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Fabulous freshman: Manchester’s
from Tee Times June 2020
by Joe Hall
www.teetimespaper.com June 2020 TEE TIMES 9 Gilliam hopes to build on sensational freshman year at Mississippi State
By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor
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Manchester’s Ashley Gilliam encoun- tered a recent dilemma that only could occur in these strangest of times. Playing with her sister and father at her home course – Lakewood Country Club – Gilliam launched her second shot on a par-4. It tracked the pin, bounced and rolled up and clanked against the raised cup. Under normal circumstances – with the cup nestled in the ground – the ball would have either settled into the bottom of the cup for an eagle 2 or hit the pin and bounced away. The shot would have had a definitive result. With different guidelines in place due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic – like raising the cup to avoid golfers from touching the flagstick - the result was a little murkier. Was it an eagle or not? “I would say no because it could bounce off the pin, but I don’t know,” Gilliam said recently, pondering the question for a sec ond. “I think I did write down an eagle because my dad was up there and he said it did slowly roll into the middle. I was also playing my sister, so I said that’s an eagle. It was a good shot, though, so we’ll take the eagle.” That has been about the only thing perplexing for Gilliam in the past year as she transitioned from junior/high school golf into one of the brightest true freshmen golfers in the country. Gilliam recently completed her first year at Mississippi State, and her results definitely lived up to expectations. In late May, Gilliam was named first-team All-SEC after previously garnering thirdteam All-America and honorable mention All-America status from different entities. Along the way, Gilliam set the program record for scoring average (70.61), which was second in the SEC and sixth nation- ally. She had three top three finishes and four top 10s. Her first-year performance, though, didn’t surprise coach Ginger BrownLemm. “I expected Ashley to have a season like this,” Brown-Lemm said. “I’ve seen her play for at least four years prior to joining us at Mississippi State. She is an athlete that works very hard on her craft. Her dedication to the mental game, small de tails of scoring, her commitment to nutrition, strength and conditioning and thriving in an elite team environment were all factors in her development. She has grown as a person and as a player and that really came out in her performances.” Gilliam said the adjustment to playing college golf wasn’t overwhelming, and she credited her extensive junior experi ence as one reason why. “I played a lot of competitive golf as a junior – AJGA at a high level and played in a lot of USGA events,” she said. “I felt like I had a lot of preparation coming into col- lege.” Gilliam’s adjustment to college golf was likely easier given her close relationship with Mississippi State’s program. Even though her mother played at Ole Miss, Gilliam committed to the Bulldogs as a freshman in high school. She stayed true to that commitment despite interest from other SEC schools. It helped that a friend – Aubree Jones from Covington – was al- ready committed to the Bulldogs at that time. Jones recently completed her junior season at MSU. Gilliam said it didn’t take much to con- vince her that Mississippi State was the right place to continue her education and playing career. “I went on a visit to Mississippi State and fell in love with Starkville and the pro
gram,” she said. “Coach Brown and the chemistry she has on the team, the practice facilities. It’s just a great place. It feels like I have been down here for way longer (than one year). I felt like Starkville was my second home already so there wasn’t really any change.” Gilliam’s coach is VJ Trolio at Old Waverly, one of Mississippi State’s home courses. Mossy Oak, it’s companion course across the street, is home base for the Bulldogs’ state-of-the-art practice facility. While still in high school Gilliam made the trek south to visit Trolio, who has worked with MSU alum and current LPGA player Ally McDonald. “He’s not too technical and explains things really well,” Gilliam said. Gilliam’s freshman year highlight was helping Mississippi State win its final tournament of the spring before college athletics were shut down. The victory at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peo - ria, Arizona, was the first for MSU since 2014 and Gilliam’s tie for second place at 13-under-par was her best of the season. The tournament field included SEC foes Tennessee and Missouri, several Big Ten teams and also Oklahoma. “That wasn’t a typical tournament,” she said. “Our practice round got rained out, so we walked the course and got to putt. We didn’t get to hit any tee shots or any- thing. We had to grind it out and not let it affect us. It really showed that we could get out there and win under any circum- stances. Ending the season with a win was a good to end it. It was a good way to end it even though our season did get
Manchester’s Ashley Gilliam earned first-team All-SEC honors and also was a third-team AllAmerica selection.
Ginger Brown-Lemm, PGA- Head Coach
cut short.” Since the season ended, Gilliam has tried to keep to as normal of a routine as pos sible. She works out at home, plays and practices at Lakewood CC, and makes frequent trips to Starkville to work with Trolio. Her summer schedule remains in flux because of the uncertainty going forward on what events will be available. And, she’s looking forward to her sophomore season to see what it has in store. Brown-Lemm has an idea of what that entails. “Ashley is the total package,” she said. “With the support of the team of coaches and trainers here at Mississippi State, her commitment and competitive drive, she can go as far as she sets her mind to. She absolutely has what it takes.”
Ross Creek Landing could reopen in September
By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor
CLIFTON, Tenn. – Plans are in place and work is proceeding in an effort to reopen one of the original Bear Trace golf courses. Business partners Fred Gillham and Tommy Tinin confirmed recently they hope to have Ross Creek Landing open by September. The course, one of five built by the State of Tennessee that opened in 2001, closed in 2013. Before it closed, it was largely considered the best of the Bear Trace courses and earned numerous honors, including being named Tennessee’s No. 1 public course by Golfweek. If it does reopen, it will not be con sidered one of the current Bear Trace courses that are operated by the state. It stretches to 7,131 yards from the tips and has a slope rating of 132. The course’s out-of-the-way location and the golf industry’s stagnation were the primary reasons for the closure. Af
fordable pricing and a fun, challenging layout led to rave reviews by most players. Gillham and Tinin are seeking help from the City of Clifton and the Wayne County (Tennessee) commission in the form of tax abatements they say will help them get the course open. Tinin said there is about a “90” percent chance the course will reopen as soon as September. Tinin said the course’s front nine is in relatively good shape, pointing out they kept it mowed. The back nine was left mostly un- kempt during the closure. “We kept the front nine sprayed and mowed,” he said. “If you drive by, it looks like we are still open. The back nine will take a little more work to get it open. The bunkers, there’s not a lot to do with them. Mostly we have to shape them back up a little. We don’t have to do any dirt work.”
Jack Nicklaus and Vince Gill played the inaugural round at Ross Creek Landing. After be ing closed for seven years, the course in Clifton could reopen as soon as September.
Joe Hall, Tee Times Publisher cannot hide his enjoyment!
According to Tinin, the biggest project will be renovating the greens, which were sprayed recently to kill weeds. He said the plan is to replace what once were bentgrass greens with a more heat tolerant Bermuda grass. Ross Creek Landing’s rustic clubhouse, a modest structure that featured a grill and golf shop, has been maintained throughout the closure, hosting events such as wine tastings and parties. The property also features four cabins that can accommodate up 10-to-12 people each, Tinin said. Gillham said he bought the course from the state for $2 million. He kept it open for three years before closing the doors in 2013. Why are they trying to re-open now? Tinin said plans were beginning to take shape before the coronavirus pandemic hit. “We just didn’t think the timing was right until now,” he said. “The economy was doing good and play was picking up at other courses. Then COVId-19 hit.” The only other course in Wayne County is Waynesboro Municipal.
By sliding the green to the right, the front was still on the water, but now the putting surface also had the hazard in play all along the right side. The new configuration places a premium on both distance and accuracy on the last full shot of the day.” -Bill Bergin , ASGCA
Fox Den Country Club A club the whole family can enjoy
By David Theoret Tee Times Contributor
To say Chester A. Massey was a golf enthusiast would be like saying the Titanic was a boat. Massey, an insurance executive from Knoxville, had a dream to build one of the finest golf courses in America in east Tennessee. He spent several years and a lot of miles researching the project, country club planning, and management. Massey visited dozens of properties and spoke to many club managers and head professionals before selecting a piece of property west of Knoxville on which to build his dream course and master-planned community. William Byrd was selected to design and build the course and felt that Fox Den was one of the most beautiful pieces of land he’d worked on, featuring everything like rolling hills, beautiful wooded areas, and long fairway stretches, all with the Great Smoky Mountains serving as a backdrop. He felt that “It will be one of the most exacting and exciting 18 holes in America.” The first nine holes opened for play on May 15, 1969. Massey remodeled the Oliver Kermit Everett farmhouse into the club’s first clubhouse and pro shop; it opened in March 1969. The second clubhouse – which is now the fitness center – opened in May 1971. The clubhouse that you see today was the result of a $4 million project approved by the membership in 1994. In 2004, Bill Bergin completely redesigned the golf course, significantly enhancing an already outstanding layout. During the renovation, Bergin resurfaced all the greens and reshaped most of them, added several new bunkers, updated the drainage system and installed new cart paths. In 2011, Bergin was back to rebuild all 56 bunkers on the course. From the back tees, where the Korn Ferry Tour pros played from for 21 years while it hosted the Knoxville Open - Fox Den plays 7,110 yards with a course rating of 74.7 and a slope of 137. The back tees feature more forced carries and more difficult angles into greens. Most members typically play from the White (6,434/71.5/132) or the Green (5,836/68.7/128) tees. Ladies will have an enjoyable time from either the Blue (5,279/71.1/123) or the Silver tees (4,718/68.1/120). There’s also a “combo” tee on the scorecard called the “Partners” tee. Choose the distance that best suits your game and you’re bound to have a good time. When it doubt, “Play it Forward!” Just as Willard Byrd promised when he built the course originally, there are plenty of rolling hills and beautiful
wooded areas. Water comes into play on several holes, but not in areas where you can’t see it. Fairway bunkers have been strategically placed and for the most Danny Ackerman, PGA, Head Golf Professional part, are reachable regardless of the tees you’re playing. Most of the fairway bunkers, although on the peripheries of the fairway have large lips and are fairly penal in nature. The Bentgrass greens are moderately fast and roll true with subtle undulations. Fox Den Country Club is good from the start. The first hole is a dogleg right, par 5 that plays 482 yards. Tee off from an elevated tee box downhill to a landing area with a large deciduous tree on the right and fairway bunkers left. Long hitters can carry the tree, giving themselves an opportunity to go for the green in two. The green is elevated and well protected with deep-lipped bunkers. The second hole is a downhill 162-yard par 3 over water to an angled green protected by bunkers front left and behind. There’s a bailout area right of the green When Bill Bergin was asked for if you feel the need. comments on Fox Den’s design, and The third hole is a gentle dogleg right his take on the No. 18 finishing hole, that plays 356 yards and plays longer he said... because it is uphill. Trees guard the “I did two projects at Fox Den, a right side off the tee with out of bounds quick, but major renovation over on either side. You’ll need to carry your the summer of 2004, and a full approach shot on to the green because bunker redo in 2011. The bunker of the positioning of the deep-lipped redo came about partially because bunkers around it. Par is a good score the club liked the work I did at Chathere. tanooga G&CC and they wanted that Fox Den features plenty of amenities type of bunker at Fox Den. for instructional purposes, such as a teaching center, full-length range, short game area and a 10,000-square foot putting green that has all the undulations to get you ready for the course. PGA Professional Danny Ackerman heads a fully-stocked golf shop featuring popular brands such as FootJoy, Under Armour, Polo Ralph Lauren, Cutter & Buck and the latest golf club technology from companies like Titleist, Ping, and Callaway. In addition to golf, the club features seven tennis courts, pickleball and a fitness center.
