McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Transcription

McConnell
Golf
The Magazine
SPRING 2016
The DR40
Take a trip through all four
Donald Ross-designed courses
MCCONNELL GOLF THE MAGAZINE SPRING 2016
Exciting
Expansion
A look at Providence and
Holston Hills country clubs
Welcome to the Family
THIS PAST WINTER WAS A BUSY
one for us. The ongoing growth here
at McConnell Golf continues with two
new country clubs, a public facility, and
expansion at Old North State.
Holston Hills Country Club was our
first purchase outside of the Carolinas
and adds the fourth Donald Ross design
to our portfolio. This course is truly
unique, ranked in the top 10 in Tennessee and among the top 100 classic
courses in the world. I know that golfers will enjoy playing this pure layout.
It reminds me of Shinnecock Hills on
Long Island, which has hosted the US
Open on numerous occasions. Donald
Ross designed Holston Hills in 1927 and
it remains largely unchanged from its
beginning days.
Providence Country Club became our
12th club property when it joined our
organization in February. It is our first
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Charlotte presence, something we’ve
sought for several years. Providence is
our largest club in terms of revenue and
membership, and we are confident that
all of our members will enjoy having
this amenity to enjoy when visiting
the Queen City. Dan Maples, son of
the legendary Ellis Maples, designed
the golf course. Ellis’ portfolio includes
many great venues in the Carolinas —
Brook Valley is one — and he worked
with Donald Ross for many years.
Providence also has an outstanding
tennis program, with 14 courts, and
the best pool facility of all our clubs.
At McConnell Golf, our focus has
always been on true golf, family traditions and activities, and growing the
game. With that in mind, we recently
signed a 10-year lease to operate
Raleigh Golf Association, a public
27-hole facility in Raleigh built in
1929 to provide affordable golf to the
community. As a kid growing up on a
farm in rural Virginia, I picked up golf at
an early age and played the public venues with my brothers. Those were some
highly competitive matches that created
lasting memories for me. The key for us
was that golf was both fun and affordable: I could play for two dollars, buy
a new Club Special golf ball for sixty
cents, and rent a pull-cart for a quarter.
Today, golf has priced itself out of
the accessible realm for many people,
and that is one major reason the game
has not grown in recent years. We are
excited to enter the public market with
this new operation that will be extremely
affordable to all. It is here that we will
create The McConnell Golf Academy to
offer expert training to kids, beginners,
and anyone seeking to hone their skills.
Lastly, we purchased the real estate
sales operation and remaining developer lots at Old North State Club, making
this venue one of our growth properties. For families who want quality time
bolstered by access to numerous and
reasonably priced amenities, this club
offers it all. Family vacations can be
expensive, but a four-day stay at Old
North State is affordable enough to
help you relax and enjoy your time. Plus,
this club is within a two-hour drive for
most of our members.
We’re pleased to see our courses
continue to gain recognition with industry experts. This year’s North Carolina
golf rankings put Raleigh Country Club
as the No. 1 club in the Triangle and the
17th in the state, Old North State as the
No. 3 club in the state, and Sedgefield
as the No. 13 club in the state.
The busy winter is past and spring
is officially here. Visit us often to see
our new facilities, enjoy your favorites,
and create new family memories. After
all, they are the greatest assets in life.
Thanks to all of you for your ongoing
support.
Sincerely,
John McConnell
CEO & Founder
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SOCIAL
By Brad King
PROVIDENCE CC, NO. 15,
420-yard Par-4
Beware of No. 15, the club’s top
handicap hole. Since the right side
of the hole drops off into the pond,
it makes you think — we recommend
hitting a tee shot that leaves you short
of the water. And be prepared for an
immense and undulating green
complex, so the game is far from over
when you reach the putting surface.
HOLSTON HILLS NO. 7
517-yard, Par-5
Introducing
#MCGDream18
One of the most intriguing
holes that Donald Ross ever
created, No. 7 at Holston Hills
is a classic example of a risk/
reward hole. You’re posed with
an option on the tee: Play safe
to a lower fairway on the left, or
make the aggressive play over
water to an elevated fairway
guarded by bunkers. It’s wonderfully designed for all levels
of players and has earned a
mention in many golf books.
mcconnellgolf.com
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AND FOUNDER
JOHN MCCCONNELL
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS
MAGAZINE SALES &
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
ASSISTANT
KASEY OLIVE
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
CASEY GRIFFITH
HOLSTON HILLS NO. 14
212-yard, Par-3
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
AT PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB
MATT MCCONNELL
With the green cut into the side
of a hill and the entire putting surface visible, No. 14 at Holston Hills
is a gorgeous sight to behold. But
don’t be fooled, its false front will
easily repel your shot into the fairway, rough, or front bunker. The
green is extraordinarily difficult to
putt — an irresistible challenge.
PUBLISHED BY PACE
1301 CAROLINA ST.,
GREENSBORO, NC 27401
PACECO.COM | 336.378.6065
PUBLISHER
STEVE MITCHEM
steve.mitchem@paceco.com
EDITOR
JESSIE AMMONS
DESIGN DIRECTOR
ERIN LUCAS
COPY EDITOR
LANCE ELKO
WELCOME TO THE #MCGDREAM18 — MCCONNELL GOLF’S NEW
social media campaign. We’ve selected the best combination of holes from
all 12 McConnell Golf properties, which includes a total of 225 golf holes.
We will turn the best of the best into a par-72 Dream 18, made up of the
10 best par-4s in the McConnell Golf stable, along with the four best par-3s
and par-5s — incorporating a member poll or vote to select the winners.
Participate by posting your progress on completing the #MCGDREAM18
group of holes at your McConnell Golf courses.
Without further ado, here are the first four nominated holes from
McConnell Golf’s two newest additions, Holston Hills Country Club
in Knoxville and Providence Country Club in Charlotte.
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VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION
JAMES A. DECATA
PROVIDENCE CC NO. 6
180-yard, Par-3
Given that Providence Country Club tees off its front
9 with three par-3s in the first six holes, it makes sense
that the first PCC hole in the #MCGDream18 should
be a one-shotter. Incredibly picturesque and scenic,
No.6 plays 180 yards from the back tee to a peninsula
green that requires a short- to mid-iron shot over
water. The landing area and green surface are
generous, making this a legitimate birdie hole as long
as golfers keep their ball below the pin.
PRODUCTION MANAGER
SHARON LINDER
MEMBER’S CORNER
MEMBERS’
By Brad King
Tom Carr
“The Cardinal” regular
Folks around Greensboro, North Carolina, may know
Tom Carr more widely as the affable and talented
owner of Carr Industries, the German automotive
repair shop Carr has run for the past 33 years.
But around The Sedgefield Dye Course clubhouse,
Carr and his wife, Michelle, are known as the jovial
friendly faces.
The Carrs have been active members at Sedgefield,
which was formerly known as “The Cardinal” before
its McConnell Golf merge, for 22 years. They raised
their twin children, son Ryan and daughter Jesse, both
recent graduates of UNC-Greensboro, in their residence
behind the first green of the Pete Dye course.
Michelle Carr eats lunch six days a week at the
Sedgefield Dye clubhouse — only because the club
is closed at lunchtime on Mondays — with several
different groups of friends. Meanwhile, Tom Carr
not only enjoys a card game at the clubhouse every
Wednesday night with a group of up to 15 players,
he also plays golf every Saturday with eight groups
and again every Sunday with four groups.
“The thing I like most about ‘The Cardinal’ is that
I never get tired of playing the course,” says Carr,
who also collects Porsches in his spare time. “It is a
different golf course every day, depending on the
pin placements, and it demands that you hit so many
different shots. When I travel, I am five shots better
than I am on the Sedgefield Dye Course. I play in tournaments and they say, ‘There’s no way you’re a
13 handicap.’”
But as much as he loves Pete Dye’s magical layout,
Carr said his fondest McConnell Golf memory took
place at a different club.
“I played Treyburn (in Durham) recently and that’s
the nicest course I’ve ever played in my life — and I’ve
played Augusta National,” said Carr. “Treyburn is an
absolute gem. Amazing: Those perfectly manicured
fairways, the gorgeous green complexes, everything
there is perfect and idyllic. I am counting the days to
getting back and playing there again.”
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CLUB COMMUNITY
Club Happenings
PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB
EASTER MAGIC SHOW
Dozens of young members
attended the annual Easter kids’
event, which includes a magician,
balloon-hat-making, an egg hunt,
and – of course – a chance to meet
the Easter bunny.
THE RESERVE
GOLF CLUB
SOUTH OF THE
BORDER NIGHT
The Reserve
Grille’s South of
the Border night
featured a taco
bar and margaritas made from all
fresh ingredients.
OLD NORTH STATE CLUB
PAINT BY THE LAKE
Members brought their
favorite painting supplies for
a guided lesson on painting
a water vista.
TPC WAKEFIELD
PLANTATION
ALL WRAPPED UP
TWEEN PARTY
Children participated in
several “minute to win it”
games, exchanged white
elephant gifts, enjoyed
dinner, and watched Elf.
MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB
FIRE UP THE GRILL
A member favorite, club staff
prepares family style chicken,
steak, and pork chops for members
to bring back to their cottages
to cook on their own grill.
TREYBURN COUNTRY CLUB
HIIT
The new high intensity interval
training classes on Saturday
mornings has become a popular
group activity. The class mixes
low-intensity moves with intense
intervals for an effective workout.
HOLSTON HILLS
TRICK-OR-TREAT
ON THE COURSE
After trick-or-treating
on a hayride through
the front nine holes,
children and their
families gathered on
the terrace for a buffet.
There were awards for
funniest, scariest, and
most original costumes
RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB
WINE & TAPAS WITH
POLAR EXPRESS
Kids dressed as characters
from the movie The Polar
Express and enjoyed a train
ride around the club, while
parents tasted wines with
accompanying small plates.
SEDGEFIELD COUNTRY CLUB
CRUISE-IN MOVIE NIGHT
Families watched a movie from
golf carts inside of the Ross
Course Grand Ballroom, complete with a popcorn, pizza, and
soda snack bar.
GRANDE DUNES
RESOLUTION RUN
The second annual 5K
resolution run/walk concluded with breakfast,
including a green drink
station with kale, apples,
parsley, and fresh ginger.
THE COUNTRY CLUB
OF ASHEVILLE
CULINARY DEMOS
Chef Bruce’s monthly
cooking class demystifies
home cooking and makes
sophisticated recipes
accessible.
BROOK VALLEY
COUNTRY CLUB
KIDS BOOK CLUB
Kids ages 3-8 meet
once a month for
storytelling, games,
and crafts.
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www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016
9
FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN
Making Dreams
Come True
No effort is too small to make a difference,
although grand gestures never hurt either.
Here’s a look at two groups of McConnell Golf
members leaving a mark — one that feels like
a hug — on their communities.
GRIN AND BEAR IT
Once a week, a meeting room at Old North
State Club gets a little stuffy: quite literally
filled with piles of stuffing. Dozens of women
arrive with sewing machines, scissors, and
fabric to transform the room into a teddy bear
factory for a few hours.
Every stuffed animal is handmade by volunteer sewers. The troupe of more than 200
plush bears is for Victory Junction, a nearby
nonprofit camp founded to honor the memory
of the late fourth-generation racecar driver
Adam Petty. On land donated by Richard and
Lynda Petty, the site hosts weeklong camps
for children with serious medical conditions or
chronic illnesses. The kids experience a classic
spring-break or summer camp experience
while also receiving the medical resources and
attention they need.
A huge part of that experience is their bear.
A NASCAR-themed stuffed toy greets each
camper, and the bear is his or her companion
throughout the week and theirs to take home
and keep. It becomes a loving token of an idyllic childhood experience, crafted in an unassuming clubhouse meeting room.
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WISHFUL THINKING
On February 20, dozens of members and their
guests gathered at Sedgefield Country Club
to celebrate Spencer, a spunky 5-year-old boy
from High Point, North Carolina who has acute
lymphoblastic leukemia. Through a partnership
with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, McConnell
Golf members helped grant Spencer’s wish of
traveling to the Disney theme parks in Florida,
a trip often too difficult and expensive for a
young leukemia patient to make. In September 2014, Spencer and his parents, Wayne and
Jennifer, and sister, Olivia, enjoyed a full week
at Walt Disney World.
In a nod to the magical visit, the gala at
Sedgefield was Legoland-themed, and Spencer, Wayne, Jennifer, and Olivia were all in
attendance. Executive chefs from every
McConnell property created a memorable
lineup of buffet options, from chicken osso
bucco and beer-smoked pork belly to surf-andturf sliders and beef tacos.
Spencer was the inspiration for live and
silent auction bidders, who raised $39,812 that
night. The money raised will go to a continued
partnership with Make-A-Wish. Wishes usually
cost around $6,000 to grant, so many more are
in store for the coming year. —J.A.
PHOTO CREDIT TK
McConnell members are proving that we can
make a big difference for children in need
Scenes from the Make-a-Wish gala at
Sedgefield Country Club. Photos by
Mike Micciche.
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CLUB PROFILE
By Brad King
IN MID-FEBRUARY, MCCONNELL GOLF MADE ITS LONG-AWAITED ARRIVAL TO THE
Charlotte market with the purchase of Providence Country Club. Providence became the 12th
private golf club property in the McConnell Golf stable, which now includes a total of 225
holes around the Carolinas and Tennessee.
Two months earlier, in December 2015, McConnell Golf added to its legacy with the purchase of venerable Holston Hills in Knoxville, a 1927 Donald Ross design that marks the first
McConnell Golf club located outside the Carolinas. In line with the wellness initiative [read
more on page 56], both golf courses are easily walkable, a feature regularly taken advantage of
by the membership.
“Our new relationship with McConnell Golf has been wonderful,” says Holston Hills Director
of Golf Chris Dibble. “We’ve been truly overwhelmed by the welcome we’ve gotten from every
other club in the McConnell Golf family — their entire staffs. Everyone has reached out
offering to help in any way. It’s been really nice. We are very excited about the future.”
Connecting
the Clubs
McConnell Golf’s recent purchases of renowned Holston Hills
Country Club in Knoxville and Providence Country Club in
Charlotte mark inaugural ventures into a pair of new markets —
while also tying together the membership network of 12 private
golf club properties in the Carolinas and Tennessee.
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13
CLUB PROFILE
McConnell Golf ventures outside North and South Carolina
for the first time with its purchase of storied Holston Hills
in Knoxville, a classic design that has remained relatively
untouched through the years.
Donald Ross was the most prolific golf
course architect in history, with more
than 400 designs bearing his signature.
Yet today very few Ross golf courses
exist as they were originally designed.
Most have been altered through the
years and lost much of the genius that
Ross characteristically imparted on a
course.
One Ross design that has remained
nearly untouched through the years is
Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville,
which in December 2015 became the
first McConnell Golf Course located
outside the Carolinas.
Holston Hills opened in 1927. Located
just east of Knoxville near the foothills
of the Smoky Mountains on 180 open
acres of rolling old farmland tucked into
a bend in the Holston River, Holston
Hills immediately became recognized as
the finest course in the state. Accordingly, it hosted every major regional tournament, including a PGA Tour event.
“If someone blindfolded you, you
might think you were playing a golf
course back in the late ’20s or early ’30s,
playing the golf course the way Ross
designed it,” McConnell Golf Director
of Golf “Boomer” Kittler says. “You
don’t find that much these days. You can
stand on No. 16 green at Holston Hills
and see all the way to the green of the
fifth hole. No matter where you are on
the golf course, you can see ten-plus
holes without batting an eye. It’s pretty
cool. The greens remind me of Sedgefield.
“I’m kind of a ‘Ross guy,’” Kittler says,
“but I think Holston Hills will be one of
McConnell Golf’s best courses, if not
the best.”
Founded by members of Knoxville’s
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prestigious Cherokee Country Club
— itself a 1910 Ross design — where
overcrowding had become a problem,
Holston Hills further bolsters McConnell Golf’s reputation for having the
names of the game’s greatest architects
attached to its courses. “Holston Hills
is the fourth McConnell Golf course
designed by Donald Ross,” says McConnell Golf Chief Operating Officer
Christian Anastasiadis. “We are particularly excited to be part of the Knoxville
community. We look forward to doing in
Tennessee what we have done at some
of the finest private clubs in the Carolinas.”
Though relatively low-key and unknown, Holston Hills has been ranked
among the country’s greatest classical
(pre-1960) golf designs in the United
States. The co-founder of the Donald
Ross Society and noted golf architecture critic Michael J. Fay has said that
he would rather play Holston Hills over
any other golf course in the South on a
consistent basis.
The club’s repertoire of presented
tournaments includes the 2004 U.S.
Women’s Mid-Amateur, the NCAA
Championship in 1955 and 1965, three
Tennessee State Opens, and eight Tennessee State Amateur Championships.
Holston Hills has played host to numerous U.S. Open qualifiers, and it will do
so again on May 18.
Byron Nelson won the Knoxville Open
at Holston Hills during his magical run in
1945 — his 15th of 18 PGA Tour victories
that season. The previous week, Nelson had lost to Fred Haas in Memphis,
ending his streak of 11 consecutive wins.
Cary Middlecoff was only 19 years old
in 1940 when he won his first Tennessee
Amateur at Holston Hills — the first of
Middlecoff’s four consecutive Tennessee Amateurs.
Among his 40 professional victories,
Middlecoff won the U.S. Open in 1949
and again in 1956, as well as the Masters
in 1955.
Through the years, the club has also
become a favorite getaway for famous
entertainers including the late Archie
Campbell, rock star Alice Cooper, and
professional athletes Peyton Manning
and Michael Jordan.
The beloved untouched Ross layout
takes on a broad, fan-shaped formation, with both nines returning to the
clubhouse sitting on an upslope along
the north side of the property. Holston
Hills features more than 100 bunkers
scattered across the property, with very
few houses or other visual distractions
taking away from the links-style playing
experience.
Perched on a hill with breathtaking
views of the Great Smoky Mountains,
the Holston Hills clubhouse overlooks
the golf course and showcases bay
windows, elegant arched doors, and a
central ballroom with large cathedral
ceilings and exposed wood trusses. An
outdoor terrace on the south side of the
ballroom offers members a space to relax and take in the view, while a magnificent centerpiece terrace surrounds the
clubhouse, with its comfortable Tudor
architecture.
A 1937 aerial photograph hanging in
the clubhouse shows a course fanning in
two collapsed but distinct loops across a
wide plateau between the Holston
River and the ridge on which the clubhouse sits. Every tee and green is located
“I’m kind of a ‘Ross guy;’ but I think Holston Hills
will be one of McConnell Golf’s best courses, if not
the best.”
just as they are now, and virtually every
present-day bunker is accounted for in
the image.
Holston Hills Director of Golf Chris
Dibble has been at Holston Hills since
1992 and has become one of the most
well-respected golf professionals in
Tennessee, according to Kittler, as well
as being a very accomplished player.
Dibble apprenticed for years under the
tutelage of John Wylie — the father
of Treyburn Director of Golf Tag Wylie
— who is now the Holston Hills PGA
professional emeritus.
“We think Holston Hills is a pretty
special place, and we are excited to be a
part of the McConnell Golf team,” says
Dibble. “Holston Hills is neat because
every hole is right in front of you. It’s
very fair. There are no tricks or hidden
hazards. [Noted golf course architect]
Tom Doak says Holston Hills is the
closest golf course around to what Ross
originally left.”
15
CLUB PROFILE
muda fairways, complement five-tiered
tee boxes designed to accommodate all
skill levels. Practice makes perfect and
Providence has it all; multiple first-class
putting greens, two short-game practice
areas and a full-swing driving range.
“Our club is very family-oriented. We
have a lot of young members and a lot
of kids,” says longtime Providence Director of Instruction Leslie Elmore, who
spent four years after her college career
at N.C. State trying her hand on professional tours in Europe and Asia. “We’ve
“We expect Providence
to be the best club in
the area.”
McConnell Golf’s purchase of renowned Providence
Country Club marks the company’s inaugural venture
into the Charlotte market.
GIVEN THE STRATEGIC LOCATION
of McConnell Golf clubs throughout the
Carolinas, the Charlotte market has long
been the missing piece. The Queen City
is as vibrant as it has ever been and the
golf-crazed city stands geographically
as a centerpiece destination connecting
many of McConnell Golf’s 11 other golf
properties around the Southeast.
McConnell Golf’s February purchase
of Providence Country Club changes all
that.
16
Located in southeast Charlotte, Providence Country Club was established in
1989 and has developed a reputation as
one of Charlotte’s premier family country clubs. Providence’s pristine 18-hole
Dan Maples layout, redesigned by Mike
Gleason in 2006, measures 7,021 yards
and plays to a par of 72.
As it relates to the McConnell Golf
family, Maples is the son of longtime
Donald Ross protégé Ellis Maples.
When Ross passed away in 1948 during
construction of Raleigh Country Club,
the elder Maples finished the job and
served as Raleigh Country Club’s original
superintendent and head golf professional.
Together, the team of Ellis and Dan
Maples helped create 17 outstanding
courses including Grandfather Mountain
in Linville, North Carolina, and the
Country Club of North Carolina Dogwood
Course in Pinehurst.
McConnell Golf owner and CEO John
McConnell says he has long sought to
acquire a country club in the Charlotte
market and that the Providence acquisition connects the proverbial dots.
“Along with giving us a truly outstanding club in a fast-growing urban area,
Providence provides close proximity to
several of our other courses including
Old North State Club and The Country
Club of Asheville. Plus Providence is
only 90 minutes from Musgrove Mill,”
McConnell says. “This deal ties together
our entire network of clubs, particularly
our corporate memberships.”
McConnell Golf plans to spend the
next few years renovating the course
using an expert architect, while also
providing numerous other substantial
improvements around the club. Providence’s extensive amenities include
14 tennis courts and state-of-the-art
aquatic facilities, with three swimming
pools and a newly constructed outdoor
bar and dining area with a fire pit.
“We are planning major improvements during the next several years,
totaling around $4 million,” says
McConnell Golf COO Christian
Anastasiadis. “We will focus on new
fitness and activity areas, along with
the clubhouse and the golf course with
a top recognized architect firm. We
expect Providence to be the best club
in the area.”
From tee to green, Providence is
considered one of the most pristine and
challenging golf courses in Charlotte.
The layout provides a unique test to the
accomplished golfer without polarizing
the novice. The originality of Maples’
design equates to five par-5s (three on
the back nine), five par-3s (three in the
first six holes), and eight par-4 holes,
which are always complex and exciting.
The uniqueness and beauty of each
hole, with bent grass greens and Ber-
got a very active membership. I give a
lot of lessons. We have a warm, welcoming membership. People are very downto-earth, not pretentious at all.”
A true neighborhood country club, the
membership roster is mostly comprised
of residents from nearby developments
Providence and Providence Crossing.
“The Providence property reminds us
a little bit of Wakefield, because it’s very
big,” says McConnell Golf Director of
Golf Boomer Kittler. “Big membership,
big neighborhood, nice clubhouse,
good swimming, and tennis facilities.
Now it’s just a matter of what we can
do to enhance it. Providence has the potential to be really good with the work
we are going to do to the golf course.
There are some incredible clubs around
Charlotte that are tough to compete
with — when you think about Quail
Hollow, Charlotte Country Club, Myers
Park, and places like that — but we think
Providence has the ability to take it from
a Big Four to a Big Five type deal.”
17
GOLF
Proud partner of McConnell Golf
By Brad King
Altered
Landscape
To adapt for survival, a new business model for golf clubs
has emerged — and McConnell has set the standard
18
19
P
GOLF
Packing his luggage prior to February’s 2016 Carolinas PGA Merchandise Show
in Greensboro, North Carolina, McConnell Golf Director of Golf Brian “Boomer”
Kittler couldn’t help but chuckle.
Kittler was amused as he recalled the
same industry show a decade earlier, in
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he
could freely roam the convention center
aisles in relative anonymity. “Ten years
ago, I could get in the merchandise
show and talk to everybody and get
around in just a couple of hours,” Kittler
says. “Now I’ve got to bob and weave. I
try to hide in the corner sometimes. As
soon as I get there … well … it’s hard to
leave. Everyone wants a piece of you.
McConnell Golf is a valued commodity
in the Carolinas and people want to
be a part of what we’re doing, so that’s
exciting. It’s fun.”
Indeed, during an extended, challenging period in the golf industry that
has adversely affected private clubs as
much as any other sector, the growth
of McConnell Golf and its impact has
emerged as one of the game’s most
positive stories.
The story dates back to early December 2003, when McConnell Golf became
owner of Raleigh Country Club (RCC)
and its centerpiece golf course, the final
design in the storied career of architect
Donald Ross. An avid low-handicapper
and passionate golfer, founder and
CEO John McConnell was not about to
watch Ross’ final legacy be turned into a
housing subdivision. “I had one of those
divine interventions,” McConnell says.
“It said, ‘Hey, you need to get involved
with this club, because the last thing the
city needs is to see this place become
something other than a golf club.’”
In Raleigh Country Club, McConnell
saw the opportunity to preserve an essential piece of golf history. Built in 1948,
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RCC had played host to many nationally
and internationally recognized tournaments and was located just minutes from
the downtown business district and state
government complex. McConnell was
fully aware that once the last Donald
Ross course was gone, it would never be
brought back to life.
“I knew it was a special deal,” says
McConnell, who grew up on a 100-acre
farm in Abingdon, Virginia, attended
nearby Virginia Tech, and remains an
avid Hokie. “It was just one of those
things, with the legacy of Donald Ross
and all the club’s history — from a marketing standpoint alone it had a special
value in regard to remaking the club’s
image.”
McConnell’s previous business
successes in the medical software field
have been well documented. “We
enjoyed leading two great software
companies that allowed me to start and
expand our golf business,” he says.
Now, in the 13 years since acquiring Raleigh Country Club, McConnell
Golf has grown its ownership stable to
include 12 premier private golf clubs in
both Carolinas and Tennessee, while
at the same time carving out a sterling
reputation: The nearly 700 McConnell
Golf employees provide the company’s 4,000-plus members a quality golf
experience at each of its award-winning
courses.
In addition, as one of the country’s
fastest growing, independent private
club ownership companies, McConnell
Golf has carved a niche as an industry
leader in numerous areas including
tournament golf and junior golf development, charitable community giving,
commitment to sustainability, and
health and wellness.
“We’re hoping to prove that our model — our strategy — will work with multiple clubs,” says McConnell. “One thing
I found out about golf is you’re dealing
21
MAKE YOURS A HEALTHIER CLUB… FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET.
GOLF
THE POWER OF ENGINEERED WATER
technology is creating better, safer, healthier
ways of maintaining our world without harsh
chemicals.
with physical properties, maintenance,
etc. When you grow in software, you
add a few bodies; it’s people and you
who can control costs. It’s a little
different in golf.”
For McConnell Golf, the focus from
day one has been providing the membership with a high level of service in
each area of the club business, while
also offering a quality product. The
company’s main goal has been creating
a convivial club environment for both
the membership and employees so
everyone is excited to come to the club
every day.
“Every time someone turns into
one of our clubs we want them to feel
special,” says McConnell, who used his
computer software marketing expertise
to help spread the word and coin the
McConnell Golf mantra: “Pure Golf for
the True Golfer.”
Despite its relatively short lifetime,
McConnell Golf has quickly gained a
reputation as a player to be reckoned
with in the golf industry. In an era of
economic challenges for private golf
clubs — including a market saturated
with upscale public courses and residential golf communities — McConnell Golf
has defied expectations by generously
funding its clubs for capital improvements and upgrades — almost instantly
transforming them into more luxurious
enclaves.
In addition, McConnell Golf has
recently added two new national
memberships to its attractive menu
of affordable, cutting-edge offerings.
“McConnell Golf is focused on bringing
value back to the private club experience,” says chief operating officer Christian Anastasiadis. “We pride ourselves
on being the market’s best private club
value.”
McConnell points to two major factors
he considers most important when
purchasing a club. “One is how many
potential members or rooftops are in a
22
Technologies that can substantially reduce
costs while delivering outstanding performance.
Solutions that are safe for the environment
and pose no health risks for employees and
customers.
“McConnell Golf and our membership care
about our health and the environment,
and increasingly choose products and
services that reflect a commitment to a
safer, healthier world. We have installed
four eWater systems so far — our cleaning
staff loves using the eWater products.”
Christian Anastasiadis
Chief Operating Officer of McConnell Golf
Learn what we’re doing with McConnell Golf
then contact us to find out how we can make
yours a healthier club.
www.eWaterAdvantage.com/club
It Matters.
Contact Bo Batchelder to learn more
1.919.414.6033
Bo@eWaterAdvantage.com
“We have acquired great clubs during the worst
economy in 70 years and continued to expand.”
10-15 minute drive of the property. That
is huge,” he said. “Second, what decisions did the boards make in the past
that may have not been a good forecast,
or decisions we can make now that can
make a difference? Having financial
capital to invest into the properties, to
bring them up to more current status
and add other amenities, has been very
important, as well.”
In 2012, McConnell was named one of
the North Carolina Golf Panel’s “Most
Influential Figures in Golf,” a prestigious list compiled every five years that
includes North Carolinians who influence the game throughout the state,
nationally, and in some cases worldwide,
whether in the spotlight or behind the
scenes. “I have been truly blessed in
that I get to see so many members
having a great time when they come to
our clubs,” says McConnell. “Our capital
saved some great golf courses from
extinction and that is a legacy for which
we can be proud.”
Another of McConnell’s key strategies in building his private club empire
has been to acquire courses designed
by some of the world’s greatest architects, and clearly that mission has been
accomplished. Holston Hills is the fourth
McConnell Golf course designed by the
legendary Ross, while the McConnell
Golf stable of architects also includes
Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer,
and Greg Norman.
“This business started with no business plan, simply on a whim to preserve
Raleigh Country Club from development,” says McConnell. “We have
acquired great clubs during the worst
economy in 70 years and continued to
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23
GOLF
“Our goal is to create programs for our membership
that continue to separate us from the competition.”
expand.”
Kittler says that while having “deep
pockets” supporting the company is
nice, McConnell has another more important attribute. “Having the passion
John has for the game of golf is the
most important thing,” Kittler says.
“He uses his money wisely to make
clubs better. For him, it’s all about
quality. Good people make a good
culture and when people join, they’re
joining because of that. People want
to be part of something bigger than
themselves.”
The appeal is broad. “Families want to
join our clubs because there’s something there for everybody, and they
believe they are getting the best value
for what they are paying,” he says. “But
at the end of the day, they’re just happy
to be there because all of their friends
are at the club. It’s a partnership. I think
other clubs focus too much on them-
24
selves and the bottom line, and cutting
corners. We just focus on the quality of
the product. Get good members and
let’s have fun.”
Kittler added that McConnell’s father
was a farmer who lived on the land
and focused on preserving the land.
While John McConnell is not a farmer,
he is contributing his fair share toward
preserving green space. “Owning
golf courses is another way he can see
these great properties. Instead of them
getting buried or bulldozed, he has the
ability to preserve the land for the next
generation of golfers,” Kittler says. “Instead of golf courses closing down, it’s
neat to see someone going in a different direction.”
Along with the success has come
an added notoriety in the industry.
McConnell Golf representatives are
regularly quoted or featured in Golf
Business magazine, as well as other
business journals and media outlets.
“Over the years there’s no doubt the
McConnell brand is getting to be pretty
significant around the Carolinas,” Kittler
says. “There’s no doubt about it. There’s
really no other organization around
the Carolinas that is doing what we’re
doing. To have privately owned clubs
with a single owner, allowing the access
we have, no one else is doing it. It’s neat
to be in a market to ourselves. The key is
to continue to enhance that and create
more value within the membership. The
long-term plan of what we’re doing has
not changed.”
As with their courses, McConnell Golf
will create value with quality at every
level. “Our goal is to create programs
for our membership that continue to
separate us from the competition and
also continue to grow the game of golf,”
Kittler says. “We challenge our people
to hire the best possible people, because the more quality people you have
on your staff, the better your programs
are going to be. I don’t think that’s any
secret or inside information, but that’s
what we do. Hire good people and get
out of their way so they can do what
they do.”
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25
CULINARY
By Jessie Ammons
At the
Chef’s
Table
Ask Chef Mike Marques, one of McConnell
Golf’s two corporate executive chefs, to
describe the McConnell approach to club
dining and he answers without hesitation:
“Quality. Consistency.” After all, that’s how
favorites become favorites — offering the
same foolproof chicken-salad sandwich to
hungry golfers year after year.
But McConnell Golf never stops at
just achieving excellence; its properties
constantly raise the bar. Quality and
consistency define dining at McConnell,
but it’s the variety that sets it apart. “You
can look forward to things that you like
at certain properties,” Marques explains.
“It’s always going to be a little bit different
depending on where you are.”
26
MICCICHE PHOTOGRAPHY
Club dining offers a unique
combination of classic
favorites and creative dishes
27
CULINARY
There will always be favorites on
club menus, like the chicken salad
pictured in the bottom right corner.
But there will also always be
gourmet seasonal specials, like
those pictured here.
STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
McConnell chefs understand the need
to preserve tradition, and club menus
reflect that. “There are certain things
that you have to have at a country
club,” says Chef James “JP” Patterson,
Marques’ counterpart. “A wedge salad
or cobb salad or chef’s salad at lunch,
and you’ve got to have a steak on your
menu at dinner.” Many members prefer
the comfort found in knowing and loving certain menu items, and “members
are the bottom line,” Patterson says.
He and Marques act as liaisons between individual club chefs to ensure
the classics remain untouched. Now
that their team includes 12 private clubs,
they briefly considered streamlining
recipes and offering the same uniform
menu. “We’ve seen that we can’t do
that, because clubs are different,”
Patterson says. “It took away from the
individual freedoms of each chef. Your
chef knows what you want and we don’t
want to take away from that.”
CREATIVE LIBERTIES
Empowering each chef to cater to his
own club has had tremendous — and
delicious — results. “We’ve really left
that creative door open for each chef,”
Marques says, “and they deliver.” For
Patterson and his home club of Sedgefield,
that has meant an increased focus on
wellness. “I grew up in the South,” he
says, “and in Southern comfort food, full
flavor means it’s full of fat. So I’ve been
playing with substitutes that still give
dishes that full flavor.”
At Marques’ home base, Grande
Dunes, the thing to order is a pastrami
sandwich. “We brine it in house, we
smoke it in house, and serve it with
homemade mustard. If you come here,
try it. It’s a great thing that we do.”
Central North Carolina clubs tend to
focus on refreshing American dishes –
hazelnut crusted fish at Treyburn, pork
loin over a baby kale and quinoa salad
with a honey lime vinaigrette at Raleigh
28
Country Club, and purple ninja radish
on the menu at Wakefield. In the mountains, look for sliders or fish flown in
from Hawaii. Recently renovated Brook
Valley sometimes offers ethnic options,
like confit pork tacos. And these are
always alongside — not in place of —
traditional steaks and salads.
To get the most from your dining
experience, Patterson and Marques
say the secret is to pay attention to the
dinner specials. Chefs draw inspiration
from what’s in season and available that
week to create a dish offered only for
one night or through the weekend.
Usually, the dish isn’t revealed until
Thursday night or Friday afternoon.
But it’s worth the wait: Patterson says
the specials often outsell regular menu
items on weekends. “Members see
the menu every other night, but if they
come on a weekend, they know they can
get something special. We hit the market up. We use cheeses from across the
state. We talk to fish purveyors daily.”
“Specials are our window for
creativity,” Marques says. A standout
experience, indeed.
“... in Southern comfort food, full flavor
means it’s full of fat. So I’ve been playing
with substitutes that still give dishes that
full flavor.” — Chef James “JP” Patterson
29
DRINK
The Oak
City Smash
Ingredients
¾ oz. X-Rated Fusion liqueur
1 ¼ oz. Tanqueray gin
3-4 oz. fresh sweet-and-sour mix
(recipe below)
2 cubed pineapple chunks
7 blueberries
7 mint leaves
1-800-662-7524 or go to www.usfoods.com
US Foods.indd 1
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The Oak
City Smash
IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR FOR A VERSATILE COCKTAIL,
and this well-balanced flavor combination suggests the
sweetness of spring with a hint of approaching summer.
Mixologist Stacy Swensen pays homage to Raleigh Country
Club’s legendary architect Donald Ross with Scotlandproduced Tanqueray Gin. The Oak City Smash is the perfect
complement to the season’s first barbeque or to a picnic
beneath one of Raleigh’s renowned oak trees.
For sweet-and-sour mix:
1 orange
1 lemon
2 limes
½ cup sugar
3-4 cups boiling water (to taste)
Quarter orange, lemon, and
limes. Squeeze into small
container. Strain juice into larger
(24 ounces or more) vessel. Add
sugar, then 3 cups boiling water.
Continue to add in boiling water
until desired level of sweetness
is reached. Stir and allow to cool
completely.
Instructions
Muddle pineapple, blueberries,
mint, and X-Rated Fusion liqueur
in cocktail shaker. Fill with ice,
add Tanqueray gin and sweetand-sour mix. Shake vigorously.
Serve over ice, garnished with a
mint sprig and pineapple-blueberry skewer.
31
DR-40
By Matt McConnell
The DR40
All four Donald Ross-designed courses lie along Interstate 40
Let’s take a trip
32
THE LEGENDARY DONALD ROSS DESIGNED FOUR BELOVED MCCONNELL GOLF
courses, and each one is easily accessed from Interstate 40. Since Interstate 40 is often called
“I-40” in conversation, we like to call this trail of courses the “DR-40.” Here’s a look.
At exactly 400 Donald Ross Drive, just outside of downtown Raleigh, DR-40 begins at Raleigh Country Club. Established in 1948, the club boasts the last course designed by Ross. This
walker-friendly property ranks among the best in North Carolina, and is just the beginning of
an impressive and historical journey.
33
GOLF
DR-40
3903 North Elm Street, Suite 200, Greensboro, NC 27455 | 336.510.1328 | www.lpl.com/james.wilkie
90 miles west in Greensboro, North
Carolina, the most challenging Rossdesigned course along DR-40 is
Sedgefield Country Club. A true work
of art with fast championship Bermuda
greens, the course is a test for expert
golfers but still fun for beginners. Built
in 1926, Sedgefield hosts the annual
Wyndham Championship — currently
the only Ross-designed course played
regularly on the PGA Tour. If you want
to play where golf’s greatest, including
Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer,
and most recently Tiger Woods, have
played then Sedgefield is a must-stop
on DR-40.
An easy drive from Greensboro, the
next stop along DR-40 is in the Blue
Ridge Mountains at The Country Club
of Asheville. Considered the oldest
private club in North Carolina, The
Country Club of Asheville was founded
in 1894 and is McConnell Golf’s only
mountain course. Recognized as one of
“The First 100 Clubs in America,” this
track is the shortest course along DR-40
at 6,673 yards. However, it is definitely
34
Jim Wilkie.indd 1
3/31/16 6:58 PM
... the entire drive takes five-and-a-half-hours, and
the trip makes for a perfect golf vacation.
the most elevated, offering incredible
views of the surrounding mountains. No
doubt the best view is on hole 15. After
you continuously hit uphill onto the
green, you’ll feel compelled to pause
and enjoy the vista as you overlook
downtown Asheville. Besides appreciating the gorgeous scenery, you’ll enjoy
the abundant wildlife: turkeys, deer, and
even black bears, that the golfers here
have said are friendly.
After a scenic drive through the
mountains, the last stop on DR-40 is
at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee. This gem of a course
has been well-preserved since Ross
created it in 1927. Every tee and green
at Holston Hills is still located exactly
where it was originally built, allowing
golfers a pure experience to play the
course as it was intended. Holston Hill’s
Country Club is consistently ranked
in the top 50 of Golf Week’s “Top 100
Classic Courses in the United States.”
Bordered by the Holston River with the
Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop,
the rustically bucolic property has a
Scottish feel with tall natural rough and
a classic clubhouse.
What the DR-40 courses have in
common are small undulating greens
and rolling fairways, but each course is
unique. The only way to know for sure
is to see for yourself; the entire drive
takes five-and-a-half-hours, and the trip
makes for a perfect golf vacation. Plan
your trip along the DR-40 today, and let
us know how we can help.
35
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TECHNOLOGY
By Casey Griffith
When
Technology
Intersects
Tradition
Golf goes digital with surprising results
I’M SITTING IN SUNNY SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA ON A
third-story patio admiring the purple glow of the McDowell
Mountains. Chatting with friends over pulsating music and a cadence of “whoosh … ping” on the perimeter, I order appetizers
and a round of cocktails. Moments later buffalo chicken sliders,
crab cakes, and a myriad of margaritas arrive for the group.
38
39
TECHNOLOGY
Turning my attention to the “whoosh
… ping,” I watch our host settle into
his stance and send a golf ball soaring
toward a netted outfield. It lands on its
target, and a microchip within the ball
instantly pings distance and accuracy
data to a nearby monitor. The group
cheers and jeers as points are assigned
and a new champion emerges on the
leaderboard.
NEW FRONTIER
At this point, I’m half expecting a spaceship to cruise by on a routine connection between Sky Harbor airport and
Mars. What strange planet is this? “It’s
fun,” a friend tells me as she chooses
from a color-coded rack of clubs, “but
it’s not really golf.”
First arriving from the UK in 2005,
TopGolf describes this scene as “golf
entertainment,” and it has quickly
become a popular urban hangout. (One
can draw parallels to the evolution of
the arcade hall that Dave & Busters
spearheaded in the ’90s.) Though certainly not for everyone, it caters to the
shorter attention spans of this modern “Age of Instant” and offers a new
opportunity for entry into an otherwise
less approachable sport. After pulling
out of a location in Cary, North Carolina
last year, TopGolf is slated to open in
Nashville in early 2017 and is considering a Charlotte location as well.
Whether mixing elements of the
game into an altogether new experience, or amplifying teaching tools with
video and Doppler radar, there’s no
question that technology has crossed
paths with our beloved, age-old sport.
IN THE LOOP
Let’s travel now to a more utilitarian
setting, the Golf Learning Center at TPC
Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, North
Carolina, where Director of Golf Josh
40
“McConnell Golf is always looking for technology
that brings our members real value. From operational efficiencies to learning tools, we focus on
advancements that embody the spirit of the game
and enhance the service we are able to provide”
Points puts his tenured teaching methods to work. Lined up across from a
television screen, a student swings purposefully while a nearby camera records
the motion. They review the footage
together, and Points uses slow-motion
to provide precise instruction.
“Our Learning Center lets us focus on
improving longstanding fundamentals
in a technology-forward environment
that creates the ultimate student experience,” says Points. “Visual learning is
by far the most efficient way to improve
any type of motor skill, and we see it in
practice every day with our students’
growth.”
Also equipped with FlightScope®
technology, Raleigh Country Club and
The Reserve Golf Club of Pawleys Island, South Carolina are able not only to
enhance lessons, but also help golfers
determine their best set of clubs based
on the club head speed and ball speed
data it generates. Both Ross and Dye
courses at Sedgefield Country Club and
Holston Hills in Knoxville, Tennessee use
the TrackMan system for swing analysis.
On the mobile front, members and pros
across all McConnell Golf clubs use the
V1 app on their phones or tablets to
improve their game.
MODERN ENHANCEMENT
So, what will a golf club look like in the
future? Will a set of monitors showing
member’s daily scores illuminate the
walls? Will a hole-in-one become a
push notification on our mobile devices
instead of an in-person celebration at
the 19th hole?
Maybe someday.
But I don’t see anything replacing
mankind’s 500-year-old passion for
the game itself. At the heart of golf
lies a connection with nature’s simplistic beauty and the physical and
mental contest between a player, the
landscape, and himself. These classic elements need no improvement.
“McConnell Golf is always looking for
technology that brings our members
real value. From operational efficiencies
to learning tools, we focus on advancements that embody the spirit of the
game and enhance the service we are
able to provide,” says McConnell Golf
COO Christian Anastasiadis.
New club websites launch this spring,
complete with a more user-friendly reservation system and a central place to
communicate the latest club news.
The new sites are easy to navigate
across mobile devices and tablets, the
epitome of modern convenience. But
we hope our new technology will simply
help our members spend more time on
the golf course, tennis court, and enjoying this spring’s social events.
41
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Living at one.
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HISTORY
By Shayla Martin
Badin Lake
Bomber
From the islands of the South Pacific
to the fields and beaches of Europe,
you can find dozens of memorials
commemorating the U.S. soldiers who
fought and died in World War II. But a
monument much less well-known honors
two soldiers who perished tragically
near the Old North State Club during
the war.
Although the moments before the
crash of the B-25 bomber plane into the
dark waters of Badin Lake are shrouded in mystery, the story passed down
through the years is one of a romantic
gesture gone wrong.
On June 8, 1944, two days after D-Day,
2nd Lieutenant Charles McDaniel and
co-pilot John Withrow prepared to
continue a delayed trip of the bomber
to the marine base in Cherry Point,
North Carolina when McDaniel decided to get creative with their departure.
Before takeoff, he told his parents,
in-laws, and new bride Elizabeth Hill
that he would circle Palmer Mountain
and fly past the house to signal goodbye. Unfortunately, that moment never
arrived. As they waited in the front yard,
they heard a loud explosion — the plane
crashed into Badin Lake.
While Hill, devastated, ran back into
the house, the families hurried to the
lake only to find debris. Military naval
divers conducted searches that locat-
44
ed the plane but not the bodies of the
pilots. A week after the crash, a report to
the chief of naval operations stated that
“it is quite evident the aircraft disintegrated on impact, and that the parts are
well buried in the silt on the bottom of
the reservoir ... No seats were recovered
from the wreckage and it is possible
that the bodies may still be strapped in
the seats which, by their weight, would
cause them to be buried in the mud on
the bottom of the reservoir.”
The military never officially determined the cause of the crash, but has
concluded that McDaniel was 15 miles
away from his approved route when
the crash occurred. The plane had no
reported maintenance issues on the day
of the crash; some historians theorize
that the plane hit an air pocket, causing
the wing tip to hit the water. The truth
of what caused the crash may remain a
mystery forever. Portions of the plane
were recovered during the salvage
operations and can be seen at the Badin
Historic Museum, but no bodies were
ever recovered.
In 1991, the Naval Historical Center
conducted a further search that yielded
only several small plane parts. Leftover
funds from the effort were used to erect
a memorial to the two pilots. It was
dedicated on Veteran’s Day in 2001, a
lasting reminder.
IMAGE FROM BADIN NORTH CAROLINA, THE FIRST 100 YEARS; COURTESY OF THE BADIN MUSEUM
A World War II relic lies forever deep beneath
the surface near Old North State Club
45
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TENNIS
Instruction Insight
A tip from Kyle about
doubles play
Courtside Chat
A peek at the action from the director of tennis
KYLE THORTSEN PLAYED HIS FIRST
tennis match in middle school and never looked back. He played through high
school, earned a scholarship to college,
and then became a tennis pro. His life
is on the court and his passion is getting others out there with him. Here,
Thortsen discusses his favorite topic
with McConnell Golf The Magazine.
Tell me about you. What’s your
tennis background?
I’m from Charlotte, North Carolina —
born and raised. I started playing tennis
when I was in middle school. I played
all four years of high school and got
a scholarship to Catawba College in
Salisbury, North Carolina.
After school, I went back to Charlotte
and worked in the tennis industry. In
the spring of 2011, I got the opportunity to go to Durham, North Carolina
to join McConnell Golf at Treyburn as
the assistant pro. I helped the current
staff build that program and regrow
it. In March 2015 I moved to Wakefield
Plantation, and now I’m the director of
tennis for the entire company.
What characterizes McConnell
tennis programs?
In the past, all of the clubs have operated with their own fingerprint. One of
the great things about McConnell Golf
is that we have these other properties
that our members can go to and enjoy.
On the tennis side, we haven’t done a
very good job of promoting that. As
we go into the future, our goal is to
show off how great the company is and
how great our properties are by taking
48
groups to other clubs and traveling
around. We don’t want clubs to stop
operating as their own entities, but we
do want to help each other out. We
want to show members how much they
have at their fingertips. You just have to
travel a little bit, which can be a lot of
fun.
provide a competitive atmosphere for
a weekend, which is a fun and different
format for our members to take part in,
whether they’re playing or watching.
All of our clubs will host several tournaments this year.
“For the average club doubles player,
constancy and placement are the keys
to success. Many players become
impatient while playing and compensate
by using power to end a point. Instead,
stay calm. The baseline player should
look to keep the ball cross-court — aim
to have the ball travel four feet above
the net. This will result in a deep shot
that will back your opponent off the
court and allow your partner to move to
the center for an easy put-away volley.”
Where do the junior players fit into
all of this?
Junior golfers have a McConnell Golf
scholarship opportunity, and we’re
introducing that on the tennis side, as
well. This is an awesome opportunity
for our younger players. We’re going
to start with Wakefield Plantation, The
Country Club of Asheville, Sedgefield
Country Club, and Providence Country
Club. Ask your club’s tennis pro for the
details.
What sorts of trips do you have
planned?
This year, we have two ladies’ weekends. [One weekend trip happened
in late April to The Country Club of
Asheville.] In October a group will go
to Old North State for a little tennis
boot-camp. We’ll rent out the lodges
for the ladies to stay in for the weekend,
and we’ve also lined up a college tennis
match as an added entertainment
feature. Those weekends are a way to
experience something different from
just an everyday tennis program.
We’re also going to take a group trip
to the Winston-Salem Open in August.
We had the first McConnell Day at the
tournament last year and it was a lot of
fun. We had about 25 members gather
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina — we
tailgated in the parking lot and then
watched the matches all day. I can’t wait
for that this year.
What keeps you going and inspired
when managing tennis programs at
a dozen different clubs?
The access our members have to go
to these other clubs any time they want
is so unique. That ability to use other
facilities allows them to pursue their
passion for the sport in different settings and meet great people across the
clubs. That’s a community that I’m very
excited to help foster.
—J.A.
Are there any other standout
programs you’re excited about?
We’re hosting tournaments at our
facilities all year. They’ll be city
tournaments, where both members
and non-members can qualify. It’s a
great way to show off how fantastic
McConnell Golf clubs are. Tournaments
For information about the Old North State
ladies’ weekend in October, McConnell Day
at the Winston-Salem Open in August, the
junior tennis scholarships, and other yearround program opportunities, contact your
club manager or tennis pro.
49
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MAINTENANCE/AGRONOMY
By Shayla Martin
Braving the Storm(s)
A rundown from Director of Agronomy Michael Shoun
DEEP FREEZE
January and February 2015 brought
some of the coldest temperatures ever
seen in North Carolina — some areas
saw temperatures 30 degrees below
average — and associated sleet, snow,
and ice. Raleigh Country Club,
Sedgefield Country Club, and
Wakefield Plantation, all located in
North Carolina’s Piedmont region,
dealt with temperatures 30 degrees
below average and snowfall between 7
and 9.5 inches.
That didn’t bode well for warm-season Bermuda grass. Those courses’
north-facing slopes, often lacking sunlight, suffered severe winter kill. Even if
the greens thawed during the day, they
inevitably refroze at night.
52
HUMID THAW
Already weakened from the winter,
June brought sweltering heat to the
Southeast, with 12 straight days of temperatures at or above 95 degrees in
and around Raleigh. The extreme heat
damaged the cool-season bentgrass
greens on multiple courses, and was
then followed by heavy rain during the
late summer and early fall.
FLOODING
Torrential downpours led to flooding,
and South Carolina’s record-breaking
deluge made national headlines. Musgrove Mill Golf Club, located along the
Enoree River, was an unfortunate victim.
Over the fall, the course flooded four
times. Some areas were submerged under 20 feet of water, secured riverbanks
were destroyed, and a transfer pump
used for delivering river water to an irrigation pond was entirely swept away.
SUCCESSES
But it wasn’t all havoc and recovery.
Over the course of the year, the Dye
course at Sedgefield Country Club
was the one course to fully close for
repair due to weather-related damages. “Once we realized we were
going to have major issues at most of
our courses due to weather, it was all
hands on deck,” says Shoun. “Fortunately we had the financial support to
get the winter-damaged sod cut out
and immediately put new sod down
and grow it in.” The team at Musgrove
Mill worked from sunup to sundown for
two weeks to clean up the course after
the flood damage, and used an overseeding technique of putting down rye
grass on top of Bermuda grass to make
the greens playable during the winter
until they could completely dry out the
following spring.
During the eight-week closure of the
Dye course at Sedgefield, the fairway
damage was so extensive that the
team had to essentially build a new
golf course covering nearly 22 acres.
The team used sprigs, small plant parts
grown elsewhere then planted to create a playable turf. Sprigging is one of
the only methods that can be used for
destroyed grass.
THE FORECAST
As the year wrapped up with one of
the warmest and wettest Decembers
on record, it’s needless to say Shoun
and his team hoped for an uneventful
2016. “One of the biggest drawbacks
of this profession is that you can take
every precaution you possibly can,
and Mother Nature can still throw you
a curve ball and change everything,”
says Shoun. But for him, this is par for
the course. “We just happen to be in
a tough area but it definitely keeps
things interesting. I wouldn’t have it
any other way.”
PHOTO CREDIT TK
2015 was an extreme weather year for
McConnell Golf. From flooding to
below freezing temperatures, few of
the 12 courses were immune from
damage to greens and fairways.
Most McConnell properties are
located in a natural transition
weather zone. Therefore, courses
utilize a mixture of warm and cool
season grasses to ward against temperature fluctuation; yet neither grass
type is able to thrive under some
conditions. When that happens, the
task is to recover swiftly, which is where
Director of Agronomy Michael Shoun
comes in.
Top: The damage at Sedgefield Dye course.
Above and left: the damage at Wakefield
Plantation. “It was all hands on deck,”
Michael Shoun says of the work he and his
team did to restore the greens to the healthier state you’re more familiar with today.
53
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ASHEVILLE NATIVE
REALTOR SINCE 1991
2015 CLOSED LISTING LEADER
DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE OFFICE
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
FITNESS
Among the wellness offerings at clubs are
children’s yoga and Tae Kwon Do, golf
skill practice, and group exercise classes.
There’s something for everyone.
By Jessie Ammons
Holistic
Approach
Wellness is a core club focus
WELLNESS IS THE QUALITY OR
state of being healthy: It’s that simple
and that daunting. “It’s not just something that you do in the gym,” explains
McConnell Director of Activities and
Wellness Natalie Clemens. With a
background in both resort and country
club fitness, Clemens has seen members assume that a half-hour workout
or a regular round of golf means living
healthfully. While exercise is important, so is proper nutrition and overall
balance.
56
THE ENJOYABLE ELEMENT
An active country club life fits seamlessly into that balance by offering
both social and physical outlets. While
having fun and plugging in, you’re reducing stress and introducing balance
to your lifestyle.
To ensure well-rounded offerings,
McConnell takes a team approach.
“We’re thinking about fitness, chefs,
and club managers,” Clemens says.
“They’re all important to a wellness
program.”
That means lighter menu options,
athletic practice groups, and upfitting the gym facilities at many clubs
— from a total overhaul at Wakefield
Plantation to an aesthetically enhancing de-clutter and rearrange at The
Country Club of Asheville. The team
approach has also spurred fresh choices. “We’re thinking outside the box to
always change up what we offer,”
Clemens says. Clubs are implementing 5K runs followed by a healthy
breakfast, post-golf stretch classes,
children’s yoga, and Tae Kwon Do for
kids while adults learn self-defense.
Look for expanded group fitness options that go beyond basic cardio and
weightlifting, including small-group
boot camps and sport-specific classes.
RELATIONSHIP BASED
While innovative programming is
exciting, it’s the in-depth service that
stands out. Every McConnell club now
has a designated activities coordinator
or wellness expert. “You have some-
body available who’s passionate about
wellness and will get you the support
you need from throughout the club,”
Clemens says.
She encourages you to connect with
your club manager or with a personal trainer to be pointed in the right
direction. “Our trainers and pros are
all very different in how they train,
but the common denominator is that
they really get to know our clients.
They are supremely skilled at getting
to know members’ needs and wants.”
Your club leadership will help you
break down and understand wellness,
whether it’s a bit more stretching each
week or a complete lifestyle overhaul.
“Wellness is at the forefront of culture
right now,” Clemens says. “We all
want to eat better, stay in shape, live
longer, enjoy life more. It’s so important
to people and it’s important to us too.”
Contact your club manager for more
specific information about wellness
offerings at your club.
57
KIDS
Up to Date
Where a few McConnell Golf scholars are now
structured program designed to help
them elevate their game. They usually become familiar faces around their
respective adopted clubs, and many
go on to promising collegiate careers.
Here’s a look at where a few scholar
recipients — two former and one
current — are today.
TRAILBLAZER
South Carolinian Hunter Nichols’ writing
was on the wall: He lettered in golf at
Clinton High School after placing third
at the 2013 South Carolina 3A Championships and earning four all-region honors and two All-State selections. Nichols
was a shoo-in for Musgrove Mills’ first
scholarship. Today, he’s thriving at Furman University, where he is an asset to
the men’s golf team.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Danielle Mirovich is a rising senior at
Mount Pleasant High School in Mount
Pleasant, North Carolina and she’s
made her mark through golf. The
Miroviches only arrived to Mount Pleasant a few years ago after losing their
home in Hurricane Katrina. What kept
them grounded was a dedication to the
game: Two older Mirovich daughters are
already playing at the collegiate level.
Danielle is following in her sisters’ footsteps with a scholarship at Old North
State Club, which will last through next
season. Her parents’ support is evident
and has struck a chord with the entire
community.
SPORTSMAN’S RESOLVE
Stephen Lavenets of Rougemont, North
Carolina seized his scholarship at Treyburn Country Club. It spurred him to
win the Durham High School Invitational
and cap off his tournament record with
an eagle on the 18th hole at Treyburn —
arguably one of the most difficult feats
among all 12 McConnell Golf clubs.
He joined the East Carolina University men’s golf team, where a nagging
hip injury led to major surgery almost
immediately upon joining the team. It
derailed Lavenets’ playing time, but
revealed his true character. He emerged
as a charismatic leader of his college
team. Much like that difficult 18th hole,
today Lavenets is on track despite his
injury to graduate in four years with a
finance degree.
–J.A.
EIGHT YEARS AGO,
McConnell Golf launched its
high school golf scholarship
program. Young golfers are
nominated by their high school
coaches or local industry pros
based on talent, need, and
commitment to the sport, as
well as their proven dedication
and value to the future of golf.
The innovative program
offers limited membership
opportunities to the chosen
scholars, who often otherwise
lack the opportunity to play
challenging courses. Scholars
earn access to all McConnell
Golf facilities and enroll in a
58
59
GOLF
Jack Returns
to Sedgefield
It was a legendary appearance to honor an industry pioneer when
renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, served as
Honorary Chairman and Chairwoman of the A. Darrell Harris Memorial
Golf Tournament last September.
As a tribute to the founder of Furnitureland South, the world’s largest
furniture store, friends and family gathered at Sedgefield Country Club in
Greensboro, N.C. for a gala dinner preceding a team-style tournament.
Celebration and camaraderie were evident throughout the event, which
raised money for Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C.
and the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.
Nicklaus, arguably one of the greatest golfers of all time, and
Furnitureland South have a rich history. Two decades ago, the Nickaluses
visited the showroom and had a standout customer experience thanks
to longtime employee Harold Moose. Nicklaus referred Moose to his
friends: soon, the High Point, N.C.-based retailer was the unofficial home
furnishings resource for the PGA Tour.
So it was more of a reunion when Jack and Barbara returned to
Sedgefield on September 28. “To see so many come together in the
spirit of charity to honor [my father’s] memory was a true testament to
the impact he made in his lifetime,” says Jeff Harris, son of A. Darrell
Harris and CEO of Furnitureland South. “We were moved and inspired
by the participation and support from our father’s closest friends and
business associates.”
The Nicklauses called A. Darrell Harris a “great man, husband, father,
grandfather, and friend.” Though Jack Nicklaus hadn’t played at
Sedgefield in many years, it was this tournament — and the man, the
brand, and the company it represented — that brought him back.
60
www.mcconnellgolf.com | | Summer
Summer2015
2015
www.mcconnellgolf.com
61
61
Matt Kuchar
Class of 2006
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Harold Varner III
Class of 2015
THE BACK NINE
The Goodes Life
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER
ABOUT WINNING THE CARDINAL
AM BACK IN ’84?
That was my first big win. I was in the final
group on Sunday with two-time defending US Amateur Champion Jay Sigel and
Dick Horn. Jay had gone to Wake Forest
University and knew my father, so it was
a comfortable group, although I didn’t
really think that I had a chance to win.
I was obviously very nervous. I hadn’t
been playing much competitive golf: I
left college and hadn’t played for several
years. What I remember best is that I
putted great.
WHEN DID YOU THINK THAT A WIN
JUST MIGHT HAPPEN?
On hole No. 17, a dangerous par-three
64
hole with water on the right and wrapping down in front of the green, I hit a
four-iron into the middle of the green. I
had this putt back down the front left of
the green that must have had 15 feet of
break — I was just praying to get it somewhere close, but somehow it fell in, and
I parred No. 18. I think I won by a couple
of shots.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ’84
CARDINAL AM MEMORIES?
The night before the tournament, there
was a big dinner. Jay Sigel was the speaker. Bill Harvey was a good friend of my
dad’s, and he sat next to me at dinner.
Bill was the ultimate cheerleader. That
whole night he kept leaning over to me
and saying, “you can beat these guys,”
and he’d point at Jay and whisper, “you
can beat him.” He was like having Rotella [Bob Rotella is a renowned sports
psychologist] on steroids. The next day,
when I two-putted No. 18 to win, before
I could even walk off the green Bill
came and gave me a bear hug, lifting
me up off the ground. It’s a moment
that I’ll remember forever.
DID YOU CONSIDER TURNING PRO
THEN OR AT ANY TIME DURING
THE ’80S AND ’90S?
Actually what I considered was going back to college. But I never really
thought that I was good enough to play
professionally. I discussed it all with my
father and we decided that it was best
to keep working. I had recently married,
and my father advised me that going
out to chase being a pro would be hard
on a new marriage. He was right.
I think I did the very best thing for me:
work and have fun with golf, playing
amateur at a high level for the next 25
years.
IT WAS 25 YEARS AFTER THE
CARDINAL AM WIN THAT YOU
BROKE THROUGH AT THE ALLIANZ
CHAMPIONSHIP AND WON ON THE
CHAMPS TOUR. WAS IT A SIMILAR
FEELING?
I was probably as shocked to win Allianz
as I was to win the Cardinal Am. I was
a more accomplished player, but I just
wanted to get into tournaments and
play well. And then I wanted to see
if me playing well equated to good
finishes. In 2008, my scores earned me
an exemption for 2009. So of course my
goal for ’09 was to be exempt in 2010.
I wasn’t thinking about winning; I just
wanted to know if my game stacked up.
YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW GUYS
WHO WAITED TO TURN PRO LATER IN LIFE. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU
GIVE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO
FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS?
Work with the right instructor. You have
to have confidence that you’re doing
the right things. And when you enter
tournament competition, you have to
play like you do with your buddies at
home. You have to learn to get past the
fact that these guys are hall-of-famers
and that you’ve been watching them
win tournaments and majors for 25
years. When you’re playing with Bernhard Langer and keeping his score,
the golf ball doesn’t know any better,
the golf clubs don’t know any better,
and the golf course doesn’t know any
better. Playing well is playing well.
KEITH ALLISON
AT 59, MIKE GOODES OF REIDSVILLE,
North Carolina can look back on one of
the most interesting careers in golf. His
amateur achievements include winning
the 1984 Cardinal Amateur, the North
Carolina Amateur twice, and the Carolinas Mid Am three times. It seemed that
Mike was content to remain a career
amateur until 2007, when he turned professional and set his sights on the
Champions Tour (for players over age 50).
A short two years later Mike was a winner on this tour. Today, Mike still shares
the fairways and greens with legends of
the game and members of the World
Golf Hall of Fame. But it all started more
than 30 years ago at the Cardinal Am.
John Maginnes, former PGA player and
host of the popular Katrek and Maginnes
On Tap broadcast on the PGA Tour
Satellite Radio Network, sat down with
the golfer.
65
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CORPORATE SOLUTIONS
Capital Management, LLC.
David Gray, CFP.................336.856.2911
capitalmgmtinc.com
Compass Financial Partners LLC
Stephen D. Sexton, CRpC, AWMA
336.510.1324.................compassfp.com
MVP Construction, LLC Will McConnell..................704.286.6687
mvpconstruct.com
Don Rudolph
Managing Partner
IBX • OBX • RTP
Professional Recovery
Consultants, Inc
Geoff Miller.........................800.408.8156
prorecoveryinc.com
CRM Services
Keith Errico.........................843.957.0607
crmservices.us
Original rustic barn venue
for weddings, receptions,
and corporate events.
252.215.9199
COLLECTION AGENCY
Classic Home Building & Design
Susan White......................843.839.0537
classichomebuilding.com
The barn & gardens of
Scott & Stringfellow, LLC
Doug Bray, CFP, CIMA......919.571.1893
dbray@scottstringfellow.com
John Creamer....................843.918.7610
jcreamer@bbtscottstringfellow.com
William D. Smith, AIF®,
RICP®, LUTCF, CLTC
wsmith@capfs.com
919.719.3839
Patience. Vision. Leadership.
Do your professional advisors
collaborate to optimize your financial
picture? If not, see the difference at
The Little Herb House is a privately-owned farm in Raleigh, NC. The original 5,000 square foot
barn is home to weddings, receptions, and corporate events. The sustainable farm provides
herbs, eggs, beef, and made-on-the-farm products such as soaps, lotions, and teas. We are
proud to be the supplier of McConnell’s signature scent soaps, lotions, and gels.
Little Herb House.indd 1
3/31/16 9:23 AM
INTERIORS BY
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
INTERIOR DESIGN
YOUR TOTAL DESIGN RESOURCE
FROM THE GROUND UP
See Our Work At The Following Locations:
• Wakefield Plantation
• Musgrove Mills
• Old North State
• Treyburn
• Brook Valley
• Grande Dunes Ocean Club
www.WillSmithFinancial.com
Registered Representative/Securities and Investment Advisory Services
offered through Signator Investors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered
Investment Advisor. Capitol Financial Solutions, LLC is a separate entity from
Signator Investors, Inc.
Kris Willard, ASID, NCIDQ Certified
(540) 721-8354
www.interiorsbykris.com
Mike Hill..........843.918.7602
mhill@bbtscottstringfellow.com
Mitchell L. Hunt.................336.378.1824
mhunt@scottstringfellow.com
Thomas, Judy & Tucker, PA
David W. Tucker..................919.571.7055
tjtpa.com
UBS Financial Services
Bill Smith..............................919.785.2539
bill.smith@ubs.com
FOOD AND BEVERAGE, CATERING
& PARTY RENTAL SERVICES
Riverview Galleries
David Nelson.......................919.477.0481
furniturestorenc.com
HEALTH & WELLNESS
BBRN, Inc
Betty M. Baxter.................336.288.9234
bbrnhealthcareconsultants.com
Health Source Chiropractic
Dr. Chad Chisholm.............919.829.5757
chisholmchiro.com
Triangle Dentistry
Smith, Tart & Associates.....919.847.6000
triangledentistry.com
INSURANCE
Grand Rental Station
(Party Equipment Rental)
Mark Whitesell...................336.852.0881
grandrentaltriad.com
Anchor Insurance Agencies
Rich Winkler........................800.856.1012
anchor-insurance.com
Pepper Moon Catering
Bill Schneider....................336.218.8858
peppermooncatering.com
Benny Dean Consulting
Benny Dean........................919.368.4892
bdean1115@gmail.com
Swaggerty Sausage Company
Tim Roberts.......................704.292.8690
swaggertysfarm.com
Cline Hall Agency, Inc
1.800.837.7016......clinehallagency.com
S & D Coffee
Anne Clark.........................800-933-2210
sndcoffee.com
US Foodservice
Andy Lifsey..........................877.583.9659
usfoodservice.com
William Hill Estate Winery
Sam Cann............................707.224.4477
williamhillestate.com
FURNITURE
Furnitureland South, Inc
Jeffrey D. Harris...............336.822.3200
furniturelandsouth.com
“Sit in our beautifully crafted, locally
sourced wooden chairs! Product
examples located off of the 4th fairway at Country Club of Asheville”
One-Legged Chairs
Ray Gurriere...................516.383.8505
oneleggedchairs.com
70
Fogleman Insurance Agency, Inc./
Nationwide
Vaughn Fogleman, Christy Tran
336-855-9190
foglemv@nationwide.com
Jim Costas Agency, Inc
Gary Stratton, Mike Moran,
Jim & Chris Costa.............336.292.9992
costasj@nationwide.com
Snotherly Insurance Angency/
Nationwide Insurance
Alex Snotherly..........................919.832.5832
nwagent.com/snotherly.html
Todd & Scarboro Insurance Agency
Dene Castleberry..............919.365.7255
toddandscarboro.com
LAW
Kohn Law, PLLC, Closing Attorney
Howard Kohn......................919.856.0200
howardkohnlaw.com
Benson, Brown & Faucher, PLLC
Bob Benson........................336.478.6000
bbflaw.com
Ellis Family Law, PLLC
Gray Ellis...............................919.688.9400
ellisfamilylaw.com
Wyrick Robbins Yates
& Ponton LLP
Josh Otto............................919.781.4000
wryick.com
LEISURE
Greensboro Opera Company
Bill Knight.............................336.273.9472
greensboroopera.org
McConnell Golf, LLC
John McConnell.................919.231.5501
mcconnellgolf.com
Rex Hospital Open
Brian Krusoe, Tournament Director
919.784.4718......rexhospitalopen.com
MARKETING & TECHNOLOGY
Dynamic Quest
Javier Gomez.....................336.370.0555
dynamicquest.com
EXPERIENCE THE 1-800-PACK-RAT DIFFERENCE
Dawn Bell- Digital DNA Marketing
Dawn Kole Bell................704.870.7091
digitaldnamarketing.com
• Secure, weatherproof, all-steel portable storage containers
Digital Marketing Services –
Consulting, Execution, Training, Web
Sites, Mobile, Search, Social Media,
Email Marketing, Internet Advertising
• Local and long-distance moving services
Necessary Marketing, Inc
Keith Dyer.............................800.707.1457
necessary-marketing.com
MANUFACTURING
Jeffrey’s Manufacturing Solutions
Brooks Barwick..................336.665.1080
jeffreysmfg.com
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
eXoprint
Ryan Colburn.....................864.208.0057
exoprint.com
• Short- or long-term storage in climate-controlled warehouses
• Deliveries scheduled at your convenience
• Best-in-the-industry handling system
keeps your stuff safe
• Coverage across the USA and Canada
• Pledge to customer satisfaction
To learn more, call 1-800-722-5728 or visit us online at www.1800packrat.com
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Absolute Comfort Heating
& Cooling, Inc
Donnie Williams................336.454.5786
yourabsolutecomfort.com
Arcons Design Studio
Rajeev Bhave......................704.542.5252
arconsds.com
Buddy Quinn
Electrician.............................919.796.0807
J Hilburn Custom Menswear
Cheryl Tung, Independent Stylist
................................................919.896.2250
cheryltung.jhilburn.com
D & K Franchise Sales Weed Man Lawn Care
Kenneth Heltemes.............919.781.5365
heltemes@bellsouth.com
Davis Landscape LTD
Scot Davis.............................919.662.1009
davislandscapeltd.com
eWater Advantage
Bo Batchelder
bo@ewateradvantage.com........ewater.green
Micciche Photography
Mike Micciche...................336.684.3535
mikemicciche.com
Pool Professionals of the
Carolinas, Inc
Dan DeLeo..........................919.787.7878
poolprofessionals.com
Paul Bronson- Statements in Stone
Paul Bronson ................919.349.0871
Custom stone masonry specializing in
superior design and service. Gallery
of work: statementsinstone.com
Revels Turf & Tractor, LLC
Turner Revels......................800.849.5468
revelstractor.com
Safe Buyers, LLC
Don Swaim..........................336.207.7283
108yadkinfalls@gmail.com
Telepathic Graphics, Inc
Mark Gauley.......................919.342.4603
telepathicgraphics.com
72
Southland Electrical Supply
Jim Griggs, Owner.......336.227.1486
southlandelectrical.com
We buy, sell, rent, and repair new,
new surplus, and reconditioned industrial electrical equipment. Family
owned and operated.
Travel Management Partners/TMP
Meeting Services
John W. Lewis....................800.443.8496
tmptravel.com
PORTABLE STORAGE AND MOVING
1-800-PACK-RAT
James Burati....202-362-0101 x1100
1800packrat.com
REAL ESTATE SERVICES
RETAIL
Kannon’s Clothing
George Knuckley...............919.366.6902
kannons@nc.rr.com
The Little Herb House
Lisa Treadaway....................919.772.3543
littleherbhouse.com
Saffelle, Inc. Janitorial Supply
& Equipment Co
Chris Saffelle.......................919.698.3930
saffelle.com
Starnes Jewelry
Frances Eugene Starnes
704.982.1013.........starnesjewelers.com
Swing Control
Charna Zucker..........514.381.6164 x 236
swingcontrol.com/mcg
TRANSPORTATION
Allen Tate Realtors
Bobbie Maynard................336.215.8017
BobbieMaynard.com
Rogers & Brown
Custom Brokers, INC
Don Brown, Jr....................843.577.3630
rogers-brown.com
Beverly-Hanks & Associates
LaNita Cloninger..............828.231.5708
beverly-hanks.com/agents/lanita
Freight Handlers Inc
Ryan Wall.............................919.552.3157
freighthandlers.com
Elizabeth Allardice,
Cooke Property
Elizabeth Allardice.............919.624.3423
elizabethallardice.com
EPES Transport System, Inc
Derek Berard......................336.931.9920
epestransport.com
Grande Dunes Properties
Martin Bellamy..................843.692.2323
GrandeDunes.com
Highlands Cove Realty
Ed Hills.................................828.526.8128
highlandscoverealty.com
Lisa McCrossan Ivester Jackson
Lisa McCrossan, Broker/Realtor
NC & SC..............................704.620.0328
lisamccrossan.ivesterjackson.com
Look at Myrtle Beach Sabra McNeill....................843.424.1655
lookatmyrtlebeach.com
Preferred Properties of Asheville
Laura Browne Livaudais
828.712.5445...........preferredprop.com
Uwahrrie Point Realty
336.461.4492..........uwharriepoint.com
Transportation Impact
John Powers........................919.819.8200
transportationimpact.com
TUTORING & MENTORING
Way In Interview Mentoring
& Consulting
Robert Karski.......................919.813.2484
linkedin.com/in/bobkarski
VETERINARY SERVICES
Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital
Chris Konvalinka, DVM
919.471.4103.........bahamaroadvet.com
WHOLESALE COMPANY
Premier Golf Distributors, Inc
Chris Lannom....................919.850.2202
honmagolf.com
The Power of Partnership Working for You
In partnership with BB&T, one of the nation’s largest and most respected financial institutions,
BB&T Scott & Stringfellow has the resources to support our clients with comprehensive,
customized investment guidance — and then go further, ensuring their investments are fully
integrated with other components ofScott
their&total
financial Ad
strategy. Give us a call today to learn
Stringfellow
more about how this partnership can work for you.
C. Douglas Bray, CFP®, CIMA
Managing Director/Financial Advisor
3605 Glenwood Ave., Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-571-1893 n 800-763-1893
DBray@BBTScottStringfellow.com
Mitchell L. Hunt, LUTCF, AAMS
Vice President/Financial Advisor
3318 W. Friendly Ave., Suite 330
Greensboro, NC 27410
336-378-1824 n 800-476-1824
MHunt@BBTScottStringfellow.com
Mike Hill
2619 North Oak Street, 3rd Floor
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-918-7602 n 888-728-2265
MHill@BBTScottStringfellow.com
John Creamer
2619 North Oak Street, 3rd Floor
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-918-7610 n 888-728-2265
JCreamer@BBTScottStringfellow.com
Scott Shook
1440 E. Arlington Blvd., Suite B
Greenville, NC 27858
252-378-3299 n 800-207-3201
SShook@BBTScottStringfellow.com
BB&T Scott & Stringfellow is a division of BB&T Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. BB&T Securities, LLC, is a wholly owned nonbank subsidiary of BB&T
Corporation, is not a bank, and is separate from any BB&T bank or nonbank subsidiary. Securities and insurance products or annuities sold, offered, or recommended
by BB&T Scott & Stringfellow are not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not guaranteed by a bank, not guaranteed by any federal government agency and may lose value.
McConnell
Golf
The Magazine
SPRING 2016
The DR40
Take a trip through all four
Donald Ross-designed courses
MCCONNELL GOLF THE MAGAZINE SPRING 2016
Exciting
Expansion
A look at Providence and
Holston Hills country clubs

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

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