By DAVID DROSCHAK The stories may have been exaggerated over the years, the truth stretched a bit here and there, but Pine Crest Inn’s assessment of 45,000 drinks poured annually to golfing foursomes is likely right on target. Regarded as one of the nation’s best 19th holes, the historic inn begins a year-long celebration this…
By STEVE WILLIAMS Add another convert to the list. High Point Country Club became the latest to switch from bentgrass greens to bermudagrass when its Willow Creek course reopened Oct. 6 after a project that took a little over three months. Actually, the time frame isn’t totally accurate – it was actually a four-year process.…
By STEVE HANF When Ledford’s girls won the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A championship in 2011, it was in a close shave over Northern Guilford. This year, the Panthers earned a repeat championship by a 12-shot margin, but still had that close shave – at the expense of coach John Ralls. “We won and…
By STEVE WILLIAMS The skies were sunny and only a slight breeze was stirring at Foxfire Resort when Salisbury arrived for the state 2-A/1-A championship the last week in October. The other 11 teams, however, found temperatures in the 40s, blustery wind and a misty overcast. Or at least it seemed that way as the…
By EDDIE SOUTHARDS Winning the 4-A state championship last year was both a blessing and a curse for Reagan High School’s Victoria Allred. She won the individual title as a sophomore, and the state tournament was returning to the same course – Pinehurst No. 6. Allred also led a group that finished as runner-up for…
By MICHAEL GRAFF A dozen years ago, Scott Harvey was living out his dream of playing golf professionally, and he hated it. Harvey was on a professional mini-tour, traveling all around the country and competing against several other dreamers like him. The thing about dreamers, though, is that they aren’t always friendly, particularly in a…
By DAVID DROSCHAK Even though Ed Shelton describes himself as “a reformed golfer” who hasn’t picked up a club in 15 years he was all ears when Yadkin Valley tourism officials approached him about partnering golf with the area’s surging wine industry. After all, Shelton is an astute businessman, who along with brother Charlie has…
By STEVE HANF The Bridgestone Golf Collegiate has grown into one of the top tournaments in the region over the past seven years. UNC Greensboro’s marquee event should gain even greater stature this fall when the tournament brings back plenty of top talent to a new location: Grandover Resort & Conference Center’s East Course. “Forest…
By BOB SUTTON Matt Crenshaw has no visions of turning his breakthrough 2012 season on the amateur circuit into something more lucrative. The Burlington golfer said the run of Carolinas Golf Association championships suits him just fine. Crenshaw is a four-time winner this year, including pulling off a double of individual majors by following June’s…
By MICHAEL GRAFF You don’t do this without thinking about it. You don’t tear up a golf course that’s been in your family for 45 years without being absolutely certain it’s the right thing to do. Two area courses – Wilshire Golf Course in Winston-Salem and Occoneechee Golf Club in Hillsborough – decided this summer…