McConnell Golf, The Magazine - Spring 2016

McConnell Golf The Magazine SPRING 2016

The DR40

Take a trip through all four Donald Ross-designed courses

Exciting Expansion

A look at Providence and Holston Hills country clubs

Welcome to the Family THIS PAST WINTER WAS A BUSY one for us. The ongoing growth here at McConnell Golf continues with two new country clubs, a public facility, and expansion at Old North State.

Holston Hills Country Club was our first purchase outside of the Carolinas and adds the fourth Donald Ross design to our portfolio. This course is truly unique, ranked in the top 10 in Tennessee and among the top 100 classic courses in the world. I know that golfers will enjoy playing this pure layout.

It reminds me of Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, which has hosted the US Open on numerous occasions. Donald Ross designed Holston Hills in 1927 and it remains largely unchanged from its beginning days.

Providence Country Club became our 12th club property when it joined our organization in February. It is our first

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Charlotte presence, something we’ve sought for several years. Providence is our largest club in terms of revenue and membership, and we are confident that all of our members will enjoy having this amenity to enjoy when visiting the Queen City. Dan Maples, son of the legendary Ellis Maples, designed the golf course. Ellis’ portfolio includes many great venues in the Carolinas — Brook Valley is one — and he worked with Donald Ross for many years.

Providence also has an outstanding tennis program, with 14 courts, and the best pool facility of all our clubs.

At McConnell Golf, our focus has always been on true golf, family traditions and activities, and growing the game. With that in mind, we recently signed a 10-year lease to operate Raleigh Golf Association, a public 27-hole facility in Raleigh built in 1929 to provide affordable golf to the community. As a kid growing up on a farm in rural Virginia, I picked up golf at an early age and played the public venues with my brothers. Those were some highly competitive matches that created lasting memories for me. The key for us was that golf was both fun and affordable: I could play for two dollars, buy a new Club Special golf ball for sixty cents, and rent a pull-cart for a quarter.

Today, golf has priced itself out of the accessible realm for many people, and that is one major reason the game has not grown in recent years. We are excited to enter the public market with this new operation that will be extremely

affordable to all. It is here that we will create The McConnell Golf Academy to offer expert training to kids, beginners, and anyone seeking to hone their skills.

Lastly, we purchased the real estate sales operation and remaining developer lots at Old North State Club, making this venue one of our growth properties. For families who want quality time bolstered by access to numerous and reasonably priced amenities, this club offers it all. Family vacations can be expensive, but a four-day stay at Old North State is affordable enough to help you relax and enjoy your time. Plus, this club is within a two-hour drive for most of our members.

We’re pleased to see our courses continue to gain recognition with industry experts. This year’s North Carolina golf rankings put Raleigh Country Club as the No. 1 club in the Triangle and the 17th in the state, Old North State as the No. 3 club in the state, and Sedgefield as the No. 13 club in the state.

The busy winter is past and spring is officially here. Visit us often to see our new facilities, enjoy your favorites, and create new family memories. After all, they are the greatest assets in life.

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

John McConnell CEO & Founder

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SOCIAL

By Brad King

HOLSTON HILLS NO. 7 517-yard, Par-5

Introducing #MCGDream18 WELCOME TO THE #MCGDREAM18 — MCCONNELL GOLF’S NEW social media campaign. We’ve selected the best combination of holes from all 12 McConnell Golf properties, which includes a total of 225 golf holes.

We will turn the best of the best into a par-72 Dream 18, made up of the 10 best par-4s in the McConnell Golf stable, along with the four best par-3s and par-5s — incorporating a member poll or vote to select the winners.

Participate by posting your progress on completing the #MCGDREAM18 group of holes at your McConnell Golf courses.

Without further ado, here are the first four nominated holes from McConnell Golf’s two newest additions, Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville and Providence Country Club in Charlotte.

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One of the most intriguing holes that Donald Ross ever created, No. 7 at Holston Hills is a classic example of a risk/ reward hole. You’re posed with an option on the tee: Play safe to a lower fairway on the left, or make the aggressive play over water to an elevated fairway guarded by bunkers. It’s wonderfully designed for all levels of players and has earned a mention in many golf books.

PROVIDENCE CC, NO. 15, 420-yard Par-4 Beware of No. 15, the club’s top handicap hole. Since the right side of the hole drops off into the pond, it makes you think — we recommend hitting a tee shot that leaves you short of the water. And be prepared for an immense and undulating green complex, so the game is far from over when you reach the putting surface.

mcconnellgolf.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND FOUNDER

JOHN MCCCONNELL

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS MAGAZINE SALES & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ASSISTANT

KASEY OLIVE

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

CASEY GRIFFITH

HOLSTON HILLS NO. 14 212-yard, Par-3

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AT PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB

MATT MCCONNELL

With the green cut into the side of a hill and the entire putting surface visible, No. 14 at Holston Hills is a gorgeous sight to behold. But don’t be fooled, its false front will easily repel your shot into the fairway, rough, or front bunker. The green is extraordinarily difficult to putt — an irresistible challenge.

PUBLISHED BY PACE 1301 CAROLINA ST., GREENSBORO, NC 27401 PACECO.COM | 336.378.6065 PUBLISHER

STEVE MITCHEM steve.mitchem@paceco.com EDITOR

JESSIE AMMONS DESIGN DIRECTOR

ERIN LUCAS COPY EDITOR

LANCE ELKO VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION

JAMES A. DECATA

PROVIDENCE CC NO. 6 180-yard, Par-3 Given that Providence Country Club tees off its front 9 with three par-3s in the first six holes, it makes sense that the first PCC hole in the #MCGDream18 should be a one-shotter. Incredibly picturesque and scenic, No.6 plays 180 yards from the back tee to a peninsula green that requires a short- to mid-iron shot over water. The landing area and green surface are generous, making this a legitimate birdie hole as long as golfers keep their ball below the pin.

PRODUCTION MANAGER

SHARON LINDER

MEMBER’S CORNER MEMBERS’

By Brad King

Tom Carr “The Cardinal” regular Folks around Greensboro, North Carolina, may know Tom Carr more widely as the affable and talented owner of Carr Industries, the German automotive repair shop Carr has run for the past 33 years.

But around The Sedgefield Dye Course clubhouse, Carr and his wife, Michelle, are known as the jovial friendly faces.

The Carrs have been active members at Sedgefield, which was formerly known as “The Cardinal” before its McConnell Golf merge, for 22 years. They raised their twin children, son Ryan and daughter Jesse, both recent graduates of UNC-Greensboro, in their residence behind the first green of the Pete Dye course.

Michelle Carr eats lunch six days a week at the Sedgefield Dye clubhouse — only because the club is closed at lunchtime on Mondays — with several different groups of friends. Meanwhile, Tom Carr not only enjoys a card game at the clubhouse every Wednesday night with a group of up to 15 players, he also plays golf every Saturday with eight groups and again every Sunday with four groups.

“The thing I like most about ‘The Cardinal’ is that I never get tired of playing the course,” says Carr, who also collects Porsches in his spare time. “It is a different golf course every day, depending on the pin placements, and it demands that you hit so many different shots. When I travel, I am five shots better than I am on the Sedgefield Dye Course. I play in tournaments and they say, ‘There’s no way you’re a 13 handicap.’”

But as much as he loves Pete Dye’s magical layout, Carr said his fondest McConnell Golf memory took place at a different club.

“I played Treyburn (in Durham) recently and that’s the nicest course I’ve ever played in my life — and I’ve played Augusta National,” said Carr. “Treyburn is an absolute gem. Amazing: Those perfectly manicured fairways, the gorgeous green complexes, everything there is perfect and idyllic. I am counting the days to getting back and playing there again.”

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CLUB COMMUNITY

Club Happenings PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB EASTER MAGIC SHOW Dozens of young members attended the annual Easter kids’ event, which includes a magician, balloon-hat-making, an egg hunt, and – of course – a chance to meet the Easter bunny.

OLD NORTH STATE CLUB PAINT BY THE LAKE Members brought their favorite painting supplies for a guided lesson on painting a water vista.

TPC WAKEFIELD PLANTATION ALL WRAPPED UP TWEEN PARTY Children participated in several “minute to win it” games, exchanged white elephant gifts, enjoyed dinner, and watched Elf.

MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CLUB FIRE UP THE GRILL A member favorite, club staff prepares family style chicken, steak, and pork chops for members to bring back to their cottages to cook on their own grill.

BROOK VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB KIDS BOOK CLUB Kids ages 3-8 meet once a month for storytelling, games, and crafts.

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THE RESERVE GOLF CLUB SOUTH OF THE BORDER NIGHT The Reserve Grille’s South of the Border night featured a taco bar and margaritas made from all fresh ingredients.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

TREYBURN COUNTRY CLUB HIIT The new high intensity interval training classes on Saturday mornings has become a popular group activity. The class mixes low-intensity moves with intense intervals for an effective workout.

HOLSTON HILLS TRICK-OR-TREAT ON THE COURSE After trick-or-treating on a hayride through the front nine holes, children and their families gathered on the terrace for a buffet.

There were awards for funniest, scariest, and most original costumes

RALEIGH COUNTRY CLUB WINE & TAPAS WITH POLAR EXPRESS Kids dressed as characters from the movie The Polar Express and enjoyed a train ride around the club, while parents tasted wines with accompanying small plates.

SEDGEFIELD COUNTRY CLUB CRUISE-IN MOVIE NIGHT Families watched a movie from golf carts inside of the Ross Course Grand Ballroom, complete with a popcorn, pizza, and soda snack bar.

GRANDE DUNES RESOLUTION RUN The second annual 5K resolution run/walk concluded with breakfast, including a green drink station with kale, apples, parsley, and fresh ginger.

THE COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE CULINARY DEMOS Chef Bruce’s monthly cooking class demystifies home cooking and makes sophisticated recipes accessible.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN

Making Dreams Come True McConnell members are proving that we can make a big difference for children in need No effort is too small to make a difference, although grand gestures never hurt either.

Here’s a look at two groups of McConnell Golf members leaving a mark — one that feels like a hug — on their communities.

GRIN AND BEAR IT Once a week, a meeting room at Old North State Club gets a little stuffy: quite literally filled with piles of stuffing. Dozens of women arrive with sewing machines, scissors, and fabric to transform the room into a teddy bear factory for a few hours.

Every stuffed animal is handmade by volunteer sewers. The troupe of more than 200 plush bears is for Victory Junction, a nearby nonprofit camp founded to honor the memory of the late fourth-generation racecar driver Adam Petty. On land donated by Richard and Lynda Petty, the site hosts weeklong camps for children with serious medical conditions or chronic illnesses. The kids experience a classic spring-break or summer camp experience while also receiving the medical resources and attention they need.

A huge part of that experience is their bear.

A NASCAR-themed stuffed toy greets each camper, and the bear is his or her companion throughout the week and theirs to take home and keep. It becomes a loving token of an idyllic childhood experience, crafted in an unassuming clubhouse meeting room.

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WISHFUL THINKING On February 20, dozens of members and their guests gathered at Sedgefield Country Club to celebrate Spencer, a spunky 5-year-old boy from High Point, North Carolina who has acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Through a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, McConnell Golf members helped grant Spencer’s wish of traveling to the Disney theme parks in Florida, a trip often too difficult and expensive for a young leukemia patient to make. In September 2014, Spencer and his parents, Wayne and Jennifer, and sister, Olivia, enjoyed a full week at Walt Disney World.

In a nod to the magical visit, the gala at Sedgefield was Legoland-themed, and Spencer, Wayne, Jennifer, and Olivia were all in attendance. Executive chefs from every McConnell property created a memorable lineup of buffet options, from chicken osso bucco and beer-smoked pork belly to surf-andturf sliders and beef tacos.

Spencer was the inspiration for live and silent auction bidders, who raised $39,812 that night. The money raised will go to a continued partnership with Make-A-Wish. Wishes usually cost around $6,000 to grant, so many more are in store for the coming year. —J.A.

PHOTO CREDIT TK

Scenes from the Make-a-Wish gala at Sedgefield Country Club. Photos by Mike Micciche.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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CLUB PROFILE

By Brad King

Connecting the Clubs McConnell Golf’s recent purchases of renowned Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville and Providence Country Club in Charlotte mark inaugural ventures into a pair of new markets — while also tying together the membership network of 12 private golf club properties in the Carolinas and Tennessee.

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IN MID-FEBRUARY, MCCONNELL GOLF MADE ITS LONG-AWAITED ARRIVAL TO THE Charlotte market with the purchase of Providence Country Club. Providence became the 12th private golf club property in the McConnell Golf stable, which now includes a total of 225 holes around the Carolinas and Tennessee.

Two months earlier, in December 2015, McConnell Golf added to its legacy with the purchase of venerable Holston Hills in Knoxville, a 1927 Donald Ross design that marks the first McConnell Golf club located outside the Carolinas. In line with the wellness initiative [read more on page 56], both golf courses are easily walkable, a feature regularly taken advantage of by the membership.

“Our new relationship with McConnell Golf has been wonderful,” says Holston Hills Director of Golf Chris Dibble. “We’ve been truly overwhelmed by the welcome we’ve gotten from every other club in the McConnell Golf family — their entire staffs. Everyone has reached out offering to help in any way. It’s been really nice. We are very excited about the future.”

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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CLUB PROFILE

McConnell Golf ventures outside North and South Carolina for the first time with its purchase of storied Holston Hills in Knoxville, a classic design that has remained relatively untouched through the years.

Donald Ross was the most prolific golf course architect in history, with more than 400 designs bearing his signature.

Yet today very few Ross golf courses exist as they were originally designed.

Most have been altered through the years and lost much of the genius that Ross characteristically imparted on a course.

One Ross design that has remained nearly untouched through the years is Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, which in December 2015 became the first McConnell Golf Course located outside the Carolinas.

Holston Hills opened in 1927. Located just east of Knoxville near the foothills of the Smoky Mountains on 180 open acres of rolling old farmland tucked into a bend in the Holston River, Holston Hills immediately became recognized as the finest course in the state. Accordingly, it hosted every major regional tournament, including a PGA Tour event.

“If someone blindfolded you, you might think you were playing a golf course back in the late ’20s or early ’30s, playing the golf course the way Ross designed it,” McConnell Golf Director of Golf “Boomer” Kittler says. “You don’t find that much these days. You can stand on No. 16 green at Holston Hills and see all the way to the green of the fifth hole. No matter where you are on the golf course, you can see ten-plus holes without batting an eye. It’s pretty cool. The greens remind me of Sedgefield.

“I’m kind of a ‘Ross guy,’” Kittler says, “but I think Holston Hills will be one of McConnell Golf’s best courses, if not the best.”

Founded by members of Knoxville’s

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prestigious Cherokee Country Club — itself a 1910 Ross design — where overcrowding had become a problem, Holston Hills further bolsters McConnell Golf’s reputation for having the names of the game’s greatest architects attached to its courses. “Holston Hills is the fourth McConnell Golf course designed by Donald Ross,” says McConnell Golf Chief Operating Officer Christian Anastasiadis. “We are particularly excited to be part of the Knoxville community. We look forward to doing in Tennessee what we have done at some of the finest private clubs in the Carolinas.”

Though relatively low-key and unknown, Holston Hills has been ranked among the country’s greatest classical (pre-1960) golf designs in the United States. The co-founder of the Donald Ross Society and noted golf architecture critic Michael J. Fay has said that he would rather play Holston Hills over any other golf course in the South on a consistent basis.

The club’s repertoire of presented tournaments includes the 2004 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, the NCAA Championship in 1955 and 1965, three Tennessee State Opens, and eight Tennessee State Amateur Championships.

Holston Hills has played host to numerous U.S. Open qualifiers, and it will do so again on May 18.

Byron Nelson won the Knoxville Open at Holston Hills during his magical run in 1945 — his 15th of 18 PGA Tour victories that season. The previous week, Nelson had lost to Fred Haas in Memphis, ending his streak of 11 consecutive wins.

Cary Middlecoff was only 19 years old in 1940 when he won his first Tennessee

Amateur at Holston Hills — the first of Middlecoff’s four consecutive Tennessee Amateurs.

Among his 40 professional victories, Middlecoff won the U.S. Open in 1949 and again in 1956, as well as the Masters in 1955.

Through the years, the club has also become a favorite getaway for famous entertainers including the late Archie Campbell, rock star Alice Cooper, and professional athletes Peyton Manning and Michael Jordan.

The beloved untouched Ross layout takes on a broad, fan-shaped formation, with both nines returning to the clubhouse sitting on an upslope along the north side of the property. Holston Hills features more than 100 bunkers scattered across the property, with very few houses or other visual distractions

taking away from the links-style playing experience.

Perched on a hill with breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Holston Hills clubhouse overlooks the golf course and showcases bay windows, elegant arched doors, and a central ballroom with large cathedral ceilings and exposed wood trusses. An outdoor terrace on the south side of the ballroom offers members a space to relax and take in the view, while a magnificent centerpiece terrace surrounds the clubhouse, with its comfortable Tudor architecture.

A 1937 aerial photograph hanging in the clubhouse shows a course fanning in two collapsed but distinct loops across a wide plateau between the Holston River and the ridge on which the clubhouse sits. Every tee and green is located

“I’m kind of a ‘Ross guy;’ but I think Holston Hills will be one of McConnell Golf’s best courses, if not the best.” just as they are now, and virtually every present-day bunker is accounted for in the image.

Holston Hills Director of Golf Chris Dibble has been at Holston Hills since 1992 and has become one of the most well-respected golf professionals in Tennessee, according to Kittler, as well as being a very accomplished player.

Dibble apprenticed for years under the tutelage of John Wylie — the father of Treyburn Director of Golf Tag Wylie

— who is now the Holston Hills PGA professional emeritus.

“We think Holston Hills is a pretty special place, and we are excited to be a part of the McConnell Golf team,” says Dibble. “Holston Hills is neat because every hole is right in front of you. It’s very fair. There are no tricks or hidden hazards. [Noted golf course architect] Tom Doak says Holston Hills is the closest golf course around to what Ross originally left.”

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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CLUB PROFILE

McConnell Golf’s purchase of renowned Providence Country Club marks the company’s inaugural venture into the Charlotte market.

GIVEN THE STRATEGIC LOCATION of McConnell Golf clubs throughout the Carolinas, the Charlotte market has long been the missing piece. The Queen City is as vibrant as it has ever been and the golf-crazed city stands geographically as a centerpiece destination connecting many of McConnell Golf’s 11 other golf properties around the Southeast.

McConnell Golf’s February purchase of Providence Country Club changes all that.

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Located in southeast Charlotte, Providence Country Club was established in 1989 and has developed a reputation as one of Charlotte’s premier family country clubs. Providence’s pristine 18-hole Dan Maples layout, redesigned by Mike Gleason in 2006, measures 7,021 yards and plays to a par of 72.

As it relates to the McConnell Golf family, Maples is the son of longtime Donald Ross protégé Ellis Maples.

When Ross passed away in 1948 during

construction of Raleigh Country Club, the elder Maples finished the job and served as Raleigh Country Club’s original superintendent and head golf professional.

Together, the team of Ellis and Dan Maples helped create 17 outstanding courses including Grandfather Mountain in Linville, North Carolina, and the Country Club of North Carolina Dogwood Course in Pinehurst.

McConnell Golf owner and CEO John McConnell says he has long sought to acquire a country club in the Charlotte market and that the Providence acquisition connects the proverbial dots.

“Along with giving us a truly outstanding club in a fast-growing urban area, Providence provides close proximity to several of our other courses including

muda fairways, complement five-tiered tee boxes designed to accommodate all skill levels. Practice makes perfect and Providence has it all; multiple first-class putting greens, two short-game practice areas and a full-swing driving range.

“Our club is very family-oriented. We have a lot of young members and a lot of kids,” says longtime Providence Director of Instruction Leslie Elmore, who spent four years after her college career at N.C. State trying her hand on professional tours in Europe and Asia. “We’ve

“We expect Providence to be the best club in the area.”

Old North State Club and The Country Club of Asheville. Plus Providence is only 90 minutes from Musgrove Mill,” McConnell says. “This deal ties together our entire network of clubs, particularly our corporate memberships.”

McConnell Golf plans to spend the next few years renovating the course using an expert architect, while also providing numerous other substantial improvements around the club. Providence’s extensive amenities include 14 tennis courts and state-of-the-art aquatic facilities, with three swimming pools and a newly constructed outdoor bar and dining area with a fire pit.

“We are planning major improvements during the next several years, totaling around $4 million,” says

McConnell Golf COO Christian Anastasiadis. “We will focus on new fitness and activity areas, along with the clubhouse and the golf course with a top recognized architect firm. We expect Providence to be the best club in the area.”

From tee to green, Providence is considered one of the most pristine and challenging golf courses in Charlotte.

The layout provides a unique test to the accomplished golfer without polarizing the novice. The originality of Maples’ design equates to five par-5s (three on the back nine), five par-3s (three in the first six holes), and eight par-4 holes, which are always complex and exciting.

The uniqueness and beauty of each hole, with bent grass greens and Ber-

got a very active membership. I give a lot of lessons. We have a warm, welcoming membership. People are very downto-earth, not pretentious at all.”

A true neighborhood country club, the membership roster is mostly comprised of residents from nearby developments Providence and Providence Crossing.

“The Providence property reminds us a little bit of Wakefield, because it’s very big,” says McConnell Golf Director of Golf Boomer Kittler. “Big membership, big neighborhood, nice clubhouse, good swimming, and tennis facilities.

Now it’s just a matter of what we can do to enhance it. Providence has the potential to be really good with the work we are going to do to the golf course.

There are some incredible clubs around Charlotte that are tough to compete with — when you think about Quail Hollow, Charlotte Country Club, Myers Park, and places like that — but we think Providence has the ability to take it from a Big Four to a Big Five type deal.”

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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Proud partner of McConnell Golf

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

GOLF

By Brad King

Altered Landscape To adapt for survival, a new business model for golf clubs has emerged — and McConnell has set the standard

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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P GOLF

Packing his luggage prior to February’s 2016 Carolinas PGA Merchandise Show in Greensboro, North Carolina, McConnell Golf Director of Golf Brian “Boomer” Kittler couldn’t help but chuckle.

Kittler was amused as he recalled the same industry show a decade earlier, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he could freely roam the convention center aisles in relative anonymity. “Ten years ago, I could get in the merchandise show and talk to everybody and get around in just a couple of hours,” Kittler says. “Now I’ve got to bob and weave. I try to hide in the corner sometimes. As soon as I get there … well … it’s hard to leave. Everyone wants a piece of you.

McConnell Golf is a valued commodity in the Carolinas and people want to be a part of what we’re doing, so that’s exciting. It’s fun.”

Indeed, during an extended, challenging period in the golf industry that has adversely affected private clubs as much as any other sector, the growth of McConnell Golf and its impact has emerged as one of the game’s most positive stories.

The story dates back to early December 2003, when McConnell Golf became owner of Raleigh Country Club (RCC) and its centerpiece golf course, the final design in the storied career of architect Donald Ross. An avid low-handicapper and passionate golfer, founder and CEO John McConnell was not about to watch Ross’ final legacy be turned into a housing subdivision. “I had one of those divine interventions,” McConnell says.

“It said, ‘Hey, you need to get involved with this club, because the last thing the city needs is to see this place become something other than a golf club.’”

In Raleigh Country Club, McConnell saw the opportunity to preserve an essential piece of golf history. Built in 1948,

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RCC had played host to many nationally and internationally recognized tournaments and was located just minutes from the downtown business district and state government complex. McConnell was fully aware that once the last Donald Ross course was gone, it would never be brought back to life.

“I knew it was a special deal,” says McConnell, who grew up on a 100-acre farm in Abingdon, Virginia, attended nearby Virginia Tech, and remains an avid Hokie. “It was just one of those things, with the legacy of Donald Ross and all the club’s history — from a marketing standpoint alone it had a special value in regard to remaking the club’s image.”

McConnell’s previous business successes in the medical software field have been well documented. “We enjoyed leading two great software companies that allowed me to start and expand our golf business,” he says.

Now, in the 13 years since acquiring Raleigh Country Club, McConnell Golf has grown its ownership stable to include 12 premier private golf clubs in both Carolinas and Tennessee, while at the same time carving out a sterling reputation: The nearly 700 McConnell Golf employees provide the company’s 4,000-plus members a quality golf experience at each of its award-winning courses.

In addition, as one of the country’s fastest growing, independent private club ownership companies, McConnell Golf has carved a niche as an industry leader in numerous areas including tournament golf and junior golf development, charitable community giving, commitment to sustainability, and health and wellness.

“We’re hoping to prove that our model — our strategy — will work with multiple clubs,” says McConnell. “One thing I found out about golf is you’re dealing

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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GOLF

with physical properties, maintenance, etc. When you grow in software, you add a few bodies; it’s people and you who can control costs. It’s a little different in golf.”

For McConnell Golf, the focus from day one has been providing the membership with a high level of service in each area of the club business, while also offering a quality product. The company’s main goal has been creating a convivial club environment for both the membership and employees so everyone is excited to come to the club every day.

“Every time someone turns into one of our clubs we want them to feel special,” says McConnell, who used his computer software marketing expertise to help spread the word and coin the McConnell Golf mantra: “Pure Golf for the True Golfer.”

Despite its relatively short lifetime, McConnell Golf has quickly gained a reputation as a player to be reckoned with in the golf industry. In an era of economic challenges for private golf clubs — including a market saturated with upscale public courses and residential golf communities — McConnell Golf has defied expectations by generously funding its clubs for capital improvements and upgrades — almost instantly transforming them into more luxurious enclaves.

In addition, McConnell Golf has recently added two new national memberships to its attractive menu of affordable, cutting-edge offerings.

“McConnell Golf is focused on bringing value back to the private club experience,” says chief operating officer Christian Anastasiadis. “We pride ourselves on being the market’s best private club value.”

McConnell points to two major factors he considers most important when purchasing a club. “One is how many potential members or rooftops are in a

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“We have acquired great clubs during the worst economy in 70 years and continued to expand.”

10-15 minute drive of the property. That is huge,” he said. “Second, what decisions did the boards make in the past that may have not been a good forecast, or decisions we can make now that can make a difference? Having financial capital to invest into the properties, to bring them up to more current status and add other amenities, has been very important, as well.”

In 2012, McConnell was named one of the North Carolina Golf Panel’s “Most Influential Figures in Golf,” a prestigious list compiled every five years that includes North Carolinians who influence the game throughout the state, nationally, and in some cases worldwide, whether in the spotlight or behind the scenes. “I have been truly blessed in that I get to see so many members having a great time when they come to

our clubs,” says McConnell. “Our capital saved some great golf courses from extinction and that is a legacy for which we can be proud.”

Another of McConnell’s key strategies in building his private club empire has been to acquire courses designed by some of the world’s greatest architects, and clearly that mission has been accomplished. Holston Hills is the fourth McConnell Golf course designed by the legendary Ross, while the McConnell Golf stable of architects also includes Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer, and Greg Norman.

“This business started with no business plan, simply on a whim to preserve Raleigh Country Club from development,” says McConnell. “We have acquired great clubs during the worst economy in 70 years and continued to

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GOLF

“Our goal is to create programs for our membership that continue to separate us from the competition.” expand.”

Kittler says that while having “deep pockets” supporting the company is nice, McConnell has another more important attribute. “Having the passion John has for the game of golf is the most important thing,” Kittler says.

“He uses his money wisely to make clubs better. For him, it’s all about quality. Good people make a good culture and when people join, they’re joining because of that. People want to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

The appeal is broad. “Families want to join our clubs because there’s something there for everybody, and they believe they are getting the best value for what they are paying,” he says. “But at the end of the day, they’re just happy to be there because all of their friends are at the club. It’s a partnership. I think other clubs focus too much on them-

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

selves and the bottom line, and cutting corners. We just focus on the quality of the product. Get good members and let’s have fun.”

Kittler added that McConnell’s father was a farmer who lived on the land and focused on preserving the land.

While John McConnell is not a farmer, he is contributing his fair share toward preserving green space. “Owning golf courses is another way he can see these great properties. Instead of them getting buried or bulldozed, he has the ability to preserve the land for the next generation of golfers,” Kittler says. “Instead of golf courses closing down, it’s neat to see someone going in a different direction.”

Along with the success has come an added notoriety in the industry.

McConnell Golf representatives are regularly quoted or featured in Golf Business magazine, as well as other

business journals and media outlets.

“Over the years there’s no doubt the McConnell brand is getting to be pretty significant around the Carolinas,” Kittler says. “There’s no doubt about it. There’s really no other organization around the Carolinas that is doing what we’re doing. To have privately owned clubs with a single owner, allowing the access we have, no one else is doing it. It’s neat to be in a market to ourselves. The key is to continue to enhance that and create more value within the membership. The long-term plan of what we’re doing has not changed.”

As with their courses, McConnell Golf will create value with quality at every level. “Our goal is to create programs for our membership that continue to separate us from the competition and also continue to grow the game of golf,” Kittler says. “We challenge our people to hire the best possible people, because the more quality people you have on your staff, the better your programs are going to be. I don’t think that’s any secret or inside information, but that’s what we do. Hire good people and get out of their way so they can do what they do.”

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www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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CULINARY

By Jessie Ammons

At the Chef’s Table Ask Chef Mike Marques, one of McConnell Golf’s two corporate executive chefs, to describe the McConnell approach to club dining and he answers without hesitation: “Quality. Consistency.” After all, that’s how favorites become favorites — offering the same foolproof chicken-salad sandwich to hungry golfers year after year.

But McConnell Golf never stops at just achieving excellence; its properties constantly raise the bar. Quality and consistency define dining at McConnell, but it’s the variety that sets it apart. “You can look forward to things that you like at certain properties,” Marques explains.

“It’s always going to be a little bit different depending on where you are.”

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

MICCICHE PHOTOGRAPHY

Club dining offers a unique combination of classic favorites and creative dishes

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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CULINARY

STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE McConnell chefs understand the need to preserve tradition, and club menus reflect that. “There are certain things that you have to have at a country club,” says Chef James “JP” Patterson, Marques’ counterpart. “A wedge salad or cobb salad or chef’s salad at lunch, and you’ve got to have a steak on your menu at dinner.” Many members prefer the comfort found in knowing and loving certain menu items, and “members are the bottom line,” Patterson says.

He and Marques act as liaisons between individual club chefs to ensure the classics remain untouched. Now that their team includes 12 private clubs, they briefly considered streamlining recipes and offering the same uniform menu. “We’ve seen that we can’t do that, because clubs are different,” Patterson says. “It took away from the individual freedoms of each chef. Your chef knows what you want and we don’t want to take away from that.”

CREATIVE LIBERTIES Empowering each chef to cater to his own club has had tremendous — and delicious — results. “We’ve really left that creative door open for each chef,” Marques says, “and they deliver.” For Patterson and his home club of Sedgefield, that has meant an increased focus on wellness. “I grew up in the South,” he says, “and in Southern comfort food, full flavor means it’s full of fat. So I’ve been playing with substitutes that still give dishes that full flavor.”

At Marques’ home base, Grande Dunes, the thing to order is a pastrami sandwich. “We brine it in house, we smoke it in house, and serve it with homemade mustard. If you come here, try it. It’s a great thing that we do.”

Central North Carolina clubs tend to focus on refreshing American dishes – hazelnut crusted fish at Treyburn, pork loin over a baby kale and quinoa salad with a honey lime vinaigrette at Raleigh

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Country Club, and purple ninja radish on the menu at Wakefield. In the mountains, look for sliders or fish flown in from Hawaii. Recently renovated Brook Valley sometimes offers ethnic options, like confit pork tacos. And these are always alongside — not in place of — traditional steaks and salads.

To get the most from your dining experience, Patterson and Marques say the secret is to pay attention to the dinner specials. Chefs draw inspiration from what’s in season and available that week to create a dish offered only for one night or through the weekend.

Usually, the dish isn’t revealed until Thursday night or Friday afternoon.

But it’s worth the wait: Patterson says the specials often outsell regular menu items on weekends. “Members see the menu every other night, but if they come on a weekend, they know they can get something special. We hit the market up. We use cheeses from across the state. We talk to fish purveyors daily.”

“Specials are our window for creativity,” Marques says. A standout experience, indeed.

There will always be favorites on club menus, like the chicken salad pictured in the bottom right corner.

But there will also always be gourmet seasonal specials, like those pictured here.

“... in Southern comfort food, full flavor means it’s full of fat. So I’ve been playing with substitutes that still give dishes that full flavor.” — Chef James “JP” Patterson

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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DRINK

The Oak City Smash Ingredients ¾ oz. X-Rated Fusion liqueur 1 ¼ oz. Tanqueray gin 3-4 oz. fresh sweet-and-sour mix (recipe below) 2 cubed pineapple chunks 7 blueberries 7 mint leaves

The Oak City Smash IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR FOR A VERSATILE COCKTAIL, and this well-balanced flavor combination suggests the sweetness of spring with a hint of approaching summer.

Mixologist Stacy Swensen pays homage to Raleigh Country Club’s legendary architect Donald Ross with Scotlandproduced Tanqueray Gin. The Oak City Smash is the perfect complement to the season’s first barbeque or to a picnic beneath one of Raleigh’s renowned oak trees.

For sweet-and-sour mix: 1 orange 1 lemon 2 limes ½ cup sugar 3-4 cups boiling water (to taste) Quarter orange, lemon, and limes. Squeeze into small container. Strain juice into larger (24 ounces or more) vessel. Add sugar, then 3 cups boiling water.

Continue to add in boiling water until desired level of sweetness is reached. Stir and allow to cool completely.

Instructions Muddle pineapple, blueberries, mint, and X-Rated Fusion liqueur in cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, add Tanqueray gin and sweetand-sour mix. Shake vigorously.

Serve over ice, garnished with a mint sprig and pineapple-blueberry skewer.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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DR-40

By Matt McConnell

The DR40 All four Donald Ross-designed courses lie along Interstate 40 Let’s take a trip

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

THE LEGENDARY DONALD ROSS DESIGNED FOUR BELOVED MCCONNELL GOLF courses, and each one is easily accessed from Interstate 40. Since Interstate 40 is often called “I-40” in conversation, we like to call this trail of courses the “DR-40.” Here’s a look.

At exactly 400 Donald Ross Drive, just outside of downtown Raleigh, DR-40 begins at Raleigh Country Club. Established in 1948, the club boasts the last course designed by Ross. This walker-friendly property ranks among the best in North Carolina, and is just the beginning of an impressive and historical journey.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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GOLF DR-40

90 miles west in Greensboro, North Carolina, the most challenging Rossdesigned course along DR-40 is Sedgefield Country Club. A true work of art with fast championship Bermuda greens, the course is a test for expert golfers but still fun for beginners. Built in 1926, Sedgefield hosts the annual Wyndham Championship — currently the only Ross-designed course played regularly on the PGA Tour. If you want to play where golf’s greatest, including Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and most recently Tiger Woods, have played then Sedgefield is a must-stop on DR-40.

An easy drive from Greensboro, the next stop along DR-40 is in the Blue Ridge Mountains at The Country Club of Asheville. Considered the oldest private club in North Carolina, The Country Club of Asheville was founded in 1894 and is McConnell Golf’s only mountain course. Recognized as one of “The First 100 Clubs in America,” this track is the shortest course along DR-40 at 6,673 yards. However, it is definitely

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... the entire drive takes five-and-a-half-hours, and the trip makes for a perfect golf vacation. the most elevated, offering incredible views of the surrounding mountains. No doubt the best view is on hole 15. After you continuously hit uphill onto the green, you’ll feel compelled to pause and enjoy the vista as you overlook downtown Asheville. Besides appreciating the gorgeous scenery, you’ll enjoy the abundant wildlife: turkeys, deer, and even black bears, that the golfers here have said are friendly.

After a scenic drive through the mountains, the last stop on DR-40 is at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee. This gem of a course has been well-preserved since Ross created it in 1927. Every tee and green at Holston Hills is still located exactly where it was originally built, allowing

golfers a pure experience to play the course as it was intended. Holston Hill’s Country Club is consistently ranked in the top 50 of Golf Week’s “Top 100 Classic Courses in the United States.”

Bordered by the Holston River with the Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop, the rustically bucolic property has a Scottish feel with tall natural rough and a classic clubhouse.

What the DR-40 courses have in common are small undulating greens and rolling fairways, but each course is unique. The only way to know for sure is to see for yourself; the entire drive takes five-and-a-half-hours, and the trip makes for a perfect golf vacation. Plan your trip along the DR-40 today, and let us know how we can help.

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TECHNOLOGY

By Casey Griffith

When Technology Intersects Tradition Golf goes digital with surprising results I’M SITTING IN SUNNY SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA ON A third-story patio admiring the purple glow of the McDowell Mountains. Chatting with friends over pulsating music and a cadence of “whoosh … ping” on the perimeter, I order appetizers and a round of cocktails. Moments later buffalo chicken sliders, crab cakes, and a myriad of margaritas arrive for the group.

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www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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TECHNOLOGY

Turning my attention to the “whoosh … ping,” I watch our host settle into his stance and send a golf ball soaring toward a netted outfield. It lands on its target, and a microchip within the ball instantly pings distance and accuracy data to a nearby monitor. The group cheers and jeers as points are assigned and a new champion emerges on the leaderboard.

NEW FRONTIER At this point, I’m half expecting a spaceship to cruise by on a routine connection between Sky Harbor airport and Mars. What strange planet is this? “It’s fun,” a friend tells me as she chooses from a color-coded rack of clubs, “but it’s not really golf.”

First arriving from the UK in 2005, TopGolf describes this scene as “golf entertainment,” and it has quickly become a popular urban hangout. (One can draw parallels to the evolution of the arcade hall that Dave & Busters spearheaded in the ’90s.) Though certainly not for everyone, it caters to the shorter attention spans of this modern “Age of Instant” and offers a new opportunity for entry into an otherwise less approachable sport. After pulling out of a location in Cary, North Carolina last year, TopGolf is slated to open in Nashville in early 2017 and is considering a Charlotte location as well.

Whether mixing elements of the game into an altogether new experience, or amplifying teaching tools with video and Doppler radar, there’s no question that technology has crossed paths with our beloved, age-old sport.

IN THE LOOP Let’s travel now to a more utilitarian setting, the Golf Learning Center at TPC Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Director of Golf Josh

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

“McConnell Golf is always looking for technology that brings our members real value. From operational efficiencies to learning tools, we focus on advancements that embody the spirit of the game and enhance the service we are able to provide” Points puts his tenured teaching methods to work. Lined up across from a television screen, a student swings purposefully while a nearby camera records the motion. They review the footage together, and Points uses slow-motion to provide precise instruction.

“Our Learning Center lets us focus on improving longstanding fundamentals in a technology-forward environment that creates the ultimate student experience,” says Points. “Visual learning is by far the most efficient way to improve any type of motor skill, and we see it in practice every day with our students’ growth.”

Also equipped with FlightScope® technology, Raleigh Country Club and The Reserve Golf Club of Pawleys Island, South Carolina are able not only to enhance lessons, but also help golfers determine their best set of clubs based on the club head speed and ball speed data it generates. Both Ross and Dye courses at Sedgefield Country Club and Holston Hills in Knoxville, Tennessee use the TrackMan system for swing analysis.

On the mobile front, members and pros across all McConnell Golf clubs use the V1 app on their phones or tablets to improve their game.

MODERN ENHANCEMENT So, what will a golf club look like in the

future? Will a set of monitors showing member’s daily scores illuminate the walls? Will a hole-in-one become a push notification on our mobile devices instead of an in-person celebration at the 19th hole?

Maybe someday.

But I don’t see anything replacing mankind’s 500-year-old passion for the game itself. At the heart of golf lies a connection with nature’s simplistic beauty and the physical and mental contest between a player, the landscape, and himself. These classic elements need no improvement.

“McConnell Golf is always looking for technology that brings our members real value. From operational efficiencies to learning tools, we focus on advancements that embody the spirit of the game and enhance the service we are able to provide,” says McConnell Golf COO Christian Anastasiadis.

New club websites launch this spring, complete with a more user-friendly reservation system and a central place to communicate the latest club news.

The new sites are easy to navigate across mobile devices and tablets, the epitome of modern convenience. But we hope our new technology will simply help our members spend more time on the golf course, tennis court, and enjoying this spring’s social events.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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HISTORY

By Shayla Martin

Badin Lake Bomber From the islands of the South Pacific to the fields and beaches of Europe, you can find dozens of memorials commemorating the U.S. soldiers who fought and died in World War II. But a monument much less well-known honors two soldiers who perished tragically near the Old North State Club during the war.

Although the moments before the crash of the B-25 bomber plane into the dark waters of Badin Lake are shrouded in mystery, the story passed down through the years is one of a romantic gesture gone wrong.

On June 8, 1944, two days after D-Day, 2nd Lieutenant Charles McDaniel and co-pilot John Withrow prepared to continue a delayed trip of the bomber to the marine base in Cherry Point, North Carolina when McDaniel decided to get creative with their departure.

Before takeoff, he told his parents, in-laws, and new bride Elizabeth Hill that he would circle Palmer Mountain and fly past the house to signal goodbye. Unfortunately, that moment never arrived. As they waited in the front yard, they heard a loud explosion — the plane crashed into Badin Lake.

While Hill, devastated, ran back into the house, the families hurried to the lake only to find debris. Military naval divers conducted searches that locat-

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ed the plane but not the bodies of the pilots. A week after the crash, a report to the chief of naval operations stated that “it is quite evident the aircraft disintegrated on impact, and that the parts are well buried in the silt on the bottom of the reservoir ... No seats were recovered from the wreckage and it is possible that the bodies may still be strapped in the seats which, by their weight, would cause them to be buried in the mud on the bottom of the reservoir.”

The military never officially determined the cause of the crash, but has concluded that McDaniel was 15 miles away from his approved route when the crash occurred. The plane had no reported maintenance issues on the day of the crash; some historians theorize that the plane hit an air pocket, causing the wing tip to hit the water. The truth of what caused the crash may remain a mystery forever. Portions of the plane were recovered during the salvage operations and can be seen at the Badin Historic Museum, but no bodies were ever recovered.

In 1991, the Naval Historical Center conducted a further search that yielded only several small plane parts. Leftover funds from the effort were used to erect a memorial to the two pilots. It was dedicated on Veteran’s Day in 2001, a lasting reminder.

IMAGE FROM BADIN NORTH CAROLINA, THE FIRST 100 YEARS; COURTESY OF THE BADIN MUSEUM

A World War II relic lies forever deep beneath the surface near Old North State Club

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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TENNIS

Courtside Chat A peek at the action from the director of tennis KYLE THORTSEN PLAYED HIS FIRST tennis match in middle school and never looked back. He played through high school, earned a scholarship to college, and then became a tennis pro. His life is on the court and his passion is getting others out there with him. Here, Thortsen discusses his favorite topic with McConnell Golf The Magazine.

Tell me about you. What’s your tennis background?

I’m from Charlotte, North Carolina — born and raised. I started playing tennis when I was in middle school. I played all four years of high school and got a scholarship to Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

After school, I went back to Charlotte and worked in the tennis industry. In the spring of 2011, I got the opportunity to go to Durham, North Carolina to join McConnell Golf at Treyburn as the assistant pro. I helped the current staff build that program and regrow it. In March 2015 I moved to Wakefield Plantation, and now I’m the director of tennis for the entire company.

What characterizes McConnell tennis programs?

In the past, all of the clubs have operated with their own fingerprint. One of the great things about McConnell Golf is that we have these other properties that our members can go to and enjoy.

On the tennis side, we haven’t done a very good job of promoting that. As we go into the future, our goal is to show off how great the company is and how great our properties are by taking

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groups to other clubs and traveling around. We don’t want clubs to stop operating as their own entities, but we do want to help each other out. We want to show members how much they have at their fingertips. You just have to travel a little bit, which can be a lot of fun.

What sorts of trips do you have planned?

This year, we have two ladies’ weekends. [One weekend trip happened in late April to The Country Club of Asheville.] In October a group will go to Old North State for a little tennis boot-camp. We’ll rent out the lodges for the ladies to stay in for the weekend, and we’ve also lined up a college tennis match as an added entertainment feature. Those weekends are a way to experience something different from just an everyday tennis program.

We’re also going to take a group trip to the Winston-Salem Open in August.

We had the first McConnell Day at the tournament last year and it was a lot of fun. We had about 25 members gather in Winston-Salem, North Carolina — we tailgated in the parking lot and then watched the matches all day. I can’t wait for that this year.

Are there any other standout programs you’re excited about?

We’re hosting tournaments at our facilities all year. They’ll be city tournaments, where both members and non-members can qualify. It’s a great way to show off how fantastic McConnell Golf clubs are. Tournaments

provide a competitive atmosphere for a weekend, which is a fun and different format for our members to take part in, whether they’re playing or watching.

All of our clubs will host several tournaments this year.

Where do the junior players fit into all of this?

Junior golfers have a McConnell Golf scholarship opportunity, and we’re introducing that on the tennis side, as well. This is an awesome opportunity for our younger players. We’re going to start with Wakefield Plantation, The Country Club of Asheville, Sedgefield Country Club, and Providence Country Club. Ask your club’s tennis pro for the details.

What keeps you going and inspired when managing tennis programs at a dozen different clubs?

The access our members have to go to these other clubs any time they want is so unique. That ability to use other facilities allows them to pursue their passion for the sport in different settings and meet great people across the clubs. That’s a community that I’m very excited to help foster.

—J.A.

For information about the Old North State ladies’ weekend in October, McConnell Day at the Winston-Salem Open in August, the junior tennis scholarships, and other yearround program opportunities, contact your club manager or tennis pro.

Instruction Insight A tip from Kyle about doubles play “For the average club doubles player, constancy and placement are the keys to success. Many players become impatient while playing and compensate by using power to end a point. Instead, stay calm. The baseline player should look to keep the ball cross-court — aim to have the ball travel four feet above the net. This will result in a deep shot that will back your opponent off the court and allow your partner to move to the center for an easy put-away volley.”

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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MAINTENANCE/AGRONOMY

By Shayla Martin

Braving the Storm(s) A rundown from Director of Agronomy Michael Shoun 2015 was an extreme weather year for McConnell Golf. From flooding to below freezing temperatures, few of the 12 courses were immune from damage to greens and fairways.

Most McConnell properties are located in a natural transition weather zone. Therefore, courses utilize a mixture of warm and cool season grasses to ward against temperature fluctuation; yet neither grass type is able to thrive under some conditions. When that happens, the task is to recover swiftly, which is where Director of Agronomy Michael Shoun comes in.

DEEP FREEZE January and February 2015 brought some of the coldest temperatures ever seen in North Carolina — some areas saw temperatures 30 degrees below average — and associated sleet, snow, and ice. Raleigh Country Club, Sedgefield Country Club, and Wakefield Plantation, all located in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, dealt with temperatures 30 degrees below average and snowfall between 7 and 9.5 inches.

That didn’t bode well for warm-season Bermuda grass. Those courses’ north-facing slopes, often lacking sunlight, suffered severe winter kill. Even if the greens thawed during the day, they inevitably refroze at night.

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HUMID THAW Already weakened from the winter, June brought sweltering heat to the Southeast, with 12 straight days of temperatures at or above 95 degrees in and around Raleigh. The extreme heat damaged the cool-season bentgrass greens on multiple courses, and was then followed by heavy rain during the late summer and early fall.

FLOODING Torrential downpours led to flooding, and South Carolina’s record-breaking deluge made national headlines. Musgrove Mill Golf Club, located along the Enoree River, was an unfortunate victim.

Over the fall, the course flooded four times. Some areas were submerged under 20 feet of water, secured riverbanks were destroyed, and a transfer pump used for delivering river water to an irrigation pond was entirely swept away.

SUCCESSES But it wasn’t all havoc and recovery.

Over the course of the year, the Dye course at Sedgefield Country Club was the one course to fully close for repair due to weather-related damages. “Once we realized we were going to have major issues at most of our courses due to weather, it was all hands on deck,” says Shoun. “Fortunately we had the financial support to get the winter-damaged sod cut out

and immediately put new sod down and grow it in.” The team at Musgrove Mill worked from sunup to sundown for two weeks to clean up the course after the flood damage, and used an overseeding technique of putting down rye grass on top of Bermuda grass to make the greens playable during the winter until they could completely dry out the following spring.

During the eight-week closure of the Dye course at Sedgefield, the fairway damage was so extensive that the team had to essentially build a new golf course covering nearly 22 acres.

The team used sprigs, small plant parts grown elsewhere then planted to create a playable turf. Sprigging is one of the only methods that can be used for destroyed grass.

THE FORECAST As the year wrapped up with one of the warmest and wettest Decembers on record, it’s needless to say Shoun and his team hoped for an uneventful 2016. “One of the biggest drawbacks of this profession is that you can take every precaution you possibly can, and Mother Nature can still throw you a curve ball and change everything,” says Shoun. But for him, this is par for the course. “We just happen to be in a tough area but it definitely keeps things interesting. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

PHOTO CREDIT TK

Top: The damage at Sedgefield Dye course.

Above and left: the damage at Wakefield Plantation. “It was all hands on deck,” Michael Shoun says of the work he and his team did to restore the greens to the healthier state you’re more familiar with today.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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J.HILBURN Style is Something You Create

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FITNESS

By Jessie Ammons

Holistic Approach Wellness is a core club focus WELLNESS IS THE QUALITY OR state of being healthy: It’s that simple and that daunting. “It’s not just something that you do in the gym,” explains McConnell Director of Activities and Wellness Natalie Clemens. With a background in both resort and country club fitness, Clemens has seen members assume that a half-hour workout or a regular round of golf means living healthfully. While exercise is important, so is proper nutrition and overall balance.

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

THE ENJOYABLE ELEMENT An active country club life fits seamlessly into that balance by offering both social and physical outlets. While having fun and plugging in, you’re reducing stress and introducing balance to your lifestyle.

To ensure well-rounded offerings, McConnell takes a team approach.

“We’re thinking about fitness, chefs, and club managers,” Clemens says.

“They’re all important to a wellness program.”

That means lighter menu options, athletic practice groups, and upfitting the gym facilities at many clubs — from a total overhaul at Wakefield Plantation to an aesthetically enhancing de-clutter and rearrange at The Country Club of Asheville. The team approach has also spurred fresh choices. “We’re thinking outside the box to always change up what we offer,” Clemens says. Clubs are implementing 5K runs followed by a healthy breakfast, post-golf stretch classes,

Among the wellness offerings at clubs are children’s yoga and Tae Kwon Do, golf skill practice, and group exercise classes.

There’s something for everyone.

children’s yoga, and Tae Kwon Do for kids while adults learn self-defense.

Look for expanded group fitness options that go beyond basic cardio and weightlifting, including small-group boot camps and sport-specific classes.

RELATIONSHIP BASED While innovative programming is exciting, it’s the in-depth service that stands out. Every McConnell club now has a designated activities coordinator or wellness expert. “You have some-

body available who’s passionate about wellness and will get you the support you need from throughout the club,” Clemens says.

She encourages you to connect with your club manager or with a personal trainer to be pointed in the right direction. “Our trainers and pros are all very different in how they train, but the common denominator is that they really get to know our clients.

They are supremely skilled at getting to know members’ needs and wants.”

Your club leadership will help you break down and understand wellness, whether it’s a bit more stretching each week or a complete lifestyle overhaul.

“Wellness is at the forefront of culture right now,” Clemens says. “We all want to eat better, stay in shape, live longer, enjoy life more. It’s so important to people and it’s important to us too.”

Contact your club manager for more specific information about wellness offerings at your club.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

57

KIDS

Up to Date Where a few McConnell Golf scholars are now

EIGHT YEARS AGO, McConnell Golf launched its high school golf scholarship program. Young golfers are nominated by their high school coaches or local industry pros based on talent, need, and commitment to the sport, as well as their proven dedication and value to the future of golf.

The innovative program offers limited membership opportunities to the chosen scholars, who often otherwise lack the opportunity to play challenging courses. Scholars earn access to all McConnell Golf facilities and enroll in a

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structured program designed to help them elevate their game. They usually become familiar faces around their respective adopted clubs, and many go on to promising collegiate careers.

Here’s a look at where a few scholar recipients — two former and one current — are today.

TRAILBLAZER South Carolinian Hunter Nichols’ writing was on the wall: He lettered in golf at Clinton High School after placing third at the 2013 South Carolina 3A Championships and earning four all-region honors and two All-State selections. Nichols was a shoo-in for Musgrove Mills’ first scholarship. Today, he’s thriving at Furman University, where he is an asset to the men’s golf team.

FAMILY AFFAIR Danielle Mirovich is a rising senior at Mount Pleasant High School in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina and she’s made her mark through golf. The Miroviches only arrived to Mount Pleasant a few years ago after losing their home in Hurricane Katrina. What kept them grounded was a dedication to the game: Two older Mirovich daughters are already playing at the collegiate level.

Danielle is following in her sisters’ footsteps with a scholarship at Old North State Club, which will last through next season. Her parents’ support is evident and has struck a chord with the entire community.

SPORTSMAN’S RESOLVE Stephen Lavenets of Rougemont, North

Carolina seized his scholarship at Treyburn Country Club. It spurred him to win the Durham High School Invitational and cap off his tournament record with an eagle on the 18th hole at Treyburn — arguably one of the most difficult feats among all 12 McConnell Golf clubs.

He joined the East Carolina University men’s golf team, where a nagging hip injury led to major surgery almost immediately upon joining the team. It derailed Lavenets’ playing time, but revealed his true character. He emerged as a charismatic leader of his college team. Much like that difficult 18th hole, today Lavenets is on track despite his injury to graduate in four years with a finance degree.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

–J.A.

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GOLF

Jack Returns to Sedgefield It was a legendary appearance to honor an industry pioneer when renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, served as Honorary Chairman and Chairwoman of the A. Darrell Harris Memorial Golf Tournament last September.

As a tribute to the founder of Furnitureland South, the world’s largest furniture store, friends and family gathered at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. for a gala dinner preceding a team-style tournament.

Celebration and camaraderie were evident throughout the event, which raised money for Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C. and the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.

Nicklaus, arguably one of the greatest golfers of all time, and Furnitureland South have a rich history. Two decades ago, the Nickaluses visited the showroom and had a standout customer experience thanks to longtime employee Harold Moose. Nicklaus referred Moose to his friends: soon, the High Point, N.C.-based retailer was the unofficial home furnishings resource for the PGA Tour.

So it was more of a reunion when Jack and Barbara returned to Sedgefield on September 28. “To see so many come together in the spirit of charity to honor [my father’s] memory was a true testament to the impact he made in his lifetime,” says Jeff Harris, son of A. Darrell Harris and CEO of Furnitureland South. “We were moved and inspired by the participation and support from our father’s closest friends and business associates.”

The Nicklauses called A. Darrell Harris a “great man, husband, father, grandfather, and friend.” Though Jack Nicklaus hadn’t played at Sedgefield in many years, it was this tournament — and the man, the brand, and the company it represented — that brought him back.

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

www.mcconnellgolf.com | | Summer Summer2015 2015 www.mcconnellgolf.com

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THE BACK NINE

The Goodes Life

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT WINNING THE CARDINAL AM BACK IN ’84?

That was my first big win. I was in the final group on Sunday with two-time defending US Amateur Champion Jay Sigel and Dick Horn. Jay had gone to Wake Forest University and knew my father, so it was a comfortable group, although I didn’t really think that I had a chance to win.

I was obviously very nervous. I hadn’t been playing much competitive golf: I left college and hadn’t played for several years. What I remember best is that I putted great.

WHEN DID YOU THINK THAT A WIN JUST MIGHT HAPPEN? On hole No. 17, a dangerous par-three

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

hole with water on the right and wrapping down in front of the green, I hit a four-iron into the middle of the green. I had this putt back down the front left of the green that must have had 15 feet of break — I was just praying to get it somewhere close, but somehow it fell in, and I parred No. 18. I think I won by a couple of shots.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ’84 CARDINAL AM MEMORIES? The night before the tournament, there was a big dinner. Jay Sigel was the speaker. Bill Harvey was a good friend of my dad’s, and he sat next to me at dinner.

Bill was the ultimate cheerleader. That whole night he kept leaning over to me and saying, “you can beat these guys,” and he’d point at Jay and whisper, “you can beat him.” He was like having Rotella [Bob Rotella is a renowned sports psychologist] on steroids. The next day, when I two-putted No. 18 to win, before I could even walk off the green Bill came and gave me a bear hug, lifting me up off the ground. It’s a moment that I’ll remember forever.

DID YOU CONSIDER TURNING PRO THEN OR AT ANY TIME DURING THE ’80S AND ’90S? Actually what I considered was going back to college. But I never really thought that I was good enough to play professionally. I discussed it all with my father and we decided that it was best to keep working. I had recently married, and my father advised me that going out to chase being a pro would be hard on a new marriage. He was right.

I think I did the very best thing for me:

work and have fun with golf, playing amateur at a high level for the next 25 years.

IT WAS 25 YEARS AFTER THE CARDINAL AM WIN THAT YOU BROKE THROUGH AT THE ALLIANZ CHAMPIONSHIP AND WON ON THE CHAMPS TOUR. WAS IT A SIMILAR FEELING? I was probably as shocked to win Allianz as I was to win the Cardinal Am. I was a more accomplished player, but I just wanted to get into tournaments and play well. And then I wanted to see if me playing well equated to good finishes. In 2008, my scores earned me an exemption for 2009. So of course my goal for ’09 was to be exempt in 2010.

I wasn’t thinking about winning; I just wanted to know if my game stacked up.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW GUYS WHO WAITED TO TURN PRO LATER IN LIFE. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS? Work with the right instructor. You have to have confidence that you’re doing the right things. And when you enter tournament competition, you have to play like you do with your buddies at home. You have to learn to get past the fact that these guys are hall-of-famers and that you’ve been watching them win tournaments and majors for 25 years. When you’re playing with Bernhard Langer and keeping his score, the golf ball doesn’t know any better, the golf clubs don’t know any better, and the golf course doesn’t know any better. Playing well is playing well.

KEITH ALLISON

AT 59, MIKE GOODES OF REIDSVILLE, North Carolina can look back on one of the most interesting careers in golf. His amateur achievements include winning the 1984 Cardinal Amateur, the North Carolina Amateur twice, and the Carolinas Mid Am three times. It seemed that Mike was content to remain a career amateur until 2007, when he turned professional and set his sights on the Champions Tour (for players over age 50).

A short two years later Mike was a winner on this tour. Today, Mike still shares the fairways and greens with legends of the game and members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. But it all started more than 30 years ago at the Cardinal Am. John Maginnes, former PGA player and host of the popular Katrek and Maginnes On Tap broadcast on the PGA Tour Satellite Radio Network, sat down with the golfer.

www.mcconnellgolf.com | Spring 2016

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COA STA L LUXURY from the CO UR SE to the COA ST

Your coastal resort dream home is at Grande Dunes. With homesites from the mid $150s, villas from the low $300s, custom homes from the upper $400s and home & land packages from the $500s, this breathtaking community has it all.

Add in the exclusive, Nick Price-designed Members Course and the stunning Ocean Club, and your luxurious coastal resort lifestyle is complete. Unique and elegant, Grande Dunes features championship golf, tennis, fitness, a marina, superb dining and private beach access, all located within the heart of Myrtle Beach. Discover coastal luxury - discover Grande Dunes.

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PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY | WORLD-CLASS GOLF, BEACH CLUB, MARINA | EXCITING LOCATION HOMESITES from the mid $150s | VILLAS from the low $300s | CUSTOM HOMES from the upper $400s HOME & LAND PACKAGES from the $500s The information relating to the real estate in this advertisement comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the MLS of the Coastal Carolina Association of REALTORS®. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties subject to prior sale, change, or withdrawal without notice. Photos are representative and may vary from actual construction. © 2016 Grande Dunes Properties. All rights reserved.

Member AUTOMOBILE SALES & SERVICE Atlantic Avenue Tire & Service Richard Leicht....................919.872.0786 atlanticavetireandservice.com

Directory

PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

252.215.9199

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IBX • OBX • RTP

Professional Recovery Consultants, Inc Geoff Miller.........................800.408.8156 prorecoveryinc.com

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Founders Financial Alliance, LLC., a registered investment advisor.

Founders Financial Alliance and InnerBanks Wealth Management are separate entities from LPL Financial.

CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING SERVICES Classic Home Building & Design Susan White......................843.839.0537 classichomebuilding.com CRM Services Keith Errico.........................843.957.0607 crmservices.us Heritage Remodel and Design, LLC Stephen Young..................919.803.3961 psoltero@hchhomes.com

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Perkins, Lund, Collar & Associates, PLLC Michael Perkins.....919.781.1721x 301 plccpa.com Roberts, Welch and Associates John S. Welch, CFP, CLU, ChFC ..............................................336.245.2500 welch_john_s@nlvmail.com

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Interiors by Kris Kris Willard, Owner/President 540.721.8354..........interiorsbykris.com Lighthouse Garage Doors James Potts.........................919.876.3663 lighthousedoor.com

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Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Beau Brewer, CFP...............919.755.3263 beaubreweriv.com

Overhead Door Company of Charlotte James Potts.........................704.877.3667 ohdcharlotte.com Scott Stone, Inc Randy Clayton....................800.649.8782 scottstone.com Young Homes, Inc Mike Young..........................919.422.4621 mikeyounghomes.com

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Parsec Financial Rick Manske........................828.255.0271 parsecfinancial.com

CORPORATE SOLUTIONS

Capital Management, LLC. David Gray, CFP.................336.856.2911 capitalmgmtinc.com Compass Financial Partners LLC Stephen D. Sexton, CRpC, AWMA 336.510.1324.................compassfp.com

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Don Rudolph Managing Partner

Scott & Stringfellow, LLC Doug Bray, CFP, CIMA......919.571.1893 dbray@scottstringfellow.com Scott & Stringfellow, LLC John Creamer....................843.918.7610 jcreamer@bbtscottstringfellow.com

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Registered Representative/Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Signator Investors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Capitol Financial Solutions, LLC is a separate entity from Signator Investors, Inc.

The barn & gardens of Original rustic barn venue for weddings, receptions, and corporate events.

Formal display gardens, herbs, and flowers.

The Little Herb House is a privately-owned farm in Raleigh, NC. The original 5,000 square foot barn is home to weddings, receptions, and corporate events. The sustainable farm provides herbs, eggs, beef, and made-on-the-farm products such as soaps, lotions, and teas. We are proud to be the supplier of McConnell’s signature scent soaps, lotions, and gels.

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INTERIORS BY RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN

YOUR TOTAL DESIGN RESOURCE FROM THE GROUND UP See Our Work At The Following Locations: • Wakefield Plantation • Musgrove Mills • Old North State

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Kris Willard, ASID, NCIDQ Certified (540) 721-8354 www.interiorsbykris.com

Scott & Stringfellow, LLC Mike Hill..........843.918.7602 mhill@bbtscottstringfellow.com Scott & Stringfellow, LLC Mitchell L. Hunt.................336.378.1824 mhunt@scottstringfellow.com Thomas, Judy & Tucker, PA David W. Tucker..................919.571.7055 tjtpa.com UBS Financial Services Bill Smith..............................919.785.2539 bill.smith@ubs.com FOOD AND BEVERAGE, CATERING & PARTY RENTAL SERVICES

Riverview Galleries David Nelson.......................919.477.0481 furniturestorenc.com HEALTH & WELLNESS BBRN, Inc Betty M. Baxter.................336.288.9234 bbrnhealthcareconsultants.com Health Source Chiropractic Dr. Chad Chisholm.............919.829.5757 chisholmchiro.com Triangle Dentistry Smith, Tart & Associates.....919.847.6000 triangledentistry.com INSURANCE

Grand Rental Station (Party Equipment Rental) Mark Whitesell...................336.852.0881 grandrentaltriad.com

Anchor Insurance Agencies Rich Winkler........................800.856.1012 anchor-insurance.com

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Swaggerty Sausage Company Tim Roberts.......................704.292.8690 swaggertysfarm.com

Cline Hall Agency, Inc 1.800.837.7016......clinehallagency.com

S & D Coffee Anne Clark.........................800-933-2210 sndcoffee.com US Foodservice Andy Lifsey..........................877.583.9659 usfoodservice.com William Hill Estate Winery Sam Cann............................707.224.4477 williamhillestate.com FURNITURE Furnitureland South, Inc Jeffrey D. Harris...............336.822.3200 furniturelandsouth.com “Sit in our beautifully crafted, locally sourced wooden chairs! Product examples located off of the 4th fairway at Country Club of Asheville” One-Legged Chairs Ray Gurriere...................516.383.8505 oneleggedchairs.com

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Fogleman Insurance Agency, Inc./ Nationwide Vaughn Fogleman, Christy Tran 336-855-9190 foglemv@nationwide.com Jim Costas Agency, Inc Gary Stratton, Mike Moran, Jim & Chris Costa.............336.292.9992 costasj@nationwide.com Snotherly Insurance Angency/ Nationwide Insurance Alex Snotherly..........................919.832.5832 nwagent.com/snotherly.html Todd & Scarboro Insurance Agency Dene Castleberry..............919.365.7255 toddandscarboro.com LAW Kohn Law, PLLC, Closing Attorney Howard Kohn......................919.856.0200 howardkohnlaw.com Benson, Brown & Faucher, PLLC Bob Benson........................336.478.6000 bbflaw.com

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Necessary Marketing, Inc Keith Dyer.............................800.707.1457 necessary-marketing.com MANUFACTURING Jeffrey’s Manufacturing Solutions Brooks Barwick..................336.665.1080 jeffreysmfg.com OFFICE EQUIPMENT eXoprint Ryan Colburn.....................864.208.0057 exoprint.com

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Absolute Comfort Heating & Cooling, Inc Donnie Williams................336.454.5786 yourabsolutecomfort.com Arcons Design Studio Rajeev Bhave......................704.542.5252 arconsds.com Buddy Quinn Electrician.............................919.796.0807 J Hilburn Custom Menswear Cheryl Tung, Independent Stylist ................................................919.896.2250 cheryltung.jhilburn.com D & K Franchise Sales Weed Man Lawn Care Kenneth Heltemes.............919.781.5365 heltemes@bellsouth.com Davis Landscape LTD Scot Davis.............................919.662.1009 davislandscapeltd.com eWater Advantage Bo Batchelder bo@ewateradvantage.com........ewater.green Micciche Photography Mike Micciche...................336.684.3535 mikemicciche.com Pool Professionals of the Carolinas, Inc Dan DeLeo..........................919.787.7878 poolprofessionals.com Paul Bronson- Statements in Stone Paul Bronson ................919.349.0871 Custom stone masonry specializing in superior design and service. Gallery of work: statementsinstone.com

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Southland Electrical Supply Jim Griggs, Owner.......336.227.1486 southlandelectrical.com We buy, sell, rent, and repair new, new surplus, and reconditioned industrial electrical equipment. Family owned and operated.

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Allen Tate Realtors Bobbie Maynard................336.215.8017 BobbieMaynard.com

Rogers & Brown Custom Brokers, INC Don Brown, Jr....................843.577.3630 rogers-brown.com

Beverly-Hanks & Associates LaNita Cloninger..............828.231.5708 beverly-hanks.com/agents/lanita

Freight Handlers Inc Ryan Wall.............................919.552.3157 freighthandlers.com

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Grande Dunes Properties Martin Bellamy..................843.692.2323 GrandeDunes.com Highlands Cove Realty Ed Hills.................................828.526.8128 highlandscoverealty.com Lisa McCrossan Ivester Jackson Lisa McCrossan, Broker/Realtor NC & SC..............................704.620.0328 lisamccrossan.ivesterjackson.com Look at Myrtle Beach Sabra McNeill....................843.424.1655 lookatmyrtlebeach.com Preferred Properties of Asheville Laura Browne Livaudais 828.712.5445...........preferredprop.com Uwahrrie Point Realty 336.461.4492..........uwharriepoint.com

Transportation Impact John Powers........................919.819.8200 transportationimpact.com TUTORING & MENTORING Way In Interview Mentoring & Consulting Robert Karski.......................919.813.2484 linkedin.com/in/bobkarski VETERINARY SERVICES Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital Chris Konvalinka, DVM 919.471.4103.........bahamaroadvet.com WHOLESALE COMPANY Premier Golf Distributors, Inc Chris Lannom....................919.850.2202 honmagolf.com

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Scott Shook Vice President/Financial Advisor 1440 E. Arlington Blvd., Suite B Greenville, NC 27858 252-378-3299 n 800-207-3201 SShook@BBTScottStringfellow.com

BB&T Scott & Stringfellow is a division of BB&T Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. BB&T Securities, LLC, is a wholly owned nonbank subsidiary of BB&T Corporation, is not a bank, and is separate from any BB&T bank or nonbank subsidiary. Securities and insurance products or annuities sold, offered, or recommended

by BB&T Scott & Stringfellow are not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not guaranteed by a bank, not guaranteed by any federal government agency and may lose value.