OLDE BEAU
Scenic, Serene, Unforgettable
The Cardinal by Pete Dye has long been a beloved gem for golfers in the Triad. With affordable membership opportunities, this stunning course offers the ideal setting for families to create cherished, lifelong memories. Members gain access to exclusive tournaments, vibrant events, and top-tier golf development programs for both juniors and adults. Now is the perfect moment to explore membership and join the thriving Cardinal community!
from the editor
FALL: A TIME TO HEAD FOR THE MOUNTAINS
There’s nothing quite like fall golf in the mountains, when the leaves begin their spectacular transformation. Few views anywhere can rival those at Olde Beau Golf Club in Roaring Gap.
Developed by Billy Satterfield more than three decades ago, Olde Beau winds through rugged, undulating terrain with a collection of distinctive holes. Several are unforgettable.
From the 15th green, golfers are rewarded with a sweeping panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The scene is so stunning it can soften the sting of a double bogey. At No. 17, after a blind tee shot to the edge of a cliff, players face a daunting 200-yard carry over a deep gorge to reach the green.
Is there anything more thrilling to a golfer than watching a downhill drive soar through crisp autumn air, framed by fiery foliage?
The subject of our cover story, Olde Beau is a retreat unlike any other. Nestled in the remote community of Roaring Gap, where you will find little more than golf, a small church, a convenience store and plenty of serenity, it offers a rare public escape in a region known for private mountain clubs. With on-site golf, dining and a variety of lodging, Olde Beau blends exclusivity with accessibility.
While Olde Beau largely avoided damage from Hurricane Helene last year, other mountain courses were not as fortunate. On pages 8–10, we spotlight the impressive recovery at Hound Ears Club in Boone, where Greensboro architect Kris Spence led storm restoration along with a greens and bunkers renovation that was already in progress.
This summer also delivered standout moments for Triad golfers. From Pennson Badgett’s finalround pairing with Charlie Woods at the Junior PGA Championship to Brandon Einstein’s bogey-free dominance at the North Carolina Open, we recap the highlights.
This is the third of four planned print issues this year. For advertising information for our holiday edition and the 2026 calendar, please contact me at 336-404-2212 or john@triadgolf.com.
For the latest regional golf news, visit TriadGolf.com, and tune into the Triad Golf Podcast on YouTube (scan the QR code for easy access) for conversations with local golf personalities.
in this issue
olde beau
ON THE COVER
Golfers are treated to an amazing panoramic view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains from the 15th green at Olde Beau Resort & Golf Club.
John Brasier
JOHN BRASIER Editor + Publisher | john@triadgolf.com
Olde Beau
ROARING GAP RESORT OFFERS ENJOYABLE COLLECTION OF HOLES IN SPECTACULAR, PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS
Several holes at Old North State Club, including the spectacular finish (18th hole at the top), run along Badin Lake. A variety of housing options, including vacation rentals are available along and near the course at Olde Beau.
Thedramatic ascents and descents from tee to green, combined with the breathtaking vistas of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, leave visitors at Olde Beau Golf Club with one overriding question.
Check that. Two overriding questions.
How did Billy Satterfield manage to craft such an outstanding and playable golf course on the rugged Olde Beau Resort and Golf Club property? And who, or what, is Olde Beau?
The first question remains a wonder. Carving a competitive and enjoyable course through mountainous terrain in isolated Roaring Gap was a remarkable achievement.
The second question is easier, with a clue coming from the English bulldog on the Olde Beau logo. Olde Beau was the faithful companion of Satterfield, who developed the resort in the early 1990s, two decades after creating Bermuda Run.
Satterfield accomplished his mission. Olde Beau is a course like no other. It is mountain golf at its most dramatic, demanding shots rarely encountered elsewhere.
“It’s instantly memorable,” said Olde Beau general manager Tommy Maines. “You’ll play it one time and remember most, if not all, the holes. It has some of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring views of any golf course in North Carolina.”
Roaring Gap itself is also unique among mountain golf destinations. Located about 30 minutes north of Elkin on twisting U.S. 21, the small summer community has a post office, a church, a gas station with convenience store, and three golf courses. The other two are private. That’s about it.
Fortunately for visitors, Olde Beau offers a variety of accommodations, ranging from rental homes to studio and two-bedroom villas, along with a restaurant and several activities. Stay-and-Play packages with lodging and discounted golf rates are available.
The course is also open to non-resort guests at rates comparable to many Triad courses.
The resort is especially popular during summer, when temperatures are milder than the lowlands, and during fall, when brilliant foliage adds to the attraction.
Other amenities include a fitness center, seasonal outdoor pool, tennis courts, and pickleball courts.
What makes Olde Beau different?
Several holes require blind approaches to elevated greens. Others begin with blind tee shots, including the par-5 17th with its jawdropping approach. Shots that come up short can roll back several yards, leaving steep sidehill pitches.
Once on the greens, players want to stay below the hole on the quick bentgrass surfaces.
“Greens
are always in fantastic shape and roll true,” Maines said.
Though the rough can be punishing, the fairways are maintained in pristine condition.
But descriptions alone do not tell the story. Golf at Olde Beau is fun. Though challenging, the course is highly playable. Club selection is important. Driver is not always the best option off the tee. Taking an extra minute to ride up ahead and scout targets is often essential.
The par-72 layout measures just 6,482 yards from the back tees, but elevation changes make many holes play shorter or longer. From four other sets of tees, the course ranges from 6,036 to 4,455 yards.
“The course places a premium on accuracy off the tee,” Maines said.
The dramatic depth of the drop-off between the fairway and the 17th green is difficult to accurately portray from this photo behind the putting surface.
“You can get in trouble if you miss the fairway, but it’s very scoreable if you’re in the fairway.”
Each of the par-5s offers a chance for heroics.
The first eagle opportunity comes at No. 2. Officially listed at 540 yards from the tips, it can be reached in two with a well-placed tee shot that leaves about 180 yards over water. A safer option is to play left and lay up on the dogleg right.
The final par-5 is the unforgettable 17th. A solid blind drive left of a target boulder in the fairway puts players at the edge of a deep gorge, facing a 200-yard carry to a green perched on another slope. Those unwilling or unable to attempt the shot can play to a narrow fairway that extends about 100 yards back from the green at the bottom of the gorge. The putting surface is guarded in front by steep slopes, sand, and thick rough.
Among the par-4s, the dramatic downhill drive at No. 10 offers a thrilling preview of what lies ahead. At No. 15, golfers are rewarded with a sweeping panoramic view of the mountains.
The par-3s are more fun than frightening. Many feature steep downhill shots with greens designed to funnel wayward approaches back into play. At No. 8, which stretches across a ridge, players can use the twotiered green to feed the ball toward the hole.
Olde Beau is an ideal destination, particularly for golfers who have never experienced mountain golf of this magnitude.
“It’s a challenge, but a ton of fun for players of all levels and abilities,” Maines said. “As our profile has grown in recent years, we’ve seen more players from Charlotte and the Triad make the trip. They come back year after year and bring their friends.”Ø
oldebeauresort.com
The clubhouse deck offers a comfortable vantage point for watching golfers putt on the 18th hole.
Hound Ears
neighboring mountain courses rebound from flooding
Whenhe arrived at Hound Ears Club only a few days after Hurricane Helene’s flooding devastated the High Country, Kris Spence was astonished by what he saw.
Just reaching the club was difficult. Roads and bridges were demolished. Trees and homes were leveled. Power lines were down. Debris was everywhere. Many residents were trapped in their homes.
The club, located along the Watauga River in a valley surrounded by peaks, looked nothing like the posh summer retreat built 60 years ago with its Bavarian-style clubhouse and meticulously manicured golf course.
“It was just utter devastation,” the Greensboro-based golf course architect told TriadGolf.com. “The river bottom had covered the course. There were rocks and debris scattered everywhere. Deep holes
were torn in the turf. Bunkers were washed away. Some greens were gone, others were covered with silt.”
The clubhouse and several homes inside the gated community suffered significant damage as well. The bottom level of the clubhouse was filled with several feet of water.
“I’d never seen what water traveling with that kind of velocity could do,” Spence said. “There were kids’ toys 12 feet up in the trees.”
Only 11 months and 4 million dollars later, with more than half covered by insurance, little evidence remains of the storm’s destruction. Hound Ears, like much of the High Country, has either returned to normal or made major strides toward recovery.
“We had capital reserves,” said Hound Ears director of communications Sarah Peppel. “The members had set aside millions
Hound Ears Club is just west of Boone along the Watauga River.
in case of emergency. It really helped that we had money waiting.”
Hound Ears wants outsiders who saw images of flooded holes and captions of devastation to know the club and community are well on the road to recovery.
“The biggest issue we want to make clear is that we were not destroyed or washed off the planet,” Peppel said.
“After the storm, it was hard to picture a full comeback in under a year,” said Hound Ears general manager Joseph McGuire. “But thanks to the determination and craftsmanship of our team, the course is not only playable, it’s better than ever.”
Spence and his crew played the biggest role in restoring the Hound Ears course, an original George Cobb design later renovated by Tom Jackson and tweaked by Rick Robbins.
Like much of the rescue and aid throughout the High Country, recovery was a team effort. Organizations such as Boone-based Samaritan’s Purse provided help, while a member brought a grill and food to the clubhouse to serve meals. Club employees and members also pitched in to clear the massive amount of debris.
Since Covid-19, Hound Ears has seen a substantial increase in permanent residents. Once known as a summer retreat for Florida “snowbirds,” the club now draws many members from the Triad,
Triangle, and Charlotte. Dozens of members also work at Appalachian State University or own local businesses.
“You don’t see as many Florida license plates in the summer as you used to,” said director of golf Peter Rucker, who has been at the club for four decades.
“It’s been amazing in the last five or six years to see how many more people are living here year-round,” added Peppel.
Within three weeks of the hurricane, Spence had assembled a crew of at least 20, along with some Hound Ears staff, to begin cleanup. The debris included cars and even parts of homes that had washed onto the property. Progress was slowed by the destruction of a water pump station that made it harder to wash silt from the greens.
Spence was already in the midst of a project to renovate all of the greens and bunkers, which enabled him to move quickly. His relationship with the club dates back more than two decades, when he rebuilt the greens and bunkers on two par-5s, Nos. 5 and 15.
“Helene sped our schedule up,” said Spence, whose crews were also busy with a major renovation at Starmount Forest, expected to be completed this fall.
Spence split his team between Starmount and Hound Ears until snow hit the High Country in mid-December. In the spring, he brought in
Photos from the flood (left) and after the restoration by Spence Golf.
subcontractor Jim Harbin, a longtime ground shaper with Spence Golf, to serve as project manager at Hound Ears.
Spence acknowledged that repairing a golf course was not the region’s top priority given the hardship faced by many displaced residents. He praised Hound Ears director of agronomy Allen Storie and his crew for long days spent assisting the community while also working on the course.
On the course, Spence Golf, superintendent Storie, and Ron Hart of TDI Golf received significant support from Hound Ears Greens and Grounds committee chairman Danny Young. Young had previously worked with his father, Larry Young, to develop several Myrtle Beach courses as well as Mike Strantz designs Stonehouse and Royal New Kent in Virginia.
By May, Spence Golf had reopened all 18 holes. In addition to flood restoration, the company rebuilt most of the course’s greens and bunkers. Some areas completed before the flood required repairs, while
new tees were added to stretch the par-72 layout to more than 6,400 yards from the tips.
Spence hopes to finish rebuilding the remaining green complexes before the end of the year.
With Cobb, Jackson, and Robbins all contributing to the course over the years, Spence described Hound Ears as “a mixed bag of architecture.”
“We need to make it a cohesive golf course in philosophy and architecture,” he said.
“Hound Ears has always been known as a fun course to play. We’re Boone’s country club,” said Rucker. “The course is challenging, and we are adding length to attract younger members.”
Spence said the new greens, a mix of bentgrass and poa annua, are more traditional in style. He removed mounding around the greens and added shaved areas that allow for a variety of chipping options. Several bowls on the putting surfaces were also recontoured into more crowned greens.
“This fall, they’ll all be Kris Spence greens,” he said.
Though his recent design at Quixote Club in Sumter, South Carolina, and the massive restoration of the abandoned Maples Course at Woodlake Plantation in Vass have received national acclaim, Spence is also well known for his renovations of high-profile Donald Ross designs, including Sedgefield, Roaring Gap, and Holston Hills outside Knoxville, Tennessee.
Hound Ears was not the most damaged course in the area. Elk River Club, a Jack Nicklaus design near Banner Elk, lost six holes along the Elk River and has not reopened this year.
Grandfather Golf Club had to repair major damage to its 17th and 18th holes, which cross creeks and border the community’s lake.
Linville Ridge Golf Club reportedly lost thousands of trees.
As TriadGolf.com reported earlier, Sugar Mountain Golf Course has 13 holes open and hopes to reopen all but No. 16 before the end of the season.
Boone Golf Club and Mountain Glen Golf Club in Newland, two highly regarded public courses, escaped major damage. Ø houndears.com
In late July, crews were working on five remaining closed holes on the back nine at Sugar Mountain.
other Spence projects
starmount forest
Kris Spence’s work at Starmount Forest Country Club is nearing completion, and the Greensboro-based architect is preparing for several new in-state projects.
Heavy summer rains, including 15 inches in July, caused delays, but Spence now expects the Greensboro course to reopen sometime in October. Several “pop-up” storms washed away many of the sprigs planted earlier in the season, making sod necessary to prepare many of the tees and fairways.
“We got the first 10 sprigged and the hard rains hit within a few days,” Spence told *TriadGolf.com.*
Renovations have focused heavily on the green complexes, designed to bring a more classic style to the layout. The multi-million-dollar project also included a new irrigation system, additional tees, and fast-draining concrete capillary bunkers.
The course now features hybrid ultradwarf TifEagle Bermuda greens, Tahoma 31 Bermuda collars, Tif-Tuf Bermuda fairways, and Zeon zoysia tee boxes.
Originally designed by Perry Maxwell, whose portfolio includes Old Town Club and Southern Hills, Starmount received a significant renovation in 1999 by Virginia-based architect Lester George, whose recent projects include Contentment in Wilkes County.
raleigh golf association
Raleigh Golf Association, which owns and operates 27 holes on both sides of Tryon Road just south of the N.C. State campus, is undergoing major changes.
Spence was hired to merge and create a new 18-hole course south of Tryon, with construction beginning in April.
RGA, a unique organization with 18 holes open to the public and a separate nine reserved for “stockholders,” sold at least 44 acres north of Tryon. That property, home to five holes on the public course, has been redeveloped for an apartment community.
The club is managed by McConnell Golf, which also owns Sedgefield Country Club, The Cardinal by Pete Dye, and Old North State Club in the Triad.
Spence said John McConnell directed him to add as much length as possible and bring more flair to the layout.
The new course will measure about 6,200 yards, more than 100 yards longer than the previous 18-hole layout. The stockholder course measures less than 2,800 yards. The project also includes construction of a large, lighted practice facility.
lake norman golf club
Spence has also taken on a major project at Lake Norman Golf Club in Mooresville, formerly Mallard Head Golf Course.
Purchased in June, the property is being renovated under the direction of its new owners. The facility also includes a racquet club with indoor courts for pickleball, and a marina is under consideration.
Spence compared the project to his work at Woodlake Golf Club near Pinehurst, where he restored a flood-ravaged property into a nationally recognized course.
“This place has really been let go,” Spence said. “We’ve reimagined a design for it. I think it will ultimately become a private club. It has a lot of the same potential as Woodlake.”
others
• Pine Valley Country Club in Wilmington, a George Cobb design from 1955, is scheduled for a “classic remodel” by Spence in 2026.
• Spence Golf is currently renovating greens at Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pennsylvania, after completing bunker work in 2024. The Donald Ross design hosted the 2016 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.
• The company is slated to remodel the Country Club of Lexington (S.C.), an Ellis Maples design, in 2027. Ø
A crew works on the seventh hole at Starmount Forest Country Club.
Pennson Badgett
RELAXES AFTER SUMMER IN THE FAST LANE
Pennson Badgett would have had little trouble writing a compelling essay about what he did on his summer vacation, though keeping it short might have been a challenge.
The Pilot Mountain native, who has committed to play next year at the University of Tennessee, spent the summer in the amateur golf spotlight. His travels took him to two of golf’s most storied venues, Bethpage Black and The Olympic Club. He even turned down a chance to compete in Japan.
“It happens fast,” Badgett said in early September. “You don’t really have time to step back and realize what you’ve done. It’s been a pretty cool summer. I’m just chilling out right now. I’m not in a hurry for anything.”
A few highlights stand out. Badgett played with Charlie Woods, Tiger’s son, in the final group of the Junior PGA Championship and finished fifth in the national tournament.
No, Tiger was not in the gallery, nor was Charlie’s mother, Elin Nordegren. Instead, Badgett walked the fairways at Purdue University with several of Woods’ bodyguards and his agent close by.
Badgett said he enjoyed the pairing. He had played with Charlie earlier in the spring at Sage Valley near Aiken, South Carolina.
Davis Womble
“He is a really good kid,” Badgett said. “He’s really fun to play with because of the crowd. There was a big gallery. There were a lot of people out there.”
Later in the summer, Badgett advanced to match play at the U.S. Amateur, earning the 64th and final spot in a 19-player playoff. His friend, Mason Howell of Thomasville, Georgia, claimed the 63rd spot and went on to win the tournament.
“It could have been me,” Badgett admitted of the unpredictability of match play.
Badgett’s bid nearly unraveled in the final round of stroke play. With a few strokes to spare, he double-bogeyed his 16th hole after slipping in a fairway bunker during his swing. His feet were against the lip of the bunker when he lost balance, falling back into the sand and advancing the ball only about 40 yards.
“I’d never had that happen before,” he said.
Though he lost his opening match to All-American Preston Stout of NCAA champion Oklahoma State, Badgett was featured on Golf Channel coverage making a birdie during the match.
His coach, Brad Luebchow who teaches out of Maple Chase Country Club, had been on site during practice rounds but left before the tournament began. Older brother Anderson, who was under the weather, carried Pennson’s bag. Stout’s caddie was his OSU coach, Allen Bratton.
The Badgett family stayed an extra day in San Francisco, visiting the redwoods, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Pier 39, and Lombard Street.
“I think that was one of our better days out there,” Badgett said. “Just being out there with my family.”
Badgett also competed in several of the nation’s top amateur events, including the Sunnehanna Amateur in Pennsylvania, tournaments typically dominated by college players.
Looking ahead, he expects to play in a few fall events. A wing player on the East Surry basketball team for three years, the 6-footer remains undecided about playing as a senior.
“I want to play with my boys,” Badgett said. “It’s kind of a tough decision.”
He plans to play his final season of high school golf with hopes of leading East Surry to another state championship. He was medalist as a freshman when the Cardinals won the 2023 Class 2A title.
Though he did not win this summer against elite fields, Badgett recorded seven top-10 finishes in his last eight tournaments.
“Coming into the year, my goal was playing more consistent,” he said. “I feel I accomplished that. I played real good golf all summer.”
Badgett’s rise has been rapid. Less than two years ago, he was struggling to get into top events. Then in a matter of weeks in 2024, he won three high-profile junior titles.
“It happened really fast,” Badgett said. “I just shot up the rankings and it really changed my life.” Ø
Brandon Einstein
SOLVES FORSYTH CC, DOMINATES N.C. OPEN
Brandon Einstein’s quest at the N.C. Open all came down to an 18-inch putt on the final hole Aug. 15 at Forsyth Country Club.
“I was a little nervous,” admitted the 25-year-old Tanglewood Park associate pro as he recalled standing over his ball on the 18th green.
Einstein calmly tapped in for a 6-under-par 65, capping a bogey-free, nine-stroke victory. With the closing par, he completed a dominating 54-hole performance that left Carolinas PGA staffers searching the record books to see if anyone had ever accomplished the feat in a CPGA event.
His bid to finish bogey-free provided the only suspense in the final round. With 18 birdies overall, he enjoyed commanding leads throughout the last two days.
For the third straight round, Einstein dissected the 6,793-yard Donald Ross design, finishing at 18-under 195. Tyler Lucas of Tega Cay, S.C., was second at 204 after a 68. Zack Taylor of Myrtle Beach (69) and Matt Fry of West End (70) tied for third at 206.
Einstein did not change his approach in the final round after opening with 64 and 66. Accuracy remained the focus over distance.
“Fairways and greens,” Einstein said. “Stick to the game plan. I hit every club I hit the past three days. I played solid golf all week and I got a little luck.”
He birdied eight of nine par-5s during the tournament.
“That’s probably the most impressive three rounds I’ve seen here,” said Forsyth director of golf Chase Adams, who has worked at the club for
seven years. Adams had predicted a winning score in double digits under par, but said, “I didn’t see the number he posted out there.”
Einstein, who hit nearly every fairway and green in regulation over the first two days, finally had a few brushes with bogey in the last round. Leading by six to start the day, he birdied Nos. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8 to make the turn in 31. His only birdie on the back nine came at the par-5 15th.
“It definitely crossed my mind,” Einstein said of finishing bogeyfree. “I started missing some greens, hitting some errant shots. I started getting my heart rate up a bit.”
At 17, his drive lodged in the lip of a fairway bunker and rolled back into the sand. He saved par with an 8-foot putt.
“I thought I hit it too hard, and it snuck in the right side,” Einstein said.
Despite his dominant play, Einstein said he has no plans to pursue a professional career. The former High Point University and N.C. State golfer spent six months on mini tours before deciding against it.
“I enjoy what I do now too much,” he said.
After an overnight inch of rain, the field played preferred lies in the fairways. Luke Lovell of Greer, S.C., had the low final round of 64 and finished in a four-way tie for fifth at 207.
Top Triad finishers included Tommy Gibson of Mt. Airy at 208, Davis Womble of Winston-Salem at 209, Wake Forest player Kyle Haas at 210, Tanglewood Park associate pro Samuel Uberseder and Gardner-Webb’s Jack Boyer at 211, and Sam Davidson of Asheville and Oak Grove High senior Lincoln Newton at 212.
Adam Fisher of Raleigh, who had been third, fell into the tie for fifth after a double bogey on 18 when his birdie putt rolled off the green. Boyer made 16 birdies and an eagle in the tournament but also double-bogeyed the last hole. Ø
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Newton overtakes his father at willow creek
Amateur.
Lincoln Newton won what became a father-son battle down the stretch to claim his second straight Triad Amateur championship July 27 at High Point Country Club’s Willow Creek Course.
The 18-year-old rising senior at Oak Grove High birdied Nos. 15, 16 and 17 to overtake his father, Scott Newton, and Jamal Hutchison of Fletcher by one stroke. Playing two groups ahead of Lincoln, Scott could only watch as his son finished with an easy par on the final hole.
Lincoln shot 4-under 68 to finish at 7-under 137. The 50-year-old Scott closed with 66, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 10th. After bogeys at 11 and 14, he rallied with birdies at 15 and 17. Hutchison, a rising junior at N.C. Central, shot 70.
Using a live scoring app, players followed the leaderboard in real time. When Scott stuck his approach at 15 to within tap-in range, he pointed at Lincoln, who could see the gesture.
“He was pointing at me, so I knew I had to do something good,” Lincoln said. He has committed to play at UNC Greensboro.
Preston Dembowiak of Kernersville, the first-round leader with 66, tied Davis Delille of High Point and Jordan Williams of Charlotte at 140. Grady Newton, Lincoln’s older brother, finished at 142.
More than 70 players competed in temperatures that reached 98 degrees. The championship flight played a course measuring about 6,900 yards.
Steve Sharpe of Greensboro won the Senior Division with rounds of 68 and 74. Ø
Berry wins playoff at Forsyth CC
Brett Barry made clutch birdies on 17 and 18, then added two more in a playoff to defend his Forsyth Amateur title Aug. 17 at Forsyth Country Club.
Barry, a 34-year-old insurance auditor, tied Scott Campbell at 4-under 209, then rolled in birdie putts on both playoff holes. His winning putt, a downhill 15-footer at No. 2, completed a string of four straight birdies.
Barry closed with 74, while Campbell, a former Greensboro College All-American, shot 75. Both struggled after entering the final round well ahead of the field.
Campbell was 8-under after 36 holes but stumbled to a 42 on the front nine. Barry, who was 7-under to start the day, posted 39.
“We missed a lot of short putts,” Barry said. “Neither of us was playing very well.”
Campbell briefly pulled ahead with a 30-foot birdie on 17, but Barry answered with a 20-footer to stay within one. On 18, Barry made a 10-foot birdie to tie, while Campbell two-putted for par.
More than 90 players competed, with the first two rounds held at Tanglewood Park Championship and Maple Chase Country Club. Ø
Lincoln Newton rallied to win his second straight Triad
Brett Barry accepts the trophy from Bill Jackson of sponsor Parrish Tire.
Swaringen triumphs in Lexington playoff
Michael Swaringen of Salisbury won the Davidson County Amateur in sudden death July 27 at the Dugan Aycock course, defeating longtime rival Brant Stovall of Germanton.
The playoff ended before Swaringen hit his second shot. After Stovall’s tee ball went out of bounds right, his provisional found a hazard left, forcing him to play his fifth from the rough. Swaringen, safely in the fairway with a hybrid, went on to make an easy par.
Swaringen, 43, closed with 68 to finish at 5-under 137 and claim his fifth county title. Stovall, the first-round leader, shot 70 to tie. Tyler Lambert was third at 144, while Chris Gooch, Scott Tarcy and Isaac Spencer tied at 145. Ø
SEPTEMBER 25
GRANDOVER RESORT & SPA 1:00 pm shotgun start
The Garret Torney Foundation raises funds to support combat Veterans suffering from PTSD and pairs them with service dogs. Help us raise funds and facilitate discussions that can lead to real change in the lives of those who have served our country.
TRIAD FAVORITE FOR 85 YEARS
Pearman
takes Long-Drive Shootout
Scottie Pearman of Randleman won the World Long Drive Association Elite Division title Aug. 3 at the Bluff City Shootout near Memphis, Tennessee. Pearman’s 357-yard drive beat Colton Casto of Hobe Sound, Florida, in the finals.
It was Pearman’s first WLD tour win of the year. He has finished in the top eight in every event he has entered this season. Ø
Weekday $35
Senior Weekday $30
Weekends $40
9-hole rates (weekdays + weekend afternoons)
Walking Allowed Anytime
Michael Swaringen won the Davidson County Amateur for the fifth time.
local group partners with
Tunnels
for Towers
for fundraiser at greensboro national
The seventh annual First Responders of the Triad (FROT) tournament is set for Oct. 3 at Greensboro National Golf Club, with organizers aiming to raise $200,000 to support first responders.
Last year’s event raised $125,000, including $50,000 donated to the Western North Carolina Association of Firefighters to help cover insurance deductibles for personal property losses caused by Hurricane Helene.
FROT was created in 2019 by Herb Parks and Patrick Donnelly, partners in Byron Donnelly Development LLC, as a way to give back for their business success. Attorney Marc Isaacson volunteered to form the nonprofit organization.
Greensboro National Golf Club has proven to be an ideal setting for the event, which is supported by Byron Donnelly and members of the building industry. One hundred percent of net proceeds benefit first responders, many of whom face financial hardships while serving others during crises.
The 2024 tournament proceeded just days after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of western North Carolina. Many participants had ties to affected areas, yet the event still raised nearly $125,000 thanks to support from regional land development partners, contractors, vendors, and builders. Net proceeds went to organizations including God’s Pit Crew, Danville Life Saving and First Aid Crew, City of
Greensboro Fire Department, the American Red Cross, and the Western North Carolina Association of Firefighters.
This year, FROT has partnered with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, whose mission is to honor and support first responders and veterans. Tunnel to Towers provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans, and works to end veteran homelessness.
The partnership reflects a shared vow to ensure America never forgets Sept. 11, 2001. Together, FROT and Tunnel to Towers aim to inspire hope, resilience, and gratitude by supporting those who serve and sacrifice.
On Jan. 8, 2024, Tunnel to Towers paid off the mortgage of Sgt. Philip Nix, an off-duty Greensboro police officer killed nine days earlier while trying to stop a crime in Colfax. The foundation’s swift action in support of Nix’s family was a major factor in FROT’s decision to join forces with Tunnel to Towers this year.
The Oct. 3 tournament includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, an auction, and awards for the top teams. For sponsorship or playing opportunities, contact Patrick Donnelly at pdonnelly@byrondev.com or 336-282-2440. Ø
Davis Womble
Byron Donnelly Development partner Patrick Donnelly (left) presents a check for $50,000 to the Western North Carolina Association of Fire Fighters.
Old Field targets fall opening
The grass is growing in at Old Field, expected to open in October.
OldField, a new six-hole public par-3 course, is expected to open this fall adjacent to Colin Creek Golf Club in Mocksville.
Matt Tullos is transforming the former Colin Creek driving range with help from Stephen Edwards of Winston-Salem. Edwards, a family wealth advisor, said a soft opening in October is possible.
The architectural firm Smyers, Craig and Coyne designed the course, with construction by Landscapes Unlimited. Edwards noted that the national firm provided its services at a significant discount while crews were in the area working on other projects.
Old Field will feature greens similar to those on regulation courses. Some walks from tee to green will be framed by tall vegetation designed to mimic links-style layouts. Unique features include a double green for Nos. 2 and 4 and a deep bunker that is expected to draw attention. Hole lengths will range from 68 to 149 yards, with a total of 631 yards.
Lights from the old Hickory Hill driving range remain on the property. The facility will also include a Himalayan-style putting course and a practice area. Future plans call for a pro shop and snack bar. Initially, Old Field will be operated out of the Colin Creek pro shop. Edwards said it has not been
decided whether the former range lights will be used.
Although he declined to disclose the project’s cost, Edwards said the budget was modest. The course has been planted entirely in Tahoma 31, a durable Bermuda grass often used as fringe on top courses. The greens are simple push-up style. Sodding and sprigging were completed in July.
“We’re trying to build something affordable on the front end, so there’s not a lot of pressure to make money at the beginning,” Edwards said. “We want it to be well maintained but community oriented.”
Edwards added that Old Field will offer modest membership options for the range and practice area.
He is founder and president of Twilight Golf, an organization with more than 300 members, about 200 of them in the Triad. Other members participate in events in the Triangle and Charlotte. The group, a Carolinas Golf Association affiliate that offers USGA handicaps, holds weekly golf events in the summer and other events throughout the year. Membership is $55 annually, with a portion supporting the First Tee. Ø oldfieldgolf.com
Tanglewood unveils new $15 million clubhouse
Tanglewood Park’s long-awaited $15 million clubhouse is now open. The new facility officially welcomed golfers and guests on September 9, replacing the aging split-level structure that dated back to the 1974 PGA Championship.
Built by Samet Corp. of Greensboro, the modern clubhouse features a pro shop, snack bar with a warming kitchen, meeting space for 150 people, and a wrap-around porch overlooking the Championship course.
The project had been in planning for several years as costs rose from an initial $11 million. Forsyth County commissioners gave final approval in late 2021, and construction began after the old clubhouse was demolished.
The new clubhouse enhances one of the Triad’s premier public golf destinations. Tanglewood’s Championship course, site of Lee Trevino’s 1974 PGA victory and the former Vantage Championship on the Senior PGA Tour, underwent bunker and green renovations in 2018. The Reynolds course, also designed by Robert Trent Jones, offers a tighter layout with plenty of challenge.
“A modern clubhouse creates more opportunities to host tournaments, bring visitors to the county, and provide a gathering place for residents,” said Stephanie Brown, president of Visit Winston-Salem. Ø
The front of the Tanglewood Park clubhouse (pro shop on the left) pictured a few days before the Sept. 9 opening.
