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GEORGIAPGA.COM GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM « SEPTEMBER 2008 Lots of changes for East Lake renovated; new date; no Woods

By Mike Blum G

R record 23-under 257. Only three of 30 E B N I

ust as in the Presidential race, the word D players were over par for the week, with E V E

T 2-over 282 tying for last place.

change will be closely associated with S the 2008 PGA Tour Championship “When you give these players soft presented by Coca-Cola. greens, they’re going to shoot lights out,” J Burton says. “It will be a lot different this Other than returning to East Lake for the fifth straight year – the eighth time year with greens that are firm and fast.” overall – with a field of 30 top PGA Tour East Lake closed for play March 1 and pros, there will be a lot of changes for this will not re-open until Tour Championship month’s event, with the tournament sched - week. Players and spectators will notice uled for Sept. 25-28. some changes to the course, which will still Since last year’s tournament, the course play to a par of 70 for the tournament has undergone renovations, stemming but has been lengthened to just over from the problems East Lake’s bent grass 7,300 yards. greens encountered from last summer’s Perhaps the most dramatic change is the hot, dry weather. addition of a new tee on the picturesque East Lake’s putting surfaces have been par-3 sixth hole, one of the first in to converted to mini-verde, an ultra-dwarf feature an island green. The hole has strain of grass that is comparable played 168 yards over a finger of East to the quality of bent grass greens, but Lake, but can now play as long as 214 – all will provide a firmer surface in the carry over water – from the new tee. The summer heat. sixth played under par last year for the “They’re a lot firmer,” East Lake tournament, something not expected to be Director of Golf Rick Burton says. “You repeated this month. can cut them really close so the ball runs The par-4 seventh, which measured 395 out and it’s hard to suck the ball back. It yards and was responsible for only seven bounces forward.” bogeys in four rounds last year, will now East Lake’s bent grass greens suffered play around 435, as the green has been heat damage last year, and while they were moved back some 40 yards. in decent shape for the Tour The tee on the slightly uphill par-4 13th Championship, they were very soft and has been extended back more than 30 very vulnerable. As a result, the scores were With players like Sergio Garcia, the 2008 Tour Championship will be a blast extremely low, with the winning total a [ See Tour Championship courses, page 6 ] G R E B N I D E V

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2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 3 Instruction Fore You 3021 Kalah Place, Marietta, GA 30067 770-933-04GA (Office) 770-953-6638 (Fax) golfforegeorgia.com swing on an angled plane. By allowing [email protected] your to swing on an arc or tilted plane, you can make a stroke that has a PUBLISHER To Be Straight Path one piece motion with few moving parts Golf Media, Inc. and a body that has no need for compen - John Barrett sating movements. The less movement your putting stroke has the more consis - Or To Be Arc Path EDITOR Mike Blum tent you will be able to be with direction

and pace. CONTRIBUTORS The putting path must be on an arc Jason Coffin That Is the Question because our posture is dictated by our Jackie Cannizzo, Women’s Golf Editor body’s alignment and the putter is built on Lake-Finlay Image Group By Mike Perpich continues. I want to show you not only the an angle, allowing the putter to be swung Joseph Field PGA Director of Instruction proper method for putting but the reason on an angled plane, inside to inside arc. Steve Dinberg RiverPinesGolf why you should choose to putt that way. Now that you know why you should putt Georgia Golf Course Owners Association There are advantages to both putting on an inside to inside putting arc, let’s look Cindy Acree, Executive Director To be or not to be. That is the question. methods but there is only one method at five fundamentals which will make you a Well, actually the question is to putt with a which our body’s anatomy will allow us to better putter. MARKETING & ADVERTISING straight back and straight properly perform—the putting Below I have listed my 5 Points for J.R. Ross, Sales Representative through path or to putt with an on the inside to inside arc path. Putting which I use everyday to help Rick Holt, Corporate Sales inside to inside arc path. This First, the way our body is people become more consistent and question has stumped players, aligned will not permit a proficient . ART DIRECTOR teachers and coaches alike straight back and straight Lori Montgomery for years and the debate through motion without Perpich’s Points for Putting: [email protected] manipulation. When you are 1. Putter must be soled flat on the ground properly set up to putt, your GEORGIA SECTION , PGA OF AMERICA back and spine are on an angle, 2. Eyes should be over the ball and target PRESIDENT therefore allowing your shoul - line, more importantly your eyebrows Jim Arendt, Chicopee Woods Golf Course ders to rotate around that angle. If you are should be parallel to the ground attempting a straight back and straight VICE -PRESIDENT through putting arc, you will have to make 3. The shoulder line should be parallel Patrick Richardson, Wilmington Island Club compensations such as turning your to the target line shoulders like a see saw or even moving SECRETARY your wrists from the close to open posi - 4. The putter grip and shaft should run Brian Stubbs, Country Club of Columbus tion. This added movement will hinder parallel and in between both forearms your putting stroke. HONORARY PRESIDENT However, when you body is properly set 5. The shoulders provide the motion for Danny Elkins, Georgia Golf Center up to putt, your shoulders naturally turn the putting stroke on an angle and everything moves with BOARD OF DIRECTORS them on a tilted plane and the putter Now that you know your body and your Bud Robison, Callaway Gardens moves on an inside to inside arc path. In club are built to swing most efficiently in Marten Olsson, The Club at River Forest order to visualize this path in your mind, an inside to inside arc path, to be or not to Steve Godley, Jekyll Island Golf Club think of swinging a bolt on the end of a be should certainly be, inside to inside Bob Elmore, Bacon Park GC string as you move your arm it changes the arc path. Shawn McKinnon, Berkeley Hills CC Richard Hatcher, Ansley GC path of the bolt. Jeff Dunovant, First Tee of East Lake The second factor is the putter itself is Scott Mahr, Barnsley Gardens Resort built on an angle and therefore it must be Mike Perpich is a top 100 Golf Magazine Mike Perpich highlights 5 points Clark Spratlin, Blue Ridge Golf & River Club E P of set-up using Eye Line Golf’s I swung around you, your spine and your instructor and a Top 50 U.S. Kids T

S Dan Mullins, Classic Golf Management P

Professional Putting Plane. O back on an angle. The putter is designed to Golf teacher H Josh Williams, Savannah Golf Club Rodger Hogan, Royal Lakes Golf & CC

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mike Paull TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR Pat Day E FedExCup Playoffs ...... 8 Does golf need the Olympics? ...... 20

U JUNIOR GOLF DIRECTOR Scott Gordon S t OPERATIONS MANAGER Jeff Ashby

S Ryder Cup preview ...... 10 Chip shots: Tournament round-up ...... 24 s I SECTION ASSISTANT Traci Waters a S

I Georgia PGA pro-file: Rick Burton ...... 12 Golf Fore Juniors ...... 26 c

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D Indian Creek on the upswing ...... 16 Course reviews: Callaway Gardens, Griffin CC . . . 30 I of editorial or graphic content is prohibited. F S Georgia PGA web site: www.georgiapga.com N Georgians star on Nationwide Tour ...... 18 I

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2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 5 slightly different spot on the PGA Tour Tour Championship schedule. Last year’s tournament was [ Continued from the cover ] played two weeks earlier, and immediately followed the first three weeks of the inau - yards, and will play around 475. gural FedExCup playoffs. The 15th, one of the shortest and easiest This time, there is a two-week gap par 5s on the PGA Tour, has added 30 between the third playoff event and the yards to 525, with a new fairway bunker Tour Championship. After the tour takes a placing more of a premium on accuracy off week off following the BMW the tee. Championship at Bellerive in St. Louis, the The 480-yard 16th hasn’t increased in Ryder Cup will be played in Louisville, length, but has added a pair of bunkers, Ky., with the Tour Championship next on one along the fairway and another pro - the schedule. tecting the green. That will give all the players except those The hole with the most extensive competing in the Ryder Cup two weeks off, changes is the 17th, which had previously with the Ryder Cup participants who play added a back tee to push its length just over on the PGA Tour competing for the fifth 450 yards. Both the fairway and green have time in six weeks. been extended to the left to make the entire Perhaps the biggest change is the absence hole play along side the lake. of the defending champion There will also be three and the game’s No. 1 new fairway bunkers on a player. This will be the hole that played as the second time in the last fourth most difficult last three years year and will be even will not be playing at East tougher after the changes. Lake, but this time he has The second change is a a legitimate excuse from his doctor. P

Woods skipped the Tour U O R G

Championship in 2006, E G A M lamely citing fatigue for his absence. Woods I Y A L N said he was “re-charging his batteries” for the I F -

Phil Mickelson E K

2007 season, but in actuality, was taking a A L month off in advance of a trip to the Far East and that included some Calcavecchia and Johnson, the only players Woods and Mickelson were both absent lucrative appearance fees. remotely close to him, with three birdies on from the 2006 Tour Championship, the Tiger Woods With last year’s Tour the last four holes of the front nine. last one played in early November, and the Championship marking the Leading by four with seven holes to play, tournament came and went with little culmination of the inaugural Woods again ran off three birdies in a impact either locally or nationally. FedExCup Playoffs, Woods four-hole stretch to pad his lead to nine Scott scored a mostly bloodless victory returned to East Lake in before a meaningless late bogey. with an 11-under score of 269, closing with grand style, shattering just Until his runaway victory last year, a 66 to hold off , who was about every tournament Woods’ record at East Lake was not quite second at 272 after a final round 65. Scott’s scoring record in the event’s up to his expected standards. three-stroke margin of victory is the relatively brief history. His introduction to the course was less smallest for any of the last four Tour Woods posted rounds of than pleasant, as he was dead last after 36 Championships, which has not had a sus - 64-63-64-66 for a 23-under holes in the first Tour Championship in penseful finish since 2001 in Houston. 257 total, leading by three Atlanta in 1998. After opening with scores That year’s tournament ended in a four- strokes after the second and third of 75-76, he closed with a pair of 69s to way tie, with two other players one shot out rounds before finishing with an finish 20th at 9-over 289. of the playoff and three others within two 8-stroke victory. Woods was denied a wire- After winning the event in Houston in strokes of the winning total. to-wire victory, as Tim Clark shot 62 to take 1999, Woods took the lead to the final birdied the first extra hole, leaving Garcia, the first round lead, with Padraig round at East Lake in 2000, but was beaten and David Toms to share the Harrington also leading Woods after 18 by a charging , one of the runner-up position. holes with a 63. few times Woods has lost after being on top , who all but locked up the A second round 63 gave Woods a after 54 holes. FedExCup title with victories in the first 13-under 127 total after 36 holes, with That happened again in 2004, with two playoff events, has put together an out - Woody Austin three strokes off the lead and Woods sharing the 54-hole lead that year standing record at East Lake. Clark, defending champion with Jay Haas . While Woods and Haas Singh lost in a playoff to in and Mark Calcavecchia third at 131. both stumbled the final day, the first Tour Championship in 1998, Another 64 preserved Woods’ lead after roared past both with a sizzling 64, coming shooting a 63 in the first round that stood 54 holes, with Calcavecchia three back in from four behind after 54 holes to finish as the course record until 2005. He tied for second and Sergio Garcia five off the four ahead of Woods, who shot 72 after third two years later behind Mickelson and pace in third. was six recording scores of 64 and 65 the previous Woods after sharing the 54-hole lead. back after smashing the course two days. Singh broke through in 2002, holding off a record with a 10-under 60. Woods placed second again in 2005, challenge from Augusta native Charles For the fourth straight year, there with unheralded Bart Bryant scoring a Howell , and has top 10s each of the last was no final round suspense at East wire-to-wire triumph, beginning with what four years. Lake. Woods coasted to his first win was an East Lake record of 62 in the In 28 rounds at East Lake, Singh’s in six starts at the course, one of opening round. Bryant’s 17-under 263 was scoring average is a shade over 68, and he the few that he had played more a comfortable six strokes ahead of Woods, has earned more than $2.5 million in his

G than a few times and had denied who was unable to mount a final round seven starts in Atlanta. R E B N I him a victory. comeback after beginning the day four off D E V

E Woods broke away from the lead. T S

6 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 7 FedExCup changes can’t guarantee drama Singh wraps it up before arriving at East Lake

By Mike Blum Following some media carping at the movement from top to bottom, obviously Sutherland (57 to 11); (68 conclusion of last year’s playoffs, it was not as much at the top because of Singh. to 14); Ken Duke (51 to 22); Tim Clark fter the inaugural FedExCup pointed out in these pages that there is Last year, it was nearly impossible for (60 to 23) and (56 to 29), Playoffs in 2007, the PGA Tour nothing the PGA Tour can do to ensure an players near the bottom of the standings at who replaces Holmes as the tournament’s tweaked the entire points system exciting conclusion short of turning the the end of the regular season to move up pre-eminent bomber. (31 for this year’s four playoff events. first three playoffs events into lucrative significantly short of winning a tourna - to 16) and Billy Mayfair (37 to 28) also AThe number of points awarded to the qualifiers and making the Tour ment. Only a handful of players outside the played their way in from close range. 144 competitors at the outset of the play - Championship a separate, essentially top 70 made it as far as the third of the Hart, who finished second in St. Louis, offs was changed slightly, and the points winner-take-all event. three playoffs events, and 27 of the top 30 and Mahan were the only players to move allocation for the four playoff events was Thanks to his victories in the first two players after the regular season made it to into the top 30 in their final shot, knocking altered to produce more volatility in the playoff events, Vijay Singh was 99.9 East Lake. out and Ogilvy, who week-to-week standings. percent certain of winning the FedExCup Villegas, who was 52nd at the end of the were 29th and 30th coming into the week. Players making the cut in the first two even if he finished dead last in both the regular season, was the lowest-ranked , who withdrew from events were rewarded, those third playoff event as well as player to move into the top 30 and qualify the tournament after the first round to be not showing up or missing the Tour Championship. for the Tour Championship. The top 22 with his wife for the birth of their first the cut were penalized. That’s what happens when players going into the playoffs all made it to child, held on to the last of the 30 spots Tiger Woods and Padraig the player who started the East Lake. after beginning the week in 14th. Ames was Harrington finished the playoffs seventh in the There was little movement last year, next in line, narrowly missing the top 30 regular season first and standings wins the first two largely due to the playoffs success of after a tie for fifth in St. Louis. fourth in the points standings. After two tournaments, and when Woods, , Phil Mickelson , Among the 30 players who made it to weeks of not playing or failing to make the won at Bellerive in St. Louis, Singh Rory Sabbatini and K.J. Choi . Stricker, East Lake were some who primarily owed cut, Woods was 32nd and Harrington clinched the Cup. who was 12th, was the only one of the five their status to a victory during the 2008 44th, with Harrington failing to post a top Other than going to a gimmicky format not among the top six at the end of the reg - season, among them Andres Romero , finish in the third playoffs event, knocking as the LPGA does with its version of the ular season. When the players at the top , D.J. Trahan , Carl him out of the Tour Championship. Tour Championship, the PGA Tour and gobble up most of the points, there isn’t Pettersson and Masters champion Trevor After Woods’ dominance of the playoffs its highly promoted FedExCup can’t much left for the rest of those at the table. Immelman , who has contended exactly last year (two wins and a close second in his guarantee an exciting conclusion as long as With the changes this year, Kevin once since his surprise win in Augusta. three starts), the PGA Tour was optimistic players like Woods and Singh dominate the Sutherland jumped from 57th to 3rd after Others, like Briny Baird , Stuart that the combination of a revamped points playoffs. tying for second in the playoffs opener. Appleby , , Duke and system and the absence of Woods would The 30 players who will be in the field Every player who made the cut in the first Stricker, played consistently throughout the provide the drama missing from the Tour for this month’s Tour Championship will playoff event made it to the second tourna - season, and were rewarded with both a trip Championship last year. be playing to win the tournament and its ment, and players who missed the cut to East Lake and an invite to Augusta $1.26 million first prize, nothing more. plummeted in the standings. for 2009. Vijay Singh The $10 million that will go to the winner Players as highly ranked as Sean O’Hair Watson was likely the most relieved of the FedExCup was earmarked for Singh’s (16), Jeff Quinney (25) and Rod player to finish in the top 30, as he comes bank account after his superb final round Pampling (33) missed two cuts, dropped into East Lake outside the top 60 on the effort on Labor Day earned him an easy out of the top 70 and headed home after money list. The top 30 at the end of the victory in the Deutsche Bank two weeks. , Tim Herron year earn Masters invitations, with Holmes Championship, and what little suspense and Martin Laird started the playoffs out - and Quinney both in position to earn that was left disappeared thanks to the win side the top 100, but all moved up after invitations if they play well during the by Villegas, who was not close enough to top-10 finishes. Fall Series. Singh to catch him even if he wins at Among the changes was a “bonus” for Because of the absence of players like East Lake. making the cut in the cut, which has Harrington, Ogilvy, Scott, Weekley and With a lead of almost $2 million over his enabled players to make relatively big Holmes, there will again be a call from the closest active pursuer, the money title for jumps in the standings without playing critics to change the system. Harrington, 2008 is also in Singh’s pocket. As a result, especially well. The bonus has also resulted however, had no problem with his the only outside impact the Tour in players like Harrington taking huge hits exclusion from the Tour Championship, Championship might have had was on in the standings for missing a cut. and admitted to some puzzlement why Player of the Year honors, and that went Of the top 30 players in points at the end he was still playing after missing two out the window when Harrington was of the regular season, nine will not be in the straight cuts. eliminated. field at East Lake. Joining Woods on the In the playoffs, some advance and some There will likely be a call from some in sidelines are Harrington; 2006 U.S. Open don’t. Rigging the points distribution to the media to again make changes to the champion ; Ryder Cupper ensure that the big names move on despite FedExCup points system and/or format. and resident folk hero ; fellow playing poorly in the three weeks prior to But there isn’t much of an alternative short Ryder Cupper J.B. Holmes , one of the East Lake is bogus, not to mention of going to an LPGA-style finish, which game’s longest hitters; 2006 Tour extremely hard to do. would almost totally devalue the first three Championship winner Adam Scott ; and It’s also impossible to guarantee an playoffs events, something the PGA Tour is 2006 Players champion . exciting finish short of a winner-take-all not going to do. Villegas again cracked the top 30 after showdown at East Lake, which might The changes to the points standings finishing the regular season on the outside sound promising but would be very, very instituted by the PGA Tour have done what looking in. He vaulted from 42nd to tricky to put together. G R E B

N they were intended to do, but with an second with his win in the BMW The PGA Tour will explore that option. I D E

V unintended consequence. Championship. Also making big moves Whether the tour goes down that road next E T S There has been a considerable amount of were Mike Weir (43 to 5); Kevin year is another matter, altogether.

8 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 9 Can U.S. end European control of Ryder Cup?

partnered with Garcia in the past, will be the leaders for a relatively inexperienced American victory possible, team that includes four Ryder Cup rookies. Ryder Cup neophytes Graeme but does not appear likely McDowell , and Soren Hansen finished ahead of the likes of Ian Poulter , Paul Casey and Clarke in the By Mike Blum surgery, the Americans have a built-in standings, and are joined by U.S.-based excuse, but his record in the Ryder Cup is Justin Rose , the fourth rookie. Poulter and ontrary to recent history, the less than stellar. Woods has competed in Casey were added to the team, as captain Ryder Cup used to be a biennial the last five matches and the U.S. is 1-4 Faldo went with youth over experience, competition that attracted scant with Woods on the team. He has a losing bypassing Clarke, who has two wins this attention as the American team record (10-13-2), including a 7-12-1 mark season and a history of Ryder Cup success. Cdominated the squad from Great Britain in team matches. The selection of Poulter over Clarke was and Ireland. The team was 17-1-1 from Jim Furyk 1947 to 1983, with many of the victories Sergio Garcia by lopsided margins. the event it has become. In 1979, the Great Britain/Ireland team While Faldo had an excess of worthy was expanded to include all of Europe, but candidates for his two wild card picks, the addition of did little American captain was to immediately alter the balance of power. awarded four selections by the PGA, and However, things began to change in 1983, had only two relatively obvious choices – when Bernhard Langer joined Ballesteros veterans Steve Stricker and Scott to give the Europeans two stalwarts from Verplank . Stricker would have made the outside the British Isles. team on points if the usual selection method had been in place, with 2007 star Woody Austin the PREVIEW other player who would have made the team on points had the top 10 made the cut instead of the top 8. Ryder Cup Despite Verplank’s record of success in the Ryder Cup (4-1) and Presidents Cup (6-2-1), Azinger bypassed him in favor of The ‘83 Ryder Cup came down to the Hunter Mahan , Chad Campbell and J.B. final singles match before the U.S. eked out Holmes . Given the thin resumes of the a narrow win. The Euros drubbed the U.S. While the U.S. has not fared particularly puzzling, as Poulter has had a very ordinary latter trio, it’s hard to understand how in ‘85 and scored their first ever victory on well in recent years in the Ryder Cup, the year other than his runner-up finish in the Azinger could have bypassed the most suc - American soil at Muirfield Village in ‘87. Americans have dominated the interna - British Open. Clarke would have been the cessful active American Ryder Cupper, and A tie and two narrow U.S. wins fol - tional squad in the Presidents Cup, losing only player who has competed with Faldo he will deservedly get second-guessed if any lowed, before the matches took another only once in seven matches. Considering on the team, and his absence leaving the of the three stumbles in the matches. turn in 1995 at Oak Hill in Rochester, N.Y. that the international team has consistently Euros with only three players with more Campbell, who has played in the last two The Americans kicked away a final day lead sported a more accomplished lineup than than two Ryder Cup appearances. Ryder Cups, and Mahan, a member of last in singles, starting a run of six Ryder Cups the European teams that have been beating Typically, Europe has ridden its horses in year’s winning team in the Presidents Cup, that has tilted heavily in the European up on the Americans, the question arises: the team matches, leaving its lesser players have both played pretty well of late, as has direction. Why is that? to play the role of spectator for most of the Stricker, who makes his first Ryder Cup Europe has won five of the last six, with The answer: Who knows? first two days. It will be interesting to see start after two Presidents Cup appearances. the lone U.S. victory the near miracle For whatever reason, the European how Faldo mixes and matches his squad Holmes, however, has done next to comeback in Brookline, Mass., in 1999. players have performed better in the Ryder without some of the usual suspects in the nothing in recent months, and did not help The last two matches have been European Cup than they have in the major champi - lineup. McDowell, Wilson and Hansen his cause when he shot 81 in the final routs, including a 2004 U.S. embarrass - onships, although the recent play of may see minimal action in team matches, round of the PGA Championship after ment at Oakland Hills, site of the recent Harrington, Garcia and as did Poulter, who played just once as a being tied for second after 54 holes. PGA Championship, which was won by a may be changing that. rookie in 2004. Azinger evidently had long since made up European Ryder Cup team member with With Montgomerie not a member of the Look for Casey to join Garcia, his mind on Holmes, one of the longest but one of his teammates placing second. European team for the first time since Harrington and Westwood (14-8-3) as the least accurate drivers in the game. Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia 1989, and Olazabal and Clarke also not team’s anchors, with the remaining eight Holmes’ game should be a good fit for lead a strong European team into this competing, the Euros have a new look. players, including talented Swedes Karlsson Valhalla, which tends to favor longer hit - month’s Ryder Cup, which will be played at Although Harrington has won three of the and and Spanish veteran ters, and his roots will make him Valhalla in Louisville, Ky. The players who last six majors, the new leader of the Miguel Angel Jiminez , splitting up the a popular figure with the home state spec - brought Europe to parity and beyond European pack is Garcia, who is 14-4-2 in team matches. tators. But in his three years on tour, he has against the U.S. – Ballesteros, Langer, Nick his five appearances, including a staggering The Euros will miss Donald, who is 4-0 done very little other than his two wins at Faldo , Ian Woosnam , , Jose 13-1-2 record in team matches. Harrington in alternate shot the last two matches, as TPC Scottsdale, and does not have a good Maria Olazabal , has a losing Ryder Cup record (7-8-2), but well as the experience Clarke and record of playing well on Sunday. and – will not be on the is 3-1-1 in singles. Montgomerie would have provided. They Of the eight who made the team on G

2008 squad, leaving a talented but not Without Olazabal and the injured Luke are probably not as imposing on paper as points, three will be making their first ever R E B N I

overly experienced group to take on a U.S. Donald , his 2006 partners, Garcia will they could have been, and once you get appearance in a Presidents/Ryder Cup. D E V E

team that does not exactly look formidable have to break in some new teammates in past their top three, this is not a team that , and Boo T S Y on paper. best ball and alternate shot. Garcia, compares to those that included the veteran B S O

[ See Ryder Cup , page 12 ] T With Tiger Woods rehabbing after knee Harrington and , who has players who helped make the Ryder Cup O H P

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2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 11 Club closed, but Burton has plenty to do

a club ownership opportunity presented East Lake is getting ready to host the Tour East Lake’s man in charge itself in . Championship for the eighth time, and The first Georgia stop for Burton came at Burton says having the tournament on an Jennings Mill outside Athens in the 1990s. annual basis at an earlier date has probably stays busy at home, abroad After a few years there, he was contacted by ruled out the possibility of the club acclaimed golf course architect Rees Jones, hosting a major USGA event like the 2001 who said he should look into a job at a U.S. Amateur. By Mike Blum course he had just renovated – East Lake. The marriage between the Tour followed by back-to-back weeks at major Burton had heard some less-than-flat - Championship and East Lake has worked ast Lake Golf Club closed for course championships – the British and Senior tering stories about East Lake in the years out nicely for both parties. East Lake has and clubhouse renovations on British Opens. before Tom Cousins began the process of been a gracious host and the Tour March 1 and will not re-open until “The British Open was the most fun I’ve restoring the club to its former glory, but Championship has helped fund the East Tour Championship week, which ever had,” said Burton, who has been a E recognized the potential of the club and the Lake Foundation, which has made tremen - begins Sept. 22. member of the PGA of America Rules surrounding area. dous strides in improving the quality of life Even though his club has been closed for Committee for 27 years. “It’s a unique “It’s the best place in the world to be a for people in and around the East Lake area. more than six months, Rick Burton has not event.” club professional. It’s a wonderful place “The Tour Championship is a great way exactly been idle during that span. Far Burton has plenty of experience working to work.” for us to do that,” Burton says of the event’s from it. at majors in the U.S., having served as a Burton enjoys the fact that he doesn’t have fund-raising impact. “From a publicity Burton, who is East Lake’s General rules official at both the Masters and PGA to deal with the myriad committees that can standpoint, people all over have heard about Manager as well as Director of Golf, has Championship. He is also a veteran of the make the life for a club professional at a pri - what’s gone on at East Lake, and we get a lot been busy since early March, both at the Ryder Cup, and will be working in that vate club a political minefield. of guests who want to play here. club and in his long time role as one of the capacity there this month, the week before At East Lake, Burton says the club’s direc - “Our members are proud to have the Tour top rules officials for the PGA of America, East Lake re-opens. tion flows from Cousins, “and he lets you do Championship here.” “I’m at the club every day,” Burton said “The Ryder Cup is the most stressful your job. I report to one person.” because it’s match play and the ref - eree can play a huge part. But I’ve done it enough times. It’s not as scary as GEORGIA PGA it used to be.” During his previous Ryder Cup Ryder Cup stints, Burton has not been involved in (Continued from Page 10) Pro-file many high profile controversies, but did get caught up in the Paul about a month before 30 of golf’s top Azinger/Chip Beck vs. Seve Ballesteros/Jose Weekley are Ryder rookies, along with players arrive at East Lake for the PGA Tour Maria Olazabal “one ball” dispute in 1991. Stricker, Mahan and Holmes. Championship and the re-opening of the Burton also had a unique perspective on is playing in just his second Ryder Cup, and historic facility. the famous putt at Brookline was basically ignored by Hal Sutton in “I watch what’s going on and help super - in 1999. He was refereeing the Colin 2004 at Oakland Hills. P U

vise things. We’ve still got bills coming in, so Montgomerie-Payne Stewart match, the The American team will be anchored by O R G

I have to approve invoices. And I’m final one of the Sunday singles, with the trio of Phil Mickelson , Jim Furyk and E G A M checking on the employees.” Leonard and Olazabal in the match ahead. , who have the unenviable I Y A L N East Lake has a sizeable staff of workers, “I was with Montgomerie and Stewart combined Ryder Cup record of 18-29-10. I F - E K

and Burton points out, “Our first concern standing in the 17th fairway when Leonard The three are 32-25-12 in the Presidents Stewart Cink A L was what to do with our employees. Many made the putt.” Cup, with Furyk and Cink both sporting of them have been here more than The U.S. team, which was gathered excellent records in team matches and sin - abysmal. In 26 matches spanning seven and we did not want to do anything to jeop - around the 17th green watching their team - gles against international opponents. events, his record is 6-13-7. He’s winless in ardize them coming back to us.” mate, celebrated Leonard’s across-the-green Mickelson will be without his two the Ryder Cup (0-3-5) and has the worst The club decided to pay its workers full bomb with uncharacteristic glee, which did favorite partners ( David Toms and Chris record of any prominent American player pay and benefits provided they agreed to not sit well with the dour Scot. DiMarco ), and unless he manages to play in the Presidents Cup (6-10-2). return and give at least 100 hours of volun - Montgomerie marched over to Burton up the standards expected of the game’s No. Perry could emerge as a quiet leader of teer service to the association or cause of and demanded action, exactly what Burton 2-ranked player, it is unlikely the the American team, and will almost cer - their choice. had no idea. Americans can win. Mickelson has typically tainly be the most motivated player on Burton says East Lake employees have “He thought I should have done some - not played especially well in the latter stages either side. Like Holmes, Perry is a built three Habitat for Humanity homes thing,” Burton recalls, chalking the of the season, and after playing a heavy – if Kentucky native, and has been focused on and done “a few other things as a group,” experience up to Montgomerie’s prickly per - not overly successful – stretch of golf the Ryder Cup for quite a while, along with work for the Humane Society sonality. recently, there is a question how much shrugging off media criticism for his and church groups. “It’s been really exciting Burton has one request of PGA officials quality golf he has left. skipping the U.S. and British Opens. After and everybody is coming back.” for this month’s matches. He would prefer Furyk has been stout in singles (7-1-1 his sensational stretch of golf this summer, While he has spent a lot of time at East not to referee a match involving Atlanta area combined), but his 3-11-1 mark in Ryder he has struggled of late with some eye con - Lake paying the bills, keeping an eye on the resident Stewart Cink. Cup team matches is not encouraging. He cerns, and Azinger will need him at the top work to the golf course and clubhouse, as “Stewart is a friend of mine and a member will be a major player for the Americans of his game if the U.S, is going to reverse well as keeping in contact with the of the club at East Lake. I would want to along with Cink, who should benefit from the recent European dominance. employees, Burton has also done some trav - avoid any appearance of conflict.” Valhalla’s generous fairways. Cink was The play of rookies Kim, Curtis and eling to further his long-time avocation as a Burton got his start as a club professional enjoying perhaps the best season in his Weekley will also be vital for the U.S. team, rules official. in , and has been a Class A career through June, but has not played which is in the rare position of underdog. This year, Burton’s travels took him over - PGA Professional for 34 years, achieving the well since his win in Hartford. Curtis will likely be an alternate shot spe - seas, as he plied his trade for several weeks in distinction of Master Professional. His first Justin Leonard is playing in the Ryder cialist, with Kim and Weekley expected to Great Britain, working at the BMW head professional job was at Myers Park in Cup for the first time since his memorable provide a boost on four-ball matches, Championship in Wentworth, , one Charlotte, and he moved to Alamance CC, putt that clinched the matches in 1999, but which has been a surprising weakness for of the top tournaments on European Tour, a Donald Ross course in Burlington, before his record in the two competitions is the U.S. in recent competitions.

12 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 13 Spratlin captures Georgia PGA Championship

Veteran claims first victory in one of Section’s ‘majors’

By Mike Blum Spratlin, who is currently sixth in the uring his years as a member of Divots Player of the Year standings for the Georgia PGA, Clark 2008, has been among the top 10 at the Spratlin has been one of the end of the season every year since 2000. Section’s most consistent and Spratlin is the head professional at the Blue Dsuccessful players. Ridge Golf and River Club, which is under Spratlin’s tournament resume includes construction and is scheduled to open for three wins in the Match Play play next year. Championship, two Griffin Classic titles, During his years of playing in the an Assistants’ Championship and a victory Section Championship, Spratlin had rarely in one of the Georgia PGA’s team events. been a serious contender, although he did But until the recent Georgia PGA lead once after 18 holes. His best showing Championship, Spratlin had never won on Seaside came as an amateur, when he Clark Spratlin one of the three tournaments considered finished as runner-up to Danny Yates “majors” within the Section — the Georgia in the 1989 GSGA Championship, Open, Atlanta Open and the Georgia PGA well before the course underwent extensive final grouping for the last round, and all has become an infrequent tournament Championship. renovation. three got off to shaky starts. participant, and is finding it harder and That all changed with his recent win in “I love the course and I love playing it,” Reeves, the Director of Instruction at harder to make time for practice. the E-Z-GO Georgia PGA Championship Spratlin said. “The difference this year was Atlanta Athletic Club, was 5-over after One tournament he intends to play in is at Sea Island Golf Club’s famed Seaside that I made some putts.” eight holes before rallying to post a 73 and the upcoming Georgia PGA qualifier for the course. Spratlin shared the lead after 18 Spratlin had every element of his game in tie for sixth at 211. Keppler, the Director of PGA Professional National Championship. holes, led by two after 36 and won by three good working order in the tournament. Golf at Marietta Country Club, did not Keppler missed out on the chance to play with a 6-under 204 total, recording three “I drove the ball exceptionally well,” he score his first birdie of the day until the in the PNC in Georgia this year, as a rules straight scores in the 60s. observed, missing only a handful of fair - 13th hole, but finished strong with three violation regarding a range finder ended his “Over the course of time I’ve played well ways for the week. He also hit 47 of 54 birdies coming in for a 69 and a 207 total, attempt in last year’s Section qualifier. and I’ve won some,” Spatlin said after his greens and limited his total of three-putts his fourth straight runner-up showing in Finding the time to play and practice is victory. “But I’ve never won one of the to three for the tournament. the championship. not so much a concern for Spratlin as is majors. This kind of legitimizes what you Spratlin got off to a fast start in the Like his two playing partners, Spratlin where to play and practice. His club has do in the Section.” opening round with birdies on three of his took a bogey on the second hole thanks to been slow to get the construction of its golf It was Spratlin’s first win in the Section first seven holes. He hit one of his few a three-putt. But he quickly recovered with course under way, but Spratlin says things since 2004, when he won his third Match errant shots of the week on the demanding a birdie at the fifth before another weather “are moving along. Play title in four years. He won the Match par-4 18th, his ninth hole of the day, but delay of about 90 minutes. “We’ve suffered through some permit - Play and the Griffin Classic back-to-back saved bogey with a 10-foot putt after After the delay, Spratlin notched birdies ting issues and one of them shut us down in 2001 and 2002, finishing second on the driving into a hazard. He got back to at holes 7 and 8 to pad his lead, and was for six months. But now we’re rolling and Georgia PGA’s points list both years, and 3-under with a birdie at the second hole never seriously challenged down the we hope to have nine holes and a driving has placed between fifth and 10th in points and held his ground, largely thanks to a stretch, missing only one green on the back range by next summer or next fall.” every year since. 20-foot par putt at the third. nine. Spratlin’s victory earned him $6,000 Like Keppler, Spratlin is pointing to the His opening 67 gave Spratlin a share of and a spot in one of Georgia’s two upcoming PNC qualifier. One bad hole at the lead with three-time Section champion Nationwide Tour events in 2009. Reynolds Plantation’s Great Waters course Stephen Keppler Stephen Keppler , with Winston Trively Defending champion Matt Peterson , denied Spratlin a spot in last month’s PGA and Brian Dixon next at 68. the head professional at the University Championship, the second time he has nar - “That was as good as I’m going to play,” course in Athens, closed with a 66 to finish rowly missed a top 20 finish in the PNC, said Spratlin, who completed his round just third at 208. Todd Peterson (no relation), which guarantees a berth in one of golf’s before one of the typical weather delays the Director of Instruction at Marietta CC, four majors. that occur during summer tournaments on shot 69 to take fourth at 209, followed by “At the last two national club pros I’ve St. Simons Island. at 210 after a 67. Former been real close, and I’ve learned some After a strong effort in the opening champions Reeves, Jeff Hull and Tim lessons,” Spratlin said. With a chance to round, Spratlin did not want a repeat of the Weinhart were next at 211 along with reach the par-5 15th in two in the final year when he led after the first round only Trively, the head professional at Crooked round, Spratlin elected to lay up and still to fall back . Oak in Colquitt. made birdie to preserve his lead. “You’ve got to back it up. My goal was to Keppler won the championship in 1990, “A year ago, I probably would have hit as many greens as I could, and my only ‘94 and ‘96, the latter two victories coming pulled out a 3-wood and blasted away,” said mistake was one three-putt.” during his four-year run as the Georgia a slightly older and wiser Spratlin. “To win Spratlin was first off the tee the following PGA’s Player of the Year. After his fourth this means everything to me for my playing morning, and posted a 69 for a 4-under straight runner-up finish, he said, “I don’t career in the state of Georgia. If you’re a total after 36 holes. That gave him a two- know how many more chances to win I’m pro, you’ve got to win the Section stroke lead over Keppler and two-time going to have. It’s been a long time since I Championship, and I’m thankful I did.” champion Chan Reeves , the only other won this thing.” The E-Z-Go Georgia PGA players under par after 36 holes. With two children heavily involved in Championship was presented by Ashworth, Those three players were paired in the sports and a busy work schedule, Keppler Callaway Golf and the PGA Tour.

14 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 15 Indian Creek seeking to shed reputation

find plenty of scoring opportunities. The serious concern, although a bunker zealously course is on the short side by modern stan - guarding the front of the green might be. After changes, upgrades dards (under 6,850 yards from the back tees, Big hitters have to be aware of a creek just over 6,400 from the blues), and with the bisecting the 10th fairway, but the hole is exception of a hole or two, plays shorter still easily reachable for those who get close Covington course rates high than its yardage. to it off the tee. The most intriguing of the Indian Creek is rated at 72.7/139 (back par 5s is the 17th, which requires carries over for conditions, playability tees) and 69.8/133 (blues), with the white water on both the drive and second shot. tees under 6,000 yards and the reds about 70 With OB left and water right, accuracy is yards short of 5,000. vital on the tee shot, and a pond guarding From the blues, just par 4s are longer than the green down the left side is not very By Mike Blum Creek “still has the reputation of being a 400 yards on the card, with the somewhat accommodating to pulled or miss-hit hen Indian Creek Golf Club hard course,” even though most of the infamous fifth the lone two-shotter with attempts to reach it in two. – then known as Covington design elements that made it a demanding serious length. Any tee shot to the right will For those wondering where the hole gets Plantation – opened for play layout more than a decade ago are long plunge into a creek not far removed from its name, observe the mounds short of the in the early 1990s, the course since gone. the fairway, but the bunkers to the left are green and the bunker that surrounds the W gone, providing more room to avoid oval-shaped putting surface. It may be hard quickly acquired a two-fold reputation: the Over the years, a huge number of trees layout was very hard and very quirky. that made the course so demanding off the trouble. The wetlands short of the green to discern from ground level, but the green The late Desmond Muirhead, the course tee have been removed, allowing players to have been restored, but there is a little represents a women’s face face, the bunker is architect, included a number of unusual find errant tee shots and recover from them. bailout room, although the multi-level green the hair and the mounds are self-explana - design elements that gave Covington Some of Muirhead’s odd design devices – doesn’t make things much easier once you tory. Before they were reduced a bit, they Plantation some interesting visuals, but the pot water hazard on the third hole, the reach it. bore more of a resemblance to Dolly Parton those flourishes did not exactly enhance the eagle’s head bunker on the seventh – were Although there are hazards in play on than Scarlett. layout’s playability. removed some time ago. about half the holes, the fifth is the only seri - Excluding the fifth, the par 4s are a mostly As the years went on, several of But there still a few of his unique design ously penal hole on the course. There are inviting bunch. At least half of them will be Muirhead’s distinctive (but occasionally concepts that remain, including the two scenic over-water par 3s (4 and 15), driver, short iron holes for most players, awkward) visual displays were removed, and appealing floral bunker design on the par-3 with a shallow green and a wrap-around although several have some trouble attached, the course began to suffer from a condi - 12th and the “Scarlett O’Hara” hole (No. hazard making the fourth a scary hole beginning with the third. The tiny pond just tioning standpoint. Some last-ditch efforts 17), which resembles a woman’s face and despite its absence of length. The blue tees at short of the green is gone, but the water that to keep the club afloat failed, and it eventu - torso when viewed from above, which may the 15th are considerably shorter than they lurks inches off the back of the green ally was sold to a new ownership group be beside the point unless you fly over the were initially, but the new angle brings an remains, requiring considerable precision on that inherited a course that was in bad shape course in a helicopter. overhanging tree into play for those who hit the short approach to set up a birdie all around. From a playability standpoint, Indian a fade from the tee. The triple tier green is attempt, ar at the least, remain dry. The new ownership group has invested a Creek is considerably more player-friendly intact and can make for some perplexing A creek that crosses the fairway on the considerable amount of money in upgrading than it was initially, although the fifth hole chips and putts. 13th is a hazard to shorter hitters, but if you the course conditions and improving the remains one of the tougher par clear it, all that’s left is a wedge and a chance layout, and those efforts have succeeded on 4s you’ll encounter, even with to put a circle on the scorecard. both counts. However, the early impressions several significant improve - Indian Creek’s greens are vastly better than left by Covington Plantation’s various prob - ments. they’ve been in the past, with a new strain of lems are still impacting Indian Creek, the You still have to drive the ball bent grass helping to revive them. They have name given the semi-private club after its reasonably straight, but Indian some roll but offer the possibility of holing acquisition by the current owners. Creek is not an overly tight some putts thanks to their quality and PGA professional Bryan Raines, who is course off the tee. If you are able absence of excessive speed or slope. The part of the ownership group, says Indian to keep it in the fairway, you will overall conditions are excellent, which may come as a surprise to those who have not made the trip east on 1-20 for a while. Muirhead was one of th e major innova - The par-5 17th ‘Scarlet’ hole tors in golf course design during his long career, but eccentricity is a word that was also associated with him. A few of his ideas The removal of the eagle’s head bunker in regards to Indian Creek were a little over and a shorter blue tee has made the seventh the top, but the essence of his mostly excel - a much easier hole, but the pronounced lent layout remains, with the tweaks that ridge that divides the green will produce a have been over the years improving the lot of three-putts for those who putt for overall product, although they may have birdie from long range. reduced its novelty somewhat. Indian Creek is justifiably proud of its Indian Creek is still a more difficult four par 3s, with the 12th the closest to course than some on the east side of metro Muirhead’s original concept. Seven bunkers Atlanta, but is not close to being the surround the green in the shape of flower most difficult. petals, with the visual appeal of the “It’s a lot more player friendly,” Raines downhill hole not getting in the way of accurately points out. Indian Creek is a its playability. thoroughly enjoyable place to play, with the The par-5s average 490 yards from the demand of the fifth hole and the presence blues and all offer excellent scoring opportu - of a few imposing hazards more than offset nities along with a risk or two. The sixth by the number of holes that are far more simply requires accuracy, while the rolling comfortable in nature. The scenic par-3 15th ninth has a creek crossing the fairway short Take a ride out I-20 to exit 42 and see for of the lay-up area that should not be a yourself.

16 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 &YQFSJFODF UIF /&8 #SPPLTUPOF (PMG  $PVOUSZ $MVC

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2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 17 Blanks on target for 2009 PGA Tour

Leads Georgia contingent his first season on the Nationwide Tour, and moved into the top 90 after a recent tie for third in Rochester. Prior to that on 2008 Nationwide Tour tournament, Fricke had missed seven straight cuts, as he has struggled to hit fair - ways and greens, offsetting a ranking of By Mike Blum in earnings thanks to four top 10s and 11th on tour in driving distance. nine top 25s in 15 starts. Weibring, 28, Former Georgia Tech golfer Tripp ith only a handful of weeks who had been sliding down the money list Isenhour has a combined 13 years on the remaining on the 2008 each of the previous two seasons, has PGA and Nationwide Tours, and has fin - Nationwide Tour schedule, enjoyed an outstanding season statistically, ished in the top 10 on the Nationwide W a number of golfers with ranking in the top 10 in greens in money list three times since 2000. But Georgia ties are in position to either earn a regulation, birdies, scoring and the all- Isenhour, 40, who is eighth on the all-time spot on the 2009 PGA Tour, or retain full around category, and was first in scoring Nationwide Tour money list, is outside the playing privileges on the Nationwide Tour before the cut. top 100 this year, missing 12 of 18 cuts next year. Duluth’s Scott Dunlap won the season- with a best finish of 13th. C

Leading the way is Warner Robins native I opening tournament in Panama, but has S Also outside the top 100 is Lafayette’s S A L and former Georgia club professional Kris not finished higher than 14th since, and C John Kimbell , a Nationwide Tour winner N O I

Blanks , who was 13th on the money list T

has fallen outside the top 20 to 28th. The A in Valdosta in his rookie season last year. D N

with six tournaments left before the Tour U

veteran tour pro, who has played six years O Kimbell, 39, enjoyed some success as a F

Championship in early November in L on the PGA Tour and is in his seventh A mini-tour player before joining the N O I

Dallas. The top 25 earn spots on the ‘09 G Nationwide season, is among the leaders in E Nationwide Tour player, but has not had a R S

PGA Tour. N

hitting fairways and greens, but is ranked E better finish than 18th this season, with his H

Brendon Todd T Blanks, who won several Georgia PGA near the bottom in putting, his long time A sub-standard stats reflecting his play. tournaments while he was an assistant at nemesis. Dunlap, 45, has two career Reid Edstrom , who grew up in The Landings in Savannah, scored his first Nationwide wins along with victories in All-American, was 64th in earnings, just Norcross before playing on the golf team at Nationwide Tour win earlier this year in Canada, South America and . outside the top 60 required to remain Auburn and settling there, has made just Chicago, edging out , famous for Back-to-back finishes of fourth and exempt for next season. Kirk lost in a 10 starts in his first Nationwide Tour his battle with Tiger Woods in the 2000 sixth this summer in Springfield, Mo., and playoff in Knoxville, but has not finished season. Edstrom, 33, had a top-10 finish in PGA Championship. This is Blanks’ third Columbus, Oh., boosted Albany’s Josh better than 15th other than his near miss. Raleigh and a top-15 in Knoxville, but season on the Nationwide Tour after a Broadaway into the top 30, but he missed Kirk, who grew up in Woodstock and has was outside the top 125 in earnings stretch on the Hooters Tour, where he won his next three cuts to fall to 35th. settled on St. Simons Island, has also made entering September, and needs to move three times, the first of them coming Broadaway, 35, in his fourth Nationwide three PGA Tour starts in his first full into the top 100 to have some status on in Savannah. season and known for his unorthodox season as a pro, and made the cut in tour next year. The victory in one of the Nationwide cross-handed swing, has struggled in the Atlanta, the Colonial and the U.S. Open. Georgia PGA member Sonny Skinner Tour’s top events is responsible for most of ball-striking categories, but is ranked third Former Bulldog and PGA Tour veteran has divided his time this year between his Blanks’ $229,300 in earnings, as he has in putting and sixth in birdies. was right behind Kirk in job at River Pointe in Albany and playing just two other top 10s, largely due to some Former Georgia Tech great Bryce 64th. Tolles, who has played nine seasons in Nationwide Tour and Georgia PGA struggles on the weekend after some excel - Molder is back on the Nationwide Tour on both the PGA and Nationwide Tours, events. Skinner, a veteran of both the PGA lent play in the first two rounds of after struggling last year on the PGA Tour. contended for wins in Chicago and and Nationwide Tours from 1990-2004, tournaments. Blanks, 35, lives just outside Molder was 37th in earnings, with almost Columbus, but has struggled to recapture has played a partial schedule this year after Savannah in Bluffton, S.C., with his wife half his total coming from a tie for second the game that twice qualified him for tying for 18th in Athens, but has made just Tami, a club professional at Sea Pines on in the South Georgia Classic at Valdosta’s the PGA Tour Championship in the two cuts since. Skinner’s PGA status limits Hilton Head Island. Kinderlou Forest. Molder, 29, has played late 1990s. the number of tour events he can play in, Also in the top 25 is former Georgia respectably this season other than his Also just outside the top 60 was and he has already reached that number for Tech golfer Matt Weibring , who was 18th T2 in Valdosta, but has not nearly Augusta’s Scott Parel , who is playing his the year. Skinner leads the Nationwide achieved the success he enjoyed in college fifth season on the Nationwide Tour and Tour in driving accuracy, but is right at the as a professional after some promising has a chance to crack the top 60 for the bottom in driving distance. early results. first time. Parel, 43, ranks among the top Savannah’s Tim O’Neal , the 1997 Brendon Todd has enjoyed an excellent ball-strikers on the tour, but has had mixed Georgia Amateur champion, is playing his rookie season, with four top 10s and three results in final rounds, preventing him fifth season on the Nationwide Tour, and other top 25s in 16 starts. Todd, a member from securing a spot in the top 60. His thus far it’s been his least successful. of Georgia’s 2005 NCAA Championship best finish this year was a fourth place O’Neal, 35, the lone African-American team who enjoyed an outstanding career showing in Valdosta. player on either the PGA or Nationwide with the Bulldogs, won on the Tar Heel Despite having no status on the tour, Tours, placed 44th and 36th on the money and Hooters Tours last year after turning Eatonton’s Blake Adams is among the top list in 2005 and ‘06, but is around 175 pro, and has continued his strong play on 90 on the money list in just seven starts, this year. In 12 starts, O’Neal has made the Nationwide Tour, coming into the highlight a tie for sixth in Valdosta. only four cuts with a tie for 24th his September just outside then top 50 on the That finish got him into some of the best finish. money list. He ranks among the leaders in Nationwide Tour’s top events, and he ran One of the final Nationwide Tour events putting, birdies and scoring and was 12th off a string of strong performances, of 2008 will be played Oct. 16-19 at Black in the all-around category. including three straight top-20 finishes to Creek Club in Chattanooga. Acworth’s (Todd moved into the top 25 with a 6- enable him to keep playing. Adams, a Jason Bohn and Roswell’s stroke victory in Utah, and is very close to career mini-tour player, has to finish in the both won there on the way to the locking up a spot on the 2009 PGA Tour.) top 25 in a tournament to earn a spot in PGA Tour, and a victory this year , Todd’s teammate for four the field in the next event. could send another Georgian to golf’s years in Athens and a fellow multiple Snellville’s Jonathan Fricke is playing major leagues.

18 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 19 Should golf be added to Olympics?

significant adjustments to its schedule to the minor league cable networks by NBC, Conflicting schedule among ensure that the game’s top players will com - even with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael pete in the Olympics, assuming they would Nadal and the Williams sisters competing. even want to. Given that every Olympic sport that reasons it probably won’t Golf has its own version of the Olympics. merits significant air time on the networks They’re called major championships. Unlike consists of competitors in leotards, form the Olympics, which are held once every fitting swim suits, bare midriffs or tank tops, four years, both the PGA Tour and LPGA and the bikini babes of beach volleyball, By Mike Blum Campbell effectively portrayed Augusta feature four majors a year. One of them, the what chance does golf have of earning more National as an unfit host because of its his - PGA Championship, is played in very close than highlight coverage? he Summer Olympics have tory of exclusivity (the club had only recently proximity to the Olympics. The Olympics may or may not want golf. come and gone, and one of the welcomed its first minority member), and The LPGA schedule is more conducive to They certainly want Woods, but he will be leftovers from the Beijing that was enough to provide the IOC with having its players compete in the Olympics, 40 by then and could be coming off his sixth T Games is the possibility that golf some cover to squash golf’s hopes. but the big prize for the Summer Games is knee operation and playing more like will make its way onto the varied menu of Ironically, and there’s almost always irony men’s golf, more specifically Tiger Woods, Willie Wood. sports for the 2016 extravaganza. in such situations, the only party that actu - who will turn 40 before the 2016 Games. Even if the Olympics want golf, does golf Most, if not all, of the international golf ally suffered from the decision was the most The Olympics does not want golf as a want the Olympics? community is behind the idea, which prominent minority within the sport – sport unless it is guaranteed that the game’s Does golf want to be associated with an appears much more promising in theory female golfers. top players will participate. Baseball has organization that awarded its Games to a than reality. Then there’s the matter of his - Playing on an equal footing with the men been booted from the schedule because the repressive, anti-democratic country like tory, which has been conveniently absent on arguably the most hallowed golf course in major leagues will not suspend play for sev - , and looked th e other way as the host from the discussion thus far, but should the world, the women’s game would have eral weeks and allow its star players to jailed or expelled dissidents and restricted alone be sufficient to dissuade any efforts of received a tremendous boost. But no one compete for their home countries, or those the media’s access to information that por - making golf an Olympic sport. involved in the decision to remove golf gave of their parents or grandparents. trayed China in a less than favorable light? that much thought. Golf’s best players from all over the world Does golf want to be part of a spectacle The PGA Tour’s representative to the compete on a weekly basis. There are two that includes a multitude of events that many current attempt to add golf to the Olympics high profile team competitions that alter - doubt whether they meet the definition of a is Ty Votaw, who was legal counsel for the nate years and an annual Olympic-style sport, with accompanying fan bases that Analysis LPGA during the Olympics debacle of the event (the ), in which two golfers barely exceed the number of competitors? 1990s and went on to become the organi - representing their country play against two - Does golf want to be part of an extrava - zation’s commissioner. More irony. somes representing other countries. ganza that features blatant cheating (under The international golf federations are Even when the likes of Davis Love-Fred age Chinese gymnasts), incompetent – pos - Golf was supposed to be a part of the hoping to increase the game’s exposure with Couples and Tiger Woods- rep - sibly corrupt – judging (gymnastics and 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, but was KO’d its inclusion in the Olympics, but how resented the U.S., the World Cup did not boxing) and still has to disqualify competi - by a 1-2 international/local punch that much more exposure does golf really need? exactly compel huge numbers of sports fans tors for use of performance enhancing drugs? provided a painful lesson that has apparently And if it gets it, which is a question in itself, to watch the event. Other than Woods, no In order to fit in, maybe golf should been forgotten. what will it matter? golfer attracts fans from outside the sport, request an amateur, handicap division and The Olympics is rife with politics, The likelihood that golf will draw much with most viewers not already golf fans likely introduce the concept of sandbagging. hypocrisy, excess commercialism and attention at the Olympics is debatable. With to watch only to see the representatives of The Olympics doesn’t really need golf. bombast, all of which golf can do without. the sport’s top male and female players their country, assuming they manage much Golf doesn’t need the Olympics. Instead of Fortunately, given the mindset of Olympic participating, tennis was essentially ignored TV time. golf, let the Games add more extreme sports officials who will make the final decision in Beijing. How much media focus will be Tennis, the sport most comparable to golf or another event or two with competitors in and the scheduling conflicts that may on golf, which will have to make some currently in the Olympics, was banished to swim suits or leotards. ultimately be the most important factor, the likelihood that golf will be part of the 2016 Games is relatively remote. Golf was all set to be a part of the Atlanta Games, with Augusta National on board to serve as tournament host. Representatives of Divot’s 2008 Georgia PGA points leaders the sport had seemingly jumped through all 1. Matt Peterson, U.of Georgia GC ...... 600 16. Todd Peterson, Marietta CC ...... 166 the hoops required to add golf to the 2. Sonny Skinner, River Pointe GC ...... 482.5 17. Don Williams, Chattahoochee GC ...... 161.5 Olympic roster. But that was before then 3. Jeff Hull, U. of Georgia GC ...... 475 18. Russ Davis, Cherokee CC ...... 156.5 Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell and a disgrun - 4. Craig Stevens, Fox Creek ...... 332.5 19. Will Hutter, Sea Island GC ...... 154 tled Australian IOC member teamed up to thwart the efforts of Billy Payne, who led the 5. Tim Weinhart, St, Marlo ...... 331 20. Tommy Brannen, Augusta CC ...... 149 quest to bring the Olympics to Atlanta and 6. Clark Spratlin, Blue Ridge GC ...... 329 21. Stephen Keppler, Marietta CC ...... 148 was the president of the group that con - 7. Brian Dixon, Fox Creek ...... 276 22. Randy Brooks, Ansley GC ...... 146.5 ducted the games before moving on to his 8. Winston Trively, Crooked Oak ...... 273 23. Donn Perno, Capital City Club ...... 132 current job as chairman of Augusta National. Some IOC officials did not take kindly to 9. Greg Lee, Chicopee Woods ...... 270 24. Jeff Frasier, Chicopee Woods ...... 129 Atlanta’s selection as the 1996 Summer 10. John Duta, TPC Sugarloaf ...... 232 25. Ted Fort, Marietta Golf Center ...... 126 Games host. The move to prevent golf from 11. Shawn Koch, CC of the South ...... 220.5 26. Scott Curiel, Standard Club ...... 120 being added to the roster of sports that year 12. Wyatt Detmer, Orchard Hills ...... 219 27. Mike Cook, Sea Island GC ...... 117 represented their most public success in exacting a little payback on Payne and the 13. Gary Cressend, Augusta CC ...... 212 28. Jeff Gotham, Cateechee GC ...... 115.5 Atlanta Games, with the since-jailed Atlanta 14. Jordon Arnold, Achasta GC ...... 202 29. Josh Williams, Savannah GC ...... 109 mayor playing the race card to ensure golf’s 15. Chan Reeves, Atlanta AC ...... 187 30. Brian Stock, Champions Retreat ...... 107 removal from the Olympic schedule.

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qualifying, won his opening match 1-up Lee’s final round 65 fourth at 144, followed by Chris Dixon of before losing 1-up in the second round. He takes Assistants’ title Kinderlou Forest and Daniel Steele of led that match 1-up after 16, losing the last Great Waters at 145. Daniel Potts of CC of two holes to trail for the only time in Greg Lee won the Georgia PGA the South was seventh at 146. the match. TaylorMade-adidas Golf Assistants Championship for the third time, firing a final round 65 at Jennings Mill Country 2 Bulldogs reach Ploeger captures 4th Club to score a 3-stroke victory. Lee, a former assistant at Jennings Mill semis in U.S. Am GSGA Senior title Greg Lee now at Chicopee Woods, trailed seven Two members of the Georgia golf team Bill Ploeger of Columbus won the GSGA players after the morning round of the reached the semifinals of the 2008 U.S. Senior Championship for the fourth time, 36-hole event, posting an even par score of Amateur Championship, played at the 5&4 in the third round. He lost 4&2 in edging Atlanta’s Donald Crump by one 72. His 7-birdie, no-bogey 65 was the low Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort. the semifinals to Florida State’s stroke. At 68, Ploeger becomes the oldest score of the afternoon by six strokes, with Senior Adam Mitchell from Drew Kittleson , losing five of the last GSGA Senior champion, winning the event only one other player breaking par. Chattanooga and Augusta’s Patrick Reed , eight holes. for the first time since 1999. Playing on his home course, Seth an incoming freshman, both came within Reed, who recently moved to Augusta Ploeger trailed Crump by three strokes McCain placed second at 140 with rounds one win of reaching the finals, which from , had to go 19 holes to win after 36 holes, but closed with a 70 at the of 69 and 71. He led after the first round would have earned them a spot in next his opening match against the No. 3 seed, Marshwood course at The Landings in and shot the second lowest score in the year’s Masters. and needed 23 holes to take his third Savannah to finish with a 3-under 213 afternoon, but could not keep pace Both players narrowly qualified for round match. He was 1-down after 14 total. Crump, who shot 69 the second day with Lee. match play, tying for 47th at 144. Mitchell holes in the semifinals against eventual to take the lead, was tied with Ploeger Andy Blanton of Country Club of was seeded 61st in the 64-player draw and champion Danny Lee of heading to the final hole, but took a bogey Columbus was third at 143. The top three Reed was 62nd. before losing 3&2. for a 74 and a 214 total. finishers qualify for the PGA Assistants Mitchell defeated fourth seeded Corey The only other Georgian to qualify for Curt Knorr of Dunwoody, who trailed Championship, which begins Oct. 30 at Nagy 2-up in the first round after being match play was Savannah’s Brian Harman , Crump by one stroke after a second round PGA GC in Port St. Lucie, Fla. 1-down after 15 holes, and drubbed Rickie a senior member of the Georgia golf team. 68, was third at 216, with Macon’s Phil Bill Murchison of Towne Lake Hills was Fowler , one of the tournament favorites, Harman, who tied for 10th in stroke play Pavoni fourth at 217. B

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2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 25 Golf FORE Juniors

Quinn takes title Callaway Gardens Junior Classic. Beck shot rounds of 68 and 71 to beat Josh Moore of Kimberly Graff Jimmy Beck at Stone Mountain Peachtree City, another 14-15 competitor, Eric Quinn of Norcross closed with a 71 to by one shot. Others who finished in the top 20 were: Thomson captures nip Alpharetta’s Paul Bruckner by one shot Nate Gahman of Leesburg was third at Boys 6 and under – Connery Meyer of and win the Georgia PGA’s Stone Mountain 141, while Chris Rajek of Suwanee and Kennesaw, 17th; Boys 7 – Thad Clark of Atlanta Junior title Junior Classic at the rugged Stonemont Jonathan Klotz of Columbus tied for Ellaville, T-10; Tyler Lipscomb of Carrollton, Ross Thomson closed with a 2-under Course. fourth at 143. Gahman won the 16-18 T-12; Boys 11 – Joe Philaphet of Riverdale 70 to win the 15-18 division of the Quinn, a rising senior, shot a 3-over 143 division. and William Liu of Alpharetta, T-16; Atlanta Junior Golf Association’s Grand to edge Bruckner, who had consecutive Kimberly Graff of Lilburn shot 167 to Girls 7 and under – Jenny Bae of Championship, played at Callaway Gardens. rounds of 72. John Edge of Atlanta and win the girls division, one shot ahead of Maysville, T-10; Girls 8 – Alexis Taylor Thomson had rounds of 76, 73 and 70 to Aaron George of Dahlonega tied for third Taylor Blair of Roswell and Lauren Court of of Loganville, T-8; Girls 10 – Paula Hong of finish at 3-over 219. Ben Harris was at 6-over 146. Joel Sawyer of Elberton was Lawrenceville. Lauren Giambastiani of Duluth, T-13; Girls 11 – Rinko Mitsunaga second at 223, with Sean Folen fourth at fifth at 7 over. Cohutta was fourth. of Roswell, fourth; Michaela Owen 231 and Paul Bruckner fourth at 232. In the girls division, Melanie Pray of Buster Bruton of Dallas won the boys of Alpharetta, seventh; Rachel Dai of In the 13-14 boys division, Shea Mableton finished plus-23 to beat Atlantan 12-13 division by a shot over Tommy Suwanee, T-16; Girls 12 – Ashlan Ramey Sylvester struggled the final day with an Laura King by one shot. Lauren Court of Swearingen III of Marietta. of Martinez, third. 81, but he still prevailed at 7-over 223. Lawrenceville was third. There were 1,250 golfers from 36 Garrett Marschke closed with a 74 and Other division winners were: Girls 12-14 – Noble takes second countries at the tournament. All earned the finished one stroke behind. Will McFarlin Sally Morgan of Alpharetta; Boys 12-13 – right to participate through a series of state was third and John Harman placed fourth. Joshua Crews of Albany; Boys 14-15 – in U.S. Kids event and local qualifiers. The 12-and-under division was claimed Aaron George. Gavin Noble of Cartersville had a strong PGA Junior Championship: Drew by Buster Bruton , whose final-round 69 left final round, but fell short of winning his Czuchry of Auburn finished 19th at the him at 6-over 222. He won by five shots over Beck scores wins division at the ninth annual U.S. Kids World 33th Junior PGA Championship in Kristopher Douglass . Nick Fazio was third Championships in Pinehurst, N.C. Noble Maineville, . Czuchry opened with a 70 and Jonathan Keppler fourth. at Callaway Gardens had a 36 on the last day to finish second in and finished at 4-over 292. Kendall Wright The girls division was won by Blaire Jimmy Beck of Columbus emerged from the boys 7 division. Noble had rounds of 41, of Duluth shot an 18-over 306 and tied for Minter , who shot 14-over 230 after rounds the 14-15 year-old division to best the older 37 and 36 to fall three shots short of 26th in the girls division. They were the only of 75, 79 and 76. She finished 37 shots players in the field at the Georgia PGA’s Californian Alex Pak . Georgians in the field. ahead of Lauren Giambastiani .

Inside the PGA Tour Superstore

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2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 27 Golf FORE Women

Château Elan hosts Duramed Futures Tour R

By Jackie Cannizzo U doing it that way. Reynolds feels now that O T S

Women’s Editor E she can focus all of her attention on golf R U T

PGA Professional U without the distractions of school and feels F D E

Country Club of Roswell M she can succeed at the highest level. This A R U year she qualified and played in the U.S. D The Duramed Future’s Tour , the LPGA’s Women’s Open in Minnesota and although developmental tour, will bring its show to she missed the cut there, the experience Chateau Elan on October 16th – 19th, with further fueled her fire to contend on the the tour’s top 70 money winners vying for LPGA. Her best finish on the Futures’ Tour the richest purse of the season. The is a tie for 5th in the Mercedes-Benz Georgia Invitational is the official name of Championship in Kansas and followed the event and will benefit the local chapter that with a top 10 at the Michelob of the Arthritis Foundation, Championship. where all proceeds from the admission price will be donated. GSGA Sr. Women This season ending event crown new champion is the tour’s inaugural event Vicky Hurst Darlene Werhnyak and Mary Riley were at Chateau Elan in Braselton, tied after regulation and headed to a one of the state’s premier sudden-death playoff both hoping to cap - resort destinations. The field winner, has a solid lead over superstar Lorena Ochoa. ture the 11th annual GSGA Senior Women’s will be playing for $150,000, Mindy Kim, while behind them For more information or to participate in crown. The players carded solid rounds of the tour’s highest payout. the players are bunched up with the Pro Am, go to LPGA.com or 79 and 77 on a long track, Arrowhead The players will also be playing for bigger only a few thousand dollars separating 3rd Duramedfuturestour.com. This is a great Pointe at Richard B. Russell State Park in stakes as the top 10 money winners for the to 10th place and beyond. opportunity to come out and see the Elberton. The playoff saw both players hit season will be awarded exemption cards This means many cards are up for grabs, future stars of the LPGA up close. the fairway with their drive. Both missed to the 2009 LPGA Tour. which will bring an added excitement to the green with approach shots and were That is an increase from years past, when the event. Jean Reynolds of Newnan and Reynolds to play faced with similar putts for par. Werhnyak the top 5 players received tour cards. The fellow UGA grad Whitney Wade are also in made her 6 foot putt and Riley missed. players are all aware of the importance of the event with an outside chance of Georgia Invitational Werhnyak, from Lawrenceville, started finishing well in an event this big, where gaining a tour card. Jean Reynolds is having a the second round trailing defending cham - the first place winner will receive $21,000. Hurst, 18, is a four time winner this year blast this year on the pion Brenda Pictor, of Marietta, by two Vicky Hurst, the tour’s leading money on the Future’s Tour in her rookie season. Duramed’s Future Tour. shots. She played steady on the first nine She joined the tour at the beginning of the She and her brother have with a birdie and just two bogeys to turn season fresh off an amazing career with been traveling together 1-over for the round, while Pictor was Kim Welch the American Junior Golf Association. She since the season started struggling a bit with a balky putter. Riley, has also played in two U.S. Women’s in March in Lakeland, Fla. from Perry, was on a roller coaster round Opens. Her excellent play this year has Reynolds has been very pleased with how starting with a double bogey on the first assured her an LPGA card at the end of things are going and her performance this hole, and then birdied the third. She con - the season. year, feeling she has a good opportunity tinued the ride on the back side with a The event will also feature four previous going into LPGA qualifying school. double then a birdie, while Werhnyak winners of the ’s Big Break Reynolds knows that even if she wins played steady until she doubled the 14th. series including Kim Welch, Kristina Tucker, the last two events of the year, it may still She and Riley bested Pictor and Claudeen Ashley Prange and Briana Vega. Welch was not be enough to get her card, but she’s OK Lindberg, of Atlanta, who tied for last season’s winner and is currently sev - with making the trek to Mission Hills for third overall. enth on the money list. The Golf Channel the first round of Q School. She has always Phyllis Foisy of Stathem fired the low has been using Futures events to audition played golf for the fun and doesn’t want to round of the championship with a 74 on players for the show with the hopes of change that mind set going to qualifying. the final day to tie for fifth overall with getting the best players on the show that Reynolds played one year at the Mary Ellen McEleath of Augusta. do not have tour cards. The winner of the University of Georgia, not because she Other flight winners: Carolyn Hooks, contest gets exemptions into two LPGA wasn’t good enough, but because she Augusta, 1st; Betsy Butler, Atlanta, 2nd; tour events. wanted to enjoy the real college experi - Helen Kirbo, Albany, 3rd; Jan Cross, Evans, The tour, now in its 28th season, has over ence. Enjoying her college experience 4th; Beatty Maffet, Atlanta, 5th; Patty 300 alumnae with alums winning 330 meant joining a sorority, studying abroad Hudspeth, Midland, 6th; Julie Rayburn, times on the LPGA and 35 majors. In 2006, in Austria and graduating with a degree in Roswell, 7th; Julie Herbert, Marietta, 8th; the Tour signed a multi-year agreement child and family development. Reynolds Janet Richards, Kathleen, 9th; Brenda R U

O with Duramed Pharmaceuticals, which T continued to compete and do well in Evans, Fort Valley, 10th; Jean Glover, S E

R specializes in women’s healthcare prod -

U summer amateur events keeping her Gray, 11th. T U

F ucts. In 2007, the tour was acquired by the

D game solid, but come fall would change The GSGA had a record number of E

M LPGA and is its official second tour. The A her focus to school. player’s this year event of 50 and older. R U D most notable alum of late is LPGA tour She has never regretted her choice in

28 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 From the course, retail store and driving range to the Internet, check out the new features of www.golfforegeorgia.com. It’s incredible!

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2008 SEPTEMBER GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 29 Course Reviews

Callaway Gardens – Mountain View (Public) Pine Mountain, Ga.; 706-663-5044; www.callawaygardens.com STAFF: Bud Robison is the Director of Golf; Matthew Harris is the General Manager. PAR/YARDAGE: The Mountain View course is a par 72 with four sets – Blue (7,057 yards); White (6,630); Green (5,783) and Red (4,883). COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 73.7/139 (Blue); 71.9/134 (White); 68.2/126 (Green); 69.4/120 (Red),

ABOUT THE COURSE: The home for a decade of an annual PGA Tour event, Callaway Gardens’ Mountain View course remains a popular tournament site for the Georgia PGA, GSGA and junior golf organizations, with the PGA Tour returning in November for a second stage qualifying event. The Georgia PGA will again host its Match Play Championship on the Mountain View course later this month, with the state’s top club professionals taking on one of Georgia’s most respected layouts. Mountain View, the feature course of Callaway Gardens’ 45-hole golf complex, is a wonderful, traditional-style layout designed by Dick Wilson. Advances in modern technology have taken some of the teeth out of the 7,057-yard back tees for pros and top amateurs, but the 6,630-yard white tees remain a very strong test for the vast majority of the resort’s visitors. Mountain View is as straightforward as courses of its caliber come, with only two holes where water hazards are seriously in play and just two with significant doglegs. The keys to playing well at Mountain View are avoiding the pesky Bermuda rough that lines the fairways and hitting precise approach shots to the very well-guarded greens, which typically offer targets of modest size and can be testy to putt despite the absence of significant amounts of slope. With none of the par 4s having serious length, longer hitters will have a succession of short iron approaches, but two of the par 3s and several of the par 5s will provide opportunities for long irons, hybrids or fairway metals. Two of the par 3s are over 210 yards from the tips, with only one of the par 5s within easy range in two for the pros who will visit the course in the next few months. The dogleg right second is just over 500 yards, but a tiny green surrounded by sand and trees near the put - ting surface that must be negotiated make it a hole where a quality short game is as vital as prodigious length. The par-5 15th, one of the two featuring water in play, is the course’s most famous (or infamous) hole, with a real risk for those going for the green in two. Simply a solid, playable and thoroughly enjoyable test of golf in a pastoral, natural setting.

Griffin Country Club (Private) 430 Country Club Drive, Griffin; 770-228-0710 STAFF: Tom Neary is the Golf Professional; Gordon Dixon is the General Manager. PAR/YARDAGE: Griffin Country Club is a par 72 with four sets of tees – Blue (6,850 yards); White (6,448); Gold (5,635) and Red (5,424). COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 73.9/133 (Blue); 71.8/128 (White); 68.3/118 (Gold); 72.3/125 (Red).

ABOUT THE COURSE: The host of the annual Georgia PGA Griffin Classic, the course is an underrated and understated test of golf, designed by the late Willard Byrd, one of golf’s most respected architects. The first nine holes opened in the 1960s, with the second nine added some years later. Byrd’s well-crafted design is on the short side by modern standards, and got a little shorter several years ago when the tees on one of the par 5s had to be moved forward. That has left the course with two easily reachable par 5s for the Georgia PGA members and amateurs who will play in the Griffin Classic next month, along with a 600-yarder that typically requires three shots and the rolling ninth, which includes some risk for those taking a rip with their approach shot. A reversal of the nines some years back has resulted in a par-3 18th, which provided a truly memorable finish to last year’s tourna - ment. Jeff Hull, tied for the lead at the time, scored a hole-in-one, believed to be the first time someone has won a sanctioned tournament with an ace on the final hole. The tourna - ment participants will tackle a tree-lined layout that demands accuracy as well as some strategic thinking from the tee. The absence of length and the narrow fairways, several of which have hazards within reach, will keep the driver in the bag on more than one occasion throughout the round. With no par 4s longer than 430 yards, three par 3s of modest diffi - culty and the reachable par 5s, Griffin Country Club offers a number of scoring opportunities for those who keep it in the short grass. But the mostly undersized putting surfaces have some slope and generally are on the quick side at tournament time, keeping scores from going extremely low. Many of the greens are wide and shallow, making them play considerably different based on pin position. Over the years, the Griffin Classic has produced a succession of worthy champions, with multiple winners Tim Weinhart and Clark Spratlin joining the likes of Stephen Keppler, Ed Everett, Tommy Brannen, Sonny Skinner, Craig Stevens, John Godwin and Kris Blanks, who is headed to the 2009 PGA Tour.

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