May 2017 Keeping Golfers Connected in TN, KY, MS, AL, NC
May 2017
Kentucky’s Dale Hollow Lake Resort:
Great Golf... And A Whole Lot More! Pages 2-3
Inside!! Market correction: Course closures a sure sign golf 4 industry is treading water New kid on the block:
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Blazing a bayou trail:
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Former LPGA player Kim Williams joins Golf TEC staff Louisiana’s Audubon Golf Trail offers diverse courses
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Dale Hollow Lake has great golf and a whole lot more By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor There are several things most golfers can count on when it comes to state parks courses in any state. • Serene, picturesque settings; • Outstanding golf courses and accommodations; • Great bang for the buck. Dale Hollow State Resort Park in Burkesville, Kentucky, checks all of those boxes and more. Even better, it’s tucked just across the Kentucky just 2 hours, 30 minutes from Nashville. Dale Hollow is perfect for a day trip, a weekend buddies’ golf trip or a golf couples’ getaway. The Brian Ault design opened to much fanfare in 2003 and quickly was named Kentucky’s best new course. Among its various accolades since then is being named the No. 7 on the list of best courses in Kentucky by Golf Digest in 2013. That reputation is something the staff at Dale Hollow admits they try to live up to every day. “Dale Hollow Lake Golf Course is our premier course that is often described by customers as a beautiful clean park with an amazing golf course and friendly staff,” Kentucky State Parks Director of Golf Kevin Main said. Ault, the designer, said it was apparent early that Kentucky state representatives Andy Casebier and John Drake were looking to hit a home run with the Dale Hollow course.
Ault called the site “an architect’s dream “Upon our first review of the site, it was confirmed that it was certainly up to the task,” said Ault, who has been in the golf design business since 1973. “It was beautiful. The available acreage was plentiful – thank goodness – as it had some very roughed areas.” He encountered a mostly wooded site as well as some open fields, a couple of streams, lake views and numerous visually exciting rock outcroppings. “All of which combined for quite a dramatic setting waiting for the golf course,” Ault said.
No.14, elevation change and view of the Cumberland Mountains
Lodge & Restaurant view of Dale Hollow Lake
Ault took extreme care in make sure each hole fit the landscape and that it would have character, image and play-
Ron Roberts, PGA/GC Manager
variety of the 61 bunkers are strategically placed to present more of a challenge than meets the eye. Aside the shot values, Dale Hollow’s biggest challenge might be the distractions of views offered by the course’s elevation changes. “There are elevation changes on almost every hole, with majestic views from each,” one visitor to the course said. “If you like a beautiful, challenging, well maintained golf course with fantastic views this is it.” Head professional Ron Roberts, who is
No. 15 challenging par three Breathtaking surprise awaits you!
ability. The finished product indicates he accomplished all of that and more. Dale Hollow features bentgrass tees and gently sloping bentgrass greens. The fairways are Zoysia, and while it looks straight forward from the tees, a
coming up on his one-year anniversary at the course, describes it this way. “We have 18 signature holes,” he said. “We have mountain views, so bring your camera. This is one of the most scenic courses in the country.”
May 2017
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Marty Walden,
the super and hardworking crew are 35 % into their Better Billy Bunker project
away here in south Cumberland County.” Of course, there is much more to Dale Hollow Lake Resort State Park than just the golf course. Just ask Park Manager Joe Mounce. “Guests can stay at the Mary Ray Oaken Lodge that is built of limestone and massive timbers and sits high atop a bluff overlooking the 28,000-acre lake and surrounding woodlands,” Mounce said. “The 60 guest rooms feature private balconies and patios to enjoy the view from the cliff. We have over 10 miles of hiking trails, a campground
in and taking it to where we are now has been a very interesting journey,” he said. “No two holes are alike, and we have very scenic views of the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains. It’s a diamond tucked
Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Pro Shop staff
Ron Roberts, Head pro Debbie Cash, Assistant to pro Rick Hise Anthony Walden 15 volunteers
Debbie Casho,
assistant to pr Ron, UT & UK fan.
Superintendent’s staff
Marty Walden, superintendent Larry Anderson, assistant superintendent Darrell Hopper, landscape gardener David Watson, mechanic Danny Wright, park worker Matt Leveridge, temporary worker Tyler Wright, temporary worker Lacey White, temporary worker Chuck Smith, temporary worker Patrick Groce, temporary worker
Restaurant staff
Bill Ware, head chef Joey Webb, cook II Heath Staley, cook I Mark Baker, cook I Jason Flowers, cook/apprentice Frazier Curtis, cook/apprentice Trevor Corbin, cook/apprentice Noah Young, cook/apprentice Jeremy Wright, cook/apprentice
Joe Mounce, Manager,
Dale Hollow St at Resort Park e
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with 145 sites, a country store with mini-golf and full dining opportunities at our restaurant. Having a very diverse spectrum of offerings affords the ability to offer something for the whole family.” Among the highlights of the resort, according to sales representative Ruth Hadley, include exploring Cindy Cave, excellent fishing on Dale Hollow Lake, hiking to Eagle Point and renting pontoons at the marina. Hadley also points out that Dale Hollow Resort State Park is a spectacular venue for weddings.
Food with a flare: Dale Hollow offers traditional Kentucky dining By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor
With five sets of tees stretching from 5,000 to 7,000 yards, Dale Hollow is accommodating to players of all skill levels. Course superintendent Marty Walden has been with Dale Hollow since the construction phase. The son of a superintendent, he said it has been a fun ride being in-site since the beginning. “Taking the course where there wasn’t a course before, growing it
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Bill Ware has a lot of stops as a chef on his restaurant resume. He’s worked at the Broadway Dinner Train and The Key, a Caribbean Grill, in Nashville. There was a stop at Chefs’ Market and Café in Goodlettsville. He had a stint at Owensboro (Kentucky) Country Club and at three Kentucky state parks facilities – Lake Barkley, Pine Mountain and Lake Cumberland. But for the past three years, he’s been cooking at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park and offering up traditional cooking that hit home with his diners. “We strive to offer menu selections that are in the style of Kentucky’s roots, put our own influences where we can, modernize selections where we must and present to the diverse palates who visit us a taste of the Commonwealth,” Ware said. “To some of our patrons, these meals are casual fare or comfort foods. To others they are a reminder of grandma’s house in the country in a simpler time and welcoming atmosphere.” For Ware, that’s an easy recipe to follow. “To me, food is a social event,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to relax and unwind and a connection to our culture. And that seems to be what many of our patrons seek and expect.” Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park is well known for its reasonably-priced buffets that change on a daily basis. The most popular of those buffets are the Friday night seafood buffets during the summer and Saturday night barbecued
ribs and Southern fried chicken. “To quote a mentor of mine, ‘you can’t be all things to all people,’” Ware said. “In that theme we try to be true to ourselves first, in that at Kentucky state parks we are ambassadors of Kentucky’s heritage of hospitality. From the earliest frontier settlements, Kentucky has been the original fusion cuisine, focused on locally available ingredients prepared in diverse styles based on the influences or many cultures that found their way or were already here.” In addition to the buffets, guests can order off a menu. Recently, alcohol
Chef Bill Ware, Dale Hollow State Park Restaurant sales have been added to the menu. The restaurant offers a variety of beer and wine, and mixed cocktails are also available. “This has been wonderful for the restaurant and park,” said Food Service Operations Director Scott, who has been a Kentucky parks employee for 16 years. “We’ve had a great response from the guests.” Excellent dining and fabulous golf amidst a to-die-for setting. What’s not to like?
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From tHE Editor By Gregg Dewalt
Continued course closings a sign golf is in trouble On a recent trip across the state to cover a high school baseball playoff doubleheader, I stopped by Burningtree Country Club in Decatur, Alabama, to cash in some pro shop credit dating back to a tournament last fall. While making my purchase – a shirt and a dozen balls – talk with head professional Jim Settles quickly turned to the state of the game. In north Alabama where I live, golf might not be in complete decline but the game sure isn’t healthy, either. Two courses have closed in the past five months and another will close if a buyer can’t be found. One of the closures was Becky Peirce Golf Course in Huntsville, a popular city-owned course that has been around for decades but shut down Jan. 1. City officials currently are trying to decide what to do with the course that had fallen into disrepair under the previous management. A feasibility study will determine what happens next - whether to upgrade the course and make it a more high-end public fa-
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town pays $12,000 a month on the bond. The closures continue a decade-long trend across the northern tier of the state. Previous course closings in the Florence-Muscle Shoals area include Florence Country Club, the first home course for PGA Tour player Stewart Cink, and the nine-hole tracks Sky Park Golf Course and Arrowhead Country Club. Across the border in Tennessee, Clax Branch (Loretto) and Ross Creek Landing (Clifton), one of the original (and some say the best) Bear Trace courses, are now shuttered. Cedar Ridge in Decatur closed in
And, of course, there is a tremendous historical loss when a course as old as Decatur Country Club shuts down. Back in the day, it was the centerpiece for the town’s movers and shakers. Eventually, no one will remember the day Jack
The Becky Peirce Municipal Golf Course in Huntsville, shown here in 2013, closed Jan. 1, 2017. (AL.com file photo)
cility, reopen it as a cost-friendly alternative, or keep it closed permanently. The other course that closed is Decatur Nicklaus came to town and teed it up at Ross Country Club, just a short drive down Creek or that when Cink was a teenager he I-565 from Becky Peirce. DCC shut down used to fleece the older members out of their its golf operation in early May and now hard-earned cash at Florence Country Club. only offers social memberships. Decatur In an era when equipment and instruction Country Club opened in 1923, making it has never been better and junior golfers one of the oldest courses in Alabama. play with an expertise beyond their years, it Thirty minutes from Decatur Country seems golf should be thriving and not stagClub is Valley Landing Golf Course which nant. opened in 2001 and is owned by the small The town of Courtland in north Alabama is Ask 10 “experts” on how to fix the game town of Courtland. It’s up for sale. Accordlooking to sell Valley Landing Golf Course, the municipal course it opened in 2002. ing to a story in the Decatur Daily, CourtPhoto courtesy of the TimesDaily land mayor Clarence Logston said the decision to sell was made because International Paper, the county’s largest employer 2014 after a 39-year run. that pulled up stakes several years ago, will no Maybe the closures across the counlonger pay the town $770,000 annually, money try are simply a market correction from that was used to pay off bonds. a time when developers couldn’t build Courtland owes about $1.4 million on a bond courses fast enough and it appeared the that funded construction of the course, and the golf bubble would never burst. Or maybe, as one pro suggested, golf is simply skipping a generation and the next golf boon will have to wait until the current junior golfers reach adulthood. Decatur Country Club shut down its golf operation in I am saddened by the closing of all these early May and now only offers social memberships. golf courses. Some admittedly were valDecatur Country Club opened in 1923, making it one ue courses – a little rough around the of the oldest courses in Alabama. edges but well-worth the bargain cost. Just about every middle-aged and senior player in Florence got their start at Sky Park be- and you’ll get 10 different answers. All I know fore becoming country clubbers. A course like is that when courses close, so does opportunity. Valley Landing is often the first exposure junior Given the state of the game right now, golf can’t golfers in rural communities might have to the afford to keep losing those opportunities. game. If it closes, that’s one less place for some Keep it in the fairway, junior golfers to get their start. Gregg
PUBLISHER Joe Hall pgegolf@bellsouth.net EDITOR Gregg Dewalt
SENIOR EDITOR David Widener widecard@aol.com
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Established in 1991, Tee Times is published monthly, ten times per year. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.
P.O. Box 41293 • Nashville, TN 37204 • Phone: 615-331-1078 • Fax: 1-866-579-4932 Member: Golf Writers Association of America, International Network of Golf, Golf Travel Writers of America
May 2017
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Southern States Junior Classic set for second year Tee Times report CHATTANOOGA – The Southeastern States Junior Classic is returning for a second time to Chattanooga. Scheduled for July 14-16 on three area courses, the SSJC attracted junior golfers from nine states in its inaugural showing in 2016. Now, it’s returning for a second run with some exciting news that should attract a larger, extremely competitive field. This year the tournament will be a points event for the Tennessee Golf Association’s Player of the Year race. Also, the age division results are recognized by the AJGA for Performance Based Entry (PBE Stars), and the Hurricane junior Tour awards all age division champions
with an exemption into its national championship events. Also, the Junior Golf Scoreboard publishes SSJC results for ranking purposes. Lissa Bradford, the TGA’s Director of Junior Golf and Competitions, said the organiza-
tion was happy to get on board. “The Tennessee Golf Foundation is happy to promote the SSJC and hope more junior golfers and their parents will add this event to their calendar,” she said. Competitors in this year’s tournament field will be tested at Cleveland Country Club, the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay and Windstone Golf Club in Ringgold, Georgia, just across the state line. The tournament features completion in four age groups for
boys and four age groups for girls ages 7-18. Each age group plays one round on all three tournament courses. The inaugural event featured players from Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina and Virginia. “SSJC is definitely a labor of love,” tournament director Jason Nall said. “Our entire family has been blessed with the lasting attributes of junior golf competition. We
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believe that delivering a unique regional junior golf championship which focuses on creating memorable experiences while promoting family interaction is our best way of giving back to the lifelong sport that we cherish.” One aspect that set the SSJC apart
from other junior tour events is that it encourages players to utilize caddies. “In the spirit of our value: Family First, caddies are allowed in all age divisions,” Nall said. “A parent, relative or close family friend has the opportunity to ‘step inside
the ropes’ and enjoy walking the fairways as a teammate of their junior golfer. These opportunities are rare in top level junior golf competitions, and we are confident that our SSJC caddie policy is a positive differentiator. Playing three courses also separates the SSJC For Nall, perhaps the most important part of the tournament is delivering a top-notch tournament that provides
players and their families a memorable experience. “Aligned with our mission, our intention is to deliver an annual best-in-class event that builds confidence and develops character within participants,” Nall said. “We are laser focused on building memorable experiences. The Southern States Junior Classic is a first-class event which strives to become an annual destination for aspiring junior golfers and their families for years to come.”
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Snedeker Foundation named as official charitable beneficiary of Web.com Tour’s Nashville Golf Open The Web.com Tour and Tour Vision Promotions announced today that the Snedeker Foundation, which was founded by PGA TOUR star and Nashville native Brandt Snedeker, will be the official charitable beneficiary of the Nashville Golf Open. The tournament’s official title will become the Nashville Golf Open benefitting the Snedeker Foundation. The announcement was made on May 3rd. at the tournament’s media day. “We have worked tirelessly to make sure the Snedeker Foundation creates a meaningful difference in the lives of Middle Tennessee residents – especially children, who represent the future of this great state. Today’s announcement further secures our ability to continue those efforts while working to make this tournament one of the premier stops on the Web.com Tour,” said Snedeker. Founded in 2012, the Snedeker Foundation has raised in excess of $1 million for several different charities across Middle Tennessee. The Foundation supports a variety of efforts on both the social and athletic fronts, including Our Kids, which
provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling services in response to concerns of child sexual abuse, while also working to increase community awareness, education and training about child maltreatment. Through the Tennessee Golf Foundation, the Snedeker Foundation annually supports the Sneds Tour, which puts forth a year-round junior golf tour in Tennessee aimed at allowing kids to learn, play and enjoy the game of golf, while also making competition more affordable through lower entry and registration fees. “We are excited to announce today’s partnership with the Snedeker Foundation as we continue to build on our firstyear success in Nashville,” said Web.com Tour President Dan Glod. “Brandt’s reputation as a true gentleman of the game is palpable within the Snedeker Foundation, and we are looking forward to aligning with his efforts towards creating a meaningful charitable impact in Middle Tennes-
Brandt shows off the Ryder Cup during NGO media day see and abroad.” Snedeker began his career on the Web. com Tour, where he won twice during the 2006 season on his way to a ninth-place finish on the money list, which allowed him to ascend to the PGA TOUR in 2007, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors. Over the last 10 years, Snedeker has notched eight wins on TOUR, including the 2012 TOUR Championship, which enabled
him to secure the season-ending FedExCup title. “Our goal with this event was to create an exciting week on the annual Middle Tennessee sports calendar, while also looking to better the lives of people in the area who may or may not have connections to the game,” said Tour Visions Promotions President Patrick Nichol. “With Brandt’s involvement, we are able to succeed on both fronts as we look to expand our community footprint.”
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Ned’s Nuggets Notes From The Tour
By Ned Michaels - PGA Professional
Fond memories of Sergio I
remember January 2007 like it was yesterday. After a year out with two shoulder surgeries, my medical exemption had expired and I either had to play or simply swallow the bitter pill of missing events - big money events. So, after two days of practice and whopping 12 holes under my belt, off I went to begin my comeback. The first event on my schedule was the Qatar Masters. Qatar is part of the European Tour’s Middle East Swing, which also consists of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Doha Golf Club is an imposing test of golf complete with nasty rough, narrow fairways, terrifically quick greens, and a typical oneto-two club wind. Perfect for a comeback, right? I had played there several years earlier and it dispatched of me with ease, shooting 5-over-par for two rounds and narrowly missing a playoff with eventual champion Ernie Els by a mere 17 shots! Needless to say, I did not even come close to sniffing the cut line that year. Adding to the intimidation factor was the fact a world-class field had assembled in 2007, including Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, and Sergio Garcia. Yes, that Sergio Garcia - the one who now owns a certain green jacket for winning the Masters in April. The same Sergio you were pulling for to hole his winning putt on the 72nd hole, and the same Sergio who you thought, “same old Sergio” when he woefully missed. Since the Masters, people have asked me if I was pulling for Sergio coming down the stretch and in the playoff. I always turn the question on them to answer first. The general consensus, from my conversations has been that most fans were willing the sympathetic hero to victory. After all, we have watched him lose close calls at past majors. The 1999 PGA loss to Tiger comes to mind, as does the 2008 PGA encounter with Padraig Harrington. Probably none was more painful than the playoff loss at Carnoustie during the 2007 British Open. Of course, we knew the golf gods would not allow Sergio to win a major championship wearing all yellow, but that is an entirely different conversation. Was I pulling for Sergio to win the Masters? You bet, but not because I felt sorry for him or that I loved the perfect symmetry that Master’s Sunday fell on what would have been Seve’s 60th birthday. Primarily, I was pulling for Sergio to win because his immense talent needed to be rewarded with a major championship. The history of golf is littered with great talents who never won majors, but I challenge you to find one with a more complete skill set and bullet-
proof resume than Sergio. Love him or leave him, he needed and deserved a major championship. Why was I telling you about the 2007 Qatar Masters? Oh yeah, because I was hitting balls next to Sergio on the range and we were chatting about new equipment (by the way, there is a slight difference between the acoustics of impact between my and Sergio’s shots. Think bass drum vs. snare drum and you’ll be close).
About that time, the TaylorMade tour rep eased over and handed Sergio the newest prototype of their driver. He told Sergio it’s only a prototype but wanted input on the look, feel, and playability of the driver. Sergio gave the driver a few curious looks and said, “let’s see what it can do.” From there he dropped three balls on the ground and proceeded to hit the three best golf shots I may have ever seen in succession. Every shot was a twin of the one before it, all landing on the same target green that I could not hit with two bags of balls. He handed the driver back to the rep and said, “not bad.” Like I said, Sergio’s talent deserved a major championship. Even the small sample size from that day on the range is a feat that 99 percent of tour players could not reproduce. He’s been so good for so long that we have taken him for granted. Let’s all sit back and take a moment to appreciate his immense ability and now major championship caliber game. In case you were wondering, I actually played quite well that first event back. With only one round to play, I was a couple of shots off the lead and in one of the final pairings with Henrik Stenson. A final-round 76 dropped me into a tie for 22nd place - one shot behind the charging 67 of Sergio Garcia. At least I can say a Masters champion clipped me. Come to think of it maybe that’s why I was rooting for Sergio to win the Masters.
- Ned
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Around Nashville Fairways Wayne Evans
Superintendent of Sports/ Golf Clubhouse Operations
aware. Last year saw changes in personnel that I want to focus on. When I moved to the superintendent’s of sports and golf clubhouse operations, my position as the manager at Ted Rhodes came open. I’m happy to report that PGA Professional Audie Johnson filled this role and did so with a great deal of en-
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Harpeth Hills
2424 Old Hickory Blvd. • 615-862-8493
McCabe
46th & Murphy Rd. • 615-862-8491
Percy Warner
Forrest Park Dr. • 615-352-9958
Shelby
20th & Fatherland • 615-862-8474
This is my first column since taking this position and I’m thrilled to share news and events about our Nashville Fairway courses and staffs. I want to say thanks to John Holmes, Assistant Director of Parks who penned this column for 3-plus years, and even though a Metro employee, I always enjoyed catching up on what he had to say. The 2017 golf season did not get off as solidly as all of us that play golf here in middle Tennessee expected. While not a bitter winter, the days on end of rain put a damper on lots of rounds of golf. Excitedly, there is a buzz around Metro’s golf courses. Headed up by Harpeth Hills PGA Professional and Manager, Kevin Forte, The West Nashville Sports League is partnering with Metro Parks to become an official league for the PGA Junior Golf League. We consider this a win-win for boys and girls ages
Two Rivers
8-12. The league will begin in early June-mid July. Participating courses are Harpeth Hills, Ted Rhodes, and Percy Warner. For more info, see our notice on page 13 of this Tee Times issue or go to www.wnsl.org. Each course and its staff always have going projects and changes, and if at all possible I want to make you
Two Rivers Parkway • 615-889-2675
Ted Rhodes
1901 Ed Temple Blvd. • 615-862-8463
VinnyLinks
2009 Sevier Street • 615-880-1720
Audie Johnson thusiasm. He is not only a PGA Professional, but a seasoned manager with a great deal of expertise in the golf industry. Aside from that, he is a top notch player for the Tennessee Section PGA. Ted Rhodes patrons have learned to expect the quick smile and hello that Audie greets you with. Audie has been a Class A PGA member for over 23 years. He was at Nashboro Village for 20 years, Lebanon Country Club for 12 years, and has been with Metro Parks for 3 years. His time at Metro Parks has been as an Assistant at McCabe Golf Course and now as the Manager/Head Professional at Ted Rhodes Golf Course. Johnson has won multiple Player of the Year awards. He is the only member of the Tennessee PGA to be named
Nashvillefairways.com Player of the Year, Assistant Player of the Year, and Senior Player of the year. He also is believed to be the only player to qualify for the National Club Pro Championship, the Assistants National Championship, and the Senior National Championship, all in the same season. When you play Ted Rhodes, give Audie a shout, that is if he doesn’t beat you to it. Until next time, come play one of our Nashville Fairway courses - always fun, always in great shape, and always reasonable to play. - Wayne
May 2017
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Course superintendents, crews are unsung heroes, backbone of golf industry
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his month I would like to introduce you to the mostly unsung heroes of the Tennessee Golf Trail. Quite honestly, most of us don’t really understand how much time, effort and downright hard work that the good folks in the golf course maintenance departments undertake on a daily basis. With very little fanfare or pats on the back this special group of people maintain our TGT courses on par with a lot of private courses, without the budget of many of the other establishments. The golf course superintendent is vital to the existence of our courses, and I hope everyone appreciates their efforts. As golfers we generally see only the pro shop and the first tee. We’re there to enjoy ourselves, our friends, and the great outdoors until we get to the 18th green and maybe a cold beverage to end the day, unless of course you might be playing in a tournament. This would give you someone to blame for all of your missed putts or bad lies in the woods. Before any of that takes place the grounds crew has been out mowing, raking, cutting cups and generally getting the golf course ready for us to enjoy - hopefully without being seen or heard! It takes a great deal of knowledge and experience to take care of a golf course on a daily basis, and too often we take it for granted that the fairways and greens have been cut, bunkers raked, tee markers set and a myriad of other things that go on every day, not to mention the things that can go wrong. There are hundreds of irrigation heads, water pumps, and water lines that seem to break at all of the wrong times and there is so much specialized equipment to take care of that you would think Albert Einstein would have a hard
David Cloud Warriors Path
Dwayne Hicks Paris Landing
Kevin Snell Henry Horton
Justin Fisher Fall Creek Falls
Tim Brock Cumberland Mountain
Jeff Kuhns Montgomery Bell
Chad Garrett Tims Ford
Larry Finley Pickwick Landing
time figuring it all out. But, these maintenance people seem to handle it all in some shape, form or fashion every day. It takes a village to keep up with all of this and to keep up with the changing climate of the Paul Carter Director of Agronomy industry as well. All of for TGT -Harrison Bay our superintendents are members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA is to the superintendents as the PGA of America is to the golf professionals)
and meet and share knowledge about all things important several times a year. Being part of the Department of Environment and Conservation is not lost on our staff either, as they study and learn about best practices in their profession while trying to keep chemicals at a minimum while also saving unnecessary uses of fuel that conserves energy. I could probably go on for a good while longer, but I would like for you to meet our crew and to consider giving them a pat on the back or a kind word to tell them how much you appreciate their hard work. Until the next time, come and enjoy the Tennessee Golf Trail and Tennessee State Parks. - Mike
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Opinion By David Widener
Member Golf Writers Association of America
Viewers should not be golf officials
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of golf’s major championships was marred by a rules situation. Dustin Johnson drew a onestroke penalty in the 2016 U.S. Open when he grounded his putter on the green and his ball moved on the fifth hole in the final round. He this. Allowing TV viewers to email or call in pen- still managed to win the tournament. In last year’s U.S. Women’s Open, Anna alties makes no sense. No other sport allows such, but you can bet there are many viewers Nordqvist received a two-stroke penalty for unhappy over a call in a baseball, basketball, touching the sand with her club in the fairway bunker on the second playoff hole, but was hockey or football game. Those sports have umpires, referees or of- not told about the infraction until the third playoff hole. She lost the ficials who look at rechampionship to Brittany plays when needed, not Lang. TV viewers. Golf needs Remember the 2013 to have a rules official Masters? Tiger Woods assigned to watch TV was the victim of a TV and if they see someviewer called-in penthing, say something alty for taking what was right away, not a day deemed to be an illegal later. drop after going into the That’s what happened water on the 15th hole with Thompson. Somein the second round. one sent an email SunThe two-stroke penalty day to the LPGA fan proved costly as he finwebsite saying she had ished tied for fourth bemisplaced her marked hind winner Adam Scott. ball on the 17th hole Speaking about ThompSaturday. Thompson son’s penalties, Woods was notified by tournasaid, “Viewers at home ment officials on the should not be officials 13th hole Sunday of a wearing stripes.” 4-stroke penalty, two Lexi Thompson, anguished at Other players had the for not returning the being told of the penalty that same opinion. ball to its original place cost her this major tournament Former PGA player Arafter she marked it ron Oberholser: “I’ve and two strokes for never felt more signing an incorrect ashamed of the scoreboard that did sport I love than I not reflect a penalty am right now. It has she didn’t know she to stop. Absolute had incurred. madness.” Thompson went Added Nashville’s from leading by two Brandt Snedeker: “At strokes to trailing by some point you have two strokes and lost to draw a line and the first major of the stop it. I don’t think season to So Yeon Ryu home “Viewers at in a playoff. “At some point you have to fans should be able officials Kudos to Thompson should not be es.” draw a line and stop it. I to call in and dictate don’t think fans should be the outcome of a for being able to keep wearing strip able to call in and dictate tournament.” her composure as she the outcome of a tournament.” And Bubba Watson birdied two of the next three holes after resaid, “I don’t even ceiving the bad news to force the playoff. She know how these people get a number to call then spent a half-hour signing autographs. After the incident, the USGA and R&A put because I don’t know the number and I’m in place two new rules that limit the use of playing in the golf tournament.” Phil Mickelson says there is a lot of “loose video. One limits evidence that cannot be reasonably seen by the naked eye. The other ball marking” that goes on. “I know a lot of relies on reasonable judgment to determine a players on tour who move the ball 2-3 inches in front of their mark to get out of any type of specific location when applying the rules. Neither address whether to allow televi- impression and are not called out for it.” If you don’t believe him, just watch closely sion viewers to call in possible infractions and whether to penalize a player for signing the next time you view a tournament. Players a scorecard that later is deemed incorrect be- are going to be more careful now, but chances cause of a rules violation the player was not are you will see a violation at some point. Just don’t email or call in to the tournament. If you aware of. It marks the third time in less than a year one want to be a rules official, sign up for the job. he brains of golf are trying to right the ship after the recent debacle involving LPGA pro Lexi Thompson, but it never should have come to
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Bailes, Wright, Walker win Pro-Pro-Pro Scramble
Tee Times report DICKSON – The Golf Club of Tennessee 3-man team of Nick Bailes, Zach Wright and Chad Walker picked up a victory in the season’s first event, firing a 16-under 56 in the Pro-Pro-Pro scramble at the GreyStone Golf Club. Starting on the back nine, the trio made a birdie on the first hole and then came up with an eagle on 12th. They then went on a string of 11 straight birdies from Nos. 13 through 5. The team of Walt Chapman, Jake Reeves and Scott Masters made a run at the eventual winners, with birdies on eight of their first 10 holes, but they eventually fell two strokes short and finishing second with a 58. Vanderbilt Legends Club’s Patrick Jackson scored 135 points to win the Drive, Chip, and Putt competition. He was followed by Alex Cox in second with 134 points and Parker Rush finished third with 128 points. As for the closest to the hole competitions: Kevin Snell won a pair of JBL Headphones on No. 3, Doug Amor won a Kicker Bluetooth Speaker on No. 6, Randy Helton won a pair of Beats Solo 2 Headphones on No. 11 and and Jack Oliver won a JBL Flip3 Bluetooth Speaker on No. 16. The Tennessee PGA would like to thank
Charlie Blunt and the rest of the staff at GreyStone Golf Club, who were amazing hosts. Without their help, this event would not have been able to be held with such success. The Tennessee PGA would also like to extend a special thank you to the following sponsors, Jeff Ammerman with 2UNDR, Glen Turton and Chris Reyna with Chase 54, Sid Johnson, PGA with New Era, George Jones
(L-R): Chad Walker, Nick Bailes, PGA, and Zack Wright with Premier Golf Services, and Erik East with Pepsi. The TPGA was able to put on another outstanding scramble thanks to the support of our gracious sponsors. Without the help and constant support of our sponsors, TPGA events would not be as successful as they are today.
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Planning your Financial Legacy By Jonathan Scott and Glenn Price
Jonathan
Glenn
Explaining suitability vs. fiduicary Once again, spring is upon us and the long gray winter is in the past. We are excited to be gardening, golfing, traveling and generally enjoying the beautiful spring weather. We hope that you are as well. We have had the pleasure of meeting with many new people over the past few months, thanks to your generous referrals and kind words that have encouraged friends and family to give us the opportunity to assist them with their retirement plans. The Keystone family is growing and we are excited to work with so many new families. As we share the joys and sorrows that our clients are facing, we realize how important it is that we continue to encourage our clients to develop and maintain a written plan for retirement that includes growth strategies, income planning, long term care and a legacy for the
future. The freedom to enjoy a well-earned and well-planned retirement is our goal for each of you. We here continue to advise and pass along important information, we want to explain suitability vs. fiduciary below. Enjoy the spring, and we look forward to seeing you soon. The Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule In 2015, the now former President Obama called on the Department of Labor (DOL) to update certain regulations regarding the financial services industry. The end result was a new rule largely known as the “DOL Fiduciary Rule.” Simply put, this rule requires all financial advisors to act in the best interests of their clients when giving advice on retirement accounts. The new rule was intended to go into effect April 10, but on February 3 President Trump decided to delay implementation of the rule by
180 days. In addition, he instructed the DOL to “conduct a new economic and legal analysis to determine whether the rule is likely to harm investors.” It’s uncertain what will happen next, but many pundits believe the Trump administration will eventually scrap the rule entirely. Let’s forget the politics for a moment and discuss exactly what the rule was supposed to do. Suitability vs. Fiduciary We mentioned how the Fiduciary Rule would have required all advisors to act in the best interests of their clients when giving advice on retirement accounts. “Now, wait a minute,” you’re probably thinking. “Are you saying advisors didn’t already have to act in their clients’ best interests?” The answer is: Yes. Traditionally, most advisors are not required to put their clients’ interests first. Instead, advisors are required to follow a simple suitability standard. This means they are only expected to make recommendations that are considered “suitable” for their clients. To put it bluntly, this allows advisors to give advice that is primarily in his or her best interest, and not the client’s best interest, as long as that advice can still technically be considered “suitable.” But there’s another, higher standard that some advisors hold to. It’s called the fiduciary standard. Advisors who are fiduciaries must put their clients’ interests before their own. Even if the advice an advisor gives is less good for the advisor, they must give it if that’s what is best for the clients they serve. Under the Fiduciary Rule, any financial advisor providing advice pertaining to retirement savings, qualified plans, or IRAs would have been classified as a fiduciary. 2 That meant many advisors who previously followed the “suitability standard” would have had to make a major change in how they do business.
www.teetimespaper.com It’s an open debate as to whether the Fiduciary Rule would have been good for investors or not. Proponents thought it would “protect retirees from conflicted advice that leads to inappropriate high-fee investment products that erode savings.” 1 Detractors said it would be harmful, because it would make it harder and more costly for retirees with fewer assets to get qualified advice. Who’s right? We’ll probably never know. One thing, however, is certain. Neither the rule itself nor the scrapping of that rule will affect you or us in the slightest. At Keystone Financial Resources we have been following the fiduciary standard for years. We’ve always put our clients’ best interests first. There are three reasons for this. One, because we know the only way we can be successful is if you are successful. Second, because our greatest passion is helping people work toward their financial goals, and we believe acting as fiduciaries is the best way to do it. Third, and most importantly, we’ve always acted as fiduciaries because we believe it’s just the right thing to do. So for us, it’s business as usual. President Trump’s decision to delay the rule will not impact how we take care of your retirement accounts. And what if the rule eventually goes into effect? That won’t impact us, either. If you have any questions about the fiduciary standard or the president’s recent announcement, please don’t hesitate to let us know. In the meantime, we’ll keep doing what we’ve always done: leaving no stone unturned in our effort to help you work toward your financial goals. On behalf of all of us at Keystone Financial Resources, thank you for being such a valued client. Please let us know if there’s ever anything we can do for you.
May 2017
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Choosing golf easy choice for Stanek
Tee Times report A look at his hobbies and you can see Paul Stanek has a love for the outdoors, so it comes as no surprise he chose golf as a career. Stanek, whose hobbies include hiking, hunting, camping and fishing, started playing golf when he was six years old, influenced by his father and a neighbor. By the time he was a junior in high school, he made the decision to follow a path in golf to his current job as operations manager for the PGA Tennessee Section. Stanek has had the job since May 2016
TEE TIMES The athletic couple hiked Flint Mill Trail that overlooks South Holston Lake just south of Bristol, TN
after a stint in Bristol, Virginia as an assistant golf professional at The Olde Farm Golf Club. “Upon my arrival, my goal was to do everything I could for the PGA members and apprentices of the Tennessee Section,” Stanek said. “We try to make our work environment open and work toward the goal of doing everything we can to make things better every year. We rearranged the office to help open it up and make it more con-
Paul and Carmen ski trip to Sugar Mountain in NC
Paul Stanek, Operations Manager Tennessee Section PGA
ducive to comradery.” Stanek’s duties include taking care of membership matters, educational
Paul Plays Hard and Paul Works Hard Working with youngster in the PGA Booth at the Nashville Golf Show
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events, annual meeting preparations, and coordinating PGA Jr. League Golf and Drive, Chip & Putt. Those duties keep Stanek busy, but he still manages to play golf at least a couple times a month and do some cooking. “I really enjoy cooking a home-cooked meal and enjoying it with my wife. Carmen, and others.” he said. A native of Highland, Wisconsin, Stanek is a graduate of University of NebraskaLincoln, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He became a PGA professional in 2012.
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Williams brings Tour experience to teaching By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor It’s not often a person can get instruction from a former Tour player, but that’s exactly what Kim Williams brings to the table at GolfTec in Cool Springs. Only a series of injuries prevented Williams from attaining star status during an LPGA career spanned nearly 25 years on tour. Now, after a two-year stint at the East Potomac Club in Washington, D.C., Williams is back in a city she loves trying to build up her clientele. And, as a product of learning the game before the technological explosion, Williams marvels at the teaching tools at her disposal to help players of all skill levels improve. “When I walked in to start working here, I wondered why I didn’t do this the last 10 years of my career,” Williams said, referencing the technology available. “What we offer here is a way to get better. It’s fact base learning. I’m so thankful for (franchise owner) Andrew Bailey for getting me in. I really believe in what we do.” Of course, fundamentals are the core of any good golf swing and Williams is a firm believer in the proper grip, stance and posture are building blocks to attaining a good swing. “I like to simplify things,” she said. “Less moving parts and incorporating the big muscles are keys.” Like most teachers, though, Williams knows that despite great instruction, without good practice habits players won’t reach their potential. “You can have the best teacher, but if you can’t practice you aren’t going to be able to do it,” she said. “It’s all about practice. I love that we
have practice packages here. Players can come in and see themselves while they are practicing with our video system. It helps them practice with a purpose. They just aren’t out there hitting balls.” Williams, a Maryland native, turned pro after a successful amateur career that included college at Mississippi State and a berth on the 1986 U.S. Curtis Cup team. She also was the low amateur at the 1986 Nabisco Dinah Shore and played in four U.S. Women’s Opens. “I was successful as an amateur so it was natural to segue to the tour,” Williams said. She made it through LPGA qualifying on her first try and had limited success. She was off the tour in 1989 and 1990 but regained playing privileges in 1991 and became a fixture on the LPGA Tour for most of the next 20 years except for a series of injuries. In 1994, she was hit by a stray bullet in her neck while entering a drug store after a round at the Youngstown–Warren Classic. The injury was not life-threatening and she played the next event but the bullet remained lodged in her neck until she had it removed in 1995. A recurring back injury limited Williams in 1998 and 1999, but in 2000 she notched three top-10 finishes in 14 events. In 2001, she sustained serious injuries in a head-on collision after leaving the course after a round in the YourLife Vitamins Classic. The wreck resulted in a broken collarbone and sternum, along with a knee injury. Later that same year, Williams had abdominal surgery. Forgive Williams for feeling like she never reached her potential because of the multitude of injuries. “I hate to say it but I do feel unfulfilled in my career,” she said. “I struggled with my swing the first two years and then when I got it going, I kept getting hurt. I was leading in Ohio when
I got shot. Every time I was playing great, I would get hurt.” Rules regarding medical exemptions were different during the height of Williams’ career too. “Back then, it was totally up to one person to make the decision,” she said. “I worked so hard to come back from my back surgery, and then to be in the car wreck … I really was never the same after that.” Williams became a fan of Nashville while playing in the now-defunct Sarah Lee Classic. “I had a good friend that lived here and I loved it, so I stayed,” she said. “It’s a great place to base yourself out of because it is centrally located and you can get home quickly.” Williams left the tour to return home to take care of her mother, who has dementia. That’s when she began a new facet of her career as a teacher. “I enjoy sharing all the great things I’ve been fortunate to have been taught and learned about this great, very difficult game,” Williams said. “I love the peacefulness of walking a beautiful course and enjoying the outdoors; the challenge and fulfillment of hitting that one perfect shot that keeps us coming back.” And, with some time spent under the tutelage of Williams and her tour expertise, it’s likely those perfectly struck shots will become more frequent.
Kim Williams’ tip of the month
Sand Saves First of all, you don’t even have to hit the ball on a greenside sand shot. You simply are moving the sand behind and underneath the ball, and the ball comes out as a consequence of this. With that in mind, your No. 1 focus should be on a spot about an inch behind the ball. First, open the clubface before you grip the club - open being the face is more pointing to the sky. Open your stance and aim a little left of target. Play the ball forward of the center of your stance, favoring the front foot with both ball position and your weight. Make a full, long easy swing and keep accelerating through the hitting area. You are moving the sand.
On the follow-through, the face of the club should be facing the sky, unlike your regular swing. In a non-bunker shot your forearms, wrist and hands would have rotated over. This does not happen on a sand shot. Hold that finish with clubface facing the sky. Extra Tip: Here’s something from Hall of Famer Joanne Carner, my short game mentor on tour. Grip pressure can directly correlate to pace of the ball. For shorter, softer sand shots lighten your grip. For longer shots, increase your grip pressure. Note: Kim Williams played on the LPGA Tour for nearly 25 years. She led the tour in sand saves in 2006, converting 62.2 percent.
Kim Williams
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Equipment Corner Antigua Announces Four New Ladies Sleeveless Styles for 2017 Peoria, AZ - The Antigua Group, Inc. - one of the nation’s leading designers and marketers of lifestyle and golf apparel under the distinguished Antigua brand has announced its Spring 2017 perfect fitting women’s sleeveless styles. After more than 30 years designing golf apparel, Antigua’s designers know that fit is the key to keeping customers returning again and again to their product. As the weather heats up and golf season starts around the Country, the sleeveless shirt is a staple in the closet of female golfers. Key factors in developing the perfect fitting sleeveless style include establishing an appropriate across chest measurement and armhole depth. From the top of the shoulder down to the bottom of the armhole, the shape of the armhole must follow the natural shape of a women’s body, curving in just enough in the right places so as not to interfere with arm movement or even worse, curving in too much and therefore showing the sides of a bra. Armhole depth must follow the “Goldilocks Rule”- a term senior designer Danielle Dellios uses when describing Antigua’s fit policy. “The armhole opening cannot be too deep, nor too shallow, it must be just right.” says Dellios. She uses a myriad of fit models to ensure women of all body types can feel comfortable when wearing Antigua. Antigua offers four new sleeveless styles for 2017:
the top shoulder seam are great for holding a bra strap in place for a worry-free swing.
Trust:
The ladies stretch woven style “Trust” combines the function of Antigua’s Desert Dry Xtra Lite fabrication with modern styling. The lightweight poly/spandex woven fabric offers a more sophisticated look along with several styling details such as pin-tucks at the top shoulder, a covered button placket and rounded hi-low hemline. The main task in developing a woven polo is in the fit of the garment. The Antigua design team spent many hours fitting multiple body types to ensure the wearer has enough room to feel comfortable while golfing. On the other hand, to keep the style from looking sloppy and over-
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sized, several steps were taken in tweaking the pattern to provide a more tailored look. Darts at the bust allow for a proper fit at the armhole and chest and curved side slits offer minimal pull lines at the hips.
Mischief:
Prints are hot right now in the women’s market and ladies sleeveless style “Mischief” focus’ on the idea of mixed media. The asymmetrical cut and sew front panel features a three color geometric printed top panel and the lower half of the body uses a solid color lightweight closed mesh fabric. Both fabrics provide ease of movement with four-way stretch and the fit of the garment follows Antigua’s traditional sizing.
Avail:
Women’s sleeveless style “Avail” plays with fabric direction and texture. The tonal striped poly/spandex fabric is ultra-soft and slightly slinky. Cut and sew princess seams use the main body fabric run at a 45 degree downward angle to give the illusion of a more defined waistline and smaller silhouette. An open Vneck placket gives the style a more casual offcourse look, while the traditional self-fabric collar meets all club regulations. Overall this style can be described as flirty and feminine. About Antigua Headquartered in Peoria, Arizona, The Antigua Group, through its license sports division, holds license agreements with National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA), along with numerous American universities and colleges for men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, headwear and luggage. Antigua additionally designs, produces and supplies product for corporate America and specialty retail managed under its corporate division. Its golf division also holds license agreements with the PGA TOUR, LPGA and the PGA of America. Find Antigua on the web at: www.Antigua.com and ShopAntigua.com Like Antigua on Facebook at: facebook.com/Antigua Follow Antigua on Twitter at: twitter.com/AntiguaWear See Antigua YouTube videos at: youtube.com/AntiguaWear
S/L Jewel:
The ladies sleeveless Jewel style features Antigua’s oneof-a-kind geometric jacquard. Desert Dry moisture wicking knit fabric. The textured face and flat-back fabrication is smooth against the body and allows for optimal wicking performance at the face. The sleeveless Jewel is one of Antigua’s best-selling pieces because the fabric has a unique drape that women of any age find flattering. The hidden ribbon and snaps at
Jewel
Trust
Avail
Mischief
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Henry Horton & Belle Meade CC Capture 2017 Club Car Pro-Official
Tee Times report der through the first eight holes. Peacock and COLLEGE GROVE - It was a great afternoon at Cline played even on the stretch of holes beThe Grove, but for Kevin Snell, Mike Nixon, Oli- tween Nos. 14 and 1, but just like the Nixon/ ver Peacock and Charles Cline, the afternoon Snell team, they had a strong finish with birdwas perfect as they took home the gross and ies on two of their last three holes to win the net championships at the 2017 Club Car Pro- net team division also at 8-under 64. Official. The Tennessee PGA would like to extend Representing Henry Horton, the Snell/Nixon a thank you to Tim team started the round Keller, PGA, Jeff Diehl, on No. 8 and was 2 unPGA, and Russ Lord of der through the first Club Car for being the eight holes. That’s title sponsor of this when they started to great event. Without heat up. Snell made their support, the an eagle on No. 16 and Club Car Pro-Official gradually worked their Championship would way up the leaderboard not be as incredibly by alternating between successful as it is pars and birdies over each year. Another the next few holes. The thank you goes to Snell/Nixon duo ended Mona Sagan of Page out their day with bird& Tuttle, Peter Bucci ies on three of their final of Jack Daniels, and ll Sne four holes to capture the Jane Ash and Brian Mike Nixon and Kevin top score in the gross Yount of Mobile Pro team division at 8-under 64. Shop for being supporting sponsors of the For the Peacock/Cline team of Belle Meade event. Country Club, consistency was the key as they We would also like to give a special thank you played bogey free the entire day. After teeing to Doug Oubre, PGA and the rest of The Grove off on the 5th hole, they managed to go 6 un- staff for hosting such a successful event.
s n e e r & s e G m i d o T o G Away from the links, more good times await. You can experience memorable dining, shopping and attractions across our state. Rest at one of our many boutique hotels, relax at our world-class spas, or just soak in some of our soul-stirring blues in Mississippi’s temperate climate. THE PRESERVE GOLF CLUB - BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI
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Personett, Munson win Yamaha Pro-Assistant Championship Tee Times report OLD HICKORY – Weather limited the Yamaha Pro-Assistant Championship to 14 holes, but it
didn’t dampen the stellar play of Loren Personett and Steve Munson of McCabe Golf Course. Personett and Munson took home the first-place prize with a score of 10 under. Personett and Munson were hot from the start with birdies on seven of their first nine holes. Personett’s impressive play not only showed while teaming with Munson, but also with his other assistant Ryan Botts. Together, Personett and Botts shot a team total of 9 under to finish second. The shot of the day went to Jordan Douglas of Black Creek Club, who aced No. 12, a par 3, with an 8-iron. L-R: Steve Munson, Shannon Caverly - Yamaha Closest to the hole winners: Rep, and Loren Personett, PGA Professional No. 3: Jerry Williams, PGA
and Kass Kovalcheck, PGA No. 7: Dave Ambrose, PGA No. 12: Jordan Douglas No. 15: Alex Cox The Tennessee PGA would like to extend a thank you to Brooks West, PGA, Greg Robinson, PGA, and Shannon Caverly, PGA of Yamaha for being the title sponsor of this great event. Without their support, the Yamaha Pro-Assistant Championship would not be as incredibly successful as it is each year. Another thank you goes to Jeff Ammerman of Cutter & Buck, Fran Boone of Imperial, and Jeff Dyer of Pro Golf Weather for being supporting sponsors of the event. We would also like to thank Mike Eller, PGA and Kyle Walden, PGA and the rest of the staff at Hermitage Golf Course, who were amazing hosts. Their hard work did not go unnoticed by both TPGA staff and the participants of this years’ event.
Jane Geddes, former LPGA Tour player and major champion, named new CEO of Executive Women’s Golf Association PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.– Jane Geddes has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA), becoming CEO of the largest women-focused amateur golf association in the United States. She succeeds Pam Swensen, who resigned from the organization after 15 years of service to pursue other opportunities. Geddes most recently served as Executive Director of the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) and previously played professional golf, the winner of two major championships and 11 LPGA Tour events. “Jane’s successful playing career and time
spent in leadership roles with the LPGA Tour, WWE, Inc. and with the IAGA make her an extraordinary fit for EWGA and will propel our Association to the next level,” said Hilary Tuohy, EWGA Board President. “She is clearly the right candidate to lead the next chapter of growth for EWGA. With her leadership, we are confident of our ability to expand membership opportunities into currently underserved markets and provide additional playing opportunities for existing and new female golfers. We look forward to the continuation of our many positive and fruitful relationships with our industry partners and corporate sponsors, as we en-
sure that women’s golf remains at the forefront of the golf industry.” Geddes successfully competed as an LPGA touring professional for 20 years, winning 14 tournaments worldwide, including two LPGA major championships. She achieved her highest rank of third on the LPGA Tour’s money list and won the U.S. Women’s Open Championship (1986), LPGA Championship (1987) and Women’s British Open Championship (1989). Following her playing career, Jane earned a law degree from Stetson University College of Law and reentered the game as an executive at the LPGA Tour. “I am honored to have been named as CEO of EWGA at such a pivotal time for women in golf,” commented Geddes. “With women’s golf participation at an all-time high, the moment is right for the EWGA to expand its membership and assume a leadership role for women in the nearly $70 billion golf industry. I look forward to the opportunity to introduce new and current golfers to this great game through the EWGA.” Geddes’ appointment as CEO of EWGA is effective immediately.
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There’s plenty of great golf “down on the bayou” Tee Times report
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lot of the best golf worldwide can be found somewhat off the beaten path. Sure, there are great golf courses in and around major metropolitan areas like New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Boston. But there are plenty of memorable golf courses offering great value in some decidedly rural areas. Louisiana’s acclaimed Audubon Golf Trail has several such offering that really aren’t that far away, either. Three examples of magnificent golf are Cypress Bend Golf, Spa and Conference Resort, Tamahka Trails Golf Course at Paragon Casino and Resort and The Bluffs on Thompson Creek Golf and Conference Resort. Cypress Bend is located in western Louisiana almost on the Texas border. Tamahka Trails and The Bluffs are located in the southeastern part of Louisiana and not far from the Mississippi state line. Each site features a distinct, challenging golf course to test players’ mettle while offering a relaxing atmosphere with big-time amenities.
CYPRESS BEND
Go west, golfers. Located in Many, Louisiana, Cypress Bend sits on the banks of Toledo Bend Lake about halfway between Shreveport and Lake Charles. The Dave Bennett design opened in 1996 and plays to a demanding 6,707 yards with a par of 72. It is considered by some to be the crown jewel of the Audubon Golf Trail. “The course will challenge you with its
layout with fantastic scenery and plentiful wildlife,” General Manager Randy Rolland said. Bennett was astute in incorporating the lay of the land in his design work as the course curls around Toledo Bend inlets. Ten holes play along the water’s edge, and six holes require shots over coves and bayous. Bennett also routed Cypress Bend through thick hardwood forests and even threw in some blind tee shots for good measure. The tifdwarf greens add to the challenge with their undulations. “Once you see and feel the experience of Cypress Bend Resort, you will want to return time and time again,” said Gary Grant, director of sales. Golf Digest has given Cypress Bend a four-star rating. From the blue tees, it has a slope rating of 136 and a rating of 71. From the gold tees, its slope is 142 and its rating is 72.7. The amenities at Cypress Bend are second to none. There are 600 acres of gardens and forest. The resort features 95 guest rooms and 14 two-bedroom golf suites. “After your round of golf, take in your favorite beverage on our golf veranda or in the Social Room in the main lobby area of the resort with views of the lake and the 18th hole,” Rolland said. The resort’s spa is another popular spot for guests, whether after 18 holes or just for the relaxation of it. Other activities include birding, hiking and fishing. By the way, Toledo Bend Lake was chosen as the No. 1 bass fishing lake in 2015 and 2016 by B.A.S.S. For more information, go to www.cypressbend.com
Architect Steve Bennett’s design has the course curling around Toledo Bend inlets. Ten holes play the water’s edge, and six require shots over coves and bayous.
An inclusive pricing structure, unlimited daily golf, and excellent course conditions
TAMAHKA TRAILS at Paragon Casino Resort
Across the state, Marksville is home to Tamahka Trails at Paragon Casino Resort. The Steve Smyers design opened in 2000 and plays to 7,019 yards and par 71. Its signature design aspect is a plethora of well-placed bunkers that require accurate shotmaking or a sharp short game. Tamahka Trails features rolling terrain, beautiful mature trees, water features and 18 well-designed holes that require some serious course management. “Why should golfers want to play my course,” asked Kevin Michael, the manager and director of golf. “If we are not doing things differently, and better, than other courses, then we are just like them, a commodity.” Tamahka Trails features an outstanding practice facility, including a 10,000 square foot putting green and a 50,000 square foot practice area. There are practice areas for bunkers and practice greens
The Steve Smyers plays to 7, 019 yards and par 71. Signature design is well placed bunkers that require a sharp short game.
to hone your chipping and pitching skills. The course has hosted three U.S. Open qualifiers and is located 90 minutes from Baton Rouge and 45 minutes from Alexandria. Michael said a variety of amenities set Opened in 1996 in Many, LA Tamahka Trails apart from other , cou rse is a demanding facilities. 6,707 , par 72, on the banks halfway between Shreveporof Toledo Bend Lake, “We combined that with our t and Lake Charles. commitment to world class customer service, an inclusive pricing structure with unlimited daily golf, keen attention to details, our signature iced-mango towels and excellent course conditions,” he said. There’s also the Paragon Casino Resort featuring a 500-room hotel, world-class entertainment and all types of gaming activities when the golf is finished for the day. For information, go to www.paragoncasinoresort.com
THE BLUFFS at Thompson Creek
Three words say it all about the Bluffs at Thompson Creek – Arnold Palmer Signature. Any course the late Arnold Palmer attached his name to has a chance to be a memorable one, and The Bluffs at Thompson Creek certainly lives up to the King’s
The Bluffs Staff Members: David “Blaine” Lindsly
General Manager and Director of Golf The Bluffs at Thompson Creek
Tom Agazzi
Golf Pro The Bluffs at Thompson Creek
Ross Hebert
Golf Course Supt. The Bluffs at Thompson Creek
Lorie Grezaffi
Special Events Coordinator The Bluffs at Thompson Creek
Beth Smith
Manager of the Lodge The Bluffs at Thompson Creek
Paragon Resort Staff Members: Michael Hamilton
General Manager Paragon Casino Resort
Marshall Sampson Assistant GM Paragon Casino Resort
Kevin Michael
Manager and Director of Golf Tamahka Trails Golf Club
Starla Clark
Asst. Mgr. and Event Sales Tamahka Trails Golf Club
Joel Washburn
Head Superintendent Tamahka Trails Golf Club
May 2017 golf course design reputation. The natural beauty of the land takes precedence in the community, and you’ll find flowing creeks, still ponds, and rolling bluffs along the course. Arnold Palmer paid careful attention to preserving the natural environment, so you can enjoy nature’s beauty for years to come. Established in 1988, it’s located in the wilderness of Thompson Creek that was revered by the painter of “Birds of America”, John James Audubon. Eight different routings were staked, walked, and thoroughly surveyed before selecting the best 18 holes. The diversity of the landscape in the Felicianas allows our golfers to enjoy spectacular natural beauty as they venture between dense forest edges and stroll along striking white-sand creek banks. Shots are made over hills, off bluffs, and into hollows as golfers traverse the diverse course that enjoys elevation changes of up to 50 feet in some areas. One of the most picturesque holes is the 17th, a clear illustration of the care taken to select the most spectacular scenic areas and dramatic golf holes for this unique and unforgettable course. Because of the striking natural beauty and careful attention to design, golfers of all skill levels will enjoy this Louisiana favorite. The course can play as short as 4,762
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Voted # 1 Public Golf Course in 2016. Located in the wilderness of Thompson Creek, revered by painter John James Audubon
yards from the front markers or stretch to 7,005 yards from the tips. From the back, it has a slope of 142 and a 74.4 rating. Golf Magazine rated The Bluffs at Thompson Creek as the No. 1 course in the state on its Best Courses You Can Play list. Located in St. Francisville, it’s less than one hour from Baton Rouge and about an hour from Natchez, Mississippi. For more information, go to www.thebluffs.com.
The Bluffs photo credits: Sarah Alleman Photography
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2017 DogwoodClassic Results 38 years in the Pro Shop. Rhonda retires this summer and will be missed by staff and golfers alike. Dotson’s name is at the top of the Champions Plaque winning the first tournament in 1995. The Senior Division is in its 11th year; Stuart Smith was the defending champion. Pro Hartsfield noted that his Superintendent Jeff Kuhns and his crew had the course in excellent shape, fast and firm. How fast? Conditions were windy and the greens were very fast, 13 on the Stimpmeter. The Stimpmeter is a device used to measure the speed of a golf course putting green by applying a known force to a golf ball and measuring the distance traveled in feet.) Pro Hartsfield said, “Not only should we thank the outside staff, but Kelly Hosie, my assistant and the pro shop staff, who did a masterful job with the scoreboard and flights.” Pro Hartsfield reflected on past champions, Danny Green who won this in97, 98, & 99. Rob Long, also a great amateur won it as well Dogwood Classic Champion (l) Phillip as PGA Touring Pro, Scott Lee is congratulated Stallings who won in 2007. by PGA Professional Because of the pending inclement weather, Pro HartsDarrell Hartsfield field moved the tournament
Spring time in Tennessee, the Dogwood trees are in full bloom and around middle Tennessee, golfers begin to think about the annual Dogwood Classic hosted by Montgomery Bell State Park Friends. This has become a “must play” for serious golfers. Two men began this annual tournament 22 years ago, when super amateur Keith Dotson approached PGA Professional and Manager, Darrell Hartsfield, about a tournament that would be sanctioned by the Tennessee Golf Association and become a Level Three TGA event. Dotson is the brother of Rhonda Adams, a friendly face for the past
Dogwood Classic Senior Winner Lenny Sissleman (l) with PGA Professional Darrell Hartsfield
Congratulations to the 2017 Dogwood Classic Senior Division Winner, Lenny Sissleman, and Regular Division Winner, Phillip Lee. Thank you to all who participated! up and tee times began at 7 A.M. Sunday. Fortunately all play was concluded and winners named before the rains set in. In parting, about this tournament that he loves, Pro noted, “We have excellent greens, 99% of success and enjoyment for the player
Senior Division 1 2 3 T4 7 TS
Lenny Sissleman Mike Nixon Mike Poe Craig McEllaney Doug Harris Scotty Felker Ron Waters Bryan Rodgers Stuart Smith
69-67--136 68-73--141 72-71--143 73-71--144 66-78--144 72-72--144 69-77--146 70-77--147 71-76--147
$700 $500 $300 $200 $200 $200 $125 $37.50 $37.50
is dependent on great greens. Kudos must go out to Superintendent Jeff Kuhns and his super crew, for their hard work and dedication. We had 107 players who sang the praises of our course and our staffs.
Championship Division 1 2 3 T4 7 8
Phillip Lee 65-70--135 Whit Turnbow 68-71--139 Corey Rochelle 74-67--141 Billy Joe Green 71-72--143 Jack Story 74-69--143 John Barnett 72-71--143 Ryan Dent 71-74--145 Chad Hilderbrand 74-72--146
$700 $500 $300 $200 $200 $200 $125 $75
Kentucky State Parks
Getaway to Golf
“the nation’s finest”
This flexible package allows you to choose the length of stay, type of accommodations, and golf options. Select on-site lodge rooms with full-service restaurants or two- and three-bedroom cottages with gathering areas for the group. For cottage stays, add $10 per person, per night. Please call your park of choice for pricing and availability. Contact and course information at parks.ky.gov/golf.
Starting at
“the nation’s finest”
$64
per person
Package includes: •Overnight Lodging •18-Holes of Golf with Golf Car •Breakfast •Preferred Tee Times
Pine Mountain SRP
TeeTime Golfhlfpg May17.indd 1
Yatesville Lake SP
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KY Dam Village SRP
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Vandy wins the SEC!
mark by about 10 yards and I ended up being next to the cart path, and I got a really solid drop. Coach Smith and I decided that anything short of the green would be an easy up and down to try and make par. With him in the fairway, I didn’t think he was going to make bogey. But, I absolutely pured it up and over the tree and it actually came down pretty close. The match was back and forth and I battled all day. It was a tough day, coming down the stretch in the playoff thinking about yesterday and those feelings. Although I won yesterday, I learned a lot and applied it today.” Vanderbilt, who led for most of the day, relied on Augenstein after Texas A&M charged their way back into the match. The Aggies’ Cameron Champ defeated Will Gordon, 2 and 1, and then Chandler Phillips won three of his last four holes against Matthias Schwab to win 1-up, and within minutes, the Aggies had cut what was an earlier 4-0-1 lead for the Commodores to all square. Vanderbilt’s two victories on the board before Augenstein’s heroics came from Patrick Martin, who easily won his match over Brandon Smith, 6 and 5, and Theo Humphrey, who never trailed in his match against Dan Erickson and won 3 and 2. “This is a resilient group. None of the three matches were easy for us,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “We fought and fought and fought and showed a tremendous amount of character. That’s what we’ve tried to build this program on - the right kind of foundation, the right kind of things. I’m just proud they get
Head coach Scott Limbaugh, Theo Humphrey, Patrick Martin, John Augenstein, Matthias Schwab, Will Gordon, Assistant Coach Dusty Smith
photo credit: Steve Colquitt/SEC
Tee Times report The Vanderbilt men’s golf team claimed their first-ever SEC Championship in dramatic fashion at the Seaside Course, winning their final match-play match, 3-2, over Texas A&M in Sea Island, Ga. Like the quarterfinal and semifinal matches on Sunday, this one also came down to the last match, with freshman John Augenstein going 23 holes to come away with the deciding victory, 1-up, over the Aggies’ Andrew Paysse. Augenstein, who was also the last man standing on Sunday after a match-clinching 10-foot putt to take down the Gators in the semifinals, once again came through for the Commodores in the final. The freshman from Owensboro, Ky., held a two-hole advantage early in the round, but clutch play by Paysse brought the match to all square with an eagle on 15. The two then battled back and forth until the 23rd hole, which came on number 14, when Augenstein hit his tee shot to the right, which hit a tree on the right side of the fairway and then landed on the far side of the cart path. However, his ball was close enough to the cart path for relief. After the drop, Augenstein hit his second shot to within 12 feet and two-putted for par. Meanwhile Paysse, who striped his drive into the middle of the fairway, was short and right on his approach shot. After his chip on to the green, his par putt went left and the bogey gave the Commodores their first SEC Championship in 52 tries. “The tee shot wasn’t all that bad,” said Augenstein, who was the only Commodore that was 3-0 in match play this weekend. “I missed my
to experience what it’s like being a champion they’re already champions - but to win a championship. My hat’s off to Texas A&M. It was unbelievable the amount of resiliency that they showed. It was kind of our week this week, you could kind of feel it. Once we knocked that first one down yesterday morning, you could kind of feel that the boys started believing. “What a special, special day,” continued Limbaugh. “This is a big day for a lot of people that helped lay this foundation. We certainly want to celebrate and enjoy this. We also know that we have more steps to take on our journey. This is awesome and it certainly isn’t the end.” Final Match Play Results Patrick Martin defeats Brandon Smith, 6 and 5 John Augenstein defeats Andrew Paysse, 1-up (23 holes) Cameron Champ defeats Will Gordon, 2 and 1 Theo Humphrey defeats Dan Erickson, 3 and 2 Chandler Phillips defeats Matthias Schwab, 1-up
Dores earn a myriad of SEC honors
Scott Limbaugh earns SEC Coach of the Year, John Augenstein Freshman of the Year, and Theo Humphrey, Patrick Martin, and Matthias Schwab land on All-SEC teams. The Southeastern Conference handed out their all-conference, and, and the Commodores were front and center in the selections honoring the best in the league in 2016-17. Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh won the program’s first SEC Coach of the Year honor and freshman John Augenstein was named the league’s Freshman of the Year, while Patrick Martin and Matthias Schwab were named to the All-SEC First Team and Theo Humphrey was named to the All-SEC Second Team for their accolades this season. Limbaugh, in his fifth season, led the Commodores to their first ever SEC Championship and has led Vanderbilt to 12 team titles in his tenure, with the Commodores capturing two titles this season - at the Nike Golf Collegiate and the SEC Championship - and finishing runner-up at the Tavistock Collegate. The Commodores also won the stroke-play portion of the East Lake Cup in Atlanta, Ga., to close out the fall season. The award is the first by a Vanderbilt coach.
Hunter’s Team wins City of Crossville Team Championship Tee Times report CROSSVILLE – Torrential rain before the start of the first round forced The City of Crossville Team Championship to an 18-hole competition, but that didn’t deter the team of Braxton Hunter, Tanner Davis, Eddie Wyatt, and Phillip Lee as they emerged victorious. Even though the rain was gone for what turned into a one-day event, Hunter’s team had a long day ahead of them with high winds plaguing making play difficult. Led by Lee’s brilliant 3-under 68 on his own ball and a closing stretch of eight straight birdies, Hunter’s team zoomed to the team title with a 13-under-par 58.
There was a three-way tie Eddie Wyatt, Tanner Davis, Phillip Lee, and Braxton Hunter for second place at 60 by the teams of Vance/Talkington/ the state of Tennessee. Green/Salyers, S. Johnson/Wood/Cheney/SellThe Tennessee PGA would like to give a special ers, and Flenniken/Cox/Moore/Korth. thank you to Matt Phipps, PGA and the rest of Winners of the Senior Professional Division the staff at the Lake Tansi Golf Course for hostwere Jared Melson and Bill Breen with a 70. ing another successful tournament. We would Bob Rice won the Senior Amateur Division with also like to thank course superintendent Todd a 4-under 67, while Jamie Chapman and Brian Matthews, who had his crew work around Wood shot 69 to win the Regular Professional the clock to prepare the course after the bad Division. Lee and Michael Brashaw each shot 68 weather on Sunday and Monday. Without your to win the Regular Amateur Division. support and flexibility throughout the less than The Tennessee PGA would like to thank the City ideal weather conditions, The City of Crossville of Crossville for their sponsorship of this Cham- Team Championship would not have been the pionship and their continued support of golf in success it turned out to be.
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69th SunTrust Tennessee State Open
FRANKLIN, TN- The Tennessee Golf Association will conduct the 69th SunTrust Tennessee State Open at Foxland Harbor Golf & Country Club in Gallatin, Tennessee, May 23-25. 144 players will look to add their name to the Curtis Person, Sr. Trophy when the SunTrust Tennessee State open is contested at Foxland Harbor Golf & Country Club for the first-time beginning May 23rd. 2016 champion Jason Millard, will not be competing to defend his title. However, there will be at least 11 former champions teeing it up in Gallatin. The field of 144, which contains professionals and amateurs, is built through exemptions and qualifying. There were 19 different ways to receive an exemption into the field, most of which are related to past performance in the SunTrust Tennessee State Open or high finishes in a TGA or TPGA event. Those players that did not receive and exemption had the opportunity to qualify at one of eight qualifiers held throughout the state. That qualifying process has proved to be extremely competitive. “This year has been one of the most difficult state opens to qualify for. We had 408 entrants at the deadline trying to get in,” Tennessee Golf Association Executive Director Chad Anderson said. The total purse (cash and gift certificates) is expected to be $35,000 - $40,000. All professionals returning a 54-hole scorecard will receive a portion of the professional purse. Crystal awards will be presented to the Champion and RunnerUp at the Championship proper. The Low Amateur will also receive a crystal award. TGA will issue gift certificates to the top ten amateur finishers which will be valid at the host golf course. Three time SunTrust Tennessee State Open
champion Garrett Willis is in the field looking to become just the fourth player to win the championship for a fourth time. Willis’s accomplished resume includes much more than his three SunTrust Tennessee State Open titles. Back in 2001, Willis won during his PGA Tour debut at the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open. Another former champion Steven Fox enters this year’s championship with an eye-catching win under his belt early in his career. Fox won the 2012 U.S. Amateur prior to turning pro. Fox has the additional advantage of residing in neighboring Hendersonville. One of the most accomplished amateurs in the history of Tennessee golf, Tim Jackson, has his sights set on adding another TGA Championship to his list of victories. Jackson has been named player of the year more than any other player (11 times). Jackson has won the last three Senior POY awards while receiving Amateur Player of the Year as well in 2014 and 2015. Also on the list of former champions, Bob Wolcott, will be joined in the field by two other Wolcotts, his sons Ben and Hunter Wolcott.
Check out our June issue for the
Lad & Lassie’s Tournament results
Great Golf • Great Food & Drink Great Results • And lots of FUN!
ROAD TRIP No. 44
More golf than you can shake a 9-iron at. When it comes to championship golf, there’s no better destination than Alabama. Come play where the PGA TOUR professionals compete and see why Golf Digest editors picked two of Alabama’s golf resorts among their favorites. For starters, there are the 468 holes along the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Stretching from the mountains in the north to the Gulf Coast in the south, America’s original golf trail opened 25 years ago and recently completed a massive renovation of its 26 courses. Then there are the many other impressive courses scattered across the state, designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer and Jerry Pate. Each with its own set of challenges, each with its own rewards. Plan an epic road trip to great golf courses across the state of Alabama. Download Alabama Road Trips from your app store
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