Spring/Summer 2022 - McConnell Golf, The Magazine by McConnell Golf

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

McConnell Golf the magazinc

a letter from John McConnell

The future looks bright As Mark Twain once said, “If I had more time, I would have sent a shorter letter.” One thing many of my family, colleagues and club members have figured out by now is that I routinely provide short answers in communicating with them. Needless to say, writing a letter twice a year for our company magazine that requires approximately 700 words is not an assignment I cherish. In fact, I would rather go to the dentist! As I write this letter, COVID-19 appears to be on the wane and that is exciting, good news. The golf industry was a benefactor from our life changes in dealing with this virus, and our company enjoyed robust growth the past two years. In fact, our membership ranks grew by almost 1,000 new members in 2021!

Since 2003, we have invested over $92 million in our acquisitions and upgrades. Certainly that investment makes me sweat and lose sleep at times, but those issues are preferred as opposed to the old hay and tobacco fields in August on the farm I grew up on. Hopefully we have built a company that will survive during the down economic cycles as we have perfected a business model based on value for our members and operation efficiencies as we grew. We enjoyed record growth in revenue and profitability last year and are in a strong financial position as we continue investments in our clubs. Our goal of being a $100 million revenue company is within reach now and the future looks bright.

Many private clubs have established waiting lists, which were nearly unheard of when I started this company in 2003. Today, McConnell Golf has a membership roster of 7,300 with combined family participants that exceed 20,000. As you would expect, we stay very busy on a daily basis providing activities, food and other services.

This year will be filled with many projects and I am certain you will be experiencing new looks at most of our clubs. The major bunker project at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation will be finished in time for the Korn Ferry Tour’s Rex Hospital Open as will the revamped shortgame area at Raleigh Country Club.

One of my beach friends once offered a comment that saltwater never sleeps and requires constant maintenance on coastal properties. I believe that applies to our business as well. The biggest challenge we face is the significant ongoing amount of capital that our clubs require to keep our facilities in top-notch conditions.

No matter what we plan for, there will always be the unexpected event such as the recent pipe burst at Wakefield that completely destroyed most of the first floor of the clubhouse. However, with an able contractor, we should be in good shape by April with staff experience gained on managing these types of challenges on a routine basis.

JOHN MCCONNELL AS A YOUNG BOY

Rather than discuss all the issues we have had over the past year, including COVID-19, inflation, immigration concerns, supply chain challenges, staffing shortages, foreign policy, and other challenges, I will take Twain’s advice and make this my shortest version. It is going to be a great year in America and at our clubs. Enjoy the fun times and be sure to visit The Water’s Edge Equestrian Center on your next trip to Smith Mountain Lake.

John McConnell, CEO & Founder

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

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McConnell Golf the magazinc

Employee Spotlight PCC’s Darryl White

Member Spotlight BVCC’s Dr. Ryan Gallaher

Footprints on the Green 2021 Community Partnerships

Workspace Solutions Remote Office Options at McConnell Golf

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2021 Hole-in-One Club The Back Nine SCC’s Alex Smalley

Teed Up for Success PNCC Welcomes New Short-game Practice Facility

The Ultimate Wild Goose Chase

Serving Excellence McConnell Golf Gains Four Tennis Pros

Tech in Turf Cutting-edge Technology on the Greens

Horsing Around Lessons, Camps, and More at WECC

74 The Cardinal by Pete Dye

Kids Activities Wildlife, Games, & Recipes

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Spring/Summer 2022

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

TREYBURN COUNTRY CLUB Durham, NC | 919.620.0184 | www.TreyburnCC.com n GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT: Tom Fazio n LOCATION: 11 miles north of downtown Durham and 37 miles north of Raleigh n OUR COURSE: “After over 15 years, playing here never gets old. The brilliant design delivers a course that can change significantly based on weather conditions. Many holes play differently by just changing pin positions and it is not uncommon for me to use every club in a round. Mark Snell and his team provide course conditions that make it consistently challenging and enjoyable.” – John Wagner, member at Treyburn Country Club n INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS: With a variety of rolling hills, creeks, trees and wildlife, the course at Treyburn combines unique views with challenging play. Once golfers close out their round at the 18th hole, deemed as one of the toughest finishing holes in the nation, they can take in its pristine shadowy view in which creeks abound. Finally, Treyburn’s clubhouse veranda offers a panoramic view of the verdant lawn which has been host to many outdoor weddings over the years. 6

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

n DID YOU KNOW? Treyburn Country Club was founded in 1988. In November 2006, it became the third property McConnell Golf added to its portfolio of clubs. Since its inception, the course has hosted multiple American Junior Golf Association tournaments, the North Carolina High School Invitational and North Carolina Amateur Championship, and Carolinas PGA Section Championship. n COURSE RANKINGS: • • •

No. 30 in Golf Digest’s Best Golf Courses in North Carolina (2021) No. 31 in N.C. Golf Panel’s Top 100 Courses (2021) No. 114 in Golfweek’s Best 2022: Top 200 Residential Golf Courses in the U.S.

For more information about Treyburn Country Club, visit www.TreyburnCC.com.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

The Go-To Guy Providence Country Club’s Darryl White has delivered smiles and top-notch service since 1989 8

BY M. LINDA LEE

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

When you arrive at Providence Country Club to play a round, chances are good that the first face you’ll see is that of Darryl White. The club’s outside operations supervisor and an all-around Southern gentleman, White has worked at Providence since 1989, the year it opened. White says he was working at a fish market when a friend of his said a new pro at PCC needed some help. White applied and got the job, or as he put it: “I came over here [to PCC] and that was all she wrote.” “Darryl is the face of the club,” declares John Windell, one of the original members of PCC. “When you pull into the parking lot, you have to walk by the bag stand to check in, so everybody sees Darryl first.” Member Susan Harten agrees. “Darryl is a standout — always smiling, always has a positive attitude and a laugh that is absolutely contagious.”

he knows who’s coming to the course and when. “Because I’ve been at PCC so long, I know what members want when they come,” he says. “Members are impressed that I have their coolers ready and that I remembered what they like to drink.” He takes pleasure in his “little touches,” such as memorizing what vehicles members drive, so when he sees them pulling in, he can go pick them up in a golf cart. Those are the details that make a difference in someone’s day and are equally meaningful to White. “I love to see a smile on [members’] faces,” he admits. Folks agree that it’s easy to smile when you’re around White. “Darryl is always ready for a good story, and he gives you a big, hearty laugh when he thinks something’s funny,” shares Dave Wolfe, a member since 2013. “He just makes you feel comfortable.”

Serving up

Success Serving up

“The members love him,” says Fergal O’Shea, PCC’s head golf pro. “For a lot of them, he’s an identity to their club. When they walk in the door, they know they’re at Providence once they’re greeted by Darryl.”

mcconnellgolf.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND FOUNDER

JOHN MCCONNELL CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

FAITH INMAN

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND FOUNDER ALICIA LOCKARD

JOHN MCCONNELL

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS CLAIRE BILLINGSLEY

mcconnellgolf.com JOHN JETER “He’s the person everybody looks M. LINDA LEE to, knows and thinks a lot of. If KASEY OLIVE JOHN MCCONNELLTROTTER STEPHANIE there’s something you need, Darryl William Noblitt has big plans BUCKLEY BROCKMANN CASEY GRIFFITH According to Kevin Reardon, the director of golf at CHRISTIAN ANASTASIADIS is the go-to guy. Of all the staff BARBARA MASON PCC, White’s primary responsibility is to manage the for Providence Country Club BRAD KING that have come and gone over the MEREDITH DONAHUE carts and greet members and guests upon arrival, in JOHN MAGINNES CHAD FLOWERS KASEY OLIVE addition to managing a staff of about 10 people. “He’s WILLIAM years, nobody else seems to be the HONORS NOBLITT KNOWS TENNIS. EARNING ALL-ACC BRAD KING Noblitt has big plans his time at N.C. State University, the record-holder is considered CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS extremely reliable. We know when we put William him on the during JOHN MAGINNES CASEY GRIFFITH combination of the all-around good one of the greatest tennis players in school history. But beyond his JOHN GILLOOLYMATT MCCONNELL schedule, he’s going to be here, and that’s huge. for” Providence Country Club talents as a employee player, he understands the needs is.” of his members and has ANNA PLYLER that Darryl MONTY AERIALS, LLC ambitious goals for his tennis program. MEREDITH DONAHUE

Success

MAGAZINE SALES & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ASSISTANT AND FOUNDER

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

MAGAZINE SALES & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ASSISTANT

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PHOTO: MACKENZIE KING

MIKE PURKEY White describes his job in relatively simplistic terms: In his current role at Providence, Noblitt oversees the club’s 14 tennisCHAD FLOWERS ASHLEY ODOM LAUREN THEDIECK — John Windell WILLIAM KNOWS TENNIS. EARNING ALL-ACC HONORS BRAD KING courts, including 12 clay courts, and the pro shop. His largest duty how“When someone comes out to play, I get their bag NOBLITT KATHY KELLY CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER during his time at N.C. State University, the record-holder is considered JOHN MAGINNES ever is tennis instruction, at which he indeed excels. The thrill of comout, put it on the cart for them, greet them, getofthem one the greatest tennis players in school history. But beyond his MATT MCCONNELL DALTON RICH CHIP HENDERSON petition was certainly a factor in his success as a collegiate athlete and appreciates that White always and makes talents as a player,Harten he understands the needs of his members has a ANNA PLYLER drinks, whatever they need. Then when they come that same competitive spirit now helps him teach and inspire others. ambitious goals for his tennis program. point tofavorite ask about family. “I’m retired but I every day. MIKE PURKEY Noblitt’s parther of oversees his job? Doing what loves back in, I clean their clubs and put them away. But In ”his current role at Providence, Noblitt the club’s 14 he tennis LAUREN THEDIECK “I get to go to work and share my knowledge and passion for a sport spent my whole career in human resources, and courts, 12 clay courts, and the pro shop. His largest duty howhis role at Providence is so much more than that.including CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER that has been a part my lifeexcels. since The I was six of years ever is tennis instruction, at which heofindeed thrill com-old,” that kind of energy and enthusiasm, people eitherhe says. “I love seeing members improve and hope to instill petition was certainly a factor in his success as aalways collegiate athlete andthat same lifelong CHIP HENDERSON For starters, it’s no easy feat to greet 500 members it or theyhelps don’t. gotothers. it.” lovehave of the sport.” that same competitive spirit now himAnd teachDarryl’s and inspire Caption TK majority of Noblitt’s of hisday job?for Doing whatishe loves every PUBLISHED BY An part average Noblitt a full one. Heday. spends the by name, yet White manages it. “Darryl’s job is to favorite “I get to gohis to time work and share my knowledge and passion for a sport PUBLISHED BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS on the courts. In the morning, he’s busy with private lessons, “He’ll do anything you need,” shares Windell, who build great relationships with the members, so his that has been cardio a part of my life since Iand was ladies’ six years old,”clinics. he says. love DESTINATION CREATIVE GROU PUBLISHING GROUP tennis clinics, team In“Ithe afternoon, he’s after with knowing White these considers himclinics. improve and always hopeall to instill years, that same lifelongand longevity is key,” Reardon explains. “He isseeing by farmembers 5710 W. GATE CITY BLVD., STE. 581 PERRY AVENUE working junior players through private lessons love of the sport.” GREENSBORO, NC 27407 a friend.back “One a club out of my hands 29611 Looking ontime his first yearflew at Providence, two events stand out. In GREENVILLE, SC the longest-tenured employee on the golf staff. ” Caption TK An average day for Noblitt is a full one. He spends the majority of 864.679.1200 336.601.1271 2018, theended Make-A-Wish Pro-Am fundraiser and Alex’s Lemonade StandPUBLISHED and up in the lake. So, I called Darryl and he BY his time on the courts. In the morning, he’s busy with private lessons, Foundation’s Ladies Member/Guest were held at PCC. Noblitt was DESTINATION CREATIVE GROUP Building those relationships requires excellent cardio tennis clinics, andout ladies’ team clinics. long In thepole afternoon, he’s it out.” PRESIDENT came with a special andthese fished PRESIDENT fortunate to work alongside members for events, enjoying a fun W. GATE CITY BLVD., STE. 237 working with junior players through private lessons and clinics. STEVE MITCHEM people skills, including being a good listener when day of tennis while raising funds and awareness for important causes. 5710 MARK B. JOHNSTON GREENSBORO, NC 27407 Looking back on his first year at Providence, two events stand out. In steve.mitchem@icloud.com White’s care for the members often goes above and Looking ahead, Noblitt has big plans for the future of PCC’s thriving members finish their rounds. “You have to be able 336.601.1271 2018, the Make-A-Wish Pro-Am fundraiser and Alex’s Lemonade Stand EDITOR GENERAL MANAGER tennis program. Foundation’s Member/Guest at PCC. Noblitt wasday off beyond, like the were timeheld he spent part of his to talk to everyone,” White says. “Everybody wants Ladies MARTHA-PAGE ALTHAUS goal ismembers to createfor a fun, atmosphere fortunate to work“My alongside theseenjoyable events, enjoying a fun where people PRESIDENT SUSAN SCHWARTZKOPF MITCHEM attending a member’s or another when he going on,”STEVE to be acknowledged when they come to the day course. of tennis while raising funds and important want to come out andawareness play,funeral, andfor participate incauses. what we have steve.mitchem@icloud.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Noblitt big plans for up theinher future of PCC’s thriving DESIGN DIRECTOR LYNN GIANINY he says. “The junior program particular is something helped ahas member put Christmas tree. NoI want to build.EDITOR Especially when they have guests, membersLooking love toahead, tennis program. I believe that with the facilities we have and the staff in place, we couldMARTHA-PAGE KRISTY ADAIR ALTHAUSCOPY EDITOR wonder members get concerned if they don’t see be recognized and show off the club.” “My goal ishave to create atmosphere people one aoffun, theenjoyable best junior programswhere around.” LANCE ELKO DESIGN DIRECTOR want to come outAhim and play, and participate in what we have going on,” at the club for a few days. vision for program enhancements, coupled with the addition of EDITOR LYNN GIANINY says. “The junior program in particular is something I want to build. While managing carts may sound cut andhe dried, new clinic offerings, social events, and tournaments, is a recipe for the CLAIRE BILLINGSLEY I believe that with the facilities we have and the staff in place, we could continued success andpersonality growth of the tennis program at Providence. COPY EDITOR it’s about more than just having clubs and have golf one of the White’s and professionalism best juniorengaging programs around.” LANCE ELKO Heading into his second year at the club, Noblitt A vision enhancements, coupled withrespect the addition ofserves up a winning carts clean and ready to go. It’s about knowing the for program have earned him the abiding and soon. affection program with no sign of slowing down anytime new clinic offerings, social events, and tournaments, is a recipe for the members’ expectations before they arrive.continued Reardon successofand thegrowth members Providence Club. of theat tennis program Country at Providence. Heading year at the club, Noblitt serves up a winning provides White with a tee sheet every morning, sointo his second “Darryl is the one constant,” Windell says. Spring/Summer 2022 9

program with no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT by Stephanie Trotter

is in

The doctor

Dr. Ryan Gallaher finds golf at Brook Valley Country Club to be the perfect Rx While the past two years have been difficult for all, they’ve been exceptionally hard for those working in the medical field, Dr. Ryan Gallaher says. The infectiousdisease doctor has found few places to escape the hassles, headlines and heartache of the coronavirus. “Golf has been my mental-health outlet during COVID,” he says. “My faith is bigger, but golf has been my primary outlet and kept me mentally sane. I can get away and unplug. I can put my phone up for two to four hours. Without God and golf, I probably would have had a mental breakdown.” Long before golf was part of Gallaher’s elixir for work-life balance, it was simply fun for the boy who grew up in Kingston, North Carolina. Gallaher first learned the game on a par-three muni and by the age of 12 was hooked. “I can’t get enough of it,” the 38-year-old admits. “I golfed in high school. My brother plays. He’s a really good golfer; he was all-state. My mom and dad play. My grandad even started playing before he died. He learned in his 50s.” 10

The intergenerational element of the game is one Gallaher embraces, with his own kids now joining him at Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville, North Carolina. “My son is the most serious,” the linksman says. “He loves Operation 36. He’s been doing that since he was 7. It’s such an encouraging program, the way it starts the kids 25 yards from the hole, and then moves them back as they advance. It keeps their attention. It was a huge day when he shot 36. That was a big achievement and it was fun being a part of that.” Gallaher, and his wife Ashley joined Brook Valley several years ago. Of the 100-plus courses he’s hit across as a high school athlete, UNC-Chapel Hill club player and adult, he describes the Ellis Maples-designed championship course as one of the most demanding. “It’s one of the toughest, shorter courses I’ve ever played,” the three-handicapper says. “It’s a par-72, under 7,000 yards, and you need shot-making precision. It makes you a better

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Ryan Gallaher with his daughters Lydia & Elizabeth

Ryan Gallaher with his parents, Dr. Rob and Suzanne Gallaher, and son Coleman

player. It’s narrow. It’s tight. There’s not a lot of margin for error. It’s tough not to three-putt in the summer when the greens are running fast.” That’s the exact challenge he craves. “I’m Type A. I’m the kind of person who needs something to get better at,” Gallaher says. “You can never master golf, but you can always get better. It’s given me a hobby that I can always try to improve. When I’m burned out, or stressed at work, I can always turn to golf. Sometimes I’ll just go putt for an hour and have a beer. It’s just leisure and a project to get better.” Fellow golfers can typically find Gallaher, carrying his Mizuno irons and Titleist wedges for a brisk 18 holes, in the rare off-hours he can get away. Clearing his head. Tweaking his game. “Back when I played a lot, I was close to scratch – my short game, putting were my strengths,” he says. “In middle age? Everything is pretty mediocre. Nothing really jumps out as being stellar, but I enjoy it more now.” He encourages all to try the sport. “It’s a hard game, but don’t let it be intimidating,” Gallaher says. “When you’re starting out, you can get better quickly with the smallest of tips. That’s where it’s really enjoyable. You can play alone, or with others. It’s a gathering sport. It’s welcoming and Brook Valley is in great shape, with a great staff. I just love it.” Ryan Gallaher with his wife, Ashley

See you on the course. www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

CCA Pink Ribbon Scramble Check Presentation

It’s all about

community

McConnell Golf clubs leave big footprint in 2021 As a host for many charities, nonprofits and donors each year, McConnell Golf is excited to continue growing our community-engagement program — Footprints on the Green. In 2021, all McConnell Golf properties left a mark across their local communities through Footprints on the Green. Whether they participated in a companywide Footprints event or hosted a club-led Footprints event, they worked hard to help others. Through the support of our members and leaders in the community, the activities, culinary, agronomy and golf staff at each of our properties helped raise $761,457 in monetary donations. “Generosity has been around since the dawn of humanity and has become a part of our society and everyday lives. Footprints on the Green was founded with one goal in mind: Through a

supportive effort made by our collective membership and staff, our goal is to continue to be a driving force in our local communities,” said McConnell Golf COO Christian Anastasiadis. “This program was designed with all age groups in mind so that it will be a learning experience for our youth, a team-building activity for our staff and a friendship-building platform to strengthen the connection with our membership.” Our members and staff went right to work to give back in 2021. In January, members and staff made a splash in McConnell Golf ’s annual Polar Bear Plunge and donated a total of $4,203 to the World Wildlife Fund. Throughout February and March, they wore red and raised a total of $4,047 for the American Heart Association and Red Nose Day.

As the summer months came to an end and club pools were closing, members brought their furry canine friends to the pool to take part in the Dogs Days of Summer and made generous in-kind donations like dog food, cleaning supplies and gift cards to their local animal shelters. Treyburn Country Club also hosted its inaugural “Yappy Hour” event in partnership with The Animal Protection Society of Durham. Drink specials and light hors d'oeuvres were served while members networked with pup-friendly vendors as proceeds were donated to APS. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, members and staff wore pink and partnered with Bank of America to give a total of $24,037 to Susan G. Komen. Additionally, Porters Neck Country Club raised $7,000 through its Pink Ribbon Tournament for New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Brook Valley Country Club raised $1,910 for Pledge for Pink and Country Club of Asheville raised $3,139 for Hope Chest for Women.

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN

Folds of Honor Golf Marathon Between the months of May and June, members and staff put their golfing skills to the test and raised a total of $308,489 for the Folds of Honor Golf Marathon. By leading the charge for this fundraiser, the golf staff at every McConnell Golf property played a combined total of 4,448 holes of golf. Joey Batuello, assistant golf professional at Holston Hills Country Club, set a record by playing 243 holes (13.5 rounds of golf). Old North State Club’s members and golf staff, including Justin Mathers, Adam Davey and Aaron Richardson, led the marathon by raising $35,000. “We are grateful to McConnell Golf for the money they raised for academic scholarships for the families we serve,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “This money will stay local and support military dependents who deserve and need our help. The team at McConnell Golf, and

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

the individuals who joined them in this mission, have truly made a life-changing difference for so many people.” Folds of Honor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, as well as tuition for college, technical or trade school. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 35,000 scholarships totaling over $160 million in all 50 states.

Cool Branch Volunteer Rescue Squad Thanks to efforts of the Penhook Community Board and members at The Water’s Edge Country Club, the Cool Branch Volunteer Rescue Squad will receive much needed

financial assistance for years to come. This past July, members at WECC put in a tremendous effort to raise $35,380 for Cool Branch. McConnell Golf also made the pledge to match those funds up to $30,000, which brought the midsummer total to $65,380. The club also hosted a golf tournament in October that included a live and silent auctions. Thanks to strong support from WECC members, the tournament along with auction funds and monetary donations, raised a total of $104,240. Between both fundraisers, over $169,620 was raised by members at WECC. “We knew someone near The Water’s Edge community who died because there were not enough resources available for the rescue squad to help,” said Kim Cassada, a member at WECC who also serves on the Penhook Community Board. “He lived in the harbor and had a heart attack. I went to Ruth, Robert and Ed at The Water’s Edge, and we came up with a date to host a fundraiser for Cool Branch.” The area

FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN of Virginia that includes Pittsylvania and Franklin counties makes up a lot of land mass for first responders to cover in an emergency. After the club’s Cool Branch fundraisers did so well, both Pittsylvania and Franklin counties pledged additional funds for Cool Branch. A total of $346,000 was raised for the Cool Branch Volunteer Rescue Squad. This would not have been possible had it not been for the efforts of the Penhook Community Board, Cool Branch volunteers and the members at WECC.

Influential Faces of Pawleys Island Club-led Footprints events are equally as important as the ones led by the McConnell Golf corporate team as several clubs have held events under the leadership of members who see a charity in need and want to give back. Thanks to a surprise from John Charles and a handful of other members at The Reserve Golf Club, the Waccamaw Neck Branch Library

in Georgetown, South Carolina, benefited in a big way. Several months ago, Charles approached Donald Clement, the director of golf/club manager at The Reserve, to tell him about a local auction benefiting the library. The auction featured a collection of portraits of the most influential people within the town of Pawleys Island. The portraits became a temporary exhibit titled “Faces of the Waccamaw Neck.” Using his talents as a portrait painter, Charles wanted to feature Clement as part of the collection. The painting was originally set to be auctioned off for $400. However, with the help of over 60 members at The Reserve, $1,330 was raised so they could give Clement his own portrait by Charles. “Donald was an easy selection to the group. He’s charismatic, professional, kind and loved by The Reserve membership,” said Charles. “He perfectly exemplifies the idea of people doing the right things in the right way to make our community better.”

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Eliza Beth, Brandon & Kenan Turner

#ShineLikeKeri In October, Justin Mathers and Jared Hedrick at Old North State Club organized a special #ShineLikeKeri Member-Guest Tournament in memory of Brandon Turner’s wife, Keri Turner. Brandon, who is a former member of the golf staff at ONSC, tragically lost his wife in late August. Members and staff at multiple McConnell Golf properties also donated funds to help support Brandon and his two children, Eliza Beth and Kenan, through a collegiate savings fund. Thanks to tremendous support from the community, over $28,000 was raised to help the Turner family. Mathers and Hedrick were later awarded the 2021 Footprints on the Green Award which is presented to staff members who go beyond the call of duty to give back and engage with the community.

Operation Semper Gratus Porters Neck Country Club members Bob and Noreen Buss partnered with their home club to host more than 120 Marines from Camp Lejeune for a special Thanksgiving meal. Thanks to their leadership, 16 families were able to host nearly 50 Marines in their homes while other members donated money to pay for 70 Marines to have dinner at the club.

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Spring/Summer 2022

FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN It all started when the Buss family moved to Porters Neck Plantation from Florida in February 2020. They learned how close Camp Lejeune was to the Porters Neck community, as people in the area told them about a program where individuals host Marines in their homes for Thanksgiving. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Busses wanted to get involved in hosting Marines to honor their fathers who served in the military (Noreen’s father was a Marine and Bob's father was a Navy man). “In early August 2021, we called Camp Lejeune directly to find out how we could get involved in sponsoring Marines for Thanksgiving,” said Noreen Buss. “It took several calls to find the right contact and when we did, we offered to lead the initiative for the Porters Neck community.” Thanks to generous donations from Porters Neck members, they were able to give each Marine a $25 gift card while other members put together 150 containers of baked goods for the Marines to take home. The extra containers were donated to the local Porters Neck Fire Station. Jen Hancock, the Activities & Aquatics Director at Porters Neck, had members’ children color Thanksgiving ‘thank you’ pictures to display at each dining table. Following dinner, the Marines were able to putt at the short-game area and tee off on the driving range.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

“It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about Operation Semper Gratus. Right before the Marines boarded the buses to return to Camp Lejeune, they gave us an amazing gift of shouting ‘Oorah’ in unison. It echoed across the pond at Porters Neck,” said Noreen. “All the Marines had big smiles on their faces as they boarded the buses and gave huge hugs of thanks. As the sun set that day and the American flag at Porters Neck gently waived in the breeze, they pulled away. We'll never ever forget that day for as long as we live.”

Cone Health Cancer Center For the second year in a row, the culinary team at Sedgefield Country Club joined forces with members Ron and Kari Gaffé to prepare meals for 250 health care workers at the Cone Health Cancer Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. “Both of us have been treated at CHCC and saw how cancer, in some way, touches us all,” says Ron Gaffé. “Whether a friend, family member or you yourself have been diagnosed with cancer, the impact the disease has is far-reaching.” As COVID-19 impacted health care workers across the U.S. and Southeast, the Gaffés saw how thin doctors and staff were stretched. Ron is a member of CHCC’s Patient and Family Advisory Council and saw the negative

impact the coronavirus had firsthand. The responsibilities staff at CHCC had grown from not only caring for cancer patients but people who contracted COVID-19. “We really wanted to find an appropriate way to recognize these amazing people,” says Ron. In October 2020, they enlisted the help of James Patterson, corporate executive chef and former executive chef at SCC. “We asked him if an offsite Thanksgiving lunch for 250 health care workers would be possible. He enthusiastically said, ‘Yes, let’s find a way to do it!’” With help from Patterson and Beverly Marler, Club Manager at SCC, a plan was set in motion by the foursome. Ron Gordils, SCC’s new executive chef, joined the team for planning in 2021. “He [Gordils] had reviewed all aspects of the first outing and was ready to deliver. And deliver he did: Cooking, plating and delivering 250 hot traditional Thanksgiving meals, complete with soup and dessert.” It was a team effort by all as SCC’s director of food and beverage, Maya Panayotova, and Travis Huddleston, the catering and sales director, also provided support for the event. All in all, $4,000 was raised by people in the community to pay for the lunches, and SCC’s culinary team delivered them alongside The Gaffés.

FOOTPRINTS ON THE GREEN “We are so thankful for the support of SCC members, vendors, the community at large and friends from far and wide who made financial or in-kind contributions to make Thanksgiving at CHCC,” said Ron. “We believe the whole team finds smiles on the faces of the staff our biggest payback.”

Giving Back for the Holidays Like most, the 2021 holiday season was a busy one for each of McConnell Golf ’s clubs. In November and December, multiple clubs held Toys for Tots and Angel Tree events in partnership with the United States Marine Corps Reserve, Salvation Army and Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry. We appreciate the items members from The Cardinal by Pete Dye, Raleigh Country Club, Country Club of Asheville, Treyburn Country Club, Sedgefield Country Club and Porters Neck Country Club donated to these great charities. The team at Holston Hills Country Club continued its partnership with Bucky’s Bikes Mission of Hope. Members donated 278 bikes with a total value of donations equal to $15,000 in memory of Bucky Jones, who believed every child should have a bike on Christmas. “We, the Bucky's Bikes team, are so very fortunate to be part of McConnell Golf 's Footprints on the Green program. Holston Hills has been the key to our record-breaking collections each and every year,” says Rusty Bellar, president and founder of Bucky's Bikes.

McCONNELL GOLF FOOTPRINT ON THE GREEN INITIATIVES CLUB

AMOUNT RAISED

Folds of Honor

MCG

$308,489

Cool Branch Volunteer Rescue Squad

$169,620

Salvation Army Angel Tree

SCC

$68,000

Make-A-Wish Foundation

$40,000

Women's Fundraiser Benefiting Schools & Children's Charities

ONSC

$38,000

Women's Fundraiser Benefiting Schools & Children's Charities

SCC

$31,000

Shine Like Keri

ONSC

$28,000

Susan G. Komen

MCG

$24,037

Bucky’s Bikes Mission of Hope

$15,000

New Hanover Regional Medical Center Pink Ribbon Tournament

$7,000

USMC Thanksgiving Dinner – Operation Semper Gratus

$6,000

Polar Bear Plunge

MCG

$4,203

Cone Health Cancer Center

SCC

$4,000

Red Nose Day

MCG

$3,895

Hope Chest for Women

CCA

$3,139

CG, RCC, TCC, PN

$3,000

$1,910

American Cancer Society

SCC

$1,765

Multiple System Atrophy Coalition

TCC

$1,540

The Joel Fund

$1,000

Street Hope Tennessee

$400

Animal Protection Society of Durham

TCC

$245

American Heart Association

MCG

$152

Curvature Wines – Breast Cancer Awareness

RCC

$62

Dog Days Animal Shelters

RCC, PN

In-Kind Donations

USO of North Carolina

TCC

In-Kind Donations

ABCCM Angel Tree

CCA

In-Kind Donations

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Pledge for Pink

Penny Crisp, Kristina Headley, Debbie Richardson & Lisa Liringis 20

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

TOTAL RAISED IN 2021

$761,457

Vicky Lambeth, Leigh Armentrout, Ellen Reddick & Cathy Hollerbach

Tim Hansen, Rod Patefield, Craig Prothero & Rob Melhem

“Our success story would not be possible without the support of Holston Hills, Jim Disney and their amazing staff. They continue to make it an extra special day for us each year.” McConnell Golf appreciates all the help

members, staff and outside community members gave to enhance our 2021 Footprints on the Green program. We look forward to extending our footprint in the local communities we serve with plans to continue some partnerships and grow new ones in 2022. Stay tuned for updates as our

upcoming Footprints initiatives include St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Meals on Wheels, and the Boys & Girls Club. For more information regarding Footprints on the Green, contact McConnell Golf Creative Director Alicia Lockard at alockard@mcconnellgolf.com.

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telepathicgraphics.com The Triangle & Rocky Mount 919.342.4603 www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

WE WORK

The Changing World of Work & Workspace Solutions BY BARBARA MASON

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

McConnell Golf offers remote work and team retreat options The COVID-19 pandemic brought major shifts in the working world that are reshaping the long-term business landscape. These shifts include some businesses moving from on-site office environments to hybrid at-home workspaces and other businesses letting go of office space and real estate leases in

favor of a more-permanent work-fromhome options. Remote work has many advantages including overhead cost savings, but ultimate success requires some in-person gatherings. There is joy and belonging when people work with others toward the

same goal. Remote work doesn’t offer team bonding opportunities, which can impact team “glue” and loyalty toward work — resulting in decreased productivity and engagement. In today’s highly competitive workforce, making sure employees feel connected and a part of something greater than themselves is a smart investment.

How a change of scenery can make all the difference in productivity Research shows when fellow employees engage in a shared experience, outside of the normal business day routine, their team bond is enhanced. My firm, the Mason Consulting Group, offers The Strategic Development of Talent and Teams program to help businesses achieve that shared experience. We design and facilitate team learning retreats and alignment sessions for work group teams,

businesses and executive groups. As a relatively new member from The Water’s Edge Country Club, I’ve recently had the opportunity to visit some of McConnell Golf ’s other properties. It occurred to me that members could use these facilities for off-site retreats and team experiences. Members have access to various courses with ideal venues and

many have unique workspace offerings that could all be used in this post-COVID world. Thanks to McConnell Golf ’s membership model, members have use of top-ranked golf courses within a four-state radius. Beyond golf, all clubs have meeting spaces, food and beverage support, resort-like settings and other non-golf activities. Small- to midsizebusiness owners can especially benefit from these types of offerings.

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

WE WORK

McConnell Golf workspace and team-event offerings There are many temporary office space options throughout McConnell Golf, like The Royal Dornoch Room at Raleigh Country Club. The Royal Dornoch Room sets the tone for the perfect remote workspace for members when they need a change of scenery. Members not only have a view of the ninth hole via high-top table seating, they also have access to multiple tables and chairs for collaborative meetings, a couch and lounge chairs, and coffee nook.

REMOTE OFFICE OPTIONS AT MCCONNELL GOLF Raleigh Country Club

Treyburn Country Club

The Royal Dornoch Room (seats 20 people) Conference Room (seats 16 people)

The Sanford Library (seats 20 people) The Kenan Lounge (seats 20 people) The President’s Lounge (seats 12 people)

The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation The Oak Conference Room (seats 20 people) The Wakefield Room (seats eight people) Two cubicle spaces with desks

Sedgefield Country Club

Providence Country Club Muirfield/Prestwick Room (seats 20-25 people) Azalea Room (seats 10-12 people) Queen Ann (seats four-six people)

Conference Room (seats 16 people)

Country Club of Asheville

Brook Valley Country Club

Dogwood Loft (seats 20 people) Emerald Lounge (seats 30 people)

Board Room (seats 12 people)

Whether it’s The Royal Dornoch Room at RCC, another club’s conference room, or even one of the cubicle spaces at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, members have a variety of options that provide a home away from home at each club. If you’re interested in reserving space in one of our clubs’ conference rooms, cubicles or dedicated meeting rooms, contact your club today for more details.

How to build your team-learning retreat A foundational introductory team learning event The Mason Consulting Group often builds into offsites is part of the Insights Discovery Program, which focuses on team communication styles. It is extremely popular with my clients. This tool teaches about the value of each communication style on a team, giving participants insightful tools for better self and team awareness. The program incorporates key learnings that help people “adapt and connect” to teammates with different styles, enhancing day-today connection and understanding.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

The diagram to the right is an example of what a Team Learning Retreat could look like if you chose to reserve space and host an executive team or board at your own McConnell Golf club or sister property within the network of club properties. The Mason Consulting Group can help you incorporate your strategic objectives into any program outline, based on your custom needs.

Thanks to McConnell Golf's membership model, members have use of top-ranked golf courses within a four-state radius. Beyond golf, all clubs have meeting spaces, food and beverage support, resort-like settings and other non-golf activities.

TEAM RETREAT EXAMPLE AT YOUR LOCAL CLUB PM ARRIVAL Welcome activity Scavenger hunt: Placed into assigned groups, use golf carts & clues aligned with business needs. Drinks & apps near the green (with Putting Contest)

FULL DAY

DEPART DAY

AM: Team learning event

Understanding Team Communication Styles

Lunch Afternoon sign-up activity options*:

Golf Round, Group Golf Lesson, Horseback Trail Ride or Beginner Lesson, Group Exercise Walk, Water/ Sand, Vineyard Van Tour, etc.

Dinner

(on the patio etc.)

AM: Breakfast Business meeting:

(Real problem solving, applying lessons learned – after team build)

Lunch Departure

Themed dinner (i.e. BBQ)

*All pending club choice

Barbara Mason is an organizational development specialist with a focus on the strategic development of talent and teams. Mason Consulting intentionally designs team-development initiatives and interventions to help organizations align their daily efforts with strategic outcomes. Barbara's 20-plus years of experience in corporate, academia and training enables her to integrate theory, practice and results into one cohesive package. Learn more at www.themasonconsultinggroup.com.

CORPORATE RETREATS

Looking for the ideal Team Building Event? Let The Mason Consullng Group custom design your next oﬀ-site for beeer business outcomes. Retreats for teams, businesses and leaders.

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

SNAPSHOTS

MEMBER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS Share your moments and memories from the club! Use #McConnellGolf in your social posts and email Faith Inman at finman@mcconnellgolf.com to submit photos for McConnell Golf, The Magazine.

Kim Stafford, Zack Maybank (PCC pro), Amy Godiwalla & Jennifer Tolley

Will Gregory, Bob Bruggeworth, Michelle Bruggeworth, Ellen Boyer, Kelli Young, Scott Hamilton & Sheryl Hamilton, SCC Grayson Pinholster & Thomas Woodruff, CCA

Clem Venable, SCC

Gaby Lane, SCC

Lee Land & Rob Dayton, TCC

Deborah & Terry Rosamond, MM

Brett Miller with McConnell Golf Scholar Jamal Hutchison, CCA

Kyle Sheats, RCC 26

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Rock Zhang, RCC

Greg & Jackson Slayton with Matthew & Eric Griffin, PCC

Betty Lee, ONSC

Pat Sankovic, Bryce Paull, Will Whiteside & Josh McCaslin, MM

Betty Lee, ONSC

Group at MM Front row: John Stephens, Hugh Stephens, Phil Stephens, & Rob Reeves Back row : Robbie Keels, Jason Billings, Jesse Donald, & James Clay

Annika Lane, Coach Ben Miller & Gaby Lane, SCC

Floyd Merryman, Roya Gharavi, Kelly Babcock & Whit Babcock , WE www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

SNAPSHOTS

Beth Beam, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation's Breaker Bar and Grill

Lee Murray, Christa Cullen, Bill Smith, Anita Davis & friends, PN

Annika, Harrison & Gaby Lane, SCC

Joan Peppers, WE

Jackson Young, CCA

Nick & Naomi Lane with Emily & Mike Hamuka, SCC

Casey Builder's pups Rory & Poppy, MM

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Penny Crisp, Tim Hudgins, & Debbie Richardson, SCC

Sherri & Kirk Rogerson, BV

Dr. Masherril Koonce & Rhonda Powell, Providence CC

Rock Zhang, RCC

Mia Chamberlain & Kevin Herron, Jr., SCC

William Moore, Bill Moore & Jerry Creech, WP

Thomas Sevier, Raleigh CC

Deborah & Terry Rosamond with Wendy & Scott Friday, MM

Bob Bruggeworth, Will Gregory, Scott Hamilton & Kelli Young, SCC

Bruce Davis, WE

Mark Saharski, Barry Dunn, Dale Pearce & Nick Palacios, WP

Larry Coltrain, WE

John Lee, PN www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB

Ace of Play

at McConnell Golf BY BRAD KING

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Ron Tomaszewski, RCC

A hole-in-one is always an exciting, memorable moment. For 118 McConnell Golf members, including PGA Tour pro Chesson Hadley, 2021 was truly an epic year. BK: You’ve recently had some swag made with your flying giraffe pose from the Wyndham. Are you going to grow a brand around this moment?

Last year’s Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club, eventually captured by Kevin Kisner following a sixman playoff, teed up plenty of final-round fireworks.

CH: I do plan to offer some hats to try and grow my brand. I have the website created where you can order merchandise, I am just working on getting inventory.

One of the most memorable highlights came from Raleigh, North Carolina, native Chesson Hadley, who enjoys playing privileges at Raleigh Country Club and The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation.

BK: How would you compare the feeling of making the hole-in-one at Wyndham to winning the Rex Open and securing your PGA Tour card?

Hadley played the Wyndham’s final round fighting for his PGA Tour life. He had one plane ticket to Newark, New Jersey, for the FedEx Cup Playoffs and another to Boise, Idaho, for the first event of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. With his PGA Tour privileges on the line, Hadley started his final round on Sedgefield’s back nine with four birdies in his first six holes. Then at Sedgefield’s 16th hole — a par-3 measuring 163 yards — Hadley’s 9-iron shot landed 15 feet past the hole and spun back into the bottom of the cup for his first-ever hole-in-one. His perfect swing was followed by an unadulterated celebration of pure joy — sprinting forward and leaping off the tee box while nearly executing a heel-click — that quickly went viral on the internet and humorously became known as the “flying giraffe pose.” “I had never made a hole-in-one before (ever) so there was 34 years of built-up emotional readiness for that moment,” says Hadley, “and I don’t think that my celebration disappointed.” Hadley followed his ace at 16 with a birdie on 17 and finished his Sunday opening nine with a scorching 29. When it mattered most, needing a 16th-place finish or better

Alan Slobe, PN

for a chance to qualify for the playoffs, Hadley was all of a sudden catapulted to 17th place and projected at No. 126 in the FedEx Cup standings following his careerbest nine-hole score on the PGA Tour. His superb, final-round 62 in the tour’s final regular-season event allowed Hadley to sneak into the very last spot and save his tour card by one point. If that wasn’t enough, for his ace, Hadley earned 1 million Wyndham Rewards Points for the charity Birdies for Backpacks, a nonprofit organization that feeds schoolchildren in the United States who are at risk of going hungry. Brian Kittler, Vice President of Golf Operations at McConnell Golf, recently caught up with Hadley to discuss his epic Sunday afternoon at Sedgefield — and his magical ace.

CH: I’ve been lucky to have several very memorable moments at McConnell Golf properties. I still might say to this day that the coolest thing I have done in my career is win the 2013 Rex Open at Wakefield. Then this year at the Wyndham, I was able to put together that final round 62 to keep my card, along with making my very first hole-in-one. BK: How meaningful was it to make your first career hole-in-one playing a “home event” en route to shooting a final round 62? Is 62 your career low on the PGA Tour? CH: It was amazing. That is my home event on the PGA Tour and with where I was at the start of the week in the FedEx Cup standings, I told all my friends and family that I wanted to do it on my own. Typically, I give out a bunch of tickets but I didn’t give any out. After Saturday, I called my dad and told him I wanted him to come down and watch. He has been there for all of my special rounds and I am glad that he was able to make it down for the wild Sunday. Also, I needed a ride back to

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB Raleigh! Oh, and I have shot 61 — 11 under — on the PGA Tour. BK: You've had a fair amount of success on multiple McConnell Golf courses, like Old North State Club, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation and now Sedgefield Country Club. Have you played at other McConnell Golf courses? Which is your favorite course? CH: Yes, I have. I won the ACC Championship at Old North State Club. I have won the Rex at Wakefield and had some amazing experiences at Sedgefield for the Wyndham Championship. I’ve also played Raleigh Country Club and Treyburn Country Club. My favorite McConnell Golf course is at Wakefield. I’ve made some great memories there and I think it is a very underrated golf course. There isn’t a bad hole on the property and the course is always in amazing shape. The head pro Adam McLaughlin and the shop take such great care of me and food is elite up at the club. My wife and I love to go up there for lunch.

Andy White, CCA

Bajin Han, RCC

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

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Honorable Mentions A couple of other McConnell Golf members gave Hadley a run for his money when it came to hole-in-ones in 2021. Holston Hills Country Club member Tim Massie made a whopping four aces last year including two in four days. “How crazy is that,” he says. “I still laugh about it.” All four of Massie’s 2021 holes-in-one occurred at Holston Hills: • March 4, No. 14, 192 yards, 6 iron (his tee shot landed in the hole and stayed) Becca McKinney, RCC

• April 4, No. 14, 195 yards, 5 iron • Nov. 27, No. 8, 160 yards, 8 iron • Dec. 1, No. 8, 152 yards, 8 iron His final ace of 2021 was Massie’s 15th lifetime hole-in-one. The plus-3 handicap [“worse in the winter,” he says with a laugh] has been a member at Holston Hills for almost 30 years, and says he plays on average 200 rounds a year.

Bill Moore, WP

Massie graduated from the University of Tennessee having studied logistics and transportation, and has been working for the post office for the past 30 years. He took up golf when he was 25. “No college golf for me,” he said. “I went in the military [Air Force] for four years after high school and then to college.” “I work the afternoon shift as a networks supervisor so I can play golf in the morning and then go to work. That’s one of the best things at Holston Hills, going off early and playing in two hours or so,” Massie says. “One of the assistants, Christian and I can play in two hours and both shoot under par if we make a few putts.”

Bob Huie, PN

Massie, 54, is married with a 19-yearold son Preston. He says he is retiring at the end of March, and that he “plans on playing more than 200 rounds a year then.”

“This is funny,” he says, chuckling. “I once had two holes-in-one in six days. I never thought I’d beat that. Now two in four days — stupid game.” Last but not least, Treyburn Country Club member Tyler Niggebrugge recorded two holes-in-one last year. “My first hole-in-one was on February 24, 2021, on No. 2 at Treyburn, which was playing 225 yards that day,” Niggebrugge says. “I ‘pured’ a 4-iron and instantly knew it was tracking. I was playing with our senior champ Gary Howze, Ella Perna and Mike Ford, and they never saw it.” “I got my range finder out to see where it was and nothing was in sight,” he says. “I didn’t find out until we walked up to the green and found it in the hole.” “The funny story about that hole-inone was that on the next hole, No. 3, I topped my drive.” Niggebrugge, who is 31 years old and a scratch handicap, works in endoscopy sales for the sports medicine division of Southern Biologics. He made his second hole-in-one last year on Halloween day during the Treyburn Cup. These were the first two holein-ones for Niggebrugge, who joined Treyburn in August of 2020. He says the best part of ace number two was the team victory that day. “I was on No. 17, 145 out and flushed an 8 iron right past the hole and it spun back in it,” Niggebrugge says. “It was pretty cool to see the ball go in.” “That day was a total domination for Team Dalton in our victory.”

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB

2021 McConnell Golf Hole-in-One Club In 2021, 118 hole-in-ones were made by members throughout McConnell Golf ’s network of clubs. The courses at Wakefield, Sedgefield, Holston Hills and Treyburn recorded the most aces, while nine members made hole-in-ones at a McConnell Golf sister property. Donald Clement, Director of Golf/Club Manager at The Reserve, also made a hole-in-one on No. 3, making it his second hole-in-one at The Reserve and his fifth ace total. McConnell Golf ’s 2021 Hole-in-One Club members — listed with their home club, hole-in-one and date they achieved it — include: Nancy Paige, WP: No. 14 at Wakefield (1/3)

Wilma Lathrup, TCC: No. 13 at Treyburn (5/1)

Wes Payne, HH: No. 11 at Holston Hills (1/10)

Simon Myers, TCC: No. 13 at Treyburn (5/1)

Terry Ray, HH: No. 11 at Holston Hills (1/10)

Jeff Parkman, WP: No. 7 at Wakefield (5/2)

Phillip Woods, HH: No. 11 at Holston Hills (1/13)

David Brawley, PCC: No. 4 at Providence (5/2)

JW Deaver, HH: No. 4 at Holston Hills (1/14)

Eleanor Clarke, TCC: No. 2 at Treyburn (5/11)

Jerry Jessee, SCC: No. 16 at The Cardinal (1/24)

Roland Blaise, WP: No. 14 at Wakefield (5/19)

Jett Andrick, HH: No. 14 at Holston Hills (1/29)

Kemilou Pomplun, RES: No 7 at The Reserve (5/19)

Elmo Smith, HH: No. 14 at Holston Hills (2/9)

David Stein, SCC: No. 2 at Musgrove Mill (5/22)

Tyler Niggebrugge, TCC: No. 2 at Treyburn (2/24)

Mike Poplak, TCC: No. 17 at Treyburn (5/22)

Stephan Waldt, TCC: No. 7 at Treyburn (2/24)

John Papadopulos, ONSC: No. 7 at Old North State (5/22)

Carson Kammann, HH: No. 4 at Holston Hills (2/27)

Jan Gustafson, PN: No. 6 at Porters Neck (5/26)

Jackie King, SCC: No. 3 at Sedgefield (2/28)

Cindy Nuckols, CG: No. 12 at The Cardinal (5/27)

Tim Massie, HH: No. 14 at Holston Hills (3/4)

Dave Bilbrey, HH: No. 14 at Holston Hills (5/31)

Vince Credle, SCC: No. 12 at The Cardinal (3/7)

Jerry Horton, PN: No. 16 at Porters Neck (6/2)

Tom Page, WP: No. 7 at Wakefield (3/13) Michael Shaw, WP: No. 7 at Wakefield (3/14)

Carson Kammann, HH

Furman Self, MM: No. 12 The Reserve (6/4) Carolyn Gonyea, RES: No. 7 at The Reserve (6/5)

Liam Percy, WP: No. 3 at Wakefield (3/26)

Vernon Byrd, ONSC: No. 14 at Old North State (6/6)

Carson Kammann, HH: No. 4 at Holston Hills (3/27)

Bajin Han, RCC: No. 17 at Raleigh (6/10)

Andy White, CCA: No. 6 at Asheville (4/3)

Austin Luther, PN: No. 2 at Porters Neck (6/17)

Tim Massie, HH: No. 14 at Holston Hills (4/4)

Wayne DiCastri, CCA: No. 13 at Asheville (6/23)

Michael Cristinziano, WP: No. 3 at Wakefield (4/8)

Caroline Joel, MM: No. 14 at Old North State (6/24)

Coray Mitchell, SCC: No. 16 at Sedgefield (4/16)

George McNabb, BV: No. 5 at Brook Valley (6/24)

Fred Gahl, RCC: No. 14 at Raleigh (4/17)

Chris Amys, CCA: No. 6 at Asheville (6/27)

Ken Wilkes, CCA: No. 13 at Asheville (4/17)

Jean Keough, BV: No. 12 at Brook Valley (7/3)

Roger Plott, ONSC: No. 7 at Old North State (4/18)

Don Wright, TCC: No. 13 at Treyburn (7/3)

Gary Russ, PN: No. 11 at Porters Neck (4/24)

David Bilbrey, HH: No. 14 at Holston Hills (7/4)

Rachel DelCampo, WE: No. 11 at The Water’s Edge (4/25)

Brian Pabst, ONSC: No. 17 at Old North State (7/7)

Greg Young, ONSC: No. 7 at Old North State (4/27) 34

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Chris Amys, CCA

Ward Lambeth, SCC: No. 3 at Sedgefield (7/16)

Richard Ferguson, PN: No. 4 at Porters Neck (7/23)

Jerry Horton, PN: No. 11 at Porters Neck (8/21)

Chris Ritchie, ONSC: No. 3 at Old North State (7/23)

Renee Eckley, RES: No. 12 at The Reserve (8/21)

Daniel Lim, SCC: No. 12 at Sedgefield (7/23)

Chris Baugh, SCC: No. 16 at The Cardinal (8/26)

Lake Williams, BV: No. 5 at Brook Valley (7/24)

Gregg Cox, CG: No. 2 at The Cardinal (8/28)

Joe White, WP: No. 11 at Wakefield (7/25)

Robert Brimmer, WP: No. 11 at Wakefield (8/31)

Jack Blankenhorn, RCC: No. 14 at Wakefield (7/29)

Al Stewart, SCC: No. 12 at Sedgefield (9/3)

Marion Bryant, TCC: No. 2 at Treyburn (7/29)

Becca McKinney, RCC: No. 6 at Raleigh (9/3)

Brian Pinson, MM: No. 12 at Musgrove Mill (7/31)

Jack Van Meerbeeck, SCC: No. 3 at Sedgefield (9/6)

Rick Matthews, ONSC: No. 7 at Old North State (7/31)

Page Riley, SCC: No. 7 at Sedgefield (9/10)

Kevin Herron, SCC: No. 12 at Sedgefield (7/31)

Jerry Cusick, PN: No. 11 at Porters Neck (9/10)

Toler Shore, RCC: No. 17 at Raleigh (8/5)

Karen Davis, WE: No. 15 at The Water’s Edge (9/19)

Peter Ripmaster, CCA: No. 3 at Asheville (8/5)

Dockery Clark, RES: No. 12 at The Reserve (9/28)

Scott Andrikis, MM: No. 7 at Musgrove Mill (8/7)

Jean Lewis, WP: No. 3 at Wakefield (9/30)

Ron Lake, PN: No. 4 at Porters Neck (8/8)

Bob Beasley, SCC: No. 16 at The Cardinal (10/1)

Chesson Hadley, WP: No. 16 at Sedgefield [Wyndham Championship] (8/15)

Brad Johnson, WP: No. 3 at Wakefield (10/3)

Kathy Pittman, TCC: No. 13 at Treyburn (8/19)

Bob Selby, ONSC: No. 17 at Old North State (10/2) Dave Bilbrey, HH

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Spring/Summer 2022

HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB Brent McDonald, SCC: No. 12 at The Cardinal (10/6) Michael Barnoski, WP: No. 3 at Wakefield (10/8) Dallas Nester, PN: No. 16 at Porters Neck (10/13) Steve Goode, WP: No. 3 at Wakefield (10/13) Betsy Glover, PN: No. 11 at Porters Neck (10/19) Kevin Derby, CG: No. 2 at The Cardinal (10/19) Ron Tomaszewski, RCC: No. 17 at Raleigh (10/17) Wayne Smart, TCC: No. 17 at Treyburn (10/20) Harold Burton, PN: No. 6 at Porters Neck (10/22) Ryan King, TCC: No. 13 at Treyburn (10/28) Steve Owens, TCC: No. 13 at Treyburn (10/28) Michael Finnerty, WP: No. 14 at Wakefield (10/30) Tyler Niggebrugge, TCC: No. 17 at Treyburn (10/31) Joe Mayo, CCA: No. 17 at Asheville (10/31)

David Brawley, PCC 36

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Wayne DiCastri, CCA

David Stein, MM

Alan Slobe, PN: No. 4 at Porters Neck (11/5) Bob Huie, PN: No. 6 at Porters Neck (11/10) John Lucey, PN: No. 16 at Porters Neck (11/17) Tim Massie, HH: No. 8 at Holston Hills (11/27) Tim Massie, HH: No. 8 at Holston Hills (12/1) Vann Vogel, CCA: No. 3 at Asheville (12/2) David Rupp, RCC: No. 6 at Raleigh (12/4) Geoff Miller, RCC: No. 6 at Raleigh (12/17) Steve Whitt, CCA: No. 6 at Asheville (12/17) Bill Moore, WP: No. 14 at Wakefield (12/26) Liam Cussen, MM: No. 12 at Musgrove Mill (12/26) Gary Allen, MM: No. 12 at Musgrove Mill (12/28) Griffith Chandler, TCC: No. 7 at Treyburn (12/28) Logan Romines, SCC: No. 16 at Sedgefield (12/29) Tim Naret, SCC: No. 12 at Sedgefield (12/31)

Jack Blankenhorn, RCC

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Spring/Summer 2022

Photo Courtesy: John Gillooly/Wyndham Championship

HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB

Gary Russ, PN

Tim Massie, HH, 4 HIO

Bobby Powell, Eliot Hamlisch & Chesson Hadley

Joe Mayo, CCA

Ken Wilkes, CCA 38

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Renee Eckley, RES

John Lucey, PN

Rachel DelCampo, WE

Jan Gustafson, PN

Simon, Sebastian & Mason Myers, TCC

Wilma Lathrup, TCC

Karen Davis, WE

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Spring/Summer 2022

CULINARY

Key Ingredients Make

Successful Dishes

McConnell Golf chefs highlight upcoming menu items and ingredients As calendars are filling up with events throughout McConnell Golf, so are new food menus that include fresh, unique ingredients. We surveyed some of our talented chefs to find out what they are most excited about in 2022, and they gave us a variety of ingredients and mouth-watering dishes. Our members and guests will have some great options to choose from this year as our chefs continue to think outside of the box and thrive in their kitchens. 40

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Sweet Chili Shrimp, Italian Parsley & Cilantro By Kenric Hunt | Executive Chef at Brook Valley Country Club Sweet chili shrimp will make an appearance on Brook Valley Country Club’s menus in 2022. This dish includes lightly fried shrimp, glazed with house sweet chili sauce, broccolini fronds and sticky rice. I am also planning to incorporate Italian parsley and cilantro as key ingredients in various menu items this year as they add color and fragrance to any dish. The food and beverage team at Brook Valley, much like the other teams throughout McConnell Golf, have been going non-stop for months. I am excited to continue watching our staff step up and grow as our goal is to stay ahead of industry trends and create new ones for our membership to enjoy. Here’s to a great 2022!

Aji Amarillo Paste (Hot Yellow Peruvian Pepper) By Sean O’Neill | Executive Chef at Treyburn Country Club I chose the aji amarillo paste ingredient because I have been in a big kick of Peruvian Asian Fusion. One of the items I am excited to feature on the menu at Treyburn Country Club this year is lomo saltado. Lomo saltado is a traditional Peruvian stir-fry dish that is seasoned with aji amarillo paste. It combines tender marinated sirloin strips with red sautéed onions, Roma tomatoes, served over french fries. Depending on the portion size, it can also be served with a side of white rice. The aji amarillo paste has been a lot of fun to cook with, sells well and has a huge variety of flavors. I’m excited to use it with other items, like the bao bun (lotus leaf steamed bun) in 2022!

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Spring/Summer 2022

CULINARY

Gochutgaru (Korean Chili Flakes), Preserved Lemon, Honey Vinegar & North Carolina Peaches By Todd Jackson | Executive Chef at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation Seared chili-garlic green beans, pickled peach and burrata salad, and Moroccan grilled chicken are some new items we’ll be featuring on The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation’s menus in 2022. The floral heat known as Gochutgaru or Korean chili flakes is a favorite of mine, and I also enjoy the brininess and intense flavor of preserved lemons. I’ll be incorporating honey vinegar, which combines floral and sweet notes, along with beautiful, fresh peaches from the North Carolina sandhills that grow from June to September. We’ll feature chili-garlic green beans — flash fried in hot oil with Korean chili flakes, sliced garlic and shoyu sauce — on Wakefield’s snack menu this spring. We pickle peaches inhouse to compose a plate with creamy burrata cheese, crispy fried prosciutto ham, peppery arugula, candied pecans and honey vinaigrette. Another new dish will be organic chicken marinated in Moroccan spice and first cooked sous vide or under vacuum. The chicken is then chargrilled and finished with a fresh coriander chutney.

Shitake, Cremini & Portabella Mushrooms By Patrick Budniewski | Executive Director at Holston Hills Country Club Mushrooms will feature prominently on Holston Hills Country Club’s lunch menus in 2022. We’ll have a vegan mushroom Bolognese, available during lunch and dinner service. Shitake, cremini and portabella mushrooms are slow-braised with basil, oregano, garlic and tomatoes to create an earthy vegan-friendly version of the popular Italian pasta sauce. We’ll use a variety of mushrooms in our dishes this year because we want to continue offering more vegetarian and vegan-friendly options on our menu, with the growing and diverse membership we have here at Holston Hills. We’ll also have a vegetarian-option quesadilla on the lunch menu. Our Philly cheesesteak sandwich will make a comeback this year as we plan on pairing the shaved sirloin with sautéed onions, cremini and shitake mushrooms on a traditional amoroso hoagie roll with provolone cheese and our club smoked aioli. This can also be made vegetarian with mushrooms.

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Spring/Summer 2022

DRINK

In the Mix We asked our mixologists for their latest and greatest recipes, and they delivered.

Valley Mermaid By Chris Sweatt | bartender at Brook Valley Country Club

Astro Pop Martini By Lars Edvardsen | bartender at Country Club of Asheville 1 ounce melon liqueur 1 ounce Malibu rum 1 ounce pineapple juice Mix, shake, and strain into martini glass and add 1 ounce of grenadine and blue curaçao on top. Garnish with cherries and orange slices.

¾ ounce Grand Marnier ¾ ounce Malibu rum 1½ ounces melon liqueur 3 ounces of pineapple juice ¾ ounce blue curaçao Mix, shake, and top with a splash of Sprite and blue curaçao and serve in a lowball glass.

Rosemary & Lemon Martini By Evan Morris | food & beverage manager at Sedgefield Country Club 1½ ounces of Tito’s Vodka 1 ounce rosemary simple syrup ¾ ounce lemon juice Rosemary sprig garnish Add all ingredients to shaker, add ice and shake. Pour straight up into a Martini glass and garnish with Rosemary sprig. Enjoy! Rosemary Simple Syrup Recipe: Boil 1 cup of water and add 1 cup of sugar, heat until sugar is dissolved. Add 5 sprigs of rosemary and let it gently boil for 5 minutes. Let cool and leave sprig of rosemary in it. After it is cooled, it is ready to use.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

THE BACK NINE

Back Nine with Alex Smalley BY JOHN MAGINNES

SCC member on his PGA Tour rookie year Sedgefield Country Club member and PGA Tour rookie Alex Smalley grew up in Rochester, New York. The Duke University graduate moved to Sedgefield a couple of years ago when his parents came to Greensboro. What strikes you first about 46

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Smalley is his maturity and poise for a 25-year-old. These traits are serving the uber-talented young man well, on and off the course. I caught up with Smalley the afternoon he shot 62 in the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open. It won’t surprise me one bit if Smalley wins on the PGA Tour before this story is published. With his abilities, perspective and work ethic, it’s not a matter of if he will win on the PGA Tour — it’s a matter of when and how many times.

JM: Let’s go back to Sedgefield last summer when you played the Wyndham with so much on the line. When you think about that week, what do you think of? AS: Well, first of all, I think how fortunate I was to be in the event. Mark Brazil (former Wyndham Tournament Director) gave me a sponsor’s exemption which I really appreciated. Having lived there for a year or so

before the tournament, I was really excited to play in the tournament. It was a lot of fun to play well. JM: Well, it was a little more important than that. There was a lot on the line. How much was that on your mind? AS: You’re right, but I don’t think that too many people were aware of the fact that I had a chance to play my way into the Korn Ferry Tour finals. Early in the week, I was told that I needed around a Top 50 finish. As it turned out, that wouldn’t have been close. Going into Sunday, I was thinking if I could finish in the Top 30 or so that I would get in. But you can’t focus on that while you are standing over a 5-footer. I did a good job of just trying to play the golf course the way that I play it when I’m home, playing with the guys. And they all came out, so it was great. JM: You played your way from there to the PGA Tour. Is it surreal knowing that this is your life now?

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Spring/Summer 2022

THE BACK NINE AS: Surreal isn’t really the right word now. Maybe back in September or October when I wasn’t quite as comfortable on tour, but now I am starting to feel like I belong. I mean every now and then I have to pinch myself to remind myself that I am a PGA Tour player. But every week I get a little more comfortable with the fact that there are grandstands and people cheering. I was playing the McKenzie Tour and the Forme Tour, there weren’t a lot of galleries out there. So, it’s definitely different but in a good way. JM: Are you ready to be famous? AS: [Laughs] I don’t know about that. Look, I know that the PGA Tour is entertainment and that we are on TV

to entertain. But for me, it’s my job. It’s a great job but I still have to treat it like a job to keep improving. It is an adjustment when you're walking to a green and people are calling out your name and I’m like…I don’t know that person. But that’s just all part of it. JM: You’re doing great. How much have you utilized the new short-game facility at Sedgefield and how important has it been to you? AS: Oh, it’s great. I’ve used it a lot and I’ve seen a lot of members out there. I can hit up to a 70-yard shot. There are bunkers around both greens so you can hit short bunker shots and some really long bunker shots. One of the things on Tour that I have had to adjust to is how firm the ground is around the greens. It’s one of the biggest adjustments so I am constantly working on my short game. JM: And it’s pretty to look at too. AS: Yeah, it’s right there, the first thing you see when you drive in.

John Maginnes is a member at Sedgefield Country Club; a former PGA Tour player; the current co-host of “Katrek and Maginnes on Tap” on Sirius XM as part of the PGA Tour Radio; and an analyst for “PGA Tour Live.” 48

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

August 3-7, 2022 Dear McConnell Golf Members, Thank you so much for your support of the Wyndham Championship and for hosting us at McConnell Golf’s Sedgefield Country Club - one of the premier golf courses in North Carolina! We are thrilled that this will be our 15th year at Sedgefield’s Ross course. I am extremely optimistic about the return to normalcy at this year’s Wyndham. This could be one of our biggest events in recent history, and I hope you plan to join us at North Carolina’s Party of the Year, August 3-7, 2022. To purchase your McConnell Golf member tickets, please contact Angela Ayers at aayers@sedgefieldcc.com. If you (or your company) is interested in corporate hospitality (hosting 10-60 guests per day), branding or pro-ams, please reach out to me at mbrazil@wyndhamchampionship.com or James Gentry at jgentry@wyndhamchampionship.com. Thank you again for your years of support!

Proud Title Sponsor

Mark Brazil Chief Executive Officer Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

GOLF

Teed up for

success

Porters Neck Country Club welcomes new short-game practice facility BY BRAD KING

Porters Neck Country Club members know they have it all — a memorable, Tom Faziodesigned golf course, a beautiful clubhouse, countless amenities including year-round family activities and enduring fellowship among the club’s vibrant membership. And with Porters Neck’s renovation and enhancement of its golf practice facility, longtime member Paul Chase says he feels an even greater sense of pride in his club. “Now, I feel like our practice facilities elevate the level of the club, with how the facilities look and how they’re perceived by not only our membership but outside folks here in Wilmington,” says Chase. “They come to the club and they’re very impressed with how everything looks now, the facilities.” The impressive renovations include an overhaul of the short-game area and the 50

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

addition of a four-hole short course, which opened to members in August 2021. “Not that you're showing off, but it’s really nice to hear their feedback, to hear positive feedback about what we did and how it turned out,” Chase says. “It's been a really nice improvement to the club over the last year or so.” Along with the revamped short-game practice area at Porters Neck, McConnell Golf also rebuilt and lowered the entire driving range tee to offer improved visibility from the rear of the tee, sloping it toward the front for better drainage. The short-game area features for game improvement include: • A 360-degree area, with a four-hole short course. • A new, 8,500-square-foot putting green. • Laser Link rangefinders and target

greens on the range with zoysia definition. • Bunkers around target greens, with solid surface for ball retrieval. • Five new, greenside practice bunkers, with concrete shells and new sand around the new short course. “The opportunities that the new area has opened up for instruction have been tremendous,” says Robert Loper, Porters Neck Head Golf Professional. Chase adds that the new area is much more spacious, too. “There’s a number of chipping greens to play too and there’s a new putting green, so there’s plenty of area for members on the driving range.” Chase says PNCC’s avid golfing membership has given extremely positive feedback on the new short-game facility. “I just think that

the ability to practice now versus how it was previously is a night-and-day difference,” he says. “I’d say improvement of everyone’s short-game, as long as they go out and use it, is going to be possible.” Porters Neck member John Pisarek says he’s seen first-hand how the short game facility can elevate a golfer’s skills. “I played with

a higher-handicap golfer yesterday who made a difficult chip shot look easy,” says Pisarek, who has been a club member with his wife, Laura, since 2008. “Unsolicited, he said ‘thank the new McConnell short-game practice area for the ability to hit that shot.’” Pisarek, a 5 handicap, said the short-game area offers golfers the opportunity to practice

every shot they will face on the golf course. “The short course offers the opportunity to practice chipping and sand shots from multiple elevations, different bunker depths and simulates shots needed not only at PNCC, but any other course that you would play,” he says. He adds that any golfer — from beginner to pro — can improve their game by using the short-game facility. Chase says his wife, Deehje, and their 7-yearold daughter Miller are enjoying the practice area even though they are not yet avid golfers. “We’re up there quite a bit. We like to go out and utilize the range and the short-game area and the practice green to get together.” “The general takeaway is it’s been an awesome improvement at the club,” Chase says. “Everyone’s really excited about how it turned out.”

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Spring/Summer 2022

FEATURE

The Ultimate

Wild Goose Chase for Dogs and Humans Alike BY BUCKLEY BROCKMANN

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Golf Course superintendents rely on help from their furry friends to solve big problems Quite often I find myself telling people, “I spend more time with my dog than I do my family.” I do not say it out of pride or to slight my family, it’s just a statement of fact. I love my wife and kids. The time I spend with them is precious, but it’s tough to compete with the availability of Pepper. Pepper is my 7-year-old Brittany spaniel, and she comes to work with me at Brook Valley Country Club every day. She’s ready to roll first thing in the morning, she’s with me all day, and she sleeps on my bed at night. Pepper and I have a special relationship. However, we are not alone in the world of McConnell Golf as “working dogs” are more prevalent in our organization than you might realize. As you may know, where there are geese on a golf course, there are people wishing they were gone. They are a nuisance to golfers and golf course maintenance personnel alike. Geese feed on insects and other invertebrates and cause a fair amount of destruction to turf in the process. In addition to the damage they cause from feeding, they tend to leave behind unwanted and messy “fertilizer.” Since they are a federally protected species, they are not easy to remove or relocate. What is legal and acceptable, without special permits, is what officials refer to as harassment. It’s exactly what it sounds like: Keep them agitated and harassed until they decide to move on to another location. To accomplish this, some courses use green lasers, and others use noise makers, or cutouts of coyotes and alligators. All these tactics are helpful, but nothing will harass a goose like a welltrained dog. I cannot tell you about goose dogs without sharing how I started in the goose chasing business. My experience with dogs predates Pepper and McConnell Golf as my uncles were avid upland bird hunters, who loved quail hunting. Around the

Buckley Brockmann with Pepper at Brook Valley Country Club

holidays every year, I would get the chance to go out in the field with them and be a part of the hunt. I loved to watch their brittany spaniels work a field. The dogs would run hard at first in excitement, then they would settle down to a trot and get to work. They seemed to methodically divide the field up in sections where they knew quail had been and would keep checking back with us to make sure we were close. This was serious work for the dogs, and you could tell it was what they lived for as they loved the thrill of the hunt. Eventually, when they would wind a bird and lock up, every muscle in their bodies

seemed to clinch as they went completely rigid, and their noses were pointing right where we could find the birds. They would stand like a statue until the birds were flushed. If you’ve never seen a pointing breed work, I assure you it is an impressive sight to see. A dance choreographer could not create more beautiful movements. I will never forget those hunts with my uncles. One thing I did not realize at the time was how much I was learning to work with dogs. I was learning how a well-trained dog will work for you, how an untrained dog can be a liability, and how to trust a great dog’s nose and intuition. My uncles

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Spring/Summer 2022

FEATURE Sis at Providence Country Club

taught me how to treat a dog with respect and showed me a working dog can be a member of the family and still do its job. They also showed me a good dog needs a little discipline, a lot of consistency and even more encouragement. I know all this now but back then, all I wanted was my very own Brittany.

It took some time for my working dog training role to take place. After getting a college education, a new bride, a cross country move and a career change, I finally got my very own Brittany named Katie. From the time my wife and I picked her up as a puppy, not a moment was wasted. We did not have children yet, so Katie had our

attention. For the first two years of her life, she and I spent 10 hours a week training. We went everywhere together and by the time she was 3 years old, Katie knew more than a dozen commands, and was becoming a force to be reckoned with in the bird field. Katie would stay on point until I released her and would retrieve to hand, heel, wait for

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Chris Parham with Euro at Porters Neck Country Club

approval and then go right back to hunting. The more we challenged her with new tasks, the more she delivered. She learned quickly how to retrieve from land or water, and she could track game, sit calmly in a blind and even open doors in our home. When we got Katie, I was an assistant superintendent. Five years later, I was given the opportunity to step into a superintendent role. The course that hired me had a terrible goose problem, and guess who had a chance to learn a new skill? We added a few commands to Katie’s repertoire, and just like that, we had a goose dog! It took me and Katie nearly two years of harassing those geese every day, and then they were gone. They rarely came back, and if they did, Katie was on the job immediately. Katie and I worked for four different golf courses throughout her life. During the winter months, we got paid to guide quail hunts at local hunting preserves. For two summers, a municipality hired us to chase geese out of a city park. She and I made a great team and when she was in her prime, we had so much fun. We learned a lot together on and off the course.

However, sadly, her working days were over by the time she was almost 12. You could tell she was really slowing down, and that’s when she passed the torch on to our new puppy, Pepper. Other than making an appearance at training days with Pepper, Katie lived the last four years of her life in comfort. She spent most of her days holding down her bed in my office, or the couch at home. Before she left us in the spring of 2020, she was two weeks away from her 16th birthday. There are a lot of people who miss her — nobody more than me — but her spirit lives on. Some people even mistake Pepper for her. While they are the same breed and have similar markings, Pepper is not nearly as talented. However, to be fair, I have not put as much work into her training. She does mind her manners, knows a few commands and chases geese for Brook Valley. Her specialty is snuggling with my wife and kids, and she loves the work! McConnell Golf ’s canine program started at Raleigh Country Club in 2004 with a border collie named Quinn. We currently have three trained border collies that

Charlie at Country Club of Asheville

were purchased for geese chasing, and they are based at Porters Neck Country Club, Providence Country Club and The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation. In addition to Brook Valley, Country Club of Asheville also has a family dog who has been trained to help chase geese. “Not only are these dogs a great help with

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Spring/Summer 2022

FEATURE was purchased from a company called Flyaway Geese out of Stanfield, North Carolina. Flyaway Geese breeds border collies to ethically and skillfully assist with geese removal nationwide. Euro’s first stop at a McConnell Golf course was Providence. “When I moved to Porters Neck, I asked if Euro could transfer as well,” says Parham. “He got the OK to become a beach dog here in Wilmington. He loves chasing geese! When he’s not running through the sprinklers on the golf course, you can find him hanging out in my office or on our utility cart. He also loves to ride on the boat with my wife Lynn and I.” One might say McConnell Golf has geese chasing covered from the mountains to the coast as Will Laine, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Asheville, also has a canine assistant. Charlie, Laine’s 4-year-old goldendoodle, has been at CCA for about a year. During the day, he enjoys greeting members on the course, and some of them even put treats in their golf bags for him or buy a snack for him at the turn. “He loves chasing geese off the No. 4 fairway, sticking his face in front of irrigation sprinklers, cooling off in the creek on No. 10 and playing in the snow,” says Laine. “Charlie can also locate moles underground and pull them out before they damage turf. Having him run the golf course with me every day is not only great for the course, but great for his health and our maintenance staff.” Fig at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation

the geese, they help with morale of the superintendent and maintenance crews,” says Michael Shoun, vice president of agronomy at McConnell Golf. “What other job allows you to bring your best friend to work with you every day?” Several of the McConnell Golf dogs came from a similar background to Pepper, and the ones I have met are amazing. The dogs all have a story, like Providence’s 56

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

superintendent, Mark Scott. Scott’s 3-yearold border collie Sis herds geese away from the course. “One of our agronomy team’s greatest assets is Sis,” says Scott. “She loves to run and is always ready to work when she needs to. The geese don’t stand a chance because of how quick she is on the course. Sis really is a great dog, and the rest of the team likes having her around as well.” Sis, like Chris Parham’s border collie Euro,

Dogs have a way of bringing joy and comfort to most everyone around them. In the busy, hectic and sometimes stressful life of a golf course superintendent, a dog can be a great companion. While they may not always have a busy season on the course, sometimes their job is to put a smile on someone’s face for a moment. For as long as I am a superintendent, whether there are geese to chase or not, I will always have a dog at my course. Mark Twain could not have said it better, “If there are no dogs in heaven, when I die, I want to go where they went.”

“Not only are these dogs a great help with the geese, they help with morale of the superintendent and maintenance crews.” — Michael Shoun | Vice President of Agronomy at McConnell Golf

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Spring/Summer 2022

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

OLD NORTH STATE CLUB

New London, NC | 336.461.4447 | www.OldNorthStateClub.com n GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT: Tom Fazio n LOCATION: 55 miles south of Greensboro and 50 miles north of Charlotte n OUR COURSE: “At Old North State Club, we’re blessed to live and play at a course that’s surrounded by a national forest, located in the oldest mountains in the United States, and on the shores of a large and clean lake. The Tom Fazio design is challenging but playable, for golfers of all levels, and the routing shows the natural beauty of the mountains and the water. As we watch another spectacular sunset over the lake, we find ourselves saying, ‘This is a really special place!’” — Larry Roland, member at Old North State Club n INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS: The course has eight holes with views that highlight the beauty of Badin Lake (Nos. 2, 4, 7, 9, 14, 16, 17 and 18). From the clubhouse, the view overlooking the 18th hole is tough to beat. However, you can also venture toward the club’s lakefront lodge to find an outdoor pavilion where many couples have shared wedding vows under an array of beautiful trees that provide the perfect combination of colors at sunset. 58

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

n DID YOU KNOW? Old North State Club was founded in 1991. On July 10, 1992, Tom Fazio and former director of golf, Tom Ducey, hit the first tee ball on the course. In May 2009, it became the fifth property McConnell Golf added to its portfolio of clubs. Since its inception, the course has been home to Pfeiffer University’s men’s and women’s golf programs and has hosted a number of ACC men’s and women’s golf championships. n COURSE RANKINGS: • No. 9 in N.C. Golf Panel’s Top 100 Courses (2021). • No. 24 in Golf Digest’s Best Golf Courses in North Carolina (2021). • No. 126 in Golfweek’s Best 2022: Top 200 Residential Golf Courses in the U.S.

For more information about Old North State Club, visit www.OldNorthStateClub.com.

TENNIS

McConnell Golf gains four tennis pros Caitlin Whoriskey, Assistant Tennis Professional (Wakefield)

McConnell Golf ’s eight properties offer some of the best tennis facilities and USTA-certified professionals in the region. Meet the four newest pros who are bringing a breadth of experience to the club’s courts.

CAITLIN WHORISKEY

ASSISTANT TENNIS PROFESSIONAL AT THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WAKEFIELD PLANTATION

Caitlin Whoriskey’s long list of tennis achievements includes being named a three-time NCAA Division I All-American while at The University of Tennessee and playing Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Now Whoriskey wants to use her experiences to coach players at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation where she became an assistant tennis professional in May 2021. Whoriskey says she focused on the “finer details” in her practices and matches, and she continues to “perfect the little things” as a coach. “My favorite part of the job is when I get out on the court with a member and they finally get the hang of a particular shot,” says Whoriskey, “and they are just beaming with excitement and satisfaction.” WP member Bobbi Ingold says Whoriskey’s focus on the details has greatly improved her daughter Traci’s skills. “Caitlin breaks down the fundamentals for Traci and talks to her about point strategy,” says Ingold. “Traci has improved her footwork, groundstrokes, volleys and serve since working with Caitlin.” Ingold, who played tennis at Georgia Tech, says she was very picky when choosing a coach for Traci. “We have worked with several pros in the Raleigh area and Caitlin is by far the best,” Ingold says. Along with coaching, Whoriskey’s duties include running tennis clinics, tournament events and club socials.

BECK BOND

DIRECTOR OF TENNIS AT PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB

Serving excellence BY CLAIRE BILLINGSLEY

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

Beck Bond began playing tennis at just 3 years old, and he’s been playing ever since. “It [tennis] is something I truly love and am passionate about,” Bond says. Bond had a very successful tennis career at North Carolina State University and coached at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte before becoming director of tennis at Providence Country Club in May 2021. Bond says his years of competitive play and his time as a coach prepared him to work with players at all levels at PCC. “I get to pass along my knowledge of the sport I love to eager members wanting to better themselves and their tennis games,” Bond says.

Directors of Tennis, from left to right: Beck Bond (Providence), Jacob Fuqua (Holston Hills) & Tito Poplawski (Asheville)

“I get to pass along my knowledge of the sport I love to eager members wanting to better themselves and their tennis games.” — Beck Bond Joan Bullard, a PCC Interclub team member, appreciates the experience Bond brings. “His clinics are very informative, and he quickly taught us a great deal from the moment he stepped on the court with us,” Bullard says. She says attendance at Interclub clinics has grown with Bond at the helm. “He’s been a breath of fresh air at PCC,” Bullard says. Along with coaching and running clinics, Bond oversees the day-to-day tennis operations for the club, and manages his staff.

JACOB FUQUA

TENNIS DIRECTOR AT HOLSTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

Jacob Fuqua says the best part of his job as tennis director at Holston Hills Country Club is the relationships he’s formed with members and staff. When Fuqua became tennis director at HHCC in June 2021, he says he was “immediately welcomed into their membership family.” He adds, “The tennis membership here is such a close-knit group and I absolutely love that. The amount of support I get from them is truly overwhelming.” HHCC member Laila Yoder says it was easy to welcome Fuqua into the tennis family. The Interclub group can be a bit rowdy, explains Yoder, and Fuqua brings

the perfect blend of “energy” and “cheek” to manage the group. A bonus, Yoder says, is Fuqua’s accessibility. “When I have matches to play, I can text him for helpful hints on how to play particular opponents and he gets back to me pretty quickly with strategies even though I’m not in a lesson.” A few of Fuqua’s many job responsibilities include teaching tennis, planning all tennis events, and maintaining the courts and tennis center.

“The tennis membership here is such a close-knit group and I absolutely love that.”

www.mcconnellgolf.com

— Jacob Fuqua |

Spring/Summer 2022

TENNIS TITO POPLAWSKI

DIRECTOR OF TENNIS AT COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE

“Having this job is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a teenager,” Tito Poplawski says of his role as director of tennis at Country Club of Asheville. Poplawski, a former high school tennis state champion who went on to play at Lees-McCrae College, began playing tennis at CCA when he was 13 years old. At 16, he started working at the CCA tennis pro shop. “The country club has played an important

“The country club has played an important role in my passion for tennis, and I want to provide the same experience for tennis and pickleball players.” — Tito Poplawski

role in my passion for tennis, and I want to provide the same experience for tennis and pickleball players,” Poplawski says. “It inspires me to keep the facility a fun and exciting place to play tennis and pickleball.” CCA member Anne Russo says Poplawski’s enthusiasm for tennis is “infectious.” Russo, who started playing tennis two years ago, regularly does group lessons with Poplawski. He also coaches her three children. “He’s patient, kind and encouraging with both children and adults,” she says. Poplawski’s many responsibilities include programming clinics and events, maintaining the tennis facilities, and managing his staff. He says the members’ enthusiasm for the sport is very rewarding. “There are so many great families and people who want to share their passion for tennis,” Poplawski says. “It is a pleasure to work with them.”

ADVICE FROM THE PROS • Why take up tennis? Because, according to Poplawski, “the sport is engaging in so many different ways; it’s exercise, fun, social and even therapeutic.” • Best tip for beginners? “Take it little by little every day,” says Bond. “Tennis is not a sport you are going to master in a week or a year; it is a sport of a lifetime.” • Best tip for competitive players? Tennis can be a very solitary sport, says Fuqua, and competitive play can be “rough” at times. The solution, says Fuqua, is to lean on teammates for support and encouragement. • There’s no such thing as a loss. “Focus on how you are playing and have a goal for the match (make more balls in play, play aggressively),” says Whoriskey. “If you can come off the court and say you did what you had in mind, then count it as a win.”

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

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Spring/Summer 2022

AGRONOMY

Tech in Turf

Cutting-edge technology keeps McConnell Golf’s greens pristine BY JOHN JETER As they say, the grass is always greener on the other side of the laptop. OK, maybe “they” don’t say that, but the people who manage McConnell Golf ’s courses do — especially with today’s mind-blowing technology. “This industry, our trade, has come a long way,” says Mark Scott, course superintendent at Providence Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. “There is a huge side of what we do that enhances the quality of our product by using technology.” He lists a never-thought-of-that array of technology deployed at McConnell Golf ’s courses in the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee. On the leaderboard would be 2-inch-deep ground probes, which sound as if they measure everything but the soil’s flavor. From a desktop, laptop or tablet, a course 64

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

superintendent can check levels of nutrients and fertilizer; soils’ pH; and, naturally, moisture content. “All this stuff we use enables us to provide the best playing surfaces possible,” he says. “If it’s too wet, the greens will be slow. If it’s too dry, there may not be grass.” At the same time, data can also forecast what parts of the course need what kinds of treatment, from battling plant diseases to controlling annual weeds to monitoring and measuring watering requirements, among other benefits. Michael Shoun, Vice President of Agronomy at McConnell Golf, remembers when digital technology was not readily available for course superintendents. Shoun started working as the superintendent at Raleigh

Analytics

Country Club in 1999. When comparing the difference in resources from his earlier days in turf to today, he sees how far the industry has come. “Years ago, we had to manually check everything throughout the course,” says Shoun. “With the lack of data we had, it was difficult to monitor fungi and other challenges. We had to constantly stay in check, and thanks to today’s technology, we have flexibility and can focus on more projects while the computers help us manage irrigation and other systems.” At the end of the day, all this technology provides golfers an above-par experience, Shoun and Scott say. For instance, when a golfer learns the speed of a green, the way a fairway plays and the makeup of a bunker, the player enjoys a better game. And those who maintain McConnell Golf ’s links make courses play better. McConnell Golf likewise works to create uniformity across all its links. “Our goal is for all of them to be maintained and play very consistently, day in and day out. You want the course to be as consistent on Monday as you do on Tuesday as you do on Wednesday,” Shoun says. That’s also why McConnell Golf continues to invest in tech that’s cutting-edge, such as mowers, including one that costs $96,000, he says. Groundskeepers mow courses daily, using different machines throughout each hole. Moreover, cutting grass is now based on measurements down to one-thousandth of an inch, and at the touch of a button, a mower’s clipping rate can be changed. Soon, they’ll use mowers akin to Roombas, those robotic vacuum cleaners, he says.

DID YOU KNOW? When it rains, course superintendents can set limits within their central control computers and on-site weather stations that prevent irrigation systems from overwatering certain areas of the courses.

Finally, naturally, golf-course technology helps create a better environment — for the golfer and, well, for the environment. In terms of water usage alone, Shoun says its systems save several hundred million gallons each year across McConnell Golf ’s properties. www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

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Horsing Around Equestrian Center at The Water’s Edge offers lessons, camps and more BY JOHN JETER

EQUESTRIAN Kids these days can get antsy, zooming off the walls, getting into a little horseplay. At The Water’s Edge Country Club, youngsters — and their parents — take advantage of a distinctive feature that lets them do just that: horse around. With actual horses. “It’s one of the greatest amenities that we have here,” says Sam Lester, Manager of the Equestrian Center at The Water’s Edge since 2007. “It’s just a special place for families, kids, members and their guests to come down and just enjoy the outside, be around animals. And it’s an all-around spectacular place to be.” The only one of its kind among McConnell Golf ’s 14 clubs, the center lies nestled on 35 acres of pastureland amid some 75 acres of riding area with rolling hills and fields and 2.5 miles of riding trails. “It gives us our own unique twist,” says Kathryn Turner, whose children, Karleigh, 12, and Carson, 14, have grown up around the Equestrian Center. She and her husband Jason own a home on the waterfront at The Water’s Edge, which they joined 16 years ago.

“It's just a special place for families, kids, members, and their guests to come down and just enjoy the outside, be around animals.” — Sam Lester, Manager of the Equestrian Center at The Water's Edge The center’s barn, situated a quartermile from the golf course, can stable up to 13 horses, with eight 12-foot-by-12foot stalls, a brooding stall and other amenities to pamper the 12 current equine residents. A riding ring is nearby, while a dressage arena lies farther out, in the pasture. Horses aren’t the only draw there. Several moms say their children get a kick out of the center’s mammalian menagerie: a Corgi named Gus; the sassy barn cat, Bear; a pot-bellied pig, Petunia; Russell, a spotted pig; and the donkeys, Elliott and Jenny. Lester and her staff — Kristina Wray, the equestrian assistant manager, and Connie Schmidt, the barn staff member, both of whom have worked there 10 years — oversee myriad activities.

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

During the summer, the center offers a three-day camp each week. Open to ages 4 and older, the camps offer lessons in horsemanship and the care and feeding of the mounts. “I love the horse camps because they make

them work. They have to understand the horse, how to clean the horse, feed the horse, shovel poop out of the stalls,” Hope English says of the center, the camps and her children, with a somebody’s-gotta-doit-and-learn-it laugh. “It's very holistic and I love that.”

Hope and her husband, Andy, live in Raleigh, North Carolina. In October 2020, they bought a home at Smith Mountain Lake and drive the two and a half hours to spend six to eight weeks there each summer with their five children.

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Spring/Summer 2022

EQUESTRIAN

“I love the horse camps because they make them work. They have to understand the horse, how to clean the horse, feed the horse, shovel poop out of the stalls. It’s very holistic and I love that.” — Hope English “I like that there’s more than just horses,” says daughter Mallie, 11, who enjoys the facility along with her sister Campbell, 9. “So if you don't like to ride, which I do, but when my brothers come, they can feed the pigs, they can play with the dog and cat and feed the horses in the stalls.” Campbell likes all of that, too: the barnyard chores, taking care of the horses and activities

such as a horse-brushing competition and plenty of non-equine events. Those include s’mores by the campfire,

bingo, movie night in the barn on the Fourth of July, crafts, birthday parties, paint night and even finger-painting the horses, among so many other activities.

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McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

“So it makes it a fun place to go,” Kathryn says.

hockey-team-sized brood involved in soccer, tennis, lacrosse and church activities back home, Hope says, “It’s such a treat to get to go to the Equestrian Center.”

For Julie Buchanan, the facility provides even more. She and her husband, Sandy, have fraternal twins, Annie and Bebe, 14, who have been going to the Equestrian Center for half their lives. The girls arrived 10 weeks early. Annie was born with gross motor delays. She had already been doing therapeutic riding in Greensboro, North Carolina, where they live, so they talked about that with Lester, Julie says. “She’s been so accommodating and careful and helpful and helped Annie gain her confidence and build her strength. They’re just sweet people that work there.” Says Annie, “It feels very safe and comfortable. I’m not nervous.” Bebe agrees: “They’re there to help with a little bit of independence. You can ride the horses around, you can do trail rides, trot around the arena, go get the horses out of the field.”

And from atop a 1,200-pound animal loping along the trails and through the pastures, vistas of the hills and the lake are spectacular.

“They’re there to help with a little bit of independence. You can ride the horses around, you can do trail rides, trot around the arena, go get the horses out of the field.” — Bebe Buchanan Hope says Mallie has been talking about becoming a veterinarian, and while the young rider says she enjoys “being able to communicate” with the horse, she adds, “Riding is really peaceful for me.” Mom couldn’t agree more. With her

“You’re just riding through the woods. It’s just peaceful, it’s almost like we step back in time,” she says, adding that the Equestrian Center is a “perfect fit” for her and her hyper-busy family. Lester says virtually the same thing: “I love every bit of it. Just watching them interact with that animal and watching the animal interact with them would bring a smile to anybody’s face.” Clearly, Lester loves being around horses — and the families and the children. “It just makes my heart melt. Everyone that I've had a chance to interact with and talk to and give riding lessons to, they have a special place in my heart,” she says, “and I love them all just like they were my own.”

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

ls a m i n A ther O & e f i olf G l l Wildl e n n cCo M t u o h Throug

Bears are extraordinarily intelligent animals. They have far superior navigation skills to humans, excellent memories, large brain to body ratio, and use tools in various contexts from play to hunting. Did you know that bears have lived on Earth for 38 million years?

“

“The bears at Country Club of Asheville usually make appearances around the course in the summer and fall. We have a few momma bears in the area who are seen with their cubs during the summer months. We also see bears in the fall eating acorns that have fallen from the trees as they try to fatten up for hibernation during the winter months. They have been spotted all over the course and even in members’ yards adjacent to the course.”

ARS ILLE THE BE HE V B OF AS

— Matt Stewart, PGA | Director of Golf at Country Club of Asheville

Y CL U

NTR AT COU

DEER

AT THE WATER'S EDGE COUNTRY CLUB

Deer can be spotted at just about any McConnell Golf property as they can live in so many different environments because of their adaptable diet. They protect themselves by fleeing and can run at speeds of up to 30 miles an hour!

Photo courtesy of Joan Peppers

“Callie has been a resident at Musgrove Mill Golf Club for 17 years. She loves to welcome golfers on the putting green as they arrive. She would like to thank all the vets for their continued support with shots and flea collars (which she does not wear well). She would also like to thank the members who bring her treats and cheddar cheese Goldfish crackers.” — Jeff Tallman | Director of Golf at Musgrove Mill Golf Club 72

”

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

CALLIE THE CA T

AT MUSGROVE MILL GOLF CL UB

Cats conserve energy by sleeping for an average of 13-14 hours a day. They have amazing night vision and can see six times better than humans. A cat’s sense of smell is said to be 14 times greater than ours. On average, cats can also jump seven times their height. Now that’s impressive!

FOX SQUIRRELS

AT THE RESERVE GOLF CLUB

WILD TUR KE YS

AT THE R ESERVE

GOLF CL U B

From the top of its head to the tip of its tail, the average turkey is about 4 feet long, has a wingspan of about 5 feet wide, and can weigh up to 22 pounds. Male turkeys are called “gobblers,” after the “gobble” call they make to announce themselves to females (which are called hens) and compete with other males. Other turkey sounds include “purrs,” “yelps” and “kee-kees.”

“

Fox squirrels are sometimes known as raccoon squirrels or monkey-face squirrels because of their appearance. They possess flexible joints which help them turn their feet 180 degrees. This characteristic helps them while moving down from large trees.

“For the most part, you will see turkeys, squirrels and deer every time you are on the course! Our ‘pets’ roam from area to area and are always on the move. You just have to roam the golf course as you will see them on a regular basis.” — Donald Clement, PGA | Director of Golf/Club Manager at The Reserve Golf Club

ELVIS THE EAGLE AT OLD NORTH STATE CLUB

Photo courtesy of

Steve Mullen

An eagle’s eyesight is up to eight times stronger than a human’s eyesight, while their grip is up to 10 times stronger than a human’s grip. Their vision is so precise they can spot their prey up to 2 miles away. They are known to dive in front of the sun while in attack mode in order to blind their prey.

“We’ve owned a home at Old North State Club on Badin Lake for more than 20 years, and we’re fortunate to see Elvis the Eagle and his wife, Eileen, quite often. Eagles fly by often since there’s an active nest on hole No. 4 and another one on the lake near our home. However, they rarely stay on one branch for a long time.” — Steve and Lucy Mullen | Members at Old North State Club

”

www.mcconnellgolf.com

Spring/Summer 2022

KIDS 1

FITNESS TRIVIA ANSWERS 1. D 2. D 3. A

4. B 5. D

o 7

v 11

RD O W S S O LE CR Z PUZ

15 16

ACROSS 1. Annual PGA Tour event held at Sedgefield Country Club. 5. The largest muscle in the human body. 6. A game in which a player uses special clubs attempting to sink a ball with as few strokes as possible into each of the nine or 18 successive holes on a course. 7. To dive or jump into something soft or liquid. 8. McConnell Golf club located in Knoxville, Tennessee. 10. Person who offers to work or help without pay. 11. Object used to hit the ball in tennis and similar sports. 12. A large solid-hoofed mammal domesticated since prehistoric times and used as a draft animal or for riding. 14. An indoor or outdoor game that is played with rackets and a light elastic ball by two players or a pair of players on a level court (as of clay or grass) divided by a low net. 15. The condition of being well or free from disease. 16. Insect with four wings that is related to wasps and gathers pollen and nectar from flowers to make honey for food. 17. A sand trap set up as a hazard on a golf course. 18. One who assists a golfer especially by carrying clubs. 74

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

DOWN 1. City location of Porters Neck Country Club. 2. The science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers

or ornamental plants.

3. The land next to the ocean; seashore. 4. The quality or state of being physically strong. 5. Name used for McConnell Golf ’s community engagement

program.

7. McConnell Golf club located in Charlotte, North

Carolina.

9. A tank (as of concrete or plastic) made for swimming. 13. A skilled cook who manages a professional kitchen. 14. A person who trains people so they can grow healthier

and stonger.

Find the answers on page 77!

Rice Krispie Nests Ingredients 3 tablespoons butter 1 10 ounce bag marshmallows 6 cups Rice Krispies

Edible Grass Bag of Whoppers Robin Eggs

Directions 1.

2. 3.

Melt the butter over medium heat and stir in the marshmallows. Continue stirring until completely melted. Pour the mixture over the Rice Krispies and stir until well combined. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray and shape the nests. Let the Rice Krispies cool in the pan, pull them out and decorate!

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SERVING CHARLOT TE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

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Spring/Summer 2022

KIDS

WORD SEARCH

Birdie

Bocce

Ace Activities

Cart Chip Dye Eagle Events Fairway Fazio Fitness Goose Irwin Maples Norman Palmer Pickleball Ross Wedge

CRAZY MAZE

START 76

McConnell Golf THE MAGAZINE

END

SS FITNE A TRIVI 1.

How many minutes of exercise should kids get every day? A. 20 Minutes B. 30 Minutes

Find the answers on page 74! C. 45 Minutes D. 60 Minutes

What is an example of exercise? A. Walking B. Biking

C. Rollerblading D. All of the above

What is the largest muscle in the human body? A. Gluteus Maximus C. Triceps B. Deltoids D. Quadriceps

What is the longest bone in the human body? A. Tibia B. Femur

C. Fibula D. Sternum

Which parts of your body benefit from exercise? A. Bones C. Brain B. Muscles D. All of the above

ACROSS 1. Wyndham Championship 5. Femur 6. Golf 7. Plunge 8. Holston Hills 10. Volunteer

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS 11. Raquet 12. Horse 14. Tennis 15. Health 16. Bee 17. Bunker 18. Caddie

DOWN 1. Wilmington 2. Horticulture 3. Coast 4. Strength 5. Footprints on the Green

www.mcconnellgolf.com

7. Providence 9. Swimming pool 13. Chef 14. Trainer

Spring/Summer 2022

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