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McConnellSUMMER 2016 Golf TheThe MagazineMagazine MCCONNELL GOLF THE MAGAZINE THE GOLF MCCONNELL Experience of a Lifetime Members’ standout tournament memories Official Furnishings Partner of the WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP FURNISH YOUR HOME • SAVE TIME • SAVE MONEY WORLDWIDE DELIVERY COMPLIMENTARY GUARANTEED DESIGN ASSISTANCE LOWEST PRICES ON THE INDUSTRY’S FINEST BRANDS 2016 SUMMER “Thanks Swing Control for my favorite golf pants!” – LPGA Pro, Laetitia Beck Leon T Switzer ƒ© Front Page Media Here’s the best blend of tummy control, comfort and styling in golf wear. Swing Control’s anti-moisture fabric smoothes like no Beck Laetitia other. Available in pants, capris, crops, shorts and skorts. SHOP ONLINE OR AT FINE PRO SHOPS AND GOLF RETAILERS. Receive 20% OFF your first online order. “I’m a fan of Swing Control!” – Pro Golfer, Allison Emrey swingcontrol.com/mcg Emrey Allison SWING McConnell Golf Ad r5.indd 1 6/22/16 5:00 PM Contents WELCOME LETTER 6 Remembering Sam Ruby and Tom Butters #MCGDREAM18 8 The next round of holes in the lineup MEMBER’S CORNER 10 A longtime member and a recap MAP 13 CLUB COMMUNITY 18 Latest happenings FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN 20 A charitable delight for the senses CULINARY 30 The healthy side of beef DRINK 33 Beat the heat with berries ALONG THE TRAIL 34 The perfect daytrip TENNIS 49 By the numbers FITNESS 54 Swim team roundup KIDS 58 Junior tennis standouts THE BACK NINE 64 William McGirt MEMBER BUSINESS DIRECTORY 68 Features THE FABLED FINISH 14 EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME 24 YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES 28 A TALE OF TWO HISTORIC COURSES 40 BEHIND-THE-SCENES 52 www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016 1 Thanks for joining McConnell Golf at the 2015 Wyndham Championship. If you were unable to attend, don’t miss out on the fun this year: Entertainment and activities for all ages await at Sedgefield Country Club on August 15-21. Contact your club for discounted member tickets. 2015 Wyndham Championship PHOTO CREDIT TK Scenes from the Make-a-Wish gala at Sedgefield Country Club. Photos by Mike Micciche. www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016 3 CULINARY By James “J.P.” Patterson III, Executive Chef Sedgefield Country Club 2015 Wyndham Championship 4 McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE From left to right, Tournament Director Mark Brazil, McConnell Golf President and CEO PHOTO CREDIT TK John McConnell, professional golfer Tiger Woods, Wyndham Vacation Ownership President and CEO Franz Hanning, professional basketball player Chris Paul, and Wyndham World- wide Chairman and CEO Stephen Holmes. www.mcconnellgolf.com | Summer 2016 5 Sam Ruby Tom Butters (center) Life Mottos I LOVE SUMMER. IT IS REFRESHING met him at the Wyndham and have his secrets to such a long and healthy to hear the echoes of kids’ constant been a fan of his ever since. He life. He looked at me with those steady exuberance, splashing and diving in is a fierce competitor, and persisted big blue eyes he had and said, “Mr. our pools. Parents seem less stressed through many tough years to finally win McConnell, I have three things that at our clubs knowing that homework is his first tournament. Without a doubt, worked for me. I inherited good genes, not an issue today, and memory-making many people will be watching and as my mother lived to be 107. I had a abounds from summer vacation season. cheering for him in next year’s Masters. great business career along with a Warmer weather is perfect for outdoor (Incidentally, another of our members, wonderful girlfriend (he never married). activities; life takes on a slower pace. Carl Pettersson, also won this presti- But that little shot of Grey Goose at And then we end summer with the gious event a few years ago.) lunch each day goes a long way.” Wyndham Championship in mid-August Just like William McGirt, who kept Tom Butters, on the other hand, at our historic Sedgefield Country Club plugging away for that first victory, I enjoyed being married to his beautiful — a time that I look forward to each year. have goals remaining in life as well. wife, Lynn, and had children and grand- This June, William McGirt won his Seeing Virginia Tech win a national children who were the apples of his eye. first PGA tournament at The Memorial championship in football would be Tom was a great athlete and played for Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, which is awesome — I have been a diehard the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he is most Jack Nicklaus’s invitational tournament. Hokie fan for over 50 years. I also want noted for being the respected longtime William is a local hero in the Spartanburg to make a double eagle in my golf athletic director at Duke. (He liked to area and played golf at Wofford. I first game, something that has continually remind you that he hired Coach K!) After escaped me. Lastly, I want to catch a his retirement, he always held court member or guest playing with range in the same chair at the 19th hole at balls on our golf courses. Treyburn, where passersby could always Often, I’m thankful for meeting the look forward to a lively banter-filled so many wonderful people who are chat. While he will be missed, he left a members at our clubs. Two of these great legacy for a life well lived. We can individuals have moved on to their next all use his motto for living: “Forget the season: Sam Ruby and Tom Butters. past, it is over and done, but learn from Mr. Ruby was a longtime member at it. Live for today, as tomorrow is never Raleigh Country Club and played golf promised.” until he was almost 100 years old. You I miss you guys. could see him riding all over the golf course searching for open holes, which he preferred to play solo in his later years. I’ll never forget the day I sat down to John McConnell lunch with Mr. Ruby and asked him for CEO & Founder 6 McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE HIGHGATE 2020 KINGS MANOR DRIVE | $1.599 M UNDER CONTRACT RECENTLY SOLD $1.797 M $1.799 M $1.999 M $1.150 M HIGHGATE AERO PLANTATION CHATELAINE BALLANTYNE 4058 Blossom Hill 825 Eagle Road 419 Gladelynn Way COUNTRY CLUB 11227 McClure Manor Drive Providence Country Club Serving Providence Country Club, Providence Crossing & Highgate Lisa McCrossan-Summer ad.indd 22 6/23/16 9:17 AM SOCIAL By Brad King #MCGDREAM18 OF THE 12 MCCONNELL GOLF PROPERTIES AND 225 HOLES, we’ve selected the best combination of holes for a par-72 Dream 18 (with help from member votes via the members-only website). Post your progress by playing the holes and tagging #MCGDREAM18. Here are the next eight … RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB No. 5 – Par 4 McConnell Golf Director of Golf Brian “Boomer” Kittler has been Make sure your tee shot finds operating out of Raleigh Country Club for the past 12 years; so few the fairway on this dogleg golfers know the intricacies of the venerable Donald Ross layout right, as the approach shot better than him. to the green must carry the creek. Any errant shot will hit the bank short of the green and roll back in the hazard. RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB No. 9 – Par 4 You have numerous options off the tee; avoid the deep fairway bunkers on the right side. If played correctly, this hole is a good birdie oppor- RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB tunity and a nice way to finish No. 13 – Par 4 the outward nine. From the tee, this hole looks like a slight dogleg left; but it’s best played from the right side of the fairway to provide the best angle to attack on your second shot. Bunkers on both the front left and right protect the green. RALEIGH COUNTRY Playing this hole late in the after- CLUB No. 18 – Par 4 noon with the shadows on the Par is a good score on green will make you think you this tremendous finishing are playing Augusta National. hole. The second shot plays slightly uphill — often hitting off a down- hill lie — with the green protected by bunkers on both sides. 8 McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE Social.indd 8 7/13/16 6:46 PM MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB From longtime Musgrove Mill member Tom Williamsen (read more about Williamsen on page 10): mcconnellgolf.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND FOUNDER JOHN MCCCONNELL CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS MAGAZINE SALES & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ASSISTANT MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB KASEY OLIVE No. 7 – Par 3 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR It almost seems as though the land CASEY GRIFFITH was created to house this golf hole. ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER The Enoree River bends at just the AT PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB right place; the two-tiered green MATT MCCONNELL falls off dramatically front, right, and back. Many an elegy consist- ing of four letter words has been uttered on the walk to the next tee. MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB PUBLISHED BY PACE No. 2 – Par 3 1301 CAROLINA ST., The second hole is a drop-shot par 3 GREENSBORO, NC 27401 with an elevation change of about 40 PACECO.COM | 336.378.6065 feet. Standing on the tee, you think PUBLISHER birdie, but there is so much that can go STEVE MITCHEM wrong on the trip down the hill — the [email protected] hole has an elevation change of about EDITOR 40 feet — that three makes you happy. JESSIE AMMONS DESIGN DIRECTOR ERIN LUCAS SENIOR EDITOR LAUREN EBERLE MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB COPY EDITOR No. 18 – Par 4 LANCE ELKO A great fi nisher.