By BRAD KING McConnell Golf recently held its annual executive meeting in which administrators from the company’s growing stable of clubs made a variety of presentations to the group covering numerous club-related topics. Michael Shoun, the director of agronomy, titled his presentation, “The Year of Extremes.” Golf course superintendents like Shoun are the caretakers of…
By Kurt Dusterberg Emily Brooks would like to become a household name in golf circles. In the meantime, she has the most famous silhouette in the sport. Brooks is a senior at Elon University, and much to her surprise, her image adorns the 2016 United States Golf Association rule book. “My dad and my…
By DAVID DROSCHAK Dan Brooks chuckles some when asked about his early days as Duke’s women’s golf coach. “I actually came into this not wanting to be a coach, I wanted to be a teacher, and my ego was huge and I wanted to be THE teacher,” said Brooks, who has now coached the…
By Steve Hanf Special programs exist to get young kids interested in playing golf. School teams exist at just about every high school and many middle schools for teens interested in playing golf. Now, a new organization will help bridge the gap between first learning the game and tackling the whole different world of competitive…
Resort’s Centennial Course celebrates 20th anniversary DAVID DROSCHAK A lot has happened since Pinehurst Resort honored its 100th anniversary two decades ago with the opening of its eighth golf layout – also known as the Centennial Course. Pinehurst brass Robert Dedman Sr. and Don Padgett Sr. are no longer with us, neither is golfing great…
By Steve Huffman A new face with old ties to the business has taken over I-85 Golf in Haw River. Brandon Vincent, son of the driving range’s founder and owner, Joe, is now co-owner and operator of the business located off Interstate 40/85. Brandon has spent several months working to return the business to its…
By STUART HALL Let’s be honest. How appealing is the thought of standing on the far end of the driving range with a bucket full of golf balls, repetitiously pounding one after another into vast acreage dotted by a few makeshift greens and bunkers. Oh, and it’s also hot and humid. Most golfers, if they…
By STEVE WILLIAMS Wake Forest wasn’t one of the five ACC teams that advanced to the NCAA nationals a year ago. It was wait ‘til next year. And this year has been a special one for the Demon Deacons and coach Jerry Haas. They’ve finished in the top three in seven of eight events this…
By Robert Kimball After some time away from Bermuda Run Country Club a return visitor would notice nothing different about the journey back to the club. Same Advance, N.C., exit off the highway, same drive past Tanglewood Park, same Kathryn Crosby Bridge and same turn into the gatehouse. Walk up to the front door of…