Setting the Course Has Been Advancing the Game in North and South Carolina for More Than in the Carolinas a Century
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With its rich legacy, championship traditions and continuous commitment to the future of the game, the Carolinas Golf Association Setting the Course has been advancing the game in North and South Carolina for more than in the Carolinas a century. Help us set the course for golf in the Carolinas. - Carolinas Golf Association - 135 North Trade Street | West End, North Carolina 27376 | www.carolinasgolf.org | 910.673.1000 Carolinas Golf House rendering. 10CGA001Printer3.5.indd 1 3/23/10 9:25 AM For some people, golf is a game. For others, it’s a quest. A journey that leads us to open spaces and drives us over beautiful, challenging terrain. A commitment to master shaping the future. both our swing and our conduct. For one hundred years, the CGA has The focus continues today with golf A competition that grounds us been a steward of golf in the Carolinas. visionaries from all corners of the The first thirty years, the association was Carolinas: Johnny Harris from Charlotte, in the moment and teaches us run entirely by volunteers and still boasts who leads many golf initiatives, including one of the largest volunteer networks in the PGA TOUR’s Quail Hollow about ourselves, each other the country, from the CGA Executive Championship; Pat McKinney from Committee to rules officials to course Charleston, SC, a past USGA Executive and life. This philosophy raters. For the last seventy years, the Committee person; Jim Hyler of Raleigh, CGA has a staff that grows as services NC, current president of the USGA and inspired the creation of the expand, although the association remains a leader in the U.S. Open Championships governed by a volunteer board. held at Pinehurst Country Club; Cecil Carolinas Golf Association to From Frank Capers to Richard Tufts Brandon of Myrtle Beach, SC, a creative to P.J. Boatwright to Hale Van Hoy, magnate for resort advertising and further the ideals of our volunteers and staff directors, CGA destinations; and Bobby Long of beloved game in the Carolinas leaders have always been visionary. Greensboro, NC, who helped move the Wyndham Championship to PGA and around the world. TOUR prominence. Harvie Ward gets a celebratory lift from his fellow University of North Carolina students after he defeats A Home Course | Those who shape the Frank Stranahan to win the 1948 North & South Amateur Championship. CGA today, across North and South Carolina, are dedicated to furthering 1909 2009 the needs of golfers and the goals of the association. To achieve these, the CGA has started the “Setting the Course” Linville Golf Club enjoyed a 14-hole layout (with four holes played twice from different tees) until Donald Ross built a new 18-hole course in 1924. At the inaugural Carolinas Amateur driving the ball. in 1910, golfers gathered on the steps of the Sans Souci Clubhouse When golf first impacted the Carolinas The First Golf Cart | From that first in Greenville, South Carolina. Acres of Innovation | The Carolinas in 1743, it was loosely organized and tournament, the CGA has continued its Left: The Carolina Golf Association Golf Foundation continues to was formed in 1909. “The CGA makes golf in the Carolinas.” played over open fields rather than vision: promoting the best interests of our fund research to find new grasses designed layouts. Golfers played in places game. For example, in 1914, Dr. J. Wilkie and new treatments to help our - Bill Harvey like Harleston Green in Charleston, Jervey was unable to walk in his Carolinas courses flourish. It continues with where the shout of “fore” warned golfers Amateur match against John Milam. So scholarships for turfgrass management and non-golfers alike of an approaching he built a cart for himself and his clubs. A students – our future Carolinas course feather-stuffed ball of leather. The first friend pushed the first golf “cart” around superintendents – who attend a variety club of golfers was formed 43 years later Asheville Country Club as Jervey won his of schools such as North Carolina State in South Carolina, but the game did not match, 4 and 3. University and Clemson University. catch fire as the infant country grew. By 1907, there were five golf clubs in The First PGA Tour Golfer of Color | In the Carolinas. These clubs competed 1961, North Carolina’s Charlie Sifford annually for the Withers Cup. In broke the color barrier on the PGA TOUR. 1909, these clubs organized formally Born in Charlotte in 1922, Sifford as the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) caddied at Carolina Country Club from to “promote the true spirit and best age 10. By 1939, his game developed Members of the South Carolina Golf Club, so well that he turned professional. He formed in 1786, played on Harleston Green. interests of golf for the common good of Artist: Barbara Shipman. Credit: Paul Boehm. the people of North Carolina and South competed on the black-only tour of the Carolina.” They marked the formation of time. In 1960, under pressure, the PGA The Richard S. Tufts trophy is presented annually to the Carolinas Amateur Champion. the Association a year later with the first of America dropped its “caucasion-only” CGA Championship. clause from the tour. The next year, Sifford returned to North Carolina to The Long Cove Club course, designed by Pete Dye, hosted the Carolinas Amateur in 2007. hitting the flagstick. CGA services go far beyond play in the Greater Greensboro Open, Dr. Carl Blake as a staff agronomy “We need to continue to offer these opportunities, competitions, fulfilling its purpose as opening the door for future African specialist to become the first state or while finding new ways to improve our outstanding an educational institution, serving more Americans on TOUR. regional golf association to have a “grass than 180,000 golfers who represent man” on staff. In 1998, Dr. Leon Lucas golfing tradition in the Carolinas.” more than 700 member clubs. The First Electronic succeeded Blake. The CGA agronomist - Jonathan Byrd Handicap System | With the works directly with superintendents and An Educational Approach | The advent of the mainframe club green committees. Dr. Lucas, a Dr. Leon Lucas CGA staff agronomist association publishes the quarterly computer, the CGA was one Ph.D., uses the analysis services of North works with member clubs. Carolinas Golf magazine, delivering of the first state or regional golf Carolina State University and Clemson information about many facets of the associations to calculate golfer University, two renowned turfgrass game directly to the homes of CGA handicaps electronically in 1958. By the schools; and he works with a variety of golfers. The magazine focuses on our rich mid-1990s, the CGA was revising nearly grasses and their problems, from the golf history, courses, rules, handicapping, 200,000 golfer handicaps per year. Today, coast to the mountains. Under Dr. Lucas’ competitions and Carolinas golf the CGA provides at-club computerized eye, the CGA funds turfgrass research personalities as well as equipment, handicaps and one of the projects that benefit CGA member clubs. instruction and travel. most efficient programs Additionally, the CGA offers in the U.S. educational seminars to clubs and schools on various topics The First Staff including rules and handicapping Agronomist | As the Greensboro, North Carolina’s Bill Harvey (L), who defeated and is noted to have one of CGA grew, the association Dillard Traynham (R) of Paris Mountain, South Carolina, collects the trophy for winning the 1964 Carolinas Amateur the most active junior golf Charles Sifford broke the sought more ways to serve its member at Pinehurst No. 2 from Clyde Mangum (C). color barrier on the PGA programs in the U.S. TOUR by entering the 1961 clubs. In 1982, the CGA retained Greater Greensboro Open. He finished fourth. 10CGA001Printer3.5.indd 4 3/23/10 9:26 AM Linville Golf Club enjoyed a 14-hole layout (with four holes played twice from different tees) until Donald Ross built a new The Ralston Creek course on South Carolina’s Daniel Island 18-hole course in 1924. is a true Lowcountry classic designed by Rees Jones. At the inaugural Carolinas Amateur in 1910, golfers gathered on the playing to win. steps of the Sans Souci Clubhouse The First Golf Cart | From that first in Greenville, South Carolina. After its inaugural Carolinas Amateur his course creations covered not Championship trophies include Billy tournament, the CGA has continued its Left: The Carolina Golf Association in 1910, the CGA has led the game by only the Carolinas but the entire Joe Patton, E. Harvie Ward Jr., P.J. vision: promoting the best interests of our was formed in 1909. adapting events for its golfers in North country. Richard Tufts, grandson of Boatwright Jr., Beth Daniel, Charles game. For example, in 1914, Dr. J. Wilkie and South Carolina. The CGA now the founder, was an early CGA titan, Warren, Scott Hoch, Chip Beck “Our society needs golf Jervey was unable to walk in his Carolinas boasts events played at gross and net, for serving as secretary-treasurer for 31 and Jonathan Byrd. Led by 32 major more than ever now.” Amateur match against John Milam. So men and women, juniors and seniors, years. He later became president of the CGA championships annually, the - Chip Beck he built a cart for himself and his clubs. A individuals and teams. This tradition USGA and is considered the father list of tournament entries has friend pushed the first golf “cart” around is enhanced by the abundant variety of of the USGA’s philosophy for the grown to more than 14,000 who Asheville Country Club as Jervey won his courses, styles and architecture at CGA Rules of Golf.