Tee Times June 2021

June 2021 Keeping Golfers Connected in TN, KY, MS, AL, NC

June 2021

New Beginnings Major changes in the works as King’s Creek rebrands as Towhee Club Pages 2-4

Inside!!

Fit to a tee: Justin Onslow takes you 11 inside the club-fitting process from the storm: Harpeth Valley 17 Shelter Golf Center carries on after severe flooding delivery: SmashFactor takes 23 Home instruction on the road

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From the Ashes

New ownership giving second life to freshly minted Towhee Club

By Justin Onslow Tee Times Associate Editor It’s a story as old as the game of golf itself. A club struggles to stay afloat as the product dwindles and its clientele follows suit. The money dries up. The divots never get repaired. Bunkers turn to cement and profits turn to dust.

There comes a time when owners must make the decision: Sink or swim? All too often, the decision is made for them and new blood comes in with a life raft full of cash. For King’s Creek in Spring Hill, Tennessee, that rescue came in the form of brothers Joel and Nathan Lyons, PFDs in hand.

The Lyons brothers, real-estate developers by trade, saw an opportu-

An aerial view of Towhee Club

nity to make money, sure – as any good investor is wont to do – but they also saw more than just the bones of a beautiful Arnold Palmer-designed golf course in the heart of Middle Tennessee. They imagined the foundation for all they plan to build from the ground up in a community desperate for a quality 18-hole public golf course that doesn’t require 30 or 45 minutes or an hour’s drive to get to.

King’s Creek, fair or otherwise, became a golf course with a stigma attached to it. The Lyons are here to change that. They purchased the course (originally opened in 2006) in July of 2020 with big plans and big ideas.

First Things First

Recently renamed Towhee Club, the

rebrand is an homage to the Eastern Towhee bird, a large sparrow with bold black-and-brown coloration native to Tennessee and the broader South. The Eastern Towhee doesn’t migrate out of Tennessee in the winter, and like its namesake, Towhee Club plans to thrive in Middle Tennessee in perpetuum.

To do so requires careful first steps in selecting the right people to steer the ship. The Lyons chose Brian Gordon, formerly of Hillwood Country Club, to be their General Manager and Director of Golf, and Patrick Hensley (who spent the prior 14 years at Richland Country Club) as their Superintendent. Former golf pro Chris Baker rounds out their managerial staff as the club’s Assistant Golf Professional.

With the team in place, it simply

Brian Gordon

Director of Golf/GM became a matter of stripping down King’s Creek and rebuilding from the ashes, beginning with all the things

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The sixth green at the Towhee Club

Patrick Hensley

Superintendent

golfers want in a quality track.

“I think it all starts with getting down to maintaining [the course],” says Hensley, who considers himself a perfectionist in all matters pertaining to the upkeep of the course. “That was our goal to start: to get back to maintaining to the entire property, because prior management was not.

First and foremost, we wanted to get back to finding the original layout.”

That process began with thoroughly mowing the property to remove overgrowth that stifled playability and covered up some of the beauty of the challenging Arnold Palmer de-

sign.

“Probably one of next things we’re going to start working on this fall is we’re going to incorporate some native grass areas around the golf course and frame some holes,” he adds. “We’re trying to make the greens the best in the state. They’ve come a long way, but they’ve still got a long way to go for what Joel and Nathan want, and what I want. I set very high standards for myself. I think we’re going to be able to achieve that, but it’s just going to take some time.”

In the meantime, Towhee Club has already seen the addition of a new fleet of golf carts, enlisted golf course architect Jerry Lemons to renovate bunkers with the Better Billy Bunker system, repaired golf cart bridges and re-seeded the aforementioned greens with TifEagle bermudagrass.

Gordon, who’s been enjoying his first GM posting since being hired on last November, believes the upkeep and maintenance and cosmetic changes are a solid start to get locals to see a difference. That’s where it all begins.

“The first thing that we were looking at is what could be done immediately that people are going to really notice,” he explains. “Really just clearing things up, redefining fairways, clear-

ing out a lot of brush that had grown up over the years. That was kind of the first thing and the main thing; opening up the course more and getting it back to where it used to be.”

The Big and the Small

Often overlooked but never missed entirely by the golfing public, the maintenance work the Towhee Club staff has implemented will go a long way toward getting the rebranded club moving in the right direction in the eyes of its golfers. Those efforts won’t decrease, even with the large projects looming on the horizon – the biggest of which is a new clubhouse soon to be in the early stages of construction.

“People are seeing a huge improvement and also are able to see a brand-new clubhouse coming and a brand-new pavilion,” Gordon says.

“People are getting excited. We’ll have a restaurant. It seems like every day we get questions about when the clubhouse is going to be finished. We hope to have that finished by the end of January [2022].”

The clubhouse will be “modern on the outside and simple on the inside,” according to Gordon, with a pro shop and a restaurant. In addition, the back patio will feature an outdoor

bar with views of the 18th green and No. 1 tee alike, where golfers can admire the views of the water and rolling hills and a golf course revived by the breath of positive momentum and new energy.

“The feedback’s been great,” Hensley says. “Everyone’s really excited about the progress to this point.

People are excited that the new owners and management staff are really taking an interest to bring this place back and revive it, so to speak. That gets your motor running. It gets me going.”

Continued on page 4

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June 2021

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From the Ashes Continued from page 3

Down to Business

Business for the Lyons and Gordon and Hensley is putting in the work.

For golfers at Towhee, business is pleasure. Business is a challenging, beautiful and unique golf course that has the potential to be among the best public courses in Middle Tennessee.

It’s easy to appreciate what Towhee will eventually become (or become again) at a glance. Water along sloping fairways and protecting everimproving greens. Large, oblong bunkers with white sand the staff at Towhee intend to keep that way. Six unique and uniquely difficult par-3s that equate to a par-70 scorecard that plays more than 6,800 yards from the tips.

In other words, it’s a golf course that simply needs a little polish and a little time.

“We’ve gotten tons and tons of positive feedback,” Gordon says. “When we reopened in November, people were able to see immediately that these new owners are serious about making this course awesome with the bunkers and the greens, and now they’re starting to see it with just the condition of everything.”

The Spring Hill area is booming, as

is the case just about everywhere in Middle Tennessee as people flock to Nashville and its surrounding suburbs and continue pushing the population center outward. New housing communities are popping up everywhere. General Motors is investing $2 billion in its plant in Spring Hill for the transition to producing electric vehicles. Until recently, locals had to either opt to play King’s Creek or take their business to Williamson County’s few public golf courses – or venture even further in a different direction.

Now, the ownership and staff at Towhee are making the decision much easier.

“I think that was a big factor in the decision making with Nathan and Joel when they were deciding if it was worth buying the course and fixing it up,” Gordon says. “The population in Spring Hill is growing every day, just like it is in Nashville.

“The clientele is here. We just have to provide them that product to make them want to come out and play; to make it worth their money to come out here. And we’re going to do that through providing an awesome golf course and excellent customer service, as cliché as that sounds.”

Cliché or not, that’s all golfers really want: a great product and great

people providing it to them.

Buying In

Speak with anyone at Towhee and you’ll hear the familiar refrains of a staff that’s fully bought in to the vision. Mediocrity and complacency are the kiss of death for any golf course, especially one in a critical stage of growth and re-development.

As for Hensley and his maintenance staff, there’s no questioning their motivation.

“With my staff, pretty much everybody has been here for four years or more and they’ve really bought in,” he says. “They’ve been a part of many different management companies and superintendents and they’ve stuck it out and they have an unbelievable passion for this and what they do. They love what’s going on. They’ve bought into the systems we’ve put in place to turn this place around. I can’t speak highly enough about them.”

With the assistance and partnership of Bobby Jones Links, Towhee is on the right track. The management company has been there since the Lyons brothers made the decision to buy and rebrand the course – adding Towhee to a portfolio that boasts more than 200 golf properties. Their decision to partner with Bobby Jones Links was yet another

The maintenance crew at Towhee Club

indicator of their commitment to not making Towhee their great golf course but a great golf course they happen to own.

“This rebrand and the substantial enhancements to the course are all a part of the bigger plan we’ve had since the beginning, which is to make this one of the finest public golf courses in Middle Tennessee and the Nashville area,” Nathan said in a recent press release. “The goal is to give golfers and non-golfers alike an exceptional experience and guest services that will make Towhee Club a destination for everyone.”

Time will tell, certainly, but the Lyons are saying and doing all the right things. Their staff is fully invested in their vision. Their course is improving every day. And their money is perhaps talking loudest.

“Nathan and Joel, they want this place to be something special,” Hensley says. “It has a ton of potential.

Golf is so big around here and there’s so many people in this area. There’s a great opportunity to make it shine.

To make it special.”

In that sense, much of the hard work is already done. The tarnish has been shined away and what remains, plucked from the ashes, is soon to follow. King’s Creek no longer, Towhee has taken flight.

Adam Piatt, Bob Carter--Equipment Manger, Austin Nephew, Rick Freimuth, Alex Runk, Ron Becker, John Jaskowski, Danny Lipscomb, and Patrick Hensley--Golf course superintendent. Not Pictured Al West, CJ Donarski, Todd Parker

June 2021

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From tHE Editor

By Gregg Dewalt

I

Simmons Bank Open is on the rise

t’s always important to give credit where credit is due.

That’s certainly the case with the recently completed Simmons Bank Open, which despite problems created by an unusual May weather pattern, proved to be the best of the five since the Korn Ferry Tour began stopping in Nashville.

Change always brings about an air of uncertainty, and this year’s Simmons Bank Open certainly had plenty of that. The Tennessee Golf Foundation embarked on its first time overseeing the tournament and The Grove served as host for the first time.

When Austin Smotherman dropped in the final putt for his first Korn Ferry Tour and the last hospitality tent was removed, there was no way to call the TGF and The Grove’s initial foray into professional golf but an unqualified success. Even after a year off due to the coronavirus pandemic, the new regime built on the foundation that was laid previously when the tournament was held at the Nashville Golf and Athletic Club. It maintained its momentum.

And for that, TGF head Whit Turnbow, tournament director Mike Hammontree and his staff, the volunteers, and the staff at the Grove deserve kudos for pulling it off.

The Grove, a Greg Norman design, withstood a deluge of rain leading into the tournament, but superintendent Joe Kennedy and his crew did yeoman’s work to have the course in pristine condition for the Korn Ferry Tour players. The course held its own against a good field. The scoring average was 72.1 for the week and the low score was 65. The cut fell at even par, more evidence that the setup was right.

Turnbow said he talked to approximately

PUBLISHER Joe Hall pgegolf@bellsouth.net

EDITOR Gregg Dewalt teetimesgregg@gmail.com

weather event.

“We didn’t get it all right, but we got a lot of it right,” Turnbow said. “We’ll go back to the drawing board and fix what we need to fix. We are not going to sit our laurels. We’re going to find ways to do it bigger and better.”

Golf remains on the rise

Austin Smotherman celebrates the winning putt at the Simmons Bank Open Benefiting the Snedeker Foundation. It was the first time the tournament was held at The Grove with the Tennessee Golf Foundation overseeing the event.

60 percent of the Korn Ferry Tour players throughout their week and received no negative feedback.

“Each one said to a ‘T’ this was one of the best venues they play,” Turnbow said. “They said they were treated better than they are in a lot of places, and the caddies liked having their own space. We started out wanting to take care of as many people as we could.

That started with Simmons down to the players and the caddies and the volunteers and everybody who was there who pur-

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Justin Onslow

SENIOR EDITOR David Widener widecard@aol.com

chased hospitality. We wanted to make sure they had a phenomenal experience.”

Next year’s tournament will keep the same date – the first week in May. Plans include expanding the hospitality area and offering more in the way of tournament merchandise.

It would be nice to say the week went off without a hitch, but bad weather scuttled any plans for a perfect event. Maybe next year Turnbow can put somebody in charge that can guarantee a chamber of commerce-

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carol Hall teetimescarol@bellsouth.net GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jon Hamilton jrhdesign@att.net

TECHNICAL ADVISOR Jimmy Phillips

From Joe Beditz at the National Golf Foundation on the overall health of the golf industry: The four-month periods that bookend the calendar are important, no question, but the current “summer stretch” of May through August is usually make-it-orbreak-it for the golf business each year. Almost half of annual golf rounds are played during these months, and the weather in the Northeast and West North Central regions can – and usually does – have a big impact on results.

Last year, of course, was an exception extraordinaire. Rounds and equipment sales plummeted early in the year (especially April), shot up in the summer, and extended into the fall. The big question that arose late last year and has carried into 2021 is whether golf will continue to ride this wave of demand.

Here’s how the scoreboard looks: Rounds played and equipment sales in the first period are up considerably over 2020 – no surprise as just over half of golf courses were closed for some length of time during golf’s first third in 2020. Rounds were up 24% YTD through March – a number that will climb for sure because April 2021 rounds will crush April 2020. Wholesale equipment shipments are way up over 2020 too, but are also 25% ahead of 2019.

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Opinion

By David Widener

Member Golf Writers Association of America

Tour vs. Super: It’s all about money

D

oes the proposed Super Golf League stand a chance of luring the big named players from the PGA Tour?

Only if money is the determining factor as it is a Saudi-Arabian backed league and the Saudis have extremely deep pockets.

Roy McIlroy calls it a “money grab” but he’s not interested in participating in the new league noting that currently it has no players signed up, no sponsorship deals, no media deals, and no manufacturers signed up. Although receiving invites, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and current Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama also have said no to the SGL. The league says more player offers will be forthcoming in the near future as it plans to begin in January 2022. It reportedly offered Phil Mickelson, who recently won the PGA Championship at age 50, $100 million to join. It’s making formal offers guaranteeing between $30-50 million up front to 11 of the best golfers in the world.

Mickelson thinks fans would love the new league because they would see the best players play more times and it would help grow the game globally. However, he notes that golf is the only major sport where players have control of their schedule and with the new league players would lose that ability.

The SGL drew up plans in May for five events starting in January. Each would feature 16 players grouped into 4-men teams drafted by the player serving as team captain. There would be individual and team formats consisting of players from the top positions of the World Rankings.

The PGA Tour is not taking the new league lightly. Tour commissioner Jay Monahan countered in April with a new Player Impact Program bonus pool that gives $40 million to players who drive fan and sponsor engagement the most. He then met with players at the May tour stop in North Carolina and told them joining the new league would result in an automatic suspension from the PGA Tour and perhaps even a lifetime suspension.

Earlier in May a similar situation happened when a European Super League in soccer tried to form, but it had a humiliating flameout and folded 48 hours into its existence when the governing body of

Phil Mickelson could reap a windfall of cash if he would commit to the Super Golf League. (Photo courtesy PGA of America)

Jordan Spieth turned down the Super Golf League

football in Europe (UEFA) said it would ban players associated with the new league from the European Championship and World Cup. The European Tour, USGA, Royal and Ancient Club, PGA and Masters all are aligned with the PGA Tour in opposing the new league that has a total prize fund of $240 million. Money is no object with the Saudis. In February, they put on the richest horse race in the world, the Saudi Cup, which offered purse money of $20 million.

There sports landscape is littered with failed start-up leagues, including the USFL. Although it played games in the spring and summer to avoid going up against the NFL, it lasted just three years. Even Donald Trump, who owned one of the teams (New Jersey Generals) couldn’t save it.

I don’t expect the Super Golf League to make it, but then I keep remembering what Jim Rome says when discussing athletes and contract negotiations on his radio and television shows. “If they say it’s not about the money. It is ABOUT THE MONEY.”

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Around Nashville Fairways Wayne Evans

Superintendent of Sports/ Golf Clubhouse Operations

Metro Parks courses returning to normalcy After having to cancel our Tennessean/ Metro Parks Schooldays Golf Tournament in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament returned to McCabe Golf Course in early June.

The tournament celebrated its 95th playing, and before 2020’s cancellation, we had the distinction of being the longest running consecutive golf tournament for juniors in the state of Tennessee.

Neither of the most recent champions - Wilson Central’s Trey Melvin and Harpeth Hall’s Weatherly Spence were able to compete, so the tournament crowned two new champions. Covid guidelines forced us to reduce the number of participants in each division.

Complete tournament results will be in

the July issue of Tee Times.

Our normal expansion of golf course hours were delayed due to filling seasonal positions. We’re happy to report that we are near normal operating hours and we have been able to fill most of the seasonal positions at our Metro courses as we get into the summer season.

Play was excellent in May and we expect more of the same in the upcoming summer months.

We are looking forward to having a full field for the upcoming Municipal Amateur Championships. We kick off with the men July 16-18 Plan to visit and play one of our Metro Course soon - Wayne

this year. Receiving this award, I learned that Paul loved golf just like I do. It is great to have the support from the Paul Warren family and the acknowledgment from First Tee of Tennessee, I want to make everyone proud.”

Ratliff, a member of the First Tee for 41/2 yearfs, echoed Wade’s sentiments.

“It is such an amazing honor to be chosen for the Paul Warren Award,” she said. “I feel so blessed to part of the First Tee. I cannot thank the coaches enough for this tremendous award. I hope to represent and honor The First Tee and the Warren family by doing well in my upcoming Sneds Tour this season and beyond.”

Both recipients are a part of the program’s level classes.

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Trey Martin and Weatherly Spence were the Schooldays champions in 2019, the last year the tournament was played.

Wade, Ratliff earn Paul Warren scholarships

Tee Times Report Ben Wade and Mallory Ratliff are the 2021 winners of the First Tee Paul Warren scholarships.

The scholarships are given to deserving youngsters who have exceled in the First Tee of Tennessee program. The honor the memory of Paul Warren, the son of teaching pro Johnny Warren, who loved golf but passed away from injuries sustained in a car accident in 2011.

This is the ninth year the scholarships have been awarded.

“I am excited to win this award,” said Wade, who has been in the program for 7 years.

“This is my third season participating on the SNEDS Tour. Last year I won my first tournament; and I will be working to win more

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The Paul Warren Scholarship program is the work of Warren’s wife, Molly, who began the program after receiving an outpouring of donations in her husband’s name and set up scholarships through The Tennessee Golf Foundation aimed at benefitting First Tee of Tennessee children.

The scholarship winners are honored at a ceremony in which the extended members of the Warren attend. Paul’s father, Johnny, shares stories of his son;s passion for the game and how much he enjoyed playing public courses and competition.

Joshua McDade, the Executive Director of First Tee of Tennessee, said Wade and Ratliff were easy selections for the 2021 awards.

See scholarships on page 8

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Aces Henry Horton

Danny Vore aced No. 16, a 143-yard par 3 at Henry Horton State Park, with a 4-hybrid. It was his sixth holein-one. Witnesses were Eddie Liggett, Tim Liggett and Brad Medley.

Old Hickory

Donna Ruggles aced No. 2 at Old Hickory Country Club in the Tulip Scramble with a 9-iron from 101 yards. Witnesses were Cheryl Hibbett, Jennifer Jackson and Teresa Lott.

Two Rivers

Marcus Kinzer aced No. 6, a 167-yard par-3 at Two Rivers Golf Course, with a 7-iron. Witness was Frank Vickers.

Donna Ruggles shows the ball she made her hole-in-one with at Old Hickory Country Club.

Scholarships Continued from page 7

“The one constant I hear from his father, Johnny, when speaking of Paul was that, of course, he enjoyed the game of golf, but also was a young man of ‘high character,’” McDade said. “Ben and Mallory exemplify those same qualities both on and off the golf course. We are proud of Ben and Mallory and wish them success in achieving their goals on the Sneds Tour this summer.”

Johnny Warren said he his happy that his Mallory Ratliff and Ben Wade are the winners of the Paul Warren son’s memory is kept alive through the Scholarship Award for 2021. scholarship fund.

“Our family is very proud and humbled that Paul’s name is attached to this schol- and honor Paul, his family and the game he arship,” he said. “Josh and his staff at First loved,” she said.

For TGF President Whit Turnbow said he is Tee of Tennessee do an outstanding job, and always choose remarkable kids for this proud to be able to play a role in the award.

“We are so fortunate to be able to continue award. We want to thank Lissa Bradford for all the organization and hard work behind to honor Paul and his life through this scholthe scenes she’s done to make this event arship,” he said. “He and his family have special. None of this would have ever hap- made a great impact on golf in our state and pened without the love and compassion of we are grateful for their continued support.”

Lissa. Thanks as well to President Whit Turnbow and the Tennessee Golf Foundation for their commitment and financial support to the Paul Warren Scholarship.”

Bradford, the Senior Director of Junior Golf at the Tennessee Golf Foundation, loves to play a part in the award.

“It is a highlight of my year to Whit Turnbow, Lissa Bradford, Johnny Warren and Joshua be able to provide opportunities McDade are supporters of the Paul Warren Scholarship Award. to compete on the Sneds Tour

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The newest technology from the TGA Tee Times report Golf is booming. Rounds are up 40% at some courses. People are learning how to work from the golf course and are accustomed to having technology at their fingertips.

With the increased use of technology and apps, the Tennessee Golf Association (TGA) launched “MyTGA” app in February.

“The goal was to create a one-stop shop for Tennessee golfers. They can book online tee times at their favorite public course, post scores and track stats, register for events, view results and check out the latest golf news,” said Chad Anderson, Executive Director of the TGA. In addition to those main functions, golfers can check out special offers, join the TGA through the app and find our social media links.

“We discovered that many golfers were using multiple apps to post scores, check results, follow golf news and more,” Anderson said. “We wanted to make it easier for golfers to know what is happening around the state and in their community. Tennessee has a rich golf history, and this app allows us to tell the story of golf history being made in 2021.”

Last year changed how people work and play golf.

People learned to work from home and work more efficiently. If you save an hour of commuting each day, skip the water cooler talk, eat lunch while you work, you can really shorten the amount of time spent in the office. Golfers took advantage of that opportunity and rushed to the golf course.

With golf’s boom, scheduling has become a challenge for the TGA. That is a good problem to have for Tennessee golf facilities.

“The TGA is very fortunate to have such strong support from all

TS GC

of our clubs in the state,” Anderson said. “There isn’t a club in the state that I don’t believe would host a TGA Championship. When you look at our upcoming schedule, you will see Belle Meade, Chattanooga Golf, Holston Hills, Memphis CC, The Grove, The Honors, Cherokee, Blackthorn, Chickasaw and on and on.”

The process to select a host site can sometimes take a while. The TGA attempts to work a year or two in advance. This gives the proper committees at the club a chance to evaluate the championship and how it fits in to the club’s goals. Some clubs prefer to have a 10-year plan for TGA championships. For instance, Belle Meade Country Club has agreed to host the 2023 Tennessee State Open, 2024 Women’s Amateur, 2025 Senior Amateur and 2027 State Amateur.

“My goal in scheduling is to play at the best venues, spread events around the state, and have a variety of classic and modern golf courses,” Anderson said.

Tennessee has a few courses that are celebrating their centennial anniversaries over the next few years. To help celebrate, the TGA has scheduled a championship at those clubs. Chickasaw Country Club turns 100 in 2022 and will host the Tennessee Women’s Amateur. Signal Mountain Golf & Country Club also turns 100 in 2022 and will host the Senior Four-Ball Championship.

“The TGA feels this is a great way for us to help celebrate 100 years at these clubs. It is amazing how much history each club has, and we look forward to being a part of their milestone birthday’s,” Anderson said.

If you haven’t done so already, visit your app store and download the “MyTGA” app. Post your scores, sign up for a championship or fun event and keep up with the latest news.

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June is junior golf month June is junior golf month at The Legacy.

We have two full PGA Jr. League teams and we start matches in June. Every Tuesday afternoon for the next 12 weeks the teams will compete in a nine-hole match for a friendly and fun competition.

The Robertson County Junior Golf Association also starts in June. We will be giving junior golf clinics to 24 juniors a week for four weeks. If the clinics fill, we will introduce the game to

96 juniors. The clinics are FREE to the juniors. Please call 615-384-4653 to sign up any junior wanting to learn the great game of golf.

The Men’s Golf Association is having the Old Pals tournament on June 5-6 and the Legacy U.S. Open on June 19. There is also a Stableford competition upcoming on July 3. If you are looking for a fun and competitive place to play, join the Legacy men’s golf as-

sociation and battle to be the Player of the Year.

Thank you, Kevin Holler, PGA Director of Golf The Legacy Golf Course

Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation supports youth golf Tee Times Report BENTWOOD - The name Payne Stewart was not only an elite golfer who won 11 PGA TOUR tournaments, including three major championships, but also a dapper dresser in signature knickers and a flat cap who dramatically holed a final putt to defeat a young Phil Mickelson at the 1999 U.S. Open. This popular and inspiring champion with one of the game’s most fluid swings died tragically at the age of 42 in a plane accident.

A key aspect of Stewart’s legacy, as directed by his wife Tracey, is to help lower-income and inner-city kids across the country learn the game of golf. To achieve that goal, the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation was created to design groundbreaking youth programs that would have a broader reach than conventional programs.

The resulting Payne Stewart Golf Experience (Camps & Clinics) is a true introductory golf program designed to compete with little kickers soccer, tball and other youth sport development programs. Targeting kids ages 4-9, the games-based play programming and the

use of modified golf learning equipment will make it easier for kids to hit the ball and experience early success at the camps and clinics.

By using gymnasiums, parking lots, athletic fields and similar spaces, Payne Stewart Golf Experiences (Camps & Clinics) advance Payne’s vision by creating new golf spaces that give more families with kids the ability to learn and play golf, especially to kids in need and innercity families.

The Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation supports the expansion of these golf learning experiences for kids in lowerincome and inner-city locations. Donations to the Foundation fund modified golf learning equipment, “kids in need” scholarships, and entire inner-city programs.

“Our goal with the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation is to support this introductory golf program by raising funds to help expand the number of camp locations, provide adequate equipment, give families in need an opportunity to participate, and assist with other donation opportunities,” said Dan Anderson, COO/

Payne Stewart won three majors before his death at 42

CMO and co-developer of the Foundation.

“We have flipped the traditional golf paradigm on its head by helping bring golf to kids away from the golf course. We partner with churches, YMCA’s and other missionally aligned organizations to create unique spaces to play and learn golf closer to home.”

The overriding mission of the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation is to develop healthy kids for life through the fun of golf. The faith-based life skills curriculum coupled with the game-based golf skill development program, gives kids a fun introductory experience that creates well-rounded, life-long citizens in sport and life. The hope is that more kids from all backgrounds will have the opportunity to enter into the next phase of traditional youth golf programs including PGA Junior Golf Camps.

In 2021, there will be more than 50 Payne Stewart Golf Camps & Clinics running in the U.S. “Payne would be so proud to know that his name lives on by helping young golfers learn the game he so loved,” Tracey Stewart said. “The Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation and the fun golf experiences at camps and clinics will bring the game of golf to kids of every background and socio-economic class with the core fundamentals of Faith, Family and Fun.” For more information about the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation visit www. paynestewart.org.

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First step to improvement is getting fitted A visit to GOLFTEC will get you into the correct clubs

By Justin Onslow Tee Times Associate Editor “I’m not good enough to get fitted for golf clubs.”

That’s a common statement you’ll often hear when talking to casual, usually high-handicap golfers.

There’s just simply no reason to get fitted for clubs without making some serious improvement first, right?

According to Will Wright, Regional Manager and Director of Instruction at GOLFTEC in Franklin, Tennessee, that couldn’t be any further from the truth.

“The biggest benefit from a fitting is you don’t want to have equipment that’s making the game harder for you – the game’s hard enough,” he says. “You want to make sure that the clubs you have currently aren’t hurting you or holding you back. I think that’s probably the best thing a club fitting is.”

For some golfers, that might mean walking into a fitting and back out of the fitting 90 minutes later with the same sticks, but that’s okay.

GOLFTEC’s (and surely other fitter’s) mission is to help golfers improve, and sometimes that’s just a little peace of mind that the clubs you’re playing are the ones you need right now.

For others who might need equipment tailored to their swing, there’s a whole world to explore.

In Practice I had the opportunity to visit Wright’s GOLFTEC location for a practical demonstration of how their fittings work. They offer driver, iron, wedge and putter fittings, and I opted for two separate sessions to dial in my irons and wedges and also to select a new driver.

With six-year-old clubs in my bag, my expectation was that I’d need some updated equipment due to the changes in my golf swing over the last half-decade. I might even need shorter shafts, given that I’m slightly below average height. I had several expectations, but I was resigned to let the numbers (and

Will Wright, right, takes several measurements for Tee Times Associate Editor, Justin Onslow to begin iron fitting Wright himself ) do the work. After all, GOLFTEC utilizes some of the best swing and ball analysis technology on the planet, including their own proprietary TECFIT® software.

The iron and wedge fitting began with static measurements – height, hand, distance from wrist to floor – to determine a baseline for club specifications. Wright also took measurements of my clubs to determine ultra-accurate length as well as lie angle and loft measurements. From there, it was on to control testing with my current Titleist AP1 irons to again set a baseline for what I might need in new clubs.

After several shots measured using advanced launch monitors to determine clubhead and ball speed, launch angle, distance, dispersion and several other metrics, I repeated the process with various other clubs from the top manufacturers in the game. Almost all of them are available and on-hand in the facility.

(l) Will prepares to change out a shaft on an iron with Justin observing Throughout the process, Wright used data and his own teaching experience to make small tweaks to the equipment – a shorter shaft here, a heavier clubhead there – until I narrowed the field down to a couple clubs best-suited for my swing.

As Wright plainly states, sometimes it’s the mid-handicap players like myself who can gain the most from a fitting.

“Somebody who struggles with dispersion, getting fitted will tighten it up,” he explains. “A skilled player who may have a 15- to 20yard dispersion can trim it down to 10 or even five.”

In other words, their goal is to make a player’s misses less egregious. No golfer hits it perfect every time, and for those bad shots, GOLFTEC tries to put equipment in players’ hands that will make those misses not quite as bad.

Despite my preconceptions, it wasn’t a shorter shaft I needed at all – just a one-degree change in lie

angle. I opted for new Titleist T300 irons that gave me the tightest dispersion of all the clubs I tested, plus a little extra in the distance category.

Round 2 On my second trip to GOLFTEC, Wright set aside 90 minutes to fit me for a new driver (I’m again playing a six-year-old model) that would hopefully give me some good, modern options for shoring up the weakest area of my game.

GOLFTEC’s intuitive database already had my measurements from last time ready to go. The first step this time around was hitting some admittedly awful control shots with my current Titleist driver using a GCQuad launch monitor.

My iron fitting went exceptionally smoothly (that happens when you’re able to hit a 7-iron pretty straight), but the driver fitting was another thing entirely, simply bePlease see Fitting, page 14

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PGA Tour professional Brandt Snedeker accepts a check for $250,000 for the Snedeker Foundation from Whit Turnbow, president of the Tennessee Golf Foundation. (Photos courtesy of Tennessee Golf Foundation)

Rising to a new level Simmons Bank Open hits new high under Tennessee Golf Foundation direction

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor In the aftermath of the Simmons Bank Open and a review of the week’s activities at The Grove, which hosted the tournament, Tennessee Golf Foundation head Whit Turnbow found little to that needs adjusting going forward with the tournament.

The Simmons Bank Open got a fresh start this year under the direction of the Tennessee Golf Foundation. Except for the weather – it is the South, you know – which disrupted the Monday pro-am and was cold and dreary in the days leading up to the actual tournament, Turnbow was happy with the way everything unfolded.

“It was a battle all week with the weather,” he said. “That was the predominant thing that presented some challenges. But all in all, we had an amazing week.”

It was a week that culminated in crown-

ing Austin Smotherman as the tournament champion. Smotherman opened with a 65 and then carded three consecutive 69s to finish 16-under 272 for his first Korn Ferry Tour victory.

He won by three shots over Carl Yuan and Paul Haley II. “It’s emotional. It’s awesome. It’s everything we’ve worked for, and to have it happen on Mother’s Day is pretty special, too,” Smotherman told pgatour.com after the win.

Crowds were great all week despite the weather. Turnbow said they underestimat-

Tournament winner Austin Smotherman receives the tournament’s iconic guitar trophy from tournament director Mike Hammontree

Brandt Snedeker poses with volunteers John Coyle(l) and Charlie Gallina

ed the number of fans who would attend.

“Especially with it being on top of Mother’s Day weekend and other things going on,” he said. “I was really surprised by the number of people who came out and hung out in the hospitality area on No. 14 and the Sand Trap. It was thousands and thousands of people every day. We are incredibly humbled by the amount of support of the people who came out to watch and be a part of our event and then asking about how they can be a part of it next year.”

Social media posts likened the Simmons Bank Open to a mini-version of a PGA Tour event. Turnbow said the support was an indication of what could be in store for the future in possibly attracting a PGA Tour event to the Music City.

“We had a lot of PGA Tour staff on site all week and I think they saw we are certainly capable of hosting and operating a large event of that scale,” he said. “That’s what we

www.teetimespaper.com set out to do – something that was special on the Korn Ferry Tour. We wanted to put our best foot forward and show not only the Middle Tennessee area but the PGA Tour folks who were in town and the corporate folks who like to entertain and provide hospitality for their customers that we can deliver a superior product. We accomplished that.”

Turnbow reiterated the goal is to bring a PGA Tour event to the area, but cautioned that it is still down the road. The key is to continue to build each year on the foundation that has been set.

“We couldn’t be happier with where we are and this is headed,” he said. “We have an amazing sponsor in Simmons Bank. They were such a pleasure to work with and their team is awesome. And all of our proud partners – Thompson Machinery, South College, ESA, Enterprise Solutions, ServPro – were amazing partners. They came out and supported the event. We have a great base to build on here and we have to make sure we strategically – we are gonna grow – but we have to do it in the right way and make sure we can deliver the experience we are out to deliver.”

In addition to the weather, Turnbow said parking issues were an unexpected challenge. Weather hampered access to some of the parking areas and forced more people to park on neighborhood streets.

“Parking is something we will take a good, hard look at for next year,” he said. But we rolled with the punches and had a great week.

He said the most important aspect was the contribution that was made to the Snedeker Foundation.

“At the end of the week, we got to write a check to the Snedeker Foundation a check for $250,000. That was what we set out to do from the very beginning was change some lives,” he said. “And we did that. We crowned a tremendous champion in Austin Smotherman – his life is going to be changed after that week. And, all of the lives that will be touched by the contribution to the Snedeker Foundation is something that we worked really hard to do. It was nice to be able to hand that check to Brandt and see him and Mandy use that to impact our communities and a lot of lives. That’s what the tournament exists for and that’s what we are focused on.”

Turnbow credited his staff and the volunteers for making the tournament a success.

“I couldn’t be proud of the team we put together. (Tournament director) Mike Hammontree and his staff inside the Foundation have been working on this thing for practically a year,” Turnbow said. “It’s their first time to dive into an event of this scale and being able to knock it out of the park, I couldn’t be more pleased of their effort and vision for the event.”

Korn Ferry Tour CEO Alex Baldwin was at the tournament on Wednesday and liked what she encountered.

“Her direct quote to me was, ‘You guys have set a new bar for our tour,’ and that’s something we are very proud of,” Turnbow said. “She was very kind to us and I think we have a great partnership going.”

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Simmons Bank Open snapshots Simmons Bank Open winner Austin Smotherman is doused with water by friends and players after wrapping up his victory at The Grove.

Young fans show the autographs they accumulated on their caps during the tournament

CBS reporter Amanda Balionis brought her Puppies and Golf initiative to the tournament.

The non-profit facilitates connections between people and rescue dogs

Fans chow down in a food tent that featured a crawfish boil at the Simmons Bank Open

Brandt Snedeker and other fans watch the action on the final day of the Simmons Bank Open

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Fitting Continued from Page 11 cause my swing with the big stick isn’t what it needs to be right now.

Still, Wright didn’t let that slow him down one bit. Within 20 minutes, the back wall of the bay was lined with a half-dozen different club heads paired with various shaft lengths.

As Wright quipped at the time, sometimes that’s just how it goes.

“It’s hard to fit somebody properly if their strike isn’t consistent, but there’s equipment out there that can help you with that,” he says.

“More of an offset head or a bigger, more forgiving club face or sweet spot. For someone who curves the ball severely left or right or has trouble hitting it farther, those are the type of golfers that a fitting can drastically help with.”

Wright, using both swing data and his own eyes, was able to determine part of my problem: hitting the ball off the heel, often resulting in bad pushes and weak contact. Unlike was the case for my irons, the solution was a reduction in shaft length of about one inch. Easy enough.

Had I gone to a retail store and selected a new driver off the rack, I wouldn’t be any closer to improving my long game. I’d venture to guess anyone who plays more than a couple times a month, as I do, would

Will Wright, right, discusses the driver fitting with Tee Times Associate Editor Justin Onslow take away a lot from a similar experience – and Wright agrees.

“It’s one thing for somebody who plays golf once or twice a year to go buy a set off the rack. That’s perfectly fine,” he says. “But for the person who plays golf once a week or two to three times a month, clearly invested in the game, that’s the person who should take advantage of a

Coach Will congratulates Justin, this is the driver for him

club fitting.

Fittings are for Everyone “I’m not good enough to get fitted for golf clubs.”

It’s simply not true. Fittings can be for everyone, from the scratch golfer to the 30-handicap. “[Fittings are] there for the better player to get sharp, and for your average golfer, it’s there to make the game easier,” Wright says. “A lot of people try to go with something that looks good and it’s not so much their skill level. What does it do to the launch conditions? You can be a skilled golfer, but a blade might not be a fit for you.”

Similarly, a player might be overestimating his or her swing speed, using extra-stiff shafts when they should be playing stiff or even regular – something a GOLFTEC fitting can determine. Do you hit the ball too high? Not high enough? Too short or too right? There’s a fix for that, too.

Ultimately, the choice to get fitted for clubs comes down to the golfer, but it should never come down to a matter of skill level. If you’re waiting to get fitted for new equipment until you get better at the game, you’re missing out on a prime opportunity to speed up the process.

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There’s plenty of golf, and more, at Tellico Village

By David Theoret For Tee Times Paper Tellico Village must be one of the largest golf communities in the country.

Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains on the Tennessee side, Tellico Village encompasses more than 5,000 acres in and around Tellico Lake. There are around 5,000 homes and more than 8,000 people who call it home. Tellico Village was created in 1986 when Cooper Communities first broke ground on this master-planned, ungated community. Located about 30 minutes from Knoxville, Tellico Village has three championship golf courses and unlimited resources for boating, fishing, and swimming.

Tellico Village has become one of the premier senior planned retirement communities in the southeast. In addition to golf and boating, Tellico Village offers residents a wide array of recreation facilities and activities. The Wellness Center is a 27,000-square foot facility with all of the resources you’ll need, plus the bonus of a spectacular view of the Smoky Mountains.

It also features an indoor swimming pool and a smaller, warm-water therapeutic pool. The large exercise room has an indoor walking track as well as cardio and weight

equipment. In the spacious fitness class studio, you’ll find a wide variety of dance and movement classes, yoga, and Tai Chi. If you like racquet sports, you’ll enjoy four Har-Tru tennis courts and eight pickleball courts.

For many residents, golf is the main attraction. Tellico Village boasts three of the area’s most pristine golf courses: Tanasi, Toqua, and Kahite. All three courses were designed by Ault, Clark & Associates.

These three private, championship golf courses have hosted many state and national championship events, including the Tennessee Golf Association’s Junior Amateur Qualifier, Women’s and Men’s Senior Amateur Championships, Four-Ball, and Senior Four-Ball Championships as well as the PGA Tour Nationwide Knoxville Open Qualifier. At Tellico Village, when you become a property owner you automatically become a full golf club member with rights and privileges on all three courses. Each clubhouse has a restaurant with a unique menu and taste. These are not your average clubhouse restaurants.

Toqua opened in 1987 and was nominated

by Golf Digest as a “Best New Course” that same year. Toqua underwent an extensive renovation in 2008 and golf aficionados now consider the layout a classic design and is built within an exquisite natural setting.

The Tanasi course at Tellico Village is one of three outstanding venues in the retirement community Several holes play along Tellico Lake while others wind their way through hills and valleys. This course approaches 7,000 yards from the tips but can play as short as 4,200 yards. No matter your skill level you’re sure to find a set of tees to match your game.

Memories of the 14th hole will last a while.

It’s fairly short as par 4s go and long ball hitters will find it drivable. You play your tee shot over a small finger of Tellico Lake with the lake also making up the left side of the fairway. The green is well-protected with bunkers. It’s a fun hole.

Toqua has a full-length driving range, shortgame area and putting green.

The Tanasi Golf Course opened in 1996 and the design is quite different than the other courses. The Bermuda fairways are a lot more open and more forgiving. The Crenshaw Bentgrass greens are bigger. Many are elevated with a lot of undulation, but they roll true. This championship course has seven sets of tees and can be played

comfortably anywhere from 6,731 yards to 4,480 yards. Beautiful Tellico Lake comes into play on several holes and enhances the beauty and challenge of the course. While there is no driving range, there is an 18-hole putting course.

Two holes that bring the lake into play are Nos. 9-10 which also are No. 1-2 handicap holes. The ninth is a 369-yard par 4 dogleg left that requires both accuracy and distance control off the tee. It’s a three-tiered, downward-sloping fairway so pray for a flat lie. A good drive will leave around a 140-yard approach shot over the lake into a green that is a lot wider than it is deep. A left-side pin placement is especially difficult as it is guarded with a small bunker.

The 10th is a 389-yard dogleg left around Tellico Lake. It’s all risk/reward off the tee but the risk greatly outweighs the reward.

A tee shot down the right side with a slight draw works well and leaves a mid-iron into a slightly elevated and well-undulated green.

Tellico Village’s third course - the Links at Kahite - opened in 2002, and in 2003 it was nominated to Golf Digest’s list of “Best New Private Courses.” Kahite is a linksstyle course with some very unusual design characteristics including tall fescue grasses that line some of the fairways. It features Bermuda fairways and Bentgrass greens and can be played anywhere from 7,170 yards to 4,435 yards. The course meanders through a serene, natural setting with several holes offering beautiful panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

A couple of things differentiate Kahite from Tellico’s other two tracks. The first is the number of bunkers, all well placed. There are 93 bunkers in all, with 12 of those being on the 18th hole. Perhaps the most notable characteristic of Kahite is the ninth hole that stretches to 808-yard (back tees) and is a par-6. Although it’s really long, it’s fairly straightforward.

Kahite features the Village’s newest driving range facility, practice bunkers, and putting green. The Kahite clubhouse has great casual dining and an outdoor patio for post-game refreshments.

Chris Sykes, formerly the head golf course superintendent at Toqua Golf Club was recently promoted to director of golf. He said the biggest challenge in maintaining all three courses is managing the putting surfaces through the summer season in the transition zone. Sykes worked for Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame member David Stone at The Honors Course at the beginning of his career, where he formed the foundation for Tellico Village’s ongoing agronomic programs.

For more information about Tellico Village, go to tellicovillage.org.

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June 2021

“LET’S GO FOR IT, DAD!”

Memories: 1989 U.S. Senior Open Championship

By Bobby Greenwood, PGA In 1989, I had qualified to play the USGA Senior Open Championship which was being held in Ligonier, Pennsylvania at the beautiful Laurel Valley Golf Club.

This was just a few miles from Arnold Palmer’s hometown of Latrobe Pennsylvania. I always got into town early for any major event that I played in. I was able to play practice rounds with Arnie on his home golf course. This was a thrill for me as Arnie gave me tips on how to play the course.

Arnold Palmer was a very easy person to talk to. He was so down to earth and enjoyable to play with. During one practice

round, I asked, ‘Arnie, are you a Christian?’

He smiled and said, ‘Bobby, I have been asked ten thousand questions in my life but no one has ever asked me that. ... Yes, I am a Christian but not a very good one.’

I replied, ‘None of us are. According to the Bible, God said there is none good, no not one.’”

When the tournament started, after every round on the 18th hole and after I had signed my card, I would see and greet Larry Adamson at the scorer’s tent. It is always good to see a friendly face in the crowd. I first met Larry when he caddied for me on the PGA Tour back in 1975. But here he was, now a big shot official with

the United States Golf Association!

Later, Larry wrote a book called “Just Some Thoughts, Reflections from the Back Nine”. In it, he detailed a poignant moment from that U.S. Senior Open Championship regarding Arnold Palmer.

Here’s the excerpt from his book: “One of my favorite memories at the United States Senior Open Championship involves Arnold Palmer and a reference to him and his father, Deke Palmer.

In 1989, I was working at the United States Senior Open Championship. It was the last day of the event, and I was out on the course running what I am sure was my usual “gofer” duties. My duties on that day found me near the eighteenth fairway as Palmer had just teed off the eighteenth tee and was making his way up the fairway.

The eighteenth was a beautiful hole (a par five, 550 yards long with water guarding the front of the green). As you approach the green, the hole has an amphitheater type arrangement that makes it possible to accommodate large numbers of people.

The crowd could sit and easily see the players coming up the fairway and watch their play on this hole. I walked ahead of Palmer and his group and stopped and stood on this amphitheater-like hill. As you can imagine, the crowd was huge.

As I stood there waiting for Palmer to get nearer to the green, I observed many elderly folks just sitting, talking and visiting with one another. Many were unaware of

www.teetimespaper.com the drives the players had hit on this hole.

As I got closer to the ropes and the folks sitting on the side of the hill, I could hear much of their conversation. Most were engaged in light-hearted conversation as they enjoyed the warmth of the day.

When Palmer came into sight, I saw one of the older gentlemen who had been sitting in the group rise to his feet and he said, ‘Hey, here comes Deke’s boy.’ No, not here comes Arnold Palmer, or here comes Arnie, but here comes ‘Deke’s boy.’ It was evident that the folks sitting in the group on this hillside knew Deke Palmer well and understood the reference.

For me that was a special moment to hear one of the most famous athletes ever, referred to not by his name but by who his father was. He was ‘Deke’s boy’.”

That was a great father-son moment for Larry to witness. I also had fun on that hole, as my son, Bo (Robert III), was caddying for me at this Senior USGA major tournament in 1989 at Laurel Valley. On the eighteenth hole, if you can hit a long tee shot and land in the fairway, you might be able to reach the green in two and putt for an eagle - if you are brave enough to carry the water.

The tournament started on Thursday.

After a good tee shot on 18, the last hole of the first round, I was standing in the middle of the fairway with my caddy, Bo. When I pulled the head cover off my 3-wood, unexpectedly, the crowd started cheering because they wanted to see a pro try to go for the green. It was a long and dangerous shot over the water.

In the second round on 18, after I checked my lie in the fairway, I told my son Bo to give me the 3-wood. And again, the crowd cheered!

On Saturday, in the third round after I had hit another good drive on 18, Bo looked at my lie and said, ‘Go for it, Dad!’ I guess he wanted to hear the loud encouraging cheers from the gallery as they cheered for his daddy.

But in the final round, just as we stepped on the tee and before I had even hit my tee shot, Bo said, ‘Let’s go for it, Dad.’ It did my heart good to see the excitement in my son’s eyes as he watched me play. One of the many memories that a father has with his son.”

Bobby Greenwood said the late Arnold Palmer was always an enjoyable pairing

June 2021

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17

Rising above the flood

The Smoots won’t let disaster keep them down

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor Stan Smoot, PGA and owner and brother Charlie, who manages the center are aware their facility is located in a flood plain.

They’ve had to clean up after a flood before. They survived the “1,000-year flood” of 2010. And 11 years later, they have survived a “500-year flood”.

Each time, they have picked up and cleaned up after the storm and re-opened better than ever. After the most recent flood of March 27-28 when the Harpeth River spilled over its banks and destroyed much of the golf center’s equipment and infrastructure, the Smoots have decided enough is enough.

They are going to make sure that the next natural disaster won’t wipe them out.

Having been through one major flood once before, the Stan and Charlie know they have to keep an eye on the weather.

Their property is in a flood buffer zone and it doesn’t take long for the water to rise and spill onto their property. Usually, all they have to do is move their equipment to higher ground and everything is OK. The land dries out and they get back to business in good order.

On March 27, they weren’t as lucky. The rain started falling and the water started rising.

Charlie Smoot was in Williamson County when he got a call from Stan, who told him they were having to evacuate.

“I thought he was kidding me because it was a nice day,” Charlie said. “We knew it was coming but we thought it would only get into the parking lot.”

When he started back toward Nashville, Charlie said “it was the hardest rain I had ever driven through.”

Stan got a report that said the Harpeth River could go to 20 feet by the next morning.

“I knew we were in trouble,” he said. “I

Photo on left shows the Harpeth Valley Golf Center during the most recent flood. On the right, the Harpeth Valley Golf Center sign today.

(L) Charlie and Stan Smoot manage and own the Harpeth Valley Golf Center. They plan to make improvements after the most recent flood did extensive damage to their facility.

tried to get a hauler to get our equipment out, but I couldn’t get one until the next morning. By then it would be too late.”

Stan, his son and a friend frantically tried to salvage as much as they could. When they arrived, the water in the parking lot was ankle deep. Within 30 minutes, it was knee high.

The water eventually got to around 12-feet high, more than high enough to cause extensive damage to the clubhouse, maintenance building, equipment and other assorted items.

The late March flood took a toll on the pro shop

“I knew we would lose the trailer, but I didn’t think we’d lose our equipment on the pad on No. 1 tee because that is about 4-to-5 feet above the parking lot,” Stan said.

“We found the old Coke machine upside down, full of mud,” Charlie said. “Golf balls were scattered all over the property. We lost our water source, electrical source, cable, TV and internet. We don’t know where our ball box went.”

They didn’t let the situation get them down, though. As soon as the water

receded, they were back at work, cleaning up and trying to get the business back up and running. Nine days later, they were open for business.

It wasn’t easy, though. Their ball-picker was damaged beyond repair, so the staff had to hand-pick range balls and then pressure wash them until they got their ball-washer, which was scattered about in pieces, back running.

“It was regular 12-to-14-hour days,” Charlie said. “We open at 8 a.m., so we had guys coming in early to hand pick the range and get as many balls picked and washed as we could by 8. I don’t think I have ever worked this hard.”

Nine days after the flood, Harpeth Valley Golf Center re-opened for business, using a tent as a clubhouse on the back deck which survived the flood.

Although the Smoots were down, they weren’t out. Although the latest flood took a toll financially, they are confident that with new building plans in place they won’t have to suffer through another disaster.

The Smoots credit their friends and customers for helping them get through the most recent flood.

Plans are to build a new clubhouse on stilts on one corner of the property and to build a new maintenance facility with a secure entrance road on another corner of the property that is out of the flood buffer zone.

The downside is that it will take time and money to implement those plans.

“Failure is not an option,” Stan said. “This one hurt – we’re writing off about $150,000.

The other flood was devastating. We’re in a better place financially and business-wise now. We have a great business and a great product. This is my spot and this is what I do. We have invested too much in it to quit.”

Added Charlie, “We have so many friends and customers who are helping us. We started a “Gofund” page and raised nearly $20,000. That allowed us to keep our employees. We are very thankful for everything. It seems like we have grown closer to our customers after going through

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Equipment Corner Callaway Footwear introduces 2 new models

Callaway Footwear has added the Coronado v2 and Coronado v2 SL to its 2021 footwear collection.

The Coronado, launched in 2018, quickly became one of the top selling golf shoes in the Callaway footwear line. For 2021, the Coronado v2 and Coronado v2 SL debut with enhanced performance technologies

for exceptional comfort and stability in every step.

Coronado v2 midsole with a proprietary EVA blend for a perfect fit. The Coronado v2 features a ForgedFoam combination of cushioning and high-energy return. For greater stability and support, the shoe

heel incorporates an external CounterLok mesh microfiber leather upper and optivent stabilizer. The Coronado v2 has a waterproof opti-dri sock liner that provides exceptional breathability outsole offers maximum stability and traction and heat management. The nine-spike TPU Fusion Lite on all types of terrain

Coronado v2 Tech Specs

• ForgedFoam is the perfect combination of softness and energy return. It cushions your foot with every step while providing substantial energy return to propel you

Coronado v2

Coronado v2 SL

www.teetimespaper.com through your swing.

• CounterLok is an external heel counter that increases stability during the loadbearing phase of the golf swing.

• Fusion-Lite TPU Outsole uses TPU material to provide optimal support and structure, allowing a solid underfoot feel and traction.

• Opti-Dri waterproofing guarantee’s the shoe will keep your feet dry.

• Opti-Vent™ materials allow heat to move away from your feet, providing optimum breathability and heat management.

• Color: White/Blue/Red with American Flag on the outsole and insole, Black, Grey • Sizes: 8 -12, 13, 14; Widths: Medium and Wide • Warranty: Two-year limited waterproof • Retail Pricing: $129.95 Coronado v2 SL The Coronado v2 SL offers all the performance technologies as in the Coronado v2 but with a spikeless outsole. The Fusion-Lite TPU spikeless outsole is designed for maximum traction and comfort on and off the course.

It incorporates strategic cutouts to allow the shoe to flex and move with the foot throughout the swing.

Coronado v2 SL Tech Specs

• Color: Navy, Grey, Black/Grey • Sizes: 8 -12, 13, 14; Widths: Medium and Wide • Warranty: Two-year limited waterproof • Retail Pricing: $119.95

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State teams shine in NCAA regional play Editor’s note: At press time, the Vanderbilt men’s team qualified for match play at the NCAA Men’s National Championship. Tennessee and East Tennessee State did not make the final eight-team cut.

Tee Times Report The state of Tennessee was wellrepresented at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship, with three teams advancing out of regional play.

Vanderbilt and East Tennessee each won their regionals, while Tennessee finished second at its regional. Thirty teams from across the country qualified for the NCAA Tournament May 28-June 2 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Playing close to home, Vanderbilt saved its best round of the Kingston Springs Regional for last to win the tournament.

Vandy finished 18-under-par and easily outdistanced SEC rival Arkansas by 11 strokes. It was the first regional championship in program history.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled for a group,” Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh, who was SEC Coach of the Year, told vucommodores.com. “That’s one of the hardest days in college golf and for our kids to come out and just run with it ... I mean we had momentum from the start and for all five guys to be even-par or better (in the

last round) on this magnificent golf course, I truly couldn’t be prouder of a group.”

Vandy was peaking at the right time, as it also claimed the SEC Championship.

The Commodores last appeared in the 2019 NCAA Championships where it lost to Stanford in match play. They also played in the 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 NCAA Championships.

William Moll, a first-team All-SEC selection, led Vandy in the final round a 4-under-par round and finished in third place. Matthew Riedel also had his best round of the week with a 3-under-par and tied for 13th.

Reid Davenport, the individual leader after the first round, tied for fourth after an even-par third round. He was 5-under-par after 54 holes. Cole Sherwood, named to the SEC All-Freshman team, tied for 13th overall with Riedel while Michael Shears tied for 28th.

“I know what we’re capable of,” Limbaugh said about the makeup of his lineup. “Ever since we became a different team this spring, all we’ve talked about is ‘Let’s put our heads down and see how good we can

The Vanderbilt men’s golf team won the SEC tournament and an NCAA Regional tournament before qualifying for the match play portion of the NCAA Men’s Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona

become.’ To their credit that’s exactly what they’ve done.”

Puwit Anupansuebsai from San Diego State carded an 8-under-par for the tournament to win the individual championship.

Vols finish 2nd in Noblesville

A second-place finish in the Noblesville Regional sent Tennessee to its first NCAA championship since 2013.

“I’m very proud of all of our guys,” head coach Brennan Webb told UTsports. com. “They followed their game plan to perfection and played with patience and discipline. Advancing through regionals is never a given, and to be able to advance with not a lot of stress during the last round was great. I know this is another confidence for our guys and they are excited for next week.”

As a team at the Noblesville Regional, the Vols tied for second place and shot a threeround total of 15-under 849. The secondplace finish marks Tennessee’s highest regional finish since 2009.

Recording his sixth career top-five finish, Hunter Wolcott led the Vols with a 6-under performance, tying for fifth place.

Bryce Lewis finished one stroke behind Wolcott and tied for seventh place. It marks Lewis’ third top-10 finish of the season and dating to March, his fourth straight top-25 finish.

Spencer Cross finished 18th, Rhys Nevin finished 31 and Brayden Garrison tied for 35th place.

East Tennessee wins in Washington

It took 20 years, but East Tennessee State finally won another NCAA regional.

The Bucs, who hadn’t won a regional since 2001, captured the Cle Elum Regional in Cle Elum, Washington with a winning score of 14-under-par (838), besting San Francisco (-4) by double digits at Tumble Creek Golf Club. It’s the first trip to the NCAA Championship since 2008.

“We go into every event trying to win and this was no different for us,” coach Jake Amos told ETSUbucs.com. “We had great preparation leading up to the regional tournament and after a long break from our Southern Conference Championship, we were fresh. We had great self-belief from all of our players. We know how good we are and other people are starting to see that now.”

Senior Shiso Go won medalist honors at 8-under-par (205). It was his third consecutive season with an individual title and he is the first Buccaneer since Rhys Enoch (2010) to win individual medalist honors at an NCAA Regional.

“This was a team effort for sure,” Amos said. “We had all five guys playing well, which made it a really stress-free event.

Shiso played solid all week and I couldn’t be happier for him getting his third collegiate win. The cool thing was that Archie and Trevor could’ve easily won the individual medalist also.”

Fellow senior Trevor Hulbert (Orlando, Fla.) put together an even-par (71) final round to finish T-6th in the standings.

Jack Rhea (Jonesborough, Tenn.) and Remi Chartier (Montreal, Canada) both carded 4-over-par (75) final rounds for ETSU. Rhea finished T-47th while Chartier posted a T-22 finish.

Archie Davies (Carlisle, England) finished T-4th after taking a four-shot lead into the final round. But a 76 scuttled his effort to take medalist honors.

The Bucs shot 14-under and won by 10 shots over San Francisco.

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Memphian Rachel Heck won 6 of the 9 tournaments she played in as a freshman at Stanford.

(Photo courtesy of Stanford Athletics)

Awards pile up for Memphian Rachel Heck

Tee Times Report

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Stanford freshman Rachel Heck was announced as the winner of the prestigious ANNIKA Award on Tuesday at Grayhawk Golf Club. Heck, the 2021 individual NCAA champion, won six times this season and set a new NCAA single-season scoring average record (69.72).

“It is unreal,” Heck said. “I remember in high school the ANNIKA Award Instagram page followed me and I was freaking out. I thought it was the coolest thing in the whole world. Every year I would see the watch list come out and see all of the girls I always looked up to and thought that maybe one day I would crack the watch list. To actually receive the award is unbelievable, I am speechless right now.”

“My biggest role model in golf is Annika,” continued Heck. “She is incredible. What she did with her career in golf alone speaks for itself, but what she has done after that is unbelievable. She has given so much back to the game, she has spent the rest of her life just giving back to the game, growing golf and growing girls golf, so to receive the award from her is so special.”

Heck, a Memphis native, didn’t stop collecting awards. The day after being

named the ANNIKA Award winner, Heck was named the PING WGCA Player of the Year and the WGCA Freshman of the Year Presented by StrackaLine.

In setting the NCAA scoring record, 15 of her 25 rounds were in the 60s, including a stretch of 12 straight rounds from March 28 through May 23.

In winning the 2021 ANNIKA Award, Heck earned an exemption to the 2022 Evian Championships.

By virtue of her national title, Heck earned an exemption to the LPGA’s 2021 Marathon Classic. She will also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open, having earned medalist honors at the Marin Country Club qualifier.

In nine total events, Heck won six times, finishing tied for second, tied for sixth and tied for 11th in the other three. She became the third woman in NCAA history to earn a postseason sweep, winning conference, regionals and nationals. The six victories are the most in school history, tied for thirdmost for a career in school history, and tied for the fifth-most in a single season in NCAA history.

Heck helped Stanford advance to the final eight at the NCAA Women’s Championship while taking medalist honors. The Cardinal lost in the opening round of match play.to PAC12 rival Arizona 3-2.

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Houston team wins City of Crossville team title The Tennessee Section of the PGA teed it up at Lake Tansi Golf Course on May 24 for the TNPGA City of Crossville Team Championship. More than 25 fourman teams made up of Tennessee PGA professionals and amateur golfers teed it up on one of Crossville’s finest public access facilities.

The first day saw the team of Jeff Houston, Cody King, Logan Stewart, and Hunter Stoneman shoot a 13-underpar 59 to take a two-shot lead. Nine teams were within four shots of the lead heading into the final round.

Each of the par 5 holes surrendered an eagle with Kelvin Burgin, head pro at nearby Bear Trace, carding an eagle on the 539-yard ninth hole.

Lake Tansi Golf Course is part of Lake Tansi Resort. This 6,701-yard par 72 championship golf course is open yearround and is a popular getaway golf destination. The course is walkable and very player-friendly, If your game is on you can shoot some low scores out here as can be evidenced by a team scoring average of 63.77 in the opening round.

In the second round, several teams made a charge at the leaders. The team of Buddy Harston (Vanderbilt Legends Club), Ryan

(l-r) Team Champions, Jeff Houston, Cody King, Hunter Stoneman, and Logan Stewart, PGA Gavin Darbyshire, Lake Tansi Resort hosted the tournament.

Botts, Blaine Turner, and Jonah Manning managed to shoot a second-round score of 13-under for a two-day total of 23-under.

The team of Braxton Hunter and Allie Knight from Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville along with amateurs Zach Young, and Will Kegley shot a 60 for a two-day total of 123. However, it wasn’t enough to pass the first-round leaders. Once again, the foursome of Houston, Director of Golf at Fairfield Glade, King, assistant pro at Druid Hills, and amateurs Stewart and Stoneman followed up their amazing Day 1 performance with an 61 in the final round

to claim the TNPGA City of Crossville Team Championship with a two-day cumulative score of 120.

“The course was in great condition and, even with all of the rain we usually get this time of year, the course was playing firm and fast,” Houston said. “We all played well, had a lot of birdie putts, and were fortunate to make a bunch of them.”

For more information or to book your next round at Lake Tansi Golf Course go to laketansigolf.com.

TEE TIMES

Smith-Korth team wins Senior FourBall title Tee Times Report The teams of Hubie Smith-Paul Korth and Mike Nixon-Doug Harris won Tennessee Golf Association state championships recently in the Senior Four-Ball and Super Senior Four-Ball events.

The Smith-Korth team won the Senior FourBall event with a 4&3 win over Russ Berger and Thomas White.

Smith and Korth reached the championship match by taking down Bjorn Svedin-Scott Ramsey in the semifinals 5&4. The Svedin-Ramsey team captured medalist honors and were the No. 1 seed entering match play. They shot a 36-hole total of 9-under-par 133 at Stones River Country Club.

Berger-White needed 20 holes to beat Danny Green-Steve Golliher to reach the championship match.

In Super Senior play, the team of Nixon-Harris took down Larry McGill-Wes Gilliland 1-up to claim the championship.

In the semifinals, Nixon-Harris downed Neil Spitalny-John Williams 1-up, while McGillGilliland beat medalists Tony Green-Garry Siddons 1-up. The Green-Siddons team shot 69-68 to claim medalist honors.

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Knoxville, Huntsville crown 1st-time Korn Ferry Tour winners Tee Times Report KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Korn Ferry Tour’s Visit Knoxville Open turned into a two-man race to the finish.

When it was over. Greyson Sigg came away with the win, courtesy of a sixfoot par putt on the 72nd hole. When he dropped in the final putt, Sigg had a one-shot win over Stephen Jaeger.

Sigg’s closing 66 enabled him to overcome a three-shot deficit to Jaeger in the final round. He finished at 20-under-par for his first victory on the Korn Ferry Tour.

“When Jaeger gets out there in the hunt, he’s hard to beat, so I knew I had to go out today and shoot at least 4- or 5-under and luckily for me, I did,” Sigg told pgatour.com. “I’ve been close and it just speaks volumes to how hard this tour is and how good these guys are. I’ve been close and finally I was able to (win).”

Sigg and Jaeger see-sawed back and forth over the last 10 holes, making the same score on a hole only twice.

Sigg had three birdies in that stretch and he took the lead for good when Jaeger missed a short par putt on No. 17.

Sigg, a University of Georgia alumnus, has eight top-10s this season and moved to No. 2 in the Korn Ferry Tour points standings. With a season total of 1934 points, Sigg has crossed the 1700-point threshold the Tour is using as its fail-safe number for players to finish inside the top 25.

“It’s hard to do. I mean, you see it every week where guys struggle to

Greyson Sigg won the Visit Knoxville Open and secured his PGA Tour card for next season. (Photo courtesy Mizuno Golf) get there. Good players who I feel like should be there, aren’t,” said Sigg, who played on the Forme Tour from 20172019. “I’ve been doing it my whole life to get there and today I solidified it, so today it’s a pretty special moment for me.”

Jaeger, the 36- and 54-hole leader, failed to become the 12th player to earn a three-win promotion to the PGA Tour and the first since Wesley Bryan in 2016. The runner-up finish is his fifth top-three of the season and he remains atop the Korn Ferry Tour points list.

Seth Reeves tied the course record with a 9-under 61 and finished solo third at 17-under, while Max Greyserman and Harrison Endycott shared fourth at 16-under.

Christine Clark

HUNTSVILLE CHAMPIONSHIP HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Paul Barjon finally found the winner’s circle on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Close so often this season, the former TCU golf team member from Dumbea, New Caledonia, broke through for his first Korn Ferry Tour when he captured the inaugural Huntsville Championship with an eagle on the third playoff hole.

Barjon had the lead heading into the final round after fashioning a 64 In the third round, but he left the door open with a final-round 69.

Hard-charging Billy Kennerly shot 63 and Mito Pereira shot 66 to force a three-hole playoff after the three tied at 15-under-par 265 on The Ledges.

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Paul Barjon captured his first Korn Ferry Tour win at the inaugural Huntsville Open Kennerly bowed out with a bogey on the second playoff hole before the 28-year-old Barjon knocked in a 15foot eagle putt on the third playoff hole.

Barjon took home $108,000 for the victory and is projected to move to sixth on the season points list, a jump of nine places.

Although it is his first Korn Ferry Tour win, Barjon won twice on the Mackenzie Tour – the most recent in 2019 - and he has been close to winning this season with three second-place ties and a third-place tie. One of his second-place ties came in the WinCo Foods Portland Open, a tournament won by Lee Hodges, who lives just down the road from Huntsville.

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Special delivery Golf instruction goes mobile with “SmashFactor” Mobile Golf Instruction

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor NASHVILLE - We live in a world of convenience. A person can get just about anything delivered to their house.

Want a pizza? It will be delivered piping hot.

Need your groceries delivered? There’s somebody for that, too.

Now, golfers in the Greater Nashville area can get a golf lesson delivered to the friendly confines of their home, a nearby park, a pasture or even at a golf course.

“SmashFactor” Mobile Golf Instruction is the brainchild of the father-son team of Jeff and Jordan Johnson. Jeff, the father, is a former PGA Class A professional. Jordan, the son, has been around the game since he was a youngster, watching his dad give lessons and studying the swing.

And, they’ll gladly bring instruction to you. It’s really an ingenious idea if you think about it. With so much golf technology at the touch of an app, it’s only natural that instruction become portable.

When a lesson is booked, the Johnsons load up their net, mat, Doppler Launch Monitor, two cameras, golf balls and other teaching aids and come to your location.

“With all the technology that is available to us now, we thought it was something we wanted to do,” Jeff Johnson said.

Simple, huh?

Jeff Johnson said part of the idea is an offshoot from Covid-19 pandemic in which lifestyles changed dramatically.

“Jordan and I both love golf and we have been around golf for so long, and to have an opportunity to do something unique and together, and provide a service – we sort of felt the stars were lining up,” Jeff Johnson said. “The timing – after the past year people are so used to having things brought to their home and not going out. And, not to mention

Jeff and Jordan Johnson have created “SmashFactor”, an instructional service that will come to your location for instruction.

that a lot of times new golfers aren’t comfortable going out to a golf course and taking a lesson in front of other people on a driving range.”

YouTube also provided some of the idea, according to Jordan Johnson.

“We sit at home and watch Youtube videos of all these pros hitting into nets with launch monitors, and we try to take cues from them and learn from them,” he said. “Then we follow them on Instagram or continue to follow their YouTube channels. But nobody is offering this as a service at their homes.

It’s astounding that no one has thought about this.”

Jordan Johnson said the convenience makes it worthwhile.

“A person can get off work, come home and do whatever while we set up a beautiful high-end experience right there in their driveway,” Jordan Johnson said. “They can take a 90-minute lesson from us and then go inside and eat dinner. It couldn’t be more convenient and it couldn’t be more timely with the way technology is now with analytics.”

Lessons are similar to other top teachers, although Jordan Johnson points out that students benefit from having two instructors.

“That’s unheard of,” he said. “It’s a great set up – one of us is going to be more hands-on and the other is going to crunch the numbers a little bit, take the video and diagnose it. Then we can go ahead and triage what needs to happen and show them in real time and tell them the cause and effect of what

is happening. It’s a really, really nice setup.”

Jordan Johnson said it should allow people to “get a lot better a lot quicker”.

The app that goes along with the SmashFactor program offers the usual data points – launch angle, carry, ball speed, clubhead speed, etc. It also includes driving range scenarios and five golf courses people can play.

“We are sort of open to all the possibilities and the environments we might find ourselves in – not locking into any one particular thing,” Jeff Johnson said. “That’s what is exciting about it – who knows where we will end up.”

The Jordans launched “SmashFactor” Mobile Golf Instruction in early April. To get the word out about the venture, they launched a website (smashfactormobile. com) and also have an Instagram page.

They have distributed flyers, business cards and hope word of mouth will provide results.

“Word of mouth is the most fabulous (way to advertise),” Jeff Johnson said.

“We know that once people start to experience us, there is going to be quite a bit of interest in them meeting us and

spending time with us.”

Lessons can be arranged just about anywhere – a driveway, backyard, parking lot, public park.

“As long as you have a flat space about 20 feet from back to front, that’s all we need to get an accurate reading from the launch monitor,” Jordan Johnson said.

The Johnsons are offering a 90-minute introductory lesson for $125.

The name “SmashFactor” is derived from the energy transfer from the club to the ball and how efficient the golf swing is, Jeff Johnson said. “We are able to give really specific information, plus some really simple fixes and drills.

Every golf swing is different. We don’t have a system where we are going to make people conform to what we think they should look like. We are going to see what they have in them and draw that out and accentuate and enhance that.”

Instruction includes every facet of the game, including short game and putting.

Students also are emailed video of the lesson.

For information, go to smashfactormobile.com.

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