KDUORWWH·V )LUVW - Carolina Golf Journal

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Pull-out Golf Course Guide 

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A Golf Lifestyle 

Magazine 

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FREE 

Vol. 3, No. 3 summer 2012 

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Amateurs Ready for Action 

Alice �� 

Cooper on Golf 

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Pro Tips for Better Short Game 

Course Reviews - Heat Beaters 

Latest Equipment Reviews

perform at your best 

when it matters the most. 

Mental Skills for Golf and Life 

LEROY SPRINGS 

& COMPANY, INC. 

Technology to Develop the Mind for Peak Performance 

Four Fabulous Choices . . . 

Lancaster Golf Club 

803-416-4500 

Chester Golf Club 

803-581-5733 

www.leroysprings.com 

Fort Mill Golf Club 

803-547-2044 

GUESTS WELCOME ~ MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE 

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803-548-3318

4 

8 

12 

16 

26 

Cover 

Story 

Webb simpson - 

Charlotte’s u.s. open Champion 

Music idol / Golf Addict 

– Rocker Alice Cooper 

PGA Welcomes 

Changes at Quail Hollow 

Charlotte City Amateur 

Top Field Qualifies 

Beech Mt. Club 

Cool Golf or Free 

Also in this Issue: 

• rocky river Changes Greens .................. Page 7 

• Nationwide tour Gets New Name ......... Page 22 

• rader and Cole top teachers ................ Page 30 

• Carolinas Reviews: 

rumbling Bald resort ..........................Page 2 

Mt. Mitchell Golf Club........................Page 32 

iN eVery issue: 

Edwin Watts Golf Profile ................................Page 8 

Area Golf Map .............................................Page 17 

Mental Approach ..........................................Page 24 

Charity Golf Events ......................................Page 34 

Carolina 

Golf 

Journal 

staff: 

CovER PhoTo: 

Courtesy of PGA Tour 

Publisher: Sam Smith 

Editor: Victoria Smith 

Graphic Design: Debi Brown 

Graphics & Web-Site: AJ Jilliani 

Distribution: Hometown Golf Magazine 

Advertising: Sam Smith 704-756-9909 

sam@carolinagolfjournal.com 

www.carolinagolfjournal.com 

Summer 2012 

From the Publisher: Sam Smith 

Since our last issue in May I have 

had the pleasure of traveling to Europe, 

mainly in the Tuscany region of 

Italy. I was in hopes of finding some 

golf locations to share with you, but 

found out that in Tuscany a golf 

course is not a priority since the land 

is primarily used for vineyards. 

One golf course owner that I contacted 

said, “Golf hasn’t caught on in 

Italy yet. Outside of the Molinari brothers, Edoardo and 

Francesco, no golfer of any note hails from Italy.” 

The Molinari brothers were both members of the 2010 

European Ryder Cup team that 

defeated the Americans at the 

Celtic Manor Resort in the city 

of Newport, Wales. A late sin- 

Edoardo Francesco 

gles win by Edoardo over rookie 

Ricky Fowler helped the Europeans 

win the Cup 14 ½ to 13 ½. 

There are fourteen nice 18-hole par-72 courses in Tuscany, 

but only a handful are listed as “golf courses to 

play” in the region. The best is the Golf Club Castelfalfi 

close to the medieval city of San Gimignano. Called a 

mountain course, it features the subtle elevation changes 

of Tuscany with picturesque scenery. 

Also to be considered are: 

Golf Club Ugolino: southeast of Florence 

– The oldest Italian golf course 

Golf Club Toscano: north of Grosseto 

– Best new course in Italy 

Argentario Golf Club: in Orbetello 

– Hilly landscape of Mount Argentario 

Saturnia Golf Club: near Grosseto – Land of the Etruscans 

Looking for golf in Tuscany may not be high on your 

“bucket list” but the landscape, vineyards, food, people 

and an occasional golf course to play, makes this ancient 

region south of Florence and northeast of Rome a place to 

remember. 

I had to smile when the 

description “mountain courses” 

came out about several golf 

courses in Tuscany, after all 

some of the finest highaltitude 

golf is available right 

here in the Carolinas. I hope 

you will enjoy the reviews on 

Golf Club Castelfalfi - 

top rated course in 

Tuscany region of Italy 

two of those locations in this issue of the Carolina Golf 

Journal. Page 2 - Rumbling Bald Resort at Lake Lure, and 

Page 32 -Mt. Mitchell Golf Club near Burnsville. 

Thanks for picking up the CGJ up this month, enjoy the 

read. Arrivederci! 

Next ISSue: Late Summer 2012

Resort Golf Course Review 

Escape the heat 

at Rumbling Bald Resort on Lake Lure 

Bald Mountain course 

at Rumbling Bald 

Resort (16th hole) is 

the shortest of the two 

courses but still an 

excellent challenge. 

By Sam Smith 

With the stifling heat in the 

Greater Charlotte area, 

finding someplace to 

uncomfortable. Elevation changes 

from tees-to-greens add to the appeal 

of the course, punctuated with streams 

the rough and correcting drainage 

problems in some traps.” said 

Colasanti. “Our greens crew headed 

cool down and enjoy a golf filled and ponds. Both resort courses feature by Matt Lavell, and aided by 

vacation or weekend getaway is a bent grass greens and Bermuda fair- pleasant weather has done a great 

must this summer. Finding one with ways. The Course Rating is 70.9 job in preparing the courses for a 

beautiful scenery, comfortable and the Slope Rating is 128. busy golf season that got off to an 

lodging, excellent amenities and On the back nine you will find early start this year.” 

two highly-rated golf courses on where a scene from the 1987 movie The Dan Maples designed Apple 

property - plus saving on gas to get “Dirty Dancing” was filmed at the Valley course has been called one of 

there - would be nice too! 

par-3 16th hole, a copy of the movie the most beautiful mountain courses 

Less than two hours west of is found in most of the resort’s lodg- around by Golf Digest’s “places to 

Charlotte you will find the Rumbling ing, condos and homes. 

play.” Opened in 1986, it’s slightly 

Bald Resort on Lake Lure, for a Art Colasanti took over as longer than Bald Mountain, stretch- 

family-fun vacation or weekend es- Director of Golf at Rumbling Bald ing 6,756 yards from the longest of 

cape for the taking. The towering Resort in 2004 after seven years the four tees. However, the mostly 

cliffs of Rumbling Bald Mountain at Raintree 

tree-lined fairways are more forgiv- 

with its sheer granite face frame one Country Club in 

ing letting you “grip-it-and-rip-it” a 

of two excellent golf courses given a Charlotte and 

little more often. Well-positioned 

4-star rating by Golf Digest readers has set a goal of 

redefined bunkers guard the large un- 

in 2010. 

improving the 

dulating greens that will test your 

Bald Mountain is the Resort’s two courses 

“merit” in reading the breaks. The 

first course, originally designed and every year to 

Course Rating is 73.2 and the Slope 

built in 1968 to be an excellent provide an 

Rating is 140. 

“shot-makers” course. The course 

has four sets of tees for golfers of all 

levels, and plays at 6,283 yards from 

excellent 

experience. 

“We have 

Director of Golf Art 

Colasanti leads a 

dedicated staff work- 

Apple Valley Head Professional 

Greg Francis has been at the two 

courses for 15 years and is certain 

the back tees. Natural beauty treelined 

fairways makes this layout the 

tightest of the two courses, but not 

worked hard at 

widening fairways, 

lowering 

ing hard to make your 

golf experience a fun 

one at Rumbling Bald. 

this is the best conditions in years at 

Lake Lure. 

“The early spring helped our 

2 - www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 

_____________________________________________ _________________ 

Photo Credit: Rumbling Bald Resort

Dan Maples designed Apple 

valley course (18th hole) 

allows the players more 

room to air out their driver. 

staff start mowing by the end of 

March, several weeks earlier than 

normal,” stated Francis. “We had 

some good rain but not the heavy 

rains of the past that kept us off the 

course. These two factors allowed 

the grounds crew to prepare and 

groom the greens and fairways to 

reach the excellent conditions you 

find today.” 

Reasonable prices prevail on 

green fee rates through- 

out the week including 

several special early 

and twilight rates as low 

as $25, with standard 

time rates between $38 

and $56 at both courses. 

Golf clinics are hosted 

by the Rumbling Bald 

staff every week and 

cost just $15 per 

session to help improve 

your off-the-tee 

performance or 

short game. 

Rumbling 

Bald Resort is 

located on the 

north shore of 

crystal clear 

Lake Lure, 

called by 

National 

Geographic 

“one of the 

most beautiful 

man-made lakes 

in the world” 

has 27 miles of 

shoreline. The 

lake is home to 

a bevy of water 

sports - fishing, 

canoeing, 

kayaking and 

leisure boating, 

with various 

size boats and 

gear for rent at 

the large private 

beach area. The 

other outdoor 

activities at the resort include four 

swimming pools, miniature golf, 

basketball, tennis. 

You don’t have to miss your 

daily workout. The Wellness Center 

features the Spa & Salon, fitness 

room for individual workouts or 

fitness classes, saunas, steam room 

and weight room, indoor pool with 

water aerobic classes and business 

center. 

Wellness Center and giant pool help complete a truly 

family-friendly Resort at Rumbling Bald. 

Photo Credit: Rumbling Bald Resort 

Photo Credit: Rumbling Bald Resort 

The resort is also a great 

destination point for weddings, 

remodeled wedding facilities have 

drawn couples from across the 

United States. The lake-side 

marriage gazebo overlooks the 

sparkling water, creating a perfect 

setting on Lake Lure. 

Three excellent restaurants are 

available at the resort: 

• legends Bar & Grill at the 

Bald Mountain clubhouse has outside 

seating overlooking the 9th and 

18th greens. They offer breakfast, 

lunch and dinner along with a full 

service bar, and pizza delivery 

service throughout the resort. 

• The renovated 4-star 

lakeside restaurant, overlooking 

Lake Lure has a delicious menu 

featuring the freshest seafood, 

steaks and pasta for lunch and 

dinner. A real treat is the Wednesday 

night Prime Rib Buffet. 

• luna del sol restaurant at 

the Apple Valley Golf Course clubhouse 

is available for breakfast, 

lunch and dinner, and features the 

quaint and funky Bedrock Lounge, 

a “one-of-a-kind” place to visit and 

enjoy your favorite drink and live 

entertainment. 

If you want enjoy something really 

special go aboard the lake lure 

dinner Cruise. This leisurely twohour 

early evening experience will 

not only finish your day, but the 

history of the lake and of Rumbling 

Bald told by your skipper will plant 

a lasting vision in your mind of one 

of the most beautiful spots in all of 

North Carolina. 

As you can see, playing golf at 

Rumbling Bald Resort is just 

part of the trip to the Blue Ridge 

Mountains at Lake Lure. For more 

information call 877-868-9940 or 

visit at www.rumblingbald.com 

______________________________________________________________ www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 3

local Golfers Headline news 

Webb Simpson - First Charlotte Resident To Win U.S. open 

Looks to faith and patience to capture championship 

Some say golf on TV is boring, 

but for Webb Simpson and his 

wife watching the final three 

twosomes come down the stretch in 

the U.S. Open from the locker room at 

the Olympic Club, was anything but. 

Simpson, in the clubhouse with 

a score of 1-over-par 281, watched 

nervously to see if Jim Furyk and 

Northern Ireland’s Graeme 

McDowell - both previous U.S. 

Open winners - could catch 

Simpson on their final hole, but 

they both fell short. 

The 26-year-old Raleigh native 

relied upon prayer and patience 

down the stretch and a clutch putter 

to shoot a 2-under-par 68 on the 

final day of the 112th U.S. Open at 

the Olympic Club in San Francisco. 

Simpson began the day four shots 

off the lead, but rallied with four 

2008 ACC Player of the Year 

Webb Simpson attended Wake Forest 

on an Arnold Palmer scholarship, 

making All-American three-times. 

Photo Credit: WAKE FoREST UNIvERSITY 

birdies in five holes to move into 

contention. He parred the final eight 

holes to win the tournament by a 

single stroke. 

“This is only my second U.S. 

Open and so I told myself don’t get 

too excited, don’t try to win. You’ve 

got to go out there and try to make 

pars, and that’s what I did. And 

luckily I made some putts.” 

“… it’s so demanding here, I 

never really wrapped my mind 

around winning. I was 2 over 

through 5, 

but I didn't 

think anything 

of it 

because I 

knew I had 

#7 coming 

up and a few 

other birdie 

holes on the 

back. I 

definitely 

thought 

about winning 

By victoria Smith 

Webb Simpson joins a list of 

first time major tournament 

winners including Graeme 

McDowell, the 2010 US 

open champion. 

Photo Credit: PGA Tour 

and wanted to win, but I was just 

trying to keep my mind focused on 

the hole that I was playing and just 

somehow make pars.” 

It was enough to capture his first 

major when Furyk bogeyed two of 

his last three holes while McDowell 

couldn’t recover from a bad start 

and too many tee shots in the rough. 

McDowell’s last-ditch effort to tie 

him went for naught. McDowell had 

given himself a chance to tie after a 

birdie on 17, but his 24-foot putt for 

Webb Simpson admitted he couldn’t have won 

The open without his wife Dowd at olympic for support. 


_____________________________________________ _________________ 

Photo Credit: PGA Tour

“Arnold has been so good to awaiting the outcome. Having 

me,” Simpson said. “Just the other missed the cut in his two previous 

day, I read that story and thought starts - the Players Championship 

about it. He’s meant so much to me and the Memorial - Simpson was 

and Wake Forest. Hopefully, I can struggling with his game and swing 

get a little back for him and make when he arrived in the Bay Area. 

him smile.” 

Of the last 18 players to tee off 

He said the string of birdies in the final round, Simpson was the 

was the “difference” on Sunday. only one to break par. That didn’t 

Simpson “got off to a slow start” seem likely when Simpson was six 

with two early bogeys, but said he shots behind as he headed to the 

knew there were opportunities for sixth hole, the toughest at Olympic. 

Playing with great patience and a prayer, 

Webb Simpson closed with 8 straight pars to 

win the US open. 

better scores later in the round and 

that he had to “stay patient.” 

Divine intervention didn’t hurt 

That’s where he started his big run. 

His 7-iron landed in the rough 

and rolled 5 feet away for birdie. He 

birdie on the final hole missed on 

either - especially when playing the made birdie on the next two holes, 

the left side. Simpson won by one 

wickedly ruthless Lake Course at including a 15-footer on the par-3 

shot over McDowell (73) and 

The Olympic Club. “I probably eighth. And his wedge into the 10th 

Michael Thompson (67). 

prayed more on the last three holes settled 3 feet away, putting him in 

Jim Furyk who won this champi- 

than I’ve ever done in my life, and the mix for the rest of the day. 

onship in 2003 shared the overnight 

that kept me calm and got me home To finish his day Simpson’s shot 

lead with McDowell, did not make a 

in 2-under,” said Simpson, who from the rough on the 18th hole 

birdie and slid into a tie for fourth at 

earned a degree in religion at Wake went just right of the green and 

3 over. No one was more disgusted 

Forest. “I’m glad my wife (Dowd) is disappeared into a hole, a circle of 

than Furyk, in control for so much 

with me. It was pretty nerve-racking. dirt about the size of a sprinkler cap. 

of the final round until he snap- 

It was just a cool day. I knew it was With a clump of grass behind the 

hooked his tee shot on the par-5 16th 

a tough course and I just had to do ball, he had a bold stroke for such a 

hole to fall out of the lead for the 

my best out there.” 

nervy shot and it came out perfectly, 

first time all day and was unable to 

“I needed her with me, because rolling 3 feet by the hole for his 

get it back. 

I never felt nerves like I did today. much-needed par that eventually 

Quail Hollow resident and 

A lot of times I had to hit my legs, produced Charlotte’s only U.S. 

member, Simpson emerged from a 

because I couldn't really feel them. Open Champion. 

fog-filled final round as a U.S. Open 

It was a pleasure to have her here, 

champion as he put two more names 

and I couldn’t imagine 

into the graveyard of champions. 

being here without her.” 

In only his second US open - 

Olympic is known as the “grave- 

Earning his tour card 

Webb Simpson captured the 

Championship at the olympic 

yard of champions” because proven 

in 2009, Simpson 

Club in San Francisco. 

major winners who were in a 

became the 15th different 

position to win the U.S. Open all 

player to win in the last 

lost to the underdog - Ben Hogan, 

15 majors. It was also 

Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and 

the third time in the last 

Payne Stewart. 

seven years that no one 

Perhaps it was only fitting that 

broke par in the U.S. 

Simpson went to Wake Forest on an 

Open. All three times, 

Arnold Palmer scholarship. He did it 

the winner was in the 

where Arnold Palmer, whose name 

locker room when the 

was on Simpson’s Wake Forest 

tournament ended. 

scholarship, suffered one of the most 

At the start of the 

difficult losses of his career, squan- 

week, Simpson, a twodering 

a seven-stroke lead on the 

time winner in 2011 on 

back nine in the final round of the 

the PGA Tour and 

1966 U.S. Open at Olympic, losing 

second on the money list, 

to Billy Casper. 

wasn’t expecting to be 

______________________________________________________________ 

www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 5 


Photo Credit: PGA Tour

local Golf Course news 

By Sam Smith 

New Bermuda Greens Project 

Progressing Nicely at Lancaster Golf Club 

The prospect of playing on 

new greens, without burnedout 

brown conditions in the 

hot South Carolina summer has 

Lancaster Golf Club golfers excited 

about an anticipated re-opening 

sometime in August. 

Lancaster Golf Club is the third 

course of the Leroy Springs golf chain 

to make the transition to MiniVerde 

Bermuda greens, and Director of 

Golf Gene Roper can see and feel 

the results in playability. 

“Previously we converted our 

greens at the Ft. Mill Golf Club and 

LEROY SPRINGS 

& COMPANY, INC. 

the Springfield Golf Club from Bent 

to MiniVerde and have been very 

pleased with the results,” commented 

Roper. “We changed to MiniVerde 

because we feel in this area it is a 

much better grass for our greens, 

particularly with the extreme heat 

that we get in the summer.” 

No date has been given for the 

re-opening, but Roper and officials of 

Modern Turf of Rembert, SC have all 

been quite pleased with the project 

which began June 4th with the 

sprigging of the MiniVerde grass. 

“MiniVerde makes an excellent 

Four Fabulous Choices . . . 

Lancaster Golf Club 

803-416-4500 

Chester Golf Club 

803-581-5733 

www.leroysprings.com 

Fort Mill Golf Club 

803-547-2044 

putting surface year-round,” added 

Roper. “We see much smaller ball 

marks in the summer since the 

MiniVerde doesn’t have to be kept 

as wet as Bent, and firmer surfaces 

putt better than wet ones.” 

The Lancaster Golf Club 

will furnish opening date 

information on their website 

www.leroysprings.com or 

you can call the pro shop at 

803-416-4500 and PGA pro 

Phil Small or a member of his staff 

will give you a progress report. 

GUESTS WELCOME ~ MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE 

�� 

803-548-3318 


_____________________________________________ __________________

local Golf Course news 

By Craig Distl 

Coming This Summer: 

Bermuda Greens at Rocky River 

Rocky River Golf Club is 

installing Mini Verde 

Bermuda grass on its greens 

in mid to late August. 

Golf course superintendent 

Joel White spent the last few 

with the progress of the project. The 

club has launched a blog to keep the 

public informed. The blog address is: 

to provide optimum putting condi- summers focusing almost entirely www.rockyrivergolf.blogspot.com 

tions throughout the entire golf on caretaking of the greens, which Both Crawford and Brickley, 

season. 

were comprised of G-6 bent grass. the director of golf, want to see the 

Mini Verde is among the latest He sees the conversion to Dan Maples-designed layout return 

generation of Bermuda grasses - Bermuda a positive for several to its status as one of the state’s elite 

known as ultra dwarfs - which have reasons. First, the new grass requires courses. From 2002-2010, the 

gained popularity for their similarity less water, chemicals and mainte- course was ranked among the top 

to bent grass and tolerance of nance. Second, it thrives in peak 100 in the state by the North 

extreme heat. 

summer heat and needs only one Carolina Golf Panel. 

In the last decade, increasingly aerification per year. And third, his “A project of this magnitude 

hot Southeastern summers have crews can utilize the time normally really shows the commitment the 

wreaked havoc on greens comprised spent caring for the greens to improve City of Concord has to Rocky River. 

Rocky River’s #8 green ready for Mini verde 

Bermuda grass, similar to bent 

grass but tolerance of extreme heat. 

other areas of the course. 

“We’ll be able to work on 

details a lot more,” White said. 

A lot of serious golfers who played 

this course, when it first opened, 

realized what a really good course it 

“The greens will basically keep is,” Brickley said. “The new greens 

themselves alive; we’ll just define will put it back at the status level 

the quality.” 

where it should be. I think people 

Once the project is complete, will be very, very proud of what 

golfers will encounter larger greens they find here.” 

and less slope. About 30,000 square During the greens project, the 

Photo Credit: Rocky River Golf Club 

feet of putting surface along the course and practice range at Rocky 

of bent grass, a cool season grass edges of the greens will be reclaimed River remain open. Temporary 

better suited for Northern climates. and severe slopes will be reduced in greens have been established and 

Rocky River, like many clubs selected areas. 

golfers can take advantage of 

in the Southeast, came to the 

“We’re going to soften some reduced rates. 

conclusion that switching to slopes and expand the greens back out On weekdays the new 18-hole 

Bermuda grass, a running grass closer to their original sizes,” White fees are: $15 to walk / $25 with cart. 

that thrives in heat, will optimize said. “This will give us more hole On weekends, the rates are: $25 to 

the quality of its greens on a regular locations and improve playability.” walk / $35 with cart. 

basis, particularly in warmer months 

when most golfers like to play. 

“In consulting with the USGA, 

we realized Bermuda grass is a more 

sustainable model for the weather 

The 18-hole championship 

course at Rocky River serves dual 

purposes. It is a municipal course 

owned by the City of Concord and 

also a resort destination as part of 

For info on Rocky River Golf Club 

at the Embassy Suites Golf Resort 

& Spa, call (704) 455-1200 or visit 

www.rockyrivergolf.com 

patterns we’re seeing,” said director Concord’s Embassy Suites Golf 

Photo Credit: Rocky River Golf Club 

of golf Ryan Brickley. “After 15 Resort & Spa. 

years, most courses are ready for a “The City of Concord is focused 

greens restoration project anyway. on having one of the top golf 

The timing for us worked out courses in North Carolina available 

perfectly. We considered several for residents of Concord and our 

options with bent grass, but our re- visitors, and we’re working handsearch 

said Bermuda is the way to go.” in-hand to make that happen,” said 

Rocky River will remain open Terry Crawford, general manager 

with temporary greens and reduced 

rates for the duration of the project. 

Work began June 4th and will finish 

for both the Embassy Suites Resort 

and Rocky River Golf Club. 

Golfers can go online to keep up 

During the greens project, temporary greens 

lets golfers take advantage of reduced rates. 

______________________________________________________________ 

www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 7

edwin Watts “Golf Profile” 

Music Idol / Golf Addict - Alice Cooper 

By Blaine Raffee, Manager Edwin Watts Golf - Concord, NC 

Alice Cooper and Blaine Raffee on the tee 

at Ballantyne Country Club. 

Ilove the game of golf, picked it 

up at age 10 and have been 

addicted to it for 34 years. 

Recently, I had a chance to play 

golf with an even bigger golf 

addict than me, Alice Cooper. 

Alice Cooper, born Vincent 

Furnier, came through Charlotte a 

few weeks ago. He is currently on 

an international tour with his band. 

About a week before he arrived in 

Charlotte I received a call from my 

Callaway Golf sales representative 

asking me if I wanted to play golf 

with Alice Cooper. Because of huge 

love of music and my affinity for 

live concerts, he thought I would be 

a natural choice to join Alice for a 

round of golf during his stay in the 

Queen City. 

Cooper, early pitchman for 

Callaway Golf, is often credited 

with the company's early success 

using celebrities instead of golf 

professionals to promote the brand. 

As a result of his long association 

Photo Credit: Edwin Watts Golf 

with Callaway Golf, it 

often falls on the local 

Callaway reps to 

arrange golf for him 

when he is on tour. 

Ballantyne 

Country Club in 

South Charlotte had 

arranged to host Alice 

for one of his 3 

rounds during his 

visit. Waiting for 

Alice to arrive, I hit a 

few range balls so as 

not to embarrass 

myself in front of a 

celebrity. My nerves 

were quickly calmed 

as Alice introduced 

himself, within 15 

seconds of meeting 

him I realized that without the 

makeup and boa constrictor, he was 

just another avid golfer. Joining 

Alice and I was Jordan Stelmach, 

Assistant Professional at Ballantyne 

Country Club. 

After splitting the fairway on 

number one, I knew he had game. 

Cooper, who 

plays 6 days a 

week, keeps a 

4 handicap at 

his home 

course of 

Phoenix 

Country Club. 

Having played 

golf all over 

the world, 

Alice admires 

many of the 

English 

courses, but 

his favorite 

course is 

Muirfield Village Golf Club in 

Dublin, Ohio. 

Seeing as this was probably my 

only chance to sit with a Rock and 

Roll Hall of Famer, golf wasn’t 

going to be our only topic of 

conversation. 

Ballantyne CC Assistant Pro Jordan 

Stelmach shares a laugh just before 

Alice Cooper stripes one down 

the middle of the fairway. 

Alice, father of three, has been 

married and sober for 36 years. His 

musical influences range from The 

Beatles and Rolling Stones to the 

Yardbirds. He said he had the 

chance to play with many of his 

idols, including Elvis Presley and 

Frank Sinatra. 

The character Alice Cooper with the yellow Boa he uses 

in his international tour performances. 

8 - www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 _____________________________________________________________ 


Photo Credit: LoNDoN EvENING STANDARD

Blaine Raffee enjoys a backstage visit 

and bus tour after Alice Cooper's 

Charlotte concert. 


“Alice Cooper is a character 

that I play,” says Cooper. Alice 

explains that when he is performing 

he adopts the character of Alice 

Cooper, but he has the ability to turn 

him off when he is offstage. Cooper 

says that this was the problem with 

Jim Morrison and Keith Moon, 

amongst others, that they were 

unable to separate their on-stage 

persona from their personal lives. 

Cooper quickly learned he needed 

an alternative addiction than the 

ones that so many in his business 

were stuck in. 

One thing that struck me with 

my time with Cooper was how nice 

and down to earth he was, very 

genuine. He also seemed to have a 

lot of energy for a 64 year old 

veteran rocker. Both he and Jordan 

bested me by a few shots, but I 

didn’t mind, his stories of music, 

golf and life were worth it. 

As far as his golf game goes, 

he hits it straight and has mastered 

the long putter. As we were finishing 

up our round he asked me if I was 

going to see his show that night. 

Before we teed off I might have said 

no, but by the time we had finished, 

I was a fan. Alice and his management 

were nice enough to give us a 

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few tickets to the show. 

Not knowing what to expect, I 

was blown away. Not only did I 

recognize almost every song, but 

that stage show he puts on would 

rival any of today’s artists. 

Immediately following the show 

my friends and I we were invited 

backstage to take a few pictures 

with Alice and his band. We were 

very surprised when he invited us 

all on his tour bus. 

After playing golf in the 

Charlotte heat all day as well as 

taping his radio show, he performed 

a stage show for over an hour. 

I was exhausted and had half the 

day he did. He was very gracious 

as he sat and talked with us on his 

bus as if he’d known us for years. 

He thanked me for golf and said it 

was time for us to go-he had a 

7:30 a.m. tee time the next morning. 

Spoken like a true golf addict. 

CONCORD 

7940 Lyles Lane NW 

704.979.0330 

______________________________________________________________ www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 9

Julie Cole 

Tips from the Pros 

If you 

have been 

following 

this series of 

TIMELESS 

TIPS you 

have discovered areas of your game 

that you can improve. These 

professional golfers’ SECRETS OF 

SUCCESS have been incorporated 

into their games. If you would 

like to read the first (2) articles, 

please visit our website at 

www.Danarader.com and apply 

these tips into your practice 

sessions – you will see your skills 

and game improve. 

PuttiNG: 

With putting being nearly half 

of your score it is important to 

spend time learning to read the 

greens. These are some facts that 

the greatest golfers in the world 

have learned about reading greens: 

• The biggest influences on 

break - in order - are slope 

amount, putt length, angle 

of slope, stimp (see 

description below), ball 

speed and grain. 

• Grain grows down hill 99% 

of the time, it will also grow 

toward the setting sun 

and where water will 

drain off the green. 

• The amount of break 

will increase “triple the 

amount” when you 

increase the length of 

the putt from 5 feet to 

10 feet. 

What is stimp? A stimpmeter 

(photo #1) is a device that 

Timeless Golf Tips – Series 3 

#1 

By Julie Cole, Managing Partner, Dana Rader Golf Schools 

measures the speed of a green. Balls 

are rolled down the stimpmeter onto 

the green. The end result from the 

ball accelerating down the stimpmeter 

ramp is a speed of 6.00 ft/s. The 

distance that the ball travels is the 

stimp speed (i.e. 10.5 ft. roll means 

a stimp speed of 10.5) 

Green reading takes time and 

effort to learn. Begin by walking 

around the hole to feel the break 

with your feet and to visually see 

the slopes. Stand on some different 

slope angles on the green with your 

eyes closed. Notice where your 

weight feels in your feet. The 

greatest putters in the world have 

this sense of feel in their feet. 

Then learn to dissect the break 

on long putts into thirds. The first 

third of the putt, middle and final 

third of the putt near the hole. Each 

of these three areas will have an 

influence on the roll of the ball. 

PitCH sHot’s feel: 

When you observe a basketball 

player shooting a foul shot, they 

bounce the ball a few 

times, look at the basket 

and shoot. This routine is 

used to visualize the ball 

going in and to get the 

feel of the arc of the shot. They are 

not looking down at the ground or at 

the ball and then trying to shoot. 

They are imagining the entire shot, 

feeling and seeing it in their “mind’s 

eye” go through the hoop. 

All of the short game shots 

around the greens must include a 

mental picture of the flight, loft, 

landing area and roll of the ball. 

A practice swing, imagining the 

flight and roll of the ball, is essential 

to a great short game and developing 

feel around the greens. 

Use the following technique to 

practice FEEL around the greens: 

• Find a practice green and 

drop 5 balls around the 

green. 

• Attempt to get each ball up 

and down, but use a 

practice swing with each. 

• Make the practice swing 

and finish looking at the 

target imagining the height, 

landing area and the ball 

rolling to the hole. 


#2

Keys to success: 

• Always allow your head 

and body to turn through to 

the target, eyes up, right 

knee and hips turned toward 

the target and balanced. 

(photo #2) If your head is 

“Down” you won’t finish to 

the target. 

• Take some practice swings 

with a smooth tempo, brush 

some grass and then turn 

through the shot. 

• Allow your eyes to follow 

an imaginary flight of the 

golf ball onto the green and 

roll “all the way into the 

hole”. Think of throwing a 

ball and how you would 

finish the toss. Topping a 

golf ball is not a “headdown” 

problem but an 

incorrect impact position of 

the clubhead to the golf 

ball. The wrists scoop or 

collapse at impact due to 

trying to lift the ball. 

• Lean the shaft forward at 

address and then pivot all 

the way through the shot. 

#3 

#4 

Cure that sliCe - full swing: 

There are 6 different playable 

ball flights associated with the path 

of the clubhead and clubface at 

impact. Slicing is a very common 

problem with many golfers. If you 

are one of the many who slice use 

the following formula to change the 

ball flight. 

During the Set-up 

1) error – Weak top-left 

hand: Top-left hand tends to be 

weak, meaning the “V” pointing 

toward your chin and the grip in the 

palm. (photos #3 & #4) A weak grip 

will cause the clubface to be “open” 

creating a high right golf shot. 

Cure (right handed player): 

Place the club under the pad of the 

left hand and more in the fingers, 

(photos #5 & #6) with the “V” 

formed between your thumb and 

index finger pointing toward the 

right shoulder (stronger grip). 

You should see two to 

three knuckles on the top 

of your left hand. Place 

your right hand in the 

fingers with the “V” also 

pointed at the right 

shoulder to help “square” 

the clubface. 

2) error - Ball 

Position: Too far forward 

causing the shoulders to 

be open and an outside-in 

golf swing. 

Cure: Move the ball position to 

center of stance and square the 

shoulders. 

In-Swing: 

error: On the downswing your 

shoulders and arms are opening to 

the target and the club is moving 

outward causing an “out-to-in” golf 

swing where you are cutting across 

the ball. If you keep aiming left and 

opening your shoulders to cure a 

slice, the error continues to get 

worse. Golfers with this problem 

often complain of not having a 

follow-through. 

Cure: On the driving range intentionally 

learn to hit a hook or draw 

to cure a slice on the range select a 

target and practice this drill. With a 

6 iron, make the above grip and ball 

position change. Next align your 

body (shoulders and feet) 30 degrees 

right of your intended target and 

your clubface at the target. Hit balls 

off a tee until you see the ball moving 

left to right either in a gentle draw or 

hook. You will have the feeling that 

your “back is to the target” longer in 

the downswing. With practice, the 

direction of the ball will begin to 

change. 

Julie Cole, Dana Rader Golf 

School, 704-542-7635 

______________________________________________________________ www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 11 

#5 

Photo Credits: The Bissell Companies 

#6

Golf Course news 

The membership at the Quail 

Hollow Club, headed by 

President Johnny Harris had 

discussed making changes for several 

years, but now with the final two 

contracted years of the Wells Fargo 

Championship and the arrival of the 

2017 PGA Championship in place, 

it appears that work has begun. 

President of Quail 

hollow Johnny harris 

visualizes the changes 

underway to strengthen 

the South Charlotte 

championship course. 

Two of the most notable 

changes will be on the front side 

at #4 and #8. 

The tee on the par-4 fourth 

hole is being shifted approximately 

50 yards to the left and 

the hole will be lengthened to 

508 yards from the championship 

tee. From the new tees, the hole 

will play straightaway, 

eliminating the gentle right to 

left movement of its former 

design. The move is to make 

room for a new short game 

practice area. 

Included in this area will be 

three new practice greens, 

expanded practice tees and 

sod-faced bunkers that you see 

By Sam Smith 

Improving on perfection at Quail hollow Club 

Changes to be completed for 2013 Wells Fargo Championship 

Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Championship 

Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Championship 

in the coverage of the British Open. 

The current short-game area to the 

right of the main practice range will 

be converted into additional parking 

inside the club. 

The change at #8 should add 

some excitement to the PGA events 

with a new green being built to the 

left of the existing green and the tee 

being shifted slightly to set-up a 325 

to 340 yard hole with an opening in 

front of the green flanked by two 

bunkers allowing the pros a “riskreward” 

shot at driving the green. 

Other changes underway include: 

removing bushes behind #10 and 

adjacent #13. This will allow the tee 

at #13 to be lowered and shifted 

slightly to the right giving a different 

approach angle into a heavily 

contoured green. The #14 tee will 

be moved back to bring the fairway 

bunker into play again. 

Phil Mickleson and other pros 

have been very critical of the severe 

contour of the green at #12, may 

now find a more friendly experience 

when they return with the redesign 

Geoff ogilvy tees off on #4 tee at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship. 

The hole will be straighten and stretched to 508-yards for future play. 

of the green complex. 

“We knew we had to do some 

things,” Harris said according to the 

Charlotte Observer. “The changes 

will make it harder for the tournament 

players but not for our members. We 

don’t have an Alister Mackenzie or 

Donald Ross heritage to worry about 

as far as making changes. If the board 

thinks it’s the right thing to do, we're 

going to do it.” 

Tournament spectators will also 

find changes to help in their journey 

to find their favorite golfer. Cart 

paths behind the clubhouse and 

around the putting green are being 

replaced by a single path for better 

crowd movement. 

Quail Hollow will convert to 

Bermuda greens in advance of the 

2017 PGA Championship, but an 

exact timetable for the transition is 

still to be determined. There was 

speculation that that work could 

have started this summer according 

to club president Johnny Harris. 

But no official announcement has 

been made by the club. 

12 - www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 _____________________________________________________________

Ask several scratch golfers what 

their “scoring club” was and you 

would most likely hear it was either 

their putter or wedge. Good putting 

can improve your score; however I 

would contend that it is the wedge play 

that got them close enough to the flagstick 

to make critical putts. 

A good wedge shot puts the ball 

within a 12 foot circle around the hole, 

where most good players can sink 75% 

of their putts. Recently Tiger Woods’ 

wedge play gave him an 82% scrambling 

percentage, meaning he was able 

to get “up and down” 4 out of 5 times 

enabling him to win the AT&T Tournament. 

Good putters are also great wedge 

players… and winners! 

But which wedges should you carry 

in your bag? It’s confusing with so many 

lofts, bounces, weights and grinds. The 

answer requires thoughtful analysis of a 

player’s swing, short game strategy and 

knowledge of the course condition 

where he plays, then spending time on 

the lesson tee as well as hitting shots in a 

short game practice area to get fitted. 

Given the limit of 14 clubs per player, 

most golfers can play better with three 

wedges – a 46-degree pitching wedge, a 

56-degree sand wedge and a 60-degree 

lob wedge. To add a 52-degree gap 

wedge or a 63-degree wedge requires the 

elimination of key distance clubs such as 

a four iron, hybrid or fairway wood. 

The pitching wedge should be the 

same type as your other irons. However, 

the sand and lob wedges need to be fitted 

selecting the proper bounce. If the 

course is dry and firm, with bunkers low 

on sand - select wedges with less bounce 

(11 degrees) - bounce prevents “digging 

into the turf or sand”. Players need 

more weight and bounce to their wedges 

which will allow them to swing through 

the ball and provide a better feel on 

shorter chips and pitches. 

The USGA has added strict rules 

Golf Tips from the Pros 

GETTING INSIDE ThE SCoRING ZoNE 

By Brent Reneau, Accelerated Golf – Ft. Mill Golf Club 

Build a Better golf swing 

in an aCCeLerated manner 

Train correctly. Practice Smarter. Play Your Best. 

Brent Reneau 

Certified Instructor 

Get More Power in Your Tee Shots 

Optimize Your Pivot 

Be a Better Ball Striker 

Get Your Swing On Plane 

Improve Long 

Iron Shots 

Deliver a More Powerful 

Shoulder Turn 

Make More Putts 

Learn to Master Greens 

AcceLeRATeD GOLf 

101 country club Drive • ft. Mill, Sc 29715 

803.230.2853 

www.aga-fmgc.com 

about wedge 

face-grooves and 

face-grind, making 

grooves exhibit 

a definite 

surface roughness 

when you run 

your fingers over 

the face of the club. You can see and 

feel the wear, and golfers who play 

twice a week should change out their 

wedges every two years. 

Selecting the wedges that fit your 

game takes a skilled fitter to recommend 

the right combination. Then players need 

to dedicate practice time in order to develop 

the touch to make them work. The 

result will be evident when your ball 

starts landing in that scoring zone and 

you begin to make putt after putt. 

Contact Brent Reneau 803-230-2853 

www.aga-fmgc.com 

ClubMasters 

OF THE CAROLiNAS 

Tom Reneau 

980-297-4911 

Clubfitter@aga-fmgc.com 

At ClubMasters 

You Are Professionally Fitted 

• Pro-Tested Using the Vector 1 

and V-1 Video Launch Monitor Systems 

Computerized Repair Technology 

Expert Club Repairs • Reshafting 

Regripping • Lie/Loft Adjusting 

Located at 

Fort Mill - Accelerated Golf Academy 

On Site Academy Hours: 

Monday & Friday 1:00 - 7:00 PM 

Offsite Shop Hours: 

Monday - Friday 9:00 - 12:00 Noon 

_____________________________________________________________ www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 13 

Brent reneau

local Golf Club update 

By Sam Smith 

Red Bridge Golf Club 

Gets New ownership and Facelift 

The Red Bridge Golf Club was 

never broken, but needed the 

right leadership to smooth out 

the rough edges and make it more 

inviting to area golfers. The Director 

of Golf Lew Farwell believes 

that new ownership has now started 

that process. 

The current clubhouse has been 

updated with televisions in the 

lounge area inside, while TV’s have 

also been added to the newly constructed 

covered back deck. The plans 

for the new state-of-the-art clubhouse 

are being studied and have been given 

top priority by the new ownership 

group in the near future. 

The routing of several holes has 

Save $10! 

been completed, with tee boxes and 

greens given meticulous attention, 

while cart paths have been resurfaced 

and natural areas cleaned up. 

Bermuda grass fairways and the 

first sculpted Mini Verde greens in 

the Greater Charlotte area are 

accentuated with over 28 strategically 

placed bunkers and several challenging 

streams and ponds in the 

foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains. 

Designed by Pete Dye protégé 

David Postlethwait, Red Bridge 

Golf Club is both challenging and 

appealing to golfers of all handicap 

levels. Playing just over 6800 yards 

from the back tees, Red Bridge offers 

a 650 yard par-5 finishing hole 

Red Bridge Golf Club 

Under New Ownership 

New Senior Memberships 

Starting at $175 

Associate Memberships 

Just $185 

Weekday rates as low $39 

Bring this coupon to 

the Red Bridge Pro Shop 

Weekend rates only $49 

for your discount on 

Discounts for Seniors 

already low regular Discounts for Seniors 

rack rates. 

For Tee ee Times, T imes, Golf Outings, 

directions and more information call: 

�� 

�� 

greens in the Greater Charlotte area. 704-781-5231 

www.redbridgegolfclub.com 

www.r 

edbridgegolfclub.com 

Photo Credit: Red Bridge Golf Club 

Red Bridge Golf Club enjoys the foothills of 

the Uwharrie Mountains. 

that can be played inside your comfort 

level from any of the four sets 

of tees. 

Considered one of the region’s 

premiere golf destinations, RBGC is 

just 25 minutes from downtown 

Charlotte and just minutes outside 

the I-485 loop. 

Red Bridge is offering 

memberships for 

Monday-Friday play for 

seniors for only $175 with 

no cart fee. An Associate 

membership, also for 

Monday-Friday play can 

be purchased for $185. 

To further save 

you some cash on your 

next round at Red Bridge, 

golfers are invited to 

bring in the ad on this 

page for a $10 discount 

on their regular rack 

rates. Rates start as low 

as $39 for weekdays and 

$49 for weekends with 

discounts given to seniors 

and juniors, plus a $22 

same-day replay rate. 

To make your tee time 

or get more information 

contact Red Bridge Golf 

Club at 704-781-5231 

or log on at www.redbridgegolfclub.com 


Imagine the unbridled joy of 

consistently hitting fairways - 

the ability to hit the ball straight 

makes playing golf faster, less 

expensive and much more fun. 

Fewer lost balls to replace, less time 

searching and hunting for wayward 

drives and above all, greater enjoyment 

because of 

the improved self 

respect and satisfaction 

that 

comes with 

shooting lower 

scores! 

The Polara 

self-correcting 

ball does all of 

that by reducing 

hooks and slices up to 75%. A 

unique, asymmetrical dimple 

pattern positions shallow dimples 

around the ball’s equator and deeper 

dimples at the poles. 

One glance and you clearly see 

the Polara difference. Try them and 

you’ll undoubtedly experience the 

self-correcting effect. 

“The Polara ball was amazing,” 

stated Carolina Golf Journal 

Publisher Sam Smith after a recent 

round at Rumbling Bald Resort. 

“You can still hit the shots you want, 

a draw or a fade, and not worry that 

the ball is going to carry too far offline 

and into trouble. With these 

results, I can understand why the 

USGA has banned the Polara ball 

for tournament play, but I am happy 

to see that the ball is designed for 

the largest number of players today.” 

Polara balls are for the majority 

of golfers who are recreational 

players, ones who want to take 

advantage of improved technology 

and those who want to have fun 

playing golf. “We’re not trying to 

remove the skill from the game,” 

said Polara’s director of R&D, 

David Felker, “we’re just trying to 

remove the frustration.” 

Polara went to Golf Labs in San 

Diego to validate 

their self-correcting 

ball’s performance 

and the results 

were eye-opening. 

During robotic 

testing where a 

significant slice 

was induced, on 

average, Polara 

balls reduced the 

slicing effect by 75% over traditional 

balls including premium brands. 

Golf Labs director Gene Parente 

states, “We set up the Golf Labs 

robot to simulate a 90 foot slice 

based on launch conditions of an 

average golfer. With the nonconforming 

Polara Ultimate Straight 

golf ball we found that compared to 

several popular conforming golf 

balls, which all sliced about 90 feet, 

the Polara ball corrected up to 70 

feet of the 90 foot slice.” 

Bill Pennington (New York 

Times) wrote, “The design of the 

equipment Review 

The New Polara Golf Ball Eliminates Slicing - 

Banned by USGA for Tournament Play 

Special for the Carolina Golf Journal 

(Polara) ball corrects slices and 

hooks by 75%. When I took the 

ball to a New Jersey driving range, 

regular golfers and the occasional 

pro could not slice or hook the ball 

with any regularity.” 

Veteran journalist Ron Claiborne 

(ABC News, Good Morning 

America) reported, “I carefully teed 

up a Polara ball, arrow on top, as 

instructed. I reared back and let it 

rip. The ball soared high into the 

sky, arched and landed on the fairway 

about 250 yards away. It had 

flown straight and true from tee to 

landing. I was in shock. ‘No slice!’ 

I exclaimed. I hit another Polara. 

The same thing. And another. I 

simply could not hit a bad shot. It 

was a miracle. Coincidently, I’m 

eager to play more.” 

Get a trial Combo Pack 

With Polara golf balls, hit more fairways, 

shoot lower scores and have 

more fun - guaranteed or your 

money back. Polara Golf is offering 

one 3-ball sleeve of Ultimate 

Straight balls and one 3-ball sleeve 

of XD golf balls together for just 

$9.95 (incl S&H). Polara balls are 

at retailers nationwide but this 

specially priced sampler pack is only 

available at www.tryPolara.com 

Go to www.TryPolara.com for free offer for CGJ readers. 

_____________________________________________________________ www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 15

2012 Charlotte City am Championship 

City’s Best Ready for 2012 Charlotte City 

Amateur Golf Tournament 

Brett Boner enjoys his Charlotte City AM 

victory with son henry in 2011. 

The heat of Charlotte in mid- 

August could feel like a cool 

spring day compared to the 

high-level degree of competition 

expected in the 53rd Charlotte City 

Amateur Golf Tournament. 

Defending Champion, Brett 

Boner will return to highlight 

another strong field for the three-day 

event beginning on Friday, August 

17th Cedarwood Country Club. 

The re-designed Carmel Country 

Club South Course will challenge 

the field in the second round, while 

the Charlotte Country Club will 

again host the final round on Sunday, 

August 19th. 

Boner, who had finished 

second in the City event 

two previous years before 

winning last year, outdueled 

his brother-in-law 

Stephen Woodard at 

Charlotte Country Club 

to win by five strokes. His 

three-day total was 8-under 

par 204, highlighted by a 

record-setting 62 at Myers 

Park in the second round. 

Woodard kept it close 

through the front nine on 

the final day in route to 

a Sunday-best 68, but 

couldn’t catch Boner on the 

back side and finished with 

a 3-under par total of 209. 

Advertise with the Carolina Golf Journal... 

The most affordable golf magazine 

advertising in the Carolinas! 

Target your audience – Get Results! 

Contact Sam Smith 

704-756-9909 

sam@carolinagolfjournal.com 

www.carolinagolfjournal.com 

Photo Credit: Charlotte City Amateur Club 

Boner, a former professional 

mini-tour player and college player 

at Auburn, confirmed that the 62 at 

Myers Park was a personal best and 

a key to his victory. 

“I had to battle in the final round 

after that really low round to build 

my lead.” stated Boner. “I knew 

Stephen would come at me hard and 

he did cut my lead to just 2 shots 

heading to the back nine. I just 

relied on playing solid golf and not 

letting some 

timid play spoil 

my chance to 

win.” 

In addition 

to Boner, several 

other former 

champions 

return in the 

qualifying field 

this year 

including 2010 

champion Brent 

Landry, 2009 

By Sam Smith 

Brett Boner, 

a former 

professional 

mini-tour player 

used his picture 

swing to finish at 

8-under par to 

capture his first 

city title. 

champion Nolan Mills and 2008 

winner Ron Kirkpatrick, and fourtime 

winner Joe Jaspers. 

Braxton McLennan, director of 

the Charlotte City Amateur Tournament, 

said. “We’re very proud of the 

growth of the City Amateur since 

our re-birth in 2008. We’ve always 

said that if you get the courses, the 

players will come. The three 

participating country clubs this 

year, and the ones allowing us to 

play their courses in the past, have 

been excellent supporters and a 

big reason our tournament is one 

of the best amateur events in 

North Carolina.” 

The Donald Ross designed Charlotte 

Country Club will host the City Am finals 

for the second straight year August 19th. 


Photo Credit: Charlotte City Amateur Club 

Photo Credit: Charlotte Country

1. Apple Valley Golf Course 

Resort - 18 

Lake Lure 877-628-9727 or 828-694-3043 

r2. Bald Mountain Golf Course 

Resort - 18 

Lake Lure 877-628-9728 or 828-694-3042 

1. Ballantyne Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-544-9755 

2. Ballantyne Golf Club (resort) 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 704-341-4653 

3. Birkdale Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Huntersville 704-895-8038 

4. Briar Creek Golf Club 

Semi-Private - 18 

High Shoals 704-922-4208 

5. Cabarrus Country Club 

Private - 18 

Concord 704-786-8154 

6. Carmel Country Club 

Private - 36 

Charlotte 704-542-2457 

7. Carolina Crossing Golf Club 

Public – 18 

York 803-684-5878 

8. Carolina Golf and Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-392-6363 

9. Carolina lakes Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Indian Land 803-547-9688 

10. Cedarwood Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-542-0206 

11. Charles t. Myers Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 704-536-1692 

12. Charlotte Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-333-9809 

13. Charlotte Golf links 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 704-846-7990 

14. Charlotte National Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Indian Trail 704-882-8282 

15. Chester Golf Club 


Chester, SC 803-581-5733 

16. the Club at irish Creek 

Private - 18 

Kannapolis 704-933-4336 

17. the Club at longview 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-443-2820 

18. Corbin Hills Golf Course 


Salisbury 704-636-0672 

19. Country Club of salisbury 

Private 

Salisbury 704-636-7070 

20. Cowans ford CC 

Private - 18 

Cowans Ford 704-827-3219 

21. Cramer Mountain CC 

Private - 18 

Cramerton 704-824-2772 

Golf Course map 

Charlotte Area Golf Course Map 

Find Your Next Golf Game on CGJ’s Special Pull-out Map 

22. Crescent Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Salisbury 704-647-0025 

23. Crowders Mountain Golf & CC 

Public - 18 

Kings Mountain 704-739-7681 

24. deer Brook Golf Club 


Shelby 704-482-4653 

25. the divide 

Public - 18 

Mint Hill 704-882-8088 

26. eagle Chase Golf Club 


Marshville 704-385-9000 

27. edgewater Golf Club 


Lancaster 803-283-9800 

28. emerald lake Golf Club 


704-882-7888 Mint Hill 

29. firethorne Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-843—3111 

30. fort Mill Golf Club 


Fort Mill 803-547-2044 

31. fox den Country Club 


Statesville 704-872-9990 

32. foxwood Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Salisbury 704-637-2528 

33. Gaston Country Club 

Private - 18 

Gastonia 704-865-7949 

34. Gastonia Municipal Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Gastonia 704-866-6945 

35. Glen oaks Golf Club 

Semi-private - 18 

Maiden 828-428-2451 

36. Golf Village 

Public Par-3 

Pineville 704-889-5086 

37. Green Meadows Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Mt. Holly 704-827-9264 

38. Green oaks Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Concord 704-786-4412 

39. Highland Creek Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 704-875-9000 

40. King's Mountain 

Country Club 

Public - 18 

Kings Mountain 

704-739-5871 

41. lakewood Golf 

Course 

Public - 18 

Cramerton 704-825-2852 

42. lakewood Golf 

Course 

Public - 18 


43. lancaster Golf Club 


Lancaster 803-416—4500 

44. larkhaven Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 545-4653 

45. lincoln Country Club 


Lincolnton 704-735-1382 

46. linwood springs 

Public - 18 

Gastonia 704-867-1642 

47. Mallard Head Country Club 


Mooresville 704-664-7031 

48. McCanless Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Salisbury 704-637-1235 

49. Monroe Country Club 

Public - 18 

Monroe 704-282-4661 

50. Mooresville Country Club 

Public - 18 


51. Myers Park Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-376-0745 

52. Northstone Country Club 

Private - 18 


53. oak Hill Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 704-394-2834 

54. old North state Club 

Private - 18 

1-800-252-1005 Badin Lake 

55. olde sycamore Golf Plantation 

Public - 18 

Mint Hill 704-573-1000 

56. the Palisades Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-504-0099 

57. Paradise Valley Golf Course 

Public Par-3 - 18 

Charlotte 704-548-1808 

58. Pebble Creek 


Indian Trail 704-821-7276 

59. the Peninsula Club 

Private - 18 

Cornelius 704-896-7060 

60. Pine Grove Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Shelby 704-487-0455 


R1 R2 

Use the 

WeBsite 

to get great discount 

deals on area golf. 

www.carolinagolfjournal.com

61. Pine island Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-394-1011 

62. Pine lake Country Club 

Private - 18 

Mint Hill 704-545-5213 

63. Pinetuck Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Rock Hill 803-327-1141 

64. the Point lake and Golf Club 

Private - 18 


65. Providence Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-846-6325 

66. Quail Hollow Country Club 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-552-1726 

67. raintree Country Club 

Private - 36 

Charlotte 704-542-8150 

68. red Bridge Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Locust 704-781-5231 

69. regent Park Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Fort Mill 803-547-1300 

70. renaissance Park Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 704-357-3373 

71. revolution Park Golf Course 

Public - 9 

Charlotte 704-342-1946 

72. riverbend Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Shelby 704-482-4286 

73. river Hills Country Club 

Private - 18 

Lake Wylie 803-831-2249 

74. river oaks Golf Club 



75. river run Golf & CC 

Private - 18 

Davidson 704-896-7355 

76. rock Barn Golf & spa 


Conover 828-459-9279 

77. rock Hill Country Club 

Private - 18 

Rock Hill 803-327-7790 

78. rocky river Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Concord 704-455-1200 

79. rolling Hills Country Club 

Private - 18 

Monroe 704-283-8201 

80. skybrook Golf Club 



81. springfield Golf Club 


Fort Mill 803-548-3318 

82. spring lake Golf Club 


York 803-684-4898 

83. statesville Country Club 

Private - 18 


84. stonebridge Golf Club 


Mineral Springs 704-283-8998 

85. sunset Hills Golf Course 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 704-399-0980 

86. tega Cay Golf Club 

Public - 18 

Tega Cay 803-548-2918 

87. tot Hill farm Golf Club 


Asheboro 336-857-4455 

88. tPC at Piper Glen 

Private - 18 

Charlotte 704-846-1515 

89. the tradition 

Public - 18 

Charlotte 704-503-7529 

90. twin oaks Golf Course 

Public - 18 


91. Verdict ridge Golf & CC 


Denver 704-489-1206 

92. Warrior Golf Club 


China Grove 704-856-0871 

93. Waterford Golf Club 


Rock Hill 803-324-0300 

94. Westport Golf 

Public - 18 

Denver 704-489-8088 

95. White oak 


Alexis 704-263-9990 

96. Woodbridge Golf links 


Kings Mountain 704-482-0353 


An early morning July 5th fire 

completely destroyed the 

clubhouse at Emerald Lake 

Golf Club. Still under investigation, 

the cause of the blaze appears to 

have been kitchen-related or possibly 

related to fireworks being use in the 

Emerald Lake subdivision. 

While authorities do their job 

determing the cause of the fire, the 

staff at Emerald Lake Golf Club is 

back at work. None of the golf 

holes were affected by the fire, and 

the course is open for business. A 

temporary trailer will serve as the 

pro shop until 

the clubhouse 

is rebuilt within 

the next 

12-months. 

General 

Manager Matt 

Pennell assures 

the Carolina 

Golf Journal that 

you will still 

enjoy your 

round of golf at Emerald Lake 

with the course, practice range and 

putting green in excellent condition. 

local area Golf notes 

Emerald Lake Golf Club – Still open for Business after Fire 

For a tee time call 704-882-7888 

or visit their website at 

www.emeraldlakegolfclub.com 

Mark McLauchlan reclaims GM job at highland Creek 

Mark McLauchlan 

highland Creek General Manager 

Mark McLauchlan has been 

named the General Manager 

at Highland Creek Golf 

Since their opening as a golf 

outlet at the flea market in 

Pineville, Fred and Tripp 

Porter have been moving their 

business forward. With the success 

of their Pineville store (located in 

the Centrum Shopping Center), a 

thriving eBay business and countless 

road-show trips along the East 

Club, a position he held 

previously from 1996 - 

1999; three years before 

that he was the Head Pro 

at the north Charlotte 

course. 

From 2000 until 

2009 McLauchlan was in 

pharmaceutical sales, but 

his real passion was to 

follow his dream of being a golf 

professional, now he has returned 

to his roots in the golf business. 

Photo Credit: highland Creek Golf Club 

coast, it is only natural that GGE 

grow their business toward north 

Mecklenburg County. 

Greater Golf Express will open 

the doors of their newest location in 

the Northcross Shopping Center 

located at 9755-A Sam Furr Road – 

Huntersville – east of 1-77 at 

exit 25 on or around July 21st. You 

July 5th fire destroys 

Emerald Lake clubhouse. 

A “Class A” Member - PGA 

of America - McLauchlan started 

his golf career as an assistant golf 

professional at Carmel Country Club 

from 1987 until 1993 when he took 

the Highland Creek Head Pro job. 

A 1987 graduate of Ferris 

State University with a degree in 

Professional Golf Management 

and Marketing, Mark has been in 

tournament sales for the past two 

years for Carolina Trail. 

to open new store in huntersville 

can contact GGE at 704-464-0070. 

Just as in their Pineville store, 

golfers will find a vast assortment 

of golf equipment - new and used - 

along with a wide array of golf 

accessories. A dedicated sales 

staff and golf professionals are 

there to help you get the right 

equipment that fits your golf game. 


Photo Credit: WCNC-Tv, Charlotte

When the Chiquita Classic 

comes to the The Club at 

Longview September 24 - 

30, it will be carrying a new name 

for the professional tour level of 

play. On June 27th the PGA Tour 

Commissioner Tim Finchem 

announced 

that effective 

immediately 

the Nationwide 

Tour 

would be 

replaced by 

a new 

sponsor - 

the Web.com 

Tour. 


PGa Tournament news 

PGA Commissioner Tim 

Finchem announces 

the 10-year deal with 

Web.com to sponsor the 

developmental tour. 

Nationwide Tour now called the Web.com Tour 

The Club at Longview to host the tour’s Chiquita Classic 

The 10year 

deal 

with 

Web.com 

takes over a 

tour that is 

the minor league of professional 

golf, where aspiring pros try to 

qualify for the PGA Tour. Terms of 

the deal were not disclosed, though 

the return on name recognition alone 

is proven. Nationwide took over as 

the umbrella sponsor in 2003, and it 

has turned into a noun in the golf 

world. 

This is the fifth name in the last 

22 years of this developmental tour 

which was established in 1990 by 

the PGA Tour. It was originally 

named the Ben Hogan Tour, 

sponsored by the Ben Hogan Golf 

Company. After three seasons, Nike 

acquired the title sponsorship. Then 

in 2000 Buy.com became the title 

sponsor through 2002, when 

Nationwide acquired the rights. 

Special to Carolina Golf Journal 

Web.com, based in Jacksonville, 

Fla., is a provider of internet services 

and online marketing solutions to 

small and medium-sized businesses. 

The company was founded in 1997. 

Since going public in 2005, chairman 

and CEO David Brown said it has 

grown from 50,000 customers to 3 

million customers, and its revenues 

have increased from $30 million to 

$500 million. 

“There’s no better venue in 

sports today than golf, and through 

the PGA Tour association we’ll be 

seen. We’ll have literally hundreds 

of millions of impressions throughout 

the world,” Brown said “It’s OK 

that you don’t know the ‘Web.com’ 

name, that’s by design. We’ve been 

a very quiet company up to this 

point, but we believe that mass 

adoption of the internet by small 

businesses is happening now, so 

now we think it’s the time to strike.” 

“We looked through all the different 

opportunities and we felt that 

the PGA Tour was the best opportunity 

not only to create a voice in the 

marketplace but to create a positive 

voice. That professionalism, that 

integrity, that dedication that is 

associated with PGA Tour, that's 

what we are, as well. And we want 

that to rub off on us as we build 

our brand in the marketplace.” 

“They’re a company that’s wellpositioned,” 

PGA Tour Commissioner 

Tim Finchem said. “They’re 

in a growth mode. Because they 

deal with literally millions of small 

businesses around the United States, 

they are a company that’s interested 

in every single market in this country.” 

The agreement comes four 

months after the tour renewed its 

deal for the FedEx Cup, a $35 

million bonus series. Last fall, the 

tour negotiated a nine-year television 

deal with NBC Sports and CBS 

Sports, meaning its TV contracts are 

set through 2021. 

The Web.com Tour currently 

awards PGA Tour membership to 

the 25 leading money winners at the 

end of the season. With structural 

changes to the PGA Tour qualifying 

set to begin in the fall of 2013, the 

Web.com Tour will award 50 PGA 

memberships to the top 50 money 

winners. 

The Charlotte bound Chiquita 

Classic will feature a field of 156 

players competing with 72 holes of 

stroke play for a purse of $550,000. 

The Club at Longview opened for 

play in 2003 and is a 7,065-yard 

Jack Nicklaus layout. It is located in 

south Charlotte off Tom Short Road 

just past the back entrance to 

Providence Country Club, about 

15 miles from downtown. A pro-am 

will be played on Wednesday, 

September 26. 

The Chiquita Classic has named 

the Charlotte chapter of the Juvenile 

Diabetes Research Foundation 

(JDRF) as the Tournament’s 

primary charity beneficiary. 

“We are pleased to name the 

Charlotte Chapter of JDRF as the 

primary beneficiary of the Chiquita 

Classic,” said Fernando Aguirre, 

Chiquita chairman and chief 

executive officer. “Millions of 

Americans have juvenile diabetes 

and through the Chiquita Classic 

we hope to make an impact in 

defeating this disease.” 


In conjunction with the Tournament’s 

support of JDRF, the Chiquita 

Classic has established the “Charity 

Ticket Program”, which will enable 

Charlotte-area 501c3 charities to sell 

Chiquita Classic tickets and retain 

100 percent of the sales for the benefit 

of their respective organizations. 

Over the past two years, the Chiquita 

Classics have raised more than 

$400,000 for charitable organizations. 

“I call on all Charlotte-area 

charities to take advantage of this 

great ticket program,” added Aguirre. 

“This is the perfect way to raise 

funds for their organizations and to 

get an affordable chance to see some 

of the best players in professional 

golf.” 

A portion of the proceeds from The Chiquita Classic debuts in Charlotte at The Club at Longview September 24-30th. 

the Tournament will also benefit The 

First Tee of Charlotte and the Petty Family Foundation. 

For questions concerning ticket prices and availability, and general Tournament information 

please call 877-597-8855 or visit www.chiquitaclassic.com. 

Features dramatic 

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Mon.-Fri. $39 

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$37 

Mon.-Fri. (anytime) $29 

704-882-7888 

www.emeraldlakegolfclub.com 


louis s. Csoka, Ph.d. 

mental approach Golf Tips 

Probably 

not! 

Not 

because you 

don’t want to 

be, or because 

you are incapable of great moments, 

but because we don’t understand 

what true clutch players really do. 

Being successful does not necessarily 

equate to being good under pressure. 

But being consistent in those successes 

does. Let’s take the 1992 

Army-Navy game to set the scene 

for this discussion. 

It’s the fourth-quarter with two 

minutes and 30 seconds remaining. 

Imagine yourself as Army’s field 

goal kicker. Army has just delivered 

a remarkable fourth quarter comeback 

to within two points from a 

14-point deficit. The crowd is 

absolutely wild! 

Army has the ball and is driving 

down the field but gets stalled on 

the 27-yard line with 40 seconds 

remaining. It is fourth down. A field 

goal is the only chance for winning 

the game. It is up to you. You have 

kicked a 44-yarder only once before 

during the season. The ball is 

snapped. It is in the air and it is 

good! The stadium erupts in wild 

celebration. Your teammates rush 

onto the field. You have beaten 

Navy in the most important moment 

of your life as a West Point athlete. 

But wait! There is a flag. Delay 

of game by Army and a five yard 

penalty. Kick it again. 

But now it is a 49-yard kick. 

You have never even attempted that 

distance before, let alone make it. 

The ball is snapped. It is in the air 

and travels dead center through the 

Are You a Clutch Golfer? 

By Dr. Louis S Csoka. Apex Performance 

uprights, with yards to spare. Army 

wins 25-24! You just delivered a 

clutch performance. Everyone would 

agree, and having personal knowledge 

of this cadet’s performance and 

mental training, I agree as well. 

So what makes clutch performers 

like this cadet? It’s not what 

most people think. The reality is 

that most people do very poorly in 

extreme situations. The general 

understanding of clutch performance 

is being able to do extraordinary 

things in critical situations. That is 

not the real description though. 

According to Paul Sullivan who has 

written a very interesting book 

about clutch performers, 1 clutch 

performers actually do what they 

normally do except they also do it 

in critical situations. Nothing 

extraordinary in terms of what they 

do but extraordinary in the outcome. 

This means they can be counted on 

consistently. It’s not a one-time shot. 

Golf can very quickly become a 

Photo Credit: paulsullivan.com 

game in need of a series of clutch 

performances. We have all been 

there. The make-or-break moment in 

a critical tournament or match - the 

decisive putt, the par-3 tee shot that 

has to get within three feet of the 

cup, the bunker shot that must land 

on the green. But it all goes wrong. 

The putt almost sinks in but circles 

the cup then in and out. The tee shot 

that goes awry. The bunker shot 

that’s too deep and stays in the 

bunker. You choked. 

The author of Clutch goes on to 

identify three unexpected characteristics 

of “chokers”, 2 

1. failure to accept 

responsibility for what 

they have done when 

something goes wrong 

2. over thinking an 

opportunity which 

paralyzes a person 

under pressure 

3. tendency to be 

overconfident 

Chokers think too much, 

analyze too long, and place too 

much meaning into a situation 

which makes it way more complex. 

Laying blame elsewhere instead of 

taking responsibility for the outcome 

is also common among 

chokers. They find it difficult to 

accept that they were the primary 

cause of a failure. Interestingly 

enough, those most suited to solve 

a problem are likely to fail under the 

pressure of making a quick decision 

or relying on their instincts. In other 

words, they have the skills, knowledge 

and attributes for the task but 

don’t have the best mind set for it. 

The first instinctive response to 


find a solution, thinking, quickly 

becomes worrying which consumes 

the mind in a lot of irrelevant activity. 

The brain has limited resources for 

doing its work, and if a lot of energy 

is used in thinking about what just 

happened or what is going to happen, 

there is very little left for the brain to 

process that automatic “I don’t even 

have to think about it” shot you have 

been perfecting for so long. 

Sian Beilock in her book, 

Choke, writes “the later golfers learn 

the sport, the more vulnerable they 

are to choking under pressure. The 

reason has to do with the fact that 

the later you learn the more 

dependent you are on your working 

memory. The younger you learn, the 

more you develop your skills using 

sensory and motor-brain areas.” 3 

So for you older players or should I 

say experienced, go back to your 

instincts and stop with the thinking. 

Chokers also spend far too much 

time on the effects of a 

critical moment instead of 

focusing on what is 

needed to be done now. 

Clutch performers 

have great confidence in 

their abilities and remain 

calm and composed. They 

are more likely to respond 

intuitively with little to no 

thinking. What looks like 

extraordinary effort and 

action to an outsider, is 

really what clutch 

performers do on a regular 

basis but are able to bring 

it to the ”big game”. 

I strongly recommend the 

two books below for anyone 

interested in learning 

more about clutch. 

1 Clutch, Paul Sullivan, Portfolio, 2011 

2 Ibid, pp.9-10 

3 Choke, Sian Beilock, Free Press, 2010 

Photo credit - Sian Beilock-Univ. of Chicago 

perform at your best 

when it matters the most. 

Mental Skills for Golf and Life 

Technology to Develop the Mind for Peak Performance 


mountain Golf Playing offer 

Many places offer summer 

golf getaways in the 

South. Only one, however, 

promises you’ll play in temperatures 

no higher than the 70s. 

As a matter of fact, Beech 

Mountain not only promises such 

comfortable temperatures, it guarantees 

them as part of its Summer of 

79° stay-and-play package. 

This unique program is tied to 

the daily high as recorded at the 

official National Weather Service 

reporting station on Beech Mountain. 

If the temperature exceeds 79 

degrees any day that a stay-and-play 

golfer tees it up at Beech Mountain 

Club, the club refunds all golf fees. 

Photo Credit: Beech Mt. Club 

“The thing I really like about 

this promotion is the ‘cool’ factor - 

being able to guarantee you can golf 

in the heart of summer in temperatures 

less than 80 degrees,” says 

Brian Barnes, general manager of 

Beech Mountain Club. “I used to 

live in the Triangle area of North 

Carolina, where high temperatures 

and humidity each summer can be 

rough. We want people to know they 

can escape those conditions and play 

Beech’s Summer of 79° - 

Cool Weather or the Golf is on Us 

Special for the Carolina Golf Journal 

golf in comfort.” 

Golfers who book the Summer 

of 79° package are assured a winwin 

situation. They get to play a 

very good course with a high probability 

of cool summer temperatures. 

And if they happen to tee it up on a 

rare occasion when the mercury 

does reach 80, club officials will automatically 

mail a refund check of 

$60 within 10 days. 

“I hope we have a couple days 

this year where people get a refund,” 

says Barnes. “I think that will help 

entice folks because of the word of 

mouth.” 

Beech Mountain’s weather 

service station was installed in 1992 

Superb views into Tennessee and 

virginia are common from multiple vantage 

points, including #10 tee-box. 

by businessman Fred 

Pfohl of Fred’s 

General Mercantile. 

Since that time, the 

official high temperature 

has reached 80 

degrees seven times 

and topped out at 81 

on another occasion. 

There have also been 

seven days when the 

high was 79. 

“These mountains have their 

own climate and the things that happen 

here are always a little unique to 

the rest of the world,” Pfohl says. 

While pleasant temperatures are 

promised, there is another reason 

golfers should consider Beech 

Mountain. The course at Beech 

Mountain Club is quite picturesque, 

perched on a number of north-facing 

ridges. Superb views into Tennessee 

and Virginia are common from 

multiple vantage points. 

The design of the course is also 

superb. Noted architect Willard Byrd 

took advantage of high mountain 

terrain to craft a playable - yet challenging 

- 18-hole layout. The par-3s 

are especially dramatic with three of 

them routed downhill over ponds. 

Although Beech Mountain Club 

is private, access to the course has 

The par-3s are especially dramatic 

with three of them routed downhill 

over ponds like #9 shown here. 


Photo Credit: Beech Mt. Club

Photo Credit: Beech Mt. Club 

been available for several years via 

local stay-and-play packages. Approximately 

three-fourths of all 

lodging operations on the mountain 

have club memberships, thus providing 

golf access for their guests. 

This summer, lodging owners 

decided to work with the club to add 

a little spice to the stay-and-play 

For the third straight year the 

North Carolina golf media 

team captured the Battle of 

the Smokies trophy in the Ryder 

Cup style matches held at The 

Beech Mountain Club. 

The Tar Heel state team, 

captained by Keith Jarrett of the 

Asheville Citizen-Times, staged a 

strong second round and forged to 

an insurmountable lead that resulted 

in a 43-1/2 to 28-1/2 victory to take 

a 3-2 advantage in the yearly event. 

For the second time in the three 

North Carolina victories, Rich 

Rushforth of Star 102.5 FM in Pinehurst 

recorded the winning point in 

the final day singles matches. 

The three-day event was started 

in 2008 for bragging rights between 

the golf news media of Tennessee 

and North Carolina. The Volunteer 

state golfers started strong winning 

the first two matches at Maggie 

Cool temperatures 

and a beautiful golf course 

showcased at Beech Mt. Club. 

packages. The 

end result is a 

season-long 

promise of 

comfy temperatures 

for longsuffering 

legions 

of Southern 

golfers who 

sweat it out each 

summer on the 

links. 

“The great 

thing about the 

Summer of 79° promotion is there 

aren’t many places that can offer a 

deal like this,” says Calder Smoot, 

chair of the Beech Mountain 

Tourism Development Authority. 

“We always brag about how cool it 

is here in summer. This gives us a 

chance to put our money where our 

Valley in 2008, and in 2009 hosted 

by Beech Mountain Club and Sugar 

Mountain Golf Club. 

Prior to the 2012 visit to Beech 

Mountain again, the competition 

was hosted by the Mt. Mitchell 

Golf Club 

(2010) and 

the Primland 

Resort (2011). 

In addition 

to the hospitality 

of Beech 

Mountain 

Club’s General 

Manager Brian 

Barnes and 

host PGA pro 

John Carrin, 

the Pinnacle 

Inn Resort furnished 

housing 

for the competitors. 

Along with 

mouth is.” 

The Summer of 79° stay-andplay 

packages are available May 21 

through Oct. 21, 2012. Double occupancy 

prices start at $79 per person, 

per night, in a standard room with a 

two-night minimum. Upgrades to 

condos, chalets or vacation homes 

are available as well. 

“Up here on this mountain with 

the cool, crisp air and lower humidity, 

it’s just so much more pleasant 

to get out and play during summer,” 

Barnes says. “Folks who do come 

here and experience the course 

typically want to come back, and 

we want to see them back.” 

For full details, 

call (800) 468-5506 or visit: 

www.BeechMtn.com/summerof79 

North Carolina captures a trio of wins 

in the Battle of the Smokies By Sam Smith 

the excellent dinning provided by 

Beech Mountain’s Executive Chef 

Roger Cote, the players also enjoyed 

breakfast at the Blue Ridge 

Cannery, Fred’s General Mercantile 

and dinner at Beech Alpen. 

North Carolina Team - Front row (left to right) henry Lister, Eric 

Eckard, Captain Keith Jarrett, Tom horan and Tom McAuliffe. 

Back Row - Betsy Mitchell, Jeff Smith, Sam Smith, Michael Dann, 

Chuck Werle and Rich Rushforth. (Not pictured - Craig Distl) 


Photo Credit: CRAIG DISTL PR

local Golf Savings #1 Website 

Clickitgolf.com was started as 

a system for avid golfers to 

use the Internet to save 

money at many affiliated local golf 

courses. Little did the developers of 

the website dream that their start-up 

project would affect so many golfers 

and become the area’s #1 website 

for the best golf deals. 

Locally owned and operated by 

Rob Browning and Chris Quinn. 

Clickitgolf.com has grown to 

service over 400 golf courses and 

300,000 golfers in 14 states. Golfers 

using Clickitgolf.com are now 

saving from 10% up to 70% on 

rounds of golf at area golf courses. 

Clickitgolf.com has also created 

a perfect method for local golfers to 

find a weekly game with the imple- 

By Sam Smith 

earns #1 rating for golf savings 

mentation of Clickit 18. All 

Clickit18 events are designed for 

golfers to have fun and enjoy the 

company of other Clickitgolf.com 

members at the area golf courses. 

The schedule of Clickit18 events are 

posted on the website, simply choose 

one to play your next round of golf. 

All events will include an optional 

“skins” game for interested players. 

Regular users of Clickitgolf.com 

have found that frequent purchases 

will earn great rewards. For every 

8 rounds of golf purchased, the 

Clickitgolf.com member will 

receive $15 credit to use on future 

golf games. 

If you need help keeping up 

with your handicap, Clickitgolf.com 

will keep track of your scores and 

furnish you a handicap along with 

stat tracking information like 

fairways hit, greens in regulation 

and putts. 

Clickitgolf.com members can 

play Fantasy Golf in either public or 

private leagues, with weekly updates 

on league leaders. Along with this 

information Clickitgolf.com 

includes weekly emails with the 

best offers on golf. 

Maybe the best part of 

Clickitgolf.com is the fact that 

it’s FREE to join – just signup at 

www.clickitgolf.com. If you are 

not using Clickitgolf.com you are 

missing out on big savings on your 

golf games, plus additional features 

that will make your summer more 

enjoyable with fun and games. 


Ihave had the pleasure of teaching the 

great game of golf for 19 years. During 

my time as Director of Golf Instruction 

and Head Golf Professional @ 

Santa Teresa Country Club in New Mexico, 

I taught a variety of golfers - old, 

young, male and female. 

“Chris, I slice the ball, can you help 

me?” Which is usually has some expletives’ 

involved. 

For the right handed golfer the ball 

starts out on target then moves quickly 

right curving the ball into trouble and 

the author of the shot spewing profanities. 

On the lesson tee, I sometimes go 

into a huge diatribe about physics, 

geometry and clockwise spin of the 

golf ball…OR I break out a half full 

water bottle and fix the problem in ten 

minutes, with three easy steps. Some 

students have a genuine yearning for the 

why’s and how’s…..and some students 

just don’t really care. Chris…just fix it. 

step one – Go to your nearest driving 

range and buy the largest bucket of 

balls they offer. Grab your clubs and 

find a nice spot that 

you have some quiet 

time. Oh…..buy a 

bottle of water, the 

kind that comes in the 

pliable plastic form. 

Drink some. 

step two – RELAX 

(especially your grip… 

you are only putting 

enough pressure on 

your grip as you would 

on a tube of toothpaste.) 

Your slice is 

curable just calm down 

and realize that close 

to 80% of golfers suffer 

through the same 

thing. Grab that new 

driver you have and some extra long 

tees. Take some deep breaths…and 

make sure that you have finished half 

the water, it has been very hot in the 

Carolinas lately and water will keep 

you hydrated. 

ball and place the water bottle exactly 

two feet (24”) behind the ball (on your 

target line). This is a drill…do not attempt 

on the golf course, the fellows you 

are playing for money may scream 

protest. Take your driver backswing 

OUTSIDE the water bottle and the 

downswing INSIDE the water bottle. If 

the bottle is hit, oh well. Lesson learned. 

Try this drill hundreds of times. 

As a PGA Professional I cannot 

stress how important the path a club 

takes to the ball is. Oh…do it another 

hundred times. THAT IS HOW IMPOR- 

TANT CLUB PATH IS TO THE BALL. 

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Cool Your Slice…..with Water 

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A water bottle - 

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slice that I am giving 

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If you are still slicing 

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visit the new location of Greater Golf 

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Drive, huntersville, NC, 704-464-0070. 

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_____________________________________________________________ 

www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 29 

Chris hardman

local Golf Pros Honored 

Rader and Cole once Again Selected Among 

Special for the Carolina Golf Journal America’s Best Golf Teachers 

Dana Rader (left) and Julie Cole have been honored again 

among America's Top 50 Women's Golf Teachers. 

It’s becoming a very pleasant 

reoccurring event in the golf 

teaching world, as two very 

well-known local instructors have 

been honored again among 

America’s Best Women Teachers. 

Dana Rader, Founder and 

Owner of Dana Rader Golf School 

headquartered in Charlotte, NC, and 

Julie Cole, Managing Partner of 

Dana Rader Golf School, have been 

named among Golf Digest Woman’s 

America’s 50 Best Women Teachers. 

This biennial ranking of female 

golf instructors, as voted by their 

peers, ranked Rader #3 and Cole at 

Photo Credit: The Bissell Companies 

Photo Credit: The Bissell Companies 

#23 out of approximately 

1,600 female 

Class A PGA of 

America and LPGA 

Teaching and Club 

Professional members. 

Rader, an LPGA 

Master Professional 

with 30 years teaching 

experience, is national 

president of the LPGA’s 

T&CP division. 

Ranked 47th on Golf 

Digest’s 50 Best 

Teachers list, Rader 

works with everyone 

from elite players to 

beginners. 

Cole, a Master 

Professional with 20 

years teaching experience, 

gained notoriety 

playing professionally 

for seven years on the 

Future’s, European, 

Asian and LPGA Tour, 

winning 12 tournaments 

worldwide. Cole 

has been a regular contributor of 

timeless golf tips for the Carolina 

Golf Journal over the past two years. 

Dana Rader Golf School is 

North Carolina’s most complete 

state-of-the-art teaching and 

practice facility. Selected to Golf 

Magazine’s prestigious list of Top 

25 Golf Schools in America and #1 

in North Carolina, Dana Rader Golf 

School specializes in quality golf 

schools and lessons for players of 

all ages and skill levels. 

As indicated again this year 

with the latest Golf Digest awards, 

Dana Rader Golf School’s full staff 

of award-winning PGA and LPGA 

certified professionals offers extensive 

programs and highly personalized 

instruction for men, women, 

juniors and corporate events. 

For more information about 

Dana Rader Golf School, 

call 704.542.7635 or 

visit www.danarader.com. 

Dana Rader Golf School is North Carolina’s #1 state-of-the-art 

teaching and practice facility. Specializing in quality golf schools 

and lessons for players of all ages and skill levels. 


amateurs aim at Wyndham Championship 

By Sam Smith 

Carolina Amateur to send top two players to PGA 

Wyndham Championship pre-qualifying 

The winner and runner up of 

the 2012 Carolina Am, set for 

Providence Country Club in 

July, will receive an automatic berth 

Photo Credit: Carolina Amateur Championship 

Colin Chapman received his 

Carolina Am trophy from verdict Ridge 

General Manager Scott Knox. 

in the pre-qualifier for the PGA 

Wyndham Championship to be held 

August 9th at Forest Oaks Country 

Club in Greensboro, NC. The top 50 

from the pre-qualifier will have a 

chance to qualify for a spot in the 

Wyndham Championship held 

August 16-19th at the Sedgefield 

Country Club. 

Charles Humphreys, Director of 

the Carolina Am, said “Just like last 

year, this is an outstanding rare 

opportunity for two local amateur 

golfers to have a chance to play in a 

PGA Tour golf tournament. This 

doesn’t happen often.” 

In the two-day Carolina Am Golf 

Championship last year at Verdict 

Ridge Country Club, Colin Chapman 

of Franklin, NC ran away from the 

field with a 7-under par total of 137, 

eight shots better than Noah Ratner of 

Ashville and JT Poston of Hickory. 

Ratner won the second pre-qualifier 

spot in a one-hole playoff. 

Chapman, a UNC-Greensboro 

grad, passed up the Wyndham prequalifying 

last year to play in the US 

Amateur Championship sectional 

qualifying, earning a spot in the 

national event held in Erin, Washington. 

Chapman (70-80) was eliminated in 

the second round of the tournament’s 

stroke play. 

Ratner, a current rising senior 

at Guilford College, fired a 3-under 

par 69 in the Wyndham pre-qualifier, 

finishing just 2-shots out of the 

PGA event final qualifying round. 

Photo Credit: Carolina Amateur Championship 

Winner Colin Chapman (left) and runner 

up Noah Ratner earned pre-qualifying spots 

for PGA Wyndham Championship. 

The high-level competition was 

a great stepping stone for Ratner in 

his junior year following the 

Carolina Am, during which he 

earned his second straight PING 

First Team All-American honor and 

was named the Player of the Year in 

Division III golf receiving the Golf 

Coaches Association of America’s 

“Jack Nicklaus Award” for his outstanding 

year. 

If the Carolina Am winner or 

runner-up does make the Wyndham 

field, they could find their playing 

partner is rising star big-time local 

hero, Raleigh native Webb Simpson. 

Now living in Charlotte, the 

current U.S. Open champion has 

taken off during the 10 months since 

he claimed his first PGA Tour title at 

the Wyndham Championship — and 

he has confirmed that he’ll be back 

in August to defend that title. 

The Greensboro-based tournament 

holds special significance for 

Simpson, and not just because he 

caddied at the event’s pro-am when 

he was a teenager or played college 

golf roughly 30 miles down the road 

at Wake Forest. 

The Sedgefield Country Club 

course, he said, is where he finally 

learned how to win on the tour. 

He finished at 18-under 262 last 

year for a three-stroke victory that 

helped catapult him to a secondplace 

finish in the FedEx Cup playoffs, 

and he also credits it for giving 

him the confidence to contend two 

weeks ago at Olympic Club. 

“There’s no doubt in my mind 

that I wouldn’t have won the U.S. 

Open had I not won here,” Simpson 

said. “Being in the final group Sunday 

here playing, trying to win my 

first event, playing through all the 

nerves and the what-ifs, I really 

drew from that and learned from it. 

Current US open Champion Webb 

Simpson will return to defend his 

first PGA victory at the Wyndham 

Championship. 


Photo Credit: Wyndham Championship

mountain Golf Course Review 

A dreamy experience Mt. Mitchell Golf Club 

Compiled by Carolina Golf Journal Staff 

Mt. Mitchell Golf Club plays in the South Toe River valley 

just below the highest peak east of the Mississippi. 

Just imagine going to your 

favorite golf course on a cool 

spring afternoon and stepping 

onto a beautifully groomed green of 

bent-grass and playing on that surface 

all day. Wake up! After the 

club had you removed, you would 

still have a pleasant moment in your 

mind in hopes of finding something 

close to that dream. 

What if that dream came true 

and you find a golf course that is 

wall-to-wall bent-grass. This beautiful 

mountain course sits alongside 

the pristine South Toe River in a 

Playing at 3,000-feet plus, Mt. Mitchell furnishes plenty of elevation 

changes like this one at the #11 par-3. 

Photo Credit: Mt. Mitchell Golf Club 

high valley at 3000-feet in 

the Pisgah National Forest 

with a backdrop of the 

highest mountain east of 

the Mississippi River – 

Mt. Mitchell. 

Just a five-minute 

drive off the Blue Ridge 

Parkway in Western North 

Carolina near Burnsville is 

Mt. Mitchell Golf Club. 

“We’re at 3,000 

feet and the mountain range in front 

of the golf course rises very dramatically 

another 3,600 feet in elevation 

as the crow flies,” said co-owner Jim 

Floyd. “It makes for a very dramatic 

scene. The scenery is so good and 

the contrast with the traps and the 

green grass is pretty impressive.” 

Mt. Mitchell Golf Club is wallto-wall 

bent grass, creating a course 

with a lush look and soft feel most 

of the golfing season, running from 

April to mid-November. The Fred 

Hawtree design course, despite its 

altitude, will play a bit longer than 

its 6,495 yards from the tip because 

of the bent-grass softness. 

“It makes for a great fairway surface 

and most of the time you can play 

the ball down,” Floyd said. “We think 

it makes the golf more enjoyable. The 

golfers know they have good conditions 

when they come here.” 

Normal summertime morning 

temperatures range between 55 and 

60 degrees during golf season, with 

daytime temperatures consistently 

around 80 degrees. For spring and 

fall play, the weather requires a 

sweater till mid-morning. This mild 

climate produces blooming wild 

flowers from March to November. It 

has been said that this is where 

“springtime spends the summer.” 

The front nine was built on an 

old cow pasture with meandering 

creeks and open areas. The back 

nine though wanders along the 

South Toe River, with occasional 

crossings at the signature 14th hole 

Fly fishing is rated 

excellent in Western 

North Carolina, and 

Mt. Mitchell has 

catch-and-release 

right on property. 



Photo Credit: Mt. Mitchell Golf Club

The tough #14-hole at Mt. Mitchell brings the South Toe River 

into play on your approach into a well-bunkered green. 

and again at the 15th. Trees shade 

the margins of the fairways, and 

there's never a sense of any homes 

present at all, all being tucked way 

back in the trees - truly one of the 

most serene settings in the North 

Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. 

The feature hole on the front 

side is #6, a 170-yard par-3 that offers 

a straight-on view of the towering 

mountain range as you tee it up. 

“Even though that hole is flat you 

really get a feel of being in the 

mountains,” Floyd said. 

The back nine’s best hole is also 

the most difficult on the course, the 

450-yard par-4 14th. Golfers must 

hit a drive far enough to get around 

the corner, then face a second shot 

over the South Toe River to a green 

guarded by two large bunkers. 

Waiting to tee off at the par-3 

#2 offers an opportunity for many 

golfers to feed the many trophysized 

rainbow and brown trout in a 

deep hole right next to the 2nd tee 

with packets of food purchased in 

the pro shop. 

Running along 2-miles of the 

South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell Golf 

Club and the development added a 

catch-and-release program for trout 

fishing five years ago with permits 

for one day ($25) or three days 

($50) sold in the pro shop. Anglers 

must supply their own fly rods. 

Trout as large as 28 inches have 

been caught in the river. 


“We’re 

looking for 

true sportsmen 

who like catchand-release,” 

said 

Floyd. “Some 

guys will golf 

in the morning 

and then fish in 

the afternoon, 

or vice versa. It 

has become 

quite a treat for 

people to come 

and do this.” 

The beauty factor at Mt. 

Mitchell Golf Club is elevated up 

a notch or two from mid-to-late 

October when the peak fall leaf 

season hits its stride. 

“This is a great spot to be in the 

summer time because it is cooler 

than places like Charlotte, Raleigh 

and Atlanta, but the fall is a special 

time,” Floyd said. “It’s fun for us to 

see in early October 

the colors 

changing up high 

because it is so 

visible, and then 

the colors just 

work their way 

down the mountain 

and eventually 

get to the golf 

course. It doesn’t 

get much better 

than Mount 

Mitchell Golf Club 

for a three-week 

period in October.” 

Mt. Mitchell 

Golf Club offers 

two or three day 

golf packages with 

on-site lodging in 

new condos or 

homes along with 

discounted rates 

for golf. Normal 

weekday rates are 

$58, while week- 

end green fees are set at $88. 

Mt. Mitchell Golf Club is 

pleased to welcome back Chef Teo 

as head chef. In addition to bringing 

his unique culinary style, he will be 

expanding dining hours in the Mt. 

Mitchell View restaurant. You can 

also enjoy great views of the course 

and Mt. Mitchell in Hawtree’s Pub 

where you can relax after a round 

with your favorite beverage. 

An excellent golf course, 

comfortable lodging, professionally 

prepared food, a side trip on the 

Blue Ridge Parkway to the top of 

6,684-foot Mt. Mitchell and a 

climate billed as “where springtime 

spends the summer” is not a dream 

it’s … Mt. Mitchell Golf Club. 

For information on your trip 

to the mountains contact 

Mt. Mitchell Golf Club 

at 828-675-5454 or logon at 

www.mountmitchellgolf.com 

2010 HHHH ½ 

Golf Digest 

“2012 Best in State” 

Ranked 11th in NC 

by GOLFWEEK 

Mount Mitchell Golf Club 

“Where springtime spends the summer!” 

CGJ Readers Special: 

Mention Promotion CGJ-2012 when making tee 

times and receive discounted rates. 

Go to CarolinaGolfJournal.com for information on 

registering for a FREE weekend for four. 

828-675-5454 

www.mountmitchellgolf.com 


2012 Charity Tournament Schedule 

Carolina Golf Journal would like to help you promote your 2012 

fundraising golf tournament. Send your information to: sam@carolinagolfjournal.com 

9th Annual Ace & tJ’s Grin Kids 

Golf tournament 

Monday, August 4, 2012 • Birkdale Golf Club 

Shotgun Start – 11:00 am • Captain’s Choice 

Cost: $300 per player / $1,200 per foursome 

Contact: Chris Boukedes – 704-895-7898 

cboukedes@boukmanagement.com 

12th Annual links for lupus Golf tournament 

Monday, August 27, 2012 • Cedarwood Country Club 


Cost: $200 per player / $700 per foursome 

Contact: 704-716-5640 

info@lupuslinks.org 

Carolina Cross Connection 

7th Annual Cassandra thompson Golf tournament 

Saturday, August 25, 2012 • The Tradition Golf Club 

Shotgun Start – 1:30 pm • Captain’s Choice 

Cost: $100 per player / College Undergrads – $75 

Contact: Carolina Cross Connection – 704-721-0033 

ccc@carolinacrossconnection.org 

National Black MBA Association (Charlotte Chapter) 

Golf tournament 

Saturday, September 15, 2012 

Birkdale Golf Club 

Shotgun Start – 8:00 am 

Captain’s Choice 

Cost: $80 per player / $320 per foursome (before 7/31/12) 

$85 per player / $340 per foursome (before 9/11/12) 

$90 per player / $360 ( at event) 

Contact: Yvette Thomas – 877-732-0314 

ythomas@nbmbaacharlotte.org 

Arrowood Business Association 

Annual Charity Golf tournament 

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

The Palisades Country Club 

Captain’s Choice 


Cost: Members – $160 per player – $550 per foursome 

Non-Members – $175 per player – $600 per foursome 

Contact: Tim Garrett – 704-607-0790 

garrett@vmcmail.com 

Travel Destination - Sandhills Golf 

samaritan’s feet – 

9th Annual Charity Celebrity Golf tournament 

Friday, September 21, 2012 • Carolina Lakes Golf Club (Sun City) 

Shotgun Start – 12:00 pm/Noon • Captain’s Choice 

Cost: $175 per golfer / $675 per foursome 

Contact: Davida – 704-200-2201 

dserrani@samaritansfeet.org 

4th Annual American Brain tumor Association 

Phillips/Groves Memorial Golf tournament 

Friday, October 5, 2012 • Cabarras Country Club 


Cost: $85 per player 

Contact: Gerri Price – 704-519-9070 

gerri.price@faithpand0.com 

National Kidney foundation 

Cadillac Golf Classic – local Qualifying* 

*National Tournament in Pebble Beach,California 

Monday, October 22, 2012 • Charlotte Country Club 

Shotgun Start – 10:00 am • Team Scramble Competition 

Contact: Jane Weaver – 704-519-0020 

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Ranked in Top 25 for the Past 10 Years by NC Golf Panel 

Wide Fairways ~ Lush Course Condition 

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Stay and Play Packages Available 

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eGolf Professional tour schedule 

March 14 - 17 Pine Needles lodge & Golf Club 

Southern Pines, NC 

Seven Lakes Country Club - West End, NC 

March 21 - 24 irish Creek Classic 

The Club at Irish Creek - Kannapolis, NC 

Cabarrus Country Club - Concord, NC 

March 28 - 30 river run Championship 

River Run Country Club - Davidson, NC 

April 11 - 14 the Championship at st. James Plantation 

Reserve Club at St. James - Southport, NC 

Founders Club - Southport, NC 

April 18 - 20 forest oaks Classic 

Forest Oaks Country Club - Greensboro, NC 

May 2 - 5 Columbia open 

Columbia Country Club - Ridge/Tall - Blythewood, SC 

Cobblestone Park Golf Club - G&B - Blythewood, SC 

May 16 - 18 Willow Creek open 

High Point Country Club - Willow Ck - High Point, NC 

May 23 - 26 river Hills Classic 

River Hills Country Club - Lake Wylie, SC 

May 30 - June 2 HGM Hotels Classic at rock Barn 

Rock Barn - RTJ Course - Conover, NC 

Rock Barn - Tom Jackson - Conover, NC 

June 13 - 16 Bolle Classic 

Sapona Country Club - Lexington, NC 

Colonial Country Club - Thomasville, NC 

June 20 - 22 spring Creek Classic 

Spring Creek Golf Club - Gordonsville, VA 

June 27 - 30 the Championship at Wintergreen resort 

Stoney Creek- M/S - Wintergreen, VA 

Devil's Knob Golf Club - Wintergreen, VA 

July 11 - 14 the southern open 

The Club at Irish Creek - Kannapolis, NC 

Country Club of Salisbury - Salisbury, NC 

July 18 - 21 tBA 

August 1 - 4 the Champ. at Woodside Plantation 

Woodside Plantation-Jones - Aiken, SC 

Woodside Plantation Country Club - Aiken, SC 

August 8 - 11 the Grand Harbor open 

Golf Club at Star Fort - Ninety Six, SC 

Patriot Golf Club - Ninety Six, SC 

september 12 - 14 Musgrove Mill Classic 

Musgrove Mill Golf Club - Clinton, SC 

september 19 - 21 Cabarrus Classic 

Cabarrus Country Club - Concord, NC 

september 26 - 28 olde sycamore open 

Olde Sycamore Golf Club - Charlotte, NC 

october 9 - 11 Northstone open 

North Stone Country Club - Huntersville, NC 

local Golf Schedules 

2012 Charlotte senior Amateur tour schedule 

March 28 edgewater Golf Club 

April 18 the Palisades Country Club 

April 23 tPC at Piper Glen 

May 7 the Peninsula Club 

May 16 rock Barn (Jones) 

May 30 Carolina lakes Golf Club 

June 5 raintree Country Club (North) 

June 13 river run Country Club 

June 27 Cabarrus Country Club 

July 25 Northstone Country Club 

July 30 Providence Country Club 

August 7 raintree Country Club (south) 

August 13 Club at irish Creek 

september 5 Cabarrus Country Club 

september 26 Cowans ford Country Club 

october 10 firethorne Country Club 

october 31 Country Club of salisbury 

November 5 Cedarwood Country Club 

November 13 - 14 tour Championship Pinehurst, NC 

2012 Charlotte Golfweek Amateur tour schedule 

March 10 Charlotte National Golf Club 

March 24 CC of salisbury 

March 31 Cowans ford Country Club 

April 21 Warrior Golf Club 

April 28 - 29 stonebridge Golf Club 

May 12 Cabarrus Country Club 

May 19 the Palisades Country Club 

June 9 rock Barn (Jones) 

June 23 the Club at irish Creek 

July 28 - 29 Cowans ford Country Club 

August 25 Northstone Country Club 

september 15 edgewater Golf Club 

september 23 the Club at irish Creek 

september 29 - 30 the Palisades Country Club 

2012 Carolina Pro Golf tour 

July 23 - 25 Rock Barn 

July 30 - 31 Raintree CC (South) 

August 14 - 15 Northstone Country Club 

August 22 - 23 Cowans Ford Golf Club 

August 28 - 29 Cabarrus Country Club 

September 4 - 5 Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation 

September 11 - 12 Palisades Country Club 

September 17 - 18 Peninsula Country Club 

October 2 - 4 Carolina Lakes Golf Club 

October 16 - 17 TBA 

Advertise with the Carolina Golf Journal... 

The most affordable golf magazine 

advertising in the Carolinas! 

Target your audience – Get Results! 

Contact Sam Smith – 704-756-9909 

sam@carolinagolfjournal.com • www.carolinagolfjournal.com 


2012 Pro Golf Schedules 

2012 PGA tourNAMeNt sCHedule 2012 lPGA tour sCHedule 

January 2 - 9 Hyundai tournament of Champions 

Kapalua, Maui 

January 9 - 15 sony open in Hawaii 

Honolulu, Hawaii 

January 16 - 22 Humana Challenge 

La Quinta, California 

January 23 - 29 farmers insurance open 

San Diego, California 

January 30 - feb 5 Waste Management 

Scottsdale, Arizona 

february 6 - 12 At&t Pebble Beach Pro-Am 

Pebble Beach, California 

february 13 - 19 Northern trust open 

Pacific Palisades, California 

february 20 - 26 Accenture Match Play 

Mariana, Arizona 

february 20 - 26 Mayakoba Golf Classic 

Riviera Maya, Mexico 

feb. 27 - March 4 Honda Classic 

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 

March 5 - 11 World Golf Championship @ doral 

Miami, Florida 

March 5 - 11 Puerto rico open 

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 

March 12 - 18 transitions Championship 

Palm Harbor, Florida 

March 19 - 25 Arnold Palmer invitational 

Orlando, Florida 

March 26 - April 1 shell Houston open 

Humble, Texas 

April 2 - 8 Masters tournament 

Augusta, Georgia 

April 9 - 15 rBC Heritage 

Hilton Head, South Carolina 

April 16 - 22 Valero texas open 

San Antonio, Texas 

April 23 - 29 Zurich Classic 

New Orleans 

April 30 - May 6 Wells fargo Championship 

Charlotte, North Carolina 

May 7 - 13 the Players Championship 

Ponte Vedra, Florida 

May 14 - 20 HP Byron Nelson Championship 

Irving, Texas 

May 21 - 27 Crowne Plaza invitational at Colonial 

Ft. Worth, Texas 

May 28 - June 3 the Memorial 

Dublin, Ohio 

June 4 - 10 st. Jude Classic 

Memphis, Tennessee 

June 11 - 17 u.s. open 

San Francisco, California 

June 18 - 24 travelers Championship 

Cromwell, Connecticut 

June 25 - July 1 At&t National 

Bethesda, Maryland 

July 2 - 8 Greenbrier Classic 

White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia 

July 9 - 15 John deere Classic 

Silvis, Illinois 

July 16 - 22 British open 

Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club 

July 16 - 22 true south Classic 

Madison, Mississippi 

July 23 - 29 rBC Canadian open 

Ancaster, Ontario 

July 30 - August 5 World Golf Championships 

Akron, Ohio 

July 30 - August 5 reno - tahoe open 

Reno, Nevada 

August 6 - 12 PGA Championship 

Kiawah Island, South Carolina 

August 13 - 19 Wyndham Championship 

Greensboro, North Carolina 

August 20 - 26 the Barclays 

Farmingdale, New York 

August 27 - sept. 3 deutsche Bank Championship 

Norton, Massachusetts 

september 3 - 9 BMW Championship 

Carmel, Indiana 

september 17 - 23 the tour Championship 

Atlanta, Georgia 

september 24 - 30 ryder Cup 

Medinah, Illinois 

october 29 - Nov. 4 World Golf Championships 

China 

february 9 - 12 isPs Handa Australian open 

Victoria, Australia 

february 16 - 19 Honda lPGA 

Chonburi, Thailand 

february 23 - 26 HsBC Championship 

Singapore 

March 15 - 18 rr donnelly founders Cup 

Phoenix, Arizona 

March 22 - 25 Kia Classic 

Carlsbad, California 

March 29 - April 1 Kraft Nabisco Championship 

Rancho Mirage, California 

April 18 - 21 lPGA lotte Championship 

Honolulu, Hawaii 

April 26 - 29 Mobile Bay Classic 

Mobile, Alabama 

May 5 - 6 HsBC Brazil Cup 

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

May 17 - 20 sybase Match Play Championship 

Gladstone, New Jersey 

June 1 - 3 shoprite lPGA Classic 

Galloway, New Jersey 

June 7 - 10 Wegmans lPGA Championship 

Rochester, New York 

June 21 - 24 Manulife financial lPGA Classic 

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada 

June 29 - July 1 Walmart Championship 

Rogers, Arkansas 

July 5 - 8 us Women’s open 

Kohler, Wisconsin 

July 26 - 29 evian Masters 

Evian–les-Bains, France 

August 9 - 12 Jamie farr toledo Classic 

Sylvania, Ohio 

August 17 - 19 safeway Classic 

North Plains, Oregon 

August 23 - 26 CN Canadian Women’s open 

Coquitlan, BC, Canada 

september 6 - 9 Kingsmill Championship 

Williamsburg, Virginia 

september 13 - 16 riCoH Women’s British open 

Wirral, United Kingdom 

september 20 - 23 Navistar lPGA Classic 

Prattville, Alabama 

october 11 - 14 sime darby lPGA Malaysia 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

october 19 - 21 lPGA Hana Bank Championship 

Incheon, South Korea 

october 25 - 28 sunrise lPGA taiwan Championship 

Yang Mei, Taoyuan, Taiwan 

November 2 - 4 Mizuno Classic 

Shima-shi, Mie, Japan 

November 8 - 11 lorena ochoa invitational 

Guadalajara, Mexico 

November 15 - 18 CMe Group titleholders 

Naples, Florida 

december 9 Wendy’s 3-tour Challenge 

Henderson, Nevada 

feb 16 - 19 Pacific rubiales Colombia Championship 

Bogota, COL 

March 1 - 4 Panama Claro Championship 

Panama City, Panama 

March 8 - 11 Chile Classic 

Santiago, Chile 

March 22 - 25 Chitimacha louisiana open 

Broussard, Louisiana 

April 5 - 8 soboba Golf Classic 

San Jacinto, California 

April 12 - 15 tPC stonebrae Championship 

Hayward, California 

April 26 - 29 south Georgia Classic 

Valdosta, Georgia 

May 3 - 6 stadion Classic at uGA 

Athens, Georgia 

May 17 - 20 BMW Charity Pro-Am 

Various in North Carolina & South Carolina 

May 31 - June 3 the rex Hospital open 

Raleigh, North Carolina 

June 7 - 10 Mexico open 

Leon, Mexico 

June 21 - 24 Preferred Health systems 

Wichita, Kansas 

June 28 - July 1 united leasing Championship 

Newburgh, Indiana 

July 12 - 15 utah Championship 

Sandy, Utah 

2012 NAtioNWide tour sCHedule 

2012 CHAMPioNs tour sCHedule 

January 20 - 22 Mitsubishi electric 

Championship 

Kona, Hawaii 

february 10 - 12 Allianz Championship 

Boca Raton, Florida 

february 17 - 19 the ACe Group Classic 

Naples, Florida 

March 16 - 18 toshiba Classic 

Newport Beach CC, California 

March 23 - 25 Mississippi Golf Classic 

Biloxi, Mississippi 

April 13 - 15 encompass insurance 

Pro-Am 

Tampa Bay, Florida 

April 20 - 22 liberty Mutual legends 

Savannah, Georgia 

May 4 - 6 insperity Championship 

Houston, Texas 

May 24 - 27 senior PGA Championship 

Benton Harbor, Michigan 

June 1 - 3 Principal Charity Classic 

Des Moines, Iowa 

June 7 - 10 regions tradition 

Shoal Creek, Alabama 

June 24 - 26 Montreal Championship 

Montreal, Canada 

June 28 - July 1 Constellation senior 

Players Championship 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

July 6 - 8 Nature Valley first tee open 

Pebble Beach, California 

July 12 - 15 u.s. senior open 

Championship 

Lake Orion, Michigan 

July 26 - 29 senior open Championship 

Turnberry, Scotland 

August 3 - 5 3M Championship 

Blaine, Minnesota 

August 17 - 19 dick’s sporting Good open 

Endicott, New York 

August 24 - 26 Boeing Classic 

Snoqualmie, Washington 

october 5 - 7 sAs Championship 

Cary, North Carolina 

october 12 - 14 Greater Hickory Classic 

at rock Barn 

Conover, North Carolina 

october 26 - 28 At&t Championship 

San Antonio, Texas 

November 1 - 4 Charles schwab Cup 

Scottsdale, Arizona 

November 13 - 16 Champions tour Q-school 

Coral Springs, Florida 

July 26 - 29 Nationwide Children’s Hospital invitational 

Columbus, Ohio 

August 2 - 5 Cox Classic 

Omaha, Nebraska 

August 9 - 12 Price Cutter Charity Championship 

Springfield, Missouri 

August 16 - 19 Midwest Classic 

Overland Park, KS 

August 23 - 26 News sentinel open 

Knoxville, Tennessee 

Aug 30 - sept 2 Mylan Classic 

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 

september 13 - 16 Albertson’s Boise open 

Boise, Idaho 

september 20 - 23 WNB Golf Classic 

Midland, Texas 

september 27 - 30 Chiquita Classic 

Club at Longview, Weddington, NC 

october 4 - 7 Neediest Kids Championship 

Potomac, Maryland 

october 11 - 14 Miccosukee Championship 

Miami, Florida 

october 18 - 21 Winndixie Jacksonville open 

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 

october 25 - 28 Nationwidetour Championship 

McKinney, Texas 


A Public Course 

with a Private Feel 

The Golf Club at Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge | www.golfballantyne.com | 704-248-4383 | 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway | Charlotte, North Carolina 28277 

2012 

Tournament 

Take your game to 

Players Club another level 

NOW! 

Ready 

JUNIOR GOLF 

PROGRAMS 

Long-Term Player Development 

Pee Wee (Ages 5-8) 6 Week Series 

�� 

(Tue. 3:30-4:30 PM) $175 

to Play �� 

Skill Development �� Junior (Ages 9-17) 6 Week Series 

& Performance Coaching (Tue. 4:30-6 PM) $260 

TOP TOP 

25 

GGOLF 

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SCHOOL SCHOO 

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(Wed. 4-5 PM) $175 

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(Sat. 3-4 PM) $30 

Ages 5-8 

Ages 9-17 

Ages 14-17 

704.542.7635 

704. 

542. 

7635 

Summer Camps 

Pee Wee Camps (Mon.-Thu. 1-2:30pm) $175 

New & Intermediate Junior Camps (Mon.-Thu. 9am-12pm) $300 

Half Day Scoring Camps (Mon.-Thu. 9am-12pm) $300 

All Day Scoring Camps (Mon.-Thu. 9am-5pm) $950 

Open 

to 

the 

Public 

www.danarader.com 

www www.danarader .danarader .danarader.com .com 

Experience championship golf at The Golf Club at Ballantyne, 

one of the finest PGA courses in the region and selected 

as a Best Place to Play with 4.5 Stars by Golf Digest. 

This Par 71, 18-hole course is ideal for daily play. 

The Golf Club also features practice facilities, 

a Pro Shop, custom club fitting and access to all 

that The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge has to offer. 

Combining instruction, fitness and fun, our junior 

programs are geared to bring out the best in your child. 

We prepare juniors for success through teaching strong 

fundamentals and encouraging a positive attitude, 

increased concentration and self-discipline. 

Call 704.542.7635 or visit www.danarader.com for dates. 

2011 201 1 - 2012

KDUORWWH·V )LUVW - Carolina Golf Journal

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