Tee Times November 2016

November 2016 - January 2017 Keeping Golfers Connected in TN, KY, MS, AL, NC

Nov. 2016 - Jan. 2017

Inaugural Nashville Golf Show!

Music Center Center January 20, 21, & 22 Pages 2-3

Inside!!

9

Hit the trail:

14

Lake (Tansi) effect:

17

Nashville Golf Open:

Tennessee Golf Trail has something for everyone Crossville course honored as best in Cumberland County New date fuels momentum for 2nd-year event

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show

Booth #414

2

TEE TIMES

November 2016 - January 2017

www.teetimespaper.com

Nashville Golf Show a labor of love E for the Halls

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times editor NASHVILLE -- The idea for the Nashville Golf Show was born, somewhat ironically, during Joe Hall’s visit to another golf show three years ago.

He was wandering through a golf show in Louisville when the idea hit him – “Why not Nashville?’

Of course, the idea really took root during a conversation with some acquaintances who were exhibitors at the show.

According to Hall, the publisher of ‘Tee Times,’ each of them asked why Nashville didn’t have a golf show where golfers could gather and view the latest in equipment and apparel, and seek out new travel destinations.

“I didn’t have an answer,” Hall recalled recently while preparing for the first Nashville Golf Show. “Every one of them was encouraging and said Nashville is a growing city and could support a consumer golf show.”

Three years of preparations later, Hall and Tee Times are now in the golf show business. This weekend marks the unveiling of the first Nash-

ville Golf Show where consumers will be able to get the latest equipment, sample new apparel and accessories, and even book that dream golf trip.

Golf consumer trade shows are not uncommon. Hall’s research unveiled there are more than 30 nationwide.

“We found that there are more than 30 across the country,” he said. “Boston and Chicago have had golf shows for more than 30 years.

Those are the oldest. But the closest golf shows to Nashville are in Louisville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

I felt like we could draw possibly more than Louisville and equal to Cincinnati and Indianapolis.”

Joe and wife Carol have found out what any other inaugural venture already knew – it’s not easy putting together a show of this magnitude even when you have guidance from others and there is a tried-and-true method for success.

“Friends in the golf industry who exhibit at a lot of golf shows, helped us in an advisory role along the way,” Joe Hall said. “Everything that came

up, we would refer to them, whether it was about the size of the venue, what to charge for admission and all of the little details that sometimes get overlooked.”

The advice the Halls got was beneficial in all aspects.

“They would tell us things like don’t go against this show or that show,

Dr. Tony Parker because you exhibitors can’t be in two places at one time, and you need great exhibitors to come fill your convention hall,” Joe Hall said.

What the Halls had going for them

m C e e

Ned Michaels

going into the show that many start-up entities lack is a deep-rooted presence in the golf market and a close working relationship with most of the golf associations spread across Tennessee. That gave them a good starting point in an effort to make the show a success from Day One. “There were some plusses going forward, including having the best venue around and access to more than 50-60,000 golfers,” Joe Hall said. “So, we took the leap and signed the agreement to do this.”

“I’m glad ignorance is bliss, because we have invoices rolling in every day for something,” Carol joked. “But we’ve kept a great attitude about it and were always optimistic because of our many years in this golf community.

No way would we have jumped into this, were we not comfortable with our great relationships, contacts and mentors.”

One thing the Halls haven’t tried to do is reinvent the wheel, or in this case the golf show format.

“We have tried to model our show after other shows because that is what has been successful,” Joe Hall said. “We wanted to provide a variety of everything a golfer might want to see or experience during their trip to this consumer golf show. We are hoping it will be a good experience.”

The Music City Center serves as the host venue for the event, featuring 52,000 square feet of exhibition space that will accommodate 70 plus exhibitors featuring everything from

www.teetimespaper.com

November 2016 - January 2017

Santa was the first to announce the Inaugural Nashville Golf Show!

apparel and accessories, to clubs and destinations. This is family oriented and there will plenty for kids, with the First Tee of Middle Tennessee on the floor, tips and putting areas and much more to see and do.

There will be competitions and giveaways, seminars and a variety of speakers. Lou Graham, the 1975 U.S. Open champion, will be on hand with a panel of golf experts from Old Hickory CC, along with World Golf Hall of Fame historian Dr. Tony Parker. Ned Michaels, will serve as the event emcee. Michaels is a golf host and analyst for CBS, FOX, USGA and PGA Tour Entertainment as well as Co hosting Global Golf with Barney Alary and Michaels and Muller with Bob Muller.

Both golf shows are Cumulus Media WGFX-Nashville.

On Saturday longtime Belmont University women’s golf coach and Tennessee Golf Foundation Director of Junior Golf Lissa Bradford will head up “College Days,” to guide parents of junior golfers in how to pursue college golf scholarships. This seminar is Free to the public and all attending admitted to show at no charge.

A number of the area’s top club professionals will be on hand to talk golf and offer tips on how to improve one’s game. There will be personal trainers to aid in fitness for golf and life, as well as specialty items such as unique golf cart covers, great savvy apparel, both for men and women.

The list is long and varied something for everyone.

According to the Halls, equipment and accessories make up half the square footage. The rest will be devoted to golf courses, resorts and destinations, and peripheral companies.

The Halls stress that the Nashville Golf Show is a consumer show unlike its counterpart, the PGA Merchan-

dise Show held in Orlando, Florida, each January.

“The PGA show is basically manufacturers trying to attract buyers,” he said. “Our show is a level down to where the exhibitors are appealing directly with the consumers. The average golfer who wants to go on a trip or buy a new set of clubs or stop by local and regional booths of courses they have never played.”

They promise some surprises are in store for attendees.

“Our first goal was to secure a date and a location,” Joe Hall said. “Then it was to make sure

we could get a great variety of exhibitors into the hall. We feel like we have done that. Now our focus has moved to reaching golfers and sharing all that our exhibitors have brought to Music City Center. We’ve had a pretty good response from advance ticket sales.”

“We’re confident it will be a tremendous show,” Joe Hall said. “There’s a lot of excitement stemming from our exhibitors coming to

David Brinker

TEE TIMES

3

Lou Graham

the show, with such a super variety and appeal, which is sure to please everyone who attends.

Paramount to the Halls goal for the show is one thing, Joe Hall said.”

“We want people to feel like they got their money’s worth,” he said.

“The No. 1 goal in our minds was to have each person who comes to the show feel like it was worth their time and their money.”

4

November 2016 - January 2017

TEE TIMES

From tHE Editor

By Gregg Dewalt

Look for memorable 2017 season on PGA Tour The 2017 season on the PGA Tour is already shaping up to be a memorable one and we’re only two events into it.

Sure, there were a couple of wraparound events at the end of 2016 but let’s face it, the real season doesn’t start until last season’s winners tee it up at Kapalua.

Just when you think it is safe to anoint Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson as the guys to beat this season, along comes the latest phenom in the form of 23-yearold Justin Thomas, who checks in at a whopping 5-feet-8, 150 pounds. Given his prodigious length off the tee, it seems Thomas, who played collegiately at the University of Alabama, should be about 6-2 and 200 pounds.

But he’s not, and he has blown away

to pretty good fields in the Hawaii swing. Given Thomas’s two wins in two events and the way he’s done it including a tour-record 27-underpar showing at the Sony, he has to be considered an early favorite to contend at Augusta in April.

Thomas, who has three wins since October, also has to be considered in the aforementioned group of players who have separated themselves from the rest of a talented pack on tour.

Thomas has made the early splash on tour, but it’s nothing compared what will happen at Torrey Pines Jan. 26-29 when Tiger Woods returns to action. Look for a deluge of media attention that will scrutinize Tiger from the time he gets out of his courtesy

car until the last putt is holed. Regardless of what he shoots, look for Golf Channel coverage to be nonstop Tiger for the week.

Right now, his return is more of a curiosity than anything else. Tiger needs to show that his game is back into competitive shape. When he teed it up at his own event in the Bahamas in December, we saw a mix of good and bad from a player who hadn’t been involved in a competitive event in more than a year. Tiger showed flashes of his old self with a tournament-high number of birdies, but also displayed plenty of rust from being

Booth #112

Visit Garrick’s booth at Nashville Golf Show

Booth #418

Justin Thomas

seemingly never missed a clutch putt. Even before his hiatus from tour due to his multitude of injuries, it looked as if Tiger’s putting had slipped just enough to keep him from contending week in and week out.

No doubt, the tour will benefit from Tiger’s return. Look for him to win at least one tournament this season and it’s likely he will contend in several others, including the Masters and the Open Championship. Unfortunately, he’s not the Tiger of old. He’s not Tiger Woods going to dominate each tournament and he’s running upon a new group of fearless young guns who won’t be intimidated by his mere presence. Those away from the game for so long. His return comes at one of his favorite venues young guys will respect him for what he where he’s had plenty of success, so it has accomplished, but they won’t have any trouble taking him down when ofwon’t be surprising if he plays well. fered the opportunity.

What I’m looking for from Tiger is how The best thing to do this season is sit well he holds up under the grind of 72 holes each tournament over a long sea- back and enjoy how it unfolds. It could son and how well he chips and putts. In be as good as any season we’ve seen in his prime, there was nobody better at quite a while.

Keep it in the short grass, grinding out a 68 or 69 on a day when Gregg most pros would shoot 73 or 74. He

PUBLISHER Joe Hall pgegolf@bellsouth.net Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show

www.teetimespaper.com

EDITOR Gregg Dewalt

SENIOR EDITOR David Widener widecard@aol.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carol Hall teetimescarol@bellsouth.net

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jon Hamilton jonh2520@att.net

TECHNICAL ADVISOR Jimmy Phillips

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan Lawrence

PRINTING Franklin Web Printing Company FOUNDER - Joey Smith

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

November 2016 - January 2017

www.teetimespaper.com

Opinion

By David Widener

Member Golf Writers Association of America

Finchem kept tour afloat during crisis T

he 2008-09 financial crisis that many economists considered the worst since The Great Depression of the 1930s could have destroyed the PGA Tour.

It decimated the financial services and automotive industries which served as the title sponsors of more than a third of the Tour’s 47 tournaments. Five sponsors went bankrupt and another four teetered on the brink. Two lucrative tournaments dropped from the schedule.

“We had no idea that it would be as bad as it was,” Commissioner Tim Finchem told Forbes magazine in 2012.

It was touch and go if the tour would survive. What followed is one of the lesser- noticed sports success stories in recent years, earning Finchem, who retired at the end of 2016, a legacy that should land him in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

First, he spent most of 2008 visiting with nervous sponsors trying to calm any panic. He urged the players to interact more with the sponsors and fans.

Then, adding to the misery, in 2009 Tiger Woods, the tour’s biggest star and best player, vanished from tournaments and television after his unsavory tale of infidelity became public just as he suffered a serious leg injury.

Finchem weathered the perfect storm by assuring nervous broadcasters that the tour would be a risk-free investment, thanks to investment assets from tax free profits available because of the tour’s tax-exempt status. In late 2011 with the economy still unsteady, he negotiated nine-year extensions with both CBS and NBC. With the TV pipeline secured through 2021, he focused on golf: • He extended FedEx’s deal to sponsor the tour’s year-ending playoff series (FedEx Cup) for another five years.

• He expanded into Latin America, China and Canada by adding tours there.

• He signed up Web.com as official sponsor of a minor tour and redid the tour’s qualifying procedure.

• He restructured the tour’s schedule, giving it a real 12-month season that starts in October, making it more like the other pro sports leagues.

• He successfully lobbied along with

other golf entities in 2009 to have golf included as an official sport in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, marking its first appearance in the Games in 112 years.

Steering the tour through the economic downturn is perhaps his finest work, but Finchem also hit the ground running in his first year as commissioner. That year (1994) he founded the President’s Cup that is played in the years between Ryder Cups.

Three years later, he launched The First Tee program geared at getting more youth involved in the game. He was behind the World Golf Championships that began in 1999, and in 2007 Finchem came up with the FedEx Cup that has become an important part of the tour, paying $35 million in bonus money to the players.

When Finchem became commissioner in 1994, total prize money was $52.4 million for 40 official tournaments. Upon retirement, he left a fully sponsored schedule of 43 tournaments with prize money this season at almost $300 million and that doesn’t include the four majors.

It was a job well done as Jay Monaham, Finchem’s deputy commissioner since 2014, take the reins.

TEE TIMES

5

6

V O L U N T E E R

#1

TEE TIMES

November 2016 - January 2017

www.teetimespaper.com

Our sincere appreciation for all of his help with the Nashville Golf Show.

The Nashville community is fortunate that Bob cares so much for so many and gives so much of his time in one worthy cause after another. His selfless efforts at giving of his time and expertise have helped countless tournaments, charities, and quiet donations of his own. There are so many, they cannot be listed. He has used his retirement to help others in countless ways.

His council was one of the first that we sought, and he has and will tirelessly fulfill his obligation to serve. Shown here at the 2016 NGO Tournament doing any and everything he was called upon to do. Needing little direction, just seeing the need and jumping in, here and so many other places. The people and places and causes he has volunteerd for have and will salute this wonderful human being.

Thank you Bob‌You are one of a kind, and it has been our pleasure to work with you- Joe & Carol

Bob Mannery

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show Booth #517

at Visit our booth ow Sh f Nashville Gol Booth #217

www.teetimespaper.com

November 2016 - January 2017

TEE TIMES

We are prividged to have this icon of golf here at the Nashville Golf Show as an expert on a panel from Old Hickory Country Club, on stage Saturday 2:00 P.M- 2:45 P.M. Lou is a Charter Member of the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame and comes from a family with a golf pedigree. Be on hand to meet him before or after his seminar.

Louis Krebs Graham is an American professional golfer who won six PGA Tour tournaments including the 1975 U.S. Open. Most of his wins were in the 1970s. Lou Graham was born in Nashville, Tennessee.

Born: January 7, 1938 (age 79), Nashville, TN

Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 174 lbs Education:

University of Memphis

PGA tour wins: 6 Turned professional: 1964

Professional wins: 7

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

7

8

November 2016 - January 2017

TEE TIMES

Around Nashville Fairways John Holmes Assistant Director of Parks

Mild winter leads to anticipation of golf season

Happy New Year!

It’s always fun to say that as I look forward to greeting golfers who, along with myself, eagerly anticipate getting out and playing and watching the PGA Tour this year. Most of us are literally champing at the bit to jump feet first into the golf season.

I am happy that 2016 saw lots of upgrades to our Nashville Fairways Metro golf courses. Although we are still in the midst of winter, our courses re-

main in great shape. With more improvements scheduled for 2017, our golf courses continue to be among the best bargains in the industry.

We have been fortunate to have “spring-like weather” recently, so area golfers have been able to get out and play while taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and sunshine. We

VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION u u 115 lley Cir

lley Dr

Music Va

2515 MCGAVOCK PIKE

u u

Music Va

u u

Best Selection of Golf Equipment, Apparel & Shoes Quality Personal Service Club Repair Specialists Trade-Ins Welcome State-of-the-art Simulator, Hitting Bay & Launch Monitor Performance Fitting Specialists

McGavock Pik e

NASHVILLE • 2515 McGavock Pike • 615-883-0125 ONE MILE SOUTH, ACROSS FROM ENTRANCE TO OPRYLAND THE FORMER WAX MUSEUM BUILDING!

STORE HOURS: M-F: 10- 7 • Sat: 10- 6 • Sun: 12- 5 • online at edwinwattsgolf.com 24/7

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show Booth #305 don’t even mind the sprinkles of rain because Mother Nature has to do her thing. It will all come full circle in the grand scheme of things.

It’s no surprise that all of our metro courses are in phenomenal shape, thanks to long-range planning by our superintendents and crews. They have been diligent in doing lots of clean up and maintenance and babying the greens and fairways. They also have been busy doing “winter maintenance” that is vital this time of year. This prep work is done with the anticipation of getting the courses ready for the peak golf season.

With each new year comes the promise of change, but we still are lucky in middle Tennessee to have mild days and stretches where we can play.

That’s all the avid golfer really needs.

Sooner than we think, our courses will start to green up, our days will go from gray and foggy to warmer with more daylight hours, creating that yearning to step up and make plans to play.

I invite you to grab your friends and come out to play one of our Metro courses. Think about joining one of the many men’s or women’s golf as-

www.teetimespaper.com

Harpeth Hills

2424 Old Hickory Blvd. • 615-862-8493

McCabe

46th & Murphy Rd. • 615-862-8491

Percy Warner

Forrest Park Dr. • 615-352-9958

Shelby

20th & Fatherland • 615-862-8474

Two Rivers

Two Rivers Parkway • 615-889-2675

Ted Rhodes

1901 Ed Temple Blvd. • 615-862-8463

VinnyLinks

2009 Sevier Street • 615-880-1720

Nashvillefairways.com sociations at one of our Metro Parks golf courses. After all, a round of golf has been the start of many long-lasting friendships.

Until next time, keep it in the fairway, John Holmes

www.teetimespaper.com

November 2016 - January 2017

9

2017

Exciting times along the Tennessee Golf Trail

C

TEE TIMES

an you believe that 2017 is here? Where did 2016 go and why didn’t I play more golf last year — and why didn’t you?

We were very busy on the Tennessee Golf Trail last year and I want to thank all of you for visiting us and enjoying our facilities across this great state, especially our members and annual pass holders that help to keep the doors open.

A yearly membership at any of our Tennessee Golf Trail courses is one

of the best values in sports, as it allows unlimited play and unlimited access to the natural beauty of our Tennessee State Parks and the wildlife that lets us play in their back yard.

Please think about using our Tennessee Golf Trail facilities for yourself and for any outings or tournaments that any of you are involved with. I think our golf professionals can help you to have a successful event and you will be glad you came to see us.

Here is a little information on our courses and some of the things that were accomplished last year:

Paris Landing

We were able to add Champion Bermudagrass to our wonderful course on the lake and re-contour some of the greens along the way.

Now is a great time to come and enjoy this scenic course on Kentucky Lake.

Pickwick Landing

Another nice course on Pickwick Lake in west Tennessee that is always in good condition. They also have a few new cabins you should inquire about if you are looking for a nice place to ‘stay and play.’

Montgomery Bell

Is a gem. We finally had the opportunity to re-do the bunkers, and Jeff Kuhn has done a great job with the conditioning of the entire course. You certainly won’t be disappointed to visit this course anytime of the year.

Henry Horton

If you haven’t been to Henry Horton in a while, do yourself a favor. We re-contoured the greens and added Champion Bermudagrass to the surfaces and it is very, very nice. I think it is as good as it has ever been.

Fall Creek Falls

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show

Booth #412

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this Joe Lee designed course on the Cumberland Plateau. It will really challenge your iron play, and Justin Fisher has done a fine job with the conditioning of the course. It is also one of the great courses to enjoy watching wildlife, and you don’t have to hit it in the woods to see many of our critters.

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show Booth #318

Warriors Path

This is a scenic course in Kingsport that has been enjoyed by the fine people of east Tennessee for years.

Mark Houser has been there since it opened and this year has added several new tees for your enjoyment.

Tims Ford

The Bear Trace at Tims Ford continues to get better and better with a Jack Nicklaus design that is user friendly in every way, challenging the low handicap golfer but not very penal to the high handicapper. It is a wonderful piece of land, its own peninsula, and is one of the prettier settings of all of our Tennessee Golf Trail courses.

Cumberland Mountain

Always a fun place to play, the Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain has only cool season grasses which mean it is the first course to get green in the spring. This Jack Nicklaus signature course is conveniently located in Crossville.

Harrison Bay

Another Jack Nicklaus design near Chattanooga boasts the Golf Digest Green Star Award for 2012 and the Environmental Leaders in Golf Award for 2013, given by the Golf Course Superintendents of America.

We also house our famed American bald eagles nesting in a pine tree on number 11 tee. A sight to see.

All of the Tennessee Golf Trail courses are Audubon Certified Sanctuaries, something we are immensely proud of and will continue to work on every year. We always appreciate the people who support us in our efforts to be better every year and look forward to seeing all of you in 2017.

All the best, Mike

10

November 2016 - January 2017

TEE TIMES

www.teetimespaper.com

Nashville G

January 20 - 2

Music Cit Exhibitors

Booth #

104.5 The Zone 115 Absolute Golf Ball 209 Adams Insurance 420 Alabama Bureau of Tourism 301 Belle Meade Cigar Shop 202 Belmont School of Sports Mgt 203 Body Tune Plus 101 Bright Leaf Golf Resort 302 Carolinas Golf & Vacation Resorts 319 Colors 4 Causes 504 Crossroads Marketing 400 Diamond Resorts International 421 Dudley Sales 611 Elite Events of Music City 500 Enlow Sales Co. 524 EWGA 519 EZ mag golf cart cover 201 First Tee 332 Friendly Meadows Pro Shop Plus 111 Garrick Malone 418 Gaylord Springs Golf Links 407 Golf Exchange 626 Golf Rx 412 GolfMart Kentucky 100 GolfTec 307 Hermitage Golf Course 414 Hi Dow 624 Hilton Head 511 Holes To Go 609 Home Team Golf 601 Kentucky State Parks 219 Keystone Financial Resources 300 Krave Jerky 204 Lake Tansi Village Resort 405 Maggie Valley Golf & Resort 309 Mid America golfing Events 118

Exhibitors

Booth #

Mobile Laser Pursuit 620 Musty Putters 523 Nashville Fairways 305 Nashville Golf Open 212 Nashville Predators 315 Nashville Sertoma Club 104 Nashville Sports Council 313 Oak Hills 105 Old Hickory Country Club 217 One Pure Line 521 Partin and Associates 311 Pine Creek Golf Course 517 Playright 111a Prato Eyewear 522 Premier Golf Services 618 Renegar Wedges 107 Renewal by Andersen 515 Riverside Golf Course 112 Riverwatch 501 Seal Smart 304 SeeMore Putters 205 Southern States Jr. Tour 114 Tennessean 103 Tennessee Golf Association 616 Tennessee Golf Foundation 423 Tennessee Golf Trail 318 The Course at Sewanee 404 TNPGA 614 Tourputting 206 TR Martin Sales 419 Vigor Fitness 513 Visit Mississippi 401 VK Sports 520 Weston 126 WGHOF 116 Williamsburg Golf Resorts 200

www.teetimespaper.com

November 2016 - January 2017

TEE TIMES

Golf Show

21 - 22, 2017

ty Center Sponsors: PATRON

BIRDIE

GOLF

11

12

TEE TIMES

November 2016 - January 2017

www.teetimespaper.com

World Class Golf Training!

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

• 18 Hole Course with a Challenging Layout • Great Practice Area • Full Driving Range • Short Game Area • Walker Friendly • Individual, Group, & Junior Lessons Available

(615) 274-2301 www.championsrun.biz

The Middle Tennessee Golf Performance Center

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

www.teetimespaper.com

November 2016 - January 2017

TEE TIMES

Thanks for your Support Patron Sponsors!!

13

14

TEE TIMES

November 2016 - January 2017

www.teetimespaper.com

Phipps at home at Lake Tansi

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times editor CROSSVILLE – At first glance, Matt Phipps would appear to be a homegrown professional who has never strayed far from his London, Kentucky birthplace.

To a certain extent, the Lake Tansi Golf Course golf professional is working close to home.

However, he took a circuitous route on his journey in the golf industry to return home. And, as he begins his sixth year on the job, Phipps is entrenched as the head professional and is comfortable in his role.

“I would say that most people don’t know I have lived in six different states and worked at numerous clubs in my 15 years as an Apprentice/Class A member,” Phipps said. “Because I was born and raised not too far from here, most people are under the impression I’m a local guy. But that is not the case. I’ve lived all over, although I must say it sure is nice being back close to home.”

Phipps’ resume does have a lot of stops listed as he begins another year at Lake Tansi Village. Although it is typical for many young pros to move around, Phipps’ golf travels stretch from Indiana to northern Michigan to south Florida and Lexington, Kentucky. His most recent stop before landing at Lake Tansi was as first assistant at the Sagamore Club in Noblesville, Indiana where he spent a whopping two years.

In a golf-centric community and set amid a picturesque setting, Phipps hopes Lake Tansi’s designation as “Cumberland County’s best course” by a local newspaper and

that plays to 6,701 yards. It’s a par 72 that has a traditional feel.

And, the scenery is spectacular.

“Although the course has been modified more than once from its original version, it still maintains a classic feel,” Phipps said. “Our superintendent, Todd Mathews, has the most to do with us winning the award. He’s a 25-year veteran and like all great supers, puts in countless hours and effort to keep Lake Tansi in the wonderful shape that it is in all year long. He and his staff provide the excellent playing conditions you will find here. I and our crew of starters and rangers then do our best to provide a great golfing experience to our members and guests.”

Lake Tansi is more than just an inand-out course to play. There are 17 cabins that surround the 550-acre recreational lake that are used for out-of-town guests.

Each cabin sleeps four or more, and there is a plethora of other outdoor opportunities at the facility, includMatt Phipps ing swimming and fishing.

Phipps, who began playing at the

a top-10 rating by Golf Advisor will enhance the course’s reputation.

“It was a great honor to receive the Best Golf Course in Cumberland County in 2016,” Phipps said. “There are so many great golf courses on the plateau, we were fortunate to stand out among the rest and receive this award. In many ways, Lake Tansi is still a hidden gem. It was great to receive this award and get some publicity.

Hopefully, this will be a step in identifying it as the gem that it is and not so hidden.”

Lake Tansi is a Robert Renaud design

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show Booth #405

Hole No. 9

Hole No. 12

age of 6 when a friend took up the game, also extols the virtues of the entire Cumberland Plateau region.

“I would hope that everyone comes to play Tansi at least once,” he said. “The quality of golf we provide here along with such reasonable pricing and easy access to the other amenities is sure to make a memorable visit for your golf group ,family, or yourself. And, that is not totally exclusive to us. Here on the Cumberland Plateau there are several great courses.”

Lake Tansi offers stay-and-play packages that are convenient to the other area courses “The Plateau is a wonderful destination for golf and recreation,” Phipps said.

booth at Visit our lf Show Go Nashville #105 h t Boo

www.teetimespaper.com

November 2016 - January 2017

oth at o b r u o t i Vis f Show l o G e l l i v Nash 07 Booth #4

“Best Course You Can Play” - GolfWeek

TEE UP

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

GOLF INSTITUTE

Golf Lessons • Custom Club Fitting • Club Repair

For more information or to book a tee time: GaylordSprings.com | 615-458-1730

TEE TIMES

15

16

November 2016 - January 2017

TEE TIMES

www.teetimespaper.com

For Malone, skill trumps style Tee Times report

“I remember exactly when I was going to be golf professional at some point,” Malone recalled.

“I was being recruited by Jerry Carpenter at UT-Martin. I actually ended the process by telling him I was going to dive into the PGA program.”

Malone has developed his own teaching process with heavy influence from the Titleist Institute, BioSwing Dynamics, Plane Truth Golf, Vision 54, Simplifying Golf and Charlie King.

Much of Malone’s clientele are from the surrounding areas of Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville and Old Hickory, and he says many of his students come to him with a specific goal.

“I teach golfers of all skill levels,” he said. “I love helping golfer reach their specific goals. Some golfers just play to hit long drives and could care less about what else happens. Some are there for the social aspect and just want to get

Garrick Malone’s teaching philosophy is relatively simple – skill always trumps style.

In other words, it’s about getting results and not having the most picturesque golf swing.

To get those results, the owner of Malone Golf Academy at Riverside Golf Course starts with a player’s ball flight and works backward to impact.

It makes sense, too, if you think about it. See the difference between the desired ball flight and poor ball flight and understanding the cause of each is in Malone’s viewpoint, the best way to improve.

“Once we know what the unwanted ball flight looks like, then we can talk about what’s happening when the club head meets the ball or impact,” Malone explained. “Then we can figure out what to do to change the impact, thus changing the ball flight. It works because they know what happens when the ball gets off line, and they know how to change it. The faster you can recover, the more consistent your score will become.”

Malone opened his golf academy after a stint at Highland Rim, where he started on the carts staff and advanced to managing clubhouse operations by the time he was 19. He also spent time coaching the golf team at Sycamore High School for about 2 years, Sycamore middle students, about 2 more years and for the past two years coaching Good pasture’s Middle School. After almost 10 years of overseeing tournaments, college events, weddings and wedding receptions, at Highland Rim, Malone made the leap of faith to open his own academy.

“It was time to pursue my passion of coaching golf fulltime,” he said.

He opened Malone Golf Academy in 2014, the culmination of a dream he had since he was a teenager being recruited to play Garrick Malone golf at Tennessee-Martin.

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show Booth #418 better so they don’t hold up their playing partners. Some aspire to win state and national tournaments.”

And Malone caters to each of those individual needs.

His move from Highland Rim to Riverside helped with quick access to the course.

“It allows me to get from the range to a course situation where the player is struggling,” he said. “It’s one thing to be able to perform on the range and another to be able to do it on the course.

This being able to see what changes occur from the range to the course, ensures that we have the right plan and guarantees improvement.”

Malone, who has been playing since he was 13, has two sound pieces of advice for students.

The first is, “Don’t ever, ever, ever hit a shot you can’t see.”

“It definitely helps to understand what will and won’t work under pressure,” he said. “It helps to understand the thoughts and emotions that happen when you are under the gun.”

The second piece of advice is to get fitted for a putter.

“It’s amazing how many golfers do not have a putter close to what they should be putting with,” he noted.

Malone also dispels the myth that a player has to regress before he sees progress.

“Golfers think it is complicated,” he said. “It’s not. It’s important when taking a lesson to understand why you are there. Do you want to make the ball fly better or have a good swing?

Most don’t want or need the PGA Tour façade of swing overhauls which rarely work, in my opinion.

Look who owns the lowest score on Tour – Jim Furyk. Focus on you ball control skills and not a look.”

ooth at Visit our b olf Show G le il Nashv 7 Booth #30

www.teetimespaper.com

November 2016 - January 2017

TEE TIMES

17

NGO organizers look for bigger, better in second year

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor NASHVILLE – The return of the professional golf on a PGA Tour level with the Nashville Golf Open in 2016 was viewed as an unqualified success.

As organizers prepare for the second installment of a five-year deal with the Nashville Golf and Athletic Club, they hope a new date will improve on what was a solid first-time event this year.

“Bringing professional golf back to Nashville was a very positive thing for the Tour and our community,” tournament director Patrick Nichol of Tour Vision Promotions said. “I think everyone was pleased with last year’s results, especially after working in a very short time frame from the tournament announcement to hosting the event.”

The first Nashville Golf Open bumped up against the U.S. Open and Father’s Day. This year the date shifts to June 26-July 2, which should be more fan friendly.

“Moving our date two weeks later from last year’s dates is a real positive,” Nichol said. “It was challenging playing our inaugural event opposite the U.S. Open and having our final round on Father’s Day. Although we were very pleased with the 2016 results, our new dates should work much better for the community.”

James Driscoll won the inaugural Nashville Golf Open, shooting 19-under 269 to win by three shots over Brian Campbell. He pocketed $99,000 for his first Web.com victory since 2004. Six of the top-10 finishers went on to earn their PGA Tour cards. That speaks well to the quality of the competition on the Web. com Tour, Nichol said.

He points out that recent PGA Tour winners such as Smylie Kaufman and Cody Gribble are Web.com Tour graduates. Justin Thomas, who has won the first two events on the PGA Tour this season, played the Web.com Tour in 2014 with one win.

The tournament is still seeking a title sponsor, but Nichol said there are several possibilities. The total purse will again be $550,000.

“I hope it happens sooner rather than later,” he said.

Nashville Golf & Athletic James Driscoll- NGO 2016 Champion

Club general manager Madison Whittemore said the club remains “thrilled” to host the tournament.

“The inaugural event in June of 2016 was a huge success with attendance well above typical first year tour events and the caliber of golf played truly showed the talent of these young professionals,” Whittemore said. “So as we ramp up for the second year we are excited to see the attendance numbers grow exponentially and the level of participation from local businesses and organizations play a larger role with each coming year.”

Whittemore credited the community’s involvement with helping make the tournament a success.

“With over 300 volunteers lending their time and energy in running the tournament, it was wonderful to see that the feedback was overwhelming positive and that most were already blocking off their calendar for next year’s tournament,” Whittemore said. “From a club and course perspective, we have continued to work with PGA Tour hand-in-hand to improve the facility to offer the best test of golf possible. The feedback from the players in 2016 was that many felt the course played very true, and several players specifically shared that this was one of their favorite tournaments to participate in on the Web. com Tour.”

Nashville Golf &Athletic Club was the longest course on the Web.com Tour in 2016, but players returning for a second time will find it even longer.

Whittemore said tour officials requested several championship tees be expanded or lengthened for the 2017 event, and the club is honoring those requests.

“We are also taking steps to enhance the spectator’s experience by working to expand amenities’ location and accessibility,”

James Driscoll , NGO 2016 Champion is flanked by Nashville Golf & Athletic owners, Madison and Barbara Whittemore

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show Booth #212 Whittemore said. “All in all, we look forward to an even more successful 2017 tournament, while offering all involved even more of what made last year’s event so exciting.”

The tournament generated $50,000 that benefited The Tennessee Golf Associations First Tee Program and Williamson County high schools.

“The Nashville Golf Open certainly has a real chance to blossom in its second year,

given the fact that we had less than five months of notice before staging the first NGO this past June,” Dick Horton, President of the Tennessee Golf Association said in a release. “The First Tee and the Tennessee Golf Foundation were thrilled to be involved and the young people had a great experience seeing the future stars of the PGA TOUR. Nashville Golf & Athletic Club was more than a fine test of golf and they too will benefit from having a whole year to be ready to host. I also am convinced that the corporate community of Middle Tennessee is ready to respond with its support to make the NGO one of the best Web.com Tour events of the 2017 season.”

at Visit our booth ow Sh Nashville Golf Booth #501

18

TEE TIMES

November 2016 - January 2017

Equipment Corner

Ask your Golf Pro for the Martini Tee!

Nashville Golf Show staff & volunteers are proud to wear these shirts.

www.teetimespaper.com

www.teetimespaper.com

November 2016 - January 2017

Spotlight on... Dr. Anthony Parker, Historian to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum When my wife and I arrived in St Andrews in 1992 to read for my Ph.D. at the University, I came to follow two passions – to study his-

tory and to pursue golf in the birthplace of the modern game. I had promised my wife, Lisa, that we would be in St Andrews for three

years and that it would be an adventure. Nearly 21 years later, we were still in St Andrews living out the dream.

During my Ph.D. studies, I had a great system worked out to combine my academic work and my golf. I would rise in the morning, eat breakfast, study for four hours, have lunch, collect my golf clubs and then head to the Old Course to pick up a game. I did that 3-4 times a week for three years. I finished my Ph.D. on time and my golf game was steady.

Not only had I completed the Ph.D. in Scottish History, but I had also become the first Curator of Golf Collections in the Special Collections Division of the University of St Andrews. As for the golf, I am a member of the St Andrews Golf Club and the Thistle Club. I was also the first member of the Management Committee of the St Andrews Golf Club not born in the British Isles during its first 170 years of existence.

I have since taken the post of Historian to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and I am proud that the history and the significance of St Andrews to the game of golf are highlighted throughout the museum. As visitors enter the second floor of the museum, they see several images of St Andrews, such as a representation of the first painting showing golf played on the Old Course. The original hangs in the R&A and was painted around 1740. There is also a large photograph of the 1857 Grand National Golf Tournament held in St Andrews.

For me, coming to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum each day is like coming home to St Andrews.

With St Andrews as the starting place, the rest of the world of golf is opened up to explore during a visit to the museum.

- Dr. Anthony Parker, Historian to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum

TEE TIMES

19

20

TEE TIMES

Visit our booth at Nashville Golf Show Booth #318

November 2016 - January 2017

www.teetimespaper.com