Pinehurst. Grooming Champions Since 1895. From the North and South Amateur to the U.S. Open, Pinehurst has hosted more championships than any other golf resort. So, it’s fitting that the next generation of golf legends get their competitive start here. Welcome to Pinehurst. Proud to host the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship.
Seven-year-old Jack Lewis sits at the base of the original “Putter Boy” statue studying the Rules of Golf. Lewis would continue his career in golf, winning the Men’s North and South Amateur in 1968.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
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They’re Back: U.S. Kids Returns for Fifth Year BY PATRICK LOVE Sports Editor
For the fifth consecutive year, the “Home of American Golf” welcomes the world’s most prestigious youth golf tournament. The Pinehurst area is hosting the 11th annual U.S. Kids Golf World Championship this week, the largest tournament in the world for golfers ages 12 and under. “Pinehurst remains at the epicenter of the American and global golf landscapes, and we are proud to once again partner with an organization that shares our goal of preserving and expanding golf,” said U.S. Kids Golf president and founder Dan Van Horne. “This is great exposure for young golfers to play at a venue that has hosted some of the sport’s biggest names and most prominent events.” More than 1,300 participants will tee off at nine local courses in the tournament, which runs from Thursday to Saturday and consists of boys and girls ages 5 to 12 competing in 13 age divisions. A World Cup featuring the top finishers in the 12year-old age group will also be contested on Sunday at Pinehurst Resort’s most famous layout, the No. 2 course. The event is expected to bring approximately 5,000 visitors to the area, with a local economic impact somewhere in the $4 million range. “The thing that I think really surprised us the first year that we were able to host it was just how important this event is to the kids, and then how the community has embraced it,” said Caleb Miles, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The volunteers come out, and then there’s a lot of people who come out just to see it and are amazed at the skill level of these kids. “It’s a terrific event, and in terms of timing, it’s great for the area, because it’s in the summer, and the summer periods are typically a little bit slower than the spring and the fall.” Pinehurst Resort is the event’s official host, led by business development director Peter Stilwell and his staff. The courses that participate in the World Championship include Legacy, Little River, Mid Pines, Midland, Talamore, Longleaf and Pinehurst Resort’s courses No. 3, No. 4 and No. 8. Participants qualified through a series of World Championship qualifiers, local tours, European and regional championships and performance in previous World Championships. World Championship qualifiers were held in 21 different countries, and this year’s field represents more than 30 nations. Approximately 700 volunteers will face the challenge of keeping participants
hydrated and safe during the course of the tournament. “The biggest challenge in having this thing in August is keeping everybody hydrated and having the systems in place to get everybody off of the course if there happens to be a thunderstorm or inclement weather,” Miles said. “There are a lot of logistics involved with all the volunteers that are necessary and everything that needs to be put into place.” New this year is an 18-hole World Championhip Parent/Child event to be played Monday on Pinehurst No. 8 and Little River beginning at 8 a.m. This event was limited to the first 60 teams to register, and according to U.S. Kids Golf’s Chris Carme, sold out in an hour. A Family Dance is scheduled for Tuesday night in the Carolina Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Beginning at 8 p.m., participants age 6 and older are invited with their parents to enjoy a live band. This year’s opening ceremony will be held at the Pinehurst Harness Track and will have a “County Fair” theme. Featuring bounce houses, hay rides, a live band and food from local vendors, the ceremony is scheduled to run from 6 to 8 p.m.
Always a festive event, opening ceremony will be held at the Pinehurst Harness Track. The World Championship will be contested from Thursday through Sunday, teeing off each morning at 7 a.m. A closing ceremony is scheduled for Saturday night at the Pinecrest High School auditorium at 8:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, Aug. 8, the World Cup concludes competition. Featuring the
World Championship’s top finishers in the 12-year-old group, the World Cup pits golfers from the United States against an international team in a match play format. For more information, visit uskidsgolf.com, and follow the organization on Twitter (twitter.com/uskidsgolffnd) and Facebook (facebook.com/uskidsgolf).
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THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
Talamore Golf Resort Welcomes The 2010 US Kids World Championship Back to the Sandhills!
Thank You Volunteers! Volunteer Appreciation Day
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
Founded in 1997, U.S. Kids Golf Promotes and Expands the Game More than a decade ago, as Dan Van Horne introduced golf to his 3- and 6year-old sons, he noticed that their initial enthusiasm quickly faded. “They weren’t having fun,” said Van Horne. “It seemed that they lost interest after only 15 minutes. At the time, I didn’t know cutoffs and junior clubs were so heavy. They were not only hurting my kids’ swings but also their desire to play.” Propelled by that experience, Van Horne founded U.S. Kids Golf in 1997, with its home base located in Atlanta, Ga. He used his empathy as inspiration to design clubs that are 30 percent lighter than adult and most junior clubs. The equipment served as the underpinning for U.S. Kids Golf, now the world’s largest provider of junior golf equipment. Many parents and coaches credit equipment from U.S. Kids Golf with dramatically improving their child’s or student’s swing and invigorating their passion for the game. In order to maintain worldwide interest in junior golf against the backdrop of numerous other potential pursuits by children and parents, U.S. Kids Golf expanded beyond making equipment and into organizing instructors and tournaments through the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001. The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation’s vision is to provide kids and families opportunities to participate in golf through instruction and competition. The Foundation hosted its first World Championship in 2001 with 250 players at the Jekyll Island Golf Club in Jekyll Island, Ga. Today, the World Championship has grown to more than 1,300 of the best kid golfers from 40 countries. This year, the World Championship will be held on the some of the nation’s mostcherished golf courses in Pinehurst. In addition to the World Championship, the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation conducts more than 400 local, regional, national and international events each year. Like the PGA Tour, players at U.S. Kids Golf events are encouraged to have a caddie. Players 8 and under must play with a caddie, who is usually a parent but can also be a grandparent, another family member or a friend who is at least 13 years of age. Allowing a caddie is an expression of the commitment U.S. Kids Golf makes to encourage family interaction and a sharing of the life lessons that can be learned through the game of golf.
About This Issue On the Cover: James Sugg (putting)
Monday August 17th, 2010
Cover Design: Scott Yancey, Graphic Designer
Please Call Talamore Pro Shop at (910) 692-5884 Ext. 2 for More Details
Supplement Design/Layout: Patrick Love, Sports Editor Contributing Writers: Patrick Love, John Krahnert III, Veronica Karaman, U.S. Kids Golf, Edelman Contributing Photographers: Patrick Love, Glenn M. Sides, Hannah Sharpe
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
Perfect Partners Common Bonds Bind Pinehurst, U.S. Kids Golf The U.S. Kids Golf World Championship celebrates its 11th anniversary in 2010 and its fifth year in Pinehurst. What began as a humble tournament with big dreams has become the largest and most prestigious event in the world for kids’ golf. It already has produced its own set of luminaries. Cheyenne Woods, Alexis Thompson and Cindy Feng are all U.S. Kids Golf World Championship alumni who will soon have their turn to carry the future of women’s golf. The first World Championship was held in 2000 at the Jekyll Island Golf Club in Jekyll Island, Ga., with a modest field of 250. What the tournament lacked in numbers of participants, it made up for in quality of play and overall experience. One of the competitors and champions in
the inaugural 2000 World Championship was 10-year-old Cheyenne Woods. Now a golfer at Wake Forest, Woods is paving her own path in the game, stepping beyond the shadow of her famous uncle, Tiger Woods, and proving herself to be one of the nation’s top collegiate golfers. She recently received an exemption to play in her first LPGA event and has been lauded as one of the best upcoming women golfers. By 2002, the World Championship had doubled in size. Alexis Thompson made her World Championship debut, finishing third as a 7-year-old in the Girls 8 and Under Division. The next year, Thompson won that division as an 8-year-old. Finishing four shots behind her was
see PARTNERS, page 6 A young golfer lets a putt go at Little River Golf and Resort.
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Partners From Page 5
another bright star in 7-year-old Cindy Feng. In 2004, with a tournament birthday deadline change, both Thompson and Feng won titles in their own respective age divisions. It marked the first of Feng’s three titles. The history of women’s golf may someday look back to 2004 as the year when a rivalry between Thompson and Feng was born. The girls recently rekindled their competition on bigger stages in the 2009 and 2010 U.S. Women’s Opens. As the player roster grew to more than 1,000 participants, the World Championship needed even more elbow room. In 2006, the Home of American Golf, Pinehurst, became the new home for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship. Initially, there was apprehension about how Pinehurst natives would react to hosting a golf tournament of more than a thousand kids. But after the first event, locals embraced the tournament as a positive, not only for the local community but also for golf overall. During their time together, Pinehurst and U.S. Kids Golf have grown as partners with a common goal of growing and preserving the game of golf. The move to Pinehurst started a yearly international tradition, the World Cup, in which the top finishing boys and girls from the 12-year-old age division are separated into a U.S. team and an international team. The teams are pitted against
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. each other in a match play tournament to conclude the World Championship. Considering U.S. Kids Golf’s success hosting its crowning event in North Carolina, it’s fitting that the two most dominant players in the history of the World Championship both hail from the state. One of those players, Joshua Martin, is a native to Pinehurst and a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Martin has been playing in the tournament since he was first eligible as a 6-year-old in 2003, when he finished sixth. Since that time, he has won four World Championship titles (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008). This year, Martin will be 13 years old, playing in his first Teen World Championship. Already in uncharted territory with four wins in the World Championship, Martin looks to carry over his excellence to the annual teen event hosted by U.S. Kids Golf. Another extraordinary talent is Stephen Abrams, of Wilson. Abrams came into his first World Championship as a 6-year-old and won his age division. Since then, he has finished first in 2006 and 2007 and placed fourth in 2008. At just 11 years old, Abrams has three World Championship titles with two more years to compete in the event. Last year, U.S. Kids Golf and Pinehurst Resort inked a partnership that will secure Pinehurst as the host venue for the World Championship until 2013. In addition, Pinehurst will also host a U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour and the first U.S. Kids Golf Learning Center, which will offer golf instruction through the use of the U.S. Kids Golf Learning Program and the staff of Pinehurst Resort. The two entities hope to grow together in growing the game of golf.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
Schedule of Events Monday, August 2 World Championship Parent/Child Tournament: 8 a.m. shotgun starts at Pinehurst No. 8 and Little River Golf & Resort
Tuesday, August 3 Registration: 8 a.m. — 6 p.m. Pinehurst Clubhouse, St. Andrews Room U.S. Kids Golf Club Fitting & Demo Day: 9 a.m. — 6 p.m. Pinehurst Resort Driving Range Family Dance: 8 p.m. — 10:30 p.m. Pinehurst Resort Carolina Hotel Grand Ballroom. Kids 6 and older are invited with their parents to enjoy a live band. (Cash bar also available)
Wednesday, August 4 Practice Round: 7:30 a.m. Please schedule practice rounds directly with the facility Registration: 8 a.m. — 5 p.m. Pinehurst Clubhouse, St. Andrews Room U.S. Kids Golf Club Fitting &
Demo Day: 9 a.m. — 4 p.m. Pinehurst Resort Driving Range Opening Ceremony: 6 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. Pinehurst Harness Track. Many local vendors will have food, including Moe’s, Maxie’s Burgers, Jordan’s BBQ, Chick-Fil-A and many more
Thursday, August 5 Round One: Tee times begin at 7 a.m.
Friday, August 6 Round Two: Tee times begin at 7 a.m.
Saturday, August 7 Round Three: Tee times begin at 7 a.m. Closing Ceremony: 8:30 p.m. Pinecrest High School Auditorium
Sunday, August 8 U.S. Kids Golf World Cup: 8 a.m. Pinehurst No. 2
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
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Hitting the Green: Event Brings Boom to Economy BY PATRICK LOVE Sports Editor
The U.S. Kids Golf World Championship attracts approximately 5,000 visitors to the area from all 50 U.S. states and more than 30 countries, which creates a local economic impact of about $3.9 million, according to a 2008 survey conducted by the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. That works out to spending about $780 per person. “We’re glad to provide an economic shot in the arm,” said U.S. Kids Golf president and founder Dan Van Horn. “I’m sure there are some jealous moms and dads.” Not so fast. Caleb Miles, president and CEO of the local Convention and Visitors Bureau, says moms, dads and other attendees are having just as much fun in the area as the golfers. “They’re staying longer than the event, and when you get a chance to talk to the folks as they register and check in, what they’re telling you is that this is one of their big vacations,” Miles said. According to the 2008 study, three out of every four people who visit the area to attend or play in the World Championship stay five to nine nights. That’s almost
twice as long as the 3.5-night national average for leisure trips in the U.S. Furthermore, the average World Championship party, nearly four people strong, spends more than $2,800 on the trip, tripling the national average of $935 for a typical leisure trip. That’s not counting the registration fee or cost of transportation to get to Pinehurst. That’s just what attendees spend in the local area. “That’s what really surprised us,” said Miles. “The length of stay is longer than what we normally get, and the amount of money they spend is more than we typically get, so it’s a great event in those terms.” The largest chunk of the $3.9 million pie comes from lodging, which accounts for $1.2 million. According to the survey, that money is spread out fairly evenly among different accomodations, with 37 percent of attendees staying in hotels, 27 percent staying in condominiums and 25 percent staying at resorts. That’s exactly the way organizers planned it before the World Championship was first hosted by Pinehurst in 2006. “We knew right off the bat that there was going to have to be a lot of cooperation in order to house these folks,” Miles said. “Of course they stay at Pinehurst
Resort, but then they stay at a dozen other hotels in the area. They also stay in condominiums and at resorts, so there’s a real good spreading out of folks throughout the community, which is excellent. That’s why it’s a real community event.” Another $550,000 goes into the local food and beverage industry, while $250,000 is spent on retail. Since the registration fee includes multiple rounds of golf, one aspect of the survey that surprised organizers is how much is spent on golf outside of the championship. It seems some players like to show up early to play practice rounds, while other attendees enjoy rounds on the local courses throughout the tournament. Miles tells a story about seeing a line of people stretching across the room of the Pinehurst Resort’s main clubhouse one year while checking people in, many of them eyeing a chance to play Pinehurst No. 2. In all, it equaled to a $350,000 boom for the local golf industry in 2008. But courses aren’t the only place attendees pull out their clubs while in the area. “The first lesson a lot of the hotels learned right off the bat was, we have to monitor greens and chipping areas,
because the kids are wearing them out,” Miles said. “They literally have to set up times in which the kids can practice, because these kids just want to play all the time. “The kids are so competitive. When they’re not competing, they’re practicing.” Among the other findings of the 2008 survey, 74 percent of participants hailed from the U.S., followed by Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Colombia and China. Fifty-six percent of attendees flew to Pinehurst, accounting for approximately 2,700 round trip passenger tickets purchased. Another 42 percent drove. Fifty-eight percent of attendees used a rental car, and 64 percent have golf or country club memberships. Miles says the Convention and Visitors Bureau looked into setting up activities outside the local area but ultimately decided against it. “By and large, when they come here, they want to stay pretty close to where they’re competing and staying, and they’re pretty busy when they’re here,” he said. The survey is conducted every two years, and another one will be taken following this year’s event.
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THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
Coaching Kids to Become True Champions
wo years ago at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, I met two of the greatest champions I have ever known. When Michelle and Allysa Getty, a bubbly mother and 11-year-old daughter who hailed all the way from Canada, attended my free True Champion workshop, I could tell they had hearts set to win. “We came down early to practice, get used to the course and to be rested up for the tournament,” Michelle said, explaining why they were in Pinehurst a whole week early. She quickly engaged my Guest Columnist coaching services to help prepare Allysa for competition. I started by explaining the True Champion method: “Champions focus on processes,” I said. “So many players just focus on swing mechanics and score. When the score doesn’t happen, they feel like failures, beat themselves up, and
T
Veronica Karaman
A recent interaction at Knollwood Fairways and Driving Range on Midland Road many times that definition of success creates family strife. “The best way to win is to define your own success before the tournament
starts by identifying what your processes are and sticking to them. Success happens when you fully engage in executing your processes. It’s about personal
growth, not perfection. I call it lovebased performance.” We outlined the four types of processes: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. For the next hour, we engaged in a wonderful conversation. Allysa spoke and her mom filled in where necessary. I could tell Michelle played a positive coaching role with her daughter, the only role which bears fruit in a child’s life. We determined that Allysa lost focus on holes 17 and 18, partly because of nutritional needs, partly because of languishing mental endurance. It was key to her performance to regain laser-like focus on the home stretch of each round. I then talked to her about the spiritual component — her higher purpose for playing. “My grandmother has cancer,” she said. “I’d like to make birdies for Grandma as my higher purpose for playing.” I thought that was beautiful. We targeted holes 17 and 18 as the holes she would focus on “making birdies for Grandma,” helping her to engage even deeper
see KARAMAN, page 11
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
Having a Ball For Work With Obesity, Furr Wins Peggy Kirk Bell Award Wilson Furr, a 12-year-old World Championship participant this year, confronted a weighty issue in his home state of Mississippi. When he found out from his dad that the Magnolia State had the most obese children of any state in the nation, Furr figured that if every elementary school kid in the state just played with a ball, they’d be slimmer. Two years ago, Furr went door to door and collected 138 balls of all kinds. Footballs, basketballs, baseballs, playground balls. Luis Bruno, then the executive chef for the Mississippi governor, heard about Furr’s efforts. Inspired, Bruno, who recently had lost half his weight of 400 pounds, visited Furr and helped him
form a nonprofit organization. Created in January 2010, Just Have A Ball has already given away thousands of balls and raised thousands more in donations. For making a difference throughout his community and not just on the fairways, Furr is the 2010 recipient of the fourth annual Peggy Kirk Bell Award, given each year at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship. Through the award, Furr, who plays golf, football, basketball and baseball, earned an exemption to play in the 2010 World Championship and received a grant from the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation that will cover his entry fee
see AWARD, page 10 Erica Jackson was the Peggy Kirk Bell Award winner in 2009.
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THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
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Team USA captured the U.S. Kids Golf World Cup in 2009.
Award
around $70,000 this school year alone. We are doing a video and will continue speaking to our peers across the state.” From Page 9 The Peggy Kirk Bell Award is given each year at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship to recognize a young golfer who is making a difference in his as well as travel and lodging expenses or her community, and not just on the for him and his caddie. fairways. Furr and his Just Have A Ball partner The award is named for and inspired and younger sister, Hartwell, already by the lifelong efforts of Peggy Kirk have spoken at more than 25 elementary Bell, who is often considered to be the school events and given away more than founder and catalyst for women’s golf in 10,000 balls. America. Just Have A Ball has picked up several Bell resides in Pinehurst, where she partners and donors in Mississippi and can be found on most days at the Pine beyond, including the Presidential Needles Lodge and Golf Club, which is Challenge, Mississippi Office of Healthy affectionately known as the “Home of Schools, Mississippi Department of Women’s Golf.” Education, Mississippi Sports Hall of She played professionally and won the Fame and Museum, and the National Titleholder’s Championship in 1949, but Football League’s New York Giants, she is best known for her dedication to which donated $1,000. teaching the game of golf to women. In “A few months ago, The Partnership 2002, she became the first woman inductfor a Healthy Mississippi called us and ed into the World Golf Teachers Hall of wanted to continue our cause and keep us Fame. as the spokesmen,” Furr said. “They Previous Peggy Kirk Bell Award winhave a full staff and have huge plans ners include Erica Jackson (2009), Harris starting this school year to keep our sim- Armstrong (2008) and Kyle Lagrasso ple idea going. They plan to spend (2007).
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
Karaman From Page 8
where she would normally disengage. “My goal is to finish in the top 10!” Allysa declared. “You do these processes, and I believe you will,” I replied. Allysa, with strong champion focus, did even better than that. Two of the three days, she birdied 18, making birdies for Grandma. She finished sixth in her age division.
With her daughter now 13, I called Michelle recently to see if they would be making the trip to Pinehurst this year. “She is preparing for the Canadian National Amateur,” she said. “My dad just passed away, and Allysa played her tournament this week in honor of her grandfather. She made four birdies and won it.” Mixed with the sympathy I felt for Michelle’s family was an amazing joy to see the fruitfulness of a soul spring forth through her daughter’s performance. To play out of honor for her lost loved one — not to shrink back, but to play for a higher purpose — showed me the true cham-
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PAGE 11
pion that Allysa is. Her game is about her family, and she has been instilled with the real values of what true championship is all about. I wonder what could happen if all the players in this year’s tournament focused on processes and were freed from the need to be perfect? I just have to wonder how many birdies for Grandma, lasting smiles and real wins we could make. To get into the swing of the championship, parents and players are invited to attend one of my two free champion activation workshops titled “Coaching Kids to Greatness: 5 Keys to Releasing Your True Champion — and Champion Family”
this week. They will be held Sunday, Aug. 1, from 2-3:30 p.m., and Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 45:30 p.m., at Table on the Green Restaurant, located next to the Midland Country Club pro shop. Each workshop begins with an ice cream social, which costs $4 per person at the door. To sign up or for more information, call (757) 407-1907 or e-mail veronica@truechampioncoaching.com.
Veronica Karaman is a golf professional, certified life coach and founder of True Champion Coaching
Owner & Developer of Knollwood Fairways & Midland CC
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THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
On Course: Pinehurst’s Sugg Has Priorities Straight BY PATRICK LOVE Sports Editor
James Sugg is already thinking about college, which is interesting, considering what he could be thinking about. The Pinehurst resident will make his third appearance in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship this week, after shooting 75 to win the 12-year-old boys’ division at an 18-hole qualifier held at Etowah Valley Country Club in Hendersonville on June 21. But unlike most peers who could lay claim to feats like carding a 72 on Pinehurst No. 2, competing in the Future Masters SUGG the last two years and participating in international championships, James isn’t thinking about going pro or how many majors he’s going to win. He says his goal in the game is to start shooting toward par and under par, although he has thought ahead a little bit. His major goal for the future is to play golf in college. But that’s a thought to ponder another day. Right now, the rising O’Neal School
seventh-grader’s focus is squarely on playing well in the World Championship, specifically, putting three good days together. “I want to play good, because I haven’t done that yet in this tournament,” he said. “Last year, I had two good days and one awful day.” One thing the Pinehurst Resort member has going for him, he’ll be playing on one of his home courses. The 12-year-old boys’ competition will be played on Pinehurst No. 4. James admits that living and playing in the Pinehurst area for the last two years — his family moved back from WinstonSalem in the summer of 2008 — has been an asset to his golf game, as has playing many rounds with one of the most successful golfers in the history of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, Pinehurst native Josh Martin, and his brother, Zach. “They have been very kind to James, about letting him play with them,” said James’ mother, Elizabeth, of the Martins. “The good players, when they go out together, they can really pull along someone who needs to learn and watch someone who really knows courses.”
As for Elizabeth and her husband, Russell, they don’t play golf and have learned the game through watching their son. “Parents and grandparents, we’re all on the sidelines,” Elizabeth said. “We don’t know golf as well as he does. He reads his own putts. He does everything for himself. We do nothing. “Regardless of the outcomes, James’ progress is something that we have no part of.” That’s a bit of an overstatement, since obviously the parents provide much in the way of support for their son. But the idea that James is alone on the course competing against other golfers who are in the same situation, and the responsibility and camaraderie that comes along with the territory, is something that Elizabeth likes about the game of golf. “The players, they all understand that they have 18 holes to play that day, they have no do-overs, and they share a camaraderie regardless of their level of play,” she said. “To me, that’s what’s really special.” As for James, he’s got a special connection to U.S. Kids Golf. His first four sets
of clubs were produced by the organization. He says the fact that the U.S. Kids clubs are made with such light weights is a real asset to young people breaking into the game. “It helps, because if they have a heavy club, they can’t really swing them that well,” he said. “The light clubs fit them a lot better.” Where any of the 1,300 World Championship competitors’ golf careers and lives will take them is anybody’s guess, but at least James has an attainable goal. He has a bit of insight into the collegiate golf landscape too — his family still holds a membership at the Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, the home course of the Wake Forest University golf team. But for the most part, James is just focused on the most important shot in golf — the next one. “I like golf, because you never hit the same shot twice,” he said. “It’s really interesting.”
Contact Patrick Love at (910) 693-2477 or by e-mail at sports@thepilot.com
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Multiple Players Are Worth Keeping Tabs On BY JOHN KRAHNERT III Staff Writer
More than 1,300 youngsters will tee it up across the Sandhills area this week to compete in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship. So how do you keep tabs on all of them? While every player is certainly worthy of your support, below are a few names you may want to keep an eye on. You can’t really talk about the World Championship without mentioning 11-year-old phenom Stephen Abrams, from Wilson. He burst onto the scene as a 6year-old and won his division title. He also won titles in 2006 and 2007, and you can expect him to be hungry to return to the winner’s circle this year. Abrams will be playing at Legacy. Be sure to follow Mississippi’s Wilson Furr, who will be competing in the 12-year-old boys division. He’s this year’s recipient of the Peggy Kirk Bell Award for his selfless efforts to combat childhood obesity in his home state. His “Just Have A Ball” initiative has provided thousands of balls for kids to play with — not to mention thousands of dollars in donations he’s received. It’s not surprising that Furr would have such success promoting an active lifestyle. He’s a four-sport athlete who plays football, basketball and baseball in addition to golf. You can find Furr out on Pinehurst No. 4. There are several golfers with some recognizable family members. How about Allen Kournikova, from Palm Beach, Fla.?
His sister, Anna, and cousin, Evgeny Korolev, are professional tennis players. He’ll be competing in the 6year-old boys division at Midland Country Club. If you’re a movie buff, you’ll like Phoebe BeberFrankel, from Miami, Fla. Her dad, David, is a Hollywood director whose films include “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Marley & Me.” She’ll be challenging for the girls 8-year-old division at Longleaf. Zach Jackson, of Franklin, Tenn., has ties to the hardwood. His dad, Sean, was an Ivy League Player of the Year for the Princeton basketball team. Look for him in the 9-year-old boys division out on Pinehurst No. 8. Shelby Groeneveld, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has gridiron bloodlines. Her uncle, Danny Kanell, played quarterback for the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos. She’ll be playing with the 12-year-old girls at Pinehurst No. 3. There are plenty of kids who are making a difference in their communities too. Among them are Ivy Shepherd, of Peachtree City, Ga., who raised $1,000 on her own to fund her participation in a Jekyll Island golf tournament last year. She’s also heavily involved in church mission activities. She’s in the 10-year-old girls division and is competing at Talamore. Then there’s Karah Sanford, from Escondido, Calif., who grows and cuts her hair several times each year to donate to Locks of Love. She’s taking her talents to Longleaf in the 8-year-old girls division.
A golfer watches her putt fall during last year’s event.
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THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
A Look at the Courses
When you are in the Sandhills, variety is the spice of golf. Competitors in the 2010 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship will take their best drives and putts on nine area courses. Below is a list of the courses that will be participating, along with some information participants, their families and spectators might want to know. Note that each course will play shorter than its normal length.
Pinehurst No. 3
Girls 12 Total yardage: 5,400. Holes: 18. Designed by Donald Ross in 1910, No. 3 is a rolling, short course that will test the game of any golfer. Renovated greens put more of a premium on putting accuracy. “I just don’t think people understand how good those holes are,” said Ben Crenshaw of No. 3. “They’re filled with interest. They’re shorter, but there’s plenty of character to them.”
Pinehurst No. 4 Boys 12 Yardage: 6,000. Holes: 18. Designed in 1919 by Donald Ross and
redesigned by Tom Fazio in 2000, this course offers a championship challenge to those who dare, including more than 140 pot bunkers. The site of the 2008 U.S. Amateur, No. 4 also offers some of the most picturesque scenes at Pinehurst, including the 13th and 14th water holes.
Pinehurst No. 8 Boys 9 Yardage: 4,800. Holes 18. Designed by Tom Fazio, No. 8 opened in 1996 to commemorate Pinehurst’s centennial year. Fazio incorporated signature Donald Ross features into the design, including dips and swales around the greens, sloping greens and false fronts. The greens and tees are close together, making it a pleasure to walk.
Talamore Girls 10 Yardage: 4,800. Holes 18. Girls 11 Yardage: 5,000. Holes: 18. Designed by Rees Jones, Talamore has been considered one of the country’s finest courses since opening in 1991. Position and strategy are at a premium on this course, as
Jones said, “What I’m trying to do is require thinking.”
Mid Pines Golf Club Boys 8 (Back) Yardage: 2,100. Holes: 9. Boys 7 (Front) Yardage: 1,700. Holes: 9. A course many have characterized as “Pure Donald Ross,” Mid Pines was designed by Ross in 1921 and still boasts the same layout as it did when it opened. It utilizes the land it was built on to create a fun yet challenging test for any golfer. The course has hosted numerous tournaments and championships, including the 2002 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.
Midland Country Club Boys 6 and under Yardage: 1,300. Holes 9. Designed by Tom Jackson, the nine-hole course opened in 1977 and caters to seniors, women and juniors as well as experienced players. It is a challenging yet enjoyable and friendly layout that will leave golfers wanting more.
Little River Golf Club Boys 10 Yardage: 5,200. Holes 18. Designed by Dan Maples, Little River opened in 1996. The oft-honored course is
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010
sculptured from 450 acres of rolling hills and features nearly 200 feet in elevation changes. It is sure to test even the most skilled golfer.
Longleaf Golf Club
Girls 9 (Back) Yardage: 2,100. Holes: 9. Girls 8 (front) Yardage: 1,800. Holes 9. Girls 7 and under (front) Yardage: 1,500. Holes: 9. Designed by Dan Maples and opened in 1998, Longleaf has been called “The Most Playable Course in the Sandhills.” The course features two distinct layouts. The front nine is a more links-style layout, featuring many of the horse track’s original features — white fences, rail posts and hedgerows. The back nine, in contrast, is heavily tree-lined with dramatic elevation changes.
Legacy Golf Links
Boys 11 Yardage: 5,600. Holes: 18 The newest addition to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship lineup, Legacy was designed by Jack Nicklaus Jr. and opened in 1991. It’s one of only three courses in the Pinehurst area to have hosted a USGA national championship. Among its claims to fame are four of the best par-3s in the Sandhills.
The US Kids Golf Foundation would like to thank the community of Pinehurst and the volunteers for welcoming the players,their families and friends from across the world. WeWould Also LikeToThankThe Participating Golf Courses: Pinehurst, Mid Pines, Longleaf, Little River, Talamore, Midland, Legacy and Pine Needles.
Teen World Championship July 29-31
World Championship August 5-7
Teen World Cup Sunday, August 1, Pinehurst No. 2
World Cup Sunday, August 8, Pinehurst No. 2
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation hosts the World Championship at Pinehurst and operates as a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation was created in 2001 with the vision of providing kids and their families to participate in the game of golf through instruction and competition.Today, the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation conducts over 400 local, regional, national, and international events.
RELAX YOUR GRIP. You know what the golf pros say: You’ll get better results if you loosen up. Good advice off the course, too, which is why we suggest you consider a few days in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area of North Carolina to reconnect with your spouse, your family and your inner self. Our charming resorts and spas will take you a world away from your day-to-day stress. Our unique shops, potteries and galleries will offer offer a little retail therapy for those in need. And then, of course, there are our famous championship golf courses to simultaneously calm the mind and reinvigorate the spirit. We’ll return you to your life with a relaxed outlook and a new grip on your priorities.
LET GO. LOOSEN UP AT THE HOME OF AMERICAN GOLF®. VISIT WWW.HOMEOFGOLF.COM TO PLAN YOUR STAY.
WELCOME U.S. KIDS GOLF! BEACON RIDGE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB West End, North Carolina 910.673.2950 www.beaconridgegolfcc.com
HAMPTON INN & SUITES Aberdeen, North Carolina 910.693.4330 www.gosandhillsgolf.com
MAPLES GOLF PACKAGES Pinehurst, North Carolina 910.944.1600 www.MaplesGolf.com
SEVEN LAKES COUNTRY CLUB Seven Lakes, North Carolina 888.47LAKES www.sevenlakescountryclub.com
BEST WESTERN PINEHURST INN Southern Pines, North Carolina 910.692.0640 www.gosandhillsgolf.com
HYLAND GOLF CLUB Southern Pines, North Carolina 910.692.6400 www.HylandGolfClub.com
NATIONAL GOLF CLUB Pinehurst, North Carolina 910.295.4300 www.nationalgolfclub.com
TALAMORE GOLF RESORT Southern Pines, North Carolina 800.552.6292 www.TalamoreGolfResort.com
COMFORT INN OF PINEHURST Pinehurst, North Carolina 910.215.5500 www.comfort.pmcproperties.com
INN AT THE BRYANT HOUSE Aberdeen, North Carolina 910.944.3300 www.innatbryanthouse.com
PINEHURST RESORT Pinehurst, North Carolina 1.800.ITS.GOLF www.pinehurst.com
TIN CUP Aberdeen, North Carolina 888.465.3857 www.tincupgolf.com
DAYS INN Southern Pines, North Carolina 910.692.8585 www.daysinnsp.com
LEGACY GOLF LINKS Aberdeen, North Carolina 800.344.8825 www.littleriver.com
PINEWILD COUNTRY CLUB Pinehurst, North Carolina 910.295.5145 www.pinewildcc.com
TOBACCO ROAD GOLF Sanford, North Carolina 919.775.1940 www.TobaccoRoadGolf.com
GOLF ESCAPES, INC. Pinehurst, North Carolina 877.205.7775 www.golfescapeinc.com
LITTLE RIVER GOLF & RESORT Carthage, North Carolina 910.949.4600 www.golfescapeinc.com
PINE NEEDLES LODGE & GOLF CLUB Southern Pines, North Carolina 910.692.7111 www.pineneedles-midpines.com
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS Southern Pines, North Carolina 910.693.2280 www.hiexpress.com
MAGNOLIA INN, THE Pinehurst, North Carolina 910.295.6900 www.themagnoliainn.com
RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT Southern Pines, North Carolina 910.693.3400 www.mariott.com/fayph