Tee Times September 2018

September 2018 Keeping Golfers Connected in TN, KY, MS, AL, NC

September 2018

Labor of love Ellers create family-first atmosphere at Hermitage Golf Course Pages 2-5

Inside!! shooter: 9 Straight Forgotten great Calvin Peete never met a fairway he didn’t hit

Grace: 21 Amazing Waves of Grace

organization making a difference for cancer patients

Chris Pierce

Director of Golf, Head Golf Professional

Bobby Schultz Superintendent

Ashley Eller Cottrell President

David Eller

Director of Food & Beverage Services

no ‘Ham 23 Ain’t like Birmingham:

‘Magic City’ has great golf and plenty of it

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September 2018

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At Hermitage Golf Course, it’s all about family

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor

ley Eller-Cottrell.

Another sibling, Drew, can be considered the black sheep of the family. He works for Bridgestone North American Tires, although growing up he put in more than his fair share of hours working on the maintenance crews at the club. He also is a part of the corporate structure at the Hermitage Golf Course.

“He might be the smartest of us all,” EllerCottrell joked.

All joking aside, the Eller family has found success owning and operating the successful public facility that consists of 36 holes – General’s Retreat and President’s Reserve, eight luxury cottages, 63 Scottish Blackface sheep, and a thriving catering and wedding business, among other things. And it’s no secret as to the success – grow up around golf and it starts flowing through your veins.

It’s always been about golf and family for the Ellers.

The order has been interchangeable. Family and golf; golf and family. But the way they intertwine, sometimes it’s hard to discern where one stops and the other begins.

It’s been that way at the Hermitage Golf Course for 32 years now, although the Ellers love affair with golf predates the popular 36hole facility by plenty. Harold Eller was the head professional at Old Hickory Country Club for 37 years. His wife Ruth founded and was the director of the Tennessee Junior Golf Association.

Mike Eller followed his dad’s footsteps and was the head pro at Old Hickory for nine years before coming up with the idea with Ray Danner to build a high-end public golf course.

Mike’s sisters Beverly Pearce and Judy Street, along with his brother Richard, were accomplished golfers.

Beverly’s sons, Barry and Ray, are PGA professionals.

Mike’s wife Barbara has been the buyer for the pro shop since the course opened and founded the corporate sales division.

Now, as Mike and Barbara wind down their time running the business, they have turned over the The Cottrell Family: (L-R) David, Cart reins of Hermitage to er (15) and Ashley.

(Bottom L-R) Henry (12) and Ann Mich their daughter Ashael (10)

“Golf is all I’ve ever known but I quit playing as a kid,” Eller-Cottrell said. “Every family function involved conversation about golf. It was just inevitable. My earliest memories of golf were at Old Hickory Country Club and being in the junior golf program. … My summers as a young kid consisted of swim team practice early in the morning followed by junior golf and then hanging out at the club. Not a rough life as a child.”

The Eller Family: Drew with Courtney holding Marshall (3) and (L-R) Madeline (7), Meredith (10) and Murphy (4)

Barbara and Mike Eller Eller-Cottrell eventually moved up from hanging out at Old Hickory to working at the family owned Hermitage Golf Course. The first course, General’s Retreat, which was designed by Gary Baird, opened in 1986. EllerCottrell began working there on weekends, after school and in the summer when she was 14. That continued through college.

She left for a time, met her future husband David, and returned as tournament coordinator in 2001. Today, her title is president and David is the club’s food and beverage director.

Being that it’s been a family affair at the Hermitage Golf Course, Eller-Cottrell didn’t have to look far to find mentors as she worked her way up the ladder, as dad and mom were always in close proximity. It was assumed Eller-Cottrell would eventually take over when her parents decided to step aside.

But nothing was given to her; she had to earn it according to Barbara Eller.

“Mike would not offer her a job until she was successful working for someone else and showed an interest in working for us,” Barbara said. “Her degree was in marketing,

Looking out onto General’s Retreat No. 18 from clubhouse

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September 2018 can work together, and to be honest it’s not difficult. We actually don’t see each other that much since we aren’t in the same department. We do our best not to bring work home and not talk about it, but that is easier said than done.”

Barbara Eller said they weren’t intentionally setting an example, though.

“For the most part, Mike and I have a great experience working together,” she said. “Maybe it was because in the early years when I started, we were both so busy with our positions we seldom saw each other while we were there. The part that has been the hardest is I cannot leave work at the course. I have always been bad at taking it home. The one good thing about working together was that at least one of us, if not both, were able to take time to go to Ashley and Drew’s activities. When not at school, they were able to be at work with us.”

Eller-Cottrell admits things can get a little hectic working together and coordinating the activities of their three children – Carter (15), Henry (12) and Anne

President’s Reserve No. 3 Michael (10), “There are days we fail to communicate and forget who is supposed to pick up the kids, but I like to think we aren’t the only parents doing that,” she said.

David, who has been working in restaurants since his high school days in Fairfield Glade and spent time working in production catering that included several films, is more suc-

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President’s Reserve No. 8

Having part of your 4-legged family join you at work is part of the Eller DNA. AshleyEller Cottrell in office with (left) Mama dog Sandy and Sandy’s daughter, Swiper age 7. and after graduation she worked at a PR firm.

Later she moved to California and was in radio advertising.”

It was only when Ashley and David moved back to Nashville that Mike Eller offered her a chance to return to the club. Even then, it was on a trial basis.

“We have known for several years that Ashley would end up running the company,” Barbara said. “She is a natural with people; can’t help but love her. Drew is on the board.

When it comes to finance and budgets, he is the best. Together they will be great partners.”

When it comes to working with her husband, again Eller-Cottrell didn’t have to look very far to find an example of how to make it work. Her mom and dad recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary.

“My parents were great examples since they have worked together since the mid-1980s,” Eller-Cottrell said. “They are a true testament. People often wonder how David and I

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cinct in explaining how they handle things.

“Ashley and I make a great team, but with our work schedules we don’t see each other at the workplace,” he said.

Mike and Barbara are still active in the dayto-day operation of the course, although they are stepping aside more and more as they head toward full retirement.

“I have tried to slowly step aside, putting

Ashley, David, (superintendent) Bob Schultz), and (director of golf) Chris (Pierce) in the forefront,” Mike Eller said. “Now when customers have questions and needs; they call them. If we are not traveling, I’m still there every day, hitting balls, driving around the property to see what I can improve or make better.”

Added Barbara Eller, “Mike and I have worked long days for many years to help the Hermitage be successful,” she said. “Mike has always been the visionary. We have been richly blessed with a wonderful family, great employees and terrific, loyal customers. We are ready to spend more time together, enjoying one another, seeing the country and not talking shop every day and night. It is only because of Ashley, David, Drew, Courtney and our wonderful staff that we have this opportunity. There is no doubt the Hermitage Golf Course is in great hands and will even become better. We would not be stepping back if we did not believe that.”

As Mike and Barbara take a step back and Ashley settles into her role as president, the common denominator is that the Hermitage Golf Club still carries the Eller name. It’s a family tree where the roots run deep and the branches continue to expand.

A dozen of the Scottish Blackface Sheep arrived in 2014, herd numbers 64 in 2018

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At Hermitage, family extends beyond the Eller name

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor

a very long time. He made an impact on my life during that time period that I will carry on forever.”

There are plenty of other testimonials about what it means to work at Hermitage.

“I have been fortunate to work at a lot of golf facilities in my life, and Hermitage is just

The Hermitage Golf Course is a sprawling 36-hole complex that first opened in 1986 as an 18-hole facility.

The brainchild of Mike Eller and the late Ray Danner, since its inception Hermitage has been a staple of the Nashville public golf community. It’s also been a family-run affair by the Ellers, a name synonymous with golf in Tennessee.

While the Ellers have been the face of Hermitage, Mike and wife Barbara can still be found working and hanging out there most days, and their daughter Ashley is now the president, they have always considered the Hermitage staff as part of their extended family.

That might be a cliché to some, but at the Hermitage it’s a wellknown fact, evident in Chris Pierce this little-known story Director of Golf/Head as told by Chris Pierce, Golf Professional the director of golf.

“My father passed away three years ago in special,” Lacey Napier, May,” Pierce said. “After he director of cottage sales Lacey Napier passed, Mr. Eller called me and operations, said. “I Director of Cottage every day for about a month feel that I am part of the Sales & Operations or so to make sure I was alfamily. I love everyone here right or if I needed anything, or like they are my family, and just to let me know he was thinking of me that makes me want to work harder, to be and my family during that difficult time a better employee, co-worker and friend.” for us. After that, I knew that Hermitage Napier said the proof as to how much of Golf Course was a place I wanted to be for a family atmosphere it’s like working at

Pro Shop: (L-R) assistant Ryan Smith, assistant Janell Joslin, Director of Golf/Head Golf Pro Chris Pierce and assistant Greg Tubbesing

Hermitage is that rarely do the employees go their separate ways after work.

“When we finish work, we still choose to spend time together which I think speaks volumes for the culture that is part of HGC,” she said. “We have dinner together, share milestones with one another and our families.

We are so lucky to have owners that care about our happiness.”

In the pro shop, Smyrna native Ryan Smith points out that the person who most influenced his golf career was his coach at Western Kentucky University, Phillip Hatchett.

“He was killed this year while riding his bike,” Smith said. “Not only was he a great golf coach, but a better person off the course.”

Smith said working at Hermitage is special for a lot of reasons, the chemistry starting with the Eller family, the interaction between the staff, and the product itself, not one, but two highly regarded 18 hole courses.

“We have the sheep, of course,” he

On Course Cottages

laughed, noting that the herd is an attraction. “Play both of our courses in one day and you will think you have played in two different states.”

Assistant golf professional Greg Tubbesing echoes Napier’s and Smith’s comments.

“While Hermitage is a busy, high-volume facility, at its heart it is a tight-knit, family-run business,” he said. “People look

The Shoney’s Big Boy, smack in the middle of the pro shop, a tribute to Ray Danner

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September 2018

at Hermitage Golf Course is the incredible job our maintenance staff does creating a prestigious golf course for our customers,” said assistant professional Janell Joslin, who joined the Hermitage staff in May 2017. “To think that a course in the shape of ours is a public course is jaw dropping.

From the entrance to the grill staff to the links, you cannot lose playing here.”

Pierce, the head professional/director of golf, is pretty much a lifer at Hermitage. A hometown guy Food and Beverage Services: (L-R) Monica Bates - Director of Special Events, Darryl Bates from Hermitage, he has ascended - Banquet Captain, Fernando Lira - Setup, Caitlyn Reeves - Head Cook, Vicki Unti - Chef, through the ranks quickly given Margaret Sirleaf - Cook and David Cottrell - Director of Food & Beverage Services that he has only been playing golf for nine years. Before that, he was coaching high school football.

Pierce started in 2011 as a starter/marshal. He quickly moved into the pro shop and by February 2012, he was a fulltime assistant at the course. In March he was named director of golf. Pierce mentions former director of golf Jim Vernon for having a tremendous influence on him.

“Jim Vernon is not only one of the best golf pros I have ever seen, he is one of the best humans I have ever seen,” Pierce said. “He would sit and answer questions all day or Maintenance Crew: (L-R) Michael Chickrell, Lee Coppock, Superintendent Bobby Schultz, Tim would research a topic of discusDeverell, Cary Lewis, mechanic. Schultz deems all of this crew his assistants. Bobby Schultz came sion and bring it up days later to in with the Ellers and Ray Danner. He was in on the ground floor, ground being the key word. If you loved playing either course at Hermitage, it is because of these guys and those not pictured. build on. He taught me not only about how to run a golf course, but how to manage people and make out for one another and always have each mitage Golf Course an attractive option, sure that everyone is included and feels other’s best interests in mind. We always not just for golfers but for other aspects welcomed in the work place. He taught work together with a common goal in such as weddings and special events. me how it was to be a manger that is mind – delivering the best golf and event One aspect that takes Hermitage above hands on and does the work with his emexperience in the Nashville area.” and beyond many public facilities is the ployees and not just manage from afar.”

Of course, the best family atmosphere in immaculate year-round condition of Since its opening in 1986, the Hermitage the world doesn’t mean a lot unless you its two golf courses. Staff and custom- has morphed into so much more than a have a quality product to offer, and Her- ers alike detail how well manicured the golf facility. With eight cottages, Hermitmitage checks that box and more. Start- courses with superintendent Bob Schultz age is a now a stay-and-play destination ing with two quality, challenging and dis- running the show. It’s no accident that that also is a premier site for weddings tinct golf courses – General’s Retreat and Schultz has been at Hermitage for more and other special events. It also offers President’s Reserve – along with an em- than three decades. catering, with David Cottrell in charge of phasis on customer service makes Her“Beside the welcoming environment

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Monica Bates Director of Special Events

food and beverage and Monica Bates in charge of special events.

Cottrell, whose wife Ashley is president of Hermitage Golf Course, brings extensive training and experience to his position. He did a culinary apprenticeship at the Opryland Hotel and interned at the Michelin Star Le Gourmet in Munich, Germany before working in event catering in which he worked on films such as G.I. Jane, Practical Magic, The Green Mile and Beloved. He’s been at Hermitage since 2006 and plans most of the menus or works with clients to plan them.

Bates started at Hermitage as a bartender eight years ago and moved up from there.

“The environment is better working for a family-owned business than working for corporate America,” Bates said. “It is a happy place. Who wouldn’t want to work at a place that everyone is either playing golf or getting married?”

That about sums up the Hermitage Golf Course experience – where it’s all in the family, and then some.

Director David Cottrell

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From tHE Editor

By Gregg Dewalt

TROUBADOUR A Tom Fazio Design

The only downer was that SEC rival Florida beat the Commodores with a two-day total of 546, three shots ahead of the Commodores.

Tennessee native Addison Baggarly helped the Gators to the win with rounds of 72-68 to tie for 15th in the individual standings.

Trevecca Nazarene’s women’s golf team also posted an historic round while playing in the Screaming Eagles Classic hosted by Southern Indiana.

Trevecca opened the tournament with a round of 325 before turning it up a notch in the final round with a schoolrecord round of 307 to finish fourth in the team standings.

Trevecca’s 307 total was two shots better than the ca ec ev Tr program’s best of 309 set in Blake Turner of

Work continues on new Fazio course in Arrington Who says September is all about college football?

It might grab most of the attention, but football isn’t the only game in town, as being proven by a couple of local college women’s golf teams who opened their seasons with strong performances.

Vanderbilt’s women recently finished in second place at the rain-shortened Powerade Cougar Classic, but that wasn’t the big news.

The big story was what the Commodores did in the second round. Led by Courtney Zeng, Vanderbilt shot a school record 19-under-par 269 to vault into second place in the tourna-

ment.

Zeng led the way with a blistering 65, a personal best in tournament play, while tying the school record for the best individual round in program history.

The team total of 269 bettered the previous school record by five shots. Also counting scores in the historic second round were Auston Kim, Abbey Carlson and Louise Yu.

Trevecca women’s team: (L-R) Font - Teagan Perry, Rachael McMahan, Valeria Vargas, Lexie Shaw. Back - Coach David Head, Brynn Craven, Madalyn Hembree Sophie Vinson, Janell Joslin

PUBLISHER Joe Hall pgegolf@bellsouth.net EDITOR Gregg Dewalt ASSOCIATE EDITOR Justin Onslow SENIOR EDITOR David Widener widecard@aol.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carol Hall teetimescarol@bellsouth.net

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Grayson Kirkham TECHNICAL ADVISOR Jimmy Phillips

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan Lawrence

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Member: Golf Writers Association of America, International Network of Golf, Golf Travel Writers of America

the golf course and the club is actually now called Troubadour,” Kok said in early August.

“We are kind of starting it all over, but our intention is for it to be one of the best clubs in the state.”

Troubadour is located just southeast of Franklin.

The Fazio redo is basically from the ground up.

“We will pretty much not keep an inch of the whole existing golf course,” Kok said. “We are using the existing corridors and we don’t have plans of changing the holes configuration, but as far as what was there, nothing is being kept.”

Kok said Discovery Land is “the best in the world at what they do,” and with that comes “amazing facilities.”

“They felt like the golf course, to be considered one of the best if not the best in the state, that was our intention with the redo,” he said.

“Having Fazio on board was crucial, Kok said.

Vandy women’s Team: (L-R) Head Coach Greg Allen, Annie Kim, Morgan Baxendale, Auston Kim, Abbey Carlson, Louise Yu, Courtney Zeng, Virginia Green, Assistant Coach Emilie Meason

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jon Hamilton jrhdesign@att.net

FOUNDER Joey Smith

Johan Kok

2013-2014. Rachael McMahan and Lexie Shaw led the way for the Trojans in the second round, as each finished with matching 73s. Both were named to the all-tournament team, as McMahan finished in sixth place at 150 and Shaw was seventh at 151.

Also from Trevecca Nazarene, sophomore Blain Turner of Mt. Juliet, earned Great Midwest Conference Player of the Week honors for shooting 67-70 in the GreyStone Cup, a headto-head completion between Trevecca and Union University. It’s a strong start for Turner, who garnered Freshman of the Year honors and was medalist in the season-ending conference tournament.

KOK TALKS ABOUT TROUBADOUR Johan Kok, one of the state’s top Tennessee Section PGA players, has been busy for the past few months working with Discovery Land Company. The catch is that he is working at the same place, only it is transitioning to a new name and a new golf course.

Kok previously was part of opening a property known as the Hideaway at Arrington. Now, it’s about to become known as Troubadour.

“We are doing a complete Tom Fazio redo of

Photo credit: John Russell/Vanderbilt University

Vandy, Trevecca women’s teams off to strong start

“Tom builds golf courses that are challenging and as good as anything for your pro golfers yet player friendly for your average golfer,” Kok said. “That’s the intention with the redo.

Fazio has made several site visits and has 13 courses located at Discovery Land Company projects.

“He’s been very involved with the redo and we are all excited with what can really be something special for Nashville,” Kok said.

According to Kok, no opening date has been set. Construction is on pace to be complete by the end of 2018, but golf courses are very weather dependent. Kok said it would be nice to get the course open by the middle of 2019, but that depends on the cooperation of the weather during the grow-in process.

Getting on board with the project, which also will feature upscale homesites, was an easy decision, Kok said.

“It was kind of a no-brainer,” he said. “The property is so special and gorgeous, we all felt with Discovery and what they bring to a project, we can really deliver something that Nashville has never seen. We’re pretty excited about it.”

September 2018

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Senior Men’s Golf Invitational September 10th Barren River Lake State Resort Park

C. Pearson C.Long D Keown C Durant D Smith

Results age 75 & up age 70-74 age 65-69 age 60 - 64 age 50 - 59

score 75 score 73 score 73 score 72 score 71

(L-R): C. Pearson, C. Long, D. Keown, Carmello Benassi, PGA Professional/Head Golf Pro, C. Durant, and D. Smith

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Around Nashville Fairways Wayne Evans

Superintendent of Sports/ Golf Clubhouse Operations

Leigh Achenbach, formerly Leigh Wilkins, is now a five-time champion of the event.

Our senior champion for 2018 is Maggie Mignone.

Congratulations to these ladies on their outstanding play! Additionally we want to thank all of those who participated in the 2018 James H. Fyke Women’s Municipal Amateur Championship.

Take the opportunity as summer heat winds down, to come out and play one of our Metro Parks Courses - Wayne

(L-R): James McCarty, Ted Rhodes Superintendent and Phil Luckett, Superintendent of Metro Parks Maintenance could not be more pleased with the recent work done on the greens and irrigation.

We Love Our Golfers!!!

Harpeth Hills

2424 Old Hickory Blvd. • 615-862-8493

McCabe

Ted Rhodes reopens to raves; Women’s MUNI boast a record 5 times champ Ted Rhodes Golf Course has reopened featuring the newly installed TifEagle ultradwarf bermuda grass greens. The golf course is in outstanding overall condition and has been well received by those who have played there since it’s reopening.

The course closed on June 11, and in addition to renovating the greens, irrigation issues were addressed by improving the course’s irrigation system.

It’s the first renovations at the course since 1995 when the second nine opened.

Ted Rhodes converted to an electric irrigation head in an effort to achieve more efficiency.

“We felt that it was important to convert to an electric irrigation head and new greens loop to give better reliability and performance of the irrigation system,” superintendent of golf maintenance Phil Luckett said in August. “The old heads were hydraulic and the performance and reliability had gotten pretty bad.”

On Luckett’s wish list for the future is a new pump station that would be environmentally friendly and waste less water than the current pump station.

The new greens will get their first tournament test September, 24-25 when Ted Rhodes hosts the James H. Fyke Senior Municipal Amateur Championship.

This has become a very popular event in the middle Tennessee area and attracts many of the areas accomplished players.

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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

5-time Women’s MUNI champion Leigh Achenbach is presented the Sally Davis Trophy by retired Metro Superintendent of Golf Operations, Sally Davis. The champ’s name appears as Leigh Wilkins 4 times, but the inscription will read “2018 Champion Leigh Achenbach”

James H. Fyke Women’s Municipal Amateur Championship crowned a familiar face as their champion for the fifth time.

On September 8-9, Metro Parks hosted the James H. Fyke Women’s Municipal Amateur Championship.

The ladies played the first round at Harpeth Hills and were scheduled to play the final round at Two Rivers Golf Course. We had a great field for the event, and the courses looked amazing. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get in the entire final round before play was washed out by heavy rain.

Leigh Achenbach won the tournament.

If that name sounds familiar, it’s because

The 2018 James H. Fyke Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, Maggie Mignone accepts her trophy and congratulations from Kevin Forte, PGA Professional/Head Golf Professional, Harpeth Hills G.C.

Nashvillefairways.com

September 2018

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Forgotten Greats: Calvin Peete

By Grayson Kirkham One skill in modern day golf which seems to have lost some degree of importance is driving accuracy. With large titanium driver heads and golf balls that spin far less than they did a few decades ago, finding fairways has become much easier. Since the margin of error is larger with this kind of technology, players of today have the freedom to swing faster and more aggressively. Calvin Peete, the most accurate driver in PGA Tour history, did not have this luxury.

Peete, whose playing career began in 1975, was the most successful AfricanAmerican golfer prior to Tiger Woods.

He achieved this by overcoming three unaccommodating obstacles in particular. Firstly, he was a self-taught golfer who did not take up the game until he was in his 20s. Secondly, he was one of the few black players on the PGA Tour in the 1970s and his very presence was loathed by some spectators (Lee Elder had become the first African-American to play The Masters in 1975, which was controversial in the South). Lastly, Peete’s left arm could not fully straighten, which was the after-effect of a childhood injury. While

a bent left arm is not necessarily ideal in a golf swing, Peete still managed an efficient, repeatable action.

This physical setback may have cost him a little bit of power, but may have also been key to Peete’s legendary driving accuracy. The bent left arm restricted his backswing, ensuring he would never “over swing” on the way back. This, combined with wonderful tempo and the ability to consistently find the center of the club, made him the straightest driver of the 1980s.

And the statistics prove it. From 1981 to 1990, Calvin Peete was ranked No. 1 on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy. Meaning that for an entire decade, he found more fairways off the tee than anyone else playing on Tour.

Peete’s PGA Tour career led to 12 victories, including a win at the 1985 Players Championship (which is now unofficially referred to as a “fifth major”).

While he never won a major championship, he did manage a consistent record, making the cut in 23 of the 25 majors he played in. He also represented the US on two Ryder Cup teams

in the 1980s (a winning team in 1983).

Additionally, his consistent scoring in 1984 also earned him the Vardon Trophy, the award given for the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour each year.

Calvin Peete was a great example of why the “tee shot” is the most important shot in golf. The man himself said, “If you’re not driving the ball well, it’s the difference between playing offensive golf and defensive golf.” Anyone who plays regularly would know the truth in that statement. A bad tee shot

Peete’s bent left arm never allowed the club to get near parallel

Peete stares down his tee shot, hopefully in the fairway

will oftentimes set you up for failure. However, a good tee shot will set you up for success. Mr. Peete understood that better than anybody.

L I F E MOVES PRE T T Y FAST Make time to drive one down the fairway at one of our 140 courses, designed — and played — by some of the biggest names in golf. Don’t miss out on your next adventure in Mississippi.

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Opinion

By David Widener

Member Golf Writers Association of America

W

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In the first round of the Wyndham Championship Snedeker became the 10th player in tour history to break 60

Snedeker finds “The Zone” for 59

hat Brandt Snedeker did on August 16 was a memorable moment in the life of the 38-year-old Nashville pro golfer.

It was something that only nine players have accomplished in PGA Tour history: breaking 60 in a tournament round of golf.

Snedeker joined the exclusive club by shooting 59 in the first round of the Wyndham Championship and led wire-to-wire in winning the event with a 21-under-par 259 score. The 59 included a bogey 5 on his first hole (the par-4 10th), making him the first player in history to break 60 after being over par at any point during his round.

On his inward nine holes (Nos. 1-9), he set the record for lowest 9-hole score of the season by shooting 8-under 27 that included six birdies and an eagle 2 hole-out on the par-4 sixth hole.

Snedeker’s previous low score on the PGA Tour was 61 with the most recent of three occasions coming in round two of the 2015 Wyndham Championship. He seems to own the tournament, winning it in his rookie 2007 season for his first tour victory, tying for third in 2016 and tying for fifth in 2014.

Shooting 59 puts Snedeker’s name in the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum’s Breaking 60 Exhibit that opened in January this year. Al Geiberger became the first to accomplish the feat, posting 59 in the second round of the 1977 Memphis Classic. Jim Furyk’s done it twice, shooting 59 in the second round of the 2013 BMW Championship and 58 in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship.

Mostly due to injuries, Snedeker had not won since the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open. At the PGA Championship the week before the Wyndham Championship, Snedeker said he “kind of found something” when he simplified some swing fundamentals which made him feel better about that part of his game.

Whatever it was, Snedeker was in what is called “The Zone.” In shooting 59, he hit 9 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation, was two of three in scrambling, and had just 22 putts thanks to 1-putts on 12 holes. All are key factors in order to shoot a super low score.

“I’m kind of one of those players who gets on

hot streaks,” he said.

So what exactly is “The Zone”? Surprisingly, even Tour players are pressed to come up with a definition, including Furyk. He was one of several people I interviewed on the subject in 2000.

“Nobody really quite knows what being in the Zone is.” he said. “If it was that easy to pinpoint or give a definition to tell you why it happens, we all would play much better that more often.”

Furyk said confidence is a key factor of being in the Zone.

“When you are in the Zone, you are not worried about what can go wrong or any of the trouble on the course,” he said. “The only thing in focus is hitting a perfect shot from the tee, a perfect shot into the green and making a putt. I don’t know if it is as much mental as physical, but I am sure part of the physical ability you have that week is going to lead to better mental thoughts.”

Hal Sutton, a member of four Ryder Cup teams and winner of 14 tournaments including the 1983 PGA Championship, thinks finding the Zone is all mental.

“Being able to focus on what you are doing at the time is important,” he said. “You have to stay in the present. When you leave the Zone is when you are thinking about the past or the future and you can’t focus on what is at hand.”

According to Fred Funk, an 8-time PGA Tour winner and 9-time Champions Tour winner, there is no conscious thought of mechanics when you are in the Zone.

“Golf is not a reactive game like baseball, basketball or football where you are reacting to what is happening in front of you,” he said. “You have to initiate everything. You are not thinking about mechanics. You’re thinking of target and you’re reacting to your situation – the lie you have, the environment, the target. You’re thinking I’m going to hit this ball where I need to hit it and I’m going to make this putt no matter how long it is, how big a break or how fast the green.

It’s like there is no fear of not pulling off the shot.”

Dr. Bob Rotella, one of the leading psychologists on Tour and author of six books, describes someone who is in the Zone as “someone who is not thinking or is just playing with his eyes and seeing nothing but where he wants the ball to go.”

“But the problem with the Zone is we don’t even know how to put it into words,” he noted.

“We are so used to explaining everything with a conscious explanation, and it is such an unconscious state. You don’t have that much aware-

ness of the target. You just casually look where you want it to go and you hit it because you know it is going there. There is a total absence of doubt and fear.”

Rotella said the lasting effect is short.

“To me, the Zone is very overrated because I think nobody on the Tour is in the Zone more than about two percent of their life,” he said. “It is all about who can play great when they are not in the Zone and struggling. You can’t consciously make the Zone happen. It is something that magically happens on its own and it is your job to get out of the way enough just to give it a chance.”

Being in the Zone is what every golfer dreams about, but unfortunately for most of us it’s just a fantasy.

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September 2018

TEE TIMES

A blind child can play golf and can get up before a crowd

(L-R): B1 Dan Dillon (totally blind golfer) with friend and Coach Bill Rankin

(L-R): Andy Church, Coach, USBGA and PGA Professional Tom Mirus, and 2018 National Champion, Chad Neismith, Franklin, Tennessee

(L-R): Hall of Famer Coach, Everette Davis, Kyle Seeley, 2018 Hall of Fame Coach inductee, Jim Baker, Blind National Champion Player, Hall of Fame inductee, and Joe Taggert, PGA Professional and Coach for Jim Baker

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(L-R): Coach Kyle Seeley and B1 blind golfer, Jim Baker, enjoyed 24 years together and are inducted in USBGA’s Hall of Fame together.

The Tennessee School for the Blind, young golfers love the game

Guests of Honor, Tennessee School for the Blind golfing kids

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TEE TIMES

September 2018

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118th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship When: August 6-12, 2018 Where: Golf Club of Tennessee, Kingston Springs, Tenn.

Course Architect: Tom Fazio Par and Yardage: Par 71 - 6,328 yards

Gillman Posts 7-and-6 Win to Claim Second U.S. Women’s Amateur Title

Old Waverly to host the U.S. Women’s Amateur SAVE THE DATE! Aug. 5-11, 2019

President of The Golf Club of Tennessee, David Ingram asks for quiet on the tee box from gallery and then watches the shot of Kristen Gillman, the champion for the 2nd time

To the players delight, a special room was set aside in the locker rooms for candy, ice cream and goodies of all descriptions

(L-R) Co-Chairs Sarah Ingram, Julie Frist, and Lucianne Wilt. Thanks ladies, your hard work and creativity paid off.

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September 2018

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In His Grip Ministries Celebrity Pro-Am a success A total of 100 people took part in the In His Grip Celebrity Pro-Am recently at Topgolf. Included in the gathering that benefited the In His Grip Ministries were 15 local golf professionals and 12 local celebrities. A powerful message was delivered by the Clarkson family and $40,000 was raised for In His Grip Ministries.

Scott Lehman

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TEE TIMES

September 2018

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Try these drills to stop over-swinging

By Tyler Skidmore Do you struggle with over-swinging?

A lot of golfers have this problem and it can ruin our chances to make solid consistent contact.

There are a couple ways this can happen - the body being in a bad position at the top where we get a reverse spine angle or if we are breaking down the arms at the top.

Usually we see the arms break down when we have too much tension in the hands, and it limits us to properly hinge the club in the backswing.

I have a few drills that can really help with this problem and get us in a better top position. The good thing is that you can do them anywhere.

The first drill is a Sam Snead drill. First, we want to set up like we normally do, then proceed to lay the club on your right shoulder (left shoulder for a lefty). While still looking down at the ball just turn the body. If your left leg gets straighter, you have come out of Bio: Tyler Skidmore your posture. The last step is to take your Tyler Richard Skidmore, a single young man arms and push them away from the body. from the Knoxville area, is fully focused on his Now you are in a perfect backswing spot career and has been for a long time for such a young man. to come down from.

Tyler took up golf when he was 13 at the The next one is super easy. It’s called a urging of some friends and he’s never looked wall drill for swing length. Set up with back. The more he played, the more he loved your lead foot against the wall. From the game and the more he wanted to learn. there start your swing stopping the club Once he caught the golf bug, it was perfectly natural for him to look into finding a school before the wall. If you hit the wall, your that would provide him a chance to pursue a swing is too long. Make sure you are still career in the industry.

Straight out of school, Tyler enrolled in the getting the proper turn with the shoulders. A good check point will be chest Golf Academy of America in Orlando, Florida, a school that touts itself as a college for a cadirectly away from the wall. reer in the golf industry.

I hope these drills can help your golf He feels that the chance he had to interact game.

The Sam Snead Drill and learn from some of the most inspiring and brilliant PGA professionals in Florida, including award winners and hall-of-fame inductees was invaluable. After graduating, he had a stint at Providence Golf Club, in Davenport, Florida, and again loved the experience of working at a club, increasing his experience there.

But given the chance to get back to the state of Tennessee and get into coaching at GolfTec was according to him, “a no-brainer”.

“GolfTec’s principals for teaching are second to none,” Tyler says. “When I was offered the chance to come back to this area and teach at GolfTec, I jumped on it immediately.” He notes that the teaching is enhanced by the available technology.

Helping the student learn and IMPROVE is what he and other coaches are all about. He

loves teaching beginners best, but enjoys nstructing all levels. He tries to play as often as his schedule allows. His golfing buddies are Drew Homan, Colden Cooper, TJ Hallfin, and Zack Wiley.

Welcome back to Tennessee, Tyler! Playing golf and teaching golf here in Nashville has seemingly brought you full circle.

September 2018

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TEE TIMES

“Best Course You Can Play” - GolfWeek

TEE UP

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

For more information or to book a tee time: GaylordSprings.com

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September 2018

TEE TIMES

Equipment Corner Cobra Golf introduces new F-Max Superlite irons, hybrids CARLSBAD, Calif. – Cobra Golf, a leader in golf club innovation and design, has introduced to the lightest, easiest-to-hit irons and hybrids in company history.

Building off the success of the original F-MAX irons which debuted in 2017, the 2018 F-MAX men’s and women’s Superlite irons and combo sets feature incredibly light-weight technologies and designs that provide more club speed, distance and easier launch than ever before.

The Cobra Golf F-MAX Superlite irons take ultralight technology to the next level. The re-engineered clubhead is 4 grams lighter and maintains the same high MOI, delivering optimized forgiveness and stability. A 5-gram lighter shaft and a 7-gram lighter grip design results in 16 grams in weight-savings ensuring the fastest club and ball speed possible for golfers with moderate swing speeds.

Continuing the weight minimization theme, the new Superlite shafts offer the perfect blend of speed, distance and launch.

The irons also feature an extremely com-

fortable, midsize Lamkin Rel 360 grip (the women’s irons feature a standard men’s size grip) that is engineered using a softer rubber compound, delivering a lighter swing weight and improved comfort on longer approach shots.

Complementing its lightest shaft and grip offering ever, Cobra Golf has designed FMAX Superlite Irons with the following industry-leading super game improvement technologies: • Optimized Center of Gravity • Progressive Offset Design • Low CG/High MOI Design • Low Profile with Deep Undercut Design • Greater Lofts • Premium Chrome Finish • Specialty Wedge Design The Cobra Golf F-MAX Superlite irons are available in a variety of set options. See be-

low for each option and pricing.

• Men’s Steel Irons ($599) – 7-piece, stock 5-PW, GW set features a KBS Superlite steel shaft in stiff and regular flex; a graphite offering is available through custom, utilizing a Cobra Superlite 55 gram shaft in stiff and regular and a 50 gram shaft in lite flex; both available in right-hand and lefthand versions. Available in sleek black/red colorway.

• Men’s Graphite Combo Set ($699) – Two stock 7-piece combo set offerings feature 4H, 5H, 6-PW in regular flex and 5H, 6H, 7-PW, GW in lite flex; both sets come with a Cobra Superlite shaft (55g in regular flex and 50g in lite); available in both right-hand and left-hand versions. Available in sleek black/red colorway.

• Women’s Graphite Combo Set ($699) – A 7-piece set features a Cobra Superlite 50 gram shaft and includes two hybrids and five irons (5H, 6H, 7-PW, SW); available in both right-hand and left-hand versions in ladies flex. Available in striking black/Lexi blue colorway.

The men’s F-MAX Superlite Hybrids are available in 3H (19-degrees), 4H (22-degrees), 5H (25-degrees), 6H (28-degrees) and 7H (31-degrees) of loft and feature a street price of $179 per club. The women’s F-MAX Superlite Hybrids are available in 4H (23.5o), 5H (26.5 o), 6H (29.5 o) and 7H (32.5 o) in RH/LH in ladies flex. The F-MAX Superlite Irons and Hybrids are available beginning October 5, 2018 in store and at https://www.Cobragolf.com/ fmax-superlite.

For More Information https://www.cobragolf.com/fmax-superlite

Callaway Footwear introduces Skyline golf shoe AMESBURY, Mass. - Callaway footwear is expanding its spikeless offerings with the addition of the new Skyline golf shoe.

This contemporary classic design is fused with the new Callaway POWERdrive™ Platform for total comfort and performance. The Skyline golf shoe will be in the golf shops in early October and like all Callaway footwear, it will be ready to wear right out of the box.

Skyline Highlights Callaway’s new Skyline golf shoe offers a very clean, contemporary styling with its roots being grounded in technical performance. The foundation of the shoe is built on Callaway’s new POWERdrive™ platform.

This platform features a Duo-Max™ midsole that offers a soft and comfortable top layer of Eva foam, surrounded by a more supportive bottom layer of foam, resulting in optimal

support and stability.

The FusionLite™ TPU spikeless outsole is built for maximum stability and traction.

The outsole includes strategic cutouts to allow the shoe to flex and move with the foot throughout the swing. Inside the shoe is the POWERdrive insole.

The POWERdrive insole comforts the foot with soft, molded Eva, but also features additional heel and arch support. The upper is made of full-grain leather with Opti-dri™ waterproof protection. The Skyline is backed by a two-year waterproof warranty.

Skyline Specs • Colors: Red/White/ Blue, White/ Black, Black/Grey • Sizes: 8 -12, 13, 14; Widths: Me-

dium and Wide • Warranty: 2 Year limited waterproof warranty • Suggest Retail: $149.95 • Available: October 2018 For more information, please visit www. callawaygolf.com

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September 2018

Houser retiring after 44 years at Warriors Path With his retirement, Warriors Path and the Tennessee Golf Trail fans have lost a real treasure in PGA Professional Mark Houser.

Although I have known Mark from a distance for more than 40 years, it has been my pleasure to work with him over the last seven years as he guided Warriors Path with great distinction. He and his wife Melissa will not only be missed at Warriors Path, but also in the community that they have helped build for so long.

I wish them and their families all the best as they create a new life in middle Tennessee and make even more friends.

Well done, Mark.

Joe Avento with Johnson City Press wrote this story about Mark and his retirement and graciously agreed to let us share it with Tee Times readers.

A

n era will come to an end Friday when Mark Houser shows up to work at Warriors Path Golf Course for the last time.

Houser is retiring after spending 44 years as the manager and head professional of the Tennessee State Park facility. The man whose name has become synonymous with Warriors Path throughout the years is moving to Gallatin, where he and his wife, Melissa, have bought a house.

“It’s really going to hit me after Friday when I’m not going to be in town anymore,” Houser said. “That’s going to be quite a change for me. I guess it might be good to not be in town.

Otherwise, I would go by there every day. I’m just so used to going in.

“I’m a little apprehensive but excited, too.”

Houser actually began working at Warriors Path before it ever opened. He spent two summers working for the company that built the course. He planted grass, laid sod and later mowed greens and watered the fairways.

When the pro shop was first built, he’d look in the window but wasn’t allowed to go in.

Who knew that same building would become his domain for the better part of the next five decades?

The course opened in 1972, and Houser was hired full time in 1975. He became the interim manager in the pro shop in 1976, and he’s been running the show ever since.

“I never thought about how long I’d be there,” said Houser, who turned 64 last week.

Along the way, Houser figured out a way to play his share of tournament golf. He’s one of the most competitive club pros in the state. He once thought about giving it a go as a touring professional, playing the Florida mini-tour circuit in 1980. When the eight-week tour was up, he had to make a decision.

“I had a job as a manager, so I had to kind of decide to stay with the job,” he said. “It’s been a good decision.”

Houser got to play plenty, even while he held down a job.

Once he became a senior, his career really

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well and considered him a good friend.

“Mark Houser is one of the most selfless, genuine and caring individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” Crowder said.

“His service to his players, his fellow PGA professionals and his faith is nothing short of peerless. We will likely never see a PGA professional spend 40-plus years at the same facility again. He is a throwback to olden times but has found an ability to adapt to trends and changes in the industry.”

Crowder recalled a time when his son Caleb got the shanks during a round at Warriors and wanted to quit. They couldn’t stop because Crowder was showing a couple of his members the course in preparation for a tournament.

Instead, he let Caleb wait in the pro shop while they finished their round. To Crowder’s surprise, by the time they were done, Houser had Caleb on the range and was curing his swing problems.

“When we finished, I went straight to Caleb to check on his frame of mind and he was all smiles,” Crowder said. “That pretty much sums up the way Mark Houser is built. And by the way, Mark was worried that he had overstepped his bounds by helping the son of a fellow PGA member and actually apologized for doing it. You kidding me?”

Rusty Jones, professional at Cattails at MeadowView, said Houser was a “role model, mentor and a phenomenal player.”

“He has devoted his life not only to protecting the integrity of the game, but making it fun for all who come in contact with him,” Jones said. “Mark is the definition of what all PGA professionals should strive to be.

“There is not a single person that has met Mark, whether it be a co-worker, customer or a player, who doesn’t think of him as the perfect gentleman and a family man.

In his 40 years with the Tri-Cities PGA, Mark has helped to shape the chapter into what it has become today — one of the most successful chapters in the nation. He will be missed tremendously.”

Looking back, Houser sounds like a content man, one who knew he did the best he could do at all times and one who is satisfied that everybody agrees that was more than good enough.

“I don’t think I would change anything,” he said. “I’ve had a great career.”

I will repeat this, well done Mark!

- Mike

took off. He won the first six tournaments and becoming a Class A PGA professional. he entered and went on to capture “Mark is a great player, which everyone championships in 12 of his first 15 events. already knows. But as good as he is as a He estimates he’s probably won about 20 player, he is even a better person. Mark has tournaments as a senior. He also qualified for his priorities in life in order. He is a Godly the U.S. Senior Open three times. He qualified man, and family is very important to him. He for the National Club Pro championship in the raised two wonderful kids and has always regular and senior divisions. been there for his family. That’s not always Houser won the Tri-Cities Chapter PGA easy in the golf business. His family has championship eight times, with an incredible always been part of the Warriors Path golf 39 years between his first and last titles. He course family.” won the first one he entered after turning Dick Horton, an influential figure in pro in 1979 and most recently took home the Tennessee golf for decades, called Houser a trophy two weeks ago. “complete PGA golf professional.”

“That’s pretty cool,” he admitted.

“He could really play,” said Horton, former During Houser’s last competitive round at executive director of the Tennessee Golf Warriors Path, a local Tri-Cities Pro-Am a Association and Tennessee Section PGA and couple of weeks ago, he played the back nine president of the Tennessee Golf Foundation. in 28 strokes en route to a 64. He once played “He was an excellent teacher. He managed a 10-hole stretch on the course in 29 shots, Warriors Path extremely well, and he could following an eagle two on the par-four fifth promote golf.” hole with nine consecutive threes.

Ken Crowder left Lonesome Pine Country Houser went to Scotland last month to try to Club in Big Stone Gap earlier this year. In his qualify for the Senior British Open. Although 28 years at the club, he got to know Houser he didn’t make the field at St. Andrews, he had a wonderful time at the home of golf.

“It was kind of a retirement trip,” he said. “I had so much fun. I’d love to do it again.”

Even though he’s stepping away from his job, he won’t be stepping away from the golf course. Not as long as he can still play.

“I’ll keep playing some as long as I’m healthy,” Houser said. “I can still keep my (PGA) eligibility.

I might work a little bit, maybe teach some. I haven’t figured out what I’ll do yet.”

One thing is for sure. Houser’s contemporaries will miss him after he moves.

Mark and Melissa at In His Grip Celebrity Pro-Am at Top Golf “I consider Mark kind of like the Jack Nicklaus of the Tri-Cities PGA,” said Euggie Jones, head professional at Glenrochie Country Club in Abingdon. “Mark just did everything right.

Faith and family first. Golf has been a priority, but it’s not been his main priority. He kind of set the standard for the rest of us.”

Jones, who has known Houser for 30 years, credits the retiring pro for getting him into the game.

“Mark did a clinic for the high school team at Warriors,” he said. “I remember he gave me a TaylorMade 5-wood out of his bag. I fell in love with the game then. I probably wouldn’t be in the golf business if it wasn’t for Mark.”

Todd Foster, who has worked for Houser for 18 years as an assistant pro, said his boss was like a big brother.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor in the golf business,” Foster said. “He is such a gentleman and knows how to treat people.

His guidance and influence were instrumental in helping me get through the PGA program

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TEE TIMES

September 2018

Pursell Farms offers something for everyone and everything for some

By Joe Hall Tee Times Publisher Ask a dozen people what they’re looking for in an ideal vacation spot and you might get a dozen different answers. But chances are, many of those answers would contain several of the same words: relaxation, variety, affordability, tranquility, adventure.

Enter Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Alabama, a resort on 3,200 acres of beautiful land in the foothills of central Alabama, less than an hour from Birmingham.

Golf? Check. The 7,444-yard Hurdzan-Fry-designed course is 18 holes of pure beauty, ranked by Golfweek as the No. 1 all-access course in the state seven of the last eight years (and each of the last six). At under $80 per round—with massive package options that include free use of practice facilities, a session with a staff PGA pro and half-a-dozen rounds of golf available as well—it’s simply an incredible value at an even more incredible venue.

Rest and relaxation? Check and check. Pursell Farms offers a boutique spa that boasts 10 treatment options including couples massages, body scrubs, warm stone massages and body wraps.

And if active relaxation is more your speed, the resort also features three miles of walking and biking trails, shooting grounds with a sporting clays course and an inn that offers a pool, sun deck, bocce ball court and fitness center.

But the greatest appeal of Pursell Farms is not a list of amenities—it’s the vast variety of amenities available in just one scenic location.

There’s something for the entire family. There’s something for the sportsman and sportswoman.

There’s quite a lot of something for the golfer or for the couple looking for a relaxing, romantic getaway weekend.

Simply put, it would be difficult to find someone who couldn’t find something to enjoy at Pursell Farms.

The resort’s Orvis shooting grounds, in addition to its sporting clays course, sports stations to simulate hunting scenarios—a great option to train for another tremendous offering, access to private hunting grounds with quail, duck, dove and pheasant (available with a special membership).

Fishing? Sure thing. The shooting grounds also

offer seasonal fly fishing at five fully stocked lakes.

Dining? Of course. Arrington, the Inn at Pursell Farms’ fine dining restaurant, overlooks the 18th fairway and serves upscale southern fare for breakfast and dinner, and Old Tom’s Pub fills in the gaps with a lunch menu and a more casual dining experience in the style of a Scottish-American gastropub.

Pursell Farms’ lodging options are extensive, including the 81-room inn, the eight-room Parker Lodge that overlooks the 17th green and Lodge

Lake, four Masters Row cabins, two Architect Circle cottages, the two-bedroom Historic Hamilton Place Home and the Orvis Farmhouse, which boasts three guest rooms.

Pursell Farms isn’t just for vacations or weekend getaways, though. The resort also features a handful of meeting and special events venues and a separate 22-acre venue for weddings.

The resort offers packages of every variety, including golf stay-and-play packages, a “Get Out of Town, You Two!” couples package and the “Have a Blast” package that includes a UTV guided mountain tour and a session of clay shooting at the Orvis shooting grounds.

When it comes to choosing a destination for rest, relaxation and adventure, it’s often difficult to find a place that can offer so much of all of it. Pursell Farms delivers, neatly packaged and quickly delivered.

Go to TeeTimesPaper.com and click on Pursell Farms for more photos.

For more information about Pursell Farms, visit www.pursellfarms.com.

Putting and Chipping at Masters Row Cabins

No. 17 Pursell Farm Links Course

Hail to Duke Jim & Duchess Georgia Jacobs who shot rounds of 66-63- 129 in our two day couples scramble. Fun, scramble golf and 36 great couples.

Cambridge Flight, Shawn & Kristen Burgher, 71-64-135, York Flight, Jack & Cathy Chadwick, 74-70-144, Wessex Flight, Dino & Karen D’Agostino 77-73-150 and Wales Flight, Michael & Cathy Willocks 80-73-153. Despite a rainy forecast and cart path only, all enjoyed this delightful tournament.

Special thanks to Superintendent Todd Mathews and his crew for getting the course ready for our couples during very wet conditions.

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September 2018

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Rules to golf by

By Buddy Harston

Head Golf Instructor Vanderbilt Legends Club

Odd rules to help save you strokes Many golfers don’t take the time to study the Rules of Golf but I would like to encourage you to do just that.

Knowing the rules can actually save you strokes from time to time.

Let’s discuss a couple of these.

The first has to do with being able to “identify your ball.”

Before play you should always mark your ball with your distinctive identification pattern. Most professionals use a Sharpie permanent marker for this. You might wonder why that is so important. Suppose you and your playing competitor are both using a Titleist ProV1 with the same number 1. On the first tee you get up and hit your best drive ever down the fairway right down the middle.

Your competitor follows you with a great drive of their own.

You pat each other on the back and stroll down the fairway congratulating each other for hitting such great drives off the first tee.

When you arrive at your balls, you see that the two Titleist 1’s are sitting side by side only an inch apart. Neither has put an identifying mark on your ball, and you re-

ally cannot determine which ball belongs to which player. By definition, both balls are deemed lost and you both must return to the tee and hit your third shots.

Not fair? Maybe not, but golf is not a fair game. Next time I bet you mark your ball.

The second rule again has to do with when a ball is deemed lost. You’re playing your bucket list round at Pebble Beach Golf Links. You have a caddie and you’ve just hit your third shot close to the hole on the 18th green. If you can get down in two putts, you’ve broken your career score. You mark your ball and toss it to your caddie who is standing by the seawall enjoying the view of the sea otters playing in the ocean. The throw is a poor one and the caddie can’t catch it. It goes over his head into the pounding surf and it can’t be retrieved.

What’s the rule? It’s a lost ball and a two-stroke penalty. Yep, that’s not fair but those are the rules. So go to www.usga.org and for free you can begin to learn the rules and stop throwing needless strokes away.

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Planning your Financial Legacy

By Jonathan Scott and Glenn Price

Jonathan

Glenn

5 retirement concerns too often overlooked Baby boomers entering their “second acts” should think about these matters RMDs. The Internal Revenue Service directs seniors to withdraw money from qualified retirement accounts after age 70½. This class of accounts includes traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans.

These drawdowns are officially termed Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).

Taxes. Speaking of RMDs, the income from an RMD is fully taxable and cannot be rolled over into a Roth IRA. The income is certainly a plus, but it may also send a retiree into a higher income tax bracket for the year.

Health care costs. Those who retire in reasonably good health may not be inclined to think about health care crises, but they could occur sooner rather than later – and they could be costly. As Forbes notes, that between age 70 and death, the average American senior pays $122,000 for medical care, much of it from personal savings.

Five percent of this demographic contends with out-of-pocket medical bills exceeding $300,000.

Eldercare needs. Those who live longer or face health complications will probably need some long-term care. According to a study from the Department of Health and Human Services, the average American who turned

The

STRATEGY

Guys

65 in 2015 could end up paying $138,000 in total long-term care costs. Long-term care insurance is expensive, though, and can be difficult to obtain.

As part of your preparation for retirement, give these matters some thought.

Enjoy the here and now, but recognize the potential for these factors to impact your financial future.

If you need a second opinion or somebody to help you craft a retirement plan, please reach out to us at Keystone Financial Resources for a FREE strategy session. retirewell@keystonefinancialresources. com or 615-661-9554. keystonefinancialresources.com

(L-R): Lake Johnson, Etienne Brault, Alex Cobb, Dominic Jones, Coach Mark Guhne, Asst Coach Ryan Heisey, Oliver Simonsen & Will Porter

Mocs, Simonsen Sweep Memphis Titles

Oliver Simonsen demolished the Chattanooga Mocs school record for 54-hole score leading the team to the Memphis Intercollegiate title. Simonsen shot 21-under 195 claiming medalist honors while the squad turned in its best total since 2009 with 851 (-13) at Colonial Country Club.

“It’s great to see Ollie break out and get the win,” Coach Mark Guhne stated. “We’ve seen this in practice, but to see him put it all together in tournament play, and in such impressive fashion…just awesome to see him get the win.”

It’s the first team win since the 2013 Southern Conference Championships and the 20th team title during Guhne’s 15-year tenure.

“It’s great getting back on the winning side of things,” Guhne continued. “It was hard fought and well earned.

Memphis made it really difficult, but we got some key play from our young guys to get that trophy.”

Chattanooga started the day with a six-stroke advantage over Oral Roberts and seven clear of Memphis. The host Tigers shot 13-under 275 on the day and made it a duel

over the final holes.

Simonsen finished eagle-birdie-birdie, while freshman Alex Cobb closed with birdies on the final two holes in his first collegiate event. That propelled the Mocs to a 5-under total over the last three to claim the win.

One day after tying for the third-best 18 in school history, Simonsen topped the effort on Tuesday. His 63 ties for the second-lowest round driving the Chattanooga-area native to numbers unheard of in Mocs lore.

Cobb was fantastic in his first pressure-packed collegiate round. His 69 was pivotal to the victory. Will Porter added level-par 72, while Lake Johnson rounded out the counting scores with 76.

Simonsen’s 195 was 13 better than Oral Roberts Cody Burrows in second at 208. Porter set a new career low with 7-under 209 ending up third. Cobb tied for 16th at 221 with Johnson (227) and Etienne Brault (233) rounding out the Mocs board.

The team’s 851 held out for a two-shot win over Memphis (853). ORU was third at 872.

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September 2018

TEE TIMES

Melson, Botts, Cheney and Wilson all winners at Tootsies Classic Tee Times report A common theme this season seemed to be the hotter the temperatures the lower the scores.

That was definitely the case at the recent Tootsies Classic.

McCabe Golf Course brought its very best to the players, with multiple drivable par 4s. McCabe’s length was not a challenge, but difficult hole locations and bent grass greens rewarded players with a great short game. Without a fine-tuned short game it proved difficult to compete for the title.

With players making a wealth of birdies, it’s no wonder the tournament was decided in a playoff.

Warren Cheney opened with a 7-under 63 and followed it up with a 4-under 66 to get into the clubhouse at 129 in the Overall Regular Division.

Jared Melson, PGA Ryan Botts, PGA Overall Senior Overall Division Professional Division

Ryan Botts, who opened with a 66, made up a four-shot deficit in the closing round with a brilliant 7-under 63 to force a playoff.

Cheney, an amateur, removed all of the mystery when he dropped home a winning 15-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to claim the overall title. Botts settled for claiming the Overall Professional title.

The leaderboard was extremely crowded after a first-round that saw 45 of 70 players shoot par

Warren Cheney Overall Regular Division

Kenny Wilson Senior Amateur Champion

or better. Mike Vance had the lead with a 62, with Cheney and Josh Bevell one shot back. Matthew Brock and host professional Loren Personett, were two shots back with 64s.

In the final round, Walt Chapman charged home with a 65 to get into the mix at 10-under 130 before Cheney and Botts edged him out by one stroke.

The Overall Senior Division competition was equally close. Jared Melson set the pace with a first-round 62, but it was hardly a comfortable lead. Buddy Harston shot 63 and Kenny Wilson shot 64 with two bogeys. Audie Johnson and Richard Rebne were still in the mix with matching 65s.

Harston and Wilson kept the heat on Melson in the second round, but his final-hole birdie gave him a 64 for a two-day 126 total and a two-shot victory over Harston and Wilson, who claimed the Senior Amateur division title.

The Tennessee PGA would like to extend a thank you to Loren Personett, PGA and his staff for their hospitality. Without their hard work and support this event would not have been possible.

We would also like to give a thank you to Tootsies Orchid Lounge for sponsoring the event.

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Waves of Grace giving a great home to a great event—for a tremendous cause

by Justin Onslow Tee Times Associate Editor Mike and Jennifer Matwijec’s mission to touch the lives of those impacted by cancer began with their own painful experience and the compassion that comes with knowing the beach and take everything that cancer there’s so much that can be done for others puts in front of your face and just remove it,” who are going through similar experiences.

Mike said.

Jennifer’s mother, Debbie, was diagnosed In December 2014, Waves of Grace gifted with gastric cancer and after a 17-month its first trip to Herb Lee and his wife Linda. battle, she died in 2012. Since that time, the Nearly four years—and 50 trips gifted to Matwijecs—parents of five (Callie, Cooper, cancer patients and their families— later, the Crosby, Clay and Caroline Grace)—have dedi- organization is holding a golf event named cated themselves to drawing from that expe- after Lee to raise funds and awareness for rience to improve the lives of others.

Waves of Grace.

“It was always at the front of (Debbie’s) The inaugural event will be held at mind to get to the beach,” Mike Matwijec said. “When you’re going through treatments and getting chemo pumped into you and you’re basically in hospitals and doctor’s offices more than you care to be, that was kind of her respite.”

About a year after Debbie’s passing, the couple was returning from a family beach vacation when the idea struck them. It was the inception of Waves of Grace, a 501c3 nonprofit organization they decided would be dedicated to gifting beach getaways—free of any expense—to cancer patients and their families.

“We want them, whether they have a Jennifer and Mike Matwijec, cogood prognosis or a bad prognosis with founders of Waves of Grace along their cancer, just in the midst of cancer with their 5 children, Callie, Cooper, to have that opportunity to get away Crosby, Clay, and Caroline Grace with their loved ones and experience

Vanderbilt Legends Club on Oct. 1 and includes a round of golf, a silent auction, catered lunch before the event and a dessert bar after the event. There will also be live music from John Sutton and drinks will be provided by both Mill Creek Brewery and Pepsi.

The Herb Lee Golf Classic is not only an opportunity to play a round of golf at one of Tennessee’s finest golf courses, but also a chance for others to contribute to the mis-

Herb and Linda Lee enjoy a moment at the beach sion of Waves of Grace. The organization’s goal is to raise $25,000 to be used for more trips to help even more families.

“Our near-term goal is just to give away as many trips as possible,” Mike said. “We’re still a very, very small organization. Everything is done on a volunteer basis. In the near-term, the goal would just be to continue to grow, to give away as many trips as possible.”

Waves of Grace relies on partnerships with beach home owner-partners who donate or rent time to the organization for trips for its recipients. So far, Waves of Grace has 10 owner-partners, but hopes to one day own a permanent property dedicated to use for

recipients.

And with Waves of Grace now receiving patients directly from Vanderbilt’s Currey Ingram Cancer Center, there’s even more need for buy-in from beach home owners willing to donate use for the growing cause.

In the meantime, the organization is just focused on doing what they’ve done for almost four years—giving to those in need of an escape from the realities of living with cancer. “(Waves of Grace) pays for every cent from the minute you leave your house to the minute you get back,” Mike said. “All accommodations are paid for.

“The heart of the organization, it was born out of a personal experience. Having an understanding of how difficult that experience is, the heart of the organization is just to

Herb seen here with his golfing buddies, holds their winning trophy. reach people going through that same thing, going through cancer.”

The cost to participate in the Herb Lee Golf Classic is $200 per player or $800 per foursome. Hole sponsorship costs $250 with additional levels of sponsorship available.

There will also be a giving tree displaying names of loved ones for those who have donated in their honor or memory.

Additional information about Waves of Grace can be found at www.waves-of-grace. org or by calling Mike Matwijec at 615-5870573. For more information about the Herb Lee Golf Classic, please visit www.wavesofgracegolfclassic.com.

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It’s only 2, but Mossy Oak maturing nicely

By Gregg Dewalt Tee Times Editor Mossy Oak Golf Club, the Gil Hanse gem in West Point, Mississippi, is getting better with age even though it only just turned two in early September.

A good summer for growing and another year in the maturation process means Mossy Oak is closer to what director of golf Chris Jester envisions what the course will eventually look like.

“I can tell there has been a lot of maturing, especially in the native areas,” Jester said recently.

“We’re learning as we go with it. The growth makes the golf course look a lot fuller. It has really filled out.”

Mossy Oak opened on Sept. 2, 2016 as a companion course to Old Waverly Golf Club, which hosted the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open. That doesn’t mean the two courses are copycats. Instead, while Old Waverly, a Jerry Pate design, is a traditional tree-lined beauty, Mossy Oak was built on the site of the now-defunct Knob Hill Dairy Farm.

Hanse blended his design in perfectly with the rolling landscape, and Mossy Oak could easily be found anywhere links golf is played.

Jester is pleased with the way the course continues to take on its own personality.

“The greens have matured well,” he said.

“They’ve been great all year. The fairways are

Mossy Oak Superintendent Jason Perkins and Old Mossy Oak’s long -tenured Director of Golf, Chris Waverly and hand in hand overseeing the increasingly popular Jester, work Mossy Oak

Hanse, Mossy Oak designer, are (L-R): George Bryan, owner, and Gil matured since opening for play has se cour pleased with how well the helped that hole out a lot. Beyond that, they getting better. We’ve taken a big step from year haven’t decided if they are going to do anything one to year two.” else.”

Jester said he assumed it would be the third Hanse’s input is always welcome, Jester said. year before Mossy Oak really came into its own.

“He is extremely busy; he’s all over the place “You have to figure out if there are a few so if we get him back here once a year to see spots you need to work on,” he said. “We have how things are going and how he feels it has trimmed back some of the native areas in some matured, that’s about the most we can expect,” places that were more in play than we original- Jester said. ly intended. We’ll continue to tweak things as Mossy Oak’s property, which includes the Miswe see the need.” sissippi State men’s and women’s golf teams Hanse used a minimalist approach when de- practice facility, has been enhanced by the adsigning Mossy Oak, with tee boxes in close dition of several four-room cottages. Construcproximity to the greens complexes. Elevation tion on a permanent clubhouse has begun, and changes are subtle, and the view from the sixth the existing clubhouse will be converted into green encompasses the entire 18 holes. another cottage. The new clubhouse is expectHanse made a site visit last fall and one of his ed to open in the spring. suggestions was to fill in a small creek that disA putting green that eventually will be lighted sected the fifth fairway at about the area most was built adjacent to the cottages as an added people driving the ball. amenity to golfers who stay on-site.

“That made it a lot more playable,” Jester said.

With the enhancements, Jester said the plan is “You couldn’t really hit driver off that one. That the make Mossy Oak and Old Waverly more of a destination for golfers. He’s already said the word is out that a trip to West Point, Mississippi, is a viable golf destination.

“It’s like a snowball,” Jester said. “The more people you talk to, the more people they talk to.

Our database is growing and people are showing interest.”

The recent Mossy Oak four-man scramble attracted a full field of 144 players and had teams on a waiting list to get in. while elevation changes make for a fun, Native areas provide a rustic feel to Mossy Oak, courtesy of Mossy Oak Golf Club. challenging 18-hole layout. No. 12 Fairway. Photo

Mossy Oak was built on the site of the Knob Hill dairy farm and brings a links style of golf to the landscape. No. 18 Green with lake in background. Photo courtesy of Mossy Oak Golf Club.

“We’re finding out how the best way to get the word out is,” Jester said. “Right now we’re booking our fall groups and in the next month or so we’ll start booking for next year.”

Jester said Birmingham and Nashville have been great markets. Atlanta and Arkansas, along with places like Jackson (Mississippi) and New Orleans are areas that will be targeted going forward.

Most of the visitors, Jester said, are playing both courses.

“They really like the contrast of the golf courses,” he said. “They have a completely different layout. They like playing the different style. It’s a great balance.”

For information about Mossy Oak and Old Waverly, go to mossyoakgolf.com or oldwaverly. com

September 2018

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When it comes to golf destinations, Birmingham has it all

By Joe Hall Tee Times Publisher Florida, California and South Carolina all get plenty of love on the golf destination scene—and for good reason. Between their mild winter climates and myriad gorgeous tracks, it’s no surprise golfers flock to those states year round, especially during the winter months.

But often overlooked and certainly underappreciated, Alabama boasts its own tremendous golf scene in Birmingham, a city (and its surrounding area) that has its own gems to flaunt.

With average winter highs in the mid-50s, Birmingham has the mild winter climate to entice golfers of all ages to make the trip, and while you won’t get Florida temperatures, you’ll get some tremendous golf at some of the country’s most beautiful courses.

Take the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bridge. One of the longest golf courses in the world (at 8,191 yards from the tips), it also happens to be one of the most picturesque. Elevation changes and water features—including an 80-foot waterfall between the 9th and 18th greens—highlight a course so pristine and strikingly beautiful it’s almost easy to forget how challenging it can be.

The RTJ at Ross Bridge is located just southeast of Birmingham in Hoover just a stone’s throw from the RTJ at Oxmoor Valley, another gorgeous track with 150-foot elevation changes and 54 holes of incredible golf.

And just a short drive east lies a non-RTJ course in Shoal Creek Golf Club so beautiful, challenging Regions and well-maintained that it hosted the 2018 Wom-

en’s U.S. Open in early June. A Jack Nicklaus-designed private course, Shoal Creek underwent extensive renovations ahead of the tournament and the result is a course Golf Digest named the best in the state.

But no golf trip is complete without high-quality amenities. Birmingham happens to have those as well.

Adjoining the Riverchase Galleria Mall, the Hyatt Regency Birmingham (also known as the Wynfrey Hotel) hosted SEC Football Media Days for 17 years before the event moved to Georgia in 2018. It also happens to be a tremendous lodging location for golf trips given its proximity to the plethora of top-notch courses in the area.

If you come for the golf, you may as well stay for the baseball—Regions Field is home to the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox—or the beer (at the famous Good People Brewing Company) or the burgeoning dining scene. Birmingham also offers several options for the outdoors-minded, like Oak Mountain State Park and Ruffner Mountain Park.

Sure, California, Florida and South Carolina are great destinations to explore, but a great golf trip (or any trip, for that matter) doesn’t have to include a long trip to get there, and Birmingham may be the most underappreciated for all of the above in the southern U.S.

Ross Bridge, No. 8

Joe Hall

Field

Paul Waters

Paul Waters of Nashville wins the 2018 Nashville Golf Show’s Visit Mississippi Golf & Accommodations Package. Presenting his prize packet is Joe Hall of the Nashville Golf Show.

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club “Stay & Play” at the Pearl River Resort

(1 night’s stay at the Dancing Rabbit Clubhouse) 2 rounds of golf • Choctaw, MS

DeSota County Wedgewood Golf Club

One- night stay at one of the great hotels A round of golf for two at: Wedgewood Golf Club Olive Branch, MS.

Mossy Oak in West Point, MS

A round of golf for 4 at Mossy Oak in West Point, MS

Shoal Creek, No. 18

Paul is a teacher for Metro Schools for 27 years, teaching at Bellevue Middle as the Director of Bands.

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