Tee Times November-December 2021

November - December 2021 Keeping Golfers Connected in TN, KY, MS, AL, NC

Showtime returns in February Nashville Golf Show returns with new title sponsor Pages 2-3

Inside!! role: Oak Hills GM Brent 5 New Edmister taking on lesser role Rising up: St. Joseph Bay in Florida 12 continues recovery from 2018 hurricane Landlubber: After working on a cruise 19 ship, Roger King enjoys teaching on land

November - December 2021

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November - December 2021

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Nashville Golf Show adds Golf House Tennessee as presenting sponsor

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor Statistics indicate that golf is in the midst of a two-year resurgence due largely in part to the ongoing world-wide Covid pandemic.

Once it was determined that outdoors activities, including golf, were mostly safe, the sport has seen an influx of new players plus a return to the game by those who might have given it up over the years for whatever reason.

On the downside, though, the casualty of Covid, at least during its first year, was large indoor gatherings. And that included the 2021 Nashville Golf Show. But after a year’s hiatus and with a new title sponsor on board, the Nashville Golf Show makes its return to the Music City Feb. 11-12 at the Nashville Fairgrounds Expo 3.

It’s the fifth rendition of the golf show, and while the overall show will remain much the same as in the past, Tee Times Paper publishers Joe and Carol Hall are thrilled to announce that Golf House Tennessee has signed on as the show’s presenting sponsor.

Simply put, Carol Hall called the support of Golf House Tennessee “a game changer” for the Nashville Golf Show.

“After all, they are the heart and soul of all things golf in Tennessee,” Carol Hall said.

She credited Tennessee Golf Foundation President Whit Turnbow with being open to coming on board as the presenting sponsor. She said it is a natural fit for the organizations, including the Tennessee Golf Association and the Tennessee PGA Section, to be involved.

“Everyone at Golf House is proud to support the show,” Turnbow said. “Shining a positive light on golf is important to all of

us, so we were eager to come alongside Joe and Carol to help make this show the best one yet!”

Joe Hall said he is excited not only for the 2022 show, but Whit for the future of the Turnbow event.

“This will be the fifth annual show for Nashville and promises to grow especially with partnering with Golf House Tennessee as the presenting sponsor,” he said.

“Both the Nashville Golf Show and Golf House want to tell the golf community what golf is all about in our region and the golf show is the perfect place.”

In the past, the Nashville Golf Show has attracted as many as 6,000 attendees to what then was a three-day event. The 2022 event has been shortened to two days so as not to conflict with the Super Bowl on Feb. 13. In the past, the closest two regional golf shows were located in Louisville, Kentucky and St. Louis, Missouri.

With the absence of anything closer, the Halls thought that it made perfect sense to have a golf show in Nashville due to the

DATE!!! e h t E V A S m - 7pm a 0 1 • h t Feb 11 am - 7pm 0 1 • h t 2 Feb 1

Todd Boswell, Master Bagpiper, has opened all Nashville Golf Shows

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Nashville Golf Show attendees wait to get into the event

massive interest in the sport in Tennessee and the proximity to Alabama, north Georgia and north Mississippi. Robust attendance during the past four shows has proved the Halls’ intuition as correct.

While details are still being finalized as far as a list of exhibitors, past shows have featured as many as 65-plus exhibitors spread across 35,000 square feet in the Nashville Fairgrounds Expo 3. PGA professionals are scheduled to be on site to offer tips and provide hands-on lessons.

There will be Kids Zone and a 19th hole, in addition to a main stage for presentations and other planned events.

“With a wide variety of exhibitors at the show, the appeal for golfers is that they will be able to view what’s new in equipment and apparel, participate in interactive events, take mini lessons from professionals, view stage performances, see what golf destinations have to offer, enter contests, and much more,” Joe Hall said. “We are excited to return the only golf show in Nashville and look forward to seeing all of our friends in golf in February.”

Joe Hall hopes that the resurgence of golf will lead to the most successful show since it started in 2017.

“The past 20 months have seemed so long in regard to the pandemic and how it has affected our lives, but there is at least one positive thing to come out of this terrible situation,” Joe Hall said. “Golf is mak-

ing a rebound, in the U.S. and worldwide as well. Rounds in the U.S. are up approximately 30%. The outdoors were the safest places to be during the pandemic and golf was one of those places to be. With

this increase in rounds played, I think golfers are more excited now more ever to experience the variety of what golf has to offer by visiting the Nashville Golf Show.”

Carol Hall said after a one-year break in the show and all that has happened since the pandemic first hit the U.S., it was difficult to wrap her head toward bringing the show back.

“After going through what all of us have encountered during the pandemic, it was hard early on to cater to the thought of digging in and working on the 2022 Nashville Golf Show,” she admitted. “But once we approached Whit about becoming the presenting sponsor and he was receptive

to giving it some thought, I think Joe and I began to get excited for the show to get a new start, so to speak.”

The 2022 Nashville Golf Show moved closer to fruition after the Halls met with Turnbow, Clayton Hromadka (PGA Tennessee Section executive director) and Allison Brown (Tennessee Golf Association executive director).

“After meeting with these three folks, the Nashville Golf Show, presented by Golf House Tennessee became a reality,” Carol Hall said. “With Golf House Tennessee as the presenting sponsor, we had a renewed spirit to move forward with partners who touch everything golf in the state of Tennessee.”

Nashville Golf Show visitors check out the booth of one of the the many exhibitors

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November - December 2021

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From tHE Editor

By Gregg Dewalt

Nashville’s Tommy Frist named Leadership Award winner W hen the discussion turns to junior golf, most of the time the conversation is about incredible players and their on-course exploits.

Seldom do you hear about what many of them are doing off the course and behind the scenes. Proof that there is more to many junior players than just their shots-gained stats come from the recently released list of finalists, including the winner, of the annual USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award.

Tennessee was well represented on the list with three boys and one girl on the list of finalists that includes 10 boys and 10 girls.

Winner Tommy Frist of Nashville certainly is deserving of the honor.

According to the AJGA-USGA release, Frist and his father wanted to do something outside of their comfort zones to help others and when they heard about Dr. Tabin and the Himalayan Project they reached out to see how they could get involved. Dr. Tabin welcomed them on a trip with him to Ethiopia to assist surgeons as they performed cataract surgeries.

Frist worked 12-hour days while there helping the doctors perform the much-needed surgeries. The people he helped were often very poor and suffered from bad hygiene, with most of them not being able to see.

Frist displayed a kind and nurturing attitude towards those the clinic served and would often play with the children as their parents went through surgery. He also helped perform post-op tasks that included administering eye drops, applying bandages, directing patient flow and restocking surgical supplies.

Frist also started the Harlen Society within his school. He wanted to engage with the other

PUBLISHER Joe Hall pgegolf@bellsouth.net

EDITOR Gregg Dewalt teetimesgregg@gmail.com

young men in his class to get them ready for civic engagement. The Harlen Society takes trips into the communities of different groups so everyone can better understand one another. This society is a direct result of Frist’s passion to connect people from different backgrounds.

“Serving others and volunteering for various organizations has taught me a lot about the importance of giving back,” he said. “It feels good to help people and it’s a reminder that I’m part of something so much bigger than myself.”

Frist has also worked with the local First Tee program by raising money and helping to teach the next generation of junior golfers. In addition, he used Leadership Links and the AJGA’s State Cup Series to raise money through the Tennessee Cup in 2020 and 2021, raising almost $14,000.

Andie Smith of Florida was the girls award winner.

“Tommy and Andie’s extraordinary desire to serve others provides a source of aspiration that the entire game of golf can strive toward,” USGA President Stu Francis said. “The USGAAJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award serves as an important annual reminder that the game’s future is in good hands.”

Clark Akers and Bo Maradik, both of Nashville, were finalists for the award, while while Kingsport’s Kara Carter was a girls finalist.

Since 2009, the Leadership Links program has helped more than 1,000 junior golfers make a difference in their community by generating more than $1 million dollars in charitable contributions to hundreds of charities and the AJGA’s Achieving Competitive Excel-

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Justin Onslow

SENIOR EDITOR David Widener widecard@aol.com

The charity work by Tommy Frist (left) and Andie Smith earned the duo the USGA/AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award for 2021. (AJGA)

Clark Akers, Nashville

Kara Carter, Kingsport

lence (ACE) Grant.

Here’s a brief synopsis of Tennessee’s other three finalists: Clark Akers: Akers has been involved in numerous service projects since 2017. Most notably he is a frequent presence at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. He built multiple benches for the hospital to provide a safe place for patients to sit outside in the green spaces.

Akers also participated in the Friends and Fashion Show fundraiser. This event raised awareness for childhood illnesses and highlighted the hope that the Children’s Hospital brings to families.

Bo Maradik: Maradik created and co-chaired the Tennessee Cup for the past two years. Proceeds from this State Cup Series event were split among the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Snedeker Foundation, and the

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

TECHNICAL ADVISOR Jimmy Phillips

Bo Maradik, Nashville

AJGA’s ACE Grant Program. Maradik also invests in his local community. Each year he finds a way to volunteer with the Bridge Ministry, Grace M. Elementary, Fort Campbell, Lakeshore Senior Living and the Church of Christ Disaster Relief. Maradik recently signed to play golf at Georgetown University.

Kara Carter: Carter works with the Tri-City First Tee in Tennessee as a coach and volunteer. She helps to teach core life skills and the game of golf to kids around her. Carter participated in the Tennessee Cup the last two years and has raised over $5,000 for local Tennessee Charities and the AJGA’s ACE Grant Program.

Carter is an influential part of the golf community where she lives and has donated her time and talents to help over 140 students. Carter currently is a freshman on the golf team at Xavier University.

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Oak Hills’ GM Brent Edmister to have new role in semiretirement

By Justin Onslow Tee Times Associated Editor

B

rent Edmister came to Oak Hills Golf Course in Greenbrier, Tennessee in 2013 when the sprawling Middle Tennessee track was nothing more than overgrown underbrush, unmanicured fairways and dying greens. At the time, he parked his car, got out and surveyed the areas around the No. 3 green, got back in the car and sped off thinking surely; there must be a better place to work.

Fast-forward eight or so years and Edmister is nearing semi-retirement from Oak Hills’ general manager position. But the golf course he’s not quite leaving behind is no longer a dying eyesore with a dwindling customer base. Oak Hills is now more than he ever dreamed it could be.

Edmister, a former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who served his country for 20 years, began a second career in golf after leaving the military – one that has itself spanned a couple decades. First, Spring Valley Golf Club in Lexington, Kentucky as an assistant golf pro. Then, Greenbrier Golf and Country Club as the head golf pro.

In 2013, Edmister decided he wanted to be closer to his children and moved to the Nashville area to be near family. He simply made the move, figuring he would start dropping resumes around Middle Tennessee in hopes of finding a new position.

Edmister did apply for the Director of Golf Operations position at Oak Hills –and the board of directors offered him the position – but with another offer on the table, he declined. Days later, that offer fell through, so he went back to the drawing board, until a chance encounter with the then-president of Oak Hills, who urged him to once again throw his hat in the ring.

By February 2014, Edmister had found his new home, though he didn’t realize at the time just how much impact he would have on the future of the course.

It’s hard to accurately describe Oak Hills’ seven-plus-year transformation without seeing it firsthand, but it’s been akin to a full-home renovation under Edmister’s direction – a comparison made not entirely by coincidence given Edmister’s background in DIY home renovation and woodworking.

Semi-retirement, more time for family

Edmister (L) and Sam Rhoten play in TNPGA Section Pro/Assistant

Simply put, the man loves to fix and tinker and make things better.

“I’m definitely into woodworking,” he says.

“I’ve done two kitchens in our homes now.

I’ve done three bathroom renovations and I’ve built complete buildings in my college and high school years.

Steering Other People While Edmister’s general manager duties included guidance to bring Oak Hills back to life, he’s never shied away from hands-on instruction, which is why his semi-retirement at the close of 2021 isn’t much of a retirement at all. Sure, he’s handing over the reins to PGA Professional Jeff Hastings for the dayto-day oversight, but Edmister isn’t stepping away entirely. Instead, he’s choosing to shift his focus to one thing he loves almost as much as family time, woodworking and playing golf: teaching.

“I enjoy teaching, and that’s why I’m happy to do so,” he admits. “ Like any good teacher, Edmister revels in not just instructing but in learning – about the game, about his students and what makes each one tick.

“Up front, I have to figure out how they learn and what is the best way to communicate with them,” he says. “More video or less video. More words or fewer words .That’s part of the early process in my teaching, to ascertain their best way to learn.”

One of the primary reasons he’s entering semi-retirement is to open up more time

on his schedule to visit his family and “help them with projects” around the house. Along with playing more golf.

All the while, he’s still going to be around the course on a part-time basis, no longer making big decisions, but there if needed. After all, Oak Hills has been a labor of love for a man who’s dedicated so much time to making things better than they were when he found them.

Breathing New Life When Edmister took the helm at Oak Hills, the course had 150 dues-paying members on the books, but an audit would reveal a number closer to 90. In order to right the ship, Oak Hills would need some new blood – and to get that, vast course improvements.

“Right now we’ve got about 45 people who are monthly dues-paying members,” he says.

“But we have 1,600 total members. With the influx of members and money to improve the golf course, we now have a facility that is getting a well-deserved reputation.”

That membership base includes golfers from all over Middle Tennessee, from Murfreesboro and Brentwood to White House, Springfield, Goodlettsville and Hendersonville – the new lifeblood of a revitalized, thriving course.

“We’ve got people here that have a Christian background, a strong belief system, guys on the board say it was a godsend when I walked in,” Edmister says. “Now that

Edmister is ready to focus on teaching

I’m leaving, we consider PGA Professional Jeff Hastings, relocating from Burbank, CA, a godsend, because he’s got a lot more experience than I had at running multiple facilities.

To be able to get him with his background and experience … again, it was just good timing for everyone.”

High Goals Asked of the advice Edmister would give his younger self ahead of a new, second career, he stresses the need for setting higher goals and looking farther down the road.

“I think a lot of times I didn’t look enough at long-term goals, whether it was the facility I was working at, the students I was teaching… or enhancing tournament play. I just dealt with what was right in front of me, he admits.”

Knowing now what he wishes he knew back then, Edmister is ready for what lies ahead in semi-retirement with his endeavor to help his students improve. If his success in revitalizing Oak Hills is any indication, his students are in good hands.

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Opinion

By David Widener

Member Golf Writers Association of America

With Sifford Award, Tour looks to advance diversity I

n its continuing effort to improve diversity, the PGA Tour announced on November 15 the creation of the Charlie Sifford Award for those who advance diversity in golf. Great date to do it because Nov. 15, 2004, was the day Sifford was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame after a long battle to gain acceptance in professional golf because he was Black.

There are many dimensions to diversity, but race is a major one. Sifford didn’t start playing professional golf until 1948 at age 26. Excluded from the PGA, he played in the United Golf Association’s National Negro Open, winning it six times including five straight years (1952-1956).

Sifford won the Long Beach Open in 1957, however it was not an official PGA tournament. He tied for 32nd place in the 1959 U.S. Open and finally became the first AfricanAmerican member of the PGA Tour in 1961 at age 39. He won the 1963 Puerto Rico Open, an alternate PGA Tour event, then claimed his first official Tour victory at the 1967 Greater Hartford Open. His other Tour victory came in the 1969 Los Angeles.

Noted for his cigar smoking while playing tournaments, Sifford also came away the winner in the 1975 PGA Seniors Championship, then the leading tournament for golfers over 50.

Lee Trevino called Sifford “the Jackie Robinson of golf.”

Tiger Woods said Sifford paved the way for his career and thought so much of him that he named his son Charlie.

Sifford, who died in 2015 after suffering a stroke, was awarded the 2007 Old Tom Morris Award, the highest honor given by the Golf Course Superintendents of America. In 2014, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of St. Andrews.

One of those who mentored Sifford was Nashville’s Ted Rhodes, who also helped break the color barrier and deserves consideration for the World Golf Hall of Fame. Rhodes, who died in 1969, is in the Tennessee Hall of Fame (1998) and the former Cumberland Golf Course was renamed the Ted Rhodes Golf Course in 1969 to honor him.

Rhodes and fellow Black golfer Bill Spiller were successful in having the PGA remove its “Caucasian only clause.”

The PGA then got around it by changing its tournaments to “invitationals” and inviting only whites to participate.

Currently there are just four Black players on the PGA Tour so much remains to be done. However, the problem

Charlie Sifford

Ted Rhodes

Renee Powell

goes deeper than the pro tours. A report in April this year showed out of approximately 24 million recreational golfers, less than 3 percent are Black.

The inaugural recipient of the Sifford award is Renee Powell, who says her parents taught her early on that golf should be a sport for everyone. “We can all diversify this game in so many ways.”

She became the second Black woman to compete on the LPGA Tour in 1967 (Althea Gibson was the first in 1964). Powell played in more than 250 tournaments and since 1995 has been the PGA/LPGA pro at Clearview Golf Club in Ohio.

Powell will be honored as part of the 2022 World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony March 9 during the Players Championship.

New inductees are Tiger Woods, Susie Maxwell Berning, Tim Finchem and the late Marion Hollins. The four bring the total in the Hall to 164.

TOUR NOTEPAD: Luke List, the former Vanderbilt University All-American, is off to a good start in the 2022 season.

In the October Zozo Championship he shot 5-under-par to tie for 7th place and earn $259,322.

In November, he tied for 11th with 4-under-par in the Houston Open to earn $166,875.

His scoring average for the first six events is 69.3 and his Luke List earnings total $529,610.

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Around Nashville Fairways Wayne Evans

Superintendent of Sports/ Golf Clubhouse Operations

Metro Parks announces staff changes We hope everyone has enjoyed a great fall golf season.

As of this writing today, we are having a sunny day with a forecast high of 73 degrees! I hope you all are getting out and enjoying our great Metro courses. Around here, we are blessed to be able to play yearround given warm sunny days.

The idea of a 73-degree day in early December from weather forecasters brings golfers out in droves, even with the holiday season and winter fast approaching We are happy to announce several staff changes and wellDaryl Edens, Manager/ Two deserved promotions due to Rivers G.C. some recent retirements of golf staff at our Nashville Fairway courses.

Here’s a list of the changes: Daryl Edens is now the manager at Two Rivers Golf Course and Troy Hendrickson has assumed the duties of assistant manager at Two Rivers.

Danielle Stewart was promoted to assistant manager at Shelby Golf Course. She will serve as interim manager at Shelby until we fill the vacant manager position later Danielle Stewart, this winter.

Asst. Manager/ Jacob McDowell was promoted to the position of assisShelby G.C. tant manager at Harpeth Hills Golf Course.

We know that all of these fine staff members will do well in their new positions. They, along with the rest of us here at Nashville Fairways/ Metro’s golf courses, are looking forward to a great year in 2022.

Have a great holiday season everyone and come see us.

- Wayne

7 5

Happy New Year!

Come Play in 2022!

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

Troy Hendrickson, Asst. Manager/ Two Rivers G.C.

Ted Rhodes

1901 Ed Temple Blvd. • 615-862-8463

VinnyLinks

2009 Sevier Street • 615-880-1720

Jacob McDowell, Asst. Manager/ Harpeth Hills G.C.

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LPGA Amateurs honor two volunteers at year-end celebration LPGA Amateurs Nashville Chapter held its year-end celebration at Old Natchez Country Club on November 13.

It was a true celebration for the chapter because we hadn’t had an event indoors in 2020 because of the pandemic. Our members were excited to get together to eat and drink and catch up.

The highlight of the celebration was presenting the Jeannie Musterman Volunteer of the Year award. Our chapter is solely run on the giving from volunteers, so this award is a fitting a tribute to a member.

The “Volunteer of the Year” award is named after Jeannie Musterman, who was a member for many years of the LPGA Amateurs Nashville Chapter. Jeannie was a dedicated volunteer leader and board member and, in her spirit, we give an annual award to one outstanding volunteer from our Chapter. We have had six previous winners. This year we gave two, one for 2020 and one for 2021.

The 2020 award winner is Andrea Velequez. Andrea was our events director and truly pivoted our golf events in the face of Covid. We were unsure about the ability to gather in early 2020 but as things opened up Andrea went to work.

She made sure we were able to have most of our usual playdates at area golf courses. Without her drive, it would not

President Susan Shivas

have happened. She had such a positive attitude about getting together to play golf.

The 2021 award was given to Sue Atkin, our Membership Director. Sue has personally called each new member inquiry, met many new members at the course and made sure each felt welcomed to our chapter. She was the face of the organization to our new members. We had a record number of new members in 2021!

LPGA Amateurs Nashville Chapter is part of the national organization, LPGA

Amateurs. We have over 125 golfers in the Middle Tennessee area who participate in our weekly league play, monthly playdates and other golf and fun related events. Check us out and come join our chapter, ladies who are all ages and skill levels enjoying the game of golf and one another.

JUST BRING YOUR SWING. GaylordSprings.com

“Best Course You Can Play” - GolfWeek

November - December 2021

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John Augustein

Will Gordon

Gordon and Augenstein qualify for Korn Ferry Tour SAVANNAH, Ga. — Former Vanderbilt standouts Will Gordon and John Augenstein each qualified Monday for the first eight events of the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season thanks to their final scores after four rounds at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament Final Stage.

TS GC

Gordon carded an even-par round Monday and finished tied for 19th overall with a four-day total of 279 to finish 3-under-par for the event at The Landings Club. The Davidson, North Carolina, native was one of 40 competitors to qualify for the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour.

A birdie on his 17th hole clinched Gordon’s top-40 finish.

Augenstein just made it into the top 40 thanks to a 2-under-par score Monday. The Owensboro, Kentucky product tied for 39th with a fourday total of 281 (-1).

Recovering from an early double bogey, Augenstein had three birdies over his final 11 holes.

Gordon, the 2019 SEC Player of the Year, tied for third at the 2020 Travelers Championship and tied for 10th at The RSM Classic. Augenstein, the 2020 SEC Player of the Year, took home a sixth-place finish at the Fortinet Championship in September.

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PRO SHOP: 615-239-8945 • www.twelvestonesgolfclub.com

Chase McGowin, General Manager Chris Weilandt, Head Golf Professional Bill Riley, Superintendent Avery Sprehe, Assistant Superintendent

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With winter and holidays fast approaching, quite naturally golf play slows a bit, but thank goodness for sunny somewhat warm days here in middle Tennessee. So, having said that, look for a good day and bring your golfing buddies out to The Legacy of Springfield and enjoy a round with us.

Recently, it became a tight race for the Legacy Men’s Player of the Year.

It came down to the last event and Josh Appleton held on to win the title by a total of 6 points over runner-up Darryl Maupin with Todd Williamson finishing in third place.

November - December 2021

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Serious but fun competition to say the least.

On behalf of the Legacy Men’s Golf Association, congratulations to the 2021 Legacy Men’s Player of the Year, Josh Appleton 2021 has been a great year here at the Legacy of Springfield, despite all the punches thrown by the COVID 19 pandemic, especially early on.

I cannot comment enough on what great shape our golf course continues to be, even with chilly days and cold nights, and again, all the more reason to come visit us, weather

permitting going into 2022. Hopefully you can plan on playing more golf.

I, along with John Hughes, our staff, crew members, and volunteers want to thank all those that played with us here at the Legacy of Springfield this year. We trust that you enjoyed your time here and we look forward to seeing you soon.

events, over 3,700 trophies and medals were awarded.

The first ever “Destination” event will be played December 30-31 in Panama City Beach, Florida and several more are planned for 2022.

The 2022 Sneds Tour schedule will include an increase in multiple round events, more destination events and a new major event for the younger divisions. The schedule will be released in early December.

Membership registration begins

January 3.

Several deserving junior golfers were able to compete with the aid of contributions made to the Campbell Martin Scholarship Fund. The hope is to grow this fund to provide even more opportunities to those deserving junior golfers.

The Sneds Tour falls under the umbrella of the Tennessee Golf Foundation located at Golf House

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

Player of

JOSH APPLETON the Year

Sneds Tour enjoys record growth in 2021

By Lissa Bradford Tennessee Golf Foundation

The 2021 Sneds Tour, presented by South College, enjoyed a record-breaking year, reaching 1,874 participants, which was a 12% increase from 2020. A total of 112 facilities hosted events, including six new courses on the schedule. The statewide junior tour offered 169 events for 14 different age and ability divisions.

Participation was up 20% for a total of 10,468 rounds played by participants from 13 different states. During these

Lissa Bradford

Tennessee in Franklin. The success of the tour is due in a large part to Brandt Snedeker’s vision and commitment to keep competition affordable for all who want to participate.

A big thanks goes out to the Brandt and Mandy Snedeker Foundation, presenting sponsor South College, the TN Section PGA Golf Professionals, and all the host facilities. The tireless efforts of the player’s parents cannot be overlooked as well.

For more information about the tour, go to www.snedstour.org or call 615-7903336.

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2021 Holiday Gift Guide Tee Times Report Here are some last-minute shopping hints for your golfer friends.

foam midsole with the BOA Fit System to deliver the ultimate walking shoe for golfers by providing a secure fit, perimeter stability, and comfort in every step.

The Fresh Foam PaceSL BOA is available in Grey/Orange and Black/Red for a suggested retail of $129.95.

Callaway Coronado v2 SL

The Coronado v2 SL features a Forged Foam midsole, a perfect combination of softness and energy return. It cushions your foot with every step while providing substantial energy return to propel you through your swing.

A waterproof performance mesh microfiber upper provides waterproof protection. The Coronado v2 SL is available in Navy and Black/ Grey for a suggested retail of $129.95

GolfLogix introduces leather cover

Feel like a Tour Pro and protect your Green Book with our new genuine leather Green Book covers. $40 Green Books provide tourquality intel at a fraction of the price of the green-reading maps that professionals and college teams use in competition. Add the Leather Cover for $30 and you have a wonderful holiday gift.

To purchase your GolfLogix Green Book and Leather Cover go to GolfLogix Green Books

New Balance Fresh Foam PaceSL BOA

The New Balance Fresh Foam Pace SL BOA combines its proprietary

swing from a proper set-up position. After a few swings, they will notice a more stable and powerful move through the ball.

On Swing Align’s website, you will find seasonal offers and instructional tips from Devan Bonebrake, a Golf Digest Top Young Teacher, who says Swing Align is the best device he has seen for improving alignment, connection and rotation, three of the most important elements that contribute to good impact. $99.95 at www.swingtrainer. com.

water protection in a comfortable, soft and quiet garment.

Order for $29 at www.galwaybaygolf.com.

Galway Bay Rainwear

Honma T//World W21 (TW-W21) Wedge

Scoring matters, so be sure the golfers on your list have the most functional wedges they can play confidently and consistently. Honma’s T//World W21 (TW-W21) Wedge line showcases precisely engineered center of gravity (CG) locations for optimal distance and spin control on shots around the green to deliver performance through seven strategic loft options.

For golfers who prefer the trusted feel of a steel shaft, the Nippon N.S. PRO MODUS3 115 WEDGE shaft is also available as a stock offering.

Visit www.honmagolf.com.

Swing Align

When a golfer uses the Swing Align training aid, they experience the feel of a more “connected” golf

Swing Align Goal Post

The Swing Align Goal Post is a simple-yet-effective and compact learning device. It attaches easily to most putter heads.

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Thermal W ater-Resistant Sleeves from Galway Bay

Sometimes on the course you may just want minimal coverage on your arms for a little added warmth and water resistance. With the new Galway Bay Thermal Sleeves, you get full arm protection – in the form of stain and water repellant Teflon-treated fabric . Enjoy easy-to-wear warmth and

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DF-18 by DriveForce

Ever lose your focus or have an energy crash on the back nine? DriveForce, a newly formed sports nutrition company specializing in creating functional health products, is proud to introduce DF-18, a premium preround performance blend that sustains a golfer’s focus, hydration, and stamina for hours while playing golf.

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TEE TIMES

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Saved by the hurricane

St. Joseph’s Bay Golf Club is on the mend three years after Michael wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast of Florida

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor When Hurricane Michael roared ashore onto Florida’s Gulf Coast on Oct. 10, 2018, it brought with it a tremendous amount of destruction.

It just about wiped Mexico Beach off the map and did extensive damage to Panama City Beach. A little east in Gulf County, 1,200 structures sustained major damage. A total of 985 structures were destroyed.

The county’s only golf course – the St. Joseph Bay Golf Club – also took a big hit. In the aftermath, though, Hurricane Michael might have saved the course from going out of business.

Struggling financially under private ownership, officials in Gulf County offered to buy the golf course. Eight months after the hurricane, the sale went through, and for $390,000 Gulf County was in the golf business. And, for the past two years a dedicated group of employees has been working to make the course better than its pre-hurricane conditions.

St. Joseph Bay Golf Club is an 18-hole facility that features a membership of approximately 250 and is open to the public. In addition to the golf course, clubhouse, and practice area, the facility features a pool, deck and restaurant.

Jordon Arnold was hired as the club’s head professional and general manager in July 2019. Mike Osley came to the course from Colorado as the superintendent in 2020. Both admit it has been an ongoing process to get the course into the pristine shape they desire, but are confident its best days are ahead.

Arnold arrived from Dahlonega, Georgia less than three weeks after the county bought the golf course.

He admits it was a leap of faith to leave Georgia, and it wasn’t until after talking with county officials and an acquaintance that he made his first visit to the area.

“It was in really rough shape after Hurricane Michael and honestly a little overwhelming,” he said. “A few weeks later my wife and I decided to

Jordon Arnold, PGA, Director of Golf/GM drive back down to see the town and meet with multiple county employees to learn more. Within five minutes of being here my wife said, ‘Honey, we are moving here.’! So here we are and we have loved minute of it.”

Arnold found a course still trying to dig out from the destruction of Hurricane Michael.

“After the country purchased it, approximately 650 truckloads of trees were removed,” he said. “There were a handful of holes where two or three inches worth of dirt had washed up from the hurricane and was just lying on the fairway.”

Four holes basically had no grass until the dirt was all shoveled off.

“We were fortunate in a sense that no holes were changed to a point they were unrecognizable from before the hurricane,” Arnold said. “The place has a significant amount of pine and palm trees and it thinned everything out a little bit. But we were fortunate it in that it didn’t change the complete character of how the golf course was originally designed.”

Bill Amick designed the course that opened in 1969. Arnold describes it as sort of an old-school traditional Florida course. Although the course is inland, water is in play on 14 of the 18 holes. With five sets of tees, it measures from 5,039 yards (red tees)

to 6,655 yards (championship tees).

It features Bermuda grass tees and fairways and Tifdwarf Bermuda grass greens. Being on the Gulf Coast, the area attracts visitors from the north during the winter and a fair share of vacationers from the south in the summer. Part if its charm is that it is away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby vacation destinations of Destin and Panama City, along with Gulf Shores, Alabama.

St. Joseph Bay Golf Club also has somewhat of a monopoly on the game in the area, as Arnolds notes the next closest golf course is 47 miles away.

With that distinction, though, comes the pressure of providing a product that will keep golfers coming back time and time again.

Osley, a veteran superintendent who was working in Aurora, Colorado, was familiar with the area from his youth and it wasn’t a hard sell to get him on board.

“Our family vacationed here when I was younger and I knew I wanted to retire here,” he said.

Six months before the hurricane, Osley purchased a house in Gulf County to have as a rental property until he was ready to retire from his similar position in Aurora. The house didn’t survive the hurricane, but it didn’t deter the superintendent from jumping at the chance to join the St. Joseph Bay Golf Club team.

For Osley, it’s about providing the best course for the value. He admits, restoring the course remains a work

Mike Osley, Superintendent in progress, as there were extensive improvements needed, especially with the irrigation system. Osley and his crew have done what they can patching together an ancient system that sustained extensive damage from the hurricane. A new irrigation system is on tap for 2022, something he calls a game-changer.

The greens were scraped and sprigged in 2020 with Tifdwarf and the green collars were redone with 419 Bermuda grass.

While trying to improve the course, Osley has battled the usual assortment of elements, including excessive amounts of rainfall. For a course that has drainage issues, including the greens, it’s been somewhat of an uphill battle. But he’s confident the

Golf Operation Staff Jordon Arnold, PGA Joanne White Holly Cargile

Russell Bruner Nichlas Ellis

Maintenance Staff Mike Osley - Superintendent Brandon Smith - Asst. Super Mandy Smith.

Jeff Mader Ken Day Nick Ellis

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November - December 2021

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Paige Sellers (L), JR. Grady, and Jenny Gibbs

best is yet to come.

“It’s been a challenge but we are slowly making progress,” Osley said.

“I have the knowledge and experience to make this a better golf course. The county has gone all-in regarding trying to turn it into something that is a part of the community. It’s a lot of work, but I’m not scared of it. I see it as an opportunity. The days are long, but it’s rewarding trying to improve things here.”

One of the top attractions at the club, and the area in general, is the Shaggy Bay Supper Club. Although it is not affiliated with the golf course, owner/ chef JR Grady has created one of Port St. Joe’s go-to dining experiences.

No. 12, par three at sunset

Named for what the locals called the course in its early days, Grady’s menu ranges from hot dogs and bar food to high-end fine dining. It’s that vision that has made Shaggy Bay Supper Club an integral part of the culinary scene in the area.

“We are 100% a scratch kitchen, making everything daily to ensure freshness as well as quality,” said Grady, who is originally from Montgomery, Alabama, and found his way to the beach after working in Cleveland, Ohio. “Shaggy Bay Supper Club is a crossover - we do some exquisite high-end food in the evenings and for our catered events.

Our daily menu is approachable

for even the most-picky eaters. We specialize in great food made quickly and affordably.”

Grady, who credits his staff for making each visit to the restaurant a memorable experience, is a classically trained chef.

“Our special touch is that we excel at delivering above and beyond our guests’ expectations on a daily basis,” he said. “Whether you are eating fried green tomatoes, a hot dog at the turn, or Steak Diane, we want to impress every guest and fill their bellies with delicious food. We are slowly becoming known for our Sunday Brunches.”

With the golf course on the mend and

Shaggy Bay Supper Club Staff JR Grady, Chef, owner Jenny Gibbs Patrick Pugh Jesse Smith Spenser Thompson Paige Sellers

in the capable hands of Arnold and Osley, and a companion restaurant turning heads, the St. Joseph Bay Golf Club should be on every visitor’s list of things to do when in Gulf County and Port St. Joe.

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November - December 2021

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Vanderbilt men sign two elite prospects Tee Times Report NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt men’s golf program signed two elite prospects in the early signing period in November.

Wells Williams and John Broderick officially inked their respective National Letters of Intent to join Vandy for the start of next season.

“I’m really thrilled with this class and what they will bring to Vanderbilt University and our golf program,” head coach Scott Limbaugh said.

“John and Wells are both highcharacter men that will represent our university very well on the course, in our community and in the classroom.

They have both shown that they are winners and they both have a highcare level to do things the right way.

Once again, Coach (Gator) Todd has done excellent job as our recruiting coordinator in identifying these men.

I appreciate the amount of work he has put in to get them to become Commodores.

“It is very exciting to see the reach

Coach Gator Todd

that our Vanderbilt program has across our nation, as we annually attract the top talent from coast to coast. We love to see our men experience Vanderbilt golf with teammates that can offer a different view on life than they might have. I really believe it helps all of us in having a growth mindset.”

Williams is from West Point, Mississippi, where he attends Oak Hill Academy. He’s the No. 1-ranked golfer in Mississippi and ranked sixth nationally in the class of 2022.

A USA Junior Ryder Cup Team member and AJGA First Team All-American, Williams has also been named an AJGA AllAmerican three times and won three Mississippi Junior Amateur championships.

Williams has won a Mississippi high school individual championship and was runner-up at the Wyndham Invitational at Sedgefield.

Coach Scott Limbaugh

Wells Williams

John Broderick

“Wells has all the tools to make an immediate impact on our team.” Limbaugh said. “He has been playing at an elite level for quite a while and has proven himself at the highest levels in junior golf. Physically, he is an elite ball striker who is competitive and is always looking to improve.”

Broderick, from Wellesley, Massachusetts, and a student at Belmont Hill School, is the topranked player out of the state of Massachusetts. He was named the Massachusetts Junior Player of the Year and won the New England Amateur Championship.

Also the winner of the Northeast Junior Classic championship, Broderick advanced to the United States Junior Championship Round of 32 and won the Doral Publix Junior Championship. In May, Broderick won the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship.

“We are excited about what John will bring to our program as a competitor as he has a burning desire to compete, get better and push himself to be the best,” Limbaugh said. “He’s very mature and knows how to play the game. We believe he has a chance to thrive in our team environment and has a tremendous upside.”

November - December 2021

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TEE TIMES

Vanderbilt Women sign two Vanderbilt’s women’s team also added two players for next season, signing Lynn Lim and Tillie Claggett.

“There’s a ton of excitement in our program today about this signing class,” said head coach Greg Allen. “We feel very confident that we are getting two young ladies that will make an immediate impact on our program.”

Lim, a product of Station Camp High School in Gallatin, Tennessee, is the No. 2 ranked player in the state of Tennessee in the class of 2022 and is ranked 21st nationally.

Currently serving as the player representative on the AJGA board of directors, Lim was a 2020 Rolex AJGA first team All-American and has three career AJGA wins. She also was a member of the Wyndham Cup’s East Team.

Lim has dominated the state of Tennessee junior golf circuit, winning the 2019 TSSAA State Individual Championship while leading her team to three state championships. She has won three Tennessee Girls’ Junior PGA Championships and is a five-time Tennessee Junior Cup participant.

“Lynn has been playing at a very high level

Coach Greg Allen

Coach Emilie Meason

Lynn Lim

presents the

2022

Tilliie Claggett

for several years and I can’t wait for her to step foot on campus next fall,” Allen said. “She has the maturity level unlike any young lady I’ve ever been around. In my mind, Lynn is the total package in terms of the Vanderbilt studentathlete.”

Claggett, from The Woodlands, Texas, and a student at The John Cooper School, is the fourth-ranked player in the state of Texas and ranked No. 41 in the country.

“Tillie may be the best overall athlete we’ve ever seen,” Allen said. “She can absolutely dominate the weight room. Because of that, she hits it a mile and is a great ball striker. I can’t wait for her and Coach (Emilie) Meason to get her short game dialed in. When that happens, watch out. There is so much upside with Tillie and she brings so much to the Vanderbilt community on and off the course.”

Claggett is coming off a win at the Greenwood Cup at the prestigious River Oaks Country Club in Houston in October and also claimed victory at the Texas Golf Association’s Girls Invitational.

15

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TEE TIMES

November - December 2021

It’s different with Ben Hogan

By Bobby Greenwood, PGA During my seven years on Tour, I was fortunate to play golf with some of the icons of the game. Great players such as Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Cary Middlecoff, Lee Trevino, Chi-Chi Rodriguez, Byron Nelson and oh yes, even Jack Nicklaus.

But I must say, it was quite different when I played with Ben Hogan at the Westchester Country Club in Rhy, New York. By most accounts, Ben Hogan was the best golfer of his era and remains

one of the greatest of all time. But I could also see why Hogan is widely acknowledged as arguably the greatest ball striker golf has ever known!

In Scotland, Hogan was known as “The Wee Ice Man”, or, in some versions, “Wee Ice Mon,” a moniker earned during his famous British Open victory at Carnoustie in 1953. It is a reference to his steely and seemingly nerveless demeanor. Hogan rarely spoke during competition; we didn’t talk too much during our round. He was a man of few words. He mostly just said “you’re away.”

Like so many others, I was in awe of the Wee Iceman, the Hawk, yes, Bantam Ben was indeed special - a true icon. At 5-feet-8 ½ inches and 145 pounds, he also was a very long hitter.

I first came in contact with Ben Hogan while I was playing college golf at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas.

I would hitch a ride from Denton to Ft. Worth just to see Hogan practice at his home course Shady Oaks Country Club.

I would stay perhaps 50 yards away and lean up against a tree. Each day I would move a little closer. After several

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trips I got within 30 or 40 yards. Hogan would hit a bag of balls, stop and smoke a cigarette, and look at me. We would nod at each other, but that was about it. I did this several times and one day, he actually asked/told me to ride in his cart and ride over to the practice bunker. That was my first introduction to Hogan.

Let me tell you why I became so interested in learning from Ben Hogan and why is he considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

During Hogan’s prime years of 1938 through 1959, he won 63 professional golf tournaments despite his career being interrupted by World War II and a near-fatal car accident. Incidentally, they were the first 21 years of my life.

One year while I was at college, the Colonial National Invitational came to Ft. Worth and I decided to hitchhike to Ft. Worth and watch the tournament. I arrived late afternoon, spent the night in the bus station (that’s another story).

The next morning, I arrived at Colonial Country Club very early. I walked in with the caddies and volunteers. I happened to pick up a large marshal’s hat and was able to walk down the middle of the fairway with Hogan and Mike Souchak for 18 holes! Looking back, it is amazing what a young boy will do in order to learn the game of golf. Much too dangerous in this day and age.

I later went to qualifying school and tied Johnny Miller for third place, earning a spot on the PGA Tour in 1969. We were playing for only eight cards that year.

In my first year as a tour player, I was selected as the “Champions’ Choice” to play the Colonial National Invitational at Ft. Worth. The Colonial Country Club was known as Hogan’s Alley because Ben Hogan had won 5 times at Colonial.

The “Champions’ Choice” is the rookie they think is going to be a great player.

I guess I’m the only Champions’ Choice that never won a major. I wish Ben had given me a lesson instead of a set of woods.

In 1971, our paths crossed once again.

I’m on the first tee at the Westchester Golf Classic in Rye, New York with Hal See Memories on page 17

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Memories...

Continued from page 16

Underwood. We’re getting ready to play a practice round and Ben Hogan walks up and asks to join us. That was the last tournament Hogan ever played on the PGA Tour.

Ben said that the shafts in my woods were too limber and he told me to hit his driver off the 18th tee. As I addressed the ball, I could see that he was motioning to the large crowd that was following that I would hit his driver to the right. Naturally, trying to hit a good shot, I adjusted my grip and hit a drive down the middle with his extra-stiff driver. The next week I received a set of woods in the mail from Hogan - (Apex 5 shafts run through, cord grips with a large string on the underside) just like his personal clubs.

The word got out and my fellow PGA Tour players started showing up wanting to hit Ben’s clubs. I lost the driver and 3-wood to the players and I later sent the 4-wood to Carl Lohren who loved Hogan as much as I did.

Hogan is one of only five players to have won all four majors: the Masters Tournament, The British Open Championship (despite only playing once), the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship.

The other four are Nicklaus, Woods, Player, and Gene Sarazen. Jack Nicklaus once said: “Hogan is easily the best that I have ever seen hit shots.”

Consider this: in 1945, Hogan set a PGA record for a 72-hole event at the Portland Open Invitational by shooting 27-under-par. And in 1946, he won 13 PGA Tour events and he won 10 in 1948!

The following year, driving home to Ft. Worth after a Monday playoff loss at the 1949 Phoenix Open, Hogan and his wife Valerie survived a head-on collision with a Greyhound bus.

This accident left Hogan, age 36, with a double-fracture of the pelvis, a fractured collar bone, a left ankle fracture, a chipped rib, and near-fatal blood clots: he would suffer lifelong circula-

tion problems and other physical limitations. His doctors said he might never walk again, let alone play golf competitively. He left the El Paso hospital two months after the accident, and returned to Ft. Worth by train.

It is important to know that the majority of his putting problems developed after his 1949 car accident, which nearly blinded his left eye and impaired his depth perception.

Let’s compare golfing’s greatest triumvirate, namely Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead. These three men had strong character traits and when we played I found each to have unusual determination and focus. They also were great competitors along with being gifted athletes.

I met an aging Nelson at the 1963 Texas Cup Team Matches in Dallas. I was picked to play on the prestigious 10-player Texas Cup team where the top 10 amateurs play against 10 PGA Tour pros from Texas.

This was my senior year at North Texas State. As a First-Team NCAA All-American, I was selected to take on Nelson, who was the captain of the professional team. At 51 years old, Nelson was way past his prime, but here is the man who holds the record for winning 11 consecutive tournaments on the PGA Tour.

However today, at 83 years of age, I can look back and see that 51 is not that old.

Nelson shot a 68 that day. I made a birdie on the last hole to beat Byron 1-up.

That evening we went to Byron Nelson’s ranch in Roanoke, Texas for a lavish buffet, presentation of prizes and speeches from several Texas dignitaries and the PGA Tour pros.

I must say, Byron Nelson, even at 51, was the most intense player I have ever played against. No wonder he won 11 tournaments in a row.

I also played a match against Snead. At 53, I was coming off a win at the Tennessee Senior PGA Championship and a fourth-place showing in the Senior PGA National Championship at Palm Beach

Gardens, Florida. We faced each other in an exhibition match at the Sam Snead Pro-Celebrity tournament in Nashville.

I thought my chances were pretty good against an aging Snead, who was 79 at the time. Turns out, I was wrong. Sam was indeed a physical specimen. He had a lot of fire and a temper to go with it.

He reminded me of the great Tommy Bolt.

Sam drove it better than me, hit better iron shots, his chipping was excellent and he was even a better putter than me. He beat me 2-and-1. It was like Sam, the old thoroughbred racing against a young mule. I told him “Sam, I’ll try you again when you are 90.”

Snead, Nelson and Hogan combined

17

for 198 wins on the PGA Tour, including 21 major championships, but only one had charisma.

Notes

Hogan’s early years were very difficult.

He dropped out of Central High School during the final semester of his senior year to tourn pro at the age of 17. Ben landed a low paying club job in 1930; met Valerie Fox in Sunday school in 1932; and they married in 1935.

According to his PGA Tour profile, Hogan earned just $332,516 in official PGA events, however, a 2021 study concluded that Hogan’s tournament performances could have earned him $91.8M if he had played in the modern era.

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Nashville’s Kynadie Adams signs with Alabama Tee Times Report TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama women’s golf program opened the early signing period by signing Nashville’s Kynadie Adams to a national letter of intent, head coach Mic Potter announced.

“We are so happy that Kynadie has chosen to join our Alabama women’s golf family,” Potter said. “She is one of the top junior golfers in the nation, with numerous wins and accolades. Kynadie will have an immediate impact on our program, not only with her golf scores, but with her work ethic and leadership. We can’t wait to have Kynadie on our campus and representing the University of Alabama.”

Adams is ranked No. 30 in the nation, according to the Rolex American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rankings. The incoming freshman has played in 12 events in just one year with the AJGA, appearing in her first event at the Rolex Tournament of Champions

Belmont’s Davis earns OVC honor

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Senior Evan Davis was named OVC Golfer of the Month for October as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.

In three events during the month of October, Davis had a trio of top-six finishes, tallying a 70.9 stroke average. Seven of his nine rounds were under par, with a low round of 66 at the Grover Page Classic. Davis finished at -5 at the Grover Page Classic, -1 at the Pinetree Intercollegiate and -4 at the Battle at Black Creek.

With the trio of Top 10 finishes, the Lexington, Kentucky native now has four-

Aces

Two Rivers Golf Course/ Metro Nashville Fairways James ‘Kemo’ Howington aced No. 6, a 138-yard par 3, with a 6-iron on Nov. 15. Witnesses were Richard Henley, Jerry Osborne and Frank Baltz.

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Kynadie Adams on Nov. 23, 2020.

Of her 12 tournaments on the prestigious junior tour, Adams has garnered eight top-25 finishes including five top-10 performances and two runner-up performances. In her most recent outing, Adams recorded scores of 75, 74 and 75 to post an 8-over-par 224 to finish in fifth place at The PING Invitational on Oct. 8, 2021.

Before that, she turned in a scorecard that included scores of 67, 67 and 71 for an 11-under-par 205 to finish in second place at the AJGA Junior Classic presented by UHY on Sept. 9, 2021.

In June, the Nashville native qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, earning third place at the Athens, Alabama, qualifier, after winning a six-hole playoff. At the 2021 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in mid-July, Adams finished with a share of 29th place on a 7-over-par 147.

Evan Davis straight and 20 career Top 10 finishes.

Through 15 total rounds during the fall, Davis has a 70.7 stroke average, which is second in the OVC. Davis is the first Belmont golfer to earn OVC Golfer of the Month honors.

The men’s golf team has wrapped up its 2021 fall season. In five events, they had three topfive finishes, with a season-best fourth place at the Grover Page Classic. They will kick off their 2022 spring season on February 19-20 at The Invitational at Savannah Harbor.

Henry Horton/ Tennessee Golf Trail/ Tennessee State Parks

James Sutton aced No. 16 from 157 yards with a 6-iron on Oct. 27.

Witnesses were Larry McDonald, Jim Wharton, and Sam Freeland. It was the second career ace for Sutton.

Larry Baker aced No. 16 from 150 yards with a 7-iron on Nov. 13.

Witnesses were Ben Brown, Jeff Savage and Rick Meredith.

Holiday Greetings !

Santa needs reminders of what a little golfer or golfer-to-be might enjoy beneath the tree! New clubs, tees, golf balls, caps, golf apparel and...

Ralph Squirrels Plays Golf. A fun, helpful, clever book for the youngsters!

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November - December 2021

TEE TIMES

19

King is Ship to Shore and back Home Again

By Justin Onslow Tee Times Associate Editor Roger King can tell you about many things, but he’d most like to tell you about how to get better at golf.

At Country Hills Golf Course in Hendersonville, Tennessee, King – a 49-year-old golf instructor with a thinker’s mind and a penchant for many things – has found himself back where it all started in many ways. On a golf course, working alongside Brad Shirley, surrounded by golf and golfers who want to improve their game.

King isn’t the sort of lifelong golfer who started his career on a golf course and settled in for the long haul, though. Sure, his path as a guru of the golf swing started out that way, but all his life experiences, scholarly knowledge of the human body and decades of golf being everything to him has given King a unique perspective and a unique way of helping others hit a little ball with a little piece of metal in the right direction more than they did before they first shook his hand.

Winding Roads and Rolling Waves King was born and raised in Hermitage, Tennessee, where he attended Donelson Christian Academy before moving on to Columbia State on a golf scholarship.

Knowing he wanted golf to be his career, King left school early to play on mini tours from Florida to Texas for the next seven years, eventually returning to Nashville to take the post of assistant pro at Richland Country Club.

But that’s about where the “traditional” route presented King with a fork in the road.

“I was an assistant pro at Richland Country Club and I was … perusing through the back of a golf for women magazine, and it said ‘become an on-board cruise ship golf pro.’

I was like that sounds like fun,” he recalls.

“Within a week I had gotten out of my apartment because the lease was up at the same time and they had a ship out of Miami and I flew down and hopped on a boat. You talk about jumping straight off a cliff; that was it. I had my golf clubs and a backpack.”

King was young and adventurous and ready to try something new and different and exciting. For a man whose primary passion was golf – and teaching others how to play it better – it seemed like a tremendous opportunity.

“All you did was play golf, teach golf, hang out with people in the bar and then you went to port and went to exotic locales and had great dinners,” he explains. “If you could freeze time and that was your lifestyle, a lot of people would think that’s pretty darn good.”

One year turned into several, as King

floated around the world, giving lessons and exploring some of the most beautiful, unique and often remote golf courses in the world, including the likes of Caye Chapel – a fortified private island with a golf course with an ocean view on every hole – Santo de Serra in Portugal and a number of magnificent courses in Hawaii.

“I played all these golf courses so many times,” he says of the experience. “I’d be on the same rotation for months at a time and I’d play a golf course 20, 30, 40 times.”

But not all that glitters is gold, and sometimes too much of a good thing is no longer so good.

Back Home Again “There’s more to life than drinking margaritas and putting your feet in the sand,” King says.

After 11 years of life on the open ocean, the wanderlust had worn off a bit and King was ready to return to life on land, where stability could be found. A family. A home that didn’t float away every few days.

King returned to Middle Tennessee, somewhat burned out on golf, instead shifting his focus to a newfound passion that would eventually intersect once again with golf and teaching – but not quite yet.

“Way back in the day, I never lifted weights,” he says. “I was a skinny, 6-foot3, 160-pound gumby. Johnny Miller said don’t lift weights because those are great for bending bars but not for whipping a golf club.”

As is often the case for so many, King’s metabolism had started slowing down with age and he was no longer in the shape he had been accustomed to. So, eschewing the wisdom of the great Johnny Miller, King began lifting weights, running, working out six hours a day to get his body back in shape, finding a new love in the process.

“I went from 160 to like 260 in a year,” he recalls. “When my metabolism started slowing, I was big. I went from a 32-inch waist to a 40. I spent six months losing about 95 to 100 pounds and I worked out about six hours every day.

“That led me down the rabbit hole of CrossFit. You start kind of playing around with these different workouts. It’s really fun to do all these different things. I was able to transform my body in different ways. I got down to 170 pounds and was a long-distance runner. I got up to 250 and was a power lifter. I did Olympic lifting and trained as a gymnast. These were all different modalities I was able to tap into.”

With that, King had unknowingly discovered the foundation of a new life and a new way to teach the game of golf.

Putting it All Together King, who now instructs at Country Hills alongside PGA Director of Golf Brad Shirley – a man who happened to be at Hermitage

Roger King Golf Course when King was a 16-yearold kid working his first job there – had a chance encounter with Shirley just a couple years ago. Shirley had an opening for a teaching pro and offered the job to King. He accepted.

“My first-ever golf job was at Hermitage Golf Course where Brad was a pro,” he says.

“Many years later, he sees me at Edwin Watts and said he needed a golf pro. I was like, yeah, sign me up.”

So King took up his post in early 2020, ready to put his years of experience, talent and knowledge to work. And while he certainly has a mind for fitness – being the first licensed CrossFit instructor in Nashville back in the day – the kinesiology aspects of his training background simply inform the way he thinks about the golf swing. If you come to King for a lesson, don’t expect him to prescribe 200 push-ups as part of your lesson.

“I do teach (students) forms of kinesiology I guess,” he says. “If someone tells me they want to know, I give them that. I can literally just make this where … some of them want to go down that rabbit hole and some of them want something simple they can repeat down the fairway.”

Being well-versed in the way the human body moves – particularly as it relates to the golf swing – King has a knack for understanding the physics of it all. He knows, based on the way a person walks, the exact limitations of their joints and muscles. He understands how flexibility (or lack thereof) impacts the way a person can and can’t allow the club to move. It’s all very scientific – though King has the teaching ability to make it equally as simple.

“When I see somebody walking toward me, I know how they swing a golf club without seeing them swing,” King says. “More times than not, people are thinking about how to swing a golf club. As a teacher, all I’m trying to do is tap into that. I’m trying to get you to move the way you want to move in a subconscious way.”

To do so, King doesn’t rely on computers

King’s swing! and swing trackers and technological aids.

For him, his years of experience as both a golfer and a student of human movement are all he needs.

“My eyes are better than any computer,” he quips.

The crux of King’s instruction methods is pretty simple: He does the hard work of understanding what’s happening so he can simplify it for his students.

“I’m more in the camp of where the club goes is kind of where the body goes,” he adds. “If I tell you to wad up a piece of paper and hit the trash can, you’re going to hit the trash can and not have one thought about how to do it.

“The golf swing is way more intricate. To be able to take something so complex and then strip it down, that’s the fun part.”

King offers packages of three one-hour lessons (or six half-hour lessons) for $200 at Country Hills for more “traditional” golf instruction – as well as some indoor lessons during the winter months – and also just started a “golf fitness training program” for students who want to develop more speed and power.

“I’m not slowing down in the winter if people are trying to tack on 20 to 30 yards before they start the season,” he says.

King isn’t the type of golf instructor who wants his students to need his assistance for years and years. He likens it to teaching a person to fish instead of just handing them one. If he has to lose a student because he’s helped him or her outgrow the need for golf instruction, that’s just fine

by King.

“My gift is looking at someone’s golf swing and understanding why they do what they do,” he says. “I fix it and then they shouldn’t have to have to have many more golf lessons.”

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Vols add players in early signing period Tee Times Report KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee men’s golf coach Brennan Webb signed three players for 2022 in the November early signing period.

The Vols added highly-ranked talent from three different states, welcoming North Carolina native Caleb Surratt, Georgia native Bruce Murphy and Tennessee native Evan Woosley-Reed.

“I would like to thank coach Andrews for his tireless efforts in recruiting that have gone a long way to us being able to sign one of the very best classes in the country today.”

Woosley-Reed has left his mark on high school golf in the state of Tennessee, as he is set to arrive on Rocky Top with three straight TSSAA Division I Class A state titles to his name in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Ranked No. 38 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard 2022 Rankings, WoosleyReed also captured a win at the 2021 Tennessee State Junior Championship.

Woosley-Reed is the son of former Lady Vol basketball player Tiffany Woosley, who was a four-time SEC champion at UT from 1991-95.

Ranked as the No. 2 player in the country

by Junior Golf Scoreboard, Surratt boasts an impressive resume. He was selected to the 2021 USA Junior Ryder Cup team in September and was named a 2021 Rolex Junior First Team All-American.

Surratt has already captured multiple notable tournament wins, including the 2021 Junior PGA Championship, the 2021 Western Junior Championship, the 2021 Bobby Chapman Invitational and the 2021 Terra Cotta Amateur.

“Caleb Surratt has certainly proven that he is one of, if not the very best player in the country with the championships he has won thus far in his career,” Webb said.

Another top-tier prospect across the board, Murphy is ranked No. 19 in the nation in the Rolex AJGA 2022 rankings as well as No. 21 in the Golfweek 2022 recruiting class rankings; Murphy was named a 2021 Rolex Junior Second Team

Evan Woosley-Reed All-American. He has tournament wins to his name at the 2020 AJGA Rome Classic and the 2020 AJGA Greenwood Junior Championship.

“Bruce is a proven winner on the national level and has incredible natural ability,” Webb said. “He is capable of becoming one of the very best that has ever played on Rocky Top.”

Tennessee women sign 1 player Vols’ women’s golf coach Diana Cantu announced the signing of Manassanan “Baibua” Chotikabhukkana, the program’s first member of the 2022 class and the first women’s golfer from Thailand.

“Throughout the recruiting process, Baibua has shown incredible maturity with her approach to her game and goals.

We believe she can make an immediate impact on our team.”

In 2021, Chotikabhukkana logged stellar performances at several pro events. She placed second at the TKG IPGA Championship (74-69-68), while finishing third among amateurs at the SAT TWT Open Road to World Ranking (76-74-73).

Her 12th-place finish at the Singha BGC 8th Thai LPGA Championship (77-7270) was the best among amateurs in the field. She was also the top-performing amateur at the SAT TWT Open Road to World Ranking (75-70-71), posting a 16th-place finish.

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Allison Brown Named TGA Executive Director FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Dec. 9, 2021) – The Tennessee Golf Association is pleased to introduce Allison Brown as its new executive director, effective immediately.

Brown, who joined the TGA staff in 2015 and has served as the Senior Director of Rules and Competitions since 2020, replaces Chad Anderson, who stepped down to pursue other opportunities in September.

“We are excited to have someone like Allison Brown lead the Tennessee Golf Association,” said TGA president Tim Jackson. “She has done an outstanding job of running our championships over the past five years.”

“Not only that, she has built great relationships in the golf community, and more specifically in Golf House Tennessee. We know that she will further solidify the TGA’s relationship with the Tennessee Golf Foundation and our Tennessee PGA Section professionals, while continuing to raise the profile of our championship events.”

Brown is a native of Hope, Arkansas and played golf collegiately at the University of Alabama, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in sports fitness management.

She began her career in golf with the American Junior Golf Association, where she served as Tournament Director from 2003-2006. After a stint as the assistant women’s golf coach at LSU, she was the Manager of Rules and Competitions for the LPGA Tour from 2007-2012.

Brown has officiated such events as the U.S. Women’s Open, the Women’s British Open, the LPGA Championship, the Nabisco Dinah Shore and the Evian. She currently also serves as the head rules official for NCAA Division I women’s golf, which she has done since 2017.

Brown was hired as the TGA’s Director of Women’s Golf in 2015. She later took over all TGA championships (men, women, seniors, juniors) in 2018.

“I am very excited and humbled by the opportunity to be the Executive Director of the Tennessee Golf Association,” Brown said. “I want to thank the TGA Board of Directors, Executive

LOVETHE RESULTS

President Tim Jackson, TGA ,offers congratulations to Allison Brown

President Whit Turnbow, Tennessee Golf Foundation

Executive Director Clayton Hromadka, Tennessee Section PGA

Committee and President Tim Jackson for the opportunity. I am looking forward to making Tennessee golf the best it can be by working with our TGA staff, the Tennessee PGA Section and the Tennessee Golf Foundation.”

The Tennessee Golf Association

offices are located inside Golf House Tennessee, which is home to all of the governing bodies in Tennessee Golf.

Tennessee Golf Foundation president Whit Turnbow said he is looking forward to a great relationship between the TGF and TGA to further serve the needs of golfers in the state.

“The Tennessee Golf Association hit a home run with Allison Brown,” Turnbow said. “She has a great personality and a willingness to work with everyone inside Golf House Tennessee to continue the great collaborative culture established many years ago.”

“The Tennessee Golf Foundation welcomes her into her new role and looks forward to working alongside her to continue improving and growing the game in Tennessee.”

Clayton Hromadka, Executive Director of Tennessee Section PGA, added, “Allison is a phenomenal individual, poised to continue to elevate amateur golf in Tennessee. As one of the most respected golf administrators in the country, her experience will continue to drive the game of golf forward in Tennessee. The TNPGA and our PGA Professionals look forward to continuing the collaborative culture that makes our state so special.”

LESSONS • CLUB FITTING • golftec.com The facts, the coaching, the results.

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Birmingham 205.991.1762

Cool Springs 615.472.9175

Nashville West 615.696.6690

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Learn more at golftec.com

For Sterling Rich, GOLFTEC’s factual teaching is paramount

By Justin Onslow Tee Times Associate Editor Finding footing in the golf instruction world is quite often a decades-long endeavor predicated on small steppingstones, years of experience and “traditional” practices of bouncing around from golf course to golf course, bag rooms and cash registers and assistant pro postings.

For Sterling Rich, that path has looked somewhat different. The 23-year-old certified personal coach at GOFTEC West in Nashville has experienced a crash course of sorts in his pursuit of a career in golf instruction. Just a few years removed from college – and less than a year into his tenure at GOLFTEC – Rich has already served up more than 1,400 lessons at GOLFTEC and is well on his way to establishing himself as a golf instructor who’s well beyond his years.

The reason is simple: GOFTEC makes it simple.

“We have factual teaching [at GOLFTEC],” he says. “You can see what I can see. I can show you exactly what you’re doing. It’s not just me saying what you’re doing and you taking my word for it.”

That goes a long way toward helping students understand their swing. GOLFTEC’s OptiMotion technology is a good start, and people like Rich – who has immersed himself in the golf swing and all its intricacies – help make sense of the slowmotion video movements and numbers on the screen.

While technology has informed much of Rich’s teaching strategy, his philosophy is one of “people first.”

“If you’re changing a person’s golf swing, you see them once a week for a year and you build a relationship with those people and they count on you to make the changes in their swing and

help them play better golf,” Rich says.

“That’s one of the things I really enjoy is seeing the satisfaction of them hitting that good shot. When my students hit a good shot, it feels like I hit a good shot as well. That’s my favorite part.”

Rich has spent his time in bag rooms and golf cart barns. He was a master fitter at Golf Galaxy before joining GOLFTEC in February, and he’s been around golf enough to know there isn’t a one-size-fits-all program for helping people hit it farther and straighter. Often, it just comes down to unlocking what’s right for the individual.

“I take a more relaxed approach,” he says of his methods. “I try to tailor it to the common person, but also if I have a betterthan-average golfer, I can really break down a swing and get sciency with it.”

Rich grew up around sports, having played hockey and football in his youth. Golf replaced those passions with something more permanent and laid the foundation for his career going forward. And that’s the beauty of golf – from playing to instruction to everything in between.

Golf is universal, though Rich understands that the way you teach it is not.

“I don’t want people to feel like I’m just pulling out numbers and they don’t know what it means,” he says. “I value the student to understand why we’re trying to fix something. It does a lot to help the student understand how the golf swing works.”

Sterling Rich

Tanglewood’s 15th hole. Photos by Belinda Theoret

Tanglewood Golf Course –

Mountain-style golf in Kentucky’s hills

By David Theoret Tee Times Contributor

Photo Credit Belinda Theoret

Tanglewood Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course in Taylorsville, Kentucky that isn’t easy to find.

Unless you’re looking for it, you probably wouldn’t know it’s there but trust me, it’s worth the drive. And I’m not the only one that thinks so. According to General Manager Matt Puckett, year in and year out, groups come to Tanglewood from the surrounding states and the club’s 12 condos and 12 motel rooms start getting booked up for the year by the middle of April.

Tanglewood is located a mere 17 miles from Louisville, Kentucky. The course is set on over 200 acres of “rolling terrain”.

It’s probably as close to mountain golf as you can get to in this area.

It was designed by Buck Blankenship and opened in 1994. From the white tees, Tanglewood plays 6,202 yards with a course rating of 70.9 and a slope of 129. There’s one par 5 on the front side, making it a par 35, and three par 5s on the back for a par of 37. Ladies typically

No. 4 at Tanglewood

play from the red tees (4,802/66.8/117) with a par of 73.

While there may not be a lot of bunkers on the course, the elevation changes and slope in the fairways and greens more than compensates. Narrow treelined ryegrass fairways that play along sloped hillsides produce those dreaded uneven lies and ultimately lead to fast, well-manicured Bentgrass greens. You’ll encounter numerous blind shots, so course knowledge is at a premium.

Tanglewood is full of memorable holes. If you can get off to a good start on the first hole, you’ll probably have a good round.

It’s long – 431 yards – from the white tees, with a blind tee shot and a semiblind approach shot. Other than that, it’s a breeze.

The fourth hole is an interesting par 4.

It’s only 324 yards but requires a tee shot from an elevated tee box over a deep valley with a pond at the bottom to another left to right sloping fairway. It’s about a 200yard carry from the tee to the top of the hill. Success off the tee will leave a short chip shot into a shallow green.

Number 6 is Tanglewood’s signature

hole and rightfully so. At 494 yards, it’s a 3-shot par 5 for just about everyone. If I were naming holes, this one would be called “Layup,” because it’s all about the second shot. There’s a lake that sits about 140 yards in front of the green and forces the majority of players to hit a good layup shot which will leave anywhere from 130 – 150 yards into an elevated green that slopes back to front.

Number 8 is a good risk/reward par 4 that plays 287 yards from the white tees.

The green isn’t visible from the tees and those large trees you see directly ahead of you are in the middle of the fairway.

Anything hit off the tee that goes past the 150-yard markers will make it difficult to get your approach shot up and over the trees. The other option is to go past them but hitting a driver is a big risk.

Holes 11, 12, and 13 define Tanglewood.

Number 11 is a 396-yard par 4 that is the course’s No. 1 handicap. It’s a very slight dogleg left, and the green is not the one you see in the distance; it sits below the second hill and behind the pond. A good drive will still leave a blind mid-iron shot into a green fronted by a small pond. The

No. 12 at Tanglewood

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right side provides a bailout area and leaves a slightly uphill chip shot. The green slopes left to right and can make for some interesting putts.

Number 12 is the longest par 3 at Tanglewood. Because it plays uphill, it’s slightly longer than the stated yardage of 215. Anything that comes up short is going to leave an uphill pitch shot. The green slopes back to front, so anything over the green can leave a tricky up and down.

The tee shot at No. 13 might be the most intimidating tee shot on the course. There appears to be little, if any, landing area off the tee. The fairway slopes dramatically left to right. Find the fairway off the tee and you’ll need to play your layup shot to the left, again, to compensate for the sloping fairway. That will leave a short, slightly downhill chip shot into a large green that slopes modestly from back to front.

Tanglewood taught me how to deal with blind shots, especially approaches into the green. What I discovered is that when in doubt, hit less club. There isn’t a lot of water to deal with and most of the trouble is on the peripheries and behind the greens. Coming up short isn’t a bad thing; you’ll keep the same ball in play. I’m sure I would feel differently if I played the course regularly.

Tanglewood is centrally located and within two hours of three major metropolitan cities: Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Nashville. They offer tremendous stay and play packages with lodging overlooking the No. 10 fairway and either hotel-style or condo accommodations. Packages start at $220 for a hotel-style room and include three days of unlimited golf with a cart and two nights stay. Condos start at $250.

Tanglewood offers all guests a $10 breakfast buffet as well as buffet-style meal plans that feed groups for $10 per night. Small appetizers are available in the full-liquor bar.

Tanglewood also offers some incredible membership rates. For example, you can play seven days a week with a golf cart for $1,400/year. If you average 10 rounds a month for nine months, that’s a little over $15.00/round. For more information, go to www.golftanglewood.com.

Photo Credit Belinda Theoret

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2020 Tennessee PGA Section Awards

Merchandiser of the Year - Public

Casey Flenniken, PGA Tellico Village

Bill Strausbaugh Award AND Merchandiser of the Year –Private

Henrik Simonsen, PGA The Honors Course

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“It was important for us as a Section to recognize these PGA Professionals for their achievements. Typically, we recognize them at our Annual Meeting, but due to COVID, our Annual Meeting was held virtually in 2021. For that reason, we created a unique event that could highlight the contributions that each of these PGA Professionals made towards the game of golf. “ Clayton Hromadka, Executive Director

Assistant Golf Pro of the Year

Alex Cox The Golf Club of Tennessee

Richard Eller Growth Youth Player of the Game Award Development Award Valerie Vaughn, PGA Tenn Golf Foundation

Kathleen McCarthy, PGA Tenn Golf Foundation

Golf Professional of the Year Chris Cauthen, PGA West Haven Golf Club

Teacher of the Year Award

Braxton Hunter, PGA Fairways & Greens Golf Center

PGA Professional Development Award Lamar Mills, PGA Cleveland Country Club