 2-Man Scramble

Tuesday, June 30 | 1:30 pm shotgun start Grab a partner and take part in the June 2-Man Scramble. The $75 entry fee includes 18 holes at our award-winning golf course, range privileges, cart with GPS and multiple flights of awards and prizes. An optional Cash Skins Game will be available for a $20 per team buy-in. Spots will be limited so make your reservations today! Call 615-458-1730 for more information.

Junior Golf Camp

Family Golf Festival

Whether your junior golfer has professional aspirations, collegiate scholarship goals or simply wants to learn how to play a round with mom or dad, the Junior Golf Camp at Gaylord Springs will provide an enjoyable learning experience.

Our camp, led by award-winning PGA Instructor, Brian Lackey, will cover: Chipping • Putting • Full Swing Golf Etiquette / Rules and much more!

Total cost for the 2-day camp is $149 and includes a golf hat. Ages 7-17 are welcome.

Space is limited to 25 golfers, so reserve your spot today! Call 615-458-1730 for more information and to register.

Bring your family out to the Family Golf Festival for an afternoon of activities designed to encourage parents and children to learn and play the game of golf together. This fun-filled afternoon will offer FREE instruction, clinics, activities, games and more!

Event Schedule: 1-1:30pm: Golf Exhibition with PGA Teaching Professionals 1:30-3pm: Clinics, Instruction and Contests 3-4pm: Golf Institute Open House 4pm-Close: Family Golf Shotgun Start Call 615-458-1730 for more information.

July 8-9 | 11am - 1pm

Saturday, July 11

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Equipment Corner Tour players inspire new Golf Pride grip line SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Golf Pride has added the MCC Plus4 to its selection of grips.

The MCC Plus4 takes the same great upper hand and lower hand design, first utilized in the original MCC grip, and combines it with new technologies designed to provide golfers more power and confidence from tee-to-green.

With 80 percent of global Tour players trusting Golf Pride, nobody knows their grip preferences better. MCC Plus4 was designed to meet the needs of the 70plu+ percent of Tour players who build up their grips to reduce tension in their hands. With less tension comes more

power and the most powerful swings in the game trust Golf Pride.

Golf Pride is now offering this performance preference to all golfers. The new MCC Plus4 is designed to have a larger lower hand that matches the feel of 4-layers of extra tape build up preferred by many Tour players. The slightly less tapered shape has a 4.6 percent larger outside diameter in the lower hand, compared to the original MCC, to encourage lighter grip pressure which can help

increase swing power. Furthermore, MCC Plus4 utilizes a proprietary new soft compound in the lower hand to enhance feel.

The upper half of the MCC Plus4 offers distinctively different performance

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advantages for that hand. It utilizes a new softer performance-rubber for stability and the trusted Brushed Cotton Technology (BCT®) cord to ensure moisture management & maximum traction. The combination of upper and lower technologies is engineered to enhance feel and performance for each hand.

“Eighty percent of players on the PGA Tour trust Golf Pride grips, so we have a large body of data to examine their specific grip preferences,” said Brandon Sowell, global director of sales and marketing for Golf Pride. “We’ve used that knowledge to create the MCC Plus4, which reflects the shape and design preferences of the game’s best players, to improve performance and feel for golfers of all skill levels.”

Available in blue, grey and red, MCC Plus4 features a standard weight of 52 grams and core diameter of 60 Round. A midsize option will also be available in grey. The MCC Plus4 will be available at retail March 15th and will feature a street price of $9.59 per standard size grip.

For more information on the MCC Plus4 and the entire 2015 Golf Pride product offering, visit www.golfpride.com.

Kentwool socks deliver unparalleled comfort Kentwool socks deliver a perfect blend of comfort and performance.

Our golf socks combine superfine Merino wool, a natural Smart Fiber, ith WINDspun technology for unparalleled, blister-free performance.

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This is the convertible version of the Men’s Tour Standard. The Tour Profile has all of the same high-end performance and punch with a lower setting on the ankle. The Tour Profile is ideal for players who have the ability or prefer to wear shorts, or players who like to wear pants but want to enjoy that “sockless” feel while playing golf.

All Kentwool products are engineered to deliver unparalleled comfort and performance. It’s born out of our desire to give people superior active wear and athletic garments so that they can feel, look and perform at their optimal best.

As part of that commitment, we are proud to partner with brands and products that hold the same passion for excellence and quality.

Our “powered by Kentwool” certification program demonstrates your brand’s dedication to maintaining the absolute highest standards of performance.

When you’re powered by Kentwool, you are letting your customers know that they’re getting a premier product that’s above and beyond the competition. You’re giving them the unexpected edge.

Like many revolutionary products, the world’s best golf sock was born out of need. More specifically, out of discomfort ... extreme discomfort. On a sunny South Carolina spring day in 2008, Kentwool CEO Mark Kent was on the 18th hole at the BMW Charity Pro-Am, in what should have been one of high points of his golf career.

In position to eagle the challenging 18th hole and secure a position in the final round, instead of having clear focus and concentrating on the next shot, he couldn’t take his mind off the pain of his badly blistered feet. Three days of competitive golf had left his soles battered and bleeding.

“Why doesn’t anyone make a better golf sock?” Kent asked his caddie.

The caddie’s response would prove to be a game-changing question: “You run a wool manufacturing company. Why don’t you go make a great golf sock?”

A lightbulb moment, and the rest is his-

tory.

Today, Kentwool has become universally regarded as the world’s best golf sock.

In terms of comfort and performance, no other sock compares. Kentwool socks are worn by dozens of PGA and LPGA Tour professionals, including Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Peter Jacobsen, Kristy McPherson, Ryann O’Toole, and many more.

People sometimes ask: How can a sock make that much of a difference?

Good question. Answer: all you have to do is try them on and you will feel the difference.

“They’re not like any other golf sock,” McPherson said. “Once I put them on and played a round, I was hooked. I said to myself, ‘I want to wear these socks every time I play.’ ” Kentwool socks are the only golf socks that carry a lifetime blister-free guarantee.

And like all of our products, they are manufactured in Pickens, South Carolina.

June 2015

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Young, Edmonds-Andrews win Warren Award Tee Times report Marlon Young and Gabrielle Edmonds-Andrews are the 2015 recipients of the Paul Warren Award, given annually to a pair of golfers who exemplify the qualities instilled by The First Tee of Tennessee.

Young and Edmonds-Andrews received their awards at a recent function where they thanked the Warren family.

Emi Claassen and Sarawaty Srey, the 2014 winners, also attended the ceremony and told how the cash award helped them.

The award is given in memory of Paul Jackson Warren, who died tragically in a car wreck in 2011. Warren was 28.

His death left a void for wife Molly, parents Johnny and Kathy Warren, sister Lorie and her husband, Jordan Drake and countless friends.

The outpouring of sympathy from the community and his family’s church was overwhelming. In lieu of flowers, many made a donation in his name.

Molly decided that because of the family’s involvement in golf that the memorial gifts should be targeted to The First Tee of Middle Tennessee.

Lissa Bradford and Dick Horton and The Tennessee Golf Foundation came up with the idea for the award later.

Family members agreed that War-

ren, a devout Christian, loving husband, wonderful son and brother, a friend to many and also a golfer, would have approved.

“I love being involved with this award because the Warren family is very special to Tennessee golf,” Bradford said.

“Paul was a wonderful example of a true gentleman who loved the game and to keep his memory alive in this way warms my heart.

“The gathering of the award recipients, their families and the Warren family embodies the true spirit of the game and its heritage,” she continued. “I love hearing the stories of the past recipients and their experiences during the competitions. I am so glad Molly came up with this idea and we are able to partner with The First Tee of Middle Tennessee.”

Horton said The First Tee is fortunate to have such quality individuals participating in its program.

“I wish all of our friends, supporters and contributors could have attended this presentation to hear and see, first hand, what fine young juniors we have participating in The First Tee,” he said.

“To have seen these two teenagers speak in front of a group, to articulate what the program has meant to them -- it validates everything good and honorable that the game and the people who are involved are experiencing. This photo reminds me of a family, one you’d see in an album

(L-R) Johnny Warren, Kathy Warren, Molly Warren, Lori Warren Drake, Jordan Drake, this year’s recipients Marlon Young and Gabrielle Edmonds-Andrews, and last year’s recipients Emi Claassen and Sarawaty Srey

at home- and in reality we are just like a family at The First Tee.” The ceremony was held at The Vinny Links Clubhouse, home of The First Tee of Middle Tennessee, something Warren’s parents said he would have enjoyed seeing.

“I learned to play the game of golf on public courses in the Nashville area,” Johnny Warren said. “A lot of those rounds were played on this course and I have many fond memories here. I’m so glad that both our kids also had the same experience I did. Anyone that knew Paul well was aware of how much he loved playing the local public courses too.”

Johnny Warren said his son’s favorite tournament was the Municipal Amateur.

“He looked forward to playing in it every summer,” Johnny Warren said. “Paul would be very pleased that this memorial scholarship benefits the young boys and girls of the First Tee.” Donations are needed to keep the award going. To donate or to receive more information, call Lissa Bradford at the Tennessee Golf Foundation at Golf House Tennessee at 615-790-7600.

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Golfers Can Stay, Play and FISH at Mt. Mitchell Golf Club Special to Tee Times BURNSVILLE, N.C. – A lot of Southeastern golf courses offer stay-and-play packages, but how many also provide exclusive access to trophy trout waters?

Mount Mitchell Golf Club offers this unique perk to golfers staying overnight in the club’s condos, townhomes and rental homes.

The club stocks and maintains two miles of the South Toe River as it exits the Pisgah National Forest. These private trophy waters often yield rainbow trout in the 20- to 25-inch range.

Overnight golfers simply need to bring their fly rods with their golf clubs, and purchase a one-day permit ($25) or two-day permit ($40) in the golf shop. Expert guide service is also available.

“We provide a map that gives you directions to the best places to fish,” course owner Jim Floyd said. “It’s a quality stream and fly fishing is quite an art. We’re trying to promote this unique option more and more each year.”

Fishing for trophy-sized trout has been an option at Mount Mitchell Golf Club since 2004 and has been a great addition to the amenities that make for a more complete resort experience.

In addition to the Fred Hawtree-designed golf course, there are on-course accommodations, a full-service restaurant, friendly pub, hiking options at Mount Mitchell, and even horseback riding at a dude ranch down the street.

“We provide a unique and relaxing getaway for golfers of all levels,” Floyd said. “We’re surrounded by national forest property, which

makes us a little remote, but most people love the fact that they might be out of the cell phone coverage when they get here. They unplug from everyday life, and that’s a plus.”

Lodging rates at Mount Mitchell Golf Club start at $50 per person, per night. Guests play golf at the reduced rate of $44 Monday through Thursday, and $50 Friday through Sunday.

For more information, call (828) 675-5454, or go to www.MountMitchellGolf.com

Caddies needed for Senior Women’s Open at Hillwood Country Club Tee Times report

Hillwood Country Club

Caddies are needed for the upcoming U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Hillwood Country Club.

Caddies will be paired randomly with competitors from around the U.S. and several different countries for the tournament scheduled for Sept. 26-Oct. 1.

Requirements include: basic caddie skills, ability to read greens, availability for at least four consecutive days during the event, knowledge of golf etiquette, ability to carry the player’s bag and caddies

must walk at all times.

Fee is $70, tip included. Packets, including schedule and regulations, will be distributed during registration. Caddies will receive their player’s name in early September.

For information, call Libbey Hagewood at 615319-8619 or email LibbeyHagewood@gmail.com.

Gail Burke, aka, the deputy commissioner for The Keggers Coed group that plays on Saturday’s at The Executive Nine Hole course at Riverside. Gail invited all to come play with her before shoulder surgery. Our girl won’t be able to play till next year.

June 2015

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High schooler Fai Khamborn wins Western Women’s Amateur

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor

In 1987, Kathleen McCarthy tamed the field and the Nashville Golf and Athletic Club to win the 115th Western Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championship.

Twenty-eight years later, teenager Fai Khamborn of Thailand did the same thing.

Khamborn defeated Lydia Gumm 1-up in the championship match to claim the WWGA’s Amateur Championship on the same course.

Khamborn, a high school student in Cincinnati who is from Thailand, rallied from 2-down after 23 holes to edge Gumm, a junior on the Florida State golf team.

It’s not the first WWGA title for Khamborn, who at 12 won the WWGA junior amateur championship in 2012.

Khamborn shot rounds of 72-72 in qualifying to earn the No. 6 seed. Gumm, of Radcliff, Kentucky, shot 73-74 in her qualifying rounds.

The tournament marked a triumphant 38 years on the board.” return to Nashville Golf and Athletic Club Khamborn joins a long, distinguished list for the WWGA 28 years after its first visit.

Director of Golf Brian Jorgenson was ea- of past champions that includes Patty Berg, ger to showcase the Bruce Devlin design to JoAnne Carner, Nancy Lopez, Beth Dananother segment of the golfing population. iel, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lang and Sarah “It’s all about growing the game and let- Lebrun Ingram, who was the speaker at ting these girls have a great experience on the Sunday afternoon dinner for players a great golf course,” he said. “For us, it gives and guests. Ingram competed in this event us a little publicity outside our four walls twice and her name appears on the trophy as a winner. In addition from 1990 through here.”

The return of the WWGA to Nashville Golf 1996, Ingram won more national champiand Athletic Club was five years in the mak- onships and played on more international ing. The organization approached the club teams than any Tennessean in its hundred about a return visit, and both sides were year history. She won three USGA Mid-Am Championships (1991, 1993, & 1994) and able to make it happen.

“To return after 28 years is amazing,” competed on three Curtis Cup teams and WWGA National Media Director Susan two World Amateur Team events. In addiWagner said. “We have returned to courses tion, she won two Maryland State Women’s often. Here, it took five years from start to Amateur Championships (1986 & 1987) Jorgenson said the Nashville Golf and Athfinish. Other courses we might know within a month. We try to schedule as far out as letic Club is approached frequently about hosting major amateur events. It will host we can.”

Wagner said it is not always easy to secure locations for the tournament, given the commitment courses must make.

“We take the golf course for a week, including three solid days of golf,” Wagner said. “Sometimes it’s tough for the members. But, once they see the quality of golf these girls play, they usually are out there following.”

Wagner calls the WWGA “a springboard to the LPGA.” “A lot of these girls will Brian Jorgenson (L), PGA Professional and Head go on to play on the LPGA Golf Professional, owners Madison and Barbara Tour,” she said. “Our play is Whittemore are given a plague in appreciation the finest I have seen in my by the WWGA at the dinner welcoming players.

the Tennessee State 4-Ball Championship in late July.

“Our course is a great tournament course,” he said. “We do get sought out heavily for tournaments. We’re not always first on the list, but we get to pick and choose. I think we’re in the top three. Our members take pride in how tough our course is.”

Six players from Tennessee made it through qualifying and into the championship flight. Clarksville’s Hanley Long (149) and Nashville’s Sam Burrus (150) each lost

Fai Khamborn

Sarah Lebrun Ingram (L) has her name pointed out by WWGA President Kim Schriver on the winner’s trophy

David Ingram along with his wife, Sarah Lebrun Ingram, admire the huge WWGA trophy. The two met while both were at Duke University on the golf teams.

in the first round. Ooltewah’s Samantha Griffin (151), Manchester’s Jenna Burris (153) and Dickson’s Katie Story (153) bowed out in the second round. Columbia’s Riley Rennell (154) reached the round of 16 before falling.

Khamborn had tight matches throughout. Three of her five matches preceding the championship went to the last hole or extra holes and she beat 2014 finalist Cammie Gray 2-up in the first round.

Gumm had an easier time until the final, winning all of her matches except won by the 16th hole.

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Break par, not a sweat in the High Sierras

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor The Sierra Nevada mountain range stretching through California and Nevada was once the site of the California Gold Rush in 1848.

These days, you should be rushing to Reno/Tahoe/Truckee (California) for its ample golf opportunities.

That’s right. It’s not a misprint. Generally regarded for its winter sports – think world-class skiing and snowboarding, the region around Reno, Tahoe and Truckee also has some of the best golf in the Western United States.

For those of us in Middle America, that’s a little bit shocking, to say the least. Who knew some of the top designers in the business – Jack Nicklaus, Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, Johnny Miller, Robert Trent Jones Jr., among others -- brought their skill and imagination to a wonderful part of the country to provide an alternative to its other plethora of outdoors activities such as hiking, camping, fly fishing and mountain biking.

But, it’s true. Golf has never been better in the High Sierras than now. Golfers can fly into Reno and spend a week playing great, affordable golf and never glimpse the same course twice. From Clear Creek and Genoa Lakes near Carson City (Nevada) to the Nakoma Golf Resort in Clio (California) and all points in between, there are challenging golf courses to explore and breathtaking panoramas to soak up.

Two private courses worth playing are Clear Creek Tahoe in Carson City and Schaffer’s Mill Golf and Lake Club. Clear Creek is an outstanding Coore-Crenshaw design that, like most courses in this part of the world, features dramatic elevation changes. To add flair the greens are, to put it mildly, diabolical. Among their features are spines, undulations and severe slopes. Putting at Clear Creek Tahoe is not for the faint of heart or those with the yips.

At Schaffer’s Mill, designers John Harbottle/Johnny Miller took a more straight-forward approach, incorporating wide fairways and big greens. When it opened in 2009,

Golfweek tapped it as the No. 1 new private course in California and No. 9 nationally. It’s nines are distinct – the Meadows was routed through Ponderosa, firs and spruce pines, while the Mountain features elevation changes of up to 400 feet with spectacular views of Martis Valley and the Carson Range.

One of the older public courses in the area is the Lake Tahoe Golf Club, a William Bell design that opened in 1964. Routed in a mountain meadow in the Lake Valley State Recreation Area, it doesn’t have the elevation changes that most of its counterparts feature. Instead, what you see is what you get, including wide fairways and well-conditioned greens. With the Upper Truckee River winding through the property and coming into play on seven holes, there are times at the

No. 4 at Clear Creek Tahoe is a stunning par 3

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The opening hole at the Lake Tahoe Golf Club

finest, and errant shots are gobbled up by the natural wetlands.

On the bright side, the course, which plays at an elevation of more than 6,200 feet, offers breathtaking vistas of the valley.

It’s hard to believe that the Nakoma Golf Resort’s Dragon course has been softened since it’s opening, but that’s the case.

Bunkers were removed or reshaped, fairways were widened and greens now run at less than warp speed on the Robin Nelson-designed course to create a better playing experience.

Jack Nicklaus joined the list of top designers to set up shop with his signature Old Greenwood. Golf Magazine rated it No. 9 among the top new public access courses and Golf Digest rated it No. 4 among new upscale courses.

Coyote Moon is just a short drive away from Old Greenwood, and the Brad Bell design is one of the most scenic in the area.

Routed through the area’s customary towering pines, Bell The Resort at Squaw Creek meanders through wetlands in a mountain meadow

Lake Tahoe Golf Club when it’s tempting to string a hammock between two pines and just listen to the sounds of rushing water and wilderness.

No golf trip to Reno/Tahoe/Truckee would be complete without a round at Edgewood Tahoe, site of the annual American Century Celebrity Championship. The George Fazio/ Tom Fazio layout opened in 1968 and has hosted the US Public Links and the 1985 U.S. provided wide fairways and tiered greens to challenge all skill levels. The signature hole is No. 13, a 200-yard par 3 that drops approximately 200 feet to the green and is an amazing piece of architecture.

Golfers traveling to the Wild West have a wide array of accommodations from which to choose, as well as a variety of nightlife and restaurants. Reno is a little like Vegas in that it has an assortment of world-class hotels – such as Circus Circus and Peppermill – offering luxury at every turn.

The Historian Inn in Gardnerville is a good place to set up shop for the courses around Edgewood Tahoe is the site of the Carson City. It’s a quaint hotel with a small American Century Celebrity Championship casino across the street and two dive bars on the block. In historic Truckee (think a mini Asheville, North Carolina in terms of the locals), the Tahoe Senior Open Championship. Situated along the south Donner Lodge is a short drive from downtown, where the shore of Lake Tahoe, Edgewood Tahoe is extremely shopping and eating are spectacular. playable, but you will forget about your score In addition to the world-class golf and spectacular scenery, when you reach the final three holes, which offer the summer climate makes a visit to Reno/Tahoe/Truckee unforgettable views of the lake. almost impossible to pass up. While the Deep South swelters One piece of advice before playing The Links at in June and July, you can break par but never break a sweat in Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley (California) – bring the High Sierras. golf balls. The Trent Jones Jr. layout is target golf at its Go West, golfers. You won’t regret it.

June 2015

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Team Tennessee wins Battle of Smokies tion. The scenic course, located at the base of the highest mountain east of the Mississippi, opened for play on June 6, 1975, and remains an excellent venue for public play in the North Carolina mountains.

“Many of us had never been here before,” Hall said, “and it was a real treat to play such a great golf course.”

Tennessee Team: (L-R) Thomas Patrick McAuliffe, Billy Cole, Buddy Pearson, David Uchiyama, Chris Cates (kneeling), Chris McIntosh, Team Captain Joe Hall, Paul Johnson, Kenny Hawkins (kneeling), Joe Avento, Joe Biddle, Jimmy Hyams Traci Peel

Tee Times report BURNSVILLE, N.C. – Tennessee pulled away on the last day to end a four-year drought in the Battle of the Smokies Media Golf Challenge held June 7-9 at Mount Mitchell Golf Club.

The title and coveted black bear trophy went to the Tennessee squad in convincing fashion, as the Volunteers defeated North Carolina 39-33 with several strong final-round performances in individual match play.

Tennessee won seven of 12 final-round matches, though it was a halved match which delivered the victory. Freelance writer Traci Peel of Nashville earned a

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half point on the final hole of her match to officially put Tennessee over the top.

Joe Hall of Tee Times Magazine became the first team captain to hoist the trophy twice. He was captain the last time Tennessee won the title.

“It’s been long overdue,” Hall said. “For those of us who have ‘suffered’ through being beaten rather solidly in the past, it feels good to have this smoky bear trophy back on the other side of the mountains.”

The Battle of the Smokies is contested annually between teams of media from both states. This year’s challenge featured 27 golfers competing in four rounds of Ryder Cup-style matches.

Mount Mitchell Golf Club hosted the Battle as part of its 40th anniversary celebra-

North Carolina Team: (L-R) Steve Williams, Betsey Mitchell, Rich Rushforth, Luke Notestine, Bill Bauer, Keith Jarrett, team captain Sam Smith, Rick Rice, Jay Allred, Paul Schenkel, Dave Droschak and Jeff Smith

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Steve White, No. 17, 179 yards, 7-iron Butch Bell, No. 6, 4-hybrid

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June 2015

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